The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has updated their rules pertaining to the use of electronic devices during tournament play just days before the start of the WSOP Paradise series.
WSOP Paradise will take place in the Bahamas on Dec. 6, and the series will feature 13 live gold bracelet events (plus two online), for players to compete in. The second annual festival at the Atlantis Paradise Island is highlighted by the record-setting $25,000 WSOP Super Main Event starting Dec. 9, the first ever $50 million guaranteed prize pool.
These updates include several changes which appear to have been put in place in response to the controversies at the WSOP Main Event final table in the summer. During the breaks of the 2024 WSOP Main Event, Tamayo was seen consulting with his close friends Joe McKeehen and Dominik Nitsche.
Both McKeehen and Nitsche were using a laptop and were giving Tamayo advice which became pivotal for Tamayo to bag the event’s cash prize.
It’s not the first time a laptop was used at the rail, but the poker community is more aware of the damaging potential of lookup databases, so the optics of this were not good.
Updating Rules on ‘Electronic Assistance and Coaching’
The new WSOP rulebook includes a section dealing specifically with electronic assistance and coaching, with potential penalties for infringement involving disqualification from the event.
Rule 63b reads:
“Electronic Assistance and Coaching: Players and spectators are not allowed to use charts, apps, or any other form of electronic assistance in the tournament room. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in a penalty up to disqualification for the player and removal from the tournament room for the spectator. Spectators are also prohibited from providing live assistance or coaching. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a penalty for the player and removal from the rail for the spectator. Non-players on the rail must adhere to the **WSOP Terms & Conditions, including no viewing of live streams on an electronic device.”
Moreover, the use of electronic devices – both at the tables and on the rail – will be banned when any WSOP event reaches its final three tables. This also includes viewing the delayed live-stream, as described in Rule 63c:
“Device Removal During Streaming Events: When a tournament reaches three (3) tables, all players’ electronic devices will be removed. Players will only be allowed to have their devices back during player breaks or after elimination. No devices will be allowed to be used on the tournament rail during these late stages of streamed events and no coaching from the rail will be allowed; this includes viewing of the tournament stream and usage of any electronic assistance. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a penalty for the player and removal from the rail for the spectator.”
Cracking Down on Electronic Use during Tournaments
Further amendments to the aforementioned rules added rules around the use of electronic devices during tournaments. This includes the following tenets:
- No electronic devices may be placed on the table, or rail of the table
- All devices capable of ‘ringing’ must be silenced during play
- Players may only use devices to text/email if their cards are mucked
- No player may use a device to contact a player at their table
- Any phone conversations during play must be taken at least one table length away from the player’s table
- Spectators on the rail may not use devices to view the delayed stream or use electronic assistance
Will the New Rules Curb Instances of Cheating?
The updated WSOP rules regarding the use of electronic devices will be in full effect during the WSOP Paradise event. This will be the litmus test for checking whether the players have read the new rules and are adhering to them.
From a spectator’s point of view, the enforcement of the electronic device usage during tournaments will be interesting. During Tamayo’s infamous Main Event match where he was consulting with his friends, there weren’t any objections nor violent reactions from his opponents.
However, with more concrete rules now in place, it’s hard to see their actions being repeated by any other player. Although it does bring a potential scenario into discussion: could a future WSOP Main Event be decided by a player ejection if any one of the participants breaks the rules about using electronic devices?
