Real-Time Assistance (RTA) and game integrity have been major topics in the poker world lately, with live and online operators stepping up efforts to crack down on cheaters. In the latest move, GGPoker, in collaboration with GTO Wizard, banned 31 player accounts suspected of using solvers, and it appears these players will also be banned from this year’s World Series of Poker (WSOP).
The battle against unfair advantages in poker has intensified, and we at poker.pro know how crucial it is to protect the game’s integrity. We are pleased to see things moving in the right direction and that the poker industry recognizes those fighting a good fight. A prime example is our own Jonathan Raab’s investigation into poker bot farms, which has earned him a Global Poker Award for Best Written Content.
With more proactive efforts from all the operators, the fight for integrity continues, which ensures a fairer playing field for everyone.
31 Users Violated Fair Play Use on GGPoker
GGPoker has announced on Twitter that in collaboration with GTO Wizard, they have blocked 31 player accounts for violating their fair play use. The names of the banned players were not disclosed, and neither were any other details about the nature of the foul play, which is a standard practice in the industry. However, given the collaboration, we can assume the players were using GTO Wizard to solve the spots while playing, and their Fair Play Check tool likely has been used to find the cheaters.
This tool allows players to verify whether certain hands were solved within GTO Wizard and at what time. If there is a match between in-game decisions and solver use, users can report players to the online poker operator, allowing them to take action if foul play is found.
Players Also Banned from WSOP
This year’s WSOP will be the first one under GGPoker’s ownership after the site acquired the World Series of Poker brand in August of 2024. With GGPoker now at the helm, the bans appear to extend beyond the online play, as Fedor Holz, GGPoker’s Security Ambassador, confirmed that the 31 banned players will also not be able to play at the 2025 WSOP.
This marks a major shift, and as Patrick “pads” Leonard mentioned on Twitter, it represents a strong stance against cheating. Previously banned GGPoker players, like Ali Imsirovic and Jake Schindler, while being barred from PokerGO Tour events, were still able to participate in WSOP tournaments, with Schindler even winning his first bracelet in 2022.
If other major tours and venues follow the lead or if a global poker blacklist is created, cheaters may soon find themselves with fewer places to play. Imsirovic, for example, was recently thrown out of a live tournament in Texas and banned from the said poker club.
ACR and the “New Sponsored Pros” Joke
As expected, poker Twitter reacted strongly to the news. One of the most viral responses was a comment suggesting that “ACR now has 31 new sponsored pros,” referring to the controversy that happened a few weeks ago when ACR’s sponsored player Nacho Barbero posted an awkward story on his Instagram account showing him playing The Venom tournament on ACR while having GTO Wizard open in the background.
A similar situation happened when another ACR-sponsored pro, Ebony Kenney, posted a video showing her with an open MTT and GTO Wizard chart in the background. While this happened in 2024, the story just resurfaced now due to obvious reasons.
Step in the Right Direction
We already saw the ban of any kind of chart, apps, electronic assistance usage, or any other type of coaching from spectators in the rail after the last WSOP Main Event winner, Jonathan Tamayo, was getting input from Dominik Nitsche, who was solving spots on a laptop during the final table play.
Extending the ban from GGPoker to WSOP seems like a good move. While it’s impossible to completely eliminate cheating, it will undoubtedly deter many players from attempting it, making them think twice before risking their place in the poker world. This is still not perfect, as anyone can make a GTO Wizard account under any email address, but it’s a step in the right direction that is showing another sign of proactivity to keep the integrity of the game.
2025 World Series of Poker
The 2025 WSOP kicks off on May 27 with 100 gold bracelets up for grabs, and there will be countless storylines to follow. One of the biggest questions is whether Phil Hellmuth will really sit out the Main Event for the first time since 1988. And of course, all eyes will be on how the GGPoker ban, and also the broader crackdown on electronic devices, will be enforced in practice. Let’s see if any well-known poker pros will be missing this year, which might suggest who was among the 31 banned players.
- Read more: 2025 World Series of Poker Schedule Released
- Read more: Phil Hellmuth is Not Going to Play in the 2025 WSOP Main Event
- Read more: 2025 WSOP – No More Short Cuts for Caesars Diamond Status
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