ShareGTO Solvers at the table are out but playing legal online poker and sportsbook betting with Caesars are in, according to the World Series of Poker organisers...
The much-needed clarification in the wake of last week’s WPT Gardens controversy came as the WSOP opened its doors to seven weeks of action in Vegas.
“If caught using RTA/GTO [Real-Time Assistance/Game-Theory Optimal] software during a hand, player will be subject to penalty up to and including DQ (disqualification) / trespass,” WSOP said in a prepared statement, according to PokerNews.
As we reported last week, Texan pro Andrew Esposito hit the headlines for using GTO Wizard at the table during the $5k buy-in WPT Gardens Poker Championship.
Californian pro Peter Cross had asked Esposito to stop using the GTO app but was met by a resounding “no” from Esposito, who later claimed he was using it to dissect a hand played previously.
“It looked like I was on it the whole time for every hand, but it was just one hand that I was referencing,” stated Esposito, adding: “I did have the app open … and it was to reference a hand that I got into maybe 10 or 15 minutes before.!"
Claiming it was his “first time using it,” he added: “I see people with it open quite often. And I don’t think it’s clear cut ... I think it needs to be a clear-cut rule.”
Cross, meanwhile, was still unhappy with Esposito’s behaviour, declaring: “If he wasn’t looking at a hand in play that’s fine but it shouldn’t be my job to police whether or not he is every hand, nor should he feel I’m unreasonable for requesting to do so.”
He explained further: “I lost it because he told me “it’s none of my business” as he is sitting to my left in a 5k.”
Gardens Casino Tournament Manager, Cavin Quintanilla, stated he used TDA Rule #5 to deal with the matter: “I addressed this situation at the table, the matter was taken care of and we had no further instances.”
However, with the story going viral, the WSOP decided they needed to clarify what rules they would be enforcing, and what would be considered legitimate use at the table.
“We reserve the right to further penalize a player for using RTA/GTO in any other situation in our sole and absolute discretion,” they added.
They also noted: “Players may continue to use their device to play wsop.com or use the Caesars Sportsbook app while in/out of a hand.”
HIghstakesDB will be bringing you wall-to-wall coverage of the 2023 WSOP, with all the action on the tables and all the biggest stories from off the felt.
