In the aftermath of ‘Laptop Gate’ the WSOP Paradise will have strict rules about technology, coaching and rails this month.
The World Series of Poker Paradise is just a few days away and yesterday the WSOP announced new rules about coaching and electronic devices at the tables.
Other notable changes:
62 – Players are also not allowed to place their electronic devices on the table or on the table rail.
63a & c – Players can not use electronic devices once the field is down to 3 tables.
122 – Duration of play on Day 1 can be subject to change…
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) December 1, 2024
The full rules are as follows:
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.
This follows the lead of both the European Poker Tour and the Tournament Directors Association who have put out new rules this year.
The aftermath of LaptopGate
This is in the wake of the infamous Main Event rail, where Dominik Nitsche and Joe McKeehen were consulting a laptop on the rail and giving eventual champion Jonathan Tamayo guidance between hands.
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.
That happened in the World Series of Poker during the summer and with this official rule change for WSOP Paradise, there is no doubt a similar rule will be in place in Las Vegas next summer.
Will this rule help? Let us know in the comments:
