A controversy regarding international geopolitics emerged at the World Series of Poker Paradise in the Bahamas on Wednesday when tournament officials informed Justin Bonomo he would be disqualified from the $25,000 super main event if he continued to wear a keffiyeh scarf as play neared the televised final table.
The black-and-white keffiyeh has been “adopted by Palestinians as a symbol of their aspiration and long struggle for independence, making it divisive to those who associate it with the fighting involved in that struggle,” according to the New York Times.
Bonomo, who is Jewish, has consistently shown his support for Palestinians on social media, and has pledged a portion of his winnings to charities that support the Free Palestine movement.
WSOP officials said the issue had to do with television broadcast rights.
“The request for removal of Mr. Bonomo’s keffiyeh once he reached the TV production table was simply a matter of broadcast clearance,” series officials said. “Our future distribution platforms for the super main event do not allow garments deemed controversial or political in nature.”
Facing the prospect of losing a shot at a $6 million payday, Bonomo agreed to remove the scarf. The three-time bracelet winner did however point out that while he understood the series having a blanket rule against political attire, he felt it was hypocritical that the WSOP hosted a charity fundraiser for Israeli Defense Force widows and orphans just a week prior in the Bahamas.
“[The] WSOP informed me that I will be disqualified from the tournament if I don’t take my keffiyeh off,” he noted. “Pretty fucked that they’ll run charity tournaments for the IDF but won’t let me wear a scarf because it was made in Palestine.”
3x WSOP Bracelet Winner Justin Bonomo inching his way up the ladder one pot at a time! #WSOP #SuperMainEvent
Current chip stack – 22,450,000 (74.8BBs)
Tournament avg – 12,211,038 (40BBs) pic.twitter.com/9VBbeSxux9— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) December 18, 2024
Player Reaction Is Divided
Bonomo, who currently sits in second place on poker’s all-time money list with $66.4 million in earnings, has posted numerous times about the need for protecting Palestinian civilians since the Oct. 7 attacks and has called for a ceasefire in the war. That has put him at odds with some pro-Israel poker players such as Mike Matusow.
Matusow has been particularly bothered by many of Bonomo’s comments, alleging that Bonomo is actually supporting Hamas. He wasted no time in calling out Bonomo on Twitter regarding the incident, even calling for him to be jailed.
“He should not be allowed to play poker tourneys!” Matusow said. “Can’t wait for Trump to throw people who support terrorism in jail! Maybe ‘jihadomo’ will be first!”
Matusow, of course, is no stranger to jail himself, having served six months after trying to sell narcotics to an undercover police officer.
Although players remain divided on the issue, not everyone’s reaction was as extreme as Matusow’s. Some were appalled by the disqualification warning, while others noted that the series has a right to decide how things are run.
The latter view appeared to fall in line with WSOP rules that note: “Host Properties reserve the right at all times to impose a ban on any apparel deemed objectionable by Host Properties, in its sole and absolute discretion. Host Properties reserve the right to refuse entry or continued participation in an Event to any Participant who does not comply with the aforementioned apparel rules.”
“Whether you agree or disagree with Justin’s politics, this is maybe the most insane overstep by an operator in recent memory,” wrote outspoken high-stakes pro Matt Berkey. “I can’t fathom a world where they’d tell someone to remove their yarmulka or Star of David.”
The scarf was also worn in the tournament by poker pro and author Michael Acevedo, who was eliminated early on. Bonomo was ultimately one of the nine players reaching the final table and sits eighth in chips. While he wouldn’t apparently be wearing a keffiyeh, he was planning instead to wear a Palestinian flag.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has made its way into poker headlines before. Back in 2014, PokerStars banned political attire in their events after high-stakes pros Olivier Busquet and Dan Colman wore shirts that said, ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Save Gaza’ at a livestreamed high roller final table.
In 2021, Mike Ruter took criticism for wearing a ‘Free Palestine’ shirt at a WSOP final table. Ruter was part of the duo that won the Tag Team event, which had been heads-up with Israel’s Tomer Wolf and David Lander.
Player Reactions
Whether you agree or disagree with Justin’s politics, this is maybe the most insane over step by an operator in recent memory. https://t.co/9zjwmt3YQv
— Matt Berkey (@berkey11) December 18, 2024
Only bc Justin is known to be making a political statement. Would they ask a random Sheik splashing around to remove? It also works both ways. I can’t fathom a world where they tell someone to remove their yamaka or star of David or be DQ’d.
— Matt Berkey (@berkey11) December 19, 2024
The WSOP have painted themselves further into a partisan corner by banning @JustinBonomo from wearing a Palestinian scarf, and anyone celebrating the decision can shut up about ‘Cancel Culture’ forever.
— Barny Boatman (@barnyboatman) December 19, 2024
I just wanna say, 99.99 percent of the smooth brains freaking out about the scarf wouldn’t even know wtf it is if WSOP didn’t turn it into a side show and Bonomo making it a “look at me” moment.
— Teddy KGB (@SATX_Poker) December 19, 2024
Phil Hellmuth threatened to burn the Rio down during a live-streamed final table and WSOP did nothing. Not even a one round penalty. Justin Bonomo wore what is essentially a middle eastern scarf, and WSOP is threatening to DQ him.
— MattBlagg (@MattBlagg) December 19, 2024
He should not be allowed to play poker tourneys! Can’t wait for Trump to thow people who support terrorism in jail! Maybe jihadomo will be first! https://t.co/XKxfxSUiY7
— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) December 18, 2024
So @JustinBonomo doesn’t have the keffiyeh on anymore and all of the sudden we see his face on the stream.
— Pragress (@PrahladFriedman) December 18, 2024
The Bonomo discussion is fucking stupid. Do i think he should be allowed to wear the lil scarf? sure why not? But he only wore it to be a performative little bitch and piss ppl off. It worked. He made the FT. Now he gets to bitch and jerk himself off some more. WIN/WIN.
— (@SlayAbides33) December 19, 2024
WSOP forcing Justin Bonomo to remove his keffiyeh seems like an oppressive overreach regarding freedom of expression, but if you look at the actual details, the request makes sense.
Read on… (1/x)
— Todd Witteles (@ToddWitteles) December 19, 2024
I despise Bonomo, am very pro-israel, and instantly judge people wearing a keffiyeh. And this is still complete lolz_whatthefuck. Let him wear it. Wild.
— Falant (@Falkenby) December 19, 2024
To me it’s same as wearing a swaztika! You’re either for Israel or for terrorist! Period https://t.co/WOWEKBCG4E
— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) December 19, 2024
*Screenshot from WSOP