The online poker world is buzzing, and not in a good way. Brian Hastings, a six-time WSOP bracelet winner, dropped a bombshell on X (formerly Twitter), posting videos that appear to show blatant collusion in a $1,055 buy-in tournament on Ignition Poker. Hastings’ accusations have ignited a firestorm of debate, raising serious questions about the integrity of tournaments on unregulated sites.
Hastings Sounds the Alarm
Hastings, a highly respected figure in the poker world with over $5.40 Million in live tournament earnings, took to social media to highlight a sequence of suspicious hands that unfolded near the money bubble.
In one clip, two players with nearly identical hands engage in a bizarre betting war, ultimately splitting the pot in a manner that raises eyebrows.
Happening again in Ignition $1055. Players 110-118 all seated at same table playing fake hands like this. Clearly communicating holecard info so nobody busts @IgnitionCasino pic.twitter.com/NPRzLyZnz3
— Brian Hastings (@brianchastings) January 29, 2025
Another video shows a player with a minuscule stack making a seemingly nonsensical all-in bet that somehow gets through multiple larger stacks. Perhaps the most damning video captures a hand two spots from the money where a player makes a questionable river bet that could have busted another player, only to win a tiny side pot.
0.1bb gets it through multiway on the river to survive pic.twitter.com/4brtFZtwWw
— Brian Hastings (@brianchastings) January 29, 2025
Poker Community Reacts
These videos sparked outrage and disbelief among the poker community. Many players and industry figures, including Tony Dunst and Brock Wilson, expressed their concerns about the integrity of Ignition’s games.
Yikes, can’t play on there with this stuff
— TonyDunstTV (@tonydunsttv) January 29, 2025
Victoria Livschitz, CEO of Octopi Poker, called the videos “insane,” while Dunst stated he wouldn’t feel safe playing on the site. Wilson suggested that if collusion was happening at the $1,000 buy-in level, it could be even more widespread at lower stakes.
Damn. This thread is insane
— Victoria Livschitz (@VictoriaL_64) January 29, 2025
This isn’t even real poker ..
Need to play in places where this is not tolerated or policed immediately.
Sadly it’s very rare for that to be a possibility. Especially in NL.
Would be nice if people in the poker community that are sponsored by them say or do something re: this
— Carlos Figgy (@OldManCawfee) January 29, 2025
My favorite part of all of this is that we’ve heard of a few big winners get banned for literally winning too much & yet they give zero fucks about this blatant collusion happening.
— Jeff Stellwagon (@ARJeff_) January 29, 2025
Crazy how it just keeps happening. Legit had same thing happen to me a couple months back.
— Jake96333 (@Takngsoulspoker) January 29, 2025
What does @IgnitionCasino ever say? I never hear from them when people post this stuff!
— Rutland34 (@Rutland3434) January 29, 2025
Crazy crazy crazy. I didn’t buy in tonight just so I could watch it play out how I thought it was…. And sure enough….. but with player pools combined they could be from the other 2 sites @BovadaOfficial @Bodog
— Hello my name a Borat (@2PartySlave) January 29, 2025
Ignition’s Response: Too Little, Too Late?
Faced with mounting pressure, Ignition Poker issued a brief statement to PokerOrg, asserting that they were “looking into this further with the appropriate part of our team.” However, this generic response did little to quell the concerns of players who now question the platform’s security and fairness.
The controversy underscores the risks associated with playing on unregulated poker sites. Unlike licensed operators in states like Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, sites like Ignition operate in a legal grey area, leaving players with little recourse in the event of cheating, collusion, or unfair practices. While cheating can occur on any poker platform, regulated sites offer greater oversight, dedicated security teams, and mechanisms to investigate and address fraud.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Next for Ignition and Online Poker?
This latest scandal raises larger questions about the safety of online poker, particularly for US players who lack access to regulated options unless in select states. Despite being a vocal critic of the situation, Hastings acknowledged that he remains profitable on the site and plans to continue playing—albeit avoiding high buy-in, small-field tournaments where collusion is easier to execute.
For many players, however, this controversy serves as a stark warning. With Ignition’s reputation taking a hit, alternatives like WSOP, PokerStars, BetMGM, and even the upcoming ClubWPT Gold—set to launch as a sweepstakes-based poker site—may become more attractive options for those seeking a safer and more secure online poker environment.
We even contacted Ignition Poker for clarification, but we didn’t receive a response by the time we published this report. One thing is certain: Ignition Poker is now under intense scrutiny, and the community will be watching closely to see how they address these allegations. Whether real changes will be implemented or if this will be yet another controversy that fades into obscurity remains to be seen.
This is a developing story. Keep following PokerGuru for all the latest updates!