New World Series Of Poker Ownership Could Ban Online Cheats From Live Play

The new ownership group of the World Series of Poker brand might be making some big changes to who can play events this summer.

Last August, Caesars Entertainment announced it was selling the WSOP to NSUS Group for $500 million. NSUS owns and operates the online poker site GGPoker.

If what one of GGPoker’s ambassadors said is true, then those found guilty of cheating while playing on GGPoker will not be allowed to participate in WSOP events.

Last Thursday, GGPoker tweeted that it blocked 31 accounts for violating their terms of service. High-stakes tournament regular Patrick Leonard quote tweeted the GGPoker announcement asking if the players who are associated with those accounts will not be allowed to play in WSOP live events.

GGPoker’s official account didn’t respond to the inquiry. However, Fedor Holz, a fellow high-stakes pro and ambassador for the site, said they would be.

That’s the plan and that’s what will happen

— Fedor Holz (@CrownUpGuy) March 1, 2025

Card Player reached out to WSOP officials for comment and are awaiting response.

Blocked Accounts Were Likely Using Real-Time Assistance

GGPoker decided to ban the accounts after consultating with GTO Wizard, a company that operates a popular poker solver.

As solvers became more prevalent in poker, and the software began spitting out information at a more rapid pace, many in the poker community believed there was a big risk to players using it during online play. This is more commonly known as using real-time assistance.

In response, GTO Wizard released its fair play check in September 2023. This tool allowed players to check whether particular spots were looked up in the timeframe they suspected someone of cheating.

Thus, it makes sense that these accounts were using real-time assistance, and not other forms of cheating like multi-accounting or ghosting.

Real-time assistance first came to the forefront as a prominent online poker problem in September 2020 when German player Fedor Kruse was accused of using it.

According to the allegations from his former roomates, Kruse was using two separate computers while playing online. One for the poker site and the other to run solvers while he was playing.

Since then, the number of real-time assistance accusations have only increased.

In January, sponsored pro Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero was accused of using the software while playing. The accusations came after Barbero posted an Instagram story where the software could be seen in the background of his online play.

Will WSOP Ban Other Poker Cheats?

If the WSOP bans these accounts, it would definitely set a precedent that cheating online, or at least on GGPoker, would have real-life ramifications.

But does this move mean the WSOP will take action against other players who were found to be cheating?

One of the more notorious recent poker cheats is 2021 Card Player Player of the Year Ali Imsirovic.

In 2022, the Bosnian pro was called out for multi-accounting, ghosting and the use of real-time assistance. High-stakes regulars Jake Schindler and Bryn Kenney were also named in the accusations.

In June 2023, Imsirovic released a video where he admitted to multi-accounting and said GGPoker seized $320,000 from his account.

Since then, Imisirovic’s live tournament appearances have been sparse. But just a few weeks ago, he registered for a $1,500 no-limit hold’em tournament at Champions Club in Houston.

Despite having the necessary funds, Champions Club staff refunded his money, removed him from the tournament and banned him from the poker room.

The PokerGO Tour made the same decision about Imsirovic in 2022, banning him from their events. PGT staff made the decision to ban Schindler as well.

During previous summers, the duo have taken seats in WSOP events. Imsirovic had two cashes during the 2024 series. Schindler didn’t have any recorded WSOP cashes last year, but won the $50,000 no-limit hold’em high roller in 2022 and finished third in the $50,000 no-limit hold’em high roller in 2023.

If GGPoker follows through and refuses to let the recently banned accounts play in WSOP events, it’s very likely Imsirovic and Schindler won’t be allowed at the Horseshoe Las Vegas this summer either.

Moreover, it would mark a seismic shift in poker policy, creating serious ramifications for bad actors.