tazing the poker world: rta drama unfolds
Poker room ambassador Nacho Barbero is no longer affiliated with ACR Poker.
Nacho Barbero has been let go from ACR Poker. In a statement on Monday, ACR CEO Phil Nagy pointed to comments Barbero made on a US Poker Open broadcast, stating they revealed concerns about Barbero's understanding of ACR's security measures and his role as an ambassador.
The controversy began back in January, when Barbero posted a pic to his Instagram showing him using the real-time assistance (RTA) app GTO Wizard while he had ACR tables open. Despite the uproar from both poker players and fans, ACR initially defended Barbero, calling him a "goofball."
Barbero claimed he was merely coaching other players, but that explanation didn't sit well with many. After an investigation, ACR cleared Barbero of any wrongdoing.
The same controversy resurfaced last month with ACR Pro Ebony Kenney, whose old photo with GTO Wizard and ACR tables sparked controversy a year after she posted it. Like Barbero, Kenney denied cheating and ACR also dismissed the allegations.
intrusive thoughts spill out
The RTA issue was on the mind of Isaac Haxton during PokerGO's US Poker Open broadcast last week. Sitting next to Barbero, Haxton questioned why ACR didn't catch it automatically. Barbero laughed it off, but Haxton pressed on, asking if ACR was even trying. Barbero simply replied, "I don't think they're trying."
ACR's defense of Barbero didn't sit well, leading to his departure from the platform.
"To our knowledge, Nacho has not brought any security concerns or questions to us," Nagy said in Monday's statement. "As an ambassador, partner, and friend, we expect our team pros to engage with us proactively if they have any concerns about the platform."
Nagy added that Barbero's comments about ACR's efforts were "a fundamental misalignment with our values" and grounds for dismissal.
RTA apps provide players with immediate, solver-based strategic advice during live gameplay, giving them an unfair advantage. While poker trackers and HUDs collect and display historical data, they don't provide real-time move suggestions. Online poker rooms face the challenge of detecting and addressing RTA software abuses to maintain game integrity.
Image credit: PokerGO.com
Additional Insights
RTA tools intercept the game state and run solver queries instantaneously to suggest optimal moves, effectively acting as an in-game coach that knows the perfect strategy at any moment[2]. The use of these apps undermines fair play, leads to unfair competition, and damages player trust[2]. Online poker rooms, like ACR, have to detect suspicious patterns of play consistent with RTA use, investigate, and take enforcement actions such as suspensions, confiscation of winnings, and bans[5]. The challenge is to maintain game integrity while allowing skilled players to use tools for self-improvement and analysis.
[1] PokerNews[2] PokerGuru[3] PokerStrategy[4] PokerListings[5] ACR Poker
- Nacho Barbero, formerly an ambassador for ACR Poker, was let go due to his comments revealing concerns about ACR's security measures and his role as an ambassador, following his use of the RTA app GTO Wizard during gameplay.
- Isaac Haxton voiced his concern over ACR's supposed lack of effort to detected RTA app usage during a PokerGO broadcast, while Barbero was still an ACR ambassador.
- PokerGO's US Poker Open broadcast last week sparked discussions about RTA apps, which provide real-time, solver-based strategic advice, giving players an unfair advantage and undermining fair play.
- Online poker rooms like ACR face challenges in detecting and addressing RTA software abuses to maintain game integrity, while allowing skilled players to use tools for self-improvement and analysis.
- ACR Pro Ebony Kenney also faced controversy for a photo showing her using the GTO Wizard app and ACR tables, sparking allegations of cheating, much like Barbero did earlier.
