Caught Red-Handed: AlanFPoker and Excel Charts in Poker Stream
Streamer Prohibited by WPT Global for Employing Real-Time Aid During Games
The latest online poker scandal unravels as Alan Finn, a streamer on WPT Global, found himself in hot water for having Microsoft Excel range charts on his screen during his stream.
A couple of windows at the bottom of Finn's screen showcased range charts, aiding players in making decisions. The first, labeled "WPT RANGE v2.0," and the second, amusingly named "xMoms Shopping List," were both Excel files. His streaming session ended quickly after these spreadsheets appeared, with WPT Global banning him shortly afterward.
Patrick Leonard, another pro poker player, posted a screenshot of the incident on his X account but later removed it, stating, "No need to publicly destroy him. @wpt_global banned him within 30 minutes, so good job to them. Hopefully, he learns from it."
But was it a fair game penalty?
The disagreement within the poker community arises as to the legitimacy of Finn's ban. The range spreadsheets like the ones on display seem closer to blackjack strategy cards, often provided by casinos, than real-time assistance (RTA). These static spreadsheets, however, are prohibited on WPT Global [1][4][5].
WPT Global's rules dictate that players are forbidden from using devices or programs that "distort normal play on the Site and give the player an unfair advantage." While Finn was consulting the charts, he wasn't receiving real-time, automated assistance from a computer program. He was, in essence, using notes.
However, according to WPT Global's rule, even a static spreadsheet like Finn's would be classified as "information other than that obtained during the Player's own play." Some sites do allow pre-flop range chart usage, as long as the charts do not automate decision-making [3].
Despite deleting the video of his stream, Finn's poker game resulted in a direct hit. The infringement of WPT Global's rules is clear; the question remains if the punishment was justified.
- The ban imposed on Alan Finn, a WPT Global streamer, has sparked debate within the poker community, as some question the legitimacy of his punishment for using Microsoft Excel range charts.
- The range charts, such as the ones displayed by Finn, are not unlike blackjack strategy cards, which are sometimes provided by casinos, and are not considered real-time assistance (RTA).
- WPT Global's rules state that players are not allowed to use devices or programs that "distort normal play on the Site and give the player an unfair advantage."
- However, the static spreadsheets like the one used by Finn could be classified as "information other than that obtained during the Player's own play," as they are not providing real-time, automated assistance from a computer program.
- There are some sites that allow the use of pre-flop range charts, as long as they do not automate decision-making.
- Despite deleting the video of his stream and the subsequent ban, Finn managed to win a game, but the question remains if the punishment was justified for using a static Excel spreadsheet during gameplay.
