Streamer Prohibited From Major Poker Platform for Alleged Use of Real-Time Analysis Charts During Gameplay
Online Poker Chaos: WPT Global Cracks Down on Real-Time Assistance (RTA) Tools
In the exciting, yet cutthroat world of online poker, WPT Global, a leading platform, has warned against using any tools that could be perceived as real-time-assistance (RTA). The move follows a controversial ban on a Twitch streamer, Alan Finn (alias "AlanFPoker"), that sparked a debate over the appropriateness of the action.
The ban was issued after spectators spotted some chart-like visuals on Finn's screen during a low-stakes game. Despite the content being in Excel spreadsheet format, rather than an app designed for providing real-time hand assistance, the visuals raised eyebrows as they appeared to indicate hand range analysis.
Alan Finn, an Irish poker player with 2,700 Twitch followers and minimal live tournament wins, was the recipient of the controversial ban. Poker professional Patrick Leonard shared a screenshot apparently showing multiple potential RTA charts on Finn's computer during a Sunday stream.
However, not everyone was convinced that Finn was in the wrong. The charts in question were in Excel format, titled "Mom's Shopping List" and "WPT Range", raising questions about their intended purpose. Regardless, the controversy brewed, leading some to question whether Finn had crossed an ethical line.
WPT Global's rulebook (Rule 9.2) clearly states that players are forbidden from using devices that offer an edge by distorting normal play or providing external player assistance (EPAs) programs. The site emphasizes that players must make their decisions independently without relying on external information.
Following the ban, Finn deleted the infamous stream and hasn't publicly commented on the matter. WPT Global, however, took to its X account to reinforce the importance of upholding the rules to "keep the game alive."
The debate over RTA tools has been a hot topic in the poker community, with some platforms seemingly unconcerned about cheating. ACR Poker, for instance, showed indifference when its top ambassador, Nacho Barbero, was caught using an RTA chart. Barbero was eventually let go, not for using an RTA, but for exposing the site's perceived lack of action against cheating.
Although Finn was not an ambassador for WPT Global, his ban highlights the site's commitment to enforcing its RTA rules, regardless of the tool used. Live, fair play remains the cornerstone of the online poker community, with sites like WPT Global leading the charge to maintain fair competition.
[1] WPT Global's strict stance on RTA use can be found here: https://support.wptglobal.com/article/31-prohibited-activity
[2] ACR Poker's rules regarding RTA use: https://www.acrpoker.eu/Terms-and-Conditions/
[3] Legal poker tools for data analysis: https://www.pokertoday.at/en/pokertoday-test/pokertracker-4-review/
- In the light of the recent controversy, casino-and-gambling platforms like WPT Global are cracking down on the use of tools that offer an edge in casino-games such as poker, particularly those perceived as real-time assistance (RTA).
- The news of WPT Global's ban on Alan Finn, a poker player who was using Excel spreadsheets that seemed to indicate hand range analysis, has sparked a debate about the appropriateness of RTA tools in online poker, with some platforms appearing to be more lax in enforcing such regulations.
