A new rule for the WSOP Paradise prohibits both electronic and human assistance during tournaments. [Image: PokerGO.com]

It’s up to the player alone

The 2024 World Series of Poker was another roaring success, but like every WSOP, it was not devoid of controversy. And to prevent such controversies from happening in the future, a new rule for the upcoming WSOP Paradise severely restricts the use of electronic assistance and coaching.

Spectators are also prohibited from providing live assistance or coaching.”

According to Rule 63(b) of the WSOP Paradise official rulebook, “Players and spectators are not allowed to use charts, apps, or any other form of electronic assistance in the tournament room,” and “Spectators are also prohibited from providing live assistance or coaching.”

Penalties for violating this rule are undefined but can include disqualification for the player. Spectators who break the rule can be kicked out, and the player they are helping can be penalized.

Tamayo and friends created a stir

The new rule, first brought to the public’s attention by Kevin Mathers, is a response to what happened at the 2024 WSOP Main Event final table, won by Jonathan Tamayo.

Like many players at that stage of a major tournament, Tamayo often discussed the proceedings with his rail between hands. The two main people in his corner were 2015 WSOP Main Event champ Joe McKeehen and top poker pro and creator of the DTO Poker Trainer, Dominik Nitsche.

What really drew the ire of many poker fans was not that the three men talked to each other, but that Tamayo’s rail clearly had a laptop open with real-time assistance (RTA) software running.

the “lack of subtlety” was a bit shocking to some, even if Tamayo didn’t do anything while in a hand

RTA software is prohibited online and most people presume that nobody would try to use it in a live tournament, so, as VSO News’ David Lappin put it, the “lack of subtlety” was a bit shocking to some, even if Tamayo didn’t do anything while in a hand. But regardless of how it looked, none of what Tamayo and his friends did was against the rules.

For his part, Mr. Lappin said he thought it would be difficult to police an electronic assistance ban on the rail, adding: “It is probably best to leave it as is and for the community to own and embrace what the game has become, even if some aspects of that are unpalatable to some.”

Other electronics restrictions in place

That was not the only rule adjustment regarding electronics for WSOP Paradise, which is set for December 6-19 in the Bahamas.

Players are still allowed to use approved electronic devices (assuming the devices are only used for things like listening to music and not cheating), but Rule 62 now states that said devices are not allowed to be placed on the table or the table rail.

Additionally, Rules 63(a) and (c) specify that all electronic devices, even those that are approved, are to be removed from the table once the tournament is down to three tables. Compare this to this summer’s WSOP official rules, which only barred electronic devices at the final table.