No More Tech Aid at the 2025 WSOP
Mobile Devices Prohibited During WSOP As Tournaments Reduce to Fewer Than Three Tables
Get ready for some old-school poker action as the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) gears up to kick off! With just three weeks until the grand event, WSOP organizers have spilled the beans on the official rulebook, and it's a game-changer for tech-savvy players. Say goodbye to your phones and all electronic devices once you're down to the last three tables.
That's right, folks. Even devices usually allowed will be off-limits, and cooperation from outside the tournament room, like viewing the tournament stream or using electronic assistance, is strictly forbidden. Rule 64e leaves no room for ambiguity: no tech aids for anybody in the room, not just the players themselves!
Rule 64a piles on the details, stating that it's a no-go to use or possess any device, software, or hardware to gain an advantage in the game. This means any gear designed to predict game outcomes, keep track of cards, calculate probabilities, or strategize bets – all are out of bounds.
This clampdown on tech comes after last year's WSOP Main Event caused a stir, with coaches and friends providing real-time assistance (RTA) software support to players. Although it wasn't against the rules, the spectacle left a bad taste in the poker community. The 2025 WSOP aims to restore the spirit of true competition by ensuring players make decisions based solely on their skills and instincts.
Get ready for some classic poker action – no laptops, no smartphones, just pure talent and a deck of cards! The 2025 World Series of Poker kicks off on May 27 – are you ready to hit the felt?
Image credit: PokerGO.com
Bonus Fact:
- Real-time assistance (RTA) software helps players make decisions by analyzing their hand's strength compared to the opponent's range of possible hands. RTA tools can also suggest the optimal bet size and strategies to maximize the probability of winning. Some popular RTA tools include PokerTracker, Hold'em Manager, and Flopzilla.
[1] ESPN - WSOP and PokerGo World Championship of Online Poker High Roller Event Experiences Technical Issues[2] PokerNews - Report: Wynn Poker Room Now Offering Tablets at Every Table[3] Poker News Daily - WSOP Announces Major Rule Change for 2023: No More 54,000-Chip Starting Stacks in Events with 750 Players or Less[4] PokerNews - WSOP Pushes Back 2023 Dates to June, Extends Online Series into Early May[5] WSOP - WSOP+ App
- In the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP), electronic devices, including phones, will be prohibited at the last three tables for a return to traditional poker play.
- The new rulebook states that no tech aids are allowed, even outside the tournament room, to ensure honest competition based on skill and instinct, condemning the use of real-time assistance (RTA) software.
- Devices that help predict game outcomes, keep track of cards, calculate probabilities, or offer betting strategies are forbidden, as per Rule 64a.
- Last year's WSOP Main Event had some controversy when coaches and friends provided RTA support, leaving a poor impression on the poker community.
- Prepare for a simple poker experience in 2025 as technology, such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets, will take the back seat, allowing pure talent and a deck of cards to lead the game.
- Start marking your calendars for May 27, 2025, as the 2025 World Series of Poker commences – will you seize the opportunity to excel without tech distractions?
- Players beware: no RTA tools like PokerTracker, Hold'em Manager, or Flopzilla will offer an edge, leaving only their abilities to steer the bets and win the game.
- With the technological restrictions in place for the 2025 WSOP, it's time to test your cognitive and strategic skills to reign supreme in the casino-and-gambling scene, showcasing the true spirit of casino-games such as poker and sports.
