The WSOP makes statement about RTA use

Following a controversial incident at a WPT event, the World Series of Poker has made a statement about players using solvers on their phones at the series.

Players who are caught referencing a solver that could be used as Real Time Assistance (RTA) on their smartphones during a live hand risk a penalty of disqualification. 

PokerNews reported that the WSOP issued the following statement: 

If caught using RTA/GTO software during a hand, player will be subject to penalty up to and including DQ (disqualification) / trespass. We reserve the right to further penalize a player for using RTA/GTO in any other situation in our sole and absolute discretion. Players may continue to use their device to play wsop.com or use the Caesars Sportsbook app while in/out of a hand.

This is not entirely a new rule in that you are not allowed to use a phone during a live hand, but it is the first time it has been clarified in the context of RTA. 

This statement comes following an incident from the WPT Gardens Poker Championship last month when a player was called out for looking at a solver while playing. 

If you spot someone using a solver real-time, say something, just like this guy did today at @WPT Gardens. What is the penalty for this @wsop @Kevmath.

It’s my understanding that this player received NO penalty pic.twitter.com/fa7iktTbbq

— Joshua Arieh (@JoshuaArieh) May 23, 2023

The player in question, Andrew Esposito, later said that he was looking up a previously played hand on GTO WIzard to see if he had played it correctly, rather than referencing it to inform his future decisions. This led to a fierce debate in the poker community about phone usage in general and how to police potential RTA issues in the future. 

One thing that seems certain is that the staff and players will be vigilant this year about calling this out, so if you are at the series and tempted to look up a previously played hand on your phone, at the very least wait until a break. 

Do you think RTA is an issue in live poker? Let us know in the comments: