Nevada Bill Seeks to Publicly Name Players Caught Cheating at Online Poker

Summary

• Online poker cheats are set to be publicly named under AB380
• The measure also applies to regulators in other MSIGA member states where WSOP.com operates
• The Bill was put forward calls for a global ban on poker cheats, including Imsirovic and Schindler

A new Bill submitted in Nevada is seeking to publicly name individuals suspended or banned from online poker platforms due to cheating.

The proposal was put forward by Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, a poker enthusiast. Yeager said the main aim of the Bill is to have transparency and accountability within the poker world concerning players caught acting dishonestly and violating the rules.

Names of Cheaters to be Made Public

Under Assembly Bill 380, the Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) would be required to create rules that would make public personal details of cheaters suspended or banned from online poker sites, including their full name, date of birth, and account handle. The legislation also gives players the right to appeal.

At the moment, only one online poker room is operating in Nevada – WSOP.com, owned by Caesars Entertainment. However, the state is currently part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), a shared liquidity pact that allows local players to compete with those in New Jersey and Michigan. This means gaming regulators in other US states that are members of the MSIGA and where WSOP.com operates would also be required to provide a similar list.

The Bill is up for review at the Committee on Judiciary and Yeager said amendments will likely be made before legislators debate the proposal.

Growing Support for All-Out Ban Against Cheaters

Cheating is among the major issues facing online poker sites today, with the leading operators actively cracking down on players employing illegal methods to their own benefit. Over the past few years, we’ve seen big names being banned from sites for cheating, including Ali Imsirovic and Jake Schindler.

While there is no confirmation yet, there have been reports that both players have been banned from GGPoker since 2020. They have also been suspended from participating in the PokerGO Tour (PGT) since September. The duo allegedly robbed other players of their money via multi-accounting, colluding, and using real-time assistance (RTA) software.

With these allegations, there have been calls for all poker operators both live and online to ban cheaters, a move supported by prominent pros such as Daniel Negreanu and Jason Koon.

Imsirovic and Schindler are highly-accomplished players with multiple titles under their belts. Imsirovic was crowned the first PGT champion in 2021 after winning 14 different PGT events during the year. Schindler is a WSOP bracelet winner and also a Super High Roller Bowl champion. Both are high-stakes superstars with more than $18.6 million and $35.4 million in total live cashes respectively.