GGPoker Bans 31 Players for Illegal RTA Use

A total of 31 players have been banned by the GGPoker while the use of real-time assistance (RTA) software continues to rise in the online poker scene.

GGPoker Announces Bans

GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room, revealed it has banned 31 players for violating the platform’s rules. This follows previous statements by poker pro Fedor Holz, a member of GGPoker’s Poker Integrity Council, who stated there will be punishments for players who have been caught violating the rules.

The news comes from a Twitter post from the official GGPoker account. While the poker room did not go into detail about which rules exactly have been broken, it stated that it worked with GTO Wizard. GTO Wizard is a poker training tool designed to help players improve their game by using Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategies. With this being the case, it’s likely that the punished players have used real-time assistance (RTA) software while playing.

GGPoker defines RTA as any external tool that gives players an unfair edge, affects decision-making during play, or enables performance beyond their natural skills. All decisions at the poker table must be made without external aid. This includes prohibited assistance such as software, apps, websites, and even physical or digital reference materials. Players are strictly prohibited from using any type of chart while playing. Breaching these rules can result in severe penalties, including a permanent ban and forfeiture of funds.

RTA Software Use Is a Growing Problem

It seems that in recent times, RTA software has become a more prominent issue. For example, the unregulated site ACR Poker has been involved in several scandals, the most recent one with ACR ambassador Ebony Kenney. She came under scrutiny after a screenshot emerged showing an RTA chart open on her computer screen during gameplay.

The image revealed Kenney using GTO Wizard while playing a hand in the January 2024 Venom. Although Kenney explained that she had the tool open to review situations when she wasn’t actively involved in hands, the optics were unfavorable, and poker fans were skeptical of her explanation.

ACR pro Nacho Barbero also attracted attention when he was seen with an RTA chart open during an online poker session. Barbero explained that the chart was intended to assist others in a coaching session, not to aid his own gameplay. The ACR investigated both cases, however, they concluded that there was no rule violation.