"No leniency for Racing and Traffic Act (RTA) violations: Digital platform penalizes and publicly identifies poker broadcaster"

"No leniency for Racing and Traffic Act (RTA) violations: Digital platform penalizes and publicly identifies poker broadcaster"

In a move aimed at maintaining fairness and upholding the integrity of online poker, WPT Global has taken action against well-known poker professional AlanFPoker for using Excel spreadsheets during a game. This practice, which has been requested by many players, is a step that WPT Global has taken to ensure a level playing field for all participants.

The player's ban was effective immediately, following a tweet by another poker pro, Patrick Leonard, about the incident. However, Patrick Leonard later deleted his initial tweet about the matter. AlanFPoker, who is a YouTube and Twitch streamer with 3.3K subscribers on YouTube and 2.7K followers on Twitch, has not made any public comments since the incident.

This is not the first time that a high-profile poker player has faced consequences for using external aids during gameplay. AlanFPoker's case follows that of Nacho Barbero at ACR Poker, another well-known player who encountered similar issues.

Online poker platforms have varied policies regarding the use of third-party software or external aids. WPT Global's 'Prohibited Activity List' includes using third-party software add-ons that automate or aid in decision-making of bet sizing or strategy. The use of real-time Heads-Up Displays (HUDs) or tracking tools like Poker Tracker and Hold’em Manager is generally banned on many sites, particularly those focused on recreational players.

However, the use of software tools for post-session analysis—loading hand histories into Excel, PokerTracker, or Hold’em Manager for later study—is generally allowed and encouraged for player improvement.

Enforcement of these policies tends to be more stringent on platforms prioritizing player protection and recreational fairness. Violations may result in account suspension, bans, or other penalties, as governed by Terms of Service and software End User License Agreements (EULA).

Despite the ban, some members of the poker community have criticized WPT Global's decision, stating that a warning might have been more appropriate. WPT Global has, however, made it clear that they do not tolerate Real-Time Assistance (RTA) during gameplay.

Players are advised to consult the specific terms and policies of the poker platform they use and monitor community forums or official site announcements for updates on incidents and enforcement actions.

[1] Chico Poker Network, "Fair Play Policy," accessed May 20, 2023, [2] PokerNews, "The Rise of Anonymous Tables," accessed May 20, 2023,

1. The controversy surrounding AlanFPoker's ban from WPT Global for using Excel spreadsheets during a poker game has sparked discussions about the use of third-party software in casino-and-gambling, with some arguing for leniency, while others maintain that such practices undermine casino-culture and sports-betting fairness.
2. While the use of software tools for post-session analysis is generally allowed for player improvement, using real-time assistance (RTA) during gameplay, such as the case with AlanFPoker, is strictly prohibited by many online poker platforms, including WPT Global.
3. The rising incidences of high-profile poker players being penalized for using external aids during gameplay, like AlanFPoker and Nacho Barbero, highlight the importance of understanding and adhering to a platform's policies on casino-games and sports-betting, particularly in regards to the use of third-party software.

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