Who Gives a Sh About the Integrity of the Game?
Prioritizing Game Integrity Crucial for Poker's Survival and Growth
Last week, notorious poker cheat Ali Imsirovic was spotted grinding the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) $1,200 Main Event at bestbet Jacksonville. But don't get too excited, folks, because he wasn't there for long. Less than a day into the tournament, Imsirovic was booted out without a trace. The reason? Well, let's just say ol' Ali's past cheating Advantages didn't go unnoticed.
Imsirovic, who's admitted to multi-accounting and ghosting in MTTs, but denies other accusations, was unceremoniously kicked out. It wasn't the first time Imsirovic faced consequences for his misdeeds. Just a couple of months back, he was shown the door mid-tournament from the $1,500 Champions Club Winter Poker Open Main Event in Houston, Texas.
"Protecting our members is our top priority," said Champions Club President, Isaac Trumbo, who, let's face it, could've thrown a better title for this Op-Ed. "If poker's gonna continue to hold its own, the community needs to trust operators to prioritize integrity above all else, even if it means taking a financial hit."
When I first heard about the decision, I gave a "kudos." But y'all, the reaction was more polarized than a political debate down south. This controversy reeks of a can of worms, not just one, but several—and they stink!
👏 | Assuming he was ousted due to his admitted past cheating, kudos to @bestbet_jax expelling him from the @RGPokerSeries event in Florida.
Precedented set at @PokerGOStudio, @ChampionsClubTX followed & so does bestbet.
More venues against bad actors.https://t.co/pEYKQdRad3— Chad Holloway (@ChadAHolloway) May 2, 2025
WTF, Man?He's Already Registered!
The furor was multi-dimensional, but it seems to have boiled down to two main issues. The first was how bestbet Jacksonville handled things, specifically, banning him mid-tournament instead of preventing him from participating in the first place. The second? The cheating motherfker's treatment in the poker world. Is online cheating a deal-breaker for live play at an unrelated venue? Why pick on poor Imsirovic when others engage in equally shady shit? Is the cheating jackass looking to redeem himself, or has he served his time (sort of)? Should his sentence be a life-long ban, or should he be welcomed back after a decent layoff? Fk, who knows!
I ain't got all the answers, but I'd like to share a few thoughts on this mess.
A Shit-Show called Poker Integrity Council
Generally speaking, bad actors don't get a passport to across-the-board cheating. Each tour and venue may have their own blacklist, but it's certainly not standardized. The Poker Integrity Council (PIC), established in '22, aimed to fix this problem but appears to have gone down the toilet. Spearheaded by GGPoker, the council consisted of Jason Koon, Fedor Holz, Andrew "LuckyChewy" Lichtenberger, Seth Davies (Run it Once), and Nick Petrangelo (Upswing Poker).
The council's mission was noble: investigate integrity issues on a case-by-case basis, review hand histories, and serve up punishments for online cheaters. GGPoker's punishment for cheaters could include a simple slap on the wrist, suspension, or banishment, depending on the severity of the infraction. They also intended to collaborate with major live tournament operators to establish an industry-wide ban for cheaters, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP), World Poker Tour (WPT), Triton Poker, Poker After Dark, Kings Casino, Asian Poker Tour (APT), and more.
But where is this PIC now? Koon bailed on GGPoker, and the rest of the council fell silent. To be honest, it doesn't seem like PIC has made much progress in the last nearly three years. I hope they don't call it quits, especially since GGPoker bought WSOP. They have another chance to lead the way in the integrity department.
Who's Watching Our Backs?
Look, bad actors have been rampant in the poker world for ages. But is there any organization taking a stand against them and keeping the game's integrity intact? Well, according to some dude on the internet, there should be, but we're still waiting for that moment to happen.
In the absence of a unified poker blacklist, it seems we're still relying on the Tournament Directors' Association (TDA) to keep things in check. Every year, the TDA convenes to review and implement better practices to maintain consistency in live games. It's not much, but it's something.
I am on the side of the customer.
I am prepared to offer benefit of doubt.
I will be scrupulously fair.
Unless... you are a proven cheat, and then I don't care.
Something unfair happened to a cheat?
The cheat got cheated?
I.
Don't.
Care.
Fuck cheats.
All of 'em.
Twice.— Kat Arnsby (@ThePokerBaffer) May 2, 2025
Imsirovic's gotta be wishing he'd stuck to pirating pirate movies by now. Let's face it, the guy's begged for controversy, and so far, he's gotten it in spades. From juggling multiple accounts to vanishing act gaming, Imsirovic's cheating ways have left a trail of ruined cred and befuddled tournament directors in his wake.
Now that Champions Club and bestbet Jacksonville have banned the scoundrel, will other venues follow suit? Or will the shimmery chintzy pirate coin continue to sail into unsuspecting waters, causing chaos and mayhem wherever he roams? Only time will tell.
-Chris Moneymaker, Host of PokerNews Podcast and 2003 WSOP Main Event Champion.
- The news about Ali Imsirovic's latest poker venture at the bestbet Jacksonville casino did not bring much excitement, as he was swiftly kicked out due to his past cheating exploits.
- The general public's reaction to his expulsion was polarized, with concerns raised about the integrity of casino-and-gambling events and the inconsistency in dealing with cheating individuals.
- One of the main issues was bestbet Jacksonville's handling of the situation, as Imsirovic should have been prevented from participating in the first place rather than being banned mid-tournament.
- Crime-and-justice advocates argued that online cheating should be a disqualifying factor for live play at unrelated venues, and that Imsirovic's treatment in the poker world was unjust compared to others who engage in similarly shady activities.
- The Poker Integrity Council (PIC), established to standardize blacklisting of bad actors across tours and venues, has yet to make significant progress, leaving the poker community vulnerable to liabilities associated with cheating.
- In the absence of a unified poker blacklist, organizations such as the Tournament Directors' Association (TDA) continue to play a crucial role in maintaining the consistency and integrity of casino-games and general-news related to poker and sports.
