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GGPoker ambassador Daniel Negreanu has been one of the most vociferous voices supporting a ban on poker cheats. On Wednesday, Negreanu brought back to life a debate that has waged on since last year.
In a tweet, Negreanu said that all poker sites and card rooms should ban accused cheater Ali Imsirovic, who he claimed continues to cheat. Negreanu pointed out – “I’m hearing that he is continuing his antics and is likely irredeemable at this point…He is the opposite of remorseful and is actually boastful, bragging about robbing former friends.”
Before knowing about Ali Imsirovic’s transgressions I thought he was a lifer who loved the game and would be a tournament fixture for a long time.
I’m hearing that he is continuing his antics and is likely irredeemable at this point
All operators both online and live should… https://t.co/J4xY3y91zk
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) March 8, 2023
For those who don’t remember, in April 2022, Alex Foxen called out Imsirovic for cheating, claiming the former PGT Player of the Year cheated in the PokerGO Super High Roller Bowl Europe in North Cyprus and on online sites. He was suspected of using real-time assistance tools online.
Having won the 2021 PokerGO Tour (PGT) Player of the Year (POY), Imsirovic performed consistently well in the various PGT tournaments early in 2023. However, given the serious allegations against Imsirovic, PokerGO suspended him from all the PGT events for the year in September-end. Even GGPoker banned Imsirovic after learning he used RTA tools during online play.
According to PokerNews, since he was banned from many regulated sites, Imsirovic has moved to unregulated poker sites and continues using RTA and multi-accounting.
Several poker pros have joined the chorus with Negreanu. Dan Cates responded by saying he agreed with Negreanu.
Agree
— Daniel Cates ???????? ???? (@junglemandan) March 9, 2023
Matt Berkey said the operators should undertake a massive overhaul of their KYC protocols.
We've all been somewhat quiet regarding more swirling rumors. I think online operators are facing a long, cold hard look in the mirror. We need to get MA under control, KYC protocols need massive overhaul in the gray/black markets & finally AI based RTA detection is a mandatory… https://t.co/xW2ifiUDG3
— Matt Berkey (@berkey11) March 8, 2023
WSOP bracelet winner Giuseppe Pantaleo was among the players who reacted to Negreanu’s tweets.
U mean his bots are still running on acr and GG or what exactly? How should operators stop him if he uses names that we don’t know which one he uses?
— Giuseppe Pantaleo (@Pantaleooo) March 8, 2023
Others pointed out how Imsirovic went from playing micro tournaments to the highest stakes quickly.
Dude went from playing micro tournies on ACR to the highest stakes possible at the snap of a finger. All my friends idolized the kid but I always said something didn’t seem right about it
— adam sandler (@JustinWithAJay) March 8, 2023
Mike Matusow had the coolest reaction. He jokingly suggested Imsirovic should be given an award for his cheating.
I think we should all bow to him and give him an award ! #poker2023 https://t.co/qZ5gmSeym1
— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) March 8, 2023
Negreanu has been vocal against cheaters in the past. Last year after cheating allegations broke out against Imsirovic, Jake Schindler, and Bryn Kenney, Negreanu, while discussing the issue on Doug Polk’s podcast, said that cheating was an “ugly secret” in the high-stakes community. The problem was it was hard for anyone to provide proof since online sites provided only limited information.
He emphasized – “I’m hopeful that this all sparks significant change…specifically for the online sites, to change the ToS so that they’re not held to these privacy laws, where, when someone cheats, we can’t reveal who…and what they did. I think it would be so much better if we could just, like, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom – these guys all cheat – let’s get rid of them.”
The question is, will the online poker operators sit up and make the changes that need to be brought in, to make the poker ecosystem more transparent and fair? And is this an issue that the Indian poker operators must note?