Gossip Column: WSOP.com Bans Account Following Jeremy Ausmus’ Accusations of Cheating in $7,777 High Roller Bracelet Event

Another cheating scandal has taken the poker community by storm! The story dates back to October when five-time bracelet winner Jeremy Ausmus went heads-up against Jared ‘jstrizza’ Straus in World Series of Poker (WSOP) Online Event #24; $7,777 – Lucky 7’s High Roller Online only to fall short of clinching a sixth bracelet.

On January 5, Ausmus came out with tweets saying he suspected the account of cheating and had apprised WSOP of the same. The organizers reverted to him, saying it was investigating the final table gameplay, and later permanently banned Strauss’ account. As Ausmus revealed the incident over two months later, Strauss denied the charges.

1. Little late in giving an update here but a few months back I’d tweeted I was suspicious of an account that won the $7,777 wsop event. I ended up getting an email from wsop saying they were investigating the final table. The account that won (JStrizza) was permanently banned

— Jeremy Ausmus (@jeremyausmus) January 5, 2023

As Ausmus updated his followers about WSOP’s decision to ban Strauss, he subsequently tweeted that WSOP had not disclosed their findings in the investigation. Still, he was confident that they must have found concrete evidence if they banned an account.

He added – “No extra money nor bracelet was awarded to anyone else. Strizza claims he received them. I’ve been told it’s a much bigger deal to take money from players because of gaming etc., so possibly that’s why he was paid. I don’t really know much about this area.”

He further said, “A deceitful top player playing other accounts or taking them over when deep and/or using RTA are massive threats to online poker, and it’s too easy to do. Hence why I said anything in the first place? Bravo to WSOP.com for looking into it and doing something about it.”

Mike Matusow was among those from the poker community who came out in support of Ausmus.

Always knew you were right! With that said high limit tourneys and bracelets on internet are a scam and need to be revisited unless they can somehow find a way to stop top pros from ghosting accounts! Gl with that I’ve been Saying this for 15 yrs! https://t.co/DQ7WkBaHot

— Mike Matusow (@themouthmatusow) January 5, 2023

Ausmus had first raked up the issue in October, and Strauss, who found that the WSOP had banned him, denied the allegations. He claimed he had not received his bracelet and the prize money.

So when Ausmus tweeted on January 5 disclosing WSOP’s action, Strauss shot back with a retort that he had not cheated and that Ausmus should work on accepting defeat with dignity.

They won't even tell me why they made this decision, except it an email "business decision". I called for weeks and nobody would call me back. I beat you straight you and your allegations are wrong. Loosing with dignity is a better quality you should work on in 2023

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) January 5, 2023

Background of the Incident

The tournament in question played out on October 11, in which Strauss pocketed a career-best $181,769, while Ausmus fell short as the runner-up for $121,396. Ausmus reached out to the WSOP voicing his suspicions that the player in question had cheated, and on October 13, WSOP suspended Strauss’ account.

This is not the first time Ausmus has cast doubts on Strauss. A day after Strauss won the online bracelet event, Ausmus had tweeted sarcastically congratulating the player. Tilted for sure, Ausmus rudely pointed out that most of Strauss’ previous scores were in small buy-in events at the South Point Casino, a poker room famous for its cheap hot dogs and low-stakes games.

Came up short in 2nd in the @WSOP $7777. Grats to Jared Strauss who I’d never heard of. He def played the best at the ft. I look forward to battling him in the live high rollers as it’s obv that’s where he belongs despite most his live results being in $60 south point birds.

— Jeremy Ausmus (@jeremyausmus) October 12, 2022

His snide remarks didn’t go well with many. Some reacted by mentioning that Strauss has a history of cashing in larger buy-in events and finished in the money in another $7,777 event.

Maybe you’re right Jeremy, but you failed to say he’s played 5k live buy ins as well and has also results in another 7,777 event.. why just mention south point tourneys?

— Ronnie Bardah (@RonnieBardah) October 12, 2022

Ausmus defended himself, saying he found it odd when lower-stakes players showed up at a high-stakes event and nailed every spot like they were Stephen Chidwick.

Without a doubt and I think that’s great and we see run ups etc often. But what if a lower stakes player shows up and you can’t see them cause it’s online and they nail every spot like their Stephen Chidwick? You think you might want some people to know about that?

— Jeremy Ausmus (@jeremyausmus) October 12, 2022

He later clarified he couldn’t say with certainty that Strauss was ghosted in the end stages of the tournament but was very suspicious of the same.

Want to be clear I’m not saying with certainty the guy who won was being ghosted or rta’ing. Just saying there are some cheaters out there and the biggest lead is solver-esque sharp play + limited results. People playing in these events def keep an eye out for these things now

— Jeremy Ausmus (@jeremyausmus) October 12, 2022

On October 29, Strauss responded to Ausmus’ allegations.

Hi Twitter world so a lot of you people heard of my name by now, I’m Jared Strauss and I have some things to say! I recently won event #24 the $7,777 High Roller in the @WSOP online bracelet series. You may not of heard of me before this because I don't often play a lot of in

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

person HR events, I have played a handful of this exact online high roller though and some others over 3K BuyIn LvL, so it’s not my first rodeo, and yes also wsop online final table not to far back, let’s get that clear first of all!
I got beat up this past summer during WSOP and

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

took a step back to work on my game. I've watched countless hours of poker for months as well as getting personal 1 on 1 private coaching. I felt it was time to get back in when WSOP had their what now seems to be an annual online bracelet series.

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

After making a deep run in the GG series Main Event and having other cashes I felt super confident and continued to the https://t.co/KioBsTFa2Z series.
I reached what most poker players strive and dream for and that is conquering and winning the coveted gold bracelet trophy,

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

on top of that is was my birthday, I couldn’t ask for a better gift than that win! It was the most surreal and elated feeling I've had in my entire life. Than what’s happens!!! I wake up the next morning to see @JeremyAusmus alluding that I must’ve of cheated, used RTA or that my

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

account was ghosted (none the less by people I’ve never even spoken a word too). Because why, he's never heard of me!?!? Firstly, I'm not a big social media guy so that left me completely overwhelmed, for I've never dealt with a situation or allegation like that before, which

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

instilled anger, frustration and defamation to my name. I had a time set to be interviewed by @Normanchad in two days and was super pumped for it, with everything that was transpiring on twitter I felt like I needed to see where this was going to play out to as I didn’t receive

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

my bracelet or my funds from the win yet. The next day I played event #25 a $2,000 BuyIn and continued my heater finishing in 13th. However, the next afternoon I logged in to play event #26 the $3,200 six max, which I was super stoked for only to see my account was locked and

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

suspended. I Immediately called WSOP to find out what the hell was going on and they didn't tell me anything or give me a reason to as why it was banned. I received a phone call the very next morning from WSOP and they asked me a ton of questions including hand history.

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

I answered and recollected most of what was asked and gave the best answers I could however many days it was after the win, keep in mind I played a ton of hands multi-tabling and playing other tourneys different days. I waited over a week and they have now determined to

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

permanently ban my account without reason, other than the pressure of the high roller community not knowing who I am influencing @WSOP business decision in this matter. This is complete utter BS! I played my heart out that tournament, I had Dan Smith give me all his chips to me

— Give me back my Freedoms. Ty have a nice day (@Jstrizza) October 29, 2022

While the WSOP has publicly not disclosed the grounds on which they banned Strauss’ account, his bracelet win should have been nullified if a cheating case has been proved. However, the results at WSOP.com still mention Strauss as the tournament winner.

Ausmus has charged that Strauss got paid and received the bracelet, which WSOP has yet to confirm.