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When the World Series of Poker (WSOP) announced on April 1 that its much-awaited annual live series in Las Vegas would be making a comeback in the fall (September 30 to November 23), the news had the global poker community rejoicing. As the days passed by, the complete schedule of the series was announced, and subsequently, the organizers kept coming out with rules and regulations that players would have to follow, keeping in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic was still at large.
On August 27, news came through that all players who wanted to participate in the 2021 WSOP needs to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. WSOP said players must provide proof of vaccination before registering for the tournament, to be held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino.
Participants who successfully add their proof of full vaccination through CLEAR’s Health Pass may go directly to the cage tellers within the @RioVegas (2/3)
— WSOP (@WSOP) August 27, 2021
Alternate documentation including physical vaccination cards, & state/country-specific health passes will be verified at the Belize room prior to first registration. (3/3)
— WSOP (@WSOP) August 27, 2021
“This is not a decision we have taken lightly — it is made with no agenda beyond protecting player eligibility and the operations of a unique televised gaming event,” WSOP executive director Ty Stewart said in a statement.
“The nature of poker is to be in close proximity with your opponents for extended periods of time, and a seat at the World Series of Poker is a commitment for both our company and the participants. We want players to be excited for their return to the WSOP while offering the greatest level of protection and limiting complications during the tournament this fall.”
This announcement seems to be a response to the controversy Rule 115 created last month. The rule essentially allowed WSOP staff to remove any player/s from the venue suspected to have been in close contact with a COVID-19 positive individual. WSOP later clarified the confusing rule last week by stating that anyone fully vaccinated wouldn’t be removed.
At present, the 2021 WSOP has shared a total of 129 rules. You can check then out here.
Rule 115: What does it say?
Once the rules for the 2021 WSOP were announced, one rule in particular – Rule 115- created quite a lot of confusion.
Kevin Mathers tweeted with a screenshot of the exact wording for Rule 115. In it, the text reads: “In accordance with guidelines promulgated by the Centers for Disease Control, [Rio] reserves the right to remove any Participant from any WSOP Event at any time prior to or during the WSOP Event.”
A first look at the 2021 @WSOP Tournament Rules – https://t.co/VclQwbiRRe
Rule 115 is notable: pic.twitter.com/zZhLQLNEkC
— Kevin Mathers (@Kevmath) August 9, 2021
As per the wording of the rule, if a player buys into a bracelet event, sits down at the table, begins to play the event, and later the WSOP staff determines that the player was exposed to the virus the day before, the individual would be disqualified from the tournament and required to leave. And all this without any compensation.
On August 14, WSOP tweeted a clarification.
Players, please see clarification on WSOP rule 115: pic.twitter.com/q2zdoylwxq
— WSOP (@WSOP) August 14, 2021
WSOP clarified that it was not trying to punish anti-vaxxers but to ensure the “health and safety of our World Series of Poker participants and Team Members” remains a top priority heading into the fall poker extravaganza.
What Are the COVID-19 Related Regulations Players Have to Follow?
Players must show proof of vaccination one time, upon their initial registration, to play in WSOP events, including the $10,000 No-limit Hold’em Main Event, as well as other daily tournaments, satellites, and cash games, the WSOP announced in a press release.
Players can use the free CLEAR mobile app and Health Pass feature to confirm their vaccination, then go directly to the registration cage at the Rio to sign up for events. The WSOP will also provide an on-site center to verify physical vaccination cards and state or country-specific health passes.
To be considered fully vaccinated, players need to have received their final shot 14 days before the start date of the event they have registered for. The policy also applies to the media, spectators, and vendors.
Players and employees will be required to wear masks in line with the current state mandate.
As long as they remain asymptomatic, players will not be required to leave the tournament and quarantine if they have been in contact with someone who tested positive for the virus.
Additional information on the vaccine mandate is available here.
COVID-19 Rules Divides Poker Community
While the rules stated by the WSOP were welcomed by many in the poker fraternity, several others seemed to consider the mandate illogical.
Former WSOP Main Event champion Chris Moneymaker had earlier said that he would not be attending the WSOP for fear of infecting his son, who is too young to get vaccinated. Following the WSOP’s COVID-19 policy announcement, Moneymaker stated that he has reconsidered his initial stance and is contemplating attending the annual series.
Thank You @WSOP https://t.co/gf90PNw7gM
— Chris Moneymaker (@CMONEYMAKER) August 27, 2021
Many others, too, showed their appreciation for WSOP`s vaccination mandate.
Very good move and common sense.
— Alexandre Dreyfus (@alex_dreyfus) August 28, 2021
Agreed
— Veronica Brill (@Angry_Polak) August 27, 2021
Wsop bracelets will be the toughest ever to win this year.
You’ll be competing against the smartest, most logical playing field in history.
— Allen Kessler (@AllenKessler) August 27, 2021
Wsop bracelets will be the toughest ever to win this year.
You’ll be competing against the smartest, most logical playing field in history.
— Allen Kessler (@AllenKessler) August 27, 2021
Wonder how many people boycotted the WSOP when they banned smoking? Smoking increases the chances of causing harm to yourself and people around you. But hey freedom right!
— David Baker (@audavidb) August 27, 2021
Three-time WSOP bracelet winner Kristen Bicknell said she would not play this year because of the mandate.
I am boycotting this utterly illogical tyranny.
I’m tired of playing along with rules and mandates that don’t make sense. https://t.co/a4qyRzqEHH
— Kristen Bicknell (@krissyb24poker) August 27, 2021
Her tweet raised a storm in the community, with responses ranging from reasonable discussions to downright hostile.
Fair. Playing poker has been the way I’ve made a living for over 15 years, so I suppose in a way I see the wsop as an ’employer’. I pay them to play tho, you’re right. I could have chose a better word. I also meant this more towards vaxpassports in general.
— Kristen Bicknell (@krissyb24poker) August 28, 2021
The display of humanity from a lot of people here is truly disgusting, disturbing and leaves me speechless.
— Kristen Bicknell (@krissyb24poker) August 27, 2021
If they offered a testing option it would make sense as is it’s BS. They are allowed but it’s BS
— Bill Perkins (Guy) (@bp22) August 28, 2021
While I agree a antivax test should be fine, tyranny seems maybe a tad strong word choice for a private business nobody is forcing anyone to attend
— Joseph Cheong (@subiime) August 27, 2021
No Krissy we aren’t allowed to go. Boycotting would be what we would be doing if we had got the vaccine. But we decided that it was our right to not take something that everyday numbers are showing it’s ineffectiveness against transmission
— Tim Reilly (@TimReillyPoker) August 27, 2021
As I respectfully disagree with you because it’s a private business and they should be able to cater to whomever they want. However, this is America and everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Some of these comments are unforgivable. To be hated because of ones beliefs
— Aaron Knapp (@aaroneknapp) August 29, 2021
Besides Bicknell, others too have spoken out against WSOP’s vaccination mandate.
WSOP doesn’t discriminate against:
Convicted Rapists
Registered Sex Offenders
Current Drug dealers
Haitian Presidential assassins
KKK members
Actual Skin heads
Poker Cheats
Thieves and scum bagsWSOP does discriminate again:
Unvaccinated people— Tim Reilly (@TimReillyPoker) August 27, 2021
And still not a single word about the 100M+ with natural immunity despite many studies from CleveClinic, NIH, etc showing those antibodies just as effective as vacc antibodies. And even more effective against variants than vacc is.
— Jaded Mandarin (@Hollywood_Dave) August 30, 2021
Don’t care enough about poker anymore to care. They’re just further ruining their brand.
— Joseph Cada (@JoeCada99) August 27, 2021
Tricky spot whatever you choose to do here. Don’t envy you having to make these decisions – gonna get criticism whatever you do
— Rob Yong (@rob_yong_) August 27, 2021
Update on Staff Vaccination Regulations
According to an article on PokerNews, the media site reached out to the WSOP to enquire if dealers and other staff will be required to be fully vaccinated. The brand responded with the following statement:
“As with all Caesars Entertainment Team Members, WSOP Team Members are strongly encouraged to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Caesars is committed to making vaccination easy and accessible for all Team Members. Additionally, the company is providing significant incentives for Team Members who choose to be vaccinated.”
On being further questioned by PokerNews on several other issues such as:
The WSOP official responded, “For all your other questions, we recommend reviewing the FAQ and release as we won’t be responding beyond them.”
Keep following PokerGuru for more updates from the 2021 WSOP!