Jason Koon has called for a ban on tech devices and sunglasses at the table and on the rail, as well as checks for earpieces in a bid to combat cheating in live poker.
A Triton ambassador and PokerStars pro, Koon shared his thoughts on how poker operators can help in the fight against poker cheats using the most up-to-date technology.
“As learning tools in poker become exponentially stronger, they will inevitably be used to cheat,” stated Koon, adding: “The poker world and its operators must increase their diligence to protect players from cheating.”
The focus of this tweet is for live poker but obviously this will apply online as well. As learning tools in poker become exponentially stronger, they will inevitably be used to cheat. The poker world and its operators must increase their diligence to protect players from…
— Jason Koon (@JasonKoon) February 20, 2025
Cheating scandals are a regular occurrence and inevitably scare new players away from the game. Although they only account for a tiny percentage of poker played around the world live and online, keeping the game clean is a no-brainer for a sustainable poker economy. Koon has several ideas on how to achieve this:
“A few steps in the right direction would be:
- Examining the inner ear of players anywhere someone on the rail could be providing real-time assistance. Chess has started doing this at some major events.
- Fully banning sunglasses. I have no problem with people hiding their eyes at the table, I’m concerned with new age tools that people will be able to access optically in real time.
- Zero devices allowed on the rail or felt.
- No rings that aren’t solid metal bands or clear stones.”
Quite what inspired Koon to tweet out his thoughts is unclear but his ideas bear scrutiny.
Your writer is currently playing in the World Senior Team Chess Championship in Prague and, indeed, I am scanned before every game – including the ears! This despite a “no spectators” rule at the event. It isn’t hard to imagine airport-style scanners and/or handheld devices being put in place at major poker events to detect hidden devices.
Koon places a particular emphasis on banning sunglasses, no doubt worried about “Google smartglasses” and similar, where players can have information showing before their very eyes, but hidden from others.
As Koon rounded off his list with a nod to “smartrings”, there were plenty of others read to weigh in on the pressing subject…
I totally agree.
— Alec Torelli (Poker Player) (@AlecTorelli) February 21, 2025
I made a recent video talking specifically about point #2, and how RTA through something like Meta Glasses (or even contact lenses) could eventually kill poker.
We can ban glasses now, but how will we ban contacts tomorrow? https://t.co/5xUo2y1D2a
Kayhan Mokri responded to Koon: “I couldn’t agree more. One thing would be using AirPods or headset for music, but that becomes collateral damage. People cheating left and right. With big $, it’s really tempting for many newcomers/outsiders.”
Last year’s biggest scandals were a mix of high-tech and low-tech, although most of the high-tech approaches were out in the open for all to see! Most prominent among them, the “LaptopGate” finale to the WSOP Main Event.
However, some operators have already taken steps to counter the issues Koon raises, at least in part:
“Wynn already bans all electronic devices from final 27 on down,” wrote Ryan Laplante. He added: “Must be away from table to even use a smartwatch. Phones can’t be anywhere but in pockets. No earbuds allowed.”
Whether or not poker follows chess and bans all manner of potential cheating devices (no analogue watches are allowed and even pens are provided and monitored at big events) remains to be seen.
In the meantime, let us know on our socials what you think of Koon’s worries/solutions!
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