The controversial new rules of the WSOP 2021 dealing with Covid-19 took another twist at the weekend when Daniel Negreanu shared the news that players will not need proof of vaccine and won’t be DQ’d unless they admit to a positive test.
WSOP Rule 115 clarification:
No on-site testing or proof of vaccine required (as of today)
WSOP will not DQ a player unless they volunteer they have tested positive
Any contact tracing done by CDC in Nevada is independent of the WSOP.
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) August 14, 2021
Highly Controversial New WSOP 2021 Rules
The poker community has been up in arms all week over Rule 115. The WSOP introduced it last week to deal with what happens should anyone test positive for Covid-19 during the WSOP 2021 which kicks off next month at the Rio.
The relevant and highly controversial section stated that the …[Rio] reserves the right to remove any participant from any WSOP event… if the Participant is determined by [Rio] in its sole discretion, to have received a positive test result for COVID-19 or come into close proximity (within 6 feet for 15 cumulative minutes) of any person who has tested positive for COVID-19, or if Participant refuses to undergo any health and safety screening required by [Rio] to participate in a WSOP event..”
Potential players in this year’s WSOP didn’t take too kindly to the idea that through no fault of their own, players could see their buy-ins and potentially life-changing cashes snatched from under their noses.
May as well cancel the entire event with this pandering, bullshit rule.
One random positive (that could be false) and you could realistically have to forfeit 80-120 people with dealers and table changes. 800k -1.2mm in players’ money down the drain. This can’t be real
— JB's Take (@JBsbets) August 10, 2021
WSOP is clarifying its rules
As we revealed last week, Max Silver had some proposals for how to safely run the live version of the biggest annual event on the poker calendar, to run at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino from September 30th to November 23rd.
However, the WSOP came up with its own tweaks just as the weekend started. They claimed: “The health and safety of our World Series of Poker participants and Team Members is our top priority.”
The statement continued: “WSOP participants who are known to have been exposed to a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 will not be required to leave the tournament and quarantine if they are fully vaccinated within the appropriate timing parameters and remain asymptomatic since the time of exposure.”
Players, please see clarification on WSOP rule 115: pic.twitter.com/q2zdoylwxq
— WSOP (@WSOP) August 14, 2021
Players, please see clarification on WSOP rule 115: pic.twitter.com/q2zdoylwxq
— WSOP (@WSOP) August 14, 2021
Harrah's New Orleans is the first casino in the US to require proof of vaccination or a negative covid test to be allowed to enter.
Should Las Vegas casinos do the same? pic.twitter.com/v9CaMZcDOi
— Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) August 14, 2021
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