8 More WSOP Rules You Didn't Know Existed

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May 03, 2024 4 min read Last updated May 23, 2024

We've previously looked at 8 World Series of Poker (WSOP) rules that you didn't know existed, and now with the 2024 WSOP less than a month away, we're back with another eight rules that you should be mindful of before making the trip to Las Vegas.

Whatever you do...Don't Lose Your Bounty Marker

There are plenty of bounty tournaments on the 2024 WSOP schedule, with each player receiving a special Bounty marker that can then be redeemed for the value of the bounty, which will vary from event to event.

However the rules, under Section 39c, stipulate that if you lose your bounty marker you will be required to pay the bounty value to receive another one. This money then goes straight into the prize pool. Not so bad in the $1,000 Super Turbo Bounty, but what about the $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty.

And if you're playing either the Mystery Millions or a Mystery Bounty event? Listen up. If you are found to be playing in either of these events without a bounty marker, you may be subject to a penalty AND be required to pay the average value of all remaining bounties at that point in the tournament. Remember: The Mystery Millions guarantees the top bounty is $1 million, which could cause a headache for someone should it stay in.

However, rest assured that if the bounty marker is later found, the penalty payment will be returned to the participant

"Disruptive" Personal Hygiene

No one wants to be sat next to a smelly player, but did you know that the WSOP rules make specific reference to players like this?

Under the 'Participant Conduct' section, WSOP Tournament Staff may implement sanctions on any Participant whose personal hygiene has become "disruptive" to other players at the table, and refuses to "remedy the situation".

Taunting. 15-Yard Penalty?

In the last article, we mentioned that "Excessive Chatter" was a punishable offense. This time we're here to tell you that "Taunting" is also explicitly outlawed as per the WSOP rules.

The official wording is that any player who taunts another player "through theatrics or gestures" is subject to penalty. This also covers any form of "inappropriate behavior" intended to disrupt other players at the table.

New Phone, Who Dis?

Under 'Communication', the WSOP rules state that all cell phones must be silenced during Tournament play, and although players are allowed to use their phones at the table — providing they're not in a hand — a special rule is in place for texting someone at the same table.

In short, if you attempt to communicate with someone at the same table as you — you're both disqualified.

Don't Even Think About Real-Time Assistance

Just in case you were wondering, even the WSOP has noticed the recent talk within the poker industry about Real-Time Assistance. Here's Section IV.64.c of the WSOP rules to spell it out for you:

Do You Know the Six Different Ways to Call?

Most players know that there are verbal and non-verbal ways to call a bet, but did you know there are six ways forms of calling according to the WSOP? Some forms are more acceptable than others:

• Verbally declaring "call".
• Pushing out chips equal to a call.
• Silently pushing out an oversized chip.
• Silently pushing out multiple chips equal to a call.
• Silently betting a chip amount that is tiny relative to the bet is non-standard and strongly discouraged and may be met with a penalty.
• Binding declarations/undercalls in turn. A player undercalls by declaring or pushing out less than the call amount without first declaring "call." At a TDs discretion, players may forfeit the amount of the intended undercall and fold.

What's the Difference Between Disqualification and Forfeiture?

While they may seem similar, the WSOP recognizes the difference between being disqualified from a tournament and forfeiting your stack.

According to Section VI.113, disqualification occurs when a participant is disqualified for any reason and "shall have his or her chips removed from play and no refund will be provided to that disqualified participant."

Meanwhile, a player who forfeits play "for health or other personal reasons" after the start of a tournament shall "have his or her chips blinded off accordingly."

Hopefully, you won't need to know the differences between disqualification and forfeiting this summer.

WSOP Events May Be Suspended Due to Bad Weather

Everyone will remember the craziness of 2019, when a 7.1 magnitude earthquake rocked the Rio during Day 1c of the WSOP Main Event.

But the WSOP rules make an allowance for more severe weather that might impact their tournaments!

According to the official tournament rules, if a tournament cannot run because of the weather, or other reasons such as computer virus, unauthorized intervention, technical failures or fraud, the tournament may be cancelled, terminated, modified or suspended.

Based in the United Kingdom, Will started working for PokerNews as a freelance live reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time staff in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor. He graduated from the University of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He also holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports Journalism.

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Connor Richards is an Editor & Live Reporter for PokerNews and host of the Life Outside Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for two Global Poker Awards for his writing.

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