Editor
PokerStars has announced some game integrity changes that will take effect for the upcoming EPT Monte Carlo stop, which will be held starting on April 30. PokerStars stated that the main reason for these changes was to eliminate the potential for abuse and cheating. The changes are a result of direct player feedback.
Slide Dealing
Of the five announced changes, the one that has garnered the most attention on poker social media is the introduction of slide dealing. This has inexplicably been a hot topic in the poker world over the last few days, drawing some fierce back-and-forths and strong opinions.
Slide dealing is when the dealer pushes the cards on the table to the players without picking them up off the felt. This makes the cards more secure and eliminates the possibility of players catching glimpses of cards as they are dealt around the table. It also prevents cameras from recording the cards.
This method is already used extensively in Europe, but PokerStars is making it the official dealing style of the EPT. The rollout of this rule will be gradual, so any dealers who may not be accustomed to this style can get up to speed. They will quickly learn how to deal with the new style.
The rollout may be slower in the USA, as that style of dealing is not as prevalent among dealers. Slide dealing will not be present as a rule at the current USA PokerStars stop in Philadelphia.
Even though that change will dominate the headlines as the current heated topic, the other changes are just as, if not more, interesting and significant.
Fixed Hands Per Level at Final Table
All EPT final tables will switch to having a set number of hands per level instead of using the clock. This will be a positive change that will eliminate clock manipulation and stalling, which has always been a controversial part of poker strategy.
This change also reduces time variance as players will know how many hands they will get at each position in each level, as opposed to it being at the whims of how long certain hands take.
It will also allow fans to follow the action on streams more easily with the amount of hands left in a level displayed prominently.
Other Changes
- Expanded Smart Device Restrictions – A previous PokerStars ban on smartphones during play will be extended to smart watches, glasses, or any other smart technology.
- Stricter Seating Rules – This rule change intends to crack down on players lingering as they move to new tables. They will be required to sit down instantly when arriving at a new table. Tournament staff will be key in monitoring this.
- Shot Clock Adjustments in Hyper Turbos – Shot clocks will be introduced starting in Level 11 to avoid stalling late in hyper turbo tournaments. They will be given 10-second time bank cards and will be added periodically as the tournament progresses.
