A proposed Nevada House measure, Assembly Bill 380, which aims to create a publicly accessible blacklist of cheaters banned from the state’s online poker sites, has drawn strong opposition from Caesars Entertainment, the parent company of WSOP.com. This bill, which would require casinos to report the names, dates of birth, and gaming account names of banned players to the Nevada Gaming Commission for potential inclusion on the blacklist, was introduced by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Caesars lobbyist Mike Alonso and WSOP Digital VP Danielle Barille appeared before the committee to voice their concerns. They argued that the measure would place an unfair burden on the company, with Alonso highlighting the potential for costly litigation if players accuse casinos of damaging their reputations or seek compensation after losing money to suspected cheaters.
The bill’s supporters, however, argue that online poker lacks the level of transparency found in other casino games, where the house (casino) ensures fair play. In poker, the game is player-versus-player, meaning the casino only collects the rake or administrative fee, but the financial losses from cheating are borne by the victimized players. Assembly member Sara Cholhagian Ralston, who helped draft the bill, emphasized that players should have access to information about potential cheaters to protect their livelihood.
Ralston acknowledged some concerns from Caesars and suggested an amendment to address potential liability issues. Despite this, she reaffirmed the importance of providing greater transparency and accountability in the online poker world.
