Poker star Daniel Negreanu has once again raised serious allegations against Ali Imsirovic, accusing the former GPI Player of the Year of continuing to cheat in online poker. Negreanu, who has been outspoken about integrity issues in poker, took to Twitter earlier today, calling for an industry-wide ban on Imsirovic, both online and live. He wrote, “All operators both online and live should proactively ban him indefinitely. He is the opposite of remorseful and is actually boastful, bragging about robbing former friends.”
A History of Cheating Allegations
Imsirovic has been plagued by cheating accusations since 2020. He was among several players who were banned by GGPoker for allegedly using real-time assistance (RTA). Though GGPoker never officially named the banned players, Imsirovic’s account was notably shut down just before the site announced a sweeping ban of numerous high-stakes players, leading many in the poker community to presume his involvement.
In 2022, Imsirovic was again at the center of cheating allegations from fellow high-stakes pro Alex Foxen. Foxen accused Imsirovic of inappropriate behavior at a Super High Roller Bowl final table, claiming he had been caught “rubbernecking” the hole cards of another player. Foxen also hinted at more widespread cheating, adding, “Ali is known as a cheater to almost all in the high roller community, however without much ironclad proof, most stay silent.”
The Poker Integrity Council (PIC) and Imsirovic’s Bans
Following these accusations, talk of a global blacklist for poker cheaters grew louder, leading to the formation of the Poker Integrity Council (PIC) in 2022. PIC was a collaboration between GGPoker and several live poker tours, including the WSOP and the WPT, designed to prevent known cheaters from participating in both online and live events.
Imsirovic was one of the players whose name surfaced in connection with this blacklist. His ban from GGPoker, which was initially a result of suspected multi-accounting and RTA use, was followed by an indefinite suspension from the PokerGO Tour in September 2022, along with Jake Schindler. The suspension by PokerGO, which was not publicly detailed, suggested that Imsirovic’s prior actions may have been too severe for any reinstatement, despite the olive branch extended by GGPoker earlier in the year.
Negreanu’s Response and Industry Impact
Negreanu’s call for a complete industry-wide ban on Imsirovic is part of an ongoing conversation about integrity in poker. His direct approach follows the heightened scrutiny around Imsirovic’s behavior and the broader efforts to combat cheating in high-stakes poker circles. Many in the poker community continue to voice concerns about Imsirovic’s conduct, and with his continued involvement in poker tournaments, Negreanu and others are calling for stronger, more unified action to protect the game’s integrity.
As the drama surrounding Imsirovic unfolds, it’s clear that the topic of cheating will continue to be a major focus in the poker world, with Negreanu pushing for stricter measures to keep the game clean.
