News

Nacho Barbero Dropped by ACR Poker Following Comments on Site Security

Nacho Barbero Dropped by ACR Poker Following Comments on Site Security
Image
Iva Dozet News Editor
  • Fact Checked by: PokerListings
  • Last updated on: April 24, 2025 · 4 minutes to read

Nacho Barbero’s time as an ACR Poker ambassador just came to an abrupt end following controversial remarks made during a recent PokerGO livestream. The Argentinian pro, who has been a prominent presence both on the felt and in poker media, questioned the site’s anti-cheating measures in a moment that sparked a — and very public — response from ACR’s top brass.

Here’s what led to Barbero being fired, what other pros had to say, and how this controversy ties back to an earlier RTA-related incident that many thought had already been settled.

A Post, a Tool, and a Forfeited Stack

Before we say anything else, lets go back to the beginning. Barbero’s troubles didn’t start last week. They actually date back to January, when he posted a seemingly innocent Instagram story that showed him grinding ACR’s Venom tournament — with GTO Wizard, a well-known solver tool, open in the background.

While both ACR Poker and GTO Wizard investigated and concluded there was no evidence of cheating during play, Barbero forfeited his Day 2 stacks as a precaution. With that said, the incident still sparked a broader conversation about what qualifies as RTA usage and how seriously the site should respond — especially when it comes to its ambassadors.

Among those questioning the leniency was Gilles “Ghilley” Simon, the inaugural EPT Cyprus Main Event winner, who shared a screenshot of the Instagram story on X saying:

It was a scathing comment, but Barbero’s next move seemed to validate it.

“Are They Even Trying?”: The Comment That Cost Him

During a PokerGO livestream at the US Poker Open, Barbero casually doubled down on the GTO Wizard saga — this time, not with screenshots but with dismissive remarks. Sitting at the table with Isaac Haxton, Nacho Barbero joked about the January post, saying, “I should have never posted it. How they gonna know?”

Nacho Barbero and Isaac Haxton at the US Poker Open 2025 ACR Poker
Nacho Barbero and Isaac Haxton

Haxton then pushed the issue further, questioning whether ACR could even detect if a player had RTA tools open.

“You can just have GTO Wizard open on your computer while playing? Are they even trying?” Haxton asked.
“I don’t think they’re trying,” Barbero replied with a laugh.

That exchange, clipped and shared widely, reignited the controversy and raised serious concerns about Barbero’s continued affiliation with the site.

ACR Responds Swiftly (and Publicly)

Within days, ACR Poker issued a strongly worded statement on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, signed by CEO Phil Nagy. While the company reaffirmed its stance of not censoring its ambassadors, it also made clear there are lines—and Barbero had crossed one. Nagy wrote:

Phil Nagy

The nature of these comments reflects a fundamental misalignment with our values. As a result, we have decided to part ways with Nacho as an ambassador for ACR Poker.

Nagy also pointed out that Barbero had never raised concerns internally, either in meetings or direct communication. That lack of engagement, coupled with the public undermining of the site’s integrity, appears to have sealed his fate.

Reputation, Real-Time Tools, and the Bigger Picture

Barbero’s removal also revives ongoing concerns about RTA use in online poker, particularly on unlicensed platforms like ACR. The site has long faced scrutiny over alleged issues with bots, collusion, and enforcement transparency. Barbero’s implication that ACR “wasn’t even trying” to stop cheating poured fuel on a fire that’s been smoldering for years.

Despite this latest drama, ACR Poker’s ambassador roster remains stocked with high-profile names, including Moneymaker, Ebony Kenney, and Jon Van Fleet. But the Barbero saga may push the team — and the poker community more broadly — to revisit how poker sites should handle real-time assistance, both internally and in public discourse.

As for Barbero, he won’t be repping ACR at the WSOP this summer. But don’t expect him to stay quiet. If there’s one thing this situation has proven, it’s that Nacho Barbero has opinions — and no problem voicing them.

Barbero Issues Apology and Clarifies Intent

In the wake of his dismissal, Barbero took to X with a lengthy statement aimed at setting the record straight. He opened with an apology to ACR, expressing regret for not considering the responsibility that came with representing the brand:

Nacho Barbero

I completely forgot my role as an ambassador and every time I make an appearance I am not only representing myself but a brand that I value and am eternally grateful [to].

He reiterated that he has never used RTA tools to cheat and explained that the now-infamous GTO Wizard tab was left open during a lesson he was giving to other players. He acknowledged that the optics were poor but insisted there was no foul play.

Regarding the livestream remarks, Barbero claimed he misunderstood Isaac Haxton’s question during the broadcast. He suggested that in the heat of live play, his attention wasn’t fully focused on the implications of the conversation:

Nacho Barbero

I had no clue the talk was about game integrity… I did not mean by any means that ACR is not a safe site to play at.

Barbero closed by expressing sadness over how events unfolded, maintaining that he loves poker, loves the community, and hopes to remain a part of the scene — even without the ACR patch:

Nacho Barbero

In the end poker is just a game and I will still be around to play… I hope down the line this will be water under the bridge.

Recommended