WPT Global Bans Streamer — And the RTA Debate Fires Up Again

The Rules Are Clear — But the Grey Area Isn’t

WPT Global posted the ban publicly on X, writing:

We don't tolerate RTA.

AlanFPoker has been banned with immediate effect. https://t.co/eP91Psztwo

— WPT Global (@wpt_global) May 7, 2025

A follow-up tweet added, “Let’s keep the game alive, pls guys.”

RTA — short for real-time assistance — has become one of the biggest red flags in online poker over the past few years. It refers to using solvers, charts, or tools that help a player make decisions while the hand is being played. While solvers like GTO Wizard are widely accepted as study tools, using them (or anything similar) in real time is firmly against the rules of nearly every major site.

WPT Global’s rules are explicit. Their terms prohibit “any tool, service, script, or software that automates or aids in decision-making,” including charts or range matrices that offer strategic guidance.

In this case, the tool wasn’t high-tech — it was a basic spreadsheet. But visible or not, WPT says that’s still a breach.

Streamer Outed, RTA Debate Erupts

The situation came to light when poker pro Patrick Leonard posted a screenshot of Finn’s stream. Leonard later deleted the tweet, writing, “No need to destroy him publicly. WPT Global banned him within 30 minutes. Hopefully he learns from it.”

But by then, the community had already noticed.

The reaction online has been split. While some applauded the transparency — “Amazing! Please teach ACR that “silliness” isn’t a good excuse to use RTA.” one poster wrote — others questioned the severity of the response.

“Having Excel sheets open is not true RTA,” one user commented. “It’s worthy of a warning, not an outright ban.”

Others pointed out that while Finn wasn’t using solver software like GTO Wizard, charts are still external aids—and they’re visible to the player during play. That’s what turns them from study material into a live advantage.

Naming and Shaming — Going Overboard?

What’s striking about this incident isn’t just the ban, but how public it was. Most sites quietly suspend or close accounts. WPT Global named the player outright. And while they didn’t publish Finn’s real name, his Twitch and YouTube presence made it easy for the poker community to connect the dots — and begin the pile-on.

It’s a shift some players have long asked for: more transparency from poker sites when enforcing integrity policies. But it also raises concerns about public shaming and the long-term effects on someone’s career or reputation — especially when they aren’t a well-known pro.

The Bigger Picture: The Ongoing RTA Crackdown

AlanFPoker isn’t the first streamer to be caught with charts on screen. Earlier this year, Nacho Barbero was let go by ACR Poker after a screenshot showed him playing online with GTO Wizard visible. ACR didn’t fire him for cheating — they fired him for saying publicly that the site didn’t take RTA seriously enough.

That’s what makes this latest ban notable. WPT Global not only acted swiftly, they made a point of saying so. It’s a statement: if you’re using outside aids, even at the lowest stakes, you’re out.

Whether or not Excel qualifies as RTA in every player’s eyes, WPT Global’s stance is clear: you play on your own or not at all.