Op-Ed: WSOP Commits Faux Pas by Inviting Political Speech, Then Squelching It

^{Justin Bonomo, seen here at the WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas, before he making the final table, where he was told he had to remove his pro-Palestinian keffiyeh or be disqualified at the final table. (Image: WSOP)}

In only its second year of existence, the World Series of Poker Paradise, which just wrapped up its two-week run at the Atlantis Paradise Island casino-resort in the Bahamas, has become one of the noteworthy stops on the international tournament poker circuit. By offering a $25,000 Super Main Event – and plopping a $50 million guarantee on top of it – the WSOP and its new owners, NSUS Group and GGPoker, ensured that this year’s tournament would draw the crème of the poker world. 

The 2024 WSOP Paradise will not be remembered for the excellent poker. It will instead be recalled for a faux pas by officials of the WSOP that will put a blemish on what had otherwise been a fun and enjoyable festival (for players and fans alike). 

Justin Bonomo Pushes WSOP – and Was Threatened with DQ

As the $25,000 WSOP Paradise Main Event reached the final two tables of play, poker professional Justin Bonomo took the step of wearing something to keep him warm. This is not uncommon in the spacious poker rooms used for tournament play (these rooms are notoriously cold because they are usually filled with people), but what Bonomo chose to wear is what sparked the ire of WSOP officials. Bonomo’s choice? A keffiyeh, a shawl of Middle Eastern origin that is worn around the neck and shoulders. 

So, what is the problem with this? The WSOP, and by extension NSUS and GGPoker, felt that Bonomo (who is Jewish, it must be noted) was making a political statement in support of the Palestinians, particularly those in the Gaza region that have been brutalized over the past year by the Israeli Defense Force for the unprecedented Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, by wearing the keffiyeh.

Estimates from the impartial Doctors Without Borders cite that over 45,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in IDF military actions.

The WSOP informed Bonomo that he would have to remove the clothing, or he would be ejected from the tournament. 

This naturally did not sit well with Bonomo. “The WSOP informed me that I will be disqualified from the tournament if I don’t take my Keffiyeh off,” Bonomo wrote on X on Wednesday. “Pretty fucked that they’ll run charity tournaments for the IDF but won’t let me wear a scarf because it was made in Palestine.”

And therein is where the WSOP, and NSUS/GGPoker, have made their biggest mistake. 

IDF Charity Tourney Broached WSOP Rules

At issue is the WSOP rule regarding what is called “political advertising” at a televised final table. According to the WSOP Rulebook: 

“Host Properties reserve the right at all times to impose a ban on any apparel deemed objectionable by Host Properties, in its sole and absolute discretion. Host Properties reserve the right to refuse entry or continued participation in an Event to any Participant who does not comply with the aforementioned apparel rules.”

Earlier in the schedule, the WSOP violated its own rule by holding a “charitable” poker tournament that allegedly benefitted widows and orphans of Israeli Defense Force members who had been killed during the actions in Gaza. 

Officially, the $10,000 buy-in event was raising funds for Shalem, a Prague-based non-profit that lists the IDF Widows and Orphans Organization among recipients of its support. Click around and you’ll see the group isn’t as transparent as they claim to be about where the money they raise goes. 

Even though the tournament took place at the Atlantis during the WSOP, you can’t find any reference to it on the WSOP website.

According to the Jerusalem Post, “The tournament was intentionally kept low-profile until the last minute. Organizers sought to focus attention on the cause rather than publicity in order to avoid anti-Israel protests, ensuring that the funds raised – and the event itself – were a genuine reflection of the community’s desire to give to those in need.”

The event drew 12 entries. Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu didn’t play but still donated to make the total amount raised $140,000. The top two finishers were the two founders of the Shalem fund. They said they both donated 100% of their winnings to the operation they run.

Plain and simple, you CANNOT have a “charitable” poker tournament to support a political action yet not expect that someone (or maybe MANY people) might not agree with your stance and want to make their own statement. 

The WSOP dropped the ball big time in its handling of this situation by placing the game of poker into the conflict in Gaza. It then doubled down on its error by forcing one of the participants in the tournament (Bonomo) from wearing garb that, in any other location on Earth, would not have caused any turmoil. It is a hypocritical statement that GGPoker, NSUS Group, and the WSOP made in allowing for one form of political speech but squashing others.

While Bonomo removed the apparel and would finish seventh at the final table (eventually won by Yinan Zhou of China), the brouhaha over the situation marred what was otherwise a pleasant time for all in the Bahamas. 

The hypocrisy is also rich in a group running a politically charged poker tournament and then cracking down on a player making their own political statement regarding that event. Casinos.com has contacted GGPoker and will report on any response that they offer.