Unveiled Gold Slam in ClubWPT's gameplay sparks controversy, drawing criticism
The poker world is abuzz with controversy over a new feature introduced on ClubWPT Gold, the World Poker Tour's sweepstakes platform. The feature in question is the "Reveal Hands" button, which allows players to pay a fee to see other players' hole cards after a hand concludes.
The Reveal Hands button has been met with criticism from prominent figures in the poker community, who deem it ethically questionable. Shaun Deeb, fresh off winning the 2025 WSOP Player of the Year, has criticized the feature, stating that long-term use could potentially kill ClubWPT Gold's site. Poker Hall of Famer Brian Rast calls it "one of the worst ideas" he has ever heard in poker.
The concern lies in the fact that the Reveal Hands button disrupts the traditional element of skill and secrecy crucial to poker. By exposing opponents' cards, it potentially gives paying players an unfair advantage, which is against standard poker ethics and gameplay norms.
Poker ethics emphasize fairness, equal conditions for all players, and the integrity of hidden information (hole cards). A paid feature that reveals these cards undermines this principle by commodifying strategic knowledge normally gained only through skillful play and inference rather than payment.
Matt Berkey, a member of the PokerOrg Player Advisory Board, was one of the first to criticize the Reveal Hands button. He called it "actually sick" and criticized ClubWPT Gold for using player data for an additional fee beyond the already questionably high rake. Alec "Traheho" Torelli, a pro high-stakes player, coach, author, and entrepreneur, called the feature "moronic on so many levels".
Many players argue that for the Reveal Hands button to be remotely acceptable, the revenue should go to the players whose cards were exposed, not to the house. Greg Himmelbrand, a New York-based pro with more than $2.5 million in tournament earnings, compared the feature to a live dealer taking a bribe.
The fee for using the Reveal Hands button is thrice the size of the big blind, adding to the controversy. This aligns with broader poker community values that generally frown upon any mechanism that compromises fair play or rewards paying for hidden information.
The controversy surrounding the Reveal Hands button is not the first time ClubWPT Gold has been embroiled in controversy. There was a scandal involving alleged chip dumping in the Millionaire Maker event on ClubWPT Gold. The platform's handling of this issue has further fuelled the criticism of the Reveal Hands feature.
In summary, the Reveal Hands button on ClubWPT Gold raises significant ethical concerns in poker due to its deviation from standard poker fairness by allowing paid access to opponentsβ hole cards. Many in the community would see this as undermining the game's integrity. The controversy continues as the poker community debates the ethics and fairness of this new feature.
