Do Videos Prove Money Bubble Collusion at Unregulated Online Poker Site?

Brian Hastings shared some videos on X that show possible collusion occurring on Ignition, an unregulated poker site available in the United States.

The six-time World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner posted a thread with a few clips of what he refers to as “fake hands” that transpired during a $1,055 buy-in tournament near the money bubble.

“Happening again in Ignition $1055. Players 110-118 all seated at same table playing fake hands like this. Clearly communicating holecard info so nobody busts,” Hastings wrote.

Poker Players Colluding?

Allegations of collusion and bot usage at unregulated sites such as Ignition and ACR Poker aren’t new. But the videos shared by Hastings bring into question the legitimacy of some tournaments, not just cash games.

Hastings, who has over $5.4 million in live tournament cashes, posted four videos involving three separate hands a few spots from the money, each hand being played in a questionable way.

The board on the first hand showed 2♥6♠4♥9♥4♣. A back and forth betting and raising battle ensued between two players holding the same top pair hand — 9x3x. They’d split the 13.9 big blind pot following some odd play near the bubble.

Hastings then shared another hand three spots from the money that was even more questionable. A player’s 0.1 big blind bet on the river got through three other players.

This hand had a wet board of 6♦Q♥8♦4♦7♦ with 5.8 big blinds in the pot. Action checked to the player with 10% of one big blind, who moved all in, which convinced all the larger-stacked opponents to fold.

The third hand, two spots from the money, was arguably the most concerning. Hastings’ video begins on the river of a four-way pot. The big blind was all in automatically preflop with less than half a big blind, and the board would run out 3♣4♦6♠5♠A♠.

River action began with the under-the-gun player firing out a bet of 1.8 big blinds into a small side pot. Both players folded, so the small blind went up against only one hand for the main pot. The all in player turned over 4♣K♦, which was good against a bluffing 10♣9♠.

The river bet made little sense as it potentially forced hands that could have busted the small blind two spots away from the money only to win a small side pot.

Screen names are not visible on Ignition. Players are only viewed as a number to opponents. So, it’s impossible for players to know who they are facing.

Most who responded to the tweets seemed to agree that collusion occurred. One commenter suggested “prop players” may have been seated together at the same table. Tony Dunst and Brock Wilson were among the notable pros who questioned the legitimacy of Ignition.

Botting Issues Continue at Unregulated Poker Sites