Cell phones at the table

[belladonna05]

It's so annoying when you're at a live game and someone has to be constantly reminded action is on them because they have their nose stuck in their phone. Besides the fact that cheaters could use that to their advantage (collusion comes to mind) do you think there should be a uniform rule about when you can be on your phone at the table and if yes, what rule would yours be?

 

[odonob]

I can see how this negatively affects the social aspect of a game. I think there should be a 30:second shit clock in games so that play is not dragged out. This would I think alleviate slow play, it would also give players less time to look at their phones, tablets etc. Poker as a game was invented before the advent of mobile devices so this has not been allowed for in the modern running of live games. Before this happens poker was a more social game I believe.

 

[Iryna Stryzheuskaya]

I think it would be smarter to ban phones during the game.

 

[pentazepam]

A full body search AND scan before playing Live should be mandatory.

And NO technical gadgets like phones should be allowed.

It's only a matter of time before some brain-computer interface (like neuralink) is invented and used to win at the poker table.

 

[Sopt]

I actually don't blame people for sticking their nose into phone when everyone at the table is taking their sweet slow time playing. Maybe you are not that sociable or not in the mood to chat and actually want to play instead of waiting for 5 people to decide if their J3o is worth playing in that position or not. In that case you will use those 5 minutes of time for action to get to you while scrolling on phone or even playing online at the same time.
If you promote ban of phones in live poker (which I'm completely in favor for.. don't get me wrong), then you should encourage faster pace of playing live also. It's not fun to play at 10 hands par hour pace.

 

[LaNimmer]

My local casino does not allow cell phone use at the table. A player who wants to use their cell must get up and disengage from the table and hand being played. It seriously cuts down cell use at the table and lowers the chance of some form of cheating. Maybe not all cheating cause cheaters cheat whenever and however they can.

 

[belladonna05]

I actually don't blame people for sticking their nose into phone when everyone at the table is taking their sweet slow time playing. Maybe you are not that sociable or not in the mood to chat and actually want to play instead of waiting for 5 people to decide if their J3o is worth playing in that position or not. In that case you will use those 5 minutes of time for action to get to you while scrolling on phone or even playing online at the same time.
If you promote ban of phones in live poker (which I'm completely in favor for.. don't get me wrong), then you should encourage faster pace of playing live also. It's not fun to play at 10 hands par hour pace.

When I played at the Crown in Australia many moons ago, the dealer actually had a shot clock, it was great.

 

[valanddon]

Cell phones should not be used at the table, if it is an importion call, leave the table and pay your blinds.

 

[Anyoca59]

I would not allow you to use your phone at the table. if you want to make a phone call, then stand up and go aside, even if you have your best hand, still.

 

[Canaldo Kao]

I think the same way, it's very inconvenient to have to attract attention because the person is on their cell phone, there's a time for everything. Use your cell phone or play poker!

 

[martDdart]

No phones at the table or poker room period. Put all the players phones in a box and store it outside the poker room before you start,if a player needs to use there phone they have to sit out and leave the poker room.When the player has finished using the phone and it is back in the box,the player can return to play poker.

 

[Mauricio Perrotta]

The reality is that out of respect for others at the table you should not use your cell phone while playing, as a courtesy and good behavior

 

[belizebum]

Cell phones should definitely be banned from the table. Way to distracting. Leave it on vibrate in your pocket, and wait for a break to deal with anything. If it happens to be an emergency, I guess you are getting up and dealing with it away from the table. Personally I'd get rid of my phone completely if I didn't specifically need it for emergencies. I hate them. Waited until absolutely necessary to purchase one.

 

[Nafor]

...what rule would yours be?

If you can't do on your own, go home with your phone.

 

[neverbluff0799]

I would definitly say that phone should be ban to protect the integrity of the game and also to provide a better experience for the players at the table but i live in reality and reality is that those days people are always having their face stuck to their phone so a ban would be almost impossible to impliment sadly.

 

[mattiebumpo]

From what I remember, the rule is that a player cannot be on the phone when they have live cards in front of them. I think it should be even more strict and that if they want to be on their phone, they have to step away from the table and sit out hands while using the phone. Even better, would be no phones at all during the game and only to be used on breaks. It is definitely a distraction and possible means of collusion or cheating. When it slows down the game, they have to go!

 

[hjuosh]

In my country, mexico, and in a few live poker tournaments and cash games that I have played until now, there is a rule regarding cellphones. It's quite simple: if you are about to play, the dealer advises against using the cellphone. The rule is clear – if it's your turn and you're occupied with the cellphone, the dealer has the right to fold your hand at that moment, regardless of what you have to say in your favor. Nobody wants their hand folded, so it's better not to use the cellphone, or you could be folded by default. This rule has indeed yielded very good results.

 

[YLAN]

I don't mind them people constantly on their cp. If anything, it distracts them from the game. The dealer should fold them cards that are unattended during their action & anyone may call time on them players that takes a long time to action.

 

[lcid86]

I am ok with cell phone at table - except when you have cards in play.

 

[diego farfan]

I very much agree since some people use this means to achieve deconcentration of the opponent.

 

[najisami]

It really depends on how the phone is used.
If it's a phone call and the player is talking, it should not be tolerated in my opinion.
If the player is holding his phone doing whatever he's up to, NOT producing any sound, I don't see anything wrong with it.

 

[Emily Trott]

Where I've played in New England the general rule seems to be that if you are in a hand you cannot be using your phone, and if you want to talk on it you need to get up from the table. It seems to work pretty smoothly, except for one morning tournament I was playing at Mohegan Sun a year or two ago.

There was a young man, probably in his early thirties, who was constantly on his phone. He was constantly warned by the dealer, and constantly he ignored it. Finally one of the floor people came over and got him to not use the phone while he was in a hand. Of course he wasn't about to quit there so he turned slightly to the side and put his feet up on the empty chair next to him his.

That caused another controversy between him, the dealer, and the floor people. It went on for about fifteen minutes until he finally relented and played sans phone with his feet flat on the floor. I thought that I might be seeing a recreation of a scene in the movie Casino but, at least on that day, it wasn't in the cards for him.

 

[SL-247]

I believe that mobile phones should be eliminated during poker tournaments and should only be used during breaks in the game.

 

[samuri]

Phones should be put away. It seams they are not interested in playing .They also use it as a distraction.

 

[G0930]

Agreed it's very annoying when you play a tournament and someone holds up the action cause the player's busy on the phone.
Back a few years in my favourite pokerroom (when it was still open) there was a houserule that prohibited not exactly the use of cell phones during games but making phonecalls was . That reduced the phone usage during games quite a lot.

To enforce this, anytime someone picked up their phonecall his/her hand was dead, regardless at what Stage, preflop, flop turn or river