Should it be allowed or not? If a player hasn't turned their phone off and gets a call should they be removed from the table? What should be done to a player who's constantly looking at their phone between hands slowing down play because of not paying attention?

I think it is fine to allow cell phones - except maybe at final tables of large events.

If a phone rings at the table a warning should suffice in most cases.

I have played a lot of live poker and it really doesn't bother me.

If they're slowing down play tremendously just keep telling them, like "I came here to play poker but this guy/girl came for a seat to text on, it's your turn again by the way" and if it gets insane just keep calling the clock on them, don't tell them is their turn and just call the clock instead!
As for phone calls as long as the person isn't shouting I'd have no issues! I don't personally think they should be banned and most people understand poker enough to be able to do both diligently!

I think cell phones should be allowed. It is to one's advantage that other players get distracted with their cell phones... That will make them make mistakes due to the information they miss because of being distracted with their cellphones... Now if they slow down every hand because of being distracted with their cellphones a warning should be placed... They should be allowed at the cash game and restricted in tournaments because in tournaments it is more important to not slow down play as blind levels increase within certain time.

I'm ok if their pace of play is not affected. If they are talking on the phone (no one under 30 actually knows you can do this), they should get up from the table and not be a distraction. I do worry when it seems they are using the phone for coaching/advise during the hand.

Originally Posted by mollymaggie

Should it be allowed or not? If a player hasn't turned their phone off and gets a call should they be removed from the table? What should be done to a player who's constantly looking at their phone between hands slowing down play because of not paying attention?

As you know - every room has their own rules about cell phone use at the poker table and while you are in a hand.

Also the permission to use a cell phone is different in a cash game vs tournaments.

In the room that I frequently play at - you are allowed to be on the phone at a cash table even being in a hand if it does not slow any play. If the dealer has to get your attention while you're on the phone then they will ask you to put it away. Sometimes the player replies with, "But I thought one is allowed to use a phone at the cash table." And the dealer will ask, "Do you want to play poker or be on the phone?" Usually the player will acknowledge what the dealer is saying and either get up from the table for a few minutes or put the phone down.

In that same room you are not allowed to use your cell phone if you are in a hand in a tournament. It used to be a hand killing offense. But no longer with the new TDA revision.

Personally I have gotten a lot of things done on the phone while playing poker. But sometimes you have to make a choice about what is more important at that time.


I actually know a guy that runs a limo car service from his phone while playing at the poker table. Lots of calls and texts. But he pays attention to his poker hands.
And now with the Postle accusations --- jeez!

The rule for tournaments where I play is not to use your phone when in a hand. I agree, especially as it can be a distraction for everyone.

I am not a fan of players who talk incessantly on their phone, sometimes during a hand, but usually the rules only allow cell phones when you are not in a hand. Again, it can be distracting when overused. I keep my phone on in the event of an emergency at home or if my wife needs to contact me.

cell phones don't bother me at all. I found some players use the phone to ACT as though they are not paying attention in the hand to lure you into their trap.

Having water bottles and other food items on the table is more of a distraction in my opinion.

Hi. they definitely don't have to use the phone. They should ban the use of cell phones at live poker tables.

i think it should not be allowed

Phones should not be allowed as they are tools that can be used to cheat with.

Great question Molly! I feel like cell phones should be turned off while at a live game.

I feel that it´s OK to put mobiles on tables. It doesn´t annoy us.

I've never had phones be an issue with live poker; the few times the phone does go off or something, I think most do a good job of following the proper etiquette. It is just a few people (maybe 10% or so) who are the ones we remember as rude or annoying.

It is like playing pocket Aces. We remember all the times they got cracked in a cooler situation, but we seldom remember the more frequent times they win. Ask a poker player how often it "feels" like AA wins and a lot of them will give really low percentages! I think phones are like pocket Aces in real life: most people probably handle it well, but it is those few rude people who we remember.

I think these rules should be discussed in advance with all the players before the game.

But I don't think that you should put strict restrictions, especially in live poker, because people come to the game to have fun and relax, just have a good time, preferably so that everyone is comfortable and does not feel like at a closed meeting.

I for one do not like cellphones at a poker table, it is annoying and distracting to other players, although I always used one to time the blinds as a Tournament Director in our Pub games. But in the 6 years of running games I think I have only once had a call when playing.

The Dinner table is another place I would ban them.

Phones should be allowed at tables as long as they are silenced or wearing headphones. If someone gets a call that rings out loud at the table, they should be warned once. A second time they should be asked to put their phone away for the remainder of their session.

As for people who are constantly using and looking at their phone and even slowing down the game - I actually salivate and like it when people do this. It means they are distracted and are never playing their best game. Easy money!$!$!

If you’re slowing down play, it’s annoying no matter why you’re doing it. Using your phone while not in a hand is fine as long as it’s muted.

Absolutely not when you play a hand. I don't want people looking at nash push-fold charts when I'm playing against them. That's just crazy and no casino should ever allow it IMHO.

While not playing a hand let people review notes or distract themselves. As long as they don't distract or slow the play down.

They should control it

the cell phone on the table when playing poker is considered not only a distraction for the person who carries it but also for the rest of the participants at the table, in my opinion it is also considered disrespectful, but it will depend of each one the level of concentration he has towards each table and each obstacle













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I don't mind phones at the table, but only the player has to pass the cards and then pick up the phone.

Find the rules for where you are playing. I know at Foxwoods you can not be on the phone when you are playing a hand. I don't worry too much about those delaying the play a bit because they are probably distracted from the game and that gives you a little bit of an edge. Of course it is possible someone may do this on purpose to make you think that they aren't paying attention to the game, so don't put a lot of eggs in that basket.

They, cell phones, always interfere with play at the table. The delay is frustrating for me personally, to have to wait for someone to realize it's their turn, and it makes them harder to read. So overall I wish they were banned on planet earth.

Originally Posted by mollymaggie

Should it be allowed or not? If a player hasn't turned their phone off and gets a call should they be removed from the table? What should be done to a player who's constantly looking at their phone between hands slowing down play because of not paying attention?

Practically they will be allowed except streaming events (e.g. Mike Postle fiasco), tournaments that have more control and any other situation where the integrity of the game could be compromised.

Keep in mind, if someone is paying attention to their phone, they are not going to pick up as much information from the table and you may be abler to profit from that.

Phones should be allowed at the table. If it is allowed in the casino at other games, then why not at the poker table? You can also have it when playing online so no reason to ban them.

It does make the dealers job harder since they have to keep the flow of the game going.

Cell phones should be allowed at the table for sure... but if a player is constantly staring at his/her crotch making hero calls maybe take a look at what’s on that phone

I believe that at the poker table all unnecessary items should be banned from both the player and the dealer. Cell phones and any communication should be prohibited in the first place. Only the players' hands, the poker table and the poker deck of cards should remain. Anything else must be banned on pain of disqualification.

when I used to play in a cardroom in vegas , I really get annoyed by cellphones because ,I feel it was disrespectful that the whole table wait for him to act, while he is chatting. We call the manager who gives him a warning or impose on him to remove his cell from the table

Originally Posted by Lenka65

I believe that at the poker table all unnecessary items should be banned from both the player and the dealer. Cell phones and any communication should be prohibited in the first place. Only the players' hands, the poker table and the poker deck of cards should remain. Anything else must be banned on pain of disqualification.

I take it that you are against headphones and music at the table as well?

i do not believe cellphone is a big problem, except in live tournaments.

I love players and cell phones at the table . Most are not paying attention to whats happening around them and its to my advantage.

I think my personal belief is I don't think they should be banned at the table. It's interesting at the casino I played that before all the covid-19 stuff was going on they did not ban cell phones at the table less of course obviously you were going to get up and talk on the phone and you had to get up and leave. However my poker league a lot of people were complain that I would use my cell phone but I would only listen to music on it and stuff I always found that to be very interesting that you were allowed yourself on the table you're playing for actual real money but in a free game you're not allowed to that always interests me there but I think they should be as long as you're not slowing up play. I think sometimes I gets a little bit chippy I think it's an advantage if someone else is on the phone and not paying attention to take advantage of some things like some people have said before so that's just my two cents worth I think so if I should be allowed at the table it's not really a bother to me so there's always other things that are more problematic than if someone has a cell phone at the table. Well everyone have a good evening and good night.

I've never played live but I hope to sometime. I would imagine having a cell phone to take important calls or play music would be fine, but I also want them there so that my opponents get distracted and don't see the action, because that's a nice little advantage I'm cool with.

Phones are used not only to make calls but to listen to music and concentre on the game
calls should be forbiden

Originally Posted by mollymaggie

Should it be allowed or not? If a player hasn't turned their phone off and gets a call should they be removed from the table? What should be done to a player who's constantly looking at their phone between hands slowing down play because of not paying attention?

I think it should be allowed , most player who are slowling the play because they are using their phones would also find another way to play slow even if phones arent allowed .

i myself dont really check my phone when im playing live poker , but sometimes when im playing cash and the conversation with the other players is kinda boring , and im not getting playable hands , i would check my phone out of boredom .

That's why exist timebanks on each table, if they want to tank imaginin what they'll eat later or looking memes on their phones , is their time to waste... yes is a drag for the rest at the table but, it's their choice to spend their time :/

Originally Posted by mollymaggie

Should it be allowed or not? If a player hasn't turned their phone off and gets a call should they be removed from the table? What should be done to a player who's constantly looking at their phone between hands slowing down play because of not paying attention?

Im guilty of the phone watching but I'm honestly not cheatings. I wouldn't like if the cell phone was asked to be off the table

Yea i dont mind as long as it aint slowing the game. To each his own. I play music and my headphones are made into my sweatshirt so its easy for me and its cold in the casino's. Good luck.

I have mine at the tables, and it doesn’t bother me, unless there’s a way to cheat. If so let me know how to do it.

The telephone should not be allowed at a poker table, I think it lends itself to many things, I would use it to listen to music, with headphones, but nothing else, in case of calls that are outside the table, you cannot play inside a hand.

Isn't like a rule that your hand is on the phone then it's insta fold (if the person still on the hand)?
Other than that, when a person gets the phone after folding/conclusion of a hand, it doesn't bother me.

Used and abused devices.. Am I playing the player or the player using an app?

The phone is much better than a tablet.

Maybe they are multi-tabling a couple of Cardschat games on their phone while playing on your table?

Here's what 'cha do. Get his number. Call the player's phone. Ask politely for the person to put their phone away. Enjoy watching the person's face as they realize it is a person at their table.
This works in restaurants if you are sitting in front of the person assigning tables too.

Gader

its like chess, phones are forbidden there

I think we would get into a dilemma in this because for my part I have no problems with that, the problem lies in the level of consciousness that the person has, I believe of course certain regulations must be maintained because otherwise it becomes a circus and affects the good development and rhythm of the table.

Even in just a community $10 ladies game, it was annoying one girl was on her phone the whole time. I can imagine if it was for real money that would get old fast, but I guess I could hope they were distracted and not paying attention.