A Nevada poker player is potentially in hot water with gaming regulators after getting caught using a HUD while playing on WSOP.com. A gaming statute in the state is interpreted by many as saying that third-party software tools are prohibited while playing online poker. WSOP.com Nevada also has a clause in its terms and conditions to prohibit software aids while playing.

The story begins about a month ago when a WSOP.com Nevada player with the screen name BTCBLADEinadvertently outed himself by streaming his WSOP.com Nevada play on Twitch with the assistance of a HUD.

Several sources have identified this player as Tommy Chen, which matches up with the name on his Instagram account. Chen has had some success in the live poker arena, where he has over $450,000 in tournament cashes according to the Hendon Mob, his biggest cash coming during the 2012 World Series of Poker when he took fourth place in a $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Heads-Up event for $130,606.

BTCBLADE likely would not have run into any problems if it weren’t for Randy Dorfman taking notice of this happening and reporting it via Twitter to both WSOP.com and the site’s Head of Online Poker Bill Rini (pictured below).

Rini replied to the Tweet asking Dorfman to report this player again if he uses a HUD. This led many to believe that WSOP.com doesn’t have the ability to detect online poker software and therefore the only way for a player to get caught would be by outing themselves either accidentally or on purpose.

Dorfman also suggested that WSOP Nevada should make HUDs legal if they can’t police their use. According to Rini, this is not possible: “The NV GCB (Gaming Control Board) made them illegal. We can’t just make them legal because one guy was caught using one.”

Also, Dorfman took offense to the fact that the player was given a warning. When he asked Rini why the player wasn’t banned, he stated, “Randy, we decided to warn. Again, you are free to disagree.”

It is possible that WSOP.com and Rini had a change of heart here, as the player now hasn’t been seen on the site since November 22.

The matter is now in the hands of the Nevada Gaming Commission, where if they decide to pursue it, could lead to charges that include one to six years in jail and a $10,000 fine. The penalty could be stiff even for a first offense due to a potential charge of a Class B Felony.

To that end, a source was quoted on Flushdrawas saying, “The matter is in the hands of regulators now, so they will ultimately decide the matter from here.”

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Image courtesy Flushdraw