It seems like it is only a matter of time before every major tournament around the world is using some form of shot clock for their marquee events. 888poker is trying to get ahead of that curve.

Beginning with the 888Live London Festival this October, all 888Live Festivals will use the shot clock for bigger buy-in events. The move is part of 888poker’s ‘Taking Back the Game’ initiatives, launched in May.

“Taking back the game is about going one step further for our players to create a fairer, more fun and progressive gaming environment. As a huge influencer in a fast-evolving market, it’s important that we listen to our players in order to enrich their experience in the most innovative ways possible,” said Itai Pazner, Head of B2C at 888Holdings. “We believe that implementing shot clocks in our 888Live Festivals is one more step towards us improving our games through cutting waiting times and creating a more even-handed poker experience.”

The clock will be in use in London during the Main Event and High Roller at the Aspers Casino.

“I’ve always been a fan of the Shot Clock, so when 888poker suggested adding it to the Main and the High Roller Events at the Festival I was fully on board. We are already in the process of converting three of our cash game tables to Quick Tables with a Shot Clock so it fits perfectly with the poker room strategy,” said John Scanlon, Head of poker at Aspers Casino. “We always put the player at the centre of everything we do at the 888poker Room at Aspers Casino and we believe that players will really enjoy this addition to our ever evolving customer offer.”

The shot clock, which will be operated by the dealer, allows players a certain amount of time to make each decision. Each player will have a limited number of time extensions to use each day which allow the player an additional 30 seconds. If the clock reaches zero at any point, the player’s hand is dead.

Various versions of a shot clock have been implemented in limited events around the world. The World Poker Tour introduced the Action Clock at the 2016 WPT Tournament of Champions, the Super High Roller Bowl has always used one and a number of PokerStars Live High Roller events have used the shot clock in recent years.