The minor disruption proved to be a major deal with poker fans
A 20-minute cyberattack disrupted live coverage of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event final table on Monday night, leaving fans worldwide unable to watch the tournament’s biggest moment in real time. The interruption came during a critical hand, sparking immediate backlash from viewers and highlighting vulnerabilities in the digital infrastructure supporting modern poker broadcasts.
The attack targeted PokerGO, the subscription-based streaming service that has exclusive rights to WSOP live coverage. According to the company, the disruption was the result of a deliberate cyberattack, though details about those responsible remain unclear.
During the blackout, thousands of viewers lost access to the feed, missing a high-stakes hand involving chip leader Adam Hendrix and a major comeback attempt by Leo Margets, the first woman in 30 years to reach the final table.
Social media platforms lit up with frustrated reactions. Users questioned how a $10 million final table could be interrupted so easily. One viewer called the outage “unacceptable,” especially for a premium platform.
Others resorted to pirated streams or followed updates through unofficial social media accounts. On Reddit, threads discussing the incident quickly gathered hundreds of comments and screenshots showing streaming errors and confusion.
The live event at Horseshoe Las Vegas continued without issue, but fans at home were left in the dark, missing not only the live footage but also hole-card reveals and professional commentary. PokerGO eventually restored the stream, but not before losing a chunk of its audience.
PokerGO issued a public apology and said it is working on security improvements. Meanwhile, WSOP officials are cooperating with federal authorities to investigate the breach. With more poker fans tuning in online than ever before, the incident raises concerns about the future of live poker coverage and the need for stronger cybersecurity protections in a growing digital space.
