A couple of dealers seem to be undertrained in their duties
Concerns are building among players at the 2025 World Series of Poker, as several participants have voiced frustration over what they describe as a lack of preparation among some dealers. While the series, currently being held at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, is expected to top last year’s record-breaking turnout, early complaints have already surfaced — and they’re not about the cards, but the people dealing them.
The issue became more public after players began sharing their experiences on social media. Steven Cole, a participant in one of the early events, posted on X that a dealer at his table had to ask whether cards should be shuffled after each hand. Another player, Matthew Blagg, noted his dealer didn’t reshuffle the deck following a misdeal, raising further questions about training and consistency.
I had a dealer deal a misdeal. He gathers the cards back, stacks them, doesn’t shuffle and proceeds to pitch them out. I told him “you need to reshuffle” he looked confused but took the cards back again and shuffled. https://t.co/rDnZeQwTp4
— MattBlagg (@MattBlagg) June 1, 2025
Though the Main Event doesn’t begin until July 2, early events have already wrapped up, including Event #8, where Benny Glaser from the UK added a sixth bracelet to his collection by winning the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice. Despite that milestone and other highlights, dealer competence has become a talking point among the community.
With over 100 events scheduled in this year’s series, some level of dealer rotation and inexperience is expected, especially during the early weeks. But when players are paying thousands in entry fees, expectations for smooth gameplay are high.
Meanwhile, drama continues on and off the tables. Phil Hellmuth, a player known for his outspoken personality, initially claimed he might skip the Main Event but later reversed course after conducting a fan poll. Doug Polk, another familiar face in the poker world, shared evidence suggesting fans actually wanted Hellmuth to sit out.
For now, tournament organizers haven’t made public statements about the dealer issues, but many players hope improvements come quickly before the Main Event brings even more eyes to the tables.
