WSOP Player Facing Penalty for Inappropriate Card Protector

A player competing in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) $1,000 Super Seniors event has drawn attention and a formal warning for utilizing a novelty card protector that tournament officials deemed inappropriate. The incident, which occurred on Day 2 of the event, saw player Andrew Martin instructed to remove the item, described as an anal sex toy, from the table.

According to a report by PokerNews, WSOP floor staff approached Martin and informed him that the card protector was not permitted. Martin stated that he was unaware of any specific WSOP rule prohibiting such an item and claimed he had been unable to find any explicit mention in the tournament rules that would justify the ruling.

Tournament officials reportedly issued a warning on Martin’s WSOP account, indicating that further use of the item could lead to more severe penalties. The ruling highlights a potential grey area in the WSOP’s official tournament rules concerning personal items at the table.

Card Protector Rules and Interpretations

While the WSOP’s Official Tournament Rules for the 2026 series do not specifically address explicit card protectors, Rule 112 governs foreign objects. This rule permits a maximum of one card cap, or card protector, with specific size limitations: no larger than two inches in diameter and no more than one-half inch in depth.

However, tournament officials may have invoked Rule 40(d), which emphasizes participant expectations. This rule states: “All Participants are entitled to expect civility and courtesy from one another at every table and throughout the WSOP area… Participants who violate this rule are subject to penalty in accordance with Rules.”

It appears that tournament staff interpreted the use of a sex toy as a card protector as falling outside the expected standards of civility and courtesy at the poker tables. This interpretation suggests that even if an item meets the size requirements, its nature can still lead to a violation if deemed offensive or disruptive.

Player’s Current Standing

Despite the controversy surrounding his card protector, Andrew Martin was reported to have amassed over 300,000 chips in the Super Seniors event. With approximately 200 players remaining from an initial field of 3,323 entries, the tournament was progressing towards its later stages, with a top prize of $355,263 on the line. PokerNews provided live reporting for the event.

Key facts

This development matters to PlayVideoPoker readers as it touches upon the etiquette and rule enforcement within major poker tournaments. While not directly about video poker, it provides insight into the broader poker world and the unexpected situations that can arise at the felt, influencing player behavior and tournament regulations. Understanding these broader poker community events can offer context to the diverse landscape of poker.

Source: PokerNews – https://www.pokernews.com/news/2026/06/wsop-player-warned-sex-toy-card-protector-51641.htm