GGPoker Bans & Confiscates Over $1 Million Prize From WSOP Online Champ

In an unexpected turn of events, GGPoker, the world’s largest online poker room, banned Francesco “forzaitalia” Garofalo, the Italian player who took first place in the prestigious $25,000 GGMillion$ Super High Roller Championship of WSOP Online 2024.

The move came after GGPoker’s security team identified rule violations, leading to Garofalo’s disqualification and the redistribution of his winnings, totaling over $1 million, among other final table participants.

Major Payouts Issued to Final Table Players

British poker pro Patrick Leonard, known for his high-stakes play and social media presence, revealed the news on X (formerly Twitter) on November 4, 2024.

In a tweet that quickly garnered attention, Leonard shared that GGPoker had credited a staggering $152,733 to his account as part of the redistribution.

Leonard, who had only ever received smaller refunds, remarked:

“Wow, I just woke up and saw this. This is the biggest refund of my career. I have never received more than $2k before.”

Following Leonard’s announcement, fellow high-stakes player Chris Brewer also confirmed receiving a substantial compensation from GGPoker, further hinting at the serious nature of Garofalo’s infraction.

What Violations Led to Garofalo’s Disqualification?

GGPoker’s security team has yet to publicly disclose specific details of Garofalo’s violation.

However, speculation among poker insiders suggests that the Italian might have used prohibited software or received unauthorized assistance from third-party players during play—practices that are strictly against GGPoker’s terms and conditions.

Garofalo’s presence in the event reportedly raised eyebrows at the final table, where experienced players noted unusual aspects of his gameplay.

The violation has now left Garofalo banned from the platform and his winnings in the hands of his former competitors.

Not the First Confiscation of This Magnitude in Online Poker

The decision to confiscate over $1 million in winnings marks one of the most significant instances of prize reallocation in online poker history.

A similar, high-profile case occurred in 2007, when PokerStars confiscated $1,378,331 from Natalie “TheV0id” Teltscher.

Teltscher was found guilty of “ghosting”—a practice where another player controls an account to gain an unfair advantage. She later admitted that her brother, British poker pro Mark Teltscher played instead of her.

GGPoker’s Strong Stance on Fair Play

This incident reaffirms GGPoker’s commitment to upholding fairness and integrity within its games. GGPoker’s stance on these matters has grown increasingly firm, particularly as the online poker scene sees a rise in high-stakes tournaments and the use of advanced software.

By investing in a robust security infrastructure, the platform aims to prevent misconduct and maintain a level playing field for all participants.

According to sources, GGPoker has implemented comprehensive monitoring systems designed to detect irregularities in gameplay, patterns associated with artificial assistance, and other forms of prohibited behavior.

By acting decisively against Garofalo, GGPoker sends a clear message to its players: rule-breaking at any level will not be tolerated.