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Justin Bonomo Threatened With World Series Of Poker Paradise Disqualification Over Palestinian Scarf

High-Stakes Poker Pro Forced To Remove Keffiyeh Before Final Table Broadcast

by Card Player News Team  |  Published: Dec 19, 2024

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A controversy regarding international geopolitics emerged at the World Series of Poker Paradise in the Bahamas on Wednesday when tournament officials informed Justin Bonomo he would be disqualified from the $25,000 super main event if he continued to wear a keffiyeh scarf as play neared the televised final table.

The black-and-white keffiyeh has been “adopted by Palestinians as a symbol of their aspiration and long struggle for independence, making it divisive to those who associate it with the fighting involved in that struggle,” according to the New York Times.

Bonomo, who is Jewish, has consistently shown his support for Palestinians on social media, and has pledged a portion of his winnings to charities that support the Free Palestine movement.

WSOP officials said the issue had to do with television broadcast rights.

“The request for removal of Mr. Bonomo’s keffiyeh once he reached the TV production table was simply a matter of broadcast clearance,” series officials said. “Our future distribution platforms for the super main event do not allow garments deemed controversial or political in nature.”

Facing the prospect of losing a shot at a $6 million payday, Bonomo agreed to remove the scarf. The three-time bracelet winner did however point out that while he understood the series having a blanket rule against political attire, he felt it was hypocritical that the WSOP hosted a charity fundraiser for Israeli Defense Force widows and orphans just a week prior in the Bahamas.

“[The] WSOP informed me that I will be disqualified from the tournament if I don’t take my keffiyeh off,” he noted. “Pretty fucked that they’ll run charity tournaments for the IDF but won’t let me wear a scarf because it was made in Palestine.”

Player Reaction Is Divided

Bonomo, who currently sits in second place on poker’s all-time money list with $66.4 million in earnings, has posted numerous times about the need for protecting Palestinian civilians since the Oct. 7 attacks and has called for a ceasefire in the war. That has put him at odds with some pro-Israel poker players such as Mike Matusow.

Matusow has been particularly bothered by many of Bonomo’s comments, alleging that Bonomo is actually supporting Hamas. He wasted no time in calling out Bonomo on Twitter regarding the incident, even calling for him to be jailed.

“He should not be allowed to play poker tourneys!” Matusow said. “Can’t wait for Trump to throw people who support terrorism in jail! Maybe ‘jihadomo’ will be first!”

Matusow, of course, is no stranger to jail himself, having served six months after trying to sell narcotics to an undercover police officer.

Although players remain divided on the issue, not everyone’s reaction was as extreme as Matusow’s. Some were appalled by the disqualification warning, while others noted that the series has a right to decide how things are run.

The latter view appeared to fall in line with WSOP rules that note: “Host Properties reserve the right at all times to impose a ban on any apparel deemed objectionable by Host Properties, in its sole and absolute discretion. Host Properties reserve the right to refuse entry or continued participation in an Event to any Participant who does not comply with the aforementioned apparel rules.”

“Whether you agree or disagree with Justin’s politics, this is maybe the most insane overstep by an operator in recent memory,” wrote outspoken high-stakes pro Matt Berkey. “I can’t fathom a world where they’d tell someone to remove their yarmulka or Star of David.”

The scarf was also worn in the tournament by poker pro and author Michael Acevedo, who was eliminated early on. Bonomo was ultimately one of the nine players reaching the final table and sits eighth in chips. While he wouldn’t apparently be wearing a keffiyeh, he was planning instead to wear a Palestinian flag.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has made its way into poker headlines before. Back in 2014, PokerStars banned political attire in their events after high-stakes pros Olivier Busquet and Dan Colman wore shirts that said, ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘Save Gaza’ at a livestreamed high roller final table.

In 2021, Mike Ruter took criticism for wearing a ‘Free Palestine’ shirt at a WSOP final table. Ruter was part of the duo that won the Tag Team event, which had been heads-up with Israel’s Tomer Wolf and David Lander.

Player Reactions

*Screenshot from WSOP

 
 
Tags: Justin Bonomo,   WSOP Paradise,   World Series Of Poker,   Bahamas,   Israel,   Palestine,   Keffiyeh,   Poker Tournaments,   Disqualification,   Poker Rules,   DQ,   Mike Matusow
 
 
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