AI to Analyze WSOP Players’ Gestures and Facial Expressions for Signs of Bluffing
Tania Levees
14 July 2026
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Artificial intelligence capable of detecting signs that players may be bluffing has been introduced into ESPN’s coverage of the World Series of Poker (WSOP), according to Sportico.
The technology was developed by engineer Luke Geel and is being used by Omaha Productions, which oversees television coverage of the tournament. The system analyzes footage of previous hands and compares players’ behavior with the strength of the cards they were holding. It considers their posture, hand movements, facial expressions, blink rate and the time taken to make a decision.
When certain gestures or postures repeatedly occur while a player is holding a weak hand, the system may flag them as possible signs of a bluff.
However, the technology does not guarantee accurate results. It only identifies patterns that viewers might otherwise fail to notice.
Omaha Productions plans to use the system cautiously. Players’ behavior will be analyzed only after they have been eliminated from the tournament, ensuring that the information cannot affect the competition.
The World Series of Poker has returned to ESPN for the first time since 2021. The buy-in for the Main Event is $10,000, while the winner’s prize could reach $10 million. Coverage of the final table is scheduled for the first week of August.
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