WPT Global’s announcement of Tony ‘Ren’ Lin as its newest ambassador was met with significant backlash as supporters of the organisation lamented its association with someone who has such a chequered recent past.
The furore surrounding Lin’s Real-Time-Assistance scandal came during 2025, which led to GGPoker indefinitely suspending Lin.
During an online tournament, Lin, who has amassed over $16m in prize money during his career, was caught advising his student, known by the username RealOA, during the game, violating the competition’s fair play rules.
GGPoker confiscated the student’s winning and expelled Lin from the ongoing WSOP Circuit Cyprus tournament, while banning him from all subsequent WSOP events.
Lin issued a public apology for the infraction, claiming he was unaware of the implications of his actions at the time.
Despite the indefinite suspension hanging over him, he later appeared at the Atlantis Bahamas Resort & Casino for the WSOP Paradise tournament, with the defence that he was able to play in live tournaments.
Announcing the deal with Lin, WPT Global stated its belief that the partnership demonstrated poker’s ability to facilitate “personal evolution and the courage to face challenges with integrity”.
“We believe in the principles of growth, accountability, and redemption,” added the statement. “Our decision to collaborate with Tony is rooted in our belief in second chances and our focus on the future. We look forward to Tony’s positive contributions and encourage our community to join us in supporting growth, both at the tables and beyond.”
“Tony has openly addressed past controversies, taken full responsibility for his actions, and accepted the consequences with humility. His willingness to learn, improve, and move forward demonstrates a maturity that aligns with our values. His journey reflects resilience — a quality we admire and wish to highlight.
“We recognise that people can learn from their experiences and contribute positively to the community. WPT Global remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, security, and fairness in online poker.”
The announcement drew a sharp response from ClubWPT Gold, however, which expressed significant disappointment at the decision.
This sentiment was also elevated by Dara O’Kearney and David Lappin of the Chip Race Podcast, who stated that the ‘decision came as a shock to us all’ and chose to end their association with the WPT Global
“The signing of Ren Lin as a global ambassador came as a shock to us. Given our personally held and outspoken views on the scandal surrounding him, it was immediately obvious that our continued roles with the company were untenable,” said the hosts in a statement released on social media.
iGaming Expert analysis: Whilst poker is no stranger to a polarising brand ambassador, the recent nature of Lin’s cheating scandal could be seen as taking this to a new level. The initial community response to Lin’s appointment already underpins that this deal is set for a frosty reception.
