After two years of representing one of the most visible online poker brands in the world, high-stakes pro Jose ‘Nacho’ Barbero and ACR Poker have officially parted ways. The fallout tells a compelling story about ambassador responsibility, game integrity, and the delicate dance between players and platforms in the modern poker landscape.
The Final Hand Between Nacho and ACR
On Monday, ACR Poker CEO Phil Nagy announced that Barbero would no longer represent the site. The statement followed a storm of controversy triggered by Barbero’s repeated on-stream remarks and past social media activity, all casting doubt on the site’s efforts to police cheating and enforce game integrity.
“At ACR Poker, we hold our team members to the highest standards of integrity and commitment,” Nagy tweeted. “Recent comments by team pro Nacho Barbero regarding the use of GTO Wizard have raised serious concerns about his understanding of our security measures and his role as an ambassador.”
While many fans were caught off guard, this split has arguably been in the cards for months.
From Solver Scandal to Streamed Sarcasm
The controversy traces back to February, when Barbero posted a seemingly harmless Instagram story of his online tournament grind. But eagle-eyed followers quickly spotted a visible GTO Wizard hand matrix (a software used to solve hands with game theory optimal strategy) open on his screen, which is strictly prohibited during live play on ACR.
Barbero denied using the tool in real time, claiming it had been left open from a coaching session. An internal investigation by ACR found no direct evidence of cheating at the time, but the optics were already working against him.
Then came the real breaking point: a candid livestream moment at the U.S. Poker Open, where Barbero and fellow pro Isaac Haxton discussed the earlier incident. The exchange was damning.
“I don’t think they’re trying [to stop cheating],” Barbero said with a chuckle, responding to Haxton’s critique of ACR’s detection capabilities. The moment went viral. And it made one thing painfully clear: ACR’s most successful ambassador was publicly undermining the brand’s reputation.
Too Far for Forgiveness
Despite the gravity of the situation, some within ACR’s orbit initially hoped things could be salvaged. In an interview just last month, fellow ambassador and 2003 WSOP champion Chris Moneymaker admitted, “I would’ve fired Barbero after the post… But Phil [Nagy] hates firing people. It really hurts him.” That leniency ended this week.
ACR’s official response emphasized that Barbero’s comments misrepresented their “stance on third-party software and game integrity,” and that such statements tested the trust expected from those wearing the site’s patch. By week’s end, the decision was final.
A Decorated Career Meets a PR Iceberg
Barbero’s poker credentials are undeniable. With over $23 million in career tournament earnings and a reputation for competing at the highest levels, he brought prestige and visibility to the ACR brand.
In April alone, he notched nearly $600,000 in live cashes. But prestige alone doesn’t buy a free pass, especially when trust and transparency are on the line in the online poker world.
Barbero himself seemed to acknowledge his misstep, saying during the USPO stream, “I should have never posted it… How they gonna know? I should never have posted it online.”
Where ACR Draws the Line
“This has shown where that line is,” Moneymaker remarked. “It’s really hard to get fired from ACR… You really have to screw up.”
Now, poker fans know exactly what “screwing up” looks like in the ACR ecosystem.
In an era where online poker faces constant scrutiny over fairness, bots, and real-time assistance, operators must project seriousness about their enforcement. For ACR, allowing a team pro to publicly downplay those efforts, twice, was too big a risk to ignore.
What’s Next for Nacho and ACR?
Barbero remains one of poker’s most recognizable faces, and this episode is unlikely to end his career. But future sponsors will no doubt weigh his public persona as carefully as his chip stacks.
As for ACR, the site continues to battle skepticism about its integrity protocols. And while cutting ties with Barbero may signal a stronger stance, the community will watch closely to see what actions follow the words.
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