[Mithrandir]

First of all, they shouldn't be whispering at the table. ESPECIALLY if they aren't in the hand. They shouldn't be talking at all. And if they tell anyone what they have, their hand should be dead. No one is allowed to ever say what they have as the hand is in progress. People can hint at what they have, but they can never blatantly say what they have. And seating should be assigned by drawing cards.

You've just got to work up the stones to tell them to cut the crap or they aren't welcomed back.
You say they're friends and all, but I don't think my friends would try to cheat me out of money.