Re: Technology
Originally Posted by
Rehab44
->
That's a bit harsh Galty, the research seems sound.
Indeed it is.
Poker Bot Software:
http://www.poker-bot.org/main/
http://www.holdem-poker-bot.com/
http://www.bonusbots.com/holdempokerbot.htm
Player Collusion:
http://www.onlinepokerwinning.com/Poker_Collusion.php
http://www.pokercheatingsystem.com/a...oesnt-Work.htm
"It is estimated that as many as one out of every five online poker tables contains at least some players working in collusion in some way."
The article above claims that for most punters, collusion doesn't help them much. Clearly however there will be plenty of good players out there who DO greatly benefit from collusion. The same articale also states:
"True, there are ways to cheat at online poker. "
Another older BBC article here from 2010:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11250835
"Mr Broadbent is one 25,000 players recently awarded compensation after falling victim to Chinese card sharps on the world's largest internet poker site, Pokerstars."
"The case is not an isolated one. Previously, Pokerstars refunded $80,000 (£52,000) to players who unwittingly went up against poker "bots" - automatic card-playing software programmes."
"The problem for the authorities and the gaming companies is that it is virtually impossible to prevent collusion like this, because players can share information about their hands via the phone or internet messenger without being detected."
You can read and interpret all this information in 2 ways. You can be naïve, like ordinary people who think the State will look after them, and believe that when you play on these sites the site will actively protect you, look after you and that compensation cheques will arrive into your account regularly.
All of which is utter nonsense.
Or, you can have a semblance of common sense and understand that where money is concerned, people will always turn a blind eye. Large poker sites are there solely to make a ton of money, absolutely $billions. It is NOT in their interest to continually detect and punish cheaters and pay out large compensation to victims. The naïve view is that it MUST be in their interests because a safe site means good custom. The reality is that the world is chock full of poker addicts and cheaters who will ALWAYS keep coming back no matter what.
So, IF (and it's a big if) YOU the player THINK there is something hooky going on, and IF you gather up enough evidence and IF you complain to the poker site then they will look into it. If you are just one isolated Joe Bloggs they will likely fob you off, "nothing to see here sir". If enough people collectively get together with evidence such that it is going to damage the PR of the company, then, they will do a proper investigation and sort things out.
In reality, mug punter players don't even realise that they are being cheated. The bad beats, and collusion happen so often you wouldn't know what was real and what was cheating.
Either way, the problem persists. There is NOTHING at all sites can do to stop people colluding. Nothing. You will always be free to phone up your mate, or Skype or MS Chat whilst you are playing on the same table and discuss each other's holdings. If you were dumb enough to do that with the same accounts and do so frequently then yes the site software will detect you. If you are not dumb, and are part of a group with 100s of accounts which are rotated then no, the software isn't going to bat an eyelid.
Understand that the sites make $billions from cards being dealt. They take a rake % from every hand. That's all that matters. No-one cares about you being cheated unless you are part of a large group that will cause a rumpuss.
People cheat in the stock market on an hourly basis through all manner of ways. Pump and dumps, momentum trading, ramping, deramping, multi-alias chat board posting, market maker shinanigans and tons more. The FCA is supposed to be there to regulate things. In practice it does sweet FA. The exception are the large cases involving many people.
In the end the moral here is stay away from online poker. You WILL lose a ton of money. You will win as soon as you first sign up, I guarantee it, that's the "Honeymoon period". You will appear to be a poker God, unbeatable, and then the hammer will come down and you will lose from there. Your choice.