Has you experienced any fraud on the online poker games
Hey guys,
Not that I have seen it myself or anything like that, but it just seems to easy in my mind to be able to fraudlently play the online games.
As an example, what would stop 2 or 3 friends from playing at the same table online and at the same time chatting with each other on MSN or over the phone for that matter. All under the plan of helping each other out in a high stakes tourney where they setup that one person will win it all and then split the pots between the 3 at the end. What is to stop someone from actually have multiple accounts on the same table playing two positions. This would significantly help your odds in winning.
I think having those kinds of ideas in the back of my mind is why I don't play any of the big stakes tournaments online, because I would think that people would be more likely to try and do that in the higher stakes games.
I was just wondering.
Regards,
Terry
Not that I have seen it myself or anything like that, but it just seems to easy in my mind to be able to fraudlently play the online games.
As an example, what would stop 2 or 3 friends from playing at the same table online and at the same time chatting with each other on MSN or over the phone for that matter. All under the plan of helping each other out in a high stakes tourney where they setup that one person will win it all and then split the pots between the 3 at the end. What is to stop someone from actually have multiple accounts on the same table playing two positions. This would significantly help your odds in winning.
I think having those kinds of ideas in the back of my mind is why I don't play any of the big stakes tournaments online, because I would think that people would be more likely to try and do that in the higher stakes games.
I was just wondering.
Regards,
Terry
Comments
What is more likely is people sitting together at a cash ring game table. I'm sure it happens, but all of the major sites claim to have software that detects collusion through pattern recognition.. Also, if a player is suspicious they can report it to the site's admin/help and they will investigate.
I guess the best way to deal with it is if you suspect people are colluding at your table, you can leave at anytime. There are plently of tables to choose from on the internet. Even if they are not cheating, if you are playing with suspicion you are not going to be playing at the top of your game and should go play somewhere else anyway.
Bottom line, there is cheating involved in ALL forms of poker. I'll have to post my "Nice Pair" story from the Bellagio last year. Online ring, online MTT, online sitngo, offline, casino, home games -- there will be cheating in all of these games. It doesn't happen in every game, and IMO, it doesn't happen in the majority of games you will be playing.
So for the most part, you really don't have to worry about getting cheated. Just because it happens everywhere, it doesn't mean it will happen to you everytime. The real beauty of cheaters, is that they most often are not that bright. That's why they're cheating -- they can't beat a fair game. So, even if they know exactly what cards they hold, they have lots to worry about and are really only effective against players they would have beaten without cheating. Most often, I love being at a table where I know there are folks playing together. I generally make more money.
The same things which give you an edge over other players, like detecting betting patterns will alert you to the cheaters. As the other poster mentioned, if you suspect something, then just find another table. This is the beauty of the online environment. What do you do when you're at the Casino, and have an hour drive and only one table at the limit you're playing. That really sucks.
I firmly believe there is no more cheating online, than there is offline. I look at it as a business. Just because Zellers knows there will be shoplifters and people stealing from them, they still open their stores. They do their best to deter the theft, catch as many as they can, and then build in enough in their price to cover any loses. All poker players need to do the same.
Cheers
Magi
Cheers
Magi
Later
It is actually scary, but most of the sites have actually not put anything into place. I have a close friend involved in a start up poker site (I will tell you all when they launch) and as part of their due diligence they actuall tested the anti-collusion claims of many of the sites.
They found that in 2 out of 6 instances were they caught. And it was because the players at the table brought it to the attention of the admin. I didn't get the names of the sites, but I kinda believe this story. The only thing that is practical is to verify that the IP addresses are not the same, but that leaves the other basics, as mentioned before - msn, phone, etc.
I think, as Magi said, you're going to get cheaters anyhow, just keep an eye open for anything particularily obvious.