PokerStars Shuts Down Ten Bot Accounts

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A recent internal investigation at PokerStars allowed the online poker room to detect and shut down ten player accounts for the use of computer programs. These programs, also known as bots, allow players to use statistical analysis to automatically play a large number of hands and reap unfair profits.

The problem was uncovered by a poster on a well-known poker forum; he claimed to have discovered suspicious activity on a number of accounts, and others on the site encouraged him to submit his findings to PokerStars for review. The poster claimed that the accounts had too many similarities in the style of play and bets placed; trends like these do not typically occur when the game is being played by a real person. PokerStars accepted the data and launched an internal review.

What PokerStars uncovered was a total of ten accounts that were running bots. These accounts had collectively played at least eight million hands at the $0.25/$0.50, $0.50/$1.00 and $1/$2 stakes levels, generating nearly $187,000 in rake and making $57,000 in profit over an unspecified period of time.

Bots are one of a growing number of security concerns at online card rooms. They are able to make rapid decisions based on highly accurate analysis of available cards, increasing the odds of winning. Bots, phishing, data mining and collusion by players represent some of the more prevalent forms that cheaters currently attempt.

Although first detected by an outside member of the poker community, the fact that PokerStars was able to confirm, and then take action against the cheaters is very assuring. The reputations of PokerStars and other online card rooms depend on players being able to enjoy a safe, honest environment whenever they play.