Is online poker "rigged" compared to live games?

[SweeTeaRex]

I was browsing thru poker Reddit and came across this reddit thread saying all of online poker is "rigged" due to the number of bots and HUDs (programs to help give an edge for each hand).

To be fair, some of this does seem plausible. But is it fair to say all of online poker is "rigged"?

Should I even bother with online poker then?

Personally, I've played for about 2 weeks now at online micro stakes and have come out even on bankroll.

The thread also says online is harder than live games. I stand to make more money at live games, than online.

This site seems to have better community than Reddit, as to why I ask here.

 

[eetenor]

I was browsing thru poker Reddit and came across this reddit thread saying all of online poker is "rigged" due to the number of bots and HUDs (programs to help give an edge for each hand).

To be fair, some of this does seem plausible. But is it fair to say all of online poker is "rigged"?

Should I even bother with online poker then?

Personally, I've played for about 2 weeks now at online micro stakes and have come out even on bankroll.

The thread also says online is harder than live games. I stand to make more money at live games, than online.

This site seems to have better community than Reddit, as to why I ask here.

Hud's- bots- collusion -rake all shave your results possibly negative if you are just above break even in skill--- RTA is also another result shaver online.
Highly skilled players being on many tables is also an edge shaver.

Live play eliminates most of these. So yes it can have the advantage in that regard.
However live play is you on one table only when it runs only vs you being able to play multiple tables with less edge at most times of the day online- this with some skill can make online profitable even with the edge shavers in place

If we are talking high stakes play live is better yes

 

[dehzao]

No, not at all.

The same ugly sh*t that happens in online happens in Live Poker too.

Furthermore, it would be much more expensive to create a IA that makes some specific players lose and others don't than to create a simple Random Number Generator Robot, so it wouldn't make sense for the poker sites.

Unless they have some studies that say that people that deposited recently and lost are prone to deposit again and keep more capital in the site or that they might create some specific for players that haven't deposited in a while to lose so they do deposit, but I find that very unlikely and risky, if it spreads out they would end a very profitable company, so I don't see any sense for they doing that.

About that old fallacy "whoever has more chips in a tournament, will win even with 20% equity" also makes no sense. They will spend more money and time developping an IA that makes that than to "rent" their site for another miserable hour.

About your post, I find winning online is easier than in live. Even tho live players are MUCH, MUCH worse than online players. This is because Live Poker requires a monster amount of patience to fold over and over again playing in a single table at a slower pace than multitabling online.

But if someone says the field on the Live Poker is easier to beat, and, hence, that's why they win more there, that would def be true. I don't think it has nothing to do with being rigged.

Oh yeah, sorry... I answered the title of the post and quite honestly didn't even read the post, sorry.

Well, if there are bots in online poker, they are definitely stupid. I wouldn't worry about it, honestly.

If there are bots playing GTO, they are mixing their shoves with total value and bluffs, so they might shove you with AQ in an unconnected board for them when you have the nuts or smth like that.

In my opinion, bots are overestimated, really. Even the "lack of pattern" creates another pattern, don't worry about it.

About HUDs, yeah, they are a great advantage. But also, don't worry about them, use them as well, they are legal in the vast majority of sites. I totally recommend it. It isn't cheating. It is simply a good tool to use.

P.S: Oh yeah, and the greatest poker sites do not allow and can know if there are bots playing. But even if 1% or 2% can dribble this system, I wouldn't worry about it. As I said, bots are overestimated.

 

[Luvepoker]

Can someone use a bot or cheat to take advantage of you? Of course. Is online poker rigger. No, it is not. The sites constantly monitor the games for cheats and possible bots.

As for cheating it can happen live as well. Only once I felt and knew i was being cheated due to collusion of 2 players. This was also not at a home game or Rinky dink casino. Mager casino during a poker series of very good reputation. Don't ask as I won't be sharing the series.

 

[I Live Poker]

Online poker is very reliable, the patterns of events and card openings are practically identical to live poker. Regarding it being more difficult online, it's because the fields are huge and there are a lot more strong players online.
I have seen many situations live and I have seen many online too, and nowadays I don't understand the difference. except that in real life you have to worry about different forms of cheating that some bad players commit

 

[Fofa]

Online poker isn't necessarily "rigged", but i dont doubt some platform is...

I think the challenging part is the presence of bots and HUDs. Whether you should continue playing online or switch to live games depends on your personal preferences and where you believe you can be more profitable.

 

[Igor G]

It's up to you to play online or not. For me, online poker is a great pastime that always brings me pleasure and sometimes money as well. And despite any talk of fraud, despite any conspiracy, for me poker remains simply my favorite hobby.

 

[khancerberos]

If I too have noticed something about that rigging, I have had endless hands that I should have won but I always lose because of an unthinkable hand I think that if you have the opportunity to play live poker it would be better since some of us don't have that opportunity because of the place where we live

 

[fundiver199]

The term "rigged" should be reserved for the situation, where the game provider is not dealing cards randomly and thereby cheating their customers. So that for instance certain players are more likely to win, then they should be, people bust faster from tournaments, or whatever the "rigging" whould try to acheive. There has been a lot of speculation about this since the born of online poker 20+ years ago, but not a single peice of evidence, it has ever happened on any site. And there has been many.

This should NOT be confused with players cheating or with players using completely legal software like trackers / HUDs. Yes using such a program can give an advantage, but so can signing up for training sites, getting coaching or working with solvers and other software off the table. And since you can also use it yourself, you are not getting cheated, and it certainly does not mean, the sites are "rigged".

 

[Pokerpoet2]

In general most reputable sites like pokerstars, 888, and many others cannot afford to be Rigged! they are monitored by Gaming commissions from many different Countries, and if one found anything that could be Crooked or Rigged, It would be their downfall and they would lose the trust from players all over the World.
I have seen many Videos of some players claiming PokerStars is Rigged or other sites are out to get your money etc. etc. But I find them extremely funny because yes I have had similar experiences, when playing On-line, but also in Live Tournaments So do I believe in Rigged Poker Sites? Certainly not!
Strange things can happen in Poker, There is nothing predetermined when it comes to playing any game of chance. In blackjack or roulette there is an advantage that the "House" has over you so there is nothing strange in losing money in either game.
Even in Horse Racing there will always be an element of Luck. I once gave a tip to a Friend that a particular horse was in top form and going to smash a race hands down, a furlong from the finish line it was 20 lengths in front of the field and went the wrong side of the rail and was disqualified, I was gutted but didn't think for one minute that it was done on purpose, it was the stupid Jockey taking the wrong line and not concentrating on where he was going.
There is no such thing as a certainty in any game of chance, just because you believe that you have Pocket Aces and cannot be beaten, does not make it so. I have seen some unusual outcomes from Professional players going all-in with A/A and getting beaten on the flop only to hit Runner, Runner, on the Turn and River, giving them the win. Improbable certainly, but not Impossible.
Strange things can and do happen! When it comes to Rigged Poker sites, the answer is in your own hands, If you feel you are constantly being Cheated! STOP PLAYING THERE!
It's that simple!

 

[takinitSLEAZEE]

To be fair, some of this does seem plausible. But is it fair to say all of online poker is "rigged"?

No, it does not. I really think all online sites have become a legitimate place for real $ gaming. Does anyone play Candy Crush? Or know someone who does? I would be willing to bet that most of the players at this site are ahead/in the black by comparison to anyone who "invests" in these types of games. There's so much cyber-dough floating around out there that it doesn't really make sense (to me anyway) to cheat people out of their $ thru these mediums.
Ever since the UB/Absolute Pkr scandal our game has been scrutinized by all who don't understand it. This thing is real. It has been for decades and it's not going away.
Now, with that being said I will add that it's still a consumer's market, so buyer beware. I believe you're at the right place for good, solid advice.

 

[ROYALROAD]

It's great to compare online and live performances. I have rarely been to a live show, but I would like to see a big discussion about the legitimacy of online performances.

 

[Recreationalplayer]

Online poker is plagued with many malpractices. So it's better to play on trusted websites.