WPN (Americas Cardroom) tools/hud policy - Important

[CowboyStomp]

WPN (ACR) with its newest software update has started enforcing the policy for External assistance tools (“EAT”)... I never knew about it myself but the policies have been on the website since at least Aug 2020 according to the Internet way back machine

It boils down to this.. No HUD or tool can show any info about the hand in play and ACR has a right to ban any tools or players using them at any time. If you play mainly on ACR I wouldn't invest in a HUD if you haven't bought one yet. Most of the policies are the same as other sites but the tools generally accepted "on sites that allow third party software" are being banned as well. It is the most restrictive of policies for sites that allow HUD type software that I'm aware of. Most of the rules are the same but the prohibition on any information on the current hand is very different from most sites.


Specifically, WPN and sites on the Network prohibit
4.2.1 poker bots or any other piece of software that might play poker without human intervention or otherwise gives advice on how to play in real time.
4.2.2 Software that provides a human player, current live game state information, such as pot odds and outs, or an absolute hand strength calculator.
4.2.3 Tools that offer real-time advice (RTA) on how to act at the table, (for example, tools known as push-this-button bots or advisor).
4.2.4 Programs capable of complex ICM, Nash Equilibrium, expected value (EV), Game Theory Optimal (GTO) based actions, which can be used in real time, i.e. making live play decisions, (i.e. advise on how to play the current hand.)
4.2.5 Auto or Semi-Auto chart retrieval software keyed to current live play.
4.2.6 Hole-card sharing tools. (Real time sharing of hole cards is a clear violation of universally accepted poker rules against collusion and constitutes cheating.) Further, WPN and its participating poker operators deem prohibited a practice of massively collecting, scraping or observing or sharing data-mined hands in which a player did not participate.
4.2.7 Hotkeys that include conditions based on the live scenario you face in play in real-time are prohibited.
4.2.8 Older but usable hand tracker versions and their HUDs with features non-compliant to our list of acceptable EAT specs from above.
4.2.9 Seating script software which may perform but are not limited to the following functions:
Reserving a seat
Securing a seat
Player nickname targeting
Player labeling
Collecting data on hands in which the user is not actively a participant

In addition I found this statement below when researching the email I was sending: After exchanging emails ACR's game integrity team today at ACR I wouldn't be surprised if they ban more tools. They will not be publishing a list of banned or allowable software and say it's up to the software makers and users to understand the rules or be banned by ACR from playing if caught using banned software.

10.2 WPN considers that usage of an EAT may provide an advantage to the end-user. In principle, such advantage might be deemed as “fair” or “unfair” by WPN at any time at its sole discretion, without prior notice. A combination of different EATs may provide a user an aggregate unfair advantage.

 

[CowboyStomp]

Updated with answer from the game integrity team about having an approved list of tools at ACR:


We opted for a comprehensive list of forbidden features and software capabilities rather than just listing commercial names.

In general terms we`ll be preventing any tools that collects or display information related to the hand in play.

 

[NWPatriot]

WPN (ACR) with its newest software update has started enforcing the policy for External assistance tools (“EAT”)...

4.2.8 Older but usable hand tracker versions and their HUDs with features non-compliant to our list of acceptable EAT specs from above....

Thanks for the info. As you say, this is very important. It would be horrible to build up a bankroll, and suddenly have it taken away due to an "interpretation" difference of these rules. Since ACR is an unregulated site, we will have no recourse whatsoever.

Regarding 4.2.8, do you interpret this to mean that HUDS and trackers are OK, because they provide no specific guidance for the hand in play? This interpretation would make sense to me, but it is not be up to me, now is it?


I agree that many of the rules provide for fair play, as we would not want any player to have an unfair advantage. It would be great if the CC ACR rep would help us with clarifications here.

Good Luck and God Bless

 

[CowboyStomp]

I spoke directly with a games integrity person via email (email was suggested by ACR rep after I asked him to communicate the changes to us in the official ACR thread.)

You should be careful esp with older version of trackers without "compliance" patches" to meet ACR's expectations. I think quite a few trackers can be configured to show some guidance on current hands and that gives the players some grey area. I know my tools did and I stopped using them after the email and the warning when launching ACR.

I started using another HUD and don't get a warning when launching ACR client however it looks like they pulled the compliance check sometime after my email, I had accidentally left my old tool running when launching ACR and didn't get a warning like before. The new HUD has a few features banned at pokerstars but I don't see anything mentioned at ACR (not that they would publish anything on individual software titles)

It looks like this policy was updated in August of last year on the website but I never heard anything about details before. I had glanced at it but thought that the EAT section stuff was for real time assistance and bots but it looks like they went a step further.

I'm fairly concerned here that they refuse to publish an approved list and reserve the right to change the policy at any time and according to this ban your account. I asked if they planned on banning HUDS like other sites have but I didn't get a reply. Between the ambiguity with what tools are approved it and the section below I don't feel confident using tools until they give us some better guidance.

9.7 Service Denial: WPN reserves an absolute right to deny service to any player who utilizes programs or tools that WPN determines could create a conflict with its security and game integrity policy or interfere with provision by WPN of its poker services.

 

[NWPatriot]

Yah, it is hard enough to play by the rules, if we know what they are. Playing by rules that are a moving target is a whole other problem.

I try not to be too paranoid, but this sure sounds like a problem waiting to happen. Clarity on HUDS would be fantastic.

Thanks for starting the thread.

 

[MattRyder]

Updated with answer from the game integrity team about having an approved list of tools at ACR:


We opted for a comprehensive list of forbidden features and software capabilities rather than just listing commercial names.

In general terms we`ll be preventing any tools that collects or display information related to the hand in play.

Yah, it is hard enough to play by the rules, if we know what they are. Playing by rules that are a moving target is a whole other problem.

I try not to be too paranoid, but this sure sounds like a problem waiting to happen. Clarity on HUDS would be fantastic.

Thanks for starting the thread.

May be the wrong choice of words, but seems a little childish to not provide an actual list. They seem to be saying - "you figure it out and we'll take your bankroll and/or ban you if you get it wrong."

 

[CowboyStomp]

I think a list like Pokerstars has posted here would be much better. They even talk about warning players before banning them.

 

[ekgbeat]

Wow, I didn't know about this, thanks! Have you heard of players being impacted by the HUD rule, or is this still hit/miss?

 

[NWPatriot]

Looking deeper into the ACR rules, I did find this:

4.1 Acceptable tools:
...
4.1.3 Hand trackers and Heads Up Display (HUD) type tools that gather and display numeric-based stats. The stats displayed must be based solely on your own hand history collected through the games you have personally participated in, and such displays must not include information from a current hand in play.


This is good news...

 

[CowboyStomp]

Agreed - they aren't banning HUDS at this point. You just need to make sure you don't use anything that may get info from current hand. I used to use Holdem Indicator at ACR which I have stopped using. I'm using the free version of Hands2Note now which shouldn't be a problem unless you use the dynamic HUD in the pro version which changes based on the current hand.