While players have been debating the recent software update at Partypoker, the site’s security team has been busy taking down more bots.
Part of the operator’s ongoing effort to beat the cheats, new detection methods stopped 67 bots in June
As outlined in a July 8 update, Partypoker managed to short-circuit the offending software and recover more than $30,000 in cash.
Another Month, Another Bot Blitz
Breaking down the latest coup, the online poker operator said 63 of the 67 account closures took place on Partypoker.com. The additional four accounts seized were active on its dot.eu site.
From the dot.com cheaters, Partypoker recovered $24,257 which will now be redistributed to affected players. A further €8,888/$9,960 was recouped from the bots active on the operator’s ring-fenced European network.
Bots have long been a problem in the online poker industry. Essentially software that takes control of an account and makes game theory optimal plays, bots give players an unfair advantage.
Although the average poker bot struggles to beat high stakes players, the software has improved over the years. Just as artificial intelligence (AI) computers can now beat skilled pros, off-the-shelf solutions are adept enough to beat novices.
Since the online poker boom, every major operator has outlawed bots. However, since the start of 2019, Partypoker has become the most active in addressing the issue.
“Partypoker encourages players to continue reporting all suspicious activity at its tables, by emailing reports@partypoker.com. Partypoker promises to investigate all incidents reported,” reads the July 8 security update.
But while the recent effort to shut down cheats has been effective, Partypoker is currently fighting another battle.
Partypoker Battling to Show Its Security Prowess
Following a June 17 software update that changed the way hand histories are made available, players have hit back.
Concerned the move takes away vital components of online poker, an industry-wide debate has broken out.
For those against the changes, banning tracking software removes a pro’s ability to gain an edge by using stats and hand history reviews.
Beyond the skill argument, the team behind Hold’em Manager believes stopped heads up displays (HUDs) will cause security issues. In their words, tracking software has allowed players to identify and expose a number of high-profile cheats in the past.
Hitting back, Partypoker’s Tom Waters said the programs were bad for the poker economy.
“People that can afford more sophisticated tools obviously get a greater edge, a new guy joining the site has no chance,” Waters said in an interview with Pokerfuse.
In tandem with a desire to make online poker more attractive to newbies, Partypoker will point to its bot initiative as proof it’s a safe site.
As is stands, the new security team has recovered more than $750,000 from fraudulent activity. Although that may only be the tip of the iceberg, it’s a step in the right direction.
