Prohibited Online Poker Software FAQ
- What is this all about?
- With the explosion in online poker, people have developed programs to help
them play better online. We think it is okay for players to use some of those programs. However,
some of those programs go beyond what we consider acceptable as an aid in playing online.
There is a range of things that a player can do to improve his chances in a poker game. For instance, he can play a lot and gain experience, or he can read a book about poker. Both of these techniques are clearly appropriate. At the other end of the spectrum, he can work in collusion with another player, sharing information about hole cards and teaming up against other players. This is clearly cheating.
In between those two extremes are many programs - some of which we consider to be too close to cheating. For example, there are people building huge databases with profiles of every player on PokerStars, and they are selling access to these databases. A player with access to such a database can call up detailed information about every one of his opponents without ever playing against those opponents himself. We believe this gives that player an unfair advantage against others at his table.
Obviously, reasonable people will disagree over what is appropriate and what is not. We have developed what we consider to be a reasonable compromise between letting players take every possible fair advantage, but prohibiting the unfair ones.
- Why did this all get started?
- We have gotten emails on this subject from many players. Some want to use these "aid" programs and are asking if they're okay. Other players are concerned that their opponents are using aid programs. We needed to establish a policy so we could draw a line between acceptable and unacceptable programs. We made this decision only after thorough discussion within PokerStars and with poker experts outside PokerStars.
- In general, what kind of programs are acceptable?
- The following types of programs are generally acceptable:
- Programs (or charts) that simply tell you odds, starting hand recommendations, etc.
- Programs that profile your opponents, but make use of only information which you have accumulated by your own play.
- Macros and Hotkey programs that don’t have any bearing on gameplay logic. For example, you can use AutoHotKey, MacroExpress or AutoIt3 to make it such that you "bet the pot" when you press the 'P' key, but you cannot use these or other utilities to create an autofolder that folds poor starting hands, or that automates advice or actions from any other program.
- Why is this an issue?
- Consider this: you are playing at a six-person table and the other five players at that table are using a shared database program. After each hand, they are able to see what cards every other player (except you) had. Do you want to play at that table?
- Can you give me a list of acceptable programs?
- This is a list of programs that we are aware of and permit:
- Calculatem Pro
- Coach Rounder
- Draw Poker Source
- GameTime+
- Holdem Genius
- Holdem Indicator
- Holdem Manager
- Holdem Partner
- Holdem Ranger
- Omaha Poker Coach
- Paragon Poker Pal
- Poker Academy Prospector
- PokerAce HUD
- Pokerbility
- Poker Buddy
- Poker Butler
- PokerEval (Registered Version Only)
- Poker EV
- Poker Evolver
- Poker Indicator
- Poker Juggernaut
- Poker Office
- Poker Potjie
- Poker Pro 2007
- Poker Sharpener
- Poker Sidekick
- Poker Sniffer
- Poker Spy
- PokerStat
- Poker Stove
- Poker Tracker
- Poker Vitals
- Poker Weapon
- Poker Wingman
- PPA Poker Calculator
- SmartBuddy
- Star Tracker
- Stud Inspector v1
- Table Shark
- Telescope by SpadeIt
- Texas Calculatem
- ThePokerDB
- Tournament Indicator
- Tournament Shark
This list was last updated May 21st, 2008.
- In general, what kinds of programs are prohibited?
- The following types of programs are prohibited:
- Any program that shares hole card data with other players or programs is colluding, and is prohibited.
- Any program that works off of a central database of player profiles or hands played is prohibited.
- Any program that plays without human intervention (a "bot") or reduces the requirement of a human playing. For instance, an "auto-folder" is prohibited.
- The practice of datamining (observing games as a non-player for extended periods in order to build up a large database of hand histories for future reference) is prohibited.
- Any software that offers advice on the appropriate action to take, and which is also programmable or configurable beyond a simple slider to choose a level of aggressiveness or tightness.
- Can you give me a list of programs which are prohibited?
-
This is a list of programs that we are aware of and prohibit:
- Advanced Poker Calculator
- Gambot
- hhSmithey
- Holdem Hawk
- Holdem Pirate
- Holdem Inspector a.k.a. Online Holdem Inspector
- iHH Harvester
- Magic Holdem
- Mandraker
- Open Holdem Bot
- OPI Wizard
- Poker Analytics
- Poker Android
- Poker Bot+
- Poker Bloodhound
- Poker Crusher
- Poker Edge
- Poker Inspector a.k.a. Online Poker Inspector
- Poker Mate
- Poker Prophecy
- Poker Sherlock
- Poker Table Manager
- Real Poker Rankings
- SharkScope [pending]
- Sit n' Go Brain
- Sixth Sense
- SmartCollector a.k.a. Mixed Harvesters
- SpadeEye
- Stars Hand History (SHH)
- StarSpy
- Texas Auto Fold
- TheCashDB
- WinHoldem
This list was last updated May 21st, 2008.
Some software programs have legitimate uses for analysing your poker game, but are not appropriate for use during actual play. For instance, ICM (Independent Chip Model) and Nash Equilibrium tools can be used for post-game analysis and for studying hands which you have previously played. However, tools such as this cannot be used while the PokerStars software is open.
Examples of programs that are not permitted while the PokerStars is running are:
- Insight Poker Hound
- Sit n’ Go End Game Tools
- SitnGo Wizard
- SNG Power Tools
- Spade ICM
- STT Analyzer by PokerSoftwareTools
This list was last updated May 21st, 2008.
- There's a program I'd like to use, but it's not on any of these lists. Now what?
- Please send an email to support@pokerstars.com with all the information you have about that program. Please include a URL to a website about that program if at all possible. We will review the program and let you know if it's permitted or not.
- Are the above lists subject to change?
- Yes. In addition to evaluating new programs that come to our attention, PokerStars frequently re-examines programs on the permitted and prohibited programs lists to ensure they continue to fall within our terms of service. In addition, the terms of service themselves and the definition of a prohibited program are periodically re-examined and are subject to change without notice. These re-examinations can result in a program being reclassified without notice, moving from the permitted list to the prohibited list or vice-versa. PokerStars assumes no responsibility to notify players of any such reclassifications. Players should regularly check the lists of programs to verify the current status of any program's classification.
- May I use a permitted program to record information about players from hands in which I am not playing?
- With trivial exceptions, no. You may only collect hand histories and player information from hands in which you are a participant.
- What steps are you going to take to prevent players from using prohibited programs?
- We are going to look to see if any of those programs is running on a player's computer. If we find one of the prohibited programs, we will alert the player that he is running a prohibited program and tell him what the program is. We will ask that he stop running the program immediately. If he complies, fine. If not, then we will prevent the PokerStars client from running on his computer.
- Are you going to look for anything else on players' computers?
- Absolutely not. Our sole interest is in protecting our players and our site from programs that we believe are bad for the integrity and fairness of our games.
- Are you going to confiscate the account funds of somebody running a prohibited program?
- While we reserve the right to confiscate the funds of somebody running a prohibited program, we are not going to do this lightly. We want to educate our players - not punish them. However, we will confiscate funds if a player shows a consistent pattern of using prohibited programs after being warned.
