Cheaters in Online Poker 5: Security Measures Against Cheaters
Security Measures Against Cheaters
It is a fact that playing poker, both in land-based and online, requires a decent amount of cash (unless you're playing just for sheer enjoyment). We know how most people can be very sensitive when it comes to monetary issues. The usual reason for newbies' reluctance in joining poker sites is for a possible scam. Also, they have this mindset that the games online are a bit 'unfair' since it's machine automated. The dummies cannot be blamed for thinking this way, considering the countless ill-fated stories of players saying goodbye to their hard-earned money. Add to this the controversy that has surrounded the online gambling industry regarding 'cheating.' There's nothing more heart-wrenching than to be robbed of your money.
First, let us examine the cash flow in poker game operations. Poker players pay a certain amount upon joining the game. The gaming scene online poker tables have are much bullet-paced -- compared to land-based rooms -- and could normally accumulate an average of 60 players in just one hour. Multiply the rate of the rake to the number of players that have joined and you will get the gross profit. That's only the total earning for one table. If you multiply the gross profit by the number of available tables, which can range from 200 to 1,000 in medium and large poker sites, you'll certainly get a larger number. We can continue doing the math, but it's no doubt that by now you already have an idea of the humongous amount of cash involved in the poker gaming business, which explains why poker businesses give so much importance to their security and how rampant cheating is. It is also understandable how poker game officials go after cheaters and issue serious punishments considering the whopping prize money stolen through the modus operandi. No matter how much millions poker sites make abruptly with their continuous operations, once a word gets out that most of their players cheat and the officials are not doing anything about it, no amount of rake can ever re-establish a stained reputation.
One traditional cheating scheme is called collusion. During the manual era, players have thought of several clever ways of letting each other know their cards. But after the rise of electronic communication like phone, e-mail, instant messaging, webcam, and the like, poker players that are oceans apart can let each other know their cards in an online poker session. By knowing each others cards, the colluding players can raise other gamers to establish a bigger pot. It's a given that between two colluders, only one will win with the other bound to lose. But since it's a connivance, it's still considered cheating. Notable poker sites usually don't allow people with same IP address to play in one table, but considering cheaters' devilish tactics, it's not surprising if they have found a way out of this online poker security measure.
Collusion seems like a perpetual cheating method, and most poker sites have psyched themselves that they are going to have to deal with this mutating scheme till kingdom comes, so they have designed a software to watch players' betting system. Collusion involves two players, one with a good hand with the other having rags. The software will study if such two players in one table raise and fold, until it can be concluded that they are indeed colluding.
Security measures are not only observed during the game, but checking manually and through the help of a software is implemented even upon the request of a withdrawal. They have a software helping a security personnel to scrutinize for some irregularities with regard to betting, chip dumping, or anything suspicious. The colluders need to pass this part of security despite being successful in the table.
One way of online poker sites to maintain the efficiency of their security measures is by not revealing the details of their security practices. This is to prevent cheaters from coming up with ways to override even the toughest online poker security measure by carefully studying how they operate, eventually finding loopholes that they can take advantage of. But problem arises when the very same people hired to design an almost impeccable security system for poker sites cross the other side of the river and create a means to counter their own creation in the pursuit of more money. At the very least, they can sell the information to any cheater through the internet.
Many poker sites give away disclaimers saying that since possibilities on the internet are boundless, there may be occurrences that may no longer be in these poker sites' control. Players are usually advised to observe utmost precaution upon getting online and joining an online poker game. They should not be complacent with the tight security that many poker sites boast of because cheaters can conduct their M.O. away from gaming site, but within the turf of the players themselves.
Cheaters, most of the time, steal personal information about players and use them to perpetrate their crime. Invasion of privacy online is typically done by automatically guessing secret passwords. The use of password for security purposes have been with us since time in memoriam, but the advent of password stealing is not a reason to render the password system obsolete. The problem with most account holders is that they are simply clueless when it comes to creating the right password. Making a longer password is much better because the longer the password is, the more possible character combinations there are, making the password harder for cheaters to detect. It is also discouraged to use words from the dictionary, birth dates, and names as passwords since they are found to be very easy to guess. A mnemonic device can help a lot, like by taking the first letter of every word in your most favorite song title. But always make sure that the password for your account is still something you find easy to remember for yourself.
How long will the cat and mouse drama between poker site security officials and online poker cheaters is anyone's guess. The two parties will continue to keep outsmarting each other and as the stakes become higher, the competitions will reach new heights. The presence of cheaters in online gambling sites should not discourage the public from participating or should be a reason for lost of confidence. Anywhere you go, there will always be people who would dare to cross the line. But by doing our part within the grounds of rules, at the end of the day, it won't be our behinds that will be sorry.
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