Amaya-owned online gaming brand PokerStars has hinted that it may reconsider its rules regarding third-party assistance software, following complaints from customers about a new programme.
Built by London-based players ‘skier_5’, the programme offers users game theory optimal decision, while allowing the player to remain in control.
As the programme is not classed as a ‘bot’, PokerStars has so far deemed skier_5 as acceptable for use by players.
However, customers have issued a series of complaints to the operator over the new programme, alleging that it can help transform good players into world-class players.
PokerStars’ terms and conditions outline the various types of software that can be used by players.
While “external player assistance programs” and software that give an “unfair advantage” to players are prohibited, this advantage is only defined as “any instance in which a user accesses or compiles information on other players beyond that which the user has personally observed through the user’s own game play”.
In response to the complaints, PokerStars’ poker room manager Steve Day has admitted that the operator is “strongly considering” changing its current policies in order to keep gameplay fair for all customers.
“As evidenced by recent forum discussion, the topic of third-party software in online poker is a highly complex and contentious issue,” Day said, according to CardsChat.com.
“A developer recently shared new software with us for evaluation and we informed him that the software was allowable.
“The decision was based around the premise that static reference material that does not change depending on action in the hand, or any other variable, is permitted.
“This rule was initially designed some years ago so that Nash charts and other similar documents would be permitted to be referenced while playing.
“The software we reviewed allows quick and precise reference to a very large number of static charts that cover most or all preflop situations.
“While within our current rules, this software goes beyond the level of assistance we want to see software providing players in our online poker room.”
Day also suggested the operator’s terms and conditions are likely to be changed in order to ban “any tool or reference material that offers commentary or advice that goes beyond a basic level, such as stack-size-based starting hand tables, decision trees or heads-up displays that dynamically change based on player action or card values.”
source : www.igamingbusiness.com
