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Here’s How PokerStars Will Catch You If You Cheat

Recently, poker players Ali Imsovronic, Bryn Kenney and Jake Schindler were riddled with accusations of cheating. Kenney who holds the numero uno spot on the All-Time Money List was accused of running a scheme which was almost cult-like on GGPoker. This player and the other two accused of cheating have been grinding in WSOP 2022. Many from the WSOP took to their social media and expressed their thoughts on the trio participating in WSOP 2022 events in Las Vegas.

Although WSOP made it clear that any player’s online cheating scandal across other platforms cannot be considered for banning him/her from the WSOP felts. PokerStars, on the other hand, has made a bold move in the direction of protecting the game’s integrity amid the challenges that haunt the poker community. PokerStars is one of the world’s biggest online poker platforms, and any player caught cheating will be barred from competing in the live events run by the brand. 

Francis Lincoln, the Head of Game integrity at PokerStars, addressed the issue of handling players who are banned from their online tournaments in a live set-up. He further mentioned, “We want to ensure that those who seek to damage the poker community, be it financially or reputationally, have no place in the game.” 

Past examples

Some well-known players banned from PokerStars are Justin Bonomo, Daniel Colman, Sorel Mizzi, Brian Hastings, Mike McDonald and Feruell. 

Justin Bonomo

This three-time WSOP bracelet winner was one of those players who were banned from PokerStars for a long time. Bonomo was banned because he had reportedly created several accounts at PokerStars and partypoker. Although he denied any misconduct on his part, he soon confessed and added that he regrets doing the same. 

Daniel Colman

This player, too, was accused of multi-counting when he was just 18 years old. The WSOP bracelet winner confessed to his crime and also said that he was reckless back in the day. 

Brian Hastings

Hastings is a six-time WSOP bracelet winner, and in 2105, this player was caught using a VPN. He reportedly tried to play in the SCOOP tourneys from Florida using this new PokerStars account, but the brand immediately recognised it and blocked his account. He later confessed his mistake and also added that he took such a decision after the long-term Black Friday depression. 

What  qualifies for cheating on PokerStars? 

As per the policy introduced by PokerStars, the brand does not accept multi-accounting, bots, buttoning and any other means of online poker fraud. The security measure is common for all, and no player, irrespective of them being a pro or a newbie, gets spared.

Third party tools and policy

The brand has a strict policy in place which allows or denies use of tools under its policy. This news is sure to force other platforms also to take such decisions. Please read about the tools and services that PokerStars has employed to ensure there is no form of cheating on their platform. 

GGPoker recently announced that they have introduced a Poker Integrity Council (PIC) to ensure an industry-wide effort to protect the honour of poker. Know more about it here. Although WSOP has not put a rule in place yet, PokerStars made it loud and clear that the brand is in no mood to tolerate any unfair practices or cheating.

For more news and updates, keep reading Gutshot Magazine. If you’re on social media, be sure to follow us on  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram.

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