Anti-Cheating Policy
Third Party Tools
We are committed to preventing the use of unfair practices when using the Website, including but not limited to player collusion, non-human players (bots), chip-dumping, scripting and other forms of inappropriate behaviour that provide players with an unfair advantage over other players on the site. We are also committed to detecting and preventing the use of software programs which are designed to enable artificial intelligence to play on our platforms including, but not limited to, opponent-profiling, cheating software or anything else that we deem enables You to have an unfair advantage over other players not using such programs or systems ('AI Software'). You acknowledge that we will take measures to detect and prevent the use of such programs and AI Software using methods (including but not limited to reading the list of currently running programs on a player's computer) and you agree not to use any AI Software and/or any such programs. In the event that we suspect that a player has been involved in any practices outlined in this Policy or any other practices which we deem to be unfair or fraudulent, we reserve a right, in our sole discretion, to block their account and permanently withhold available funds from within such accounts. No player shall have the right to require us to take any other steps against players suspected of collusion, cheating, scripting or any other form of unfair or fraudulent behaviour. If a player has been cheated on by another player when using the Facilities, we shall only refund the amounts lost by the player as a result of being cheated in the event that we can locate the cheating account and access the funds in question. In the event that more than one player is affected by the cheating account and we can allocate that cheating account, then the remaining funds in the cheating account will be distributed on a pro-rata basis in accordance with the loss of each affected player.
Automatic Players (Bots)
The use of Bot software programs is prohibited and we deem its use detrimental to other players. Our software may perform any or all of the following functions in order to detect the use of illicit automated programs and ensure that we maintain a 'cheat free' environment for all users: (1) scan your list of active software applications while you are using the facilities; (2) scan your list of active processes while you are using the facilities; and (3) scan the files in your facilities and site-related program folders to ensure that only 'non-hacked' versions of our software are being used. If any of the foregoing processes reveals a suspect application or process, our software may scan the files associated with the suspect application or process and compile a composite mesh (i.e., a profile that characterizes the files associated with the application or process) to be matched against profiles for known illicit automated programs. Our software will not perform any random search of large portions of your hard drive, equipment or files, and it will not transmit any information to us or to any third party other than the information necessary to identify use of illicit automated programs as described above. Our software will not alter any files or information on your computer or other equipment and will not interfere with the operation of any of your applications. You may terminate use of our software at any time by uninstalling our software package. We rely on legitimate interest to carry out this processing and we aim to provide a safe and fair gaming platform for all our players. You can review our privacy notice here.
Software
You may install and use the software we make available from the platforms used to provide the Gaming Facilities (the 'Software') on a hard disk or other storage device and make back-up copies of the software, provided that such use and back-up copying is only for your own personal use in using the Gaming Facilities in accordance with these agreements, and further, that such installation and use is made through a computer or other device of which you are the primary user. The Software's structure, organisation and code are the valuable trade secrets of the Group and/or its associated companies and/or its licensors. You obtain no rights to the software except to use it in accordance with these agreements. Save as expressly permitted by law, you are strictly prohibited from, and agree not to modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble or otherwise attempt to discover the source code of the software or any part of it or to create, publish or distribute derivative works from the software. You agree that the software will not be shipped, transferred or exported into any country or used in any manner prohibited by any applicable laws, restrictions or regulations.
Collusion and Cheating
Collusion occurs when two or more players attempt to gain an unfair advantage by sharing knowledge of their cards or other information. Any player who in our reasonable opinion colludes or attempts to collude with any other player while using the facilities may be permanently banned from using the facilities or the software, their account may be terminated immediately and we shall be entitled to retain all monies in such player's account. If you suspect that any player is colluding with another or cheating, please Contact Us.
Chip-Dumping
Chip dumping occurs when any player intentionally loses a hand in order to deliberately transfer his chips to another player. Any player who we reasonably suspect of participating or attempting to participate in chip-dumping with any other player, while using the facilities may be permanently banned from using the facilities and their account may be terminated and balance forfeited immediately. If you suspect that any player is participating in chip dumping, you can contact us via email at gameintegrity@partypoker.com.
Big Blind Abuse
Upon starting a heads-up match, the player receiving the button is required to play an equal amount of small blinds and big blinds. The player receiving the button in the first hand is required to finish the game in a hand where the opponent receives the button.
Third Party Tools Policy
Permitted third-party tools
Currently, the only third-party tools that are permitted to be used on partypoker whilst the gaming client is open are:
- PartyCaption
- StackAndTile
- PlaceMint
- Table Tamer
- StarsHelper
- Mosaic 2
- IntuitiveTables
- Universal Replayer
- Jurojin Poker
- Slot Poker Pro
Use of any other tool not mentioned on this list is prohibited whilst the client is running and may lead to restrictions being placed on your account.
If a user is found to be in breach of our terms and conditions, partypoker reserves the right to permanently close the account and confiscate funds.
Prohibited third-party tools
For the avoidance of doubt, there are some tools that, if a player is found to be using these in any capacity in conjunction with the partypoker client, will result in a breach of our terms and conditions and may result in an immediate closure of the account and seizure of funds. The use of any tool that does the following is not permitted at any time:
- Any tool that is designed to circumvent our restrictions on downloadable hand histories
- Any tool that plays without human intervention (a ‘bot’)
- Any tool that makes decision for, or advises decisions to, a player – therefore reducing the human element of the game (‘assistance software’)
- Any tool that automates the process of joining a specific table or game based on a defined set of criteria such as player statistics or notes (a ‘seating script’)
Virtual Machines and Screen Sharing/Remote Access Software
The use of both Virtual Machines and/or any software that specialises in screen-sharing and remote-access is prohibited on partypoker.
This list includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Oracle VM VirtualBox
- VMware
- TeamViewer
- Microsoft Remote Desktop
- AnyDesk
- LogMeIn
If a player is found to be using these programs in any capacity (in conjunction with the partypoker client), it will result in a breach of our terms and conditions. This may result in restrictions put on the account and, in extreme cases, account closure and seizure of funds.
Prohibited third-party tools while the partypoker client is running
We understand that there are a number of tools that are designed to help you improve as a poker player.
Whilst the majority of players will legitimately use these tools for studying and personal improvement outside of the game, unfortunately, many of these tools provide assistance that, should they be used in-game, provide the user with an unfair advantage over the remainder of the playing field.
As such, there are a number of tools that we understand our players wish to use (and we are happy for them to do so), however, these tools are strictly prohibited from being used whilst the partypoker client is also running. This list includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- PioSOLVER
- PokerSnowie
- Jesolver
- Flopzilla
- ICMIZER
- Vision GTO Trainer
- InstaGTO
- Holdem Indicator
- Omaha Indicator
- Stud Indicator
- Tournament Indicator
- HirokuScript
- Poker Calculator Pro
- Super HUD
- Tournament Shark
- Lucid GTO
- Spinwize
- Deepsolver
- Equilab
- Holdem Resources Calculator
- Simple Poker
- GTO+
- PokerStove
- MonkerSolver
- GTO Wizard
- PPT Odds Oracle
Should you have any questions about the use of any specific tool, please contact us at gameintegrity@partypoker.com.
Requesting permission for a non-listed third-party tool
If you wish to use third-party tool or application that is not listed in the permitted sections above, please email gameintegrity@partypoker.com with your request. Please also include the website address of the tool that you wish to use.
If, after reviewing the requested tool, we choose to grant permission for it to be used on our network, we will reply to you directly and also add it to the permitted list above.
Please note that we will not grant permission to tools that provide features listed below:
- Timing Randomisers
- Seat Scripts
- Bots/Assistance Software
Similarly, we only monitor third-party tools that work alongside the partypoker client and only tools with such functionality will be reviewed. As a result, any new or already existing third-party tools that do not directly integrate with the partypoker client will not be reviewed and will therefore not be added to the permitted tools list.
Strategic Material
‘Strategic Material’ is any form of external material that can be referenced whilst playing which provides guidance, instructions or recommendations. A player would not be able to replicate this level of gameplay without the material in front of them.
What material is permitted under this ‘Strategic Material’ policy?
‘MyGame’ or ‘MyGame Whiz’ is the only permitted strategic material that can be used whilst playing on our network.
What material is prohibited whilst playing on our network under this ‘Strategic Material’ policy?
Strategic material, in any form whatsoever, that cannot be found directly in ‘MyGame’ or ‘MyGame Whiz’ is prohibited. This includes any form of chart not available in ‘MyGame’ and ‘MyGame Whiz’.
If you are found to be in breach of this policy, restrictions may be placed upon your account. In some extreme cases, it may result in account closure and the seizure of funds.
Queueing
Queueing’ is prohibited on partypoker. If you are found to be employing such tactics, restrictions may be placed on your account.
What is queueing?
Queueing is when a player, or a group of players, intentionally try to alter or avoid specific opponents in games where registration is ‘blind’. Namely, where you shouldn’t be able to choose your opponents, for example, SPINS.
Why is queueing now against the terms and conditions?
partypoker’s ‘blind registration’ policy (all player aliases are hidden until an STT has begun) ensures a level playing field. This is vital to maintaining a healthy poker ecosystem.
Players who intentionally manipulate our registration process compromise the integrity of the game.
fastforward Buy-In Obligations
What does this mean?
‘Ratholing’ or ‘Going South’ are common terms that refer to the behaviour where a player removes a portion of their chips to reduce their stake in a game. This is in effect what a player is doing if they stand-up from the fastforward pool and immediately sit back down with a buy-in less than what they previously had on the table.
Why is this against the terms and conditions?
‘Ratholing’ has long been considered an example of poor poker etiquette. If a player leaves the table only to immediately re-join with a lesser stake, opponents no longer have a chance to win those funds back. We believe restricting this behaviour promotes a healthy poker ecosystem for all players.
What am I allowed to do?
A player is not allowed to stand-up from the fastforward pool and immediately re-join with a stake if this is less than the amount they previously had in the pool. To re-join with a lesser stake, at least 40 minutes must have passed for this to be deemed a new playing session; as it is for our ring game offering.
Clarifications:
- If an entry loses its entire stack, that player may re-buy for any stake.
- Registering a new pool entry with a lesser stake than a current entry and not continuing to play both pool entries is also considered a violation of this rule
- This rule applies independently to each fastforward pool. (i.e. A player may play 40 minutes at $0.50/$1.00 fastforward and then immediately sit with a lesser total stake at $1.00/$2.00)
Accounts found to be systematically abusing this feature will be warned and persistent behaviour may result in further sanctions being placed against the account.
Real Name Tables
‘Real Name’ tables help provide a community feel while reducing anonymity.
A real account holder should never give a third party access to their account, as stated in our General Terms and Conditions (Clauses 5 & 6).
If we establish reasonable proof of this happening, we reserve the right to take action on the account in question.