A Warning About Evil Bots
Friday, February 13, 2009 - ProductMan
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, I’m going to declare my love for robots. Maybe love isn’t the right word, but it is more than a casual fascination. From cartoon robots that are engineered to bend and befriend to shape shifting cyborgs that can travel through time and walk through walls, I can’t resist robot charm. I’ll even settle for that robotic vacuum cleaner that’s all the rage these days. I think robots remind me that the future has arrived.
But all robots aren’t created equal. I’m certainly not a fan of robocall, the annoying and justifiably controversial telemarketing robot that is seemingly programmed to interrupt my dinner. Even more troubling are those automated computer poker players known as BOTS.
BOTS are designed to compete against human poker players either as legitimate opponents or as a form of cheating. Unlike the game of chess, where no information is concealed from players or observers, poker is a game of imperfect information. In poker some cards are concealed, making it impossible for a computer to figure out the exact state the game is in.
If you browse popular poker forums, you’ll find no shortage of opinions on BOTS. Whether you love them or hate them, their use is on the rise. Poker sites are constantly improving their detection techniques to stamp out BOTS, but they are just like mosquitoes. You may zap a few of them, but there are always more waiting around the corner.
At Ultimatebet we have no patience for BOTS and consider their use cheating. If you can’t use them in a live environment game, using them online is cheating, pure and simple. If you are playing against a human, you should have an equal opportunity to gain the same information. We also strive to foster a sense of community, where live players can chat and interact naturally.
If you are caught using BOTS on the Cereus Network, you will face the consequences of permanent account closure and confiscation of funds. You have been warned.
Tags: Cereus, poker bots, poker security, Product Team, Security
