Poker Bots Changing Face of Online Gambling

November 14, 2007

Depending on what sites you visit for your online gambling needs, this will determine whether or not you are playing against another person or if you are playing against a “bot.” A bot, or a zombie as they are sometimes referred to, is a computer or network threat. It is a type of software, or malware that will allow another computer to gain control over your computer, and then do things with it you would not normally do.

Chances are if you are participating in online gambling and are hitting the lower level limit games, you are probably playing against some of these bots. Depending on the size of the table and the limits that they have, you could have more than one at your table.

They usually play the online casinos pretty much the same way, in that they will play for anywhere up to 14 hours, using push/fold tactics that are nearly identical on those tables. They buy in the same amount and always use the same tactics of how they play in as far as aggression, etc.

Many online gambling sites are unable to get rid of the bots as they just don’t have the technology to identify them, and even if they know they are there, they don’t have the ability to get rid of them. Some online gambling sites know that they are there, but don’t feel a need to do anything about them, which leaves many online gambling patrons wondering where to go from here.

However, there are some sites that you can count on to protect you. You can play at places like Poker Stars and Party Poker, who are both well known for aggressively seeking out the bots and shutting them down. Some of those known for the bots pretty much taking over are allegedly Pacific Poker and Ultimatebet. There have been stories of tons of bots on their sites, but it is not known if they just leave them there or if there is nothing they can do about it at this time.



Back to November 2007 Archive.