Is Playing Poker Online Safe?
No
matter where you have played or whom you’ve played
with, everyone has had at least one thought regarding
the fairness of poker. Throughout its colored past,
poker has been more famous for its association with
dishonesty than with honest, skillful gamblers. Now that
this great game has taken the leap into the high-tech
world of cyberspace, there is a whole new brand of
outlaw. No longer armed with pistols or sleeves full of
aces, modern day hustlers use instant messages and
software programs to pull the wool over the eyes of
uneducated players.
So
is online poker safe? Like most things, the key
to safety is education. By
knowing what to look for, it is absolutely possible to
have a safe, enjoyable and
profitable online poker experience. The concerns of
poker safety fall into two categories - the companies
you play with and the players you play against.
Choosing
a respected poker room is the first step to ensuring a safe
poker experience. You should start by only playing
with companies that have been in business for at least 3
years and who display their security policies
prominently on their site. Integrity must be a priority.
Poker sites should have a current, independent
certification of fairness and they should state the
measures they use to ensure a fair game. This means
sophisticated random number generators and security
programs. By using unique algorithms, poker sites ensure
a fair deal by making the randomness so great it is
impossible to predict the pattern.
Therefore, it is just as hard to manipulate.
These random numbers and algorithms are similar to the
methods used to protect information in the world’s
leading security systems. This makes the chances of
being cheated by a reputable poker room very slim.
Any
poker room you choose should take collusion
(cheating) very seriously. Make sure they have a strict
cheating policy displayed on their site. This not only
shows that they make security a priority, but also lets
potential cheaters know that any sort of cheating will
not be tolerated.
Another
chief concern is banking.
By checking the poker sites banking policies
before depositing you will ensure that you can always
have access to your money and will be paid promptly when
you win. If you have questions regarding banking,
contact the customer service center prior to depositing.
A few minutes up front will ensure no confusion later.
The
final element to consider when discussing online
poker safety is the players you are playing against.
Taking a few minutes to identify the ways a corrupt
player may try to cheat can help you avoid being a
victim. Collusion is the most popular way for players to
cheat at online poker. Collusion occurs when two or more
players team up at a table seeking an advantage in the
game. This can be as simple as just splitting their
winnings, or as complex as using instant message or
telephones to communicate the cards they hold during a
hand.
Web
sites do offer protection by limiting each player to one
IP address. They
also watch for game play patterns that appear to involve
players working together. While this is a decent method,
it’s still far from perfect. To truly protect yourself
from cheaters you must keep an eye out for suspicious
play. By taking responsibility for your own safety you
will greatly reduce your risks of being taken advantage
of. If you ever see suspicious behavior or if it appears
that players are working together, stop playing and
report it to the poker room host immediately.
At
the end of the day, online poker is as safe as you
make it. Spend the few minutes it takes to research
a poker room before depositing. Keep your eyes open for
suspicious activity during a game and always be aware of
the possible risks. By using your head you can eliminate
nearly all the risks associated with online poker.
