At a time when the use of artificial intelligence and real-time assistance (RTA) are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the challenges of maintaining game integrity in online poker are more pressing than ever.
PartyPoker, like many other operators, is responding by employing a variety of investigative techniques to combat cheating, but questions remain about whether these efforts will be enough to keep pace with the ever-evolving methods used by cheaters.
In a recent episode of the “Heads Up Podcast,” PartyPoker’s Head of Game Integrity, Juha Pasanen, joined PartyPoker Team Pro and podcast host Jaime Staples to discuss the challenges posed by bots and RTA and lengths PartyPoker goes to in order to catch cheaters.
The conversation started with Pasanen sharing his journey to becoming PartyPoker’s Head of Game Integrity. As a former poker pro, he began by reporting suspicious accounts to major sites, which led to many of them stopping to play following his reports. In 2017, he joined PartyPoker after a role opened up, and now leads a team dedicated to maintaining game integrity.
PartyPoker’s Action Against Fraudulent Accounts
The discussion then turned to a pressing concern among both new and experienced players, are they competing against real people or bots? Pasanen explained that bots — programs designed to play in place of humans — are detected through a variety of techniques, including analyzing how closely a player’s style matches Game Theory Optimal (GTO) strategies.
Though he could not reveal every detail for security reasons, Pasanen assured listeners that his team takes extensive measures to detect and eliminate bots. Indeed, PartyPoker is one of the few operators that transparently shares some information about its efforts to combat fraudulent accounts, including the number of accounts banned and the amounts reimbursed to players.
The site periodically updates its statistics, with data dating back nearly six years available on the “Safer Poker” webpage. This page provides a detailed month-by-month breakdown of closed accounts and the refunds issued to players. From December 2018 to March 2024, PartyPoker has reimbursed players nearly $2 million and has closed over 2,300 accounts.
How PartyPoker Differentiates Skilled Players and Those Using RTA
The discussion then turned to real-time assistance (RTA), a significant threat to online poker in recent years. RTA refers to any tool or reference, static or interactive, that advises a player on how to act in certain situations.
When asked by Staples how PartyPoker differentiates skilled players from those using RTA, Pasanen explained: “We could, for example, ask the player to record a video or live stream for us.” In some cases, they even take it further, as Pasanen noted: “We’ve asked a player to come to our offices to play in front of us for a week.”
These thorough methods of investigation are not unique to PartyPoker; other major operators like PokerStars and Winamax have employed similar strategies to maintain game integrity.
However, Pasanen also mentioned the extreme step of sending two PartyPoker representatives to a player’s house, saying, “One of them was with him every time he was playing.”
This form of direct oversight ensures that the suspected player is not using prohibited tools or software while playing. According to Pasanen, this extreme measure might sound invasive, but it is sometimes necessary to maintain the integrity of high-stakes games.
No Matter What, We’ll Keep Finding Cheaters
I think the technology that players use to cheat will get better over time, that’s clear
Pasanen also addressed the growing concerns about the advancements in technology that cheaters use, acknowledging that these tools will inevitably become more sophisticated over time.
“I think the technology that players use to cheat will get better over time, that’s clear,” he remarked.
However, he expressed confidence in PartyPoker’s ability to combat even the most advanced cheating methods through rigorous investigation and large-scale hand history analysis.
“For us, it doesn’t matter how the players are cheating,” Pasanen explained, “because if we are able to get this big sample size of hand histories to analyze from a controlled environment — whether it’s video recording, live streaming, the player coming into the office or even going to the player’s house — there’s just no way the player can pass that type of investigation.”
He highlighted that such methods provide a comprehensive way to verify if a player is using outside assistance, regardless of how sophisticated their cheating tools become.
Pasanen believes this proactive approach will ensure the long-term integrity of online poker.
“I know a lot of players are worried that solvers and all these [tools] are getting better and better, but if more poker sites applied the investigative methods that we have, players would feel more comfortable about the future of poker,” Pasanen remarked.
PartyPoker Fraudulent Account Statistics
| No. of Months Reported | 64 |
|---|---|
| Total Accounts Closed Since Dec 18 | 2312 |
| Total Seized ($) | $1,975,044 |
| Avg Seized per Account | $854 |
| Last Six Months Account Closures | 158 (6.84%) |
| Last Six Months Amount Seized | $4065 (0.21%) |
It Shouldn’t Be Players’ Responsibility to Catch Cheaters
Another key topic covered was the issue of hand histories. Pasanen discussed PartyPoker’s policy of not sharing opponent screen names in hand histories, a move it implemented in late 2019 to prevent data mining and exploitation.
We don’t feel it should be the players’ responsibility [to catch the cheaters].
Staples pointed out that PartyPoker’s policy of anonymizing screen names could hinder players from analyzing hand histories to spot potential cheats. Pasanen acknowledged this concern and emphasized that while players may no longer have the means to conduct such analyses, the responsibility should not fall on them. He emphasized that the onus should be on operators to maintain game integrity through proactive measures.
“We don’t feel it should be the players’ responsibility,” Pasanen stated. “We used to be those community players who gathered suspicious activities and sent them to poker sites for investigation. It’s one of the most basic things every poker operator should have covered. Personally, I wouldn’t be opposed to telling all these operators how exactly to do statistical analysis to highlight potential poker bot rings because I don’t think we should be competitors in this area.”
“We’re all in this together — the players, the other poker sites, and PartyPoker — to kind of future-proof poker and keep the cheaters out,” Pasanen further explained.
How PartyPoker Detect and Prevent Collusion?
Collusion — where two or more players work together to gain an unfair advantage — was another hot topic discussed in the podcast. Pasanen revealed that PartyPoker uses an in-house tool that automatically flags suspicious hand histories, which are then reviewed by experts.
The team that handles collusion cases is led by Nick, a former professional poker player who specializes in Sit & Go tournaments, a game type that is particularly susceptible to collusion. By combining statistical analysis with non-gameplay data, PartyPoker ensures they can catch even subtle instances of collusion.
RNG & Fairness of the Games
Addressing one of the most widespread concerns, Pasanen explained how PartyPoker’s RNG ensures that all games are fair. The deck is shuffled before each hand, and no additional shuffling occurs mid-game.
“There is no incentive for us to rig the games… we make the same amount of money regardless of who wins or loses.” He further added that PartyPoker’s Random Number Generator (RNG) is audited monthly by a third-party company, and the reports are publicly available on their website for anyone to verify.
He also emphasized that PartyPoker, and its parent company Entain, are committed to operating only in regulated markets, which ensures strict adherence to fairness.
Encouraging Player Reporting
While Pasanen has previously stated that players should not have to be responsible for spotting cheaters or identifying suspicious activities and that the responsibility of detecting cheating should rest with the operators, he still encourages players to report any suspicious activity, emphasizing that the team values player input.
Reports can be submitted anonymously through PartyPoker’s “Safer Poker” page or via email to gameintegrity@partypoker.com. The Game Integrity team ensures that players who submit reports are kept in the loop, receiving updates on any actions taken as a result of their reports.
Future-Proofing Game Integrity
To conclude, Pasanen spoke about the future of game integrity and the importance of staying ahead of the curve. He acknowledged that technology will continue to evolve, particularly in tools that can assist players or potentially be used for cheating.
“What poker sites need to be doing is keep up with the investment in game integrity… in expertise and in the tools so that we can keep up with whatever cheating technology is out there.”
Pasanen also emphasized the dedication of his team, which is composed of former players who care deeply about ensuring a fair playing field. While it would be tempting to show players all the advanced tools and methods used to catch cheaters, he pointed out that revealing too much would only help those looking to cheat.
Nevertheless, he reassured players that when they report suspicious activity, “there’s a team here who care very deeply” and take every case seriously.