I am not one to ride the gossip train, so while I read about Bill Perkins accusing some unnamed poker pro of cheating in an online home game and then Dan Bilzerian calling someone out by name, I decided not to write about it because the whole thing still felt very 'rumory' to me. Just didn't feel good. But now we at least have some confirmation of what went on, so let's take a quick look.
Bill Perkins pulls the pin
It started with a tweet by high stakes amateur and well-respected poker player, Bill Perkins on Saturday, May 23. He wrote that there was a 'Cheating scandal in poker going on that would make the Mike Postle scandal look like a church service.'
After the scandal was revealed through a series of serendipitous discoveries and an exhaustive investigative effort by members of the online poker community, the sites were compelled to pay millions in reparations to cheated players, and the story generated mainstream interest when 60 Minutes broadcast a segment on the scandal in December of 2008.
(Coincidentally, I just told my daughter about the UltimateBet/Absolute Poker superuser scandal yesterday. I wonder what this looks like compared to what Perkins is talking about.)
People gave Perkins flack for lobbing that grenade out into the world only to leave everyone hanging. He eventually said that he agreed with one of the game's participants to not reveal the name unless they 'lied during questions.' He added that it was a private game played via an app and that there were multiple poker pros playing on a 'fish' account. In other words, top-flight players were either directly playing on a recreational player's account or 'ghosting,' which is advising/instructing someone on how to play their hands.
- The action was paused in the Daniel Negreanu vs. Doug Polk ‘Grudge Match' under bizarre circumstances over the past 24 hours as Bill Perkins, who has a bet in place on the match's outcome.
- Daniel 'Jungleman' Cates has reportedly admitted to having ghosted a (none-pro) friend's account in a high-stakes home Poker game played around three weeks ago. This after businessman and Poker enthusiast/player Bill Perkins on the weekend on social media hinted at a pro having cheate d at a home game by making use of a third-person account.
Later, Dan Bilzerian tweeted that it was Dan 'Jungleman' Cates who 'cheated me, @bp22 [Perkins] and others outta money on Fun Ocean poker app' by playing on someone named Sina Taleb's account.
Bilzerian later deleted the tweet and that's where things had stood since the weekend.
Cates comes clean
Then, on Wednesday, Cates copped to ghosting. In a statement posted on Google Docs, he said he delayed responding for legal and financial reasons before going on to admit that he played 'with' Sina (Taleb is apparently not his last name) on May 8 for 'very few sessions.' He added that Bilzerian was not in the games in question.
Cates continued:
I played very few hands against Bill Perkins, who sat in a game I understood was rampant with professionals who were ghosting. I thought since many on the site were using pros to play for them (which was clear by the uniquely high level of play) at the time it felt acceptable for me to be playing. Unfortunately Bill got caught in the crossfire and I'm very sorry for that.
Cates did not appreciate being 'singled out' for something that others were also doing, but that he accepts 'that as a role model for the poker community my punishment should be disproportionate compared to a normal player.'
He stated that he will do his best to 'behave better in the future.'
Cates concluded the message thanking the friends that have stood by him, specifically thanking Nick Schulman, and saying that he hopes that he won't continue to be 'lambasted' over the internet for this.
Table Of Contents
GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu has made his personal views on VPNing perfectly clear in a recent podcast.
On the latest episode of The Orbit, a round-table discussion hosted by Cardplayer Lifestyle's Robbie Strazynski, Negreanu stated that he 'didn't give a crap' where players were located, as long as they were who they said they were.
The Orbit - Episode 4
Negreanu was joined on The Orbit by Run It Once Poker founder Phil Galfond, partypoker Partner Rob Yong and the former managing director of the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) Alex Scott.
During the episode, the panel discussed the role of regulation in poker, and whether regulation is a barrier to how online poker should run.
Poker Ghosting Scandal Latest
Negreanu said that the obvious goal for online poker is for everyone to play against one another, but made some interesting comments about VPNing.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network is a tool that enables you to mask your internet protocol (IP) address, giving you online privacy and anonymity.
Many people use this to watch shows on Netflix that they are unable to in their country, but more importantly for this conversation poker players can use this in order to conceal their location.
Poker sites have repeatedly stated that the use of a VPN is against their terms of service, with 2018 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) champion 'wann2play' was stripped of their title and $1.35 million in prize money due to 'multi-accounting/ghosting' and use of a VPN. Free online casino video slots no download no registration.
Negreanu's Views
This isn't the first time that Negreanu has spoken out on the ethics of using a VPN in order to play poker from a country where it is not allowed.
On this occasion, he referred back to his time as a PokerStars ambassador in his views on this topic, saying that he found it difficult to understand why PokerStars spent so much money and resources trying to catch people 'VPNing', or playing from countries they're not supposed to.
'I've said this [before],' Negreanu went on. 'I personally don't give a crap where you're playing from as long as it's you. It doesn't bother me.'
'I personally don't give a crap where you're playing from as long as it's you'
How much can you win gambling before paying taxes due. Negreanu posed a hypothetical where Senegal banned Apple products, and whether or not it would be up to Apple to police whether people were using an iPhone or an iPad in that country.
Application jeu de poker gratuit. READ MORE:GGPoker Responds to Cheating Scandal
'I don't think it makes a lot of sense for the companies to police in these cases when the rule is stupid in the first place. It doesn't make sense to us to spend resources to enforce that [..] If that's an issue in your country, then you police it.'
The poker Hall of Famer then clarified that it's most poker companies' policy that you're not allowed to do 'any of that stuff,' but reiterated his views on it.
'Do I think it makes sense personally to spend a lot of resources trying to catch these people? I don't. I don't have a problem with it.'
What do the Sites Say About VPNs?
Here's what the Terms & Conditions of the three major poker websites - GGPoker, partypoker and PokerStars - have to say about the use of a VPN:
GGPoker
GGPoker are the only one to explicitly mention VPNs in their T&Cs. Under section 15 of GGPoker's Security & Ecology Agreement it clearly states:
'GGPoker strictly prohibits users located in prohibited jurisdictions to use VPN/PROXY, remote desktops, or any alternative methods to mask their true location.
Should we determine that users are accessing GGPoker from prohibited countries, we may restrict their use of VPN/Proxy, or suspend the account and request Proof of Presence ('POP').'
partypoker
There is no explicit mention of the term 'VPN' in the partypoker General Terms and Conditions. However, under section 2 it states:
'You may only use the Facilities if You are 18 years of age or over (or such other higher minimum legal age in Your jurisdiction) and it is legal for You to do so according to the laws that apply in Your jurisdiction.'
In section 6 of the same document it goes on to state:
'We forbid the use of all unfair practices when using the Facilities.'
PokerStars
Poker Ghosting Scandal Podcast
There is no explicit mention of the term 'VPN' in the PokerStars End User License Agreement. However, under section 5 it states:
'The Stars Group (TSG) prohibits persons located in (including temporary visitors) or residents of certain jurisdictions (including jurisdictions where persons are required to play according to the regulations in such jurisdiction, using the appropriately designated, licensed game client) from making deposits into their Stars Accounts or engage in Real Money Games.
'Any attempt to circumvent the restrictions on play by any persons located in a Prohibited Jurisdiction, is a breach of this Agreement. An attempt at circumvention includes, but is not limited to, manipulating the information used by TSG to identify your location and providing TSG with false or misleading information regarding your location or place of residence. Any such attempt will entitle us to take such steps as we deem appropriate including, without limitation, seizing the funds in your Stars Account.'
Cates did not appreciate being 'singled out' for something that others were also doing, but that he accepts 'that as a role model for the poker community my punishment should be disproportionate compared to a normal player.'
He stated that he will do his best to 'behave better in the future.'
Cates concluded the message thanking the friends that have stood by him, specifically thanking Nick Schulman, and saying that he hopes that he won't continue to be 'lambasted' over the internet for this.
Table Of Contents
GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu has made his personal views on VPNing perfectly clear in a recent podcast.
On the latest episode of The Orbit, a round-table discussion hosted by Cardplayer Lifestyle's Robbie Strazynski, Negreanu stated that he 'didn't give a crap' where players were located, as long as they were who they said they were.
The Orbit - Episode 4
Negreanu was joined on The Orbit by Run It Once Poker founder Phil Galfond, partypoker Partner Rob Yong and the former managing director of the Microgaming Poker Network (MPN) Alex Scott.
During the episode, the panel discussed the role of regulation in poker, and whether regulation is a barrier to how online poker should run.
Poker Ghosting Scandal Latest
Negreanu said that the obvious goal for online poker is for everyone to play against one another, but made some interesting comments about VPNing.
What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network is a tool that enables you to mask your internet protocol (IP) address, giving you online privacy and anonymity.
Many people use this to watch shows on Netflix that they are unable to in their country, but more importantly for this conversation poker players can use this in order to conceal their location.
Poker sites have repeatedly stated that the use of a VPN is against their terms of service, with 2018 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) champion 'wann2play' was stripped of their title and $1.35 million in prize money due to 'multi-accounting/ghosting' and use of a VPN. Free online casino video slots no download no registration.
Negreanu's Views
This isn't the first time that Negreanu has spoken out on the ethics of using a VPN in order to play poker from a country where it is not allowed.
On this occasion, he referred back to his time as a PokerStars ambassador in his views on this topic, saying that he found it difficult to understand why PokerStars spent so much money and resources trying to catch people 'VPNing', or playing from countries they're not supposed to.
'I've said this [before],' Negreanu went on. 'I personally don't give a crap where you're playing from as long as it's you. It doesn't bother me.'
'I personally don't give a crap where you're playing from as long as it's you'
How much can you win gambling before paying taxes due. Negreanu posed a hypothetical where Senegal banned Apple products, and whether or not it would be up to Apple to police whether people were using an iPhone or an iPad in that country.
Application jeu de poker gratuit. READ MORE:GGPoker Responds to Cheating Scandal
'I don't think it makes a lot of sense for the companies to police in these cases when the rule is stupid in the first place. It doesn't make sense to us to spend resources to enforce that [..] If that's an issue in your country, then you police it.'
The poker Hall of Famer then clarified that it's most poker companies' policy that you're not allowed to do 'any of that stuff,' but reiterated his views on it.
'Do I think it makes sense personally to spend a lot of resources trying to catch these people? I don't. I don't have a problem with it.'
What do the Sites Say About VPNs?
Here's what the Terms & Conditions of the three major poker websites - GGPoker, partypoker and PokerStars - have to say about the use of a VPN:
GGPoker
GGPoker are the only one to explicitly mention VPNs in their T&Cs. Under section 15 of GGPoker's Security & Ecology Agreement it clearly states:
'GGPoker strictly prohibits users located in prohibited jurisdictions to use VPN/PROXY, remote desktops, or any alternative methods to mask their true location.
Should we determine that users are accessing GGPoker from prohibited countries, we may restrict their use of VPN/Proxy, or suspend the account and request Proof of Presence ('POP').'
partypoker
There is no explicit mention of the term 'VPN' in the partypoker General Terms and Conditions. However, under section 2 it states:
'You may only use the Facilities if You are 18 years of age or over (or such other higher minimum legal age in Your jurisdiction) and it is legal for You to do so according to the laws that apply in Your jurisdiction.'
In section 6 of the same document it goes on to state:
'We forbid the use of all unfair practices when using the Facilities.'
PokerStars
Poker Ghosting Scandal Podcast
There is no explicit mention of the term 'VPN' in the PokerStars End User License Agreement. However, under section 5 it states:
'The Stars Group (TSG) prohibits persons located in (including temporary visitors) or residents of certain jurisdictions (including jurisdictions where persons are required to play according to the regulations in such jurisdiction, using the appropriately designated, licensed game client) from making deposits into their Stars Accounts or engage in Real Money Games.
'Any attempt to circumvent the restrictions on play by any persons located in a Prohibited Jurisdiction, is a breach of this Agreement. An attempt at circumvention includes, but is not limited to, manipulating the information used by TSG to identify your location and providing TSG with false or misleading information regarding your location or place of residence. Any such attempt will entitle us to take such steps as we deem appropriate including, without limitation, seizing the funds in your Stars Account.'
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