- “We will all be better off if poker players can have fun and socialize, regardless of the language they speak.”.
- The reason to restrict the languages that can be spoken at the table is collusion, though MPN argues this does not happy in reality.
- “I delight in the possibility that by making this change I will be upsetting the world’s xenophobics.”.
Microgaming’s poker network MPN has ended its “English only at the tables” rule, allowing players to type into the chat box in any language they choose.
“As of now, whatever language you speak, whether it be English, Georgian, Latin or High Valyrian, you are welcome on the MPN,” said Alex Scott, Head of Poker at Microgaming.
“We will still police grossly offensive or disruptive chat, regardless of the language, but if you just want to chat with your friends, you can speak (or type) any language you want.”
Language Restrictions
Restricting languages that players can use is ubiquitous both online and live.
While poker rooms in national markets usually permit the local language too (on PokerStars France, English and French is permitted at the tables, for example), it is normal that all other languages are prohibited.
“As far as I know, we are the first poker network to make this change, but I hope we are the first of many,” explains the network blog post announcing the change.
“We will all be better off if poker players can have fun and socialize, regardless of the language they speak.”
Collusion Concerns
The usual reason cited in restricting the languages that can be spoken at the table is to prevent collusion.
Scott says that the collusion argument doesn’t hold water in practice.
“I have spent a long time working in this industry, and have been involved in Game Integrity for most of that time. I honestly can’t remember a single case where colluders used the chat box as part of their scheme,” he writes.
“The fear of collusion is understandable in theory, but it just doesn’t happen much in reality. In addition, our methods for preventing and detecting collusion have come a long way in the last 10 years. There is no point keeping a rule simply to appease fear.”
English-Only Stifles Interaction
Scott argues that the English-only rule is today out-dated given poker’s global nature—and borders on bigotry.
“In 2014, poker has grown so much in other parts of the world that for several years now, not only have the majority of poker players not been American, they haven’t spoken English as their first language,” Scott states.
“Online, the English only rule persists, and players who chat in other languages are actually penalised for doing so. They are warned, or their ability to chat is revoked. Since most players don’t speak English, this leads to an environment where nobody chats at all.”
“Lets be honest – there’s also a little bit of bigotry baked into this rule. I delight in the possibility that by making this change I will be upsetting the world’s xenophobics.”
