It is an ongoing effort, and we will continue to do all in our power to ensure we keep poker fun and fair, and listening to our players will continue to be a key factor to progress on this front
888poker refunded over $350k to players in 2023 as part of its continuing crackdown on fraudulent accounts that use prohibited tools, pokerfuse has learned.
The operator, sharing data with pokerfuse, disclosed that it took decisive action by blocking 161 accounts throughout the year. These accounts were identified for utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) or real-time assistance (RTA) during online poker tables.
In response, 888poker not only banned these accounts but also initiated refunds totaling $362,893, compensating 4068 players who had been adversely affected by these illicit activities.
“Our continued progress in tackling bots stems from the understanding that it is crucial in order to ensure that 888poker continues to provide an enjoyable, safe, and level playing field for all our players,” Matan Krakow, Head of Poker Offering at 888poker told pokerfuse.
The operator said that out of the $363k total, $250k was directly paid from the operator’s own pockets. The operator did this when it was not possible to reclaim funds from blocked accounts.
888 highlighted that their success in combating fraudulent accounts resulted not only from increased resources in detection capabilities, but also acknowledged the support and collaboration of the player community. According to Krakow, players play “an important role to play in helping provide [them] with vital information about players they think are using AI and RTA.”
The Head of Poker Offering at 888 further explained that the site continues to “consult with advisors who are top notch in terms of analyzing hand histories and detecting non-human patterns.” Feedback received indicates that, after rigorous work in recent years, 888poker stands out favorably compared to competitors, boasting “a clean and safe playing environment.”
“It is an ongoing effort, and we will continue to do all in our power to ensure we keep poker fun and fair, and listening to our players will continue to be a key factor to progress on this front,” Krakow stated in a statement to pokerfuse.
The disclosure of this data comes amid a surge in reports of cheating. Recent accusations targeted the US-facing offshore unregulated platform ACR Poker, where hundreds of accounts were alleged to be operated by bots (bot farm), accumulating over $10 million in winnings in recent years. Similar concerns were raised regarding social poker apps such as PokerBros.
Weeks ago GGPoker was hit with a massive “superuser” scandal after a security breach that granted a player access to flop and turn all-in equities, providing an unfair advantage over opponents.
Although the recent revelation of data regarding fraudulent activities may seem like a response to the ongoing discussions surrounding cheating in online poker, this is not the first time that 888 has been transparent about its initiatives to safeguard gaming integrity and share such information.
In 2021, 888 took steps to create a fair and level playing field for all players, joining the growing trend of transparency among operators in how they uphold game integrity. The commitment included regular reporting of figures.
In its first public disclosure three years ago, the platform announced 85 fraudulent accounts were detected for using AI software, recovering nearly $100,000 and compensating over 4000 players.
The following year, in 2022, the platform refunded almost $300,000 to 6801 players, reflecting a 32% year-over-year increase in the detection of fraudulent accounts. The latest figures now reveal a new record, with the operator reimbursing $362,000 to 4068 players, marking a 26% annual increase.
These latest statistics suggest that the operator has either enhanced its detection capabilities or that there has been a rise in fraudulent activities. Naturally, the platform would likely attribute the former to increased investments and the adoption of new, sophisticated detection methods.
“Over the past few years we have continuously enhanced our AI and data capabilities when it comes to deducing playing patterns that indicate abnormal behaviour,” Amit Berkovich, VP Head of Poker at 888, said in a recent interview with Poker Industry PRO.
