A proposed bill that would require the Nevada Gaming Control Board to issue a list of poker players banned from playing online is facing opposition from the only online poker provider in the state. Representatives of Caesars Entertainment, the operator of WSOP.com, told the Assembly Judicial Committee this week that Assembly Bill 380 would be a significant burden for the company.
The bill was drafted by poker professional Sara Cholhagian Ralston and introduced on March 22, with the aim of uncovering those who cheat while using false screen names and IP addresses. It mandates that online poker providers submit the names of players who have been suspended or banned for dishonesty.
However, Caesars lobbyist Mike Alonso believes that publishing the names of such players, in a similar manner to the Gaming Control Board’s “black book” of excluded persons, could lead to costly litigation from those who claim to have lost money due to cheating, or have had their reputation damaged. Alonso noted that cheating is already addressed by Nevada law and is under the jurisdiction of the Gaming Control Board.
WSOP.com was launched in September 2013, after Nevada legalized online poker. Common cheating tactics used by online poker players include player collusion, which is done by exchanging information on hands being played; data-mining software that collects hand histories to predict moves; and software that calculates the odds of certain cards being dealt.
Danielle Barille, vice president of online poker for Caesars Digital, informed the committee that all hands played on WSOP.com are monitored using algorithms, software and dedicated staff. This helps to identify suspicious activities, such as sharing devices with other players, using prohibited software while playing, altering IP addresses, and unusual game-play patterns. All accusations of cheating are thoroughly investigated.
