UKGC to review third party software
The UK Gambling Commission is the latest entity to question the fairness of tracking software in poker.
In a press release last week, the governing body announced that in the first part of a multi-stage review, it would be approaching UK licensees about:
collusion and cheating - including the use of automated poker robots (‘bots’) and third party software.
No specific examples of third party software was given. The release went on to say:
We want this information in order to assess whether the current controls in Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP) and the Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards (RTS) are sufficient to ensure online poker is crime free, fair and open and children and vulnerable people are protected.
Current UKGC licensees include 888poker, PokerStars, Full Tilt, Betfair and PKR.
The clampdown on third party software
This is the latest in many recent steps by numerous parties to restrict the impact of third party software like seating scripts, tracking software and HUDs.
Last week PokerStars announced they would be reducing the depth of information available on HUDs, as well as prohibiting game selection software in games where you cannot choose where your seat.
PartyPoker announced they would be no longer storing hand histories on hard drives, effectively rendering tracking software and HUDs useless. Measures were also made to make table selection software obsolete.
Last month the MPN network revealed that it would be allowing regular screen name changes, another step which would effectively diminish the impact of a lot of third-party software.
This new announcement, however, by the UKGC is one of the first times a regulatory body has acknowledged and shown concern about third party software in poker.
