Organized poker bots – more and more online

In the fascinating world of online poker, traditional strategy meets digital precision, but increasingly also algorithmic rivals that are fundamentally changing the game. The phenomenon of so-called poker bots is increasingly causing unrest among players and platforms alike.

These bots, often programmed by tech-savvy groups from Eastern and Far Eastern countries, calculate decisions with a speed and precision that puts human participants in enormous distress. At the end of September, the US news service Bloomberg published a report on the topic entitled ‘The Russian Bot Army That Conquered Online Poker’. The article draws attention to a particularly influential team of developers: ‘Deeplay’. This organisation is said to have emerged from a small group of mathematically trained students from Siberia who have steadily expanded their skills in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). Once launched, their bots can perform complex probability calculations and strategies within fractions of a second, making them almost unbeatable. Incidentally, in a previous article we looked at how online casinos are at risk from AI.

The author of the Bloomberg article, Kit Chellel, and other industry insiders warn that these developments could fundamentally destabilise the poker ecosystem by making real winnings in virtual competitions almost unattainable through the entry of automated opponents. In fact, Chellel goes so far as to say that the current level reached by bots like Deeplay is ‘inhuman’ – a level that not even the best poker players in the world would reach. And that’s just the beginning. We are taking this very interesting and comprehensive essay as an opportunity to take a look at what is going on.

What are poker bots and how do they work?

Poker bots are specialised software that make or support decisions in the game based on algorithms and statistical calculations in order to outperform human participants.

The functionality of such bots varies considerably: they range from simple auxiliary programmes that assist users in calculating probabilities to fully automated systems that simulate complex decision-making processes and can play poker almost autonomously.

• The highly developed versions in particular are able to implement so-called GTO strategies (Game Theory Optimal). These tactics minimise losses and maximise winnings extremely confidently, which is a considerable advantage especially in a game like poker, where probabilities and psychological assessments play a central role.
• Some bots not only analyse the statistical values, but also the patterns and behaviour of the opponents, which leads to a clear strategic advantage.

In practice, players use such bots by running the software in parallel to the poker interface. Many programmes can work unnoticed in the background and play simultaneously on several tables, which would hardly be possible for a single person. Professionals or syndicates that rely on such software often link several systems or bots with different capabilities. These are usually in-house developments or tools reprogrammed by specialists that are precisely adapted to the respective requirements.

Are poker bots legal? No – but they are sometimes tolerated

The use of poker bots is usually a clear violation of the poker platforms’ terms of use. In the General Terms and Conditions (GTC), the use of such programmes is generally considered illegal, as they create an unfair competitive advantage that human players could hardly achieve even with a lot of training.

The question of whether there are explicit laws against poker bots in Germany beyond the T&Cs is more complicated. While the German Criminal Code (StGB) has no specific regulations against the use of poker bots, they can violate competition and fraud regulations in individual cases – especially if the use of bots is specifically intended to deceive or systematically disadvantage other players. However, as the results and associated winnings on poker sites are legally regarded as ‘gaming situations’, these fraud constellations often fall into a legal grey area. In principle, the use of such bots by poker providers is not permitted on German soil. Incidentally, the increasingly sophisticated scams in local poker, which increasingly involve the use of high-tech, are also a serious problem.

Interestingly, there are even platforms that allow or even use bots internally, as Bloomberg author Kit Chellel reports.

1. On some websites, they are said to be specifically integrated in order to fill tables and thus simulate an active player base. Such ‘house bots’ can theoretically also distort the game conditions. They are often programmed to influence the course of the game with longer playing times and predictable decisions.
2. However, poker sites sometimes also tolerate bots from more or less clearly criminal organisations. This is because they provide constant gaming activity on the one hand and guaranteed profits for the operators on the other. Transparency about the number and functioning of such bots remains in the dark, so that players unknowingly compete with or against them.

Poker sites that tolerate bots are cutting themselves in two

The fact that some poker providers at least passively tolerate bots can have significant consequences for trust in the platforms and online poker as a whole: Especially among beginners, who are quickly put off by the increasing difficulty and unpredictability.

• According to Kit Chellel, data shows that many new players find the challenge against strong opponents, including highly developed bots, too overwhelming and quickly give up. As a result, providers lose a large proportion of their customers long before they have really got started.
• For poker experts like Chris Moneymaker, a true legend of the game, this development poses a serious threat: If the bot problem is left unchecked, poker as we know it could disappear in the foreseeable future, he predicted to the international trade press. Speaking of which, we recently took a closer look at the everyday life of a poker pro.

How can you unmask poker bots?

Recognising a poker bot is a major challenge, especially as many of the advanced programs have been specifically designed to mimic human behaviour patterns.

But for experienced players, there are certainly clues and characteristic behaviours that can unmask a bot.

1. Continuous unexpected losses: As Kit Chellel reports, playing against a bot is often characterised by a creeping but constant feeling of loss. A bot often seems to win at moments when human players unexpectedly fail, in a way that seems calculated and emotionless.
2. Game consistency: A striking characteristic that often betrays bots is their game consistency. Human participants show natural fluctuations in their performance over the course of games – they make mistakes, adapt their strategy in certain situations, and their reactions often depend on emotions or the dynamics at the table. Bots, on the other hand, tend to always make the statistically optimal decisions without the slightest deviation, resulting in a downright ‘inhuman’ style.
3. Playing time: Bots can play many tables simultaneously and often lay hundreds or thousands of hands per day – a volume that is not realistic for human participants. The sheer volume of hands played in a session or the extremely long playing time, which remains at the same level for many hours, are therefore often good indicators of a bot.
4. Unusual decisions: Experts also advise paying attention to unusual decisions. Bots that work with advanced algorithms rely on machine learning techniques that enable them to calculate probabilities perfectly. This often leads them to take paths that seem less intuitive to human players. For example, a bot might ‘fold’ a hand or gamble aggressively in a way that seems particularly irrational to most participants, but maximises profits in the long term. Such mathematically exact but humanly unexpected moves make experienced players sit up and take notice.

Poker sites are also on their guard: after all, technical tools can help to detect suspicious patterns. Some poker platforms use integrated security mechanisms or even “bot detection software” that analyzes anomalies in gaming behavior. However, common sense often remains an important factor here too.

Conclusion

Bots have the potential to fundamentally change online poker – not only in terms of the gaming experience, but also in terms of the long-term integrity of the classic card game. While some platforms are taking measures to detect them, the technical race against increasingly sophisticated programs remains a challenge. Players should be vigilant and take unusual behavior at the table seriously. Anyone who suspects they are gambling against a bot should leave the game immediately and report the case to support. Ultimately, the hope remains that providers will offer more transparency and protection mechanisms in future to ensure fair competition and preserve the classic “poker spirit” in the digital world.