Prohibited Online Poker Software FAQ

What is this all about?
With the explosion in online poker, people have developed programs to help them play better online. We think it is okay for players to use some of those programs. However, some of those programs go beyond what we consider acceptable as an aid in playing online.
There is a range of things that a player can do to improve his chances in a poker game. For instance, he can play a lot and gain experience, or he can read a book about poker. Both of these techniques are clearly appropriate. At the other end of the spectrum, he can work in collusion with another player, sharing information about hole cards and teaming up against other players. This is clearly cheating.

In between those two extremes are many programs - some of which we consider to be too close to cheating. For example, there are people building huge databases with profiles of every player on PokerStars, and they are selling access to these databases. A player with access to such a database can call up detailed information about every one of his opponents without ever playing against those opponents himself. We believe this gives that player an unfair advantage against others at his table.

Obviously, reasonable people will disagree over what is appropriate and what is not. We have developed what we consider to be a reasonable compromise between letting players take every possible fair advantage, but prohibiting the unfair ones.
Why did this all get started?
We have gotten emails on this subject from many players. Some want to use these "aid" programs and are asking if they're okay. Other players are concerned that their opponents are using aid programs. We needed to establish a policy so we could draw a line between acceptable and unacceptable programs. We made this decision only after thorough discussion within PokerStars and with poker experts outside PokerStars.
In general, what kind of programs are acceptable?
The following types of programs are generally acceptable:
1. Programs (or charts) that simply tell you odds, starting hand recommendations, etc.
2. Programs that profile your opponents, but make use of only information which you have accumulated by your own play.
3. Macros and Hotkey programs that don't have any bearing on gameplay logic. For example, you can use AutoHotKey, MacroExpress or AutoIt3 to make it such that you "bet the pot" when you press the 'P' key, but you cannot use these or other utilities to create an autofolder that folds poor starting hands, or that automates advice or actions from any other program.
Why is this an issue?
Consider this: you are playing at a six-person table and the other five players at that table are using a shared database program. After each hand, they are able to see what cards every other player (except you) had. Do you want to play at that table?
Can you give me a list of acceptable programs?
This is a list of programs that we are aware of and permit:
1. Calculatem Pro
2. Coach Rounder
3. Draw Poker Source
4. GameTime+
5. Holdem Genius
6. Holdem Indicator
7. Holdem Manager
8. Holdem Partner
9. Holdem Ranger
10. Insight Poker Hound
11. Omaha Poker Coach
12. Paragon Poker Pal
13. Poker Academy Prospector
14. PokerAce HUD
15. Pokerbility
16. Poker Buddy
17. Poker Butler
18. PokerEval (Registered Version Only)
19. Poker EV
20. Poker Evolver
21. Poker Indicator
22. Poker Office
23. Poker Pro 2007
24. Poker Sharpener
25. Poker Sidekick
26. Poker Stove
27. Poker-Spy.com
28. PokerStat.com
29. Poker Tracker v2
30. Poker Vitals
31. Poker Weapon
32. Poker Wingman
33. Sit and Go End Game Tools
34. SmartBuddy
35. SnG Power Tools
36. Spade ICM
37. STT Analyzer
38. Star Tracker
39. Stud Inspector v1
40. Table Shark
41. Telescope by SpadeIt
42. Texas Calculatem
43. ThePokerDB
44. Tournament Indicator
45. Tournament Shark
This list was last updated February 21st, 2008.
In general, what kinds of programs are prohibited?
The following types of programs are prohibited:
1. Any program that shares hole card data with other players or programs is colluding, and is prohibited.
2. Any program that works off of a central database of player profiles or hands played is prohibited.
3. Any program that plays without human intervention (a "bot") or reduces the requirement of a human playing. For instance, an "auto-folder" is prohibited.
4. The practice of datamining (observing games as a non-player for extended periods in order to build up a large database of hand histories for future reference) is prohibited.
5. Any software that offers advice on the appropriate action to take, and which is also programmable or configurable beyond a simple slider to choose a level of aggressiveness or tightness.
Can you give me a list of programs which are prohibited?
This is a list of programs that we are aware of and prohibit:
1. Advanced Poker Calculator
2. Gambot
3. Holdem Hawk
4. Holdem Pirate
5. Holdem Inspector a.k.a. Online Holdem Inspector
6. iHH Harvester
7. Magic Holdem
8. Mandraker
9. Open Holdem Bot
10. Poker Android
11. Poker Bot+
12. Poker Crusher
13. Poker Edge
14. Poker Inspector a.k.a. Online Poker Inspector
15. Poker Prophecy
16. Poker Sherlock
17. Poker Table Manager
18. Real Poker Rankings
19. SharkScope [pending]
20. Sit n' Go Brain
21. Sixth Sense
22. SpadeEye
23. Stars Hand History (SHH)
24. StarSpy
25. TheCashDB
26. WinHoldem
This list was last updated February 21st, 2008.
There's a program I'd like to use, but it's not on either list. Now what?
Please send an email to support@pokerstars.com with all the information you have about that program. Please include a URL to a website about that program if at all possible. We will review the program and let you know if it's permitted or not.
Are the above lists subject to change?
Yes. In addition to evaluating new programs that come to our attention, PokerStars frequently re-examines programs on the permitted and prohibited programs lists to ensure they continue to fall within our terms of service. In addition, the terms of service themselves and the definition of a prohibited program are periodically re-examined and are subject to change without notice. These re-examinations can result in a program being reclassified without notice, moving from the permitted list to the prohibited list or vice-versa. PokerStars assumes no responsibility to notify players of any such reclassifications. Players should regularly check the lists of programs to verify the current status of any program's classification.
May I use a permitted program to record information about players from hands in which I am not playing?
No. You may only collect hand histories and player information from hands in which you are a participant.
What steps are you going to take to prevent players from using prohibited programs?
We are going to look to see if any of those programs is running on a player's computer. If we find one of the prohibited programs, we will alert the player that he is running a prohibited program and tell him what the program is. We will ask that he stop running the program immediately. If he complies, fine. If not, then we will prevent the PokerStars client from running on his computer.
Are you going to look for anything else on players' computers?
Absolutely not. Our sole interest is in protecting our players and our site from programs that we believe are bad for the integrity and fairness of our games.
Are you going to confiscate the account funds of somebody running a prohibited program?
While we reserve the right to confiscate the funds of somebody running a prohibited program, we are not going to do this lightly. We want to educate our players - not punish them. However, we will confiscate funds if a player shows a consistent pattern of using prohibited programs after being warned.