GGPoker bans 13 accounts using Real Time Assistance (RTA)
GGPoker has revealed that 13 accounts have been banned and $1,175,305.43 seized in a crackdown against Real Time Assistance (RTA).
Breaking: GGPoker makes decision on real time assistance:
– "Through our upgraded detection methods, we have discovered a small group of RTA users"
– 13 accounts banned, $1.2 million confiscated
– 27 further banned, no confiscation
– 40 warnedNo nameshttps://t.co/4jAq9QIvfj
— Nick Jones (@pokerprojones) September 30, 2020
The network is the first to make public the actions they have taken in the wake of the Fedor Kruse scandal. As we detailed extensively on these pages, the young German pro known as ‘GlitchSystem’ recently had the whistle blown on his nefarious cheating methods by his flatmates.
The fallout has also drawn Henri ‘Buehlero’ Buehler into the cheating investigations, accused of knowingly profiting at least $42,000 from staking Kruse during his friend’s RTA cheating.
Today GGPoker released a statement that, while not naming individuals, revealed the scale of RTA cheating. RTA use is where players use real-time poker solver information to help with, or fully replicate, decisions at the table.
“Recently, a high-profile RTA case was brought to light,” explain GGPoker. “We have re-dedicated our efforts to combatting RTA and have swiftly adopted enhanced RTA detection methods and improved our internal processes for handling these cheaters.”
The statement continues: “Through our upgraded detection methods, we have discovered a small group of RTA users on GGPN. We have taken immediate action on those accounts as we continue to develop our processes.”
The confiscated funds will be returned to affected players
They then reveal just how many RTA-cheating accounts they found and how much money has been seized from them.
‘The measures we have taken are commensurate to the frequency and severity of RTA use.
- 13 accounts have been banned and $1,175,305.43 confiscated (to be returned to players)
- 27 accounts have been banned with no confiscation
- 40 accounts have been issued warnings
GGPoker were strong in their condemnation of the RTA cheats, stating: “… we are making it known to RTA cheaters that GGPN is no place for them. Henceforth, any cheaters found using RTA to gain an advantage will be faced with our strictest measures – Permanent Ban and Confiscation of Funds.”
Those numbers instantly produced a reaction on Twitter…
$1.2 million confiscated is a scary number. Makes me wonder how much total damage was inflicted by the RTA users. It's unreasonable to assume that 100% of all cases were detected or that 100% of the money was confiscated
— Runchuks Poker (@RunchuksP) September 30, 2020
Fedor Kruse and Buehlero at the centre of the RTA cheating scandal
Although Fedor Kruse has not been named, it is expected he is among those banned, having made a rapid rise through the stakes from ‘shit reg’ to playing the biggest games on the GGPoker network, as well as on PokerStars and ACR.
It is known he has been reported to all three, and one of his stakers, N8-sponsored pro Henri ‘Buehlero’ Buehler, was this week fired as an ambassador for DTO Poker Training as the fallout continues.
The unexpected statement from GGPoker ends on this note: “Please note that we do not intend on releasing detailed investigation reports going forward unless circumstances drastically change and it is warranted.”
The Human Element in detecting cheats
Before addressing that point, GGPoker Network explained how they used their own technical experts and enhanced techniques to detect the RTA cheats.
Alongside ‘massive increases in data analysis’, the network adds in a human element to the process, described as a ‘critical factor’
“Our Team deeply analyzes Poker hands based on our proprietary algorithms with the assistance of some of the brightest Poker minds. Their insights and contributions continually improve our algorithms.
They add: “Through this process, we can quickly establish whether GTO Poker play has occurred. Once we have made this determination, we look at a variety of other factors to determine whether said GTO play involved the use of RTA.”
The leading network has also introduced a “community-focused reporting system” whereby players can report suspicious activity, allowing the site to “act more quickly” against cheats and with “better context” for their investigations.
It remains to be seen what action if any, the other online poker sites take against RTA issues, but this is likely the beginning rather than the end of the story.
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