The main poker platforms have their own databases with players whose access is restricted temporarily or permanently for the execution of unfair actions caused to break the balance of the games and make a profit at the expense of a tactic or unfair action.
Partypoker, like any other platform dedicated to the organization of competitive games, ensures the safety and maintenance of the tables that are active under its umbrella, and the development of what is colloquially known as a blacklist does nothing but help to better manage everything related to fairness in the game.
Is there a blacklist in Partypoker?
Actually, a blacklist is nothing more than an instrument that allows to keep up to date all the data related to cheating, as well as to keep updated the data of those who have been the proven perpetrators of such actions that undermine fair play. Streamlining this process achieves greater effectiveness, something for which Partypoker has always been characterized.
The elaboration of a blacklist allows to carry out the necessary actions during the stipulated period of time, guaranteeing that the platform takes the appropriate measures in a fair manner and according to the proportion of the action. In addition, this also makes it much easier to keep track of sanctions and application times, avoiding errors that affect players whose situation with the platform has been regularized.
However, and although Partypoker is responsible for taking the measures it deems appropriate to ensure fair play, it is important that the players themselves are the ones who inform the platform of any irregular action, since they are the ones who are on the front line and who are in direct contact with the offenders.
By reporting these actions, the Partypoker technical staff can narrow down the search for the player who has committed the irregularity, carry out an investigation and allow to apply the corresponding measures as soon as possible to preserve fairness and fair play at the tables.
Although Partypoker, like any other platform, cannot share any specific evidence related to the investigation processes it carries out for security reasons, it does have the necessary resources to keep control over the tables, investigating the reports that players send them and maintaining control of fair play in all types of games.
Partypoker also ensures that violators do not return to future events on the platform by adding them to the blacklist for LIVE events, preventing their access to ensure fairness in live games.
Challenges to blacklisting
The debate over a shared, synchronized global blacklist to prevent cheaters from accessing any online poker event on any platform is still ongoing. For many it is a good idea, although it must be mentioned that implementing a global blacklist represents quite a challenge.
The critical points that would affect such a hypothetical global blacklist are as follows:
- Network infrastructures. The first critical point is infrastructure and logistics. Because through the cloud, synchronization could be carried out in a matter of seconds, but this global blacklist would need to have ultra-advanced security measures to prevent any hacking or tampering.
- Legislation by country. Poker platforms adjust certain parameters of their dynamics based on the legislation in force in each country, also creating different versions for different markets if they have sufficient resources. And it is precisely the differences in the legislation of each country that would prevent taking the same measures to punish punishable actions in the event of a global blacklist. What is illegal in one country may be permitted in another or may not be so serious, which would break the unity and, therefore, the equality of sanctions.
- Data Protection. Be careful, because some areas such as the European Union have their own legislation in this regard and, in order to preserve user data, a global list with personal data crossed with other countries in the world would be directly impossible. Some initiatives may die even before becoming a mere proposal, a stumbling block that seeks nothing more than to protect the consumer.
- What about erroneous bans? It is not the first time that a platform or company has made a mistake and unfairly banned a user from their servers, ruining their progress for no reason. How is this solved? Can it be reversed? How is the affected party compensated? This is something that should be contemplated, in addition to implementing mechanisms to quickly correct any error. In a worldwide blacklist, an erroneous ban can have serious consequences for the person affected.
