- Sunday, 29 November 2009
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The INQUIRER: Because it's already tomorrow and yesterday somewhere
Online poker players had their hole exposed
OWNERS OF A GAMBLING SITE are suing its software supplier to the tune of $75 million after techies exposed cheating on the site
Apparently, cracks in the site's code allowed gamblers to see their opponents hole card. And having your hole exposed on the Internet can be costly. As lusty lesbian Lindsay Lohan will tell you if you ask.
Suspicions were first aroused when users of the site noticed some dodgy tactices employed by players who were winning potloads of cash. The saga is documented here.
MSNBC got hold of the story and called the liquidator involved in the breaking up of Toronto-based firm Excapsa Software Inc. which made the software licensed to UltimateBet.com.
It seems a part-owner of UltimateBet.com is wants $74million from the software provider for providing dodgy software. It is unknown if any shafted gamblers will get their money back, but unlikely - especially since many are US citizens and therefore not supposed to gamble on-line.
UltimateBet.com is one of the 10 top poker sites. It's sister site, AbsolutePoker.com was also scammed last year but this latest episode ran for more than three years and probably pocketed those involved millions.
Who the perps were remains a bit of a mystery wrapped up in an enigma, but MSNBC has has a good ferret through the evidence and presents its findings here. ยต
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Why do people play poker on the Internet anyway? "Here are your cards, Mr Punter, all chosen completely randomly by 'the computer' and no-one else knows what they are, honest!"

Indeed, why do people do any gambling online? "Oh dear, the slot machine didn't produce those three matching symbols - so unlucky! The ball on the virtual roulette wheel just happened to skip over your number - what were the odds of that happening? Just missed out on blackjack again, sir? Never mind, have another go!"

Punters!
Perhaps rather than wasting time and money on futile prohibition, the U.S. Congress could simply simply spell it out and provide that there is no recourse in the courts for this kind of fraud or software mishap.

I've got to agree with The Badger. Who would trust a gambling site not to nudge the game over to the house's advantage? Of course, blackjack would present the biggest temptation.