PokerStars confirms third-party software clampdown

PokerStars has confirmed it will be increasing restrictions on the use of third-party software on its poker client and warned “significantly more restrictive” changes could be introduced in the next 12-24 months.

The operator said after lengthy internal discussions it had decided to move forward in principal with proposals to curb the range of third-party tools allowed on its client that help players make decisions.

“We still have some decisions to make regarding final wording and also to make sure we are comfortable with our detection and enforcement capability,” a PokerStars spokesman said.

“In the meantime we will be in touch with some software developers regarding their existing applications to clarify which features might violate the upcoming rules so that they will have time to make the appropriate changes,” the spokesman added.

And the firm also said it was “headed firmly towards other restrictions” on third party software “in the next year or two” that would be “significantly more restrictive” than the proposals put forward in its review.

“Our intent is to implement change gradually over time, ensuring that our internal detection and enforcement capabilities are able to keep up with the rules and that the community has adequate time to adjust,” the spokesman said.

Further restrictions could bring PokerStars more in line with Unibet, which do not allow any third-party tracking software on its poker tables.

The review into third party software was sparked after an investigation into a Russian-based ring of players who were suspected to using bots on the site’s pot limit Omaha games to win at least $2.8m illegitimately.