Bots and real-time assistance: how poker rooms keep games fair
Fair games are the foundation of online poker. The biggest threats today are bots (software playing instead of a person), real-time assistance (RTA) — programs that tell a player what to do during a hand — and collusion between players. Responsible rooms work hard to stop all three.
What rooms typically do
Section titled “What rooms typically do”| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| Identity verification (KYC) | Confirms each account belongs to a real person. See is KKPoker safe? |
| Behaviour analysis | Looks for inhumanly consistent timing, playing patterns or too many tables |
| Software detection | Some rooms check for banned programs running on the device |
| Game integrity / security teams | Review suspicious accounts and hand histories |
| Account closures and refunds | Many rooms close cheating accounts and may return confiscated funds to affected players |
Methods differ by room and change over time.
Signs something may be wrong
Section titled “Signs something may be wrong”- A player who never takes a break and plays at the same speed for many hours.
- Two players who never bet into each other and squeeze others.
- Very unusual play that only makes sense if someone knows the cards.
Bad luck isn’t proof of cheating — most “suspicious” hands are just variance. But if you see a real pattern, report it to support with hand numbers.
What you should do
Section titled “What you should do”- Never use banned tools yourself: real-time help is cheating on almost every site. See poker software.
- Play on licensed rooms with clear security policies. See check a poker licence.
- Protect your own account so nobody else can use it. See account security.
See also is online poker rigged?.
What is real-time assistance (RTA) in poker?
Section titled “What is real-time assistance (RTA) in poker?”Software that tells a player what to do during a hand; it is banned on almost every poker site.
How do poker rooms detect bots?
Section titled “How do poker rooms detect bots?”With identity checks, behaviour and timing analysis, software detection and security teams reviewing hands.
What should I do if I suspect cheating?
Section titled “What should I do if I suspect cheating?”Report it to the room’s support with hand numbers; don’t accuse players at the table.
Is bad luck a sign of cheating?
Section titled “Is bad luck a sign of cheating?”Usually not. Most suspicious-looking hands are normal variance.