The online poker community has been rife with rumors and conspiracy theories about PokerStars, one of the biggest online poker sites. Some players complain after a string of losses or some unlikely hands, asking whether the platform’s algorithm is rigged.
This article delves into the frequently asked question: Is PokerStars rigged? To understand the truth about this much-discussed topic, we will look at the various angles, facts, and myths related to these claims.
The Origins of the “PokerStars Rigged” Debate
The debate over whether PokerStars rigged can be traced to the fundamental nature of online poker. Players who play live poker games have firsthand control over the way the game is played out and are there to see every shuffle and deal. Online poker relies on software algorithms for shuffling and dealing cards, causing some players to feel distrustful when they experience losing streaks or unexpected outcomes.
Forums like BlackRain79 and PokerStrategy are saturated with tales from these players who vehemently believe that the PokerStars algorithm is in some way biased or that their hands are artificially created to drive particular outcomes. But just how much truth is there, or is this purely an emotional backlash of the players on variance? Let’s break down the arguments.
Why do some players think PokerStars is rigged?
There are a number of reasons that players might consider PokerStars rigged. Generally speaking, these tend to fall into one of the following camps:
1. Bad Beats and Improbable Hands
The most common reason people think PokerStars rigged is because of bad beats. A bad beat occurs when a player with a statistically stronger hand loses to a weaker hand due to an improbable outcome on the turn or river. Losing in this manner can be extremely frustrating, especially when playing for real money.
Many players believe that the platform, in particular, sets up these situations to create action, and for most of them, this is how they claim to witness far more bad beats online than they ever experience in live poker. Online poker simply deals many more hands per hour than live poker does, most poker pros explain, which in turn means that players are going to witness more improbable results simply because of the volume of hands.
2. How the “Cash Grab” Theory Works in Play Money Games
Another such accusation is that PokerStars manipulates the results of play-money games in order to encourage players to buy more play-money chips. This line of thinking is that any player who loses all his free chips is most likely to shell out hard cash to purchase chips.
A discussion on Poker Stack Exchange shows that a few players say the algorithm of play-money games could be tweaked slightly to force people to buy chips. Others, on the other hand, argue that since the play-money games are less competitive, there will be more loose and erratic players, therefore justifying the impression of rigged results.
3. Variability and the Human Mind
Variance is just a natural, organic fluctuation in the results of poker over time. Even the best players in the world go on losing streaks, and sometimes, it’s hard for players to come to terms with the fact that they are just not running hot.
The emotional response to a losing streak is often to seek external factors to blame, including accusations that the platform is rigged. In fact, poker is a game that involves skill and luck; even with a statistically strong hand, a loss is always possible. When short-termterm results are dictated by so much variance, players tend to mistrust the game’s fairness.
Does PokerStars Have Anything to Prove of Being Rigged?
With all these complaints filed by displeased players, there is no tangible proof that PokerStars rigged. PokerStars, like other commendable online poker websites, is kept under tight regulation and is audited by independent organizations to ensure that the games are fair.
1. Independent Audits and RNG Testing
PokerStars has been certified by a number of different governing bodies of gaming and subsequently is audited on a regular basis to guarantee that its software, importantly its RNG is sound. Its RNG consists of algorithms designed to shuffle and deal cards in online poker games. It’s these systems that independent testing agencies, such as Gaming Labs International, examine and make sure are truly random.
These tests include detailed analyses of card shuffling and dealing patterns to confirm that no bias or manipulation is taking place. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, these certifications strongly suggest that PokerStars’ games are fair and not rigged.
2. Huge Online Poker Data
With PokerStars, millions of hands are dealt with every single day. There is so much information available, and it is all searchable, downloadable, and analyzable. Statisticians and poker pros have thoroughly tested the outcomes of hands-on PokerStars and found nothing statistically out of the ordinary to give proof of rigging.
The professional players on PokerStars are usually playing high-stakes games and will attest that the gameplay is absolutely fair, and their success or lack thereof is a combination of skill and the randomness intrinsically involved in poker. Given this, most of the allegations of rigging come from low-stakes or play-money players, where any variance is to be more present in a smaller sample size of hands played.
PokerStars Response to Rigging Claims
PokerStars has always denied the rigging allegations and has been very open in order to respond to the players’ concerns. Statements released by the platform refer to their RNG as being regularly tested and certified by independent auditors, with extensive documentation of how their systems are designed to ensure that everything remains on the up-and-up.
=> Are you looking for a reputable and top quality casino? Try our partners: SuperPH.
In addition, PokerStars has implemented numerous other player protections-including anti-collusion and fraud detection systems to make sure the games are a place that is fair and safe to play. The company understands very well that the ability to trust is actually at the heart of its success, and thus, manipulation of the games would badly damage their reputation.
The Reality of Online Poker: Variance and Player Perception
It is easy to understand why some players may have the feeling that PokerStars is rigged, especially when they experience a bad beat or an unfortunate run of cards. However, it has to be recalled that poker possesses luck and variance due to its very nature. A weaker hand might take the pot even with pocket aces, and such improbable events will be seen after a long number of hands.
You see 30 to 40 hands per hour dealt in live poker, depending on the speed of the dealer. More than 100 hands per hour are dealt in online poker. The result of this increased volume of hands online is that those rare and wild situations will happen much more frequently. Because of this fact, the games just seem rigged. It is just the nature of poker, plain and simple.
=> View more: Understanding Pocket Aces Win Percentage in Texas Hold’em.
Final thoughts about “Is PokerStars Rigged?”
So, is PokerStars rigged? From the evidence presented and the numerous tests conducted on PokerStars’ RNG, there is no reason to conclude that the site is rigged. Of course, players get frustrated when they lose several times in a row, but these are not the site’s manipulations, but variance.
PokerStars has always been committed to offering safe and fair poker games to its clients, and the certificates of independent auditors prove it.
Although there are times when you get bad beats and unlikely hands, they are inevitable, whether you are playing online or live.
