[cctv]

Pokerstars ban Sharkscope

Although many poker rooms have had a relaxed attitude towards 'data-mining', Pokerstars.net have always had a clear and firm stance that it is no allowed on their site. This was cemented this week with the news that the top online poker room have officially banned Sharkscope use on the site.

Sharkscope is a subscription website that provides you with statistical information about the winrates of SNG players. Although it doesn't specifically give you information about the playing tendencies of a player, it will tell you whether they are a big winner or loser online. Other programs that are banned on PokerStars include Poker Edge, Holdem Hawk, Poker Crusher, Online Holdem Inspector, TheCashDB, SpadeEye, and Sixth Sense.

Sharkscope falls into the category of a 'program that works off of a central database of player profiles or hands played' which is prohibited in Pokerstars. Also any software that without human intervention involve the "practice of datamining," or "offer direct game play advice on the appropriate action to take" are also strictly against PokerStars' Terms of Service.

This is bad news for Sharkscope, for whom Pokerstars.net make up the biggest percentage of their searches (because they are by far and wide the busiest poker room for SNG traffic) but good news for any players who believe that their anonymity at the tables is important.
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the star of cctv will be watching you!

[JonThomson]

yeah, was going to post about this. one reason not to move to stars if i move off ftp i guess
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Jon Thomson
Pushing trash and rivering donkeys since 1982

"Expected Value is the term bad poker players use whenever they lose a big hand. The term comes from economics, and therefore it only exists in theory."