Cheating in online games has always been part of the landscape, but in recent years, it has evolved into something far more problematic. According to a Forbes report, cheating is not only more widespread across digital platforms, with over 37% of gamers confessing to this, but also increasingly difficult to detect. This is especially true in the world of online poker, where real money is on the line and skilled manipulation can cost players thousands in seconds.
While other games suffer from cheaters looking for rank or bragging rights, online poker attracts a more dangerous kind of deception. Here, cheaters aren’t just playing for digital rewards. They’re playing for profit. The result is a competitive environment where fairness must be enforced constantly and at scale.
To combat the growing threat, poker sites have taken major steps to detect, deter, and permanently remove cheaters. From AI-driven surveillance tools to systems that flag collusion and provide real-time assistance, the industry is entering a new era of digital security.
Here are five of the most effective strategies online poker platforms are using right now to keep cheaters out and fair players in.
1. AI Tools That Identify Suspicious Player Behavior
Artificial intelligence has become more than a buzzword in tech. It is a vital tool across sectors, including cybersecurity, finance, and now, iGaming. In online poker, AI is proving essential in identifying behavior that is either highly improbable or perfectly consistent—two red flags that suggest foul play.
GGPoker is a frontrunner in this space. Their AI systems monitor player behavior during every hand, flagging patterns that would be difficult or impossible for most human players to maintain consistently. The algorithm tracks things like reaction times, bet sizing, hand selection, and player decision-making in a wide range of game scenarios.
What makes this approach so powerful is that it doesn’t rely on catching a cheater red-handed. Instead, it uses data patterns to detect the unlikely. It is part of a broader trend across the tech and gaming industries. As highlighted in this article about AI-powered graphic design tools, AI is being used to revolutionize design, content creation, and fraud detection. Online poker sites are leveraging that same innovation to build smarter, self-learning anti-cheat systems.
By the time a human moderator reviews a flagged player, the AI has already done the heavy lifting. And since it improves with more data, the longer it runs, the more accurate it gets.
2. Anti-Collusion Software That Detects Hidden Partnerships
One of the most dangerous and subtle forms of cheating in online poker is collusion. This happens when two or more players at the same table secretly coordinate their actions, sharing information and working together to manipulate outcomes. Since they’re communicating off-platform and masking their behavior with deceptive tactics, it’s one of the hardest cheating methods to detect without the right tools.
This is where anti-collusion software comes in. Americas Cardroom, the leading choice for millions who want to play poker in the US, has proprietary software designed to analyze betting patterns, player history, and other signals to spot unnatural coordination between accounts.
For instance, if two players consistently avoid playing big pots against each other or seem to fold to one another in key spots, that may trigger an internal investigation. The system compares hand histories and flags accounts that demonstrate uncharacteristically synchronized moves.
Americas Cardroom is also known for its robust use of random number generation, or RNG, which ensures that cards are dealt unpredictably. Their website outlines how this third-party certified RNG system helps eliminate any possibility of stack manipulation or result rigging, reinforcing the platform’s fair play commitment from both ends. By combining randomization with pattern detection, this approach shuts down one of the most lucrative forms of poker cheating—teaming up.
3. Security Teams That Combine Algorithms With Human Oversight
While automation is critical, many poker sites understand that technology alone cannot catch every cheater. That’s why top-tier platforms also employ dedicated security teams to investigate high-risk behavior manually. These teams cross-reference AI-generated data with player histories, in-game decisions, and community reports to make final judgments.
PokerStars, one of the most iconic names in online poker, has long emphasized the value of human-led security. Their Game Integrity team operates behind the scenes, working day and night to track and eliminate suspicious accounts. They have been credited with uncovering some of the industry’s most elaborate cheating operations, from bot rings to collusion groups operating across multiple game types.
These investigations typically involve deep audits. Analysts review full hand histories, account connections, deposit patterns, and play styles. They look for behavior that machines might miss, like deliberate misplays that benefit a friend or sudden spikes in skill that seem too good to be true. In cases where fraud is confirmed, PokerStars has refunded funds to affected players, further strengthening its reputation for fair play.
The takeaway here is that the combination of real-time machine learning tools and trained human analysts offers the strongest line of defense. This layered strategy prevents false positives while maximizing accuracy.
4. Detection and Banning of Real-Time Assistance Tools
The rise of real-time assistance (RTA) software is perhaps one of the most pressing challenges facing the online poker industry today. These tools work like private poker coaches, running alongside a player’s session and offering suggestions based on optimal strategy. They often pull from massive databases of solved hands and simulations, giving the user an advantage that’s nearly impossible to beat without similar tools.
These programs are particularly hard to catch because they do not interact directly with the poker software. Instead, they function in the background, giving players constant advice while avoiding detection from traditional anti-bot filters.
The issue gained new attention following Jonathan Tamayo’s win at the 2024 World Series of Poker, which is considered the world’s most illustrious poker tourney. His impressive win was marred by controversy after he was found to be using popular software PokerGO, a tool that essentially acts as a poker coach. Understandably, many complained that this gave him an unfair advantage.
In response, many poker platforms have strengthened their defenses. New tools now detect common signs of coaching software, such as mouse-tracking overlays, window-switching patterns, and keystroke delays that align with software decision times. Getting caught often results in immediate suspension, balance forfeiture, or lifetime bans, depending on the severity. The message is clear: AI-assisted cheating won’t be tolerated, even when subtle.
5. Transparent Reporting Tools and Feedback Loops
One of the most effective tools for catching cheaters doesn’t require a line of code. It comes from the community itself. Many poker sites have learned that empowering players to report suspicious behavior leads to faster and more reliable enforcement.
As a result, modern platforms now include built-in reporting tools directly on the game interface. If something feels off—like a player folding too often to the same opponent or executing overly robotic plays—others at the table can report them immediately.
In some cases, platforms even make their disciplinary actions public. They’ll announce when major cheating rings are dismantled or when accounts have been permanently banned, without necessarily naming names. This transparency builds trust within the community and serves as a strong deterrent. Some sites also maintain open channels where players can submit detailed reports, screenshots, and hand replays. These tools act as an additional filter, especially when combined with automated systems and internal reviews.
The loop is simple but powerful: players help flag suspicious activity, staff investigate using both tools and experience, and results are communicated back to the public. Everyone benefits.
Going All In On Fair Play
Cheating in online poker has become more sophisticated, but so have the tools to fight it. Using a combination of artificial intelligence, advanced monitoring software, human security teams, and community input, platforms are cracking down harder than ever on unfair play.
While no system is perfect, the poker world is heading in the right direction. Transparency is increasing, tech is evolving rapidly, and player protection is now central to every major platform’s mission. As more money flows into online poker, the battle against cheaters will only intensify. Fortunately, the industry is finally armed for it.
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