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A thread was started on TwoPlusTwo forums yesterday concerning whether or not the iPoker skin William Hill employed the usage of bots in their games.  One of the users contacted support and support informed them that the site did indeed use bots in their games.

All your chips are belong to us.

The following section of their Terms of Service was quoted:

“10.1.1.4  in games offered via the Website which benefit from more players or greater liquidity we may deploy electronic players (known as robots, and whose usernames will be “bot”) who are pre-programmed to play and join in with the game in order to assist the liquidity or the number of players gaming although we will not use bots without making such usage clear to You;”

In addition,

“10.1.2     in relation to Your use of the Services, if You are betting on an “in running” event, You may not at any relevant time be able to see or otherwise be provided with the most up-to-date information in relation to the relevant event. We shall not be liable to You in respect of any losses suffered or costs incurred by You as a result of any delay in the transmission of information relating to any “in running” event.”

Translation = “We use bots and there is nothing you can do about it.”

Oh, but check out the very next section in their TOS:

“11.           COLLUSION, CHEATING, FRAUD AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

11.1        The following practices (or any of them) in relation to the Services :

• abuse of bonuses or other promotions; and/or
• using unfair external factors or influences (commonly known as cheating); and/or
• taking unfair advantage (as defined in paragraph 11.5.3);
• opening any Duplicate Accounts; and/or
• undertaking fraudulent practice or criminal activity (as defined in paragraph 11.5),

constitute “Prohibited Practices” and are not permitted and will constitute a material breach of the Terms of Use. We will take all reasonable steps to prevent and detect such practices and to identify the relevant players concerned if they do occur. Subject to the above, however, we will not be liable for any loss or damage which You may incur as a result of any Prohibited Practices, and any action we take in respect of the same will be at our sole discretion.”

Now let’s look at section 11.5.3:

“11.5.3     an “unfair advantage” shall include, without limitation, the exploitation of a fault, loophole or error in our or any third party’s software used by You in connection with the Services (including in respect of any  game), the use of automated players (‘bots’), or the exploitation by You, to the disadvantage of us or other players of an ‘Error’ as defined in paragraph 18.1.”

So, to break it down for your, this is what you can take away from this:

1.  William Hill employs bots.

2.  If you lose to a bot, too bad.

3.  Players using bots is considered an unfair advantage.

4.  William Hill can take action against you for using bots.

Am I the only person that views this as a double standard?

From what I have read on the thread, this is nothing new, but this is the first time I have heard anyone raise a stink about this.  As someone else pointed out, this does make you wonder if all of iPoker uses bots.

In either event, this type of double standard is not good for players and needs to be stopped immediately.  If the games are really that short handed that they choose to employ bots, maybe they should look into hiring prop players like most live casinos. Props are contractors that put up their own money in exchanged for an hourly rate in most casinos.

Yes, the website clearly states that they use bots. However, with the negative stigma given on the use of bots by players and networks in the past, William Hill may want to look for an alternative that puts players minds at ease.