Microgaming Halts Datamining To Protect Recreational Poker Players

The poker networks have been pulling out all the stops lately to attract and retain recreational poker players, who are seen as vital to the continued success of poker sites and the industry as a whole. In its latest attempt to create a more conducive environment for recreational players, the Microgaming network announced in a press release:
“With immediate effect, hand histories on observed tables will no longer be stored on players’ computers and the practice of downloading and storing hand histories in bulk will be stopped.”
A Microgaming spokesman commented that when datamining software, such as PokerTracker or Holdem Manager, first came out they were a useful learning tool which helped players to improve and plug leaks in their game. However, such software is now being efficiently employed to identify and exploit opponent’s weaknesses, to the detriment of recreational players.
The online poker industry is still in its infancy, and it makes sense that the rules and regulations controlling the online operation should change and evolve over time. The ultimate goal, however, should be to create a level playing field where no poker players are disadvanted due to the high tech software possessed by their opponents.
Unfortunately, this is not the case right now and data mining software is presently helping players in a whole heap of ways, such as locating soft players and tables while avoiding tougher opposition, providing valuable information when having to make marginal decisions, and saving information bets.
Head of Microgaming poker operations Andrew Clucas, said: “Concern has been rising over the long-term effect of third party software upon the poker industry as a whole, and in particular the negative effect it has on the recreational player demographic. The decision to put a stop to the practice of datamining on our poker network is part of Microgaming’s overarching network strategy to support operators in attracting and retaining recreational players.”
Recently the poker industry has been strongly expressing their commitment to providing a secure and fairer environment for players. However, how effectively the poker networks and websites will be able to detect and police any datamining activities in the future, remains to be seen.