are internet cardrooms honest?

I was just wondering if there was any way to guarantee that the games in online cardrooms are honest. I am not referring to collusion between players, which is easily identified, but rather, I am asking about the site operators themselves. Would it be possible for them to set up certain "house player" accounts, and allow them to always catch their cards? Is there any way to insure that the random # generators apply to all? Any info would be appreciated, thanks.

[Tom D]

In addition to common sense, there is a great deal of evidence and testimony that suggests that at least some online gambling sites are dishonest.

As to your second question: "Is there any way to insure that the random # generators apply to all", you might want to peruse the following web sites:

http://www.law.duke.edu/dev/journals/dltr/articles/2001DLTR0021.html

http://www.ku.edu/~cybermom/CLJ/ramsey/ramsey.html

http://www.gamblingtimes.com/writers/sroberts/sroberts2_summer2001.html

http://www.racsa.co.cr/asamblea/biblio/proyectos/casinos/internet/chapter4.htm

http://www.cato.org/dailys/12-01-99.html

http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2002/10/05/gambling/index2.html

http://www.quixotic-solutions.com/regulator.htm

http://www.gamingmagazine.com/managearticle.asp?c=710&a=4

Tom D

[lorinda]

With regards to shuffling:

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/entdev/article.php/616221

This describes how the shuffling was found to be non-random at one site, the discovery of this led to future sites improving their shuffle, which is now regarded by most, but not all, as completely random

http://paradisepoker.com/shuffling.html
(Paradise Poker's shuffle)

http://pokerstars.com/security.html
(Pokerstars shuffle)

As to being paid, you will need to make your own decisions based on the readings of this forum.
I would say the following sites are dishonest, or at least, I wouldn't want large sums there:
Propoker.com
Sunrisepoker.com
GutsPoker.com

All other sites that I can think of have paid me, or people that I know on a regular basis.
The newer the site, the bigger the risk.
The regulatory body of many of these sites offers very little protection for the customer (The Kahnawake Gaming Commission) as they have an interest in keeping the sites open, but the biggest business comes from reputation in this industry, and the best sites strive hard to keep their reputation good.

As to making your own mind up, I would recommend doing a search for every site you intend to play on this forum, there is also a poker review site hosted by Tommy R (Search his name for the link, I can never remember it).
Pokerpulse.com gives information regarding number of players, sites with many players are more likely to be honest.
Pokermate.com has a forum for each site, and may be worth checking out.

To get a more neutral perspective, I would recommend waiting a little while for more replies, as between myself and Tom D, you have had replies from the two extremes in belief in online poker.
Tom is out there to protect people from gambling by critisising every angle possible (a claim he denies), whilst I have been accused by others of being paid by the poker industry (A claim I deny)

Hope to see you at the tables....whoever you are,

Lorinda

[lorinda]

An analysis of "Thwang99"s hands at Paradise can be found at:

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=y%25C38.307%24Ei.82559%40typhoon.we.rr.co m

and his true poker hands at:


http://groups.google.com/groups?q=pokerstat+truepoker&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&selm=d4bcb28.0208040746.66d71a30%40posting.googl e.com&rnum=3


A discussion similar to this one can be found on this forum dated 2 November Titled "Party Poker Suckouts" by anonymous (which I have finally learned to spell)

Lori