Reports of On-line Collusion from Colluders Themselves

mockingbird · #1 07-30-2005, 08:52 PM

My brother just got back from an 8 day trip to Vegas. He mostly plays Omaha 10-20 to 20-40 high-low. And he plays some hold-em.

In an Omaha game at the Orleans he was sitting next to a guy about 25 years old who told him he is part of a colluding team. This guy said that he and 2 others all play in the same room, with different IP addresses and play Omaha 75-150 in the same game. They have a very wealthy backer. My brother said the guy kind of clammed up about the specifics of the financial arrangements.

The guy also said that they are aware of other teams and that if you are not part of a team you don't have much of a chance playing on-line at high stakes.

I find this very very upsetting. I don't play at those kind of high limits. I remember reading a post from someone who played HE at 100-200 and lost "in the high 5 figures" one night and was devastated. I bet he was cheated.

What does everyone else think about this? I am pretty horrified.

My brother said the guy was funny, making fun of older women who didnt know to raise with the nuts etc. I think he sounded like an arrogant, XXXX, fill in your own adjective.

Bremen · #2 07-30-2005, 09:10 PM

Believe it or not but people will actually make stuff like this up. Also if they're caught they lose their bankrolls (although at high limits where there might only be 1 table it will take longer to identify players who only play together)

OrangeKing · #3 07-31-2005, 12:14 AM

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Believe it or not but people will actually make stuff like this up. Also if they're caught they lose their bankrolls (although at high limits where there might only be 1 table it will take longer to identify players who only play together)

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Exactly. I'd say that this guy making stuff up is a huge favorite over this guy actually doing this. That's not to say it doesn't happen though - there's definitely some collusion out there.

CaptSensible · #4 07-31-2005, 05:11 AM

I think you'd have to be pretty naive to think collusion isn't wide spread. I mean think about it. If someone has the will they could fill a table with people in on it. only 1 or 2 marks at the table. It wouldn't be that hard to do.
If there's a scam to be done then someones doing it.

ptmusic · #5 07-31-2005, 05:14 AM

I disagree. I wasn't there, but my guess is that he was telling the truth. I heard a similar story from a young guy at a casino in L.A. He sounded very credible.

At some sites, you can cash out extremely quickly, so having all your funds frozen is not a huge risk.

The fact is that online collusion is VERY easy, and probably happens more often that we expect. The only solutions (for me) are:

-play B&M
-play online cash games, but only small stakes
-play online MTT tournaments (takes much of the collusion factor out)
-play only the bigger, more established sites (they probably have better collusion detecting abilities)

-ptmusic

Al Schoonmaker · #6 07-31-2005, 05:16 AM

My guess is that the "colluder" was lying. If not, he was incredibly stupid. Admitting that he is colluding could destroy his ability to make money at it. It could also get his account frozen.

Of course, he might be incredibly stupid, but I doubt it. I think he was just a BS artist.

A smart colluder would NEVER tell a stranger about it. It's like bragging that you held up a gas station. Some crooks do brag, but only the stupid ones. The smart ones quietly take the money.

Regards,

Al

beset7 · #7 07-31-2005, 05:51 AM

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My guess is that the "colluder" was lying. If not, he was incredibly stupid. Admitting that he is colluding could destroy his ability to make money at it. It could also get his account frozen.

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Especially since there is only one 75-150 Omaha8 game online (poker stars) and it is a restricted access game. There are lots of people here who play online for high stakes and would pick up, eventually, on all but the must subtle collusion. I'm sure it happens from time to time but I wouldn't worry about it too much.

random · #8 07-31-2005, 07:29 AM

People should keep in mind that colluding at O/8 is much easier than at HE.

Nalapoint1 · #9 07-31-2005, 07:53 AM

If he is telling the truth why would he be wasting his time at B&M games when he could be making a killing online?

LargeCents · #10 07-31-2005, 03:57 PM

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If he is telling the truth why would he be wasting his time at B&M games when he could be making a killing online?

[/ QUOTE ]

Some people play poker for entertainment value.

[ QUOTE ]
A smart colluder would NEVER tell a stranger about it. It's like bragging that you held up a gas station. Some crooks do brag, but only the stupid ones. The smart ones quietly take the money.

Regards,

Al

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If you are stupid enough to hold up a gas station, you are stupid enough to brag about it. The criminals I've known, personally, were plenty stupid enough to be criminals.

But, on the flip side, collusion is more of a "white collar" crime. The only similarity I can imagine would be the MIT blackjack teams as portrayed in "Bringing down the house". Those guys were smart enough to keep their mouths shut, or at least according to the feeling I get from the book. Who is a math geek gonna tell anyway? His mom? lmao