"How do I cheat on PartyPoker": Law BBS Question

eobmtns · #1 03-25-2005, 03:49 AM

I am a lawyer who participates in the BBS lawguru.com, and I thought I would share the following question with you. I am not keeping the poster's confidence as I normally would, since, IMHO, he is asking how to break the law (or at least how to defraud other players).

>>>>>>>>> original message follows <<<<<<<<<<<<&l t;<
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Question: http://www.lawguru.com/cgi/bbs/mesg.cgi?i=321459069
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Category: Computer & Technology Law
Location: CA
Subject: Online Gaming

I am capable of writing a program that posses the ability to play online poker (i.e. Party Poker) for me, commonly known as a ''pokerbot.'' As a profitable player, having this program play for me all of the time would enable me to easily make in excess of 5 million United States dollars this being at full capacity with multiple bots running at one time). I was wondering, how would I declare the money for my pokerbot without it being illegal, because if it truly is, then I don't want to get involved in it? I am not sure if playing online poker in California is illegal or not, but because of the large amounts of money the bot would potentially bring in, I believe that this would draw attention to myself.

Daliman · #2 03-25-2005, 04:31 AM

#1 It wouldn;t be fraud.
#2 PLEASE write this program!

Ryan527h · #3 03-25-2005, 04:57 AM

The guy wouldn't make millions of dollars, people would figure out his betting patterns. No bots are allowed on PartyPoker, and it's not good for a lawyer to be giving out advice over the internet, cause you can be screwed and be sued.

reubenf · #4 03-25-2005, 05:10 AM

[ QUOTE ]
it's not good for a lawyer to be giving out advice over the internet, cause you can be screwed and be sued.

[/ QUOTE ]

^---- is this sound legal advice?

TomBrooks · #5 03-25-2005, 05:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]
how would I declare the money for my pokerbot without it being illegal, because if it truly is, then I don't want to get involved in it?

[/ QUOTE ]
Your client expressly writes that he doesn't want to do it if it's illegal and seeks your counsel. You publish his correspondance on the internet, claim it is not entitled to confidentiality because it is about something illegal, and then you ask us if it is illegal. Do you charge by the hour for this service, or is it available for a flat fee?

Belok · #6 03-25-2005, 05:36 AM

Its not illegal on all sites, and he didnt specifically say that it would only work on partypoker.

He also didnt say that he has even started writing the program, he was just asking if it was legal or not.

What kind of crappy lawyer are you?

Siegmund · #7 03-25-2005, 06:19 AM

"Illegal" and "against the terms of service" are two different things.

Running a program like that in a place where internet gambling is banned could run him into a raft of federal and state criminal charges. Running it at a site where bots aren't allowed, on the other hand..... will get you banned from the site and your account balance taken away. Boo-hoo.

I think the law BBS poster was only asking about the former for his jurisdiction - not "can I run a bot on party poker" but "can the feds bust me if they see me cash this out". (In my home state, for instance, gambling socially in private games is legal but 'professional gambling' is a misdemeanor.)

radek2166 · #8 03-25-2005, 06:55 AM

Where I live to gambool other than a b&m casino is a felony.

TomBrooks · #9 03-25-2005, 10:51 AM

Could you elaborate on what is considered felony gambling and say where that is? I am amazed that wagering would be a felony.

cardcounter0 · #10 03-25-2005, 10:55 AM

I was once charged in Kansas with "intent to make a bet", which isn't actually wagering, just intending to wager. It was a felony.
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