Casino & Gambling Information brought to you by casino bonuses and top online ecasinos

Online Poker Played by Bots?


I've just read one of the most interesting stories I've read for a while. Concern is growing in online chat rooms and news groups devoted to poker that sophisticated card-playing robots - known as "bots" in the nomenclature of the Web - are being used on commercial gambling sites to fleece newcomers, the strategy-impaired and maybe even above-average players.

A bot capable of playing against the best humans definitely already exists. The University of Alberta's Computer Poker Research Group has developed an artificially intelligent automaton known as "Vex Bot," capable of playing poker at the master level, though as yet it can only apply its gambling genius to two-player games. Vex Bot has been used by researchers to test the frontiers of artificial intelligence - and as the basis for a commercial poker tutorial program, Poki's Poker Academy -- but some fear it may become a blueprint for programmers with more sinister motives.

Given that games like Hold'em are quite simple enough (and the players bad enough), it makes sense to me that a quite simple bot could take a human player who can't work out the odds of winning each hand correctly, to the cleaners.

As online gambling increases will we see more of this? Will people start downloading programs to run on their desktops to tell them what to do with each hand? I think it will kind of take the fun out of playing online if it becomes a test of 'my bot against your bot' rather than 'skill'.

Skeptics - and there are many - argue the complexities of the game and the changing strategies ensure that creation of a program that can "read" opponents' cards using screen scanning techniques and respond in real time is years away at best.

The author runs a blog following developments in the internet and mobile internet sectors. With over 10 years experience in strategy consulting and business development, and has seen and lived through the highs, and the lows of the industry.

Based in London, the author can be contacted on admin@connectedinternet.co.uk and his blog can be found at http://www.connectedinternet.co.uk


MORE RESOURCES:

Boston Globe

Mass. House, Senate racing to finish casino bill
BusinessWeek
Massachusetts House and Senate negotiators were scrambling Thursday to craft the final broad outlines of a casino gambling bill in time for ...
Massachusetts Lawmakers Debate Casino LawsMyFOXMaine.com
Gov. Patrick for compromise on casino billWHDH-TV
Patrick yields ground on casino bill, says one slot parlor OKBoston Globe
Wall Street Journal -Boston Herald -Taunton Daily Gazette
all 277 news articles »


Boston Herald (blog)

Countdown on for casino gambling bill in Mass.
NECN
(NECN: John Moroney: Boston, Mass) - The countdown is on for a casino gambling bill in Massachusetts. Just one week left for legislators to hammer out their ...
Mass. gov says compromise possible on gamblingBusinessWeek
Mass. lawmakers gear up for busy end of sessionBoston Herald
Patrick returns from war zone, defends visitBoston Globe
Bostonist -WHDH-TV
all 127 news articles »


Sparks speaks to Democrats
Gadsden Times
By Andy Powell Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ron Sparks said his campaign is more than a call for a lottery and casino gambling — other top priorities ...
Photo: Associated Press photoAnniston Star

all 5 news articles »


More Women Becoming Addicted To Gambling
KDKA
With the spread of casino gambling, studies show that more and more women are becoming gambling addicts. AP With the spread of casino gambling, studies show ...



Las Vegas Sands Rethinks Macau VIP Strategy After Dismissing Jacobs
Wall Street Journal
... with these intermediaries, long a powerful force for driving gambling revenue in Macau, the only place in China where casino gambling is legal. ...

and more »


Panel named to craft final Mass. casino bill
BusinessWeek
Five members of the House and Senate committee named Tuesday back casino gambling. One member, Republican Richard Ross of Wrentham, voted against the bill ...
MA casino bill marches on95.5 WBRU News
Dempsey, other lawmakers work on casino bill behind closed doorsEagle Tribune
Clock ticks on slotsAttleboro Sun Chronicle
Martha's Vineyard Times -Fenway News Online (blog) -Behavioral Health Central (blog)
all 487 news articles »


NY gets $5.5 million for energy-related research projects; Nassau pursues ...
Examiner.com
Instead, Nassau and Suffolk are courting the Shinnecock Indian tribe, which recently earned federal standing after a 30-year battle, to open casino gambling ...

and more »


Online Sports Betting Case Ends In Guilty Plea In Kansas City
Casino Gambling Web
Federal authorities may have a grey area when it comes to online casino gambling, but no such area exists when dealing with online sports betting. ...

and more »


Healthcare, casino gambling petitions come up short
The Detroit News
Groups aiming to expand casino gambling in Michigan also didn't gather enough voter signatures to make the ballot. That means there will be only two ...
Gambling Proposals Fail To Reach Ballot In MichiganCasino Gambling Web
Gambling, health care miss deadlineFOX Toledo Online
Health care and casino petitions fail to collect enough signatures to appear ...Crain's Detroit Business

all 118 news articles »


Casino gambling: What other states are doing, and not doing
The Patriot Ledger
IOWA - No: Bids to expand casino gambling to four locations, legalize sports betting at racinos and casinos, and to end greyhound racing all failed. ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006