I have been involved in in-depth discussions on this subject and about this site specifically which have dated back more than three years. There is so much I could say on this topic, that's it's difficult to put concisely and down on paper. These are meerly some ramblings, and not my organized thoughts. But they basically sum up my feelilngs about Paradise Poker and other online websites.
1. I have played at six online websites, to date. I believe the security measures on most of them are terribly inadequate. Paradise Poker's lack of security is very troubling, especially when you consider their drop. They are making millions in profits and still are not policing the games to the extent they should. It's one thing for a small start-up online poker room to lack the manpower and software detection system to identify cheaters. It's quite another when the biggest site of them all doesn't seem to take the issue seriously.
2. When I speak of "security," I am talking about two primary (EXTERNAL) threats: 1. Collusion, and 2. Hackers. Collusion CERTAINLY exists (and very little is done about it). I also know hackers have penetrated firealls and can see oppponent's cards (at times). If hackers can crack the NSA's computer, you can be damn sure they can hammer a little contraption like Paradise Poker. The INTERNAL security threat comes from someone working on the inside, which could even be without Paradise Poker's knowledge. This means the entire system is corrupt from the inside, which is a much more serious charge.
3. I believe the site is "hotwired" to distribute higher than average hand values and (for lack of a better phrase) "more bad beats" to the players. By hotwiring the supposedly "random" distrubution of cards, the site generates greater player interest (Hey look Ma! I got four-of-a-kind again!). It also creates a inherent sense of chaos that will make playing online a crapshoot. This is to the site's benefit. What Paradise (or any site) wants is to keep EVERY player they have. By dealing higher hand values and creating more bad beats, this harms the stronger players and helps the weaker players. This prevents the bad players from busting so early and increases the drop.
4. I can give you a list of at least a dozen players, and I am talking top poker pros, who have been destroyed on Paradise Poker. One of these players is a regular $75-150 player who has beaten the game for 30 years. But he can't beat Paradise. It's not an online problem either. He went to two other online sites and is now a prop player for them and DOES manage to beat the games. He's also destroyed the tournaments over at Poker Stars. He's making about $25 an hour between the three sites he plays at. But he could never beat Paradise. Hmmm. Interesting. He's not alone.
5. Players that I have talked to -- and this includes a large number of players who I KNOW are winning players -- complain about an initial rush of cards and good fortune when they first join the site, then it evaporates once you do your first cash out. This is called the old "bait and switch" trick. I believe the software (at least at one time -- when the site was new) was hotwired to let many of the new players win, then once they are hooked, the get ram-rodded up the ass with a series of beats that makes your head spin. Actually, the beats you see are just the NEWER players now get their manufactured "card rush." When I started playing at Paradise three years ago, I ran up my account $3,000 in the first two weeks, then cashed out. Right then and there, I took the most horrendous series of beats and bad luck I have ever had in 20 years of playing. It was scary that this happened to so many other people, as well.
6. I was going to do an investigation of Paradise with two computer programmers. Since I lack the technical expertise personally, I was going to author the report. Two programmers were going to accompany me down to the Carribean and see if the system was on the square. One of these programmers practically invented the early designs of C++. The other programmer designs games for a living. These two associates would easily have been able to identify tampering. So, here's what happened. Initially, I voiced my concerns on RGP and was joined by Ed Hill (a top Las Vegas pro). Paradise offered to bring us both down at their expense to show us the site was on the square. I received invitations to get a tour of the facility. When I recommened they bring down two programmers instead, I never heard back from them. I suspect they though they could pull the wool over my eyes (and they would be right) but when they discovered they might have to deal with technical people who could identify problems with the system, they backed out. All this had nothing to do with non-disclosure. My associates, both in the North Carolina triangle area, were perfectly willing to sign a NDA.
7. It bothers me that this site has NO ONE who is publicly representing or "fronting" the operation. The owner of Paradie Poker is mysteriously unknown. I belive it's important for ALL COMPANIES to have the ownership known publically -- especially a business associated with gambling whihc has an obligation to instill consumer confidence. Unlike the other online poker sites which DO have people in place who are fronting the operation (and who at least would be held accountable) Praadise Poker has NO ONE. Anyone know the CEO at Paradise? No. Anyone know anyone who works there? No. For the biggest poker site to be operating so mysteriously is VERY troubling to me. All of the customer support people use aliases and first names only. This is in contrast to site like Poker Stars who have hired trustworthy people that I know who use their real names and who can be held responsible. Huge red flag. Trouble Trouble.
8. I suspect that Paradise Poker uses bots. Bots are mechanized players, who actually work for the site (they are not real flesh and blood). By having a bot or two in several of the games and hotwiring the distribution of cards, profits at the site could potentially be double over the drop. Again, I can't prove this -- it's just a suspicion. Certainly absolutely with no legal oversight, an online poker operation could deploy bots. Of course, we know that no business -- with absolutely no legal restrictions -- would engage in dishonesty just to make a few more million each yeat, now would they? Naaaaah.
9. I do know some people win at the site. This is not surprising. This is because there are thousands of people playing at the site every day. Not all of them will lose. Despite the problems, there will be a few who will avoid blowing themselves up in the minefield. However, they are not earning nearly as much as they potenitally could if the site was honest. A $30-60 player who plays full time here in Las Vegas can make in the $70K-80 range. In online poker, the pro should make even MORE than that, because there are nearly two times as many hands played per hour. Yet, I am willing to bet there are NO ONLINE PROS making anywhere close to this amount. I believe the topside for an online poker player is probably in the $20-30K range -- based on 40 hours per week. I've not heard of anyone making more than this amount (except for the few who have cashed big in online tournaments -- such as my freinds who together with his tourney wins is making about $25/hour). Sure, the hackers and colluders might make more money than this, but an honest player will have a tough time beating the Paradise game. I've seen too many very talented people go down in flames.
I could write more, but I'm tired. This site smells. Like I said -- stay away.
-- Nolan Dalla
:yup :hail
