Nevada’s Ability To Monitor HUD Use Under Scrutiny

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Monday, December 14th, 2015 | Written by Charles Washington

As online poker players became increasingly more sophisticated, the use of Heads Up Displays (HUDs) soon became an essential tool in the professional grinder’s arsenal, and subsequently became a permanent feature of the online game. In fact, their use became so prevalent that many recreational players were scared off the game, leading major iPoker operators to either severely limit their use, or ban them all together.

After passing online poker legislation, the state of Nevada also placed a ban on their use, with anyone contravening the category B felony facing a potential $10,000 fine, or up to six years in prison. That was more than two years ago, and now in a first for the state, the Nevada Gaming Commission is presently investigating online player Tommy Chen for using a HUD whilst playing on Nevada’s only viable iPoker site, WSOP.com.

Used HUD During Live Twitch Stream

Tommy Chen was spotted using the illegal HUD by one of his viewers, Randy Dorfman, while the pro was broadcasting a live poker session on Twitch.tv. That was in November, with Dorfman subsequently alerting WSOP.com’s Bill Rini as to the rule breech, and supporting his claim with a screenshot of the incident. As Rini promptly responded:

“We’ve been in contact with the player since then. If you see him using HUDs on WSOP.com now, please let us know.”

Hud Detection Ineffective

Needless to say, Dorfman did not appear satisfied by the rather lax approach taken by WSOP.com, particularly considering that without the bizarre example of a player carelessly exposing themselves as a HUD user, it would be virtually impossible to determine if a player was using one or not. Under the circumstances, it would be more natural to expect the online operator would be able to monitor the situation themselves, and take more stringent actions in order to better enforce their fair play policies. The response of WSOP.com would also seem to suggest that while it has managed to improve its geolocation and age verification technology since regulation was introduced, detecting HUD use still continues to be largely beyond its grasp.

Wrong Signals

Understandably, Dorfman became even more frustrated after WSOP.com allowed Tommy Chen to keep on using the site, leading to an exchange of views in which Dorfman said if the site could not effectively police HUD use, then they should consider allowing everyone to use them. As an extract of their twitter exchange went:

Randy Dorfman

@billrini @Kevmath point is players r accessing 3rd party software. If u can’t police HUDS then u hv to make them LEGAL until u can detect it.”

Bill Rini

“@RandyDorfman @Kevmath The NV GCB made them illegal. We can’t just make them legal because 1 guy was caught using one… Randy, we decided to warn. Again, you’re free to disagree.”

Pros Gain Even Greater Advantage

As well as the UIGEA (2006) and Black-Friday (2011), the prevalence of sharks in the online poker ecosystem is widely seen as a major reason for recreational players staying away from online poker. Furthermore, not only do these pros enjoy a skill advantage over their amateur counterparts, but by using HUDs the skill gap widens even further, resulting in an unpleasant playing experience for amateurs. Addressing this pressing issue, Global Poker Index CEO Alexandre Dreyfus recently commented:

“The image of a grinder using data analysis to make his decisions is not the experience we want to sell. We want to sell entertainment, and a recreational experience.. HUDs don’t provide that.”

Regardless, HUD use continues to be viewed as a predominant facet of the game as far as the pros are concerned. Tommy Tcblade’ Chen, for instance, most probably relied upon their use to help amass the $1,685,435 he has won over the years taking part in online tournaments. For recreational players, however, playing against competitors using these software programs only hastens the speed in which they invariably lose their money, thus resulting in a less favorable perception of the game, and scaring them away from the virtual tables.

Change of Heart?

Soon after their discussion, WSOP.com seems to have had a change of heart, and Chen’s online poker account has now been dormant since November 22nd. While the site may eventually have felt the need to make a stronger response in order to satisfy its regular players, it may also have felt legally obliged to suspend Chen and report the incident to the Nevada Gaming Commission. After all, Nevada’s gambling law in relation to HUD use is covered under statute NRS 465.075, a law originally devised to protect land-based casinos from unscrupulous gamblers looking to gain an edge over the house by the unauthorized use of mechanical devices. As the particular statue states, “it is unlawful for any person at a licensed gaming establishment to use, or possess with the intent to use, any device to assist:

– In projecting the outcome of the game;
– In keeping track of the cards played;
-In analyzing the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to the game or;
– In analyzing the strategy for playing or betting to be used in the game, except as permitted by the commission.”