Absolute Poker is absolutely rigged. (New evidence, near certain proof its rigged).

[BBKPoker]

There was speculation and a previous thread, and then this monster happened today over on 2+2 (very large poker discussion forum):

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...0#Post12523924

Cliff notes and timeline (all credit goes to initial 2+2 poster:

1.) Second place player (Marco) in a tournament suspects some strange and possibly colluding/cheating plays from the account that wins(Potripper), so he emails Absolute Poker and asks for the hand history of the entire tournament, gets sent an xls file that looks like utter gibberish.

2.) A couple of days later the first Absolute Poker thread that happened here and everywhere else accusing them of being rigged happens.

3.) Two weeks pass.

4.) Player shares his xls file thinking it can help shed some light even though he doesn't understand what he i slooking at.

5.) Prominent 2+2 poster who Marco shares the xls file with realizes that the file that was inadvertently sent is a complete hand history of the tournament showing every table and every hole card of every player for every hand.

Evidence? Sure.

Hand Histories are here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...page=0&fpart=1

Video is here: (it's free, but you have to register. Well worth doing so to see the ridiculous plays Potripper makes)
http://www.pokerxfactor.com/servlet/...late=login.htm

6.) Other 2+2 mods/long-time posters discover that the xls file also contains IP addresses and user details including email addresses of people observing the table.

7.) They discover one user, user #363 observes PotRipper's tables the entire tournament only missing two hands at the beginning where user #363 is NOT seated at the table by folding them. Potripper plays literally 100% of the pots preflop for 20 minutes not folding a single other hand until he open-folds when a player has KK behind him (clearly he understands that player will raise and he won't see the pot with his junk this time for the raised amount).

8.) The IP address for user #363 is tracked (obviously) as this player was apparently following around Potripper the suspected cheater the entire time.

9.) The track shows that user #363 uses email on an Absolute Poker server hosted by Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Proof of that is here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...umber=12520697

10.) Further evidence shows that the IP matches an Absolute Poker spammer.

11.) A later poster in the 2+2 threads posts this (slightly edited for clarity):

"If you guys remember, there were two people watching Potripper's table. One is #363; the other is assumed to be Potripper. That second account's email address is scott@rivieraltd.com.

I have talked to a lot of people around the poker world about the IP address used by #363 and the rivieraltd.com email. The IP address cross-references to someone named Scott Tom, who also appears to be an owner at AP. It should also be noted that the first part of the rivieraltd.com email is "scott@". Whoever that second person is, though, their email address is scott@rivieraltd.com, and their IP (which is, as I said, the same as User #363) is identical to a certain Scott Tom's home cable modem. Pokermachine, our relentless AP spammer in the zoo, was a Tom posting from an IP in CR related to AP. The Watchdog posted from the same ip. Login Name for that user is scotttom.

END OF FACTS START OF OPINION:

Super-short version:

Absolute Poker in my mind is 100% absolute and conclusively proven to be rigged (I only thought 85% or so the first time this went public), and it looks like that money is coming direct from an owner or upper management there.

Casinomeister, it would be great to see if we can check that IP to see what accounts if any have logged onto Casinomeister with it:

IP is 66.212.244.147.

Get your money off of Absolute immediately.

[GaryWatson]

There was speculation and a previous thread, and then this monster happened today over on 2+2 (very large poker discussion forum):

http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...0#Post12523924

Cliff notes and timeline (all credit goes to initial 2+2 poster:

1.) Second place player (Marco) in a tournament suspects some strange and possibly colluding/cheating plays from the account that wins(Potripper), so he emails Absolute Poker and asks for the hand history of the entire tournament, gets sent an xls file that looks like utter gibberish.

2.) A couple of days later the first Absolute Poker thread that happened here and everywhere else accusing them of being rigged happens.

3.) Two weeks pass.

4.) Player shares his xls file thinking it can help shed some light even though he doesn't understand what he i slooking at.

5.) Prominent 2+2 poster who Marco shares the xls file with realizes that the file that was inadvertently sent is a complete hand history of the tournament showing every table and every hole card of every player for every hand.

Evidence? Sure.

Hand Histories are here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...page=0&fpart=1

Video is here: (it's free, but you have to register. Well worth doing so to see the ridiculous plays Potripper makes)
http://www.pokerxfactor.com/servlet/...late=login.htm

6.) Other 2+2 mods/long-time posters discover that the xls file also contains IP addresses and user details including email addresses of people observing the table.

7.) They discover one user, user #363 observes PotRipper's tables the entire tournament only missing two hands at the beginning where user #363 is NOT seated at the table by folding them. Potripper plays literally 100% of the pots preflop for 20 minutes not folding a single other hand until he open-folds when a player has KK behind him (clearly he understands that player will raise and he won't see the pot with his junk this time for the raised amount).

8.) The IP address for user #363 is tracked (obviously) as this player was apparently following around Potripper the suspected cheater the entire time.

9.) The track shows that user #363 uses email on an Absolute Poker server hosted by Kahnawake Gaming Commission.

Proof of that is here:
http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/sh...umber=12520697

10.) Further evidence shows that the IP matches an Absolute Poker spammer.

11.) A later poster in the 2+2 threads posts this (slightly edited for clarity):

"If you guys remember, there were two people watching Potripper's table. One is #363; the other is assumed to be Potripper. That second account's email address is scott@rivieraltd.com.

I have talked to a lot of people around the poker world about the IP address used by #363 and the rivieraltd.com email. The IP address cross-references to someone named Scott Tom, who also appears to be an owner at AP. It should also be noted that the first part of the rivieraltd.com email is "scott@". Whoever that second person is, though, their email address is scott@rivieraltd.com, and their IP (which is, as I said, the same as User #363) is identical to a certain Scott Tom's home cable modem. Pokermachine, our relentless AP spammer in the zoo, was a Tom posting from an IP in CR related to AP. The Watchdog posted from the same ip. Login Name for that user is scotttom.

END OF FACTS START OF OPINION:

Super-short version:

Absolute Poker in my mind is 100% absolute and conclusively proven to be rigged (I only thought 85% or so the first time this went public), and it looks like that money is coming direct from an owner or upper management there.

Casinomeister, it would be great to see if we can check that IP to see what accounts if any have logged onto Casinomeister with it:

IP is 66.212.244.147.

Get your money off of Absolute immediately.

Typical Hearts fan. You are way behind the times

[BBKPoker]

Considering the new info was posted in the last day or two and doesn't appear on Casinomeister, I don't think I'm that far behind

[GaryWatson]

Considering the new info was posted in the last day or two and doesn't appear on Casinomeister, I don't think I'm that far behind

Not denying the Hearts allegation Well we are all on the same team tomorrow, erm today. Best team weave had since I can remember. Players nothing outstanding but team effort A+

[jetset]

BBK, I want to thank you for an exceptionally interesting and informative email which helps to clarify what has been going on as this astonishing story has unfolded here over the past week or more.

This is very useful in bringing peripheral observers up to speed on what is clearly a major and developing scandal.

This sort of sleuthing and interpretive capability shows how well-armed an informed and skilled player community can be.....and that benefits us all.

[Casinomeister]

BBK, I want to thank you for an exceptionally interesting and informative email which helps to clarify what has been going on as this astonishing story has unfolded here over the past week or more.

This is very useful in bringing peripheral observers up to speed on what is clearly a major and developing scandal.

This sort of sleuthing and interpretive capability shows how well-armed an informed and skilled player community can be.....and that benefits us all.

Ditto on that.

IP 66.212.244.147 is not associated with any member of this forum. Absolute Poker never spammed here

[trinox]

Cliff notes and timeline (all credit goes to initial 2+2 poster:

1.) Second place player (Marco) in a tournament suspects some strange and possibly colluding/cheating plays from the account that wins(Potripper)

This infamous tournament win by POTRIPPER is now available on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FczbS7FiWSM

The video is split into four parts, with the next part posted as a response to the preceding one.

[jetset]

I think Absolute are starting to awaken to how serious this crisis really is - the following is a new general press statement issued by the company:

QUOTE:

Absolute Poker Management wishes to inform the poker community of the following information in response to the most recent claims posted over the past 48 hours on the 2+2 and Pocket Fives forums wherein again it is alleged that some person or persons breached Absolute Poker’s redundant and varying levels of game client security. As was stated in Absolute Poker’s Official Response released on Friday October 12, 2007, Absolute Poker conducted an extensive investigation in response to the claims it was made aware of and received. The results of that investigation indicated that to the best of Absolute Poker’s knowledge, information and belief there was no security breach. Specifically, Absolute Poker’s internal investigation determined that it is impossible for any person, device, program, script or other means to see hole cards.

Based on the most recent claims that Absolute Poker has been made aware of and at the request of some of our players and business partners, Absolute Poker has agreed to retain a widely acclaimed independent third party auditor, Gaming Associates, to conduct an independent audit of Absolute Poker’s security systems. Specifically, Absolute Poker has requested that Gaming Associates conduct a thorough and extensive review of Absolute Poker’s practices and security systems to determine whether it is possible for any person, device, program, script or other means to see hole cards thereby gaining an unfair advantage. (http://www.gamingassociates.com)

Absolute Poker has agreed to fully cooperate with Gaming Associates and its investigative team and to provide the above with unfettered access to all systems, protocols and databases at Absolute Poker worldwide. Absolute Poker has also agreed to allow Gaming Associate’s final report to be made available to Pocket Fives and Bluff Media for their review.

With respect to the claims that Scott Tom, a former Member of Team Absolute Poker, is in anyway involved in wrong-doing, Absolute Poker has requested a formal investigation into that matter as well. Mr. Tom has not been involved with Absolute Poker for over a year and to the best of our knowledge, information and belief has not had access to any of Absolute Poker’s systems, databases or information.

Absolute Poker reserves the right to pursue any and all remedies whether in law or equitable which may procure to it as a result of any unlawful and injurious actions taken by any individuals who may have falsified any information, documents, files, or have by other means attempted to disparage and/or harm Absolute Poker, its Players, its current or former management, employees, business partners or affiliates.

Absolute Poker shall bear all expenses related to such investigation and is eager to learn about Gaming Associate’s findings. Absolute Poker highly values and intends to protect its players, shareholders, business partners, and affiliates.

Absolute Poker Management UNQUOTE

[Casinomeister]

That's good news. It looks like they've finally woken up to smell the coffee. Bringing in a qualified third party is what they needed to do a few weeks ago.

It's beyond me why they weren't all over this when the news of this first broke out. From the beginning, it's been handled very sloppily. It's like they don't know the meaning of good public relations.

[BBKPoker]

I was going to do an analysis of the hands played, but someone either here or on 2+2 posted this link to his hand histories with commentary, and it is pretty astounding the plays he made only make sense if he is aware of other player's cards.

http://www.pocketfives.com/EDA6857F-...EE43B85C2.aspx

The commentary is a little lacking in detail due to the high volume of hand histories, but is pretty accurate if simple.