Should sites like WorldWinner be allowed to "skill match" their players?

[DamianaRaven]

As I'm sure many of you know, WorldWinner is a "skill gaming" website, which is how they skirt the legalities of American gambling laws. Their games are fun and for the most part, they seem to be an honest company, but some of their policies don't seem quite respectable to me. The main problem I have with them is their "FairMatching" system, which they use to match players of comparable skill level in tournaments. Of course, they claim that this is done in the interest of fair play, but I think their motives are more self-serving. Frankly, the whole thing seems set up to keep any one person from winning more half the time. Since their money is made by taking a percentage of each prize pool, I don't see why they should be allowed to manipulate a player's chances of winning just because a certain degree of "skill" is involved. Essentially, their FairMatch system seems designed to keep people from winning. In fact, they will flat-out refuse to let people play if they win too often, by stating that there are "no available opponents at your skill level... at this time." Outdated URL (Invalid) Their advice to players in this position is to pick another game (one you're not as good at, obviously) or keep trying until they found somebody you couldn't consistently beat.

At this point, I should probably mention that my interest in this matter is purely academic - my total losses for their site amount to a whopping $20, which was literally YEARS ago. Even then, I wasn't angry about the loss, nor did I get all shocked and suspicious that winning got A LOT harder once money was at stake. That actually makes sense if you think about it - I certainly didn't waste much money on games I wasn't good at, so I never expected others would. The only thing that really bothered me was that the company was straight up manipulating a player's odds of winning while sanctimoniously claiming that it's done for the players' benefit. In any event, I just wanted to clarify that I'm not seeking any kind of "retribution" against this site, nor am I claiming that they've outright scammed me or anyone else that I'm aware of. I'd just like to understand how they're able to get away with this policy - if a casino tried to do this at their blackjack or poker tables, I imagine everyone involved would flip out directly and call shenanigans. How is it not cheating on their part when they are deliberately creating a "challenge" for people who are NOT playing for fun and giggles?

See Related Threads:

• Internet Chess for Cash?
• Pinball Skill Games
• Casino Skill Games
• Best Skill Games Sites

 

[rockycatt]

its in there terms so that good by me , of course I think poker office or such should be globally banned

 

[DamianaRaven]

its in there terms so that good by me , of course I think poker office or such should be globally banned

While I always respect and appreciate a company's honesty about their policies, I'm not one of those people who believes that any behavior is OK so long as it's written down somewhere ahead of time. As far as I can tell, WorldWinner isn't breaking any laws but it's my personal opinion that there should be a law against what they're doing.

Out of curiosity, what's your gripe about Poker Office? It seems to be just another "strategy" program to help people track games and odds, which seems mostly harmless, albeit relatively useless in my opinion. Is there more to it than I saw?

 

[rockycatt]

While I always respect and appreciate a company's honesty about their policies, I'm not one of those people who believes that any behavior is OK so long as it's written down somewhere ahead of time. As far as I can tell, WorldWinner isn't breaking any laws but it's my personal opinion that there should be a law against what they're doing.

Out of curiosity, what's your gripe about Poker Office? It seems to be just another "strategy" program to help people track games and odds, which seems mostly harmless, albeit relatively useless in my opinion. Is there more to it than I saw?

these programs I M O detract people from playing poker on a human /emotional /spirit of the game , natural response ,and turns the game into a computer aided slugfest , with player making plays from computer input rather than there intellectual and emotional reactions

it also opens the field to totally animated game at multi levels like multi tabling were players just fold off hands to play the better table that's open out of lets say probably grinding 9 to 11 tables
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
this is right off poker office forum __ #1 (permalink)

Junior Member


Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 11 Default Wheres my data ??

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi there

I have just uploaded poker office 5 to play a bit of poker, and now it shows no data for me in poker office ie has me only playing a few hands

Where is my data ?

Where is it stored ?

And how to get it back ?

Also ive played for about 8 hours now. is there any way to merge this data with my old one once fixed ?

Thanks
Johnny
[email] is offline Reply With Quote

Old 2013-04-12, 03:05 #2 (permalink)
[]
Junior Member


Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 11 Default

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

what i mean is i have about 2 years of data but it is now gone !!

please help !!

 

[DamianaRaven]

these programs I M O detract people from playing poker on a human /emotional /spirit of the game , natural response ,and turns the game into a computer aided slugfest , with player making plays from computer input rather than there intellectual and emotional reactions

it also opens the field to totally animated game at multi levels like multi tabling were players just fold off hands to play the better table that's open out of lets say probably grinding 9 to 11 tables...

I completely understand how you feel, but what you're describing is the natural evolution of gambling through a computer screen. For example, if we both logged into an online casino now to play a hand of poker, it would be difficult (if not impossible) to establish the rapport you speak of. To me, you'd just be a goofy avatar speaking in clumsy and toneless chat text.

I think we can agree that online poker is NOTHING like sitting at a table together and looking each other in the eye. I wouldn't resent the use of "mechanical strategics" because what else is there when you're online? I can't see your tells and you can't study my poker face, nor would you have to drag your focus away from my... feminine wiles (probably while quietly resenting me for using them to my advantage.) The only thing you can do about that is to get out there and play poker as it was meant to be played, as a gentlemanly battle of wits and nerve rather than a video game any kid could figure out.

Best of luck to you, Rocky... for what it's worth, I'd love to sit at a poker table with you and see how long it takes us to figure each other out. What people often forget (or worse, never get to learn) about playing poker is that it's often well WORTH losing some money to enjoy the company of a good gambler and learn what it is that makes him or her such. There's more to winning than just cash... at least that's how I look at it.

 

[SlotKing]

In answer to your question Damiana, think about this for a second...

Let's just say you just began playing Wheel of Fortune. You've sat at home and watched it for years, and thought you were pretty good, so you decided to try it and play for a few bits of cash. Along comes someone who had the same idea as you 4-5 years ago, found they could solve puzzles and click spin real fast, and have had that as a hobby.

You enter a competition costing $1.85. So does the pro. You're about having fun, your opponent is all about winning. Both you and your opponent solve the puzzle, go to the bonus round, and solve that puzzle as well.

You solved the puzzle pretty swiftly (or so you thought). However, when you go to see the score, you notice your opponent was done with both puzzles before you were even done with the first one. Topping that, your opponent has 2,300 more points than you at the finish. You wonder how something like this can happen if you both solved the same puzzle with the same letters. It's because the player has more skill and know-how about what to do, and when, during the game than you do.

You're now down $1.85, and the opponent gladly takes your money.

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat... Before you know it, your $20 (or however much you depo'ed) is gone. You think a) you were playing against a computer designed to beat you, and/or b) why would I come back to this site if all people are going to do is beat me all the time? You close your account (or simply stop going there) and find some other place to play.

The FairMatching system is designed to keep you at the site playing. It's also designed to keep you depositing should you go on a bad run one day. It's simply a matter of taking players and matching them with opponents of at or near the same skill level. I'm a semi-seasoned pro at WorldWinner, but there are plenty of people who are above my skill level who would love to take the opportunity to beat me in a heartbeat. I like the idea of being matched with someone of the same skill as me... I'd like to know just how good I am at trying to best others who think they know how to solve puzzles better than me.

I honestly think there's nothing wrong with that. Having WW match you with opponents on your skill level should be something you are grateful for... Let's face it... If you were consistently paired up with someone who could solve the puzzle faster than you every time you played, would you want to continue playing there? Not me. I've won matches that paid me as much as $400, and went on some horrible runs too. It's all about being up to the challenge of improving your skills and putting them on display.