Ghosting in Online Poker: What It Is and How to Protect Yourself

Understanding Ghosting in Online Poker

Ghosting is a deceptive practice that has emerged as a major concern in the world of online poker. At its core, ghosting happens when a highly skilled player secretly takes over play for a less experienced player during a game or tournament, or when an accomplished player provides real-time strategic advice. This undermines the fairness of online poker by granting certain players an undeserved edge.

This phenomenon has attracted attention after prominent players such as Bryn Kenney, Ali Imsirovic, and Jake Schindler were accused of such tactics. Whether in classic online poker, live dealer tables, or video poker settings, ghosting violates the spirit of fair play and is strictly forbidden by major poker platforms.

How Ghosting Works: Methods and Tactics

Ghosting can manifest in several ways, from informal advice to systematic cheating. Here’s how it typically occurs:

– A skilled player physically takes control of another player’s online account at critical tournament stages, particularly when the stakes are high or a final table is reached.
– In less overt cases, an expert might guide a less seasoned friend or teammate through chat or voice communications, telling them exactly how to act in real time.
– Some schemes involve “multi-accounting,” where the same individual plays on multiple accounts, often with the cooperation of less skilled players.

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Notably, such actions are hardest to detect during high-stakes tournament play, where organized groups may send weaker players through early rounds, only to have an expert “ghost” take over as more money comes into play.

Why Ghosting Jeopardizes Fair Play

The main attraction of poker is skillful competition—each participant faces others on equal terms. Ghosting disrupts this balance, enabling teams or individuals to unfairly outperform unsuspecting opponents. This isn’t simply an ethical misstep; it’s considered cheating by all top online poker sites.

Poker operators rely on player rankings to ensure fair matchmaking. When a lower-ranked account is suddenly operated like a pro, it distorts the ranking system and diminishes everyone’s trust in the game. That’s why ghosting is universally banned in competitive poker environments.

‘Stables’ and ‘Grindhouses’: Organized Online Poker Ghosting

Recent years have seen the emergence of organized poker “stables”—teams where experienced pros mentor, back, or even play for less-accomplished members. These arrangements can turn into systematic ghosting networks:

– Weaker or mid-level players start early tournament rounds.
– Once they reach significant stages or accumulate large chip stacks, top players step in, sometimes taking over directly or feeding detailed instructions.
– Some “grindhouses” host scores of aspiring players, with results funneled toward a few skilled “closers,” allegedly amassing millions through coordinated cheating.

Not only does this provide an unfair advantage, but it also undermines the competitive integrity of major online events. Such practices came under scrutiny after big-name pros were linked to these operations.

Types of Ghosting in Online Poker

Ghosting doesn’t always look the same. The following are common forms of prohibited ghosting:

– Swapping players mid-game, with an expert taking control in secret.
– Allowing someone else to enter your account and play for you.
– Receiving real-time advice from a third party while in a hand.
– Manipulating multiple accounts from the same location, misleading opponents about their competition.

All major poker platforms explicitly ban these activities, regardless of whether the ghosting is direct (playing the account) or indirect (offering advice).

Risks and Consequences of Ghosting

A major challenge for online poker rooms is that ghosting is extremely difficult to spot, especially since skilled players can easily change up their style. Even when suspicious behavior is flagged, conclusive proof is rare. Online operators, however, maintain the right to suspend or ban accounts on suspicion alone.

Potential repercussions of suspected ghosting include:

– Permanent or temporary account bans.
– Forfeiture of winnings.
– Loss of reputation within the poker community.
– In extreme cases, information sharing among platforms, which can result in being blacklisted on multiple sites.

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Why You Should Never Engage in Ghosting

While it might be tempting for some beginners to seek help or for top players to pursue easy tournament cash, ghosting harms both the online poker ecosystem and fellow players. Reasons to avoid such conduct include:

– It is strictly against the rules and can result in long-term bans.
– It undermines your own growth as a player—by not facing decisions yourself, you lose crucial learning moments, especially concepts like ICM (Independent Chip Model).
– Trust in online poker platforms erodes, impacting the whole community.
– Repeated offenders can become widely blacklisted, making it nearly impossible to play anywhere.

How to Spot and Report Ghosting: Keeping Online Poker Fair

Though online platforms are rolling out AI solutions to spot unusual shifts in playing style, there are steps individual players can take:

– Notice a player whose style changes significantly between hands or stages of a tournament.
– Observe if a relatively unknown player suddenly outperforms all competition or repeatedly wins events.
– If you have suspicions, collect details such as the player’s username, tournament name, and date, then contact the poker site’s support team via live chat or email.

Poker platforms rely on player reports to help enforce fairness, so responsible reporting plays a vital role in keeping games legitimate.

How to Steer Clear of Online Poker Ghosting

The best approach for any player is to avoid participating in or facilitating ghosting in all its forms. Here’s how to protect yourself and the integrity of your games:

– Play fairly—never allow another person to access your account or give you advice during live play.
– Avoid getting involved in stables that encourage unfair practices.
– Focus on developing your own skills instead of relying on outside help.
– If you’re ever approached to participate in ghosting, decline and, if appropriate, report the incident.

By championing honest gameplay and reporting suspicious activity, you’re helping ensure a fair and enjoyable environment for all participants in the online poker world.