Result of investigation linked to the potential abuse of player block functionality
October 1st, 2008To read more about this case, click here.
1. It has been concluded that certain players active inside the Ongame Network have unlawfully been prohibited from sitting in with two players affiliated with Ongame Network partner Bestpoker. The reason this scenario came to be is that the idea of harassing a player by intentionally occupying seats at that player’s private heads-up tables - despite the table owner declaring a disinterest in playing against the occupying player - was not regulated properly in our policies. The idea has merit, but policies should have been reviewed and possibly revised before granting such a request from Bestpoker.
2. Related policies has now been reviewed and it has been decided to not permit similar restrictions from being applied in the future. Players who are unwilling to play a certain other player heads-up may simply have to live with not being able to set up his or hers own heads-up table without password protecting it.
3. A separate discussion is ongoing with our partners as to how we should handle potential abuse of private table functionality. As of now, however, no special restrictions regarding the use of private tables have been imposed.
4. The two players affiliated with Bestpoker have been permanently blocked for breaching the terms & conditions of Bestpoker. However the breach is not one that has, as we interpret it, had an impact on other players. Should anyone disagree with that conclusion then we suggest you bring the claim and the supporting evidence to our (Ombudsman) attention.
Lastly we’d just like to point out that this situation has been continuously spurred on by what appears to be a feud between two different formations of players. Completely unfounded allegations have been thrown around like rice on a wedding day and being in the middle as we Ombudsmen have has been quite… interesting. There is, as always, two sides to a story…
We have confidence in the cross network security team’s ability to make a fair ruling and that the strengthened policies will prevent further confusion as to how similar cases should be handled in the future.
Comments to this post
