Absolute Poker Scandal: An Inside Job

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Stop flaming each other. At least ikestoys is posting stuff that's on point with what we're talking about.

Also, just fyi, everyone who I've talked to who is familiar with AP suggests that there is very little poker knowledge or collusion detection type of work going on in their security dept. From what I understand, it is basically set up to prevent credit card fraud. I would not be surprised if a lot of them had no idea this what going on and were still unable to detect it.

That being said, I know that people within AP knew about it. I just don't know who.

[Kwantum]

The statement by Absolute is a step in the right direction, but it seems very short-sighted to believe it could just be a breach in the software by an outside party.

Having worked in network security for over 8 years, I can say for fact that a lot of these types of incidents these fly under the radar of company management, often even IT or internal security personnel.

All it takes it a savvy technical guy at Absolute with the right access (whether legitimate or not) and the help of an outsider (*cough* POTRIPPER) to pull this off.

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Specifically, Absolute Poker’s internal investigation determined that it is impossible for any person, device, program, script or other means to see hole cards.

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This statement sure seems troubling to me. If it's impossible for any person to see hole cards, how in bloody hell can they be handling more common collusion/cheating investigations let alone something as blatant as the "super accounts"?

The other alarming part as mentioned by others, is there is a definite bias to have your current auditor do the investigation of this incident and call it independent. In my experience, a lot of the time this is simply the company hiring someone they know will help them "pass with flying colors" and make investors feel secure. Classic cover your own ass material.

It would be nice to see them hire an auditor with no connections to the gaming committee or online gaming whatsoever. There are plenty of capable security consulting companies out there.

One issue that is really hard to get around now is the fact that this incident is generating publicity - if the job was done inside (and it is HIGHLY likely to be the case in this scenario) then evidence has already been wiped or might be overlooked by Absolute since the scope of the audit may not even cover their own personnel....

[MyTurn2Raise]

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Most interesting about their statement, however, is their claim that Scott Tom hasn't worked for them in "over a year". Then why was he spamming crap about AP as recently as June, 2007?

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This is important; if we can catch them making clearly false or incongruous statements, that only helps us.

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looks like AP might be setting up a fall guy





(Just an observation and I wanted to make one post in this fantastic long thread)

[ikestoys]

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Stop flaming each other. At least ikestoys is posting stuff that's on point with what we're talking about.

Also, just fyi, everyone who I've talked to who is familiar with AP suggests that there is very little poker knowledge or collusion detection type of work going on in their security dept. From what I understand, it is basically set up to prevent credit card fraud. I would not be surprised if a lot of them had no idea this what going on and were still unable to detect it.

That being said, I know that people within AP knew about it. I just don't know who.

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exactly, we don't have evidence (yet) of massive involvement of AP as a company. We need to keep on the pressure that this thread has created both on AP and now on the auditing firm.

[apefish]

Cannonball.

lol at Adanthar over at casinomeister. awesome.

When I left the house yesterday morning I didn't think it could get much better. Obviously just another thing to be wrong about.

[AllinDan]

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what would the line be on Gaming Associates clearing AP of wrongdoing? I'd offer at least 4:1 against

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i'd offer 2098340248029834029840328402984:1, at least

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booked for $1

[Pokeraddict]

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ikestoys, Scott Tom has lied. And he, at least, used to be a big wig in the co. If I'm not mistaken he has an account on casinomeister right now for damage control saying a "superuser" account is absurd. He denied being Scott Tom, "pokermachine" here at 2+2. Adanthar exposed that they have identical IPs.

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I VERY seriously doubt The Watchdog is Pokermachine.

[Pokeraddict]

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Stop flaming each other. At least ikestoys is posting stuff that's on point with what we're talking about.

Also, just fyi, everyone who I've talked to who is familiar with AP suggests that there is very little poker knowledge or collusion detection type of work going on in their security dept. From what I understand, it is basically set up to prevent credit card fraud. I would not be surprised if a lot of them had no idea this what going on and were still unable to detect it.

That being said, I know that people within AP knew about it. I just don't know who.

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I completely agree with this. From my experience with them in their early days they were very concerned with catching duplicate accounts and processor fraud and I doubt their software had/has much in the way of collusion detection. Don't the hh's show this? The master hh doesn't even show player IP's. How would they know if 5 people on the same IP played the same MTT? I would bet only if it was brought to their attention as it doesn't show in the master hh.

[wax head]

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In other words, we have determined with reasonable certainty that it is impossible for any player or employee to see hole cards as was alleged.

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We base this finding on a thorough security check on a technological level, coupled with a thorough investigation of hand histories including those that did not go to a showdown.

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Absolute Poker’s internal investigation determined that it is impossible for any person, device, program, script or other means to see hole cards.

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There is a lie in here somewhere!

[imabigdeal]

to all of you who are pinning this on incompetence, or at least saying there's a chance, do you actually think that if they somehow realized what was going on they'd admit it, and risk their company going under?