When playing online poker, individuals understand there are rules and regulations. Players must adhere to these rules in order to be safe and remain a member of the online poker site. One rule in particular at online poker sites is the screen name. Of course a screen name must have a particular set of numbers and letters but players are also never allowed to change their name. However, this rule is quickly changing so that recreational players can be more protected from professionals.
Professional poker players can easily use a tracking software tool to find the recreational players and then have their way. Because professionals are more skilled at the game, they can quickly pick up on game play habits of regular players, using their screen name to find them and play for quick cash. At the Microgaming Poker Network, players will soon be able to change their names, helping to avoid such situations.
The Microgaming Poker Network has announced that by September 22nd, players on their network will be able to change their name once every thirty days. Or a name change can occur after playing 1,000 real money poker hands. Players will have no limit on the number of times their account can change the screen name.
The poker network of MPN is just one of many that offer the proactive measure of name change. The poker industry is currently evolving to create a better quality gaming environment for recreational players. The policy change was put in place in the hopes of reducing the effect of data-mining programs. If a player continues to change their screen name, then the databases will not be able to update with new information of the player in time for professionals to use against them.
Alex Scott, the Head of Poker at MPN, spoke with Pokerfuse, stating that the decision to make the change had a lot to do with the similar policy changes at other online poker rooms. Scott stated that the MPN already provides anonymous tables like other sites. Back in 2011, Bodog was the first online poker site to go with anonymous gaming and has continued to thrive. Just last month, Full Tilt decided to remove game-selection options and heads-up play from ring games. The hope of such changes, according to Scott, is that the attraction and retention of recreational players will be improved.
With changes to Full Tilt and now the Microgaming Poker Network, many wonder if PokerStars will be next. Players are really taking to the chance of being considered anonymous during online poker game play. Many now wonder if PokerStars will soon be on the bandwagon as well. PokerStars already made changes to their software policy earlier in the year, banning a program that was being used by players at the Head’s Up Sit n’ Go tables, which many view as a step towards automating game play.
PokerStars also plans on adding further restrictions to the in-game software and many feel that Head’s Up Displays may be eliminated fully. For now, industry insiders wait to see what will happen in regards to PokerStars and this new trend in the online poker industry.
The online poker industry is focused on protecting recreational players and thusly would be reinventing how the game is played. It is interesting to watch the shift and see how top online poker sites adapt to marketing strategies for recreational players rather than the professional. We will continue to stay tuned as the industry grows and changes, keeping you up to date on every change that occurs.