These Poker terms and conditions together with our general ‘terms and conditions’ cover the agreement between you and us in relation to your use of the Poker Room and the Network.

In these Poker terms and conditions, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise:

‘Bots’ are software programs or other devices which interact with the game software to play poker, while requiring little or no human intervention. They may use rules or artificial intelligence to make playing decisions.

‘Network’ means the Playtech iPoker Network

‘our/us/we’ means Rank Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited.

‘Players/you/your’ means yourself and any customer of the Poker Room or Network.

‘Poker Room’ the poker room and any other poker games offered by us on this website. References to the Poker Room are also references to us.

In addition to accepting these Poker terms and conditions, Players acknowledge and agree to be bound by the House Rules and Game Rules of the Poker Room as amended from time to time.

2. Players acknowledge that the Games may be played "for free" or "for real money". Subject to the powers of the Poker Room to restrict or refuse participation in the Games or to withdraw or suspend Games, participation in the Games is at the option, discretion and risk of the Player. By participating in "real-money" Games, the Player acknowledges and confirms that it is legal to do so in accordance with the laws of the Player's jurisdiction, and that he or she accepts that the Poker Room is unable to provide any warranties as to the legality or otherwise of his or her participation in "real-money" play at the Poker Room.
3. Any controversy or dispute among any Players or between one or more Players and the Poker Room shall be settled by the Poker Room whose decision shall be final and binding in all respects. The Poker Room requires that all controversies or disputes be reported by email.
4. The Poker Room reserves the right to suspend or withdraw any Game in its absolute discretion and/or to add further Games from time to time. The Poker Room also reserves the right to amend the House Rules and/or the basis of play of any Game or relevant Game Rules at any time. Any such amendment will be effective immediately on its posting on the Poker Room website. Use by you of the Poker Room at any time following such posting shall constitute your acceptance of such amendments.
5. Players are solely responsible for the security of their account information and password(s). Should a Player inadvertently disclose his or her password to another person, the Player agrees to contact the Poker Room immediately to modify the password. Players are responsible for any unauthorized use of their account and/or password. In the event that a third party places a bet or is thought to have placed a bet wager or stake, such bet wager or stake shall be valid, whether or not the alleged third party had the prior consent or knowledge of the Player or has misappropriated account and password information of the Player. Under no circumstances will any bet wager or stake be cancelled for that reason.
6. Any Player found using multiple clients or found attempting to manipulate or ascertain information concerning the Game software code or involved in collusion, will forfeit all money and be deactivated as a Player. All wagers must be placed through the user interface provided on the Poker Room. Any wagering through other means, including the use of a "robot" player, is strictly forbidden. The Poker Room reserves the right to prohibit any Player from participating in any and all Games, and may, where situations warrant, freeze the chips of any Player suspected of cheating in any form. The Poker Room further reserves the right to restrict seating and/or to prohibit Players from playing in a particular Game, including restricting two or more Players from playing together at the same Game.

7. Prohibited Tools and Services

   To protect the integrity of the network, and ensure fairness for all players, poker Security monitor active processes of players’ computers for the use of prohibited software while the poker client is active. 

   Prohibited Tools and Services type 1

   The following are prohibited at all times:

   • Any tool or service that plays without human intervention (effectively reduces the need for human decision-making) or offers advice on what action to take through reading of the current game state concurrent with play commonly known as a Bot, GTO and RTA (Real Time Assistance).
   • Examples include but are not limited to Shanky Bot / Preflop Autofolder.
   • The practice of compiling hands by observing games without playing, or using hands acquired through such methods commonly known as datamining.
   • Examples include but are not limited to SmartHand / statname.
   • Any tool or service that assists in game selection efficacy commonly known as seating scripts.
   • Examples include but are not limited to Magic Seat / one007.

   Prohibited Tools and Services type 2

   The following are prohibited while our software is running:

   • Reference materials that provide advice beyond a basic level, as well as tools or services geared toward ease of referral to said materials.
   • Examples include but are not limited to Equilab / AssassinatoHUD.
   • Tools or services that compute advanced equity calculation.
   • Examples include but are not limited to Piosolver / ICMIZER.

   For the avoidance of doubt, any software which advises or removes the decision process, or automates the interaction with the poker client by a human being is strictly prohibited while playing at the tables. 

   Actions and potential consequences

   Any player deemed to be using such software may have their poker account permanently closed and/or funds confiscated to recompense those players affected by its illegitimate use against them.

   Privacy

   Online privacy is an important concern to everyone; we will only monitor the active processes while the poker client is open. 

   No information or data outside of the active processes is collected, and only information of prohibited software processes will be retained.

   We do not see your internet browsing history, documents or other private files and information.

   We do not collect personal information, other than that provided by the player during account registration and routine security verifications.

   It is not possible for any member of our staff to read or copy private data from your machine.

8. Laws regarding gaming vary throughout the world and Players specifically acknowledge that it is the responsibility of all Players to ensure that they understand and fully comply with any laws or regulations applicable in their own country or state. Players must be at least the age of legal majority or (if higher) over any specified age threshold required to participate in online gaming in or from the jurisdiction in which they reside.
9. Each Player agrees to hold the Poker Room, its employees, officers, directors, licensees, licensors, affiliates, and subsidiaries harmless and further agrees to fully indemnify each and all of them from any and all costs, expenses, liabilities and damages whatsoever that may arise as a result of the Player's (a) entry, use, or reuse of the Poker Room, (b) use of any materials at the Poker Room, (c) participation in any of the Games, or, (d) acceptance of any cash payoff.
10. The Poker Room will not sell Player information. The Poker Room will not disclose details of any net winnings or losses, except for accounting and record-keeping purposes. It is the responsibility of each Player to declare to any appropriate authority his or her net winnings or losses, including, if the Player resides in a jurisdiction where winnings are taxable, to keep track of these winnings and report them to the proper authorities.
11. Players must comply with "table stakes" rules as set out by the Poker Room from time to time. In particular, a Player is not permitted to make a wager in excess of the value of chips on the table at the beginning of a hand. Players are permitted to acquire additional chips only between hands. If a Player runs out of chips during a hand, they are considered all-in. Players may not remove money from the table during a playing session. Taking money out of the game and continuing to play is not allowed in a table stakes format.
12. Players may win tournament tokens to enter or re-enter online poker tournaments. Tokens cannot be used to rebuy in any online tournaments. Some tokens have an expiry date and should be used prior to the expiry date. If tokens expire, please contact customer support to get them re-issued.
13. Abusive or offensive language or other behaviour considered inappropriate by the Poker Room in the context of the product will not be tolerated. Bad behaviour or language identified by the Poker Room or brought to its attention will be dealt with swiftly, and may result in a suspension or loss of playing privileges or other such action as may be decided by the Poker Room.
14. No Player may open more than one real money or play money account. Management reserves the right to suspend, terminate or freeze the funds in any duplicate accounts.
15. In order to protect and provide our customers with a safe and secure environment in which to play poker we carry out security procedures and checks to guard against fraud and collusion, ensuring fairness of play at all times. From time to time we will wish to make checks on Player accounts and plays in the game(s) and this may result in suspension of use of accounts whilst these checks are carried out, as well as requests for information from Players. We believe it is in the best interests of Players and ourselves that we operate this process and it is a condition of participation that all Players acknowledge this and co-operate with us in this respect.
16. You must be over 18 years old or of any higher age required by the jurisdiction in which you reside in order to register and play in the Poker Room. Any Player may be credit checked on application in order to prove their legal age. The Poker Room reserves the right to request proof of age documentation from any Player. Accounts may be suspended pending clarification.
17. In the event of a tournament crash, any remaining prize pool will be distributed in accordance with our published tournament rules.
18. As set out in more detail in the House Rules below, the Poker Room does not support private "deals" between players in tournaments, nor will the Poker Room assist in facilitating these "deals" or be liable in any way for broken "deals" or transactions not honoured by one of the parties.
19. Players are asked to refrain from "table talk" or "coffee-housing" or talking during a hand in a way that compromises an opponent's hand. This applies to players playing in the hand or watching the hand. Repeated abuse of this aspect of behaviour will result in suspension or permanent restriction of play.

HOUSE RULES

Please note: Grosvenorpoker.com digital poker is provided by the Playtech iPoker Network. Grosvenor Poker work in coordination with iPoker to deliver a fair and safe environment in which to enjoy online poker.

1. Software is prohibited if it:1.1 Relies upon any form of artificial intelligence;1.2 Reduces or eliminates the need for a human to make decisions (for example, ‘bot software’ or tools that automatically fold specific starting hands);1.3 Shares hole (private or hidden) cards among players or assists collusion or cheating in any way;1.4 Utilises a database of hands or player profiles which is shared between users;1.5 Is designed to datamine (see item 10);1.6 Provides advice on the action to take during gameplay, including Independent Chip Model (ICM) and Game Theory Optimal (GTO) analysis tools;1.7 In Playtech’s sole opinion, confers an unfair advantage on the player using it;1.8 Attempts to block any of Grosvenor and Playtech’s fraud and cheating detection mechanisms.

2. Customers are advised that at any time they may be playing against software (sometimes known as bots) or a human aided by software, in strict violation of Grosvenorpoker.com and iPoker rules. ‘Bots’ are software programs or other devices which interact with the game software to play poker, while requiring little or no human intervention. They may use rules or artificial intelligence to make playing decisions. Bots are prohibited because it is against the ethos of grosvenorpoker.com. We want players to play against players in a fun and fair environment and endeavour to lock and ban any accounts suspected of bot use (after thoroughly checking). Bots are not the only type of software which provides the player with an unfair advantage over their opponents. Certain other types of software are also prohibited.

3. At Playtech’s sole discretion, rule 1 may apply whether or not the software is actually used in conjunction with Playtech’s poker software.

4. Rule 1 applies whether the software is commercially obtained, privately developed, or otherwise.

5. Grosvenor and Playtech will actively attempt to detect prohibited software and other forms of cheating by monitoring and analysing the player’s device. Interference with any fraud or cheating detection mechanisms, or attempts to hide the player’s true location or hardware configuration (including the use of VPNs, TOR, IP blocking or any similar tool) is prohibited.

6. Software not covered by rule 1 is generally permitted. For example:

6.1 Tools intended solely for analysing a player’s own game, after gameplay has ended (‘Post Game Analysis Software’);

6.2 Tools intended for a player to be able to track their own playing habits or results (‘Tracking Software’);

6.3 Tools which overlay legitimately-gathered statistical information on the table (‘Heads Up Display’ (“HUD”));

6.4 Note that even if software is Post Game Analysis Software, Tracking Software, or HUD, it is still prohibited if it contains any functionality which is prohibited under rule 1.

7. Software provided by third-parties is not endorsed or supported by Grosvenor or Playtech in any way. Third-party software may display information which is incorrect, misleading or incomplete. Playtech may make changes to the poker software which disables or interferes with third-party software at any time.

8. Players should be aware that the use of third-party software may disadvantage the player using it, or might be exploited by other players.

9. Collusion is strictly prohibited. Collusion is behaviour between players in which they act as a team, with or without prior agreement, to the actual or theoretical detriment of other players in the game.

9.1 Players must always play in their own individual best interests. If a player makes decisions that are consistent with aiding other players, this is deemed to be collusion.

9.2 Players must not work together with another player to gain an advantage.

9.3 Players must not ‘soft play’ against friends. Players must play just as aggressively against somebody they know as they would against an unknown opponent (assuming both are utilising the same strategy).

9.4 Players must not ‘chip dump’ – i.e. they must not intentionally lose hands or manipulate the gameplay in order to transfer funds to any other player.

9.5 Players must not share hole card information, or any other card(s) which would not normally be known by all players, with any other player.

9.6 Players must not play in the same cash game or Sit ‘n’ Go tournament as any player in which they have a financial interest - i.e. they should not play in the same games as anyone with whom they have a staking, swap, profit sharing or bankroll sharing agreement. If players within the same staking group do end up on the same table, they must not soft-play and should treat the player like any other on the table.

9.7 Players must not encourage any other player to collude.

9.8 These rules apply whether or not there is any explicit agreement between the players, and whether or not any actual demonstrable harm has been caused to others.

10. The practice of datamining, for any purpose including personal or commercial use, is prohibited.

10.1 Datamining is the practice whereby a user gathers data on hands played or opponents playing styles, without actually playing in those hands or against those opponents. Any data gathered by a player must come from their own playing experience at the tables.

10.2 The use of any data which has been obtained by datamining, whether the data was obtained by the player themselves or by anyone else, is prohibited.

11. The use of screen-scraping or any other technique to gather data that is not provided in Playtech hand histories is prohibited.

12. Sharing any data with other players, even if legitimately obtained, is prohibited.

13. One Account per Player Guidance:

13.1 Each player is allowed to have only one account with each poker room. Utilising multiple accounts, perhaps to gain an unfair advantage, is a form of ‘Multiple Account Abuse’.

13.2 Players must not open more than one account with Grosvenor. Please check with Grosvenor Customer Services if you think you may have more than one account, as this can lead to locked funds and other more serious consequences.

13.3 Players are permitted to have more than one account on the iPoker Network, as long as each account is with a different poker room.

13.4 Players must not log into the poker network with more than one account at the same time, even if the accounts are with different poker rooms.

13.5 Players must not attempt to bypass any of the restrictions which prevent the creation and / use of multiple accounts.

13.6 Players must not share their account with any other person. Besides creating an unnecessary security risk for the player, account sharing can be a form of Multiple Account Abuse in which a player gains an advantage by sharing accounts to disguise their playing style, or by ‘handing off’ tournaments to another player part-way through.

14. Players must keep their credentials (alias, password and any other information used to access the player’s account) secret and not reveal them to any other person.

15. Players must not allow any other person to use their account under any circumstances.

16. A player must not use any account other than their own.

17. All players must play on their own behalf and in their own best interests

18. Playing on behalf of an employer, sweat shop, ‘gold farm’ or any form of team or cooperative is prohibited. ‘Gold Farming’ is an arrangement in which a person plays poker on the behalf of an employer, perhaps being funded by the employer or playing according to a strategy provided by the employer. Gold Farms essentially consist of ‘push this button bots’ and are prohibited for similar reasons as bot software and artificial intelligence.

19. Unacceptable behaviour:

19.1 Any activities that give a player an unfair advantage or would be considered unethical and unfair by the vast majority of the poker playing community, but which may be allowed under a strict interpretation of the rules or due to a loophole or unintended software characteristics, is prohibited.

19.2 Behaviour which is intended to disrupt the game is prohibited.

19.3 Examples of prohibited behaviour includes but is not limited to ‘grimming’, ‘buttoning’, blocking seats or tables, intentionally stalling, taking advantage of a disconnected opponent, following an opponent from table to table, abusing a player using the chat facility, etc.

19.4 Playtech retains the sole right to determine what constitutes ‘unfair advantage’ or ‘disruptive’.

20. If a violation of any of these rules is suspected, a player’s account may be locked in order to allow for an efficient and effective investigation of the alleged violation. The duration of the lock will be no longer than is reasonably required to complete the investigation. For the duration of the lock, log-in, gameplay and/or the withdrawal of deposited funds may not be possible.

21. Penalties for violation of the rules will take into account all relevant information and the exact circumstances of the violation, and may include any combination of the following:

21.1 A warning;

21.2 Temporary or permanent closure of a player’s account(s);

21.3 Reversal of any pending deposits or withdrawals;

21.4 Seizure of some or all of the funds in a player’s account(s) (including funds not used to play poker);

21.5 Reporting of the incident to a relevant law-enforcement agency or regulatory body.

22. Funds seized in accordance with rule 21 will be placed into a network Game Integrity Fund. The aim of the Game Integrity Fund is to fairly compensate victims of cheating and unethical behaviour, by refunding losses that can be attributed it. At Playtech sole discretion this may include (for example):

22.1 Compensating victims of collusion;

22.2 Compensating players who lost money against bots;

22.3 Returning chip dumped funds to the poker room to which they belong;

22.4 Playtech will always aim to return players affected by cheating to the financial state that they would be in, had the cheating not occurred.

23. Problem Gamblers Guidance:

23.1 Grosvenor Casinos and Playtech take social responsibility and the welfare of players very seriously. In order to protect vulnerable individuals, the reputation of the network and the brands running on it, players who have a gambling problem are not permitted to play.

23.2 If a player is in need of assistance or suspects that they have a gambling problem, they must inform Grosvenor and cease playing on the network immediately.

24. Playtech reserves the right to determine whether or not a violation of these rules has occurred. Playtech’s decision is final.

25. Should you have a complaint against Grosvenor Poker, please submit this via email to [email protected] and we will endeavour to get back to you ASAP.

INTERRUPTED TOURNAMENT POLICY

We reserve the right to make amendments to the following policy for promotional tournaments.

If for any reason we have tournaments which are not able to play to a natural conclusion, we will compensate affected players using the below formulae to ensure the fairest distribution of funds possible.

In all cases eliminated players do not receive a refund.

Heads-Up Tournaments

● Both players receive a refund of buy-in + fee.

ALL SNG Tournaments

● Remaining players receive compensation made up as follows:

• Buy-in and Fee is returned.
• Each player receives an equal share of the buy-ins from the eliminated players.

MTT Guaranteed Prize

The settlement is dependent upon what stage the tournament is at when it is interrupted:

Prize money stage not reached

● Remaining players receive compensation made up as follows:

• Buy-in(s) and fee returned
• The balance of the prize fund is paid out as follows:
  • 50% of the fund shared equally among the remaining players
  • 50% distributed proportionally in line with the players chip counts.

Prize money stage has been reached:

● Remaining players receive compensation made up as follows:

• Buy-in(s) and fee returned
• Each player is awarded an amount equal to the prize that the next eliminated player would have received if the tournament was not interrupted
• Of the remaining prize pool, 50% is distributed equally among the players and 50% is distributed in proportion to their chip counts.

MTT No Guaranteed Prize:

Prize money stage not reached:

● Remaining players receive a refund made up as follows:

• Buy-in(s) and fee returned
• The balance of the prize fund is paid out as follows:
  • 50% of the fund shared equally among the remaining players
  • 50% distributed proportionally in line with the players chip counts.

Prize money stage reached:

● Remaining players receive a refund made up as follows:

• Buy-in(s) and fee returned
• Each player is awarded an amount equal to the prize that the next eliminated player would have received if the tournament was not interrupted.
• Of the remaining prize pool 50% is distributed equally among the players and 50% is distributed in proportion to their chip counts.

For Knockout tournaments the current bounty on your head will also be paid out in the interruption payment.

Freerolls

Prize money stage not reached:

• 50% of the fund shared equally among the remaining players
• 50% distributed proportionally in line with the players chip counts.

Prize money stage reached:

• Each player is awarded an amount equal to the prize that the next eliminated player would have received if the tournament was not interrupted.
• Of the remaining prize pool 50% is distributed equally among the players and 50% is distributed in proportion to their chip counts.

Twister Tournaments

In cases where the prize pool is less than €1.000:

• Remaining players receive a refund of their buy in.
• Any remaining prize pool is then distributed in proportion to chip counts.

If the prize pool is €1.000 or greater:

• All remaining players receive a refund of their buy-in.
• All players receive 10% of the remaining prize pool.
• The remaining prize pool is then distributed in proportion to chip counts.

NOTE:

The poker room reserves the right to make manual adjustments to any payments in order to ensure that all players have received a fair settlement.

Flighted Tournaments

In the event of flighted tournament days being canceled for any reason, players will receive a refund under the following circumstances.

● Remaining players receive a refund made up as follows:

• Buy-in(s) and fee returned
• The balance of the prize fund is paid out as follows:
  • 50% of the fund shared equally among the remaining players
  • 50% distributed proportionally in line with the players chip counts.