Bodog to Block Data Mining Services

In an attempt to discourage one of the fastest-growing practices in online poker, Bodog has announced that they will be blocking data mining services from being used in their poker room. The blocking mechanisms will be targeted at sites like SharkScope, PokerTableRatings (PTR) and PokerDB.

“These poker operator information portals are another example of how online poker is assisting in its own demise,” said Bodog President and CEO Patrik Selin. “I have commented previously on how the operators are doing this to themselves with hand histories, HUDs and rake back, all of which we will be cutting out. The next tier in the process is the operator information sites. Nobody who is playing poker for fun visits these sites, or, probably even knows they exist. They primarily exist to serve the needs of the professional players and therefore we will be implementing online protection against these sites to further aid the crucial leisure poker player."

Data mining is not entirely a new concept; from the time of the first hand histories that existed on early poker sites, players have collected information on themselves and their opponents in order to gain an advantage during play. However, the methods used to gather and analyze this data have increasingly become more and more sophisticated. From tracking software and heads-up displays that allowed players to have information on opponents at their fingertips, to hand history dealers and scouting services that increased the accuracy and depth of that information, serious poker players have only widened the gap between themselves and the casual players they tend to make money from at the tables.

Various sites have tried different techniques to limit or prohibit the use of various dating mining techniques. Many major sites still utilize hand histories and allow players to analyze hands that they have played themselves, but disallow the use of data-mined hands.

Bodog’s more stringent measures could be designed as a drastic attempt at regaining a foothold in the online poker world. According to statistics from PokerScout.com, Bodog’s peak traffic is typically around only 600 players, among the lowest totals in the industry for a recognizable “brand name” poker room. The change follows the controversial removal of the site’s rakeback scheme in September.