One For The Operators To Watch?

Minnesota webmaster wants to hold a 'most poker bot friendly website' competition Online poker operators may want to keep a watchful eye on a competition that a Minnesota-based webmaster is trying to get off the ground - it's goal is to find the most poker bot-friendly websites. PokerbotBasics.com is inviting internet Texas-Hold'Em sites from across the web to compete in a contest for the most pokerbot-friendly site as determined by online survey. Sites submitted between August 1st and December 14th 2009 will be reviewed and voted on by PokerbotBasics.com registered users, and the site with the most votes will be awarded $10 000 on December 15th, 2009. Pokerbots, programs that automatically play online poker, are becoming more numerous on the internet but are not recognised as legitimate players. A pokerbot-friendly site would allow pokerbots to declare their status and play Texas Hold'Em at the same table as human players. "There is a lot of opportunity for the poker sites that view the proliferation of pokerbots for what it is - an emerging market," claims Rob Turner, the owner-operator of Pokerbot Basics.com and an avid pokerbot hobbyist. "Pokerbots play hands faster, stay at tables longer, and can play at more tables at one time. This contest will not only allow pokerbots to sit at a table like everyone else, but will give players who have wanted to knowingly play against a pokerbot the chance they've been looking for. This is going to be a big win for participating poker sites." Given the controversy surrounding the use of pokerbots and the billions at stake in online poker revenue, pokerbot-friendly sites are expected to generate interest in both the programming and online poker-playing communities. "People are going to be attracted to a pokerbot-friendly site," said Turner, "I think hobbyists and players alike are going to have a lot of fun."