I am managing a project to review the seat scripting issues on PokerStars.

As an immediate measure we intend to implement a limit on the number of times a player can reserve a seat at a given table without playing. We don’t expect this to solve all the issues, but we expect it to improve the situation while we review the situation in more depth.

We hope this measure will end the scenario that results in tables being “locked out” by scripts perpetually reserving seats without intending to play and will reduce the overall effectiveness of seat scripts. But we also want to set the limit such that it will minimize the impact on players who are not using scripts.

As a starting point, we are considering allowing three reservations without game action per table for any given six hour period. Reservations resulting from reaching the top of a waiting list would not be counted.

Any input on whether these are appropriate parameters is appreciated.

frist

BTW I don't understand why you can just simply ban the scripts... it is so plain explicit who is using them

@4-Star General : it has been explained that it's not as simple as you think


Pokerstars Chris: finally, it was about time for this to happen and it will solve a lot of issues.
When will this 3 times limit be applied?

^ clearly I'm not updated... ty

Glad PokerStars are finally doing something about this. Ban all seating scripts please.

I hope to get community feedback on what the limit should be over the next few days and request the change early next week. I can't guarantee an implementation date but barring complications I believe we can get it done very quickly.

thank you for trying this out pokerstars chris

i stopped playing on pokerstars because everytime i sat down at a $25-$50 the table instantly filled up with the same powerhouse regulars. I got tired of feeling like a gazelle in the sahara being tracked down by every known carnivore, so i withdrew. Maybe i can come back, pending this seat scripting issue being handled properly.

Very good decision as this should solve most of the problems resulting from scripts. Only question is why this has not been implemented a year ago, when so many people were calling for exactly this solution. But I guess better late than never.

Only took Stars a little over a year lol... .

Better late than never tho.

Doesn't sound that bad to me for a start

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKkVfCcfONA

Sick.....first time in the last weeks that a post from a Stars-rep doesn't announce a new money grab. Good job, Stars!

Awesome!

Was gonna mention this in the meetings report but had no idea you guys would get this through the pipeline so quickly

3x for any given table is a fine start, but don't see a problem with just 2x tbh

interesting.

Great news. I dont play games where seating scripts gets used but it sounds like an atrocious software that should be banned or at the very least dealt with. Glad Stars is finally doing something about it.

Good News for starters. Working in right direction

So how much are Stars increasing the rake by to pay for the programming and management for this project?

This is great news. Although seating scripts should be banned altogether in my opinion. They intimidate recreational players when games are supposed to be inviting and comfortable.

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Looks good to me.

Cue announcement that reservation limit can be increased for a small charge...

Juk

Fantastic news.

What about not letting the player that is reserving a seat more then 3x loosing the right to SIT at the table for lets say a period of 30 mins after he reserved too many times?

You fix the entire problem right away and you are technically not "banning" script. They just have to use it in a more intelligent way and table starters can get back to playing poker.

The idea as it stands is that someone can't reserve a seat at a specific table without playing more than three times in six hours. So once he has done it three times, he will be unable to sit at that table until the first attempt is six hours old.

May I ask why banning scripts is so difficult?
I mean some scripts are injecting directly into PS code, I think this is somwhat detectable.
Even if a script isn't using this method PS should easy track how fast a player is taking a seat, clearly, if he's sitting in a split second something is going on

FYP but that is truly mindboggling, especially when OP states this can be done swiftly. Proposed solution looks good to me. Seat rejecters from waitlists should be included as well though.

This is very good. The 6 hours penalty for a given table makes blindless seating when a reserved sest pops up impossible for scripters, they'll get locked out of every new tables within minutes.