Is it acceptable to use a poker bot when playing online?
I've been thinking about this for a while and wanted to get some honest feedback. Do you think it's okay to use a poker bot when playing online, especially in lower-stakes games? I'm not talking about some super-advanced system that dominates every table, just something basic that helps make decisions faster or manages hand selection more consistently. I know that technically many platforms prohibit bots, but in practice, it seems like some people use them anyway. The lines feel kind of blurry to me. If everyone has access to the same tools, is it really unfair? Or is it more about the spirit of the game being compromised? Curious to hear different takes on this.
Discussion
Yeah, I see where both of you are coming from. I think part of the problem is that Poker Bot can mean different things depending on who you ask. Some people hear that and think of AI running 24/7, while others just mean an auto-fold tool or a hand calculator running in the background. For me personally, once a piece of software starts replacing your judgment—like deciding when to bluff, fold, or raise—then it stops being poker. But if you're using a tool to support your memory or manage multitables more efficiently, that doesn’t really bother me. I do worry about the long-term effect though. If too many people start using full automation, even in low-stakes games, it could make casual players stop playing altogether. And that’s bad for the ecosystem, even if nobody’s technically “cheating.”
That’s a really thoughtful question. I’ve never used a bot myself, but I’ve definitely been at tables where some players act almost too consistently, like their moves are based on pure math with no emotion or variance. It’s hard to prove, of course. I think the gray area you mentioned comes down to intent. If someone uses a tool just to help them focus or track patterns—like a HUD or something lightweight—I don’t really see that as cheating. But when the tool takes over the actual decision-making, it feels like you’re not really playing anymore. You’re watching a script play for you. It’s not about being unfair, it just makes the whole experience feel kind of robotic and hollow for everyone else at the table. That said, I get why people are tempted—grinding small-stakes tables for hours is exhausting.