Part I: Card Game Cheating · Collusion & Electronic Cheating at Card Games

Scam #37: Ghosting (Account Sharing)

How it works

A less-skilled player allows a more skilled player (the “ghost”) to take over their account during critical moments of a tournament or high-stakes game, typically in late stages where decisions are most consequential. The ghost may physically take control of the computer or access the account remotely. Since online poker opponents cannot see who is actually making decisions, they believe they are playing against the original account holder. Ghosting also includes skilled players coaching others in real-time through headsets or messaging apps during play.

Where it appears

Online poker (tournaments and high-stakes cash games)

On the record

In November 2025, GGPoker discovered that the chip leader “Hinaru” at the GGMillion$ final table was being ghosted - someone other than the registered account holder was making decisions. The account was blinded out live on stream and $115,752 in winnings was redistributed. Ghosting has been a persistent problem in online poker, especially in tournament final tables where prize money differences are largest.

Published as a detection reference for surveillance, compliance and gaming-operations professionals. Thresholds and tuning are set by the property. Nothing here is instruction — the method is described so it can be recognised.