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

Scam #39: Collusion Rings (Online)

How it works

A group of players who know each other in real life form a ring to share hole card information while playing online. They typically use external communication methods (encrypted messaging apps like Telegram, Discord, Skype, or phone calls) to tell each other their hole cards in real-time. With knowledge of multiple hands, the colluders can coordinate betting to extract maximum value from non-colluding players or avoid losing to each other. Advanced rings use screen sharing so all members can see each other’s cards directly.

Where it appears

Online poker (cash games and tournaments)

On the record

In 2019, a major collusion ring was uncovered on GGPoker involving over 40 accounts. In the Full Tilt Poker era, the platform’s integrity team identified numerous accounts engaged in chip dumping through hand history review, IP tracking, and bankroll pattern analysis. Collusion rings are particularly prevalent on club-based poker apps where players know each other socially.

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.