Written by :
Published on :
Online Poker Publicist and TwoPlusTwo Super Moderator, Mike Haven, says he is skeptical that the sweepstakes poker site ClubWPTGold is playing by the rules.
ClubWPT Gold is the official, subscription-based online poker platform of the World Poker Tour (WPT), hardly a "rogue" player in the world of online gambling.
They operate legally in most U.S. states through a sweepstakes model, though a number of U.S. states have begun to crack down on these types of businesses (Indiana being the latest).
Haven offered his concerns regarding ClubWPT Gold via the TwoPlusTwo posting forum.
I should be up a lot. The games do seem incredible. Thats why it feels off to not be up a lot after a decent amount of hands. Certainly enough to know my edge should be very significant.
There is only so many times random hands can flop the nuts in 4 bet pots before any reasonable person should start questioning what is going on. They aren't even trying to advertise themselves as a legitimate poker site
DoyleBrunsonFan questioned why poker sites would engage in the practice of rigging Random Number Generators (RNGs).
"Rigging RNG seems like a wasted effort in today’s landscape of big data, AI solutions and GTO solvers. Just my opinion. My skepticism has nothing to do with RNG."
When asked what "appropriate evidence" Haven had, he elaborated further.
"If there is no way to record or collect HHs, even one at a time, then all of this discussion is just based on the "feelings" of a relatively very low percentage of their players? Should I move it to the "Riggies' thread" until someone finds a way to give any type of hard evidence? Surely almost everyone would prefer that accusations and allegations are backed up with some sort of documentary proof?"
Terrible-Moose9739 on Reddit questioned the site's variance.
Just played a few hands on there and I got coolered 3 times in a row. Rivered full house against a flopped flush, rivered gut shot against flopped top two. Rivered flush against flopped set. I fast played the last two just bc I wanted to win a hand and I’m getting called with complete air that goes runner runner to scoop. I understand variance is a thing but it seems to happen to people quite often on this site. Call me a fish but why would 32s call a 3x pot size jam when they only have a back door draw?
While Gambling911.com cannot independently verify the fairness of ClubWPTGold's platform, online poker sites typically use certified random number generators so card deals are random and not predetermined or “rigged.” ClubWPT Gold's RNG certifications do not appear to be well publicized.
There are still those who have enjoyed success participating on ClubWPTGold.
omg_its_dan on Reddit writes:
My experience was the exact opposite. Immediately went on a $5k downswing playing the 2/4/8, then went on a nice upswing in the last couple weeks and am now even.
one-mass-7292 chimed in:
"Considering how swingy the games are on ClubWPTGold, that's not too surprising. You can easily go on a several buy-in swing 1 tabling."
Mikenike77 added:
"It’s also funny that ALL of those sites have either been shut down for that exact thing or on the verge. Really funny that the country banned it in most states due to all the cheating and shady business. But we are just tin foil people right?"
TrustPilot does have some tough customers. Here it is hard to find any review better than one star.
While TrustPilot can be useful at time, t's also difficult to find reviews that are not fake (either positive or negative) or those from disgruntled losers.
We found one with two stars that is detailed enough to suggest the reviewer is a legitimate person, and consumer of ClubWPT Gold.
From Bob Smith:
"Gonna be honest, I deposited 50 originally and won 1.3k in a tournament, I think I got lucky but also played well... now after that is completely different, Getting absolute coolers constantly and the most insane hands calling today. I 5 bet jammed 3 ways after the guy on my right raised my raise with QQ, now maybe overplayed but the guy was loose and I thought he would have AK a lot (Which he did). The guy before him who limped then called my 3 bet instantly calls with 108 off suit in a 55$ tourney. Now if it was a 5$ one I get it but 55$ online is pretty good for a tourney especially when u have more than starting. And of course as we know, the guy flops a full house instantly. Had one where a guy got to the river with no pair and 1 heart on the flop with 54hh on a AK9 board in a 3bet pot where on the flop, guy with the set bet and I raised as a bluff with Q10 and he flatted a pretty decent size raise with nothing and ofcourse, I hit a J get it all in on the turn and he calls with the other who has a set because he has a flush draw and hits a heart to win (another 55$ tourney). This is the things that make players not play on these sites, because if we play in real life these hands NEVER happen and still shouldn't at the stakes we are playing with 20k+ gtds. Is the site rigged, maybe... but something funky is 100% happening and I doubt wptgold will say if it is (even if they fix it) because of how it'll ruin their reputation."
Lance Jeroszko gives ClubWPT Gold three stars, but also had questions about the variance.
I get that poker has variance
"I get that poker has variance, I have had some good runs on this site and some bad ones and I’m up $2000 after 20,000+ hands dealt in the .20/.50/1 (.20) game(s)…it does make me wonder sometimes on how these cards randomly come out, but, it’s the questionable calls you get from players that really make me think something might be off or being hacked…it’s the long pauses and freeze ups when you get a good hand and you have not even acted yet, like the cards are being rigged for the other guy to win with a bad hand after you three bet large and he calls with 9-5suited and he calls your flop all in with 9 high and a back door flush draw and it goes runner runner flush…how do you make the large three bet call and then call the all n with 9 high and a back door flush draw?? I three bet pre and jam flop, I have a hand that beats a nine?? Makes me think it’s rigged when that shit happens, like they know your going to get it in at least after the turn, but after the flop and you call off your whole stack with nine high!! Feels like you got scammed from a hacker."
Noseblind on TrustPilot gives the site four stars and brushed off the notion that ClubWPT Gold might be "rigged".
Everyone complains about "lucky" catches and rigged games. I've seen crazy stuff and bad play rewarded live as well.
Every hand there is a chance a moron will win. I've lost 5 times now in a row with KK, 3 times to AQ, once each to QJ and 89.
I've also won many times when I should not. Its poker and stuff happens.
You must also remember, the smaller the stakes the worse the play will be. $150 a month flat fee is peanuts....
I just wish they had 7 card stud pot limit!!
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
