Lawsuit Accuses Online Poker Room Full Tilt of Basing in US

Full Tilt, one of the most popular Internet poker operators, is being sued in California for supposedly using software bots disguised as players to win hands on the site, and for accusing legitimate players of operating as bots themselves.

An online poker player has filed a lawsuit against operator Full Tilt, in which the company is accused of being controlled from within the US and using software to control hand results. Lary Kennedy, a Full Tilt patron, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against the company and pro players Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, and Chris "Jesus" Ferguson.

Since the scandals at Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet, online gambling customers have been worried about software manipulation of Internet games. Kennedy alleges that bots are playing hands at Full Tilt with the knowledge and participation of the poker site.

Kennedy also says that Full Tilt has used a zero-tolerance policy instituted after the cheating scandals at the other poker rooms to accuse legitimate players of being bots, and seizing their money. Kennedy says this happened both to her and other players.

The pros are included in the suit because they are named on the site as having contributed to Full Tilt's design, and Kennedy says they are the controlling force behind the popular online poker room.

Full Tilt has asserted that it is regulated by the Kahanwake Gaming Commission, on Indian land in Canada.