Full Tilt pro and CardRunners co-owner Brian Townsend has admitted on his blog this week, to multi-accounting on PokerStars and Full Tilt, confessing that he had two accounts on each site. His reason for his blatant cheating? "“Because I enjoy anonymity when playing smaller and am very prideful in what I do.”

As a result Full Tilt has suspended his “red pro” status for six months but refrained from going so far as to ban him permanently whilst PokerStars have to public knowledge taken no action thus far. By way of apology, Townsend is donating $25,000 to a charity and removed all but $100,000 in his online accounts.

This has evoked differing reactions amongst the poker community with some people feeling sympathy for him believing he has done little if anything wrong whist to the other extreme, some feel he should be permanently banned from every online poker site.

Here's my view...

Anyone who uses more than one identity on any single site gains an unfair advantage over their opponents, regardless of whether or not the accounts are played simultaneously.

If you've played against Brian for some time you will be familiar with various aspects of his play and vice versa. If you then play against him without being aware of who he is, he'd know everything about you and you'd know nothing about him which would have a massive effect on any game. This is the reason most site will not allow username changes except in the most extreme of circumstances.

Personally I think he should be permanently banned from both sites, however, having worked in the industry for 5 years I'm more concerned about the site's apparent lack of awareness. They will have systems in place to highlight multiple accounts and as a pro his account will have come under scrutiny not only for professional reasons but by poker playing employees. I find it hard to believe that no member of staff has ever related the accounts and brought it to the attention of the relevant parties. They appear to have tolerated his action which given the current environment is a very dangerous game to be playing.

I agree with Johnny Hughes in that he saw an opportunity to gain an advantage and despite being fully aware that taking such action would be against the rules, he didn't have the moral gumption to restrain himself from doing it. Once you've been labelled as a cheat you're stuck with it no matter how much remorse you show and I really am surprised that such a high profile and seemingly able player would take such a risk to their reputation.

...that's just my opinion. Do you agree or disagree? What's your take on events? 

Hey hey guys, saw this post and thought would throw my 2pence worth in.

I too workin in the industry and have done for many years now and there are indeed very strict guidelines regarding multi account use.

It is deemed unacceptable for players to use more than one account as you both correctly state for fairness reasons to other players based on the unfair information advantage.

It is however appreciated by most gaming companies that at times players will have multiple accounts that have been deposited and used and will not be classed as a potential risk. I.e. a player creating an account on xyz.com, the deposits players for 6 months. Forgets his log in details or the fact that he even has an account and then recreates a new account. This is accepted as just an honest mistake and one of the accounts closed. (Usually the original).

One thing that I would like to point out however is that on some sites it is possible for players to play against other regular players with complete annomity withour breaking any rules at all.

As I am sure that you aware, high stakes players tend to play on the same tables with relativley the same people and over a period of time get to know these players in and out. Now lets say one of these pros was playing on PokerRoom and had the username 'abc' for example, whats to stop him then creating an account on say MANSION or BWIN or any other site on the Ongame Network with say username 'xyz' and joining the same table as he always plays on PokerRoom and using this knowledge to his advantage???

You see aslong as he is not colluding/dumping in any way, this is not deemed by the networks or individual poker rooms as being a problem.

This same principal applies to all Poker Networks and as long as the player is not directly colluding or breaching any terms of service this is accepted.

So this brings me to my point..... if Brian Townsend should be banned permanently or temporarily for 'Cheating' by using a different name, does this mean all other players legally able to do the same are also cheating???! I mean just because the multiple accounts were on a network not individual site means that player is not cheating and cannot be penalised.?!!!

I do agree Stu. Although I fully appreciate that when playing on a networked site you are aware that you will be playing with players that you have encountered before but now under a different alias, it is still somewhat unfair.


Townsend was bang out of order to be playing such high stakes with a double alias expecially seen as a player of his calibre knows only too well the etiquettes and advantages of player information at the table.

And to be fair, $25,000 to charity is merley pocket money compaired to the monies I'm sure that he has reaped as a resault of this.

Problem is, I doubt very much that this was alllowed as long as it did based on the 'contacts' that he had, but more on the fact that if the player is genearting so much rake for the company that they would 'turn a blind' eye as they say.

I dont like cheating fullstop.But in this instance I'm a little confused.Did this Townsend guy ever double enter both ac's in the same games?
If not,although I understand your arguments is he really cheating?If he is then so are a lot of us,including several members on here,myself included.I am a member of rileys and 888 with a different user name on each and Ive always been led to believe from inc and the forums that this is perfectly acceptable.In fact I am allowed another ac with another affiliate I understand.So where is the line drawn?I know I dont play for big stakes and wont cause a ripple win or lose but is that the point.Maybe in the future with experience,if I wasnt so tight or some prat gives me a big stake out of the kindness of their hearts my level of play would become significant!Am I to assume that I would then be reclassified as a cheat.
A slightly bemused crispy

Cheers cryptic,what a salesman.Regarding the link;If I open an ac with this site will I be able to use crispy17 or will I have to use another nick as i play on 888?

Sorry to say but:
1.  Anything tying cheating with online poker is bad for the game. 
2.  That this cheating is connected with a Pro makes it worse.
3.  The perception is that he won big money playing online poker, and he admitted he cheated.
4.  The poker sites don't seem to care enough to catch this problem, or to punish when a Pro is caught breaking the rules.

What about the players who lost money against him?

There is nothing good about this story.  It just demonstrates why a lot of poker players think online poker is not legit, and other players from even playing online poker. 

Thanks! 

The last time I posted about my dismay on online cheating (in another forum), the reaction was critical of me for not understanding the situation.

Good to know 888.com is so strong on the topic.  Too bad they don't work in the US. 

I do play online poker, but not nearly as much as before because of all these scandals and rumors about cheating. In fact, I've gone from playing 3-4 times per week, to maybe once or twice per month.  Of course, I am not saying I am typical of online poker players.  Just that it has influenced my habits...I play more often at the nearby card rooms...which is a pain when you have to drive to these b&m places.

I can't believe that he was at the Virgin poker festival lol just realised hes quite a celeb in poker.