partypoker enforces player name change with latest software update

24-hour $500K ‘Race to Alias’ giveaway underway to mark update

partypoker has today released the latest download update for the global dotcom client, bringing significant changes to its gaming platform.

Most importantly, the update requires all players to select a new alias (player name). From today, June 17, 2019, players will be presented with a pop-up window when they log into the client, prompting them to select a new alias. Player names are subject to the site’s usual rules about ‘appropriate language’, with certain words and phrases blocked, and will be available on a first come, first served basis.

To reward those players that choose a new alias within 24 hours from the update (excluding players in Czech Republic and Sweden), the site is currently hosting a $500K ‘Race to Alias’ giveaway, running for 24 hours only.

Open to real-money accounts only, the promotion is split into three separate strands. ‘Login Click Cards’ award random prizes worth up to $10,000 in cash to players after choosing their new alias, while the site is also giving away between $10,000 and $40,000 in ‘Hourly Click Cards’ for earning at least 0.10 in loyalty points per hour. In addition, a number of ‘$10K Freerolls’ are scheduled to run exclusively for players who earn qualifying tickets via either the ‘Login’ or ‘Hourly’ Click Cards offers.

Together, the promotion will pay out over $500,000 in free prizes for those who choose their new player name within the allotted 24-hour promotional window.

Separately, partypoker players in Czech Republic can claim a shared $25,000 in prizes through their own dedicated version of the Race to Alias campaign.

In anticipation of the changes and to assist players with reviewing their gameplay, partypoker has launched a new hand history replayer.

Whilst seated at a table, players are able to review recent hands played via a mini-dashboard, which provides basic information relating to hole cards, board cards and pot size.

The replayer icon launches the redesigned hand history replayer, where a mini-dashboard displays previous hands from the current cash table, Fast Forward pool or tournament. Also shown are opponents’ names and rake taken per hand, while a new four-colour deck has been implemented in direct response to player feedback.

partypoker has also updated its ‘Hand History Office’, which can be accessed from the main lobby. The Hand History Office offers easy navigation between hands and displays extensive data points on hands played within the previous three months such as hole and board cards as well as time, date and pot size.

Players can seamlessly switch between reviewing cash game or tournament hands, while customisable filters let players filter by date range, pot size or even hole cards. From the Hand History Office players can access the same hand history replayer as that launched from the game table, however here all opponents’ names will be anonymised.

Other wider updates see changes to the rules on observing tables, while partypoker has moved to delete all individual Player Notes saved prior to the update.

In addition, there are revisions to the list of permitted third-party software that can be used whilst playing on the site. As of today, the only third-party software permitted is partycaption and StackAndTile. Use of any other program will result in account closure, and subsequent forfeiture and redistribution of funds.

All the changes are designed to level the playing field at partypoker following player feedback, allowing players of all levels to start afresh with a ‘clean slate’ in an effort to make the site a safer, fairer place to play.

partypoker Player Panel member Patrick Leonard said: “partypoker is constantly listening to the poker community and continues to act upon feedback provided by its players. I welcome the latest changes, which serve to underscore partypoker’s commitment to improving the playing experience and will help to make the site a fairer and more enjoyable place to play poker.”

partypoker managing director, Tom Waters, said: “This client update is one of a number of initiatives that we are working on in order to provide players with a safe environment where they can play online poker.

“With this release, we are making changes to our software that will prevent third-party tracking tools from working. We want our players to have a fresh start and therefore we are asking all players to select a new alias so that all third-party tool tracking is lost for all our players. At the same time, we have some great promotions running and I’m sure there will be a mad rush by players eager to secure their preferred screen name!”