Ignition Clarifies Viral Bot Farm Video

The controversy resurfaced after poker pro Martin Zamani shared a short clip over the weekend allegedly showing a large-scale “bot farm” operating on Ignition and Bovada. The video appeared to feature multiple rooms filled with computers running poker tables via VPNs, with no visible human players—prompting renewed debate about bot usage and game integrity.

Zamani Reacts as Video Gains Traction

Zamani made clear that he did not create the video and was not involved in running the bots, but he used the post to express frustration with online poker operators.

“They’ve known about it for ages and done nothing. It’s high stakes and this isn’t the entire operation either and they just don’t care,” Zamani wrote.

The clip quickly spread across poker Twitter and forums, forcing Ignition to address the claims publicly.

Ignition: Video Is Old, Accounts Were Deleted

In its official response, Ignition stated that the video footage is not recent and originates from 2022. According to the operator, all accounts shown in the video were identified and deleted at the time, along with additional accounts uncovered during an internal review.

Ignition reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward cheating and emphasized its ongoing commitment to fair play. The site also encouraged players to continue reporting suspicious activity, noting that player reports are an important layer of its security process.

However, the statement did not address whether players affected by the 2022 bot activity received refunds—an omission that drew criticism from some community members.

Fresh Allegations Keep the Issue Alive

Despite Ignition’s clarification, Zamani later posted a screenshot allegedly from the same source as the original video, hinting that around 100 bots may have entered a Bovada tournament in 2024.

Because Bovada and Ignition share a player pool, the allegation kept concerns about current bot activity alive, even though no independent verification has been provided.

Bots Remain a Major Online Poker Challenge

The episode highlights a broader and persistent problem across online poker. As AI tools and automation continue to advance, deploying poker bots has become easier and cheaper than ever.

What once required significant technical expertise can now be done using widely available software, forcing poker operators to invest heavily in detection systems, integrity teams, and monitoring tools to protect recreational and professional players alike.

How Other Poker Rooms Responded

Several operators addressed the broader bot conversation during the fallout:

CoinPoker publicly reaffirmed its “ban early, ban quickly” policy, stating it recently banned 98 bot accounts and refunded more than $156,000 to affected players.

PokerStars USA highlighted its integrity team of 60 specialists, using proprietary software to detect collusion, multi-accounting, and prohibited tools.

ClubWPT Gold also weighed in on social media, emphasizing player protection as its core priority.

The Bigger Picture

While Ignition’s statement confirms the viral footage does not reflect current conditions, the incident shows how quickly trust issues can resurface in online poker. Transparency around enforcement, refunds, and ongoing monitoring remains crucial as bot technology continues to evolve.

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