Over a year ago the two biggest poker rooms, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker banned the player Josh Field. Field played under the handle “JJProdigy” at both sites. The problem is that he also played under different accounts at the same time. Field committed the cardinal sin of multi-accounting while playing online poker. He admitted to entering multiple accounts into the same tourney and playing the accounts. In essence he was giving himself multiple bites at the same apple. Every poker room states in their terms of service that using multiple accounts is forbidden and the resulting punishment may include banning or suspension of accounts.

A few days ago PokerStars.com announced that Field had been caught multi-accounting yet again. This time however he had gone even further and recruited some of his friends to help him play. He had his friends transfer money to and from his accounts so that he could both get money on and off of PokerStars. He used a network of friends to fund not only his own play, but to stake other players as well. PokerStars not only banned the accounts that Field used but took another step and banned his friends too. His friends were formally accused of “aiding and abetting” Field.

Last year when his multi-accounting scandal broke he apologized to the online poker community. He blamed his cheating on youth and hubris and at that time he promised to never cheat again saying he had learned a valuable lesson. Today we now know that his apology rings hollow as he used bad judgment once again. He not only dragged his own name through the mud but he even managed to get his friends snared in his net.

Online poker can be a very lucrative endeavor. Whether you play for fun or a living, there will always be ethical dilemmas that pop up. If you have questions about what you can or cannot do make sure to consult your poker room’s terms of service. Do not let greed take you down a fork in the road that ends with a ban from your favorite poker room.