<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>This is from Seif's blog at Bluff/pokerdb

AP Agrees to Independent Audit</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>Absolute Poker Management wishes to inform the poker community of the following information in response to the most recent claims posted over the past 48 hours on the 2+2 and Pocket Fives forums wherein again it is alleged that some person or persons breached Absolute Poker’s redundant and varying levels of game client security. As was stated in Absolute Poker’s Official Response released on Friday October 12, 2007, Absolute Poker conducted an extensive investigation in response to the claims it was made aware of and received. The results of that investigation indicated that to the best of Absolute Poker’s knowledge, information and belief there was no security breach. Specifically, Absolute Poker’s internal investigation determined that it is impossible for any person, device, program, script or other means to see hole cards.

Based on the most recent claims that Absolute Poker has been made aware of and at the request of some of our players and business partners, Absolute Poker has agreed to retain a widely acclaimed independent third party auditor, Gaming Associates, to conduct an independent audit of Absolute Poker’s security systems. Specifically, Absolute Poker has requested that Gaming Associates conduct a thorough and extensive review of Absolute Poker’s practices and security system’s to determine whether it is possible for any person, device, program, script or other means to see hole cards thereby gaining an unfair advantage.

Absolute Poker has agreed to fully cooperate with Gaming Associates and its investigative team and to provide the above with unfettered access to all systems, protocols and databases at Absolute Poker worldwide. Absolute Poker has also agreed to allow Gaming Associate’s final report to be made available to Pocket Fives and Bluff Media for their review.

With respect to the claims that Scott Tom, a former member of Team Absolute Poker, is in anyway involved in wrong-doing, Absolute Poker has requested a formal investigation into that matter as well. Mr. Tom has not been involved with Absolute Poker for over a year and to the best of our knowledge, information and belief has not had access to any of Absolute Poker’s systems, databases or information.

Absolute Poker reserves the right to pursue any and all remedies, including both legal and equitable which may inure to it as a result of any unlawful and/or injurious actions taken by any individuals who may have falsified any information, documents, files, or have by other means attempted to disparage and/or harm Absolute Poker, its players, management, employees, business partners or affiliates.

Absolute Poker shall bear all expenses related to such investigation and is eager to learn about Gaming Associate’s findings. Absolute Poker highly values and intends to protect its players, shareholders, business partners, and affiliates.

Absolute Poker Management </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Sigh, gg AP, etc etc etc

after reviewing all the information available to us we at absolute feel that there was no way possible for someone to have access to other players hole cards

I really don't see them taking any responsibility in this. My question is, IF they do ever admit to this, are they really going to be held liable since they are in Costa Rica? From what I have read so far it seems that the only group regulating them is corrupt in the first place and also didn't take the steps to regulate them at all. Yes the site will go under, but are there any legal repercussions to this at all?

Wow - how shady is this. Scott Tom isn't the CEO of AP, he's the CEO of the company that owns AP and UB. I for one know he's still involved with the company business of BOTH sites.

Keep in mind, the people that own this site are 20-somethings, who are rich, living in a country with no rules (Costa Rica)... I'm just surprised it's taken so long for someone to get caught.

So - how bad is it in AP's ***official*** release that they lie and try to coverup that Scott hasn't been a part of the company.

Wow...

I just want to say a huge thank you to all of those who are doggedly pursuing this and offer my encouragement to keep it up. This is slowly but surely paying off.

Lots of people are doing great stuff with this, but to me the most damning evidence (besides the crazy sick IP evidence) are the hands replayed on PXF. Anyone who has any amount of poker sense and watches that cannot deny what took place.

Again, thanks and keep the pressure on. This community (along with 2+2) is making all the difference.

If I were in APs position, I would simply have my programmers go through and temporarily remove any traces of superusers from user accounts and server code until the audit is completed. Assuming the code was even half decently written this should be extremely easy. That way when the auditors come around and check out user 363, he will be just like any other user.

"Absolute Poker has agreed to retain a widely acclaimed independent third party auditor, Gaming Associates, to conduct an independent audit of Absolute Poker’s security systems...

...Absolute Poker shall bear all expenses related to such investigation and is eager to learn about Gaming Associate’s findings."

I'm sure that Absolute's eagerness to have the matter closed and Gaming Associate's eagerness to get paid won't compromise the findings in any way.

lol @ fateman

After reviewing the play the ruling on the field stands, user 363 was able to see hole cards.

CABO... thanks for the laugh... needed it.

Notice how they keep saying "to the best of our knowledge." That's their ticket out of this mess.

I originally thought they were never going to admit to any wrongdoing, but they way they phrased that letter with "to the best of our knowledge," "hasn't worked here in 1 year," "former member," and other phrases leads me to believe they are setting us up to admit something was wrong, but pass the buck on someone other than themselves.

We should at least give credit where credit is due and watch how this plays out. They're hiring a third party investigator, that's a good thing. Any of us who expect them to simply say, "Case closed" based on the word of some online poker players are delusional and too self-absorbed. Some great guys helped bring it to light, and we all appreciate it, but let's not get crazy here.

just from the tone of this letter I can tell that this 3rd party investigation team is going to find the curroption in AP, and AP is going to act aloof saying, "wow, OMG, how could this have happened and we didn't even know!"

this is how his blog should of started: after reviewing the HHs myself it is obvious beyond reasonable doubt that some one saw everyones hole cards. therefor...........

and for not at least admitting the obvious Fuck you Sief

i have money on AP now and im fine how much u wanna bet AP is going no whereeeeee
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Sadly I think you are correct.