It surely IS random. Random WITHIN a set of given parameters. Those parameters are primarily redistribution of funds.

The more the money in the site is redistributed, the more it is played, the more rake is taken. It’s simple.

That’s why when nearing the bubble in MTT’s and specially SnG’s that take longer than normal you will see the usual increase in pocket hole cards. This, obviously is to thin the field, award the prizes, and get everyone back to playing more tournaments/ring games etc…

Also, shaving 10% off the time it takes to finish a tournament shaves 10% off the cost of data hosting those tournaments. No point in wasting traffic costs when the money has already been made.

These sites have NO legal obligations whatsoever to you, and you have NO legal recourse.

Slot machines are random – but within set parameters, they obviously have to make a profit, which they do, a percentage at a time. Overall, slots payout big and small, but always remain a winner, the standard house edge.

Pokerstars is the same. It’s random within a set of parameters. There is no house edge at Pokerstars, just the rake. And the redistribution of funds is primarily achieved through action flops/drama boards.

It’s JUST like slot machines.

Stars and Tilt are set to redistribute funds. It’s up to us to capitalise on this, and the better players do.

Chris Ferguson even set up the Full Tilt Poker Academy to show you exactly how to play to minimise loss/maximise profit during chip redistribution. He actually tells/shows you how to play to suit the redistribution algorithm at FullTilt and come out ahead.

Full Tilt Poker Game #18118402490: $1.50+$0.20 Sit&Go (Sup Turbo) (137010913), Table 1 – 30/60 – No Limit Hold’em – 10:21:22 ET – 2010/02/02
Seat 1: MrPinkX (570)
Seat 6: kracy49 (895)
Seat 7: SavageChrist (1,235)
SavageChrist posts the small blind of 30
MrPinkX posts the big blind of 60
The button is in seat #6
*** HOLE CARDS ***
Dealt to SavageChrist [Jd Jc]
kracy49 raises to 895, and is all in
SavageChrist calls 865
MrPinkX folds
kracy49 shows [4h Ks]
SavageChrist shows [Jd Jc]
*** FLOP *** [6s Kd 3s]
*** TURN *** [6s Kd 3s] [Kh]
*** RIVER *** [6s Kd 3s Kh] [5h]
kracy49 shows three of a kind, Kings
SavageChrist shows two pair, Kings and Jacks
kracy49 wins the pot (1,850) with three of a kind, Kings
*** SUMMARY ***
Total pot 1,850 | Rake 0
Board: [6s Kd 3s Kh 5h]
Seat 1: MrPinkX (big blind) folded before the Flop
Seat 6: kracy49 (button) showed [4h Ks] and won (1,850) with three of a kind, Kings
Seat 7: SavageChrist (small blind) showed [Jd Jc] and lost with two pair, Kings and Jacks

Tell me of 1 online player that would open shove K4o with >10 BB’s 3 handed, and from 1st to act also in those particular game and stakes. I know no1 would do that live, especially with lots of time left to play, whether it be for small stakes, or WSOP glory. Yes, I’ll gladly take JJ all day vs K4o preflop, but that’s not the point here. And don’t scream variance either, because this was way out of the blue for the player to do what they did in the above HH. Someone would only do that, IMO, if they knew what was coming, AND knew I was going to get dealt a hand to good to fold such as the JJ to call that massive donkey shove pre flop.

Never in all my time playing those crazy STSNG’s have I seen anyone play that stupid preflop, and get rewarded for it. And it was totally unneccesary for him to do what he did at that stage of the SNG. I swear, 1/2 the time it seems, people plays these whack hands that they do, and its like they know what’s coming, hence why they treat it like AA, KK, etc. And before I get flamed, yes I know it was a $1.70 SNG, but its all I can play now as I try to build up from very little. It’s $hit like this that keeps me from ever wanting to deposit on these sites for significant $ again, where as I can buy $10 here and there from friends as I try to build up from those. Plus I don’t have to pay all of the darn deposit fees since the US player’s options are so limited now. I remember when I could put in with my Debit Card, then when that avenue got blocked, it was epassporte, then when that got blocked, bank CC, and now that that’s blocked, I haven’t put another dime in since…

I’ve also noticed many “pattern hands” myself, along with the “cash out curse” and the run of good fortune when you put $ in / open an account for the 1st time, and immediate also. And seeing how there are many others who noticed these same things that I did, makes me not so paranoid then…

So is it rigged? I honestly do not know, although at times it does have that “feel” of manipulation, whether it be good or bad. It’ll be interesting to see what is unearthed down the road.