Security & Ecology Policy

Natural8 SECURITY AND ECOLOGY POLICY (“SEP”)

PREAMBLE

1. OVERVIEW

1.1. The Security and Ecology Policy (the "SEP") as maintained and operated by the Natural8 Security Team (“The Security Team”) should be read by you, the End User (the “User”), prior to playing on Natural8 and the GGNetwork (“Network”). Your decision and acceptance to play on Natural8 is a confirmation of your acceptance of the terms of the SEP.

1.2.Natural8’s ethos is that a healthy and safe User ecology is paramount to providing enjoyable poker games. To this end, we have implemented several security measures to foster and maintain a healthy ecology and ensure that Natural8 Users are provided with a safe and secure environment. The items outlined below state what is being monitored, how it is being monitored, and any potential actions taken by Natural8.

1.3. We reserve the right to make immaterial changes to the SEP. If we make any material changes to SEP, we will give you as much prior notice of such changes as is reasonably practicable but, in any event, you will be notified of material changes before they come into effect. Material changes will be communicated to you via email with a summary of the material changes to these Conditions. You will also receive a pop-up message when you login, directing you to review the completely updated SEP. After reviewing the updated terms and conditions, you will be prompted to “Agree” to the updated SEP to continue to use our services. Your continued use of the services after being notified of the material changes, and after indicating your acceptance of the updated SEP, will be considered by us to be your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the material changes, then you will not be able to continue to use the services.

1.4. As the account holder, it is the User's primary responsibility to ensure the security of their account, including the confidentiality of their nickname and password. If an account suffers unauthorised access using the correct email and password, we are not liable for any loss on the account, and we reserve the right to confiscate any unlawful gains made during the unauthorised access.

1.5. Natural8 will not be liable for any loss the User incurs due to unauthorized use or misuse of the login details except for when We fail to exercise reasonable care.

1.6. Given a reasonable grounds to believe that a User is involved in any form of Prohibited Activities and Behaviors or Prohibited Use of Auxiliary Tools or Services, the Security Team reserves the right to block and conduct a security check on any account at any time, even during gameplay. The security check may result in, but is not limited to, restricted access to the Users account, cashier, gameplay (both cash games and tournaments), or bonus rewards.

1.7 In case of any suspected criminal or fraudulent activities, we may inform relevant authorities of the Users’ identity.

1.8 In case of any integrity violations, we may inform the Poker Integrity Council.

1.9 In order to prevent cheating, we reserve the right to perform a scan of the User’s machine or device to monitor Prohibited Activities and Behaviors or Prohibited Uses of Auxiliary Tools or Services. If the scan reveals suspicious activity, our software may scan the associated files to compile a composite mesh to be matched against profiles for known illicit automated programs.

1.10 In the event of a SEP breach, the Security Team reserves the right to levy one or more penalties after a thorough investigation of the case, based on accumulated information, data, and evidence.

2. ACTIONS FOR BREACH OF NATURAL8 SEP

2.1. The Security Team’s paramount objective is to provide a safe and healthy poker environment and will always aim to educate Users at the outset. In cases where a serious breach (and continued breaches) occurs, your account may be locked to allow for an investigation of the alleged breach. For the lock’s duration, access to your account, login, gameplay, withdrawal, deposits, or inter-wallet transfers may be restricted.

2.2. Actions that can be taken against Users for confirmed breaches, based on the accumulated information available to us, are as follows:

a) WARNING: A written notice;

b) REWARD REMOVAL: Removal/reduction of your promotional rewards;

c) SUSPENSION: Temporary suspension of your account;

d) ACCOUNT CLOSURE: Permanent closure of your account;

e) PERMANENT BAN: Permanent ban from Natural8;

f) CONFISCATION: Seizure of funds to compensate victims of any prohibited/fraudulent activities (loss of funds due to use of bots or other Third Party Tools, loss of funds due to collusion, loss of funds owing to bum hunting). Seizure of funds may not only include funds in your poker wallet but in your main wallet as well as any pending withdrawals.

g) REMOVAL OF ACCESS TO POKERCRAFT: Restriction of access to PokerCraft

h) GAME REMOVAL: Restriction to play certain types of games

2.3. Regarding the results of any investigations, the Security Team’s decisions are final. The Security Team reserves the right to determine whether or not a breach of the SEP has occurred. By agreeing to our SEP, you hereby accept The Security Team’s said right of decision and determination.

BREACHES

3. USE OF BOTS

3.1. A bot is defined as software, programs, websites or apps that enable playing without human intervention or reduces the requirement of a human to make decisions. A human must decide what action to take and the exact size of any bet or raise. Any tool or service which reads the current game state and gives a User aid on decisions is strictly prohibited.

3.2. Natural8’s software package contains certain features designed to detect the use of automated programs that enable gameplay based on Artificial Intelligence.

3.3. Natural8’s software may perform any or all of the following scans to detect the use of illicit automated programs and ensure that a “cheat-free” environment is maintained:

a) Scan of all active software applications while our software is being used.

b) Scan of all active processes while our software is being used.

c) Scan of all activities for the potential use of Artificial Intelligence.

3.4. Should any of the aforementioned processes reveal a suspicious application or process; our software may scan the files associated with the questionable application or process and compile a composite mesh (a profile that characterises the files associated with the application or process) to be matched against profiles for known illicit automated programs.

3.5 Bot includes, but is not limited to, artificial intelligence, fully and partially automated bot, or any other tools that automate decisions or actions.

3.6. Actions taken for breaches: PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

4. USE OF REAL-TIME ASSISTANCE (RTA)

4.1. Any decision made at the poker table must be made solely by you. Humans must decide what action to take and the exact size of any bet or raise.

4.2. Use of any software and/or reference materials that provides advice and/or has an influence on your decision-making in real-time is strictly prohibited.

4.3. Prohibited software includes, but is not limited to, GTO solvers, range calculators, and ICM analyzers.

4.4. Prohibited reference materials are solutions from simulations, e.g., GTO charts, range calculation, ICM equity, decision trees, nash equilibrium, or push/fold charts.

4.5 The following reference material is allowed: a basic pre-flop chart that defines starting hands to play from each starting position. If reading materials contain stack size, relative positions, or any User-defined situations then they are not permitted.

4.6. Actions taken for breaches: PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

5. CIRCUMVENTION

5.1. Natural8 prohibits Users from making fraudulent or unlawful use of their software.

5.2. Natural8 prohibits Users from breaking into, accessing, or attempting to break into the software and/or Network with malicious intent.

5.3. Natural8 prohibits Users from exploiting or attempting to exploit software bugs within the client for personal/mutual gain.

5.4. Natural8 has developed and employs sophisticated proprietary technology intended to seek out and identify offending Users.

5.5. Actions taken for breaches: PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

7. GHOSTING

7.1. Users are strictly prohibited from playing on behalf of someone else or allowing someone else to play on their account.

7.2. The use of software to share hole card information with other individuals in real-time is strictly prohibited. Further discussed in section 15. Use of VPN, Proxy & Remote Desktop

7.3. Actions taken for breaches: PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

8. TRESPASSING

8.1. Natural8 strictly prohibits Users previously banned from any GGNetwork skin from returning on any account on any GGNetwork skin.

8.2. Actions taken for breaches: PERMANENT BAN, CONFISCATION

9. Enhanced Enforcement of VIP Games and Tournaments

9.1. Users involved in any of the following financial relationships are strictly prohibited from playing at the same VIP cash game tables as their associates: staking, swaps, profit-sharing, or any bankroll sharing agreement.

9.2. Users are strictly prohibited from making deals, including off-client deals, at the Final Table of select tournaments, including the Super MILLION$ High Roller.

9.3. Actions taken for breaches: 30-DAY SUSPENSION and/or PERMANENT BAN, CONFISCATION

10. COLLUSION

10.1. Collusion is the behavior in which two or more Users establish a partnership to gain an unfair advantage over other Users at the same cash game table or same tournament. The Security Team’s general rules regarding collusion are (but not limited to) as below:

a) Users’ hands must be played independently, in their own best interests.

b) Users must not have a partnership to gain an advantage over other Users.

c) Users must refrain from “Soft-Play” i.e. the act of intentionally playing hands in a non-aggressive manner against another user who is either a friend, backer, or another person of interest. The only exception to this rule is the “In The Money (ITM)” bubble and multi-handed situations past the money bubble in which one or more Users is all-in.

d) Users must not share hole-card information with another User under any circumstances.

10.2. The Security Team employs sophisticated industry-leading tools to detect suspicious actions deemed as collusion. Our tools monitor an assortment of data, such as hand history, betting patterns, and User gameplay. We also look at various other sources of information as part of our investigations.

10.3. Actions taken for minor breaches: WARNING or TEMPORARY BAN

10.4. Actions taken for repeat/major breaches: PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

11. PREDATORY BEHAVIOUR

11.1. Predatory Behaviour is defined as User activities focused primarily on engaging in unethical advantages and tactics to exploit other Users in order to gain unfair profit.

11.2. Predatory Behaviour includes, but is not limited to; bum hunting, collusion, use of Artificial Intelligence, ratholing, grimming, hit-and-running, buttoning, and other unethical actions (mostly deemed unethical by general consensus of the poker community).

11.3. Natural8’s promise to its Users is to provide a safe, fun, and enjoyable poker environment. Predatory Behaviour is in direct conflict with our promise, and as such, The Security Team adopts a strict zero-tolerance policy to it.

11.4. Actions taken for initial breaches: WARNING or TEMPORARY BAN

11.5. Actions taken for repeat breaches: PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

12. BUM HUNTING

12.1. Bum hunting is defined as the act of deliberately targeting one subset of (usually weaker) Users while avoiding giving action to another subset of (usually stronger) Users.

12.2. Bum hunting includes targeting a User by either intentionally sitting out at a table or observing Cash Game tables and only participating when the preferred User joins. Users are expected to be seated for the purpose of playing.

12.3. Bum hunting also includes the act of purposely targeting a User by following the targeted User’s activity. This can include being on standby in the lobby until a preferred User enters a game and then following them into the game and playing only until said User leaves.

12.4. While it is acceptable to be seated and occasionally deny action in certain circumstances, giving action to certain players while denying action to other players when you are starting tables is strictly prohibited.

12.5. Queueing, the act of intentionally seeking to avoid playing against specific players in blind registration games, such as Spin & Gold, is strictly prohibited.

12.6. Actions taken for initial breaches: WARNING or TEMPORARY BAN

12.7. Actions taken for repeat breaches: REWARD REMOVAL, PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

13. CHIP-DUMPING

13.1. Chip-dumping is defined as the act of a User intentionally losing his/her chips to another User.

13.2. Actions taken for minor breaches: WARNING or TEMPORARY BAN

13.3. Actions taken for repeat/major breaches: PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

14. MULTI ACCOUNTING

14.1. Natural8 prohibits Users from intentionally opening/using multiple accounts on the same GGNetwork skin.

14.2. Natural8 prohibits any User from intentionally opening an account if the User has been banned from GGNetwork.

14.3. Natural8 prohibits any User from intentionally opening an account if the User already has a Selective Mandatory Real Name (SMR) account on any GGNetwork skin.

14.4. Natural8 prohibits Users from playing from multiple accounts simultaneously and playing on the same table for Cash Games, Spin & Gold, or the same player pool for any other games offered.

14.5. Natural8 prohibits Users from playing from multiple accounts in the same tournament.

14.6. Natural8 prohibits Users from registering for the same tournament multiple times to take advantage of freerolls or promotions.

14.7. If a User accidentally creates a multi-account, we will close all newly created accounts and move funds to the original account.

14.8. Actions may still be taken against Users that successfully verify their Natural8 account(s).

14.9 Verified Nickname players and players that have been requested to provide personal documents for Real Name conversion are strictly prohibited from creating and/or playing on any new accounts, and creating and/or playing on any pre-existing accounts other than their Verified Nickname accounts, on any GGNetwork skin.

14.10. Actions taken for breaches: SUSPENSION, ACCOUNT CLOSURE, PERMANENT BAN, CONFISCATION OF FUNDS

15. USE OF VPN, PROXY & REMOTE DESKTOP

15.1. Natural8 prohibits the use of VPN/PROXY, remote desktops, or any alternative methods used to mask one’s actual location and/or identity in order to play from a prohibited region or engage in other breaches of our SEP

15.2. Should we determine that Users are accessing Natural8 from prohibited countries, we may restrict their use of VPN/Proxy, or suspend the account and request Proof of Presence (“POP”).

15.3. Natural8 also strictly prohibits the use of remote desktop and screen-sharing software while accessing the Natural8 client, as they can be used to facilitate breaches of our SEP, including playing from prohibited countries, ghosting, multi-accounting, RTA, and botting.

15.4 Actions taken for minor breaches: WARNING or TEMPORARY BAN

15.5 Actions taken for repeat/major breaches: PERMANENT BAN and/or CONFISCATION

16. THIRD-PARTY TOOLS

16.1. Natural8 does not permit the use of certain third-party tools.

16.2. A third-party tool is prohibited if it,

a) data mines,

(i) hands or private results (observing games without playing in order to build up a database of hand histories for future reference), and

(ii) the mass sharing of hands, private results, or playing statistics for the purpose of analysis of opponents

b) is a Heads-Up Display (HUD) i.e. a program that displays Users’ past tendencies and betting patterns,

c) assists in automatic seating or game-selection efficiency, and/or

d) is deemed by The Security Team to provide an unfair advantage over other Users.

16.3. A third-party tool is permitted if it,

a) assists only in the tiling/aligning of tables,

b) assists in the creation of macros and hotkeys for gameplay efficiency that does not reduce the requirement of a User having to make a decision. The User must decide what action to take and the exact relative size of any bet or raise, with the macro or hotkey merely executing this decision. For example, a hotkey that bets half the pot is permitted. A hotkey that bets a randomised amount between half and three-quarters of the pot is prohibited, and/or

c) is judged by The Security Team to have characteristics of prohibited third-party tools but is deemed inoperable in conjunction with the Natural8 client.

16.4. Actions taken for minor breaches: WARNING or TEMPORARY BAN

16.5. Actions taken for major/repeat breaches: PERMANENT BAN

17. RATHOLING

17.1. Ratholing includes, without limitation, incidents where a User plays short-stacked and upon hitting a certain chip threshold, the offending User intentionally leaves the table and immediately sits with a lesser stack at a new table of the same limit.

17.2. Actions taken for breaches: WARNING or TEMPORARY BAN

18. USER SOLICITATION

18.1. Natural8 considers any attempts to solicit personal information as a threat to our Users, and strictly prohibits such behaviour. Should Natural8 determine that solicitation of personal information has occurred, we reserve the right to immediately suspend the offending accounts for further investigation, permanently ban the offending accounts, and in severe cases, take legal actions against these accounts.

18.2. Actions taken for initial breach: WARNING or TEMPORARY CHAT BAN

18.3. Actions taken for repeat breaches: PERMANENT CHAT BAN or PERMANENT BAN

19. Mass Data Analysis (MDA)

19.1. Mass Data Analysis (MDA) refers to the accumulation of data on particular player pools and building exploitable heuristics based on its analysis

19.2. Users are strictly prohibited from using any means to systematically collect and harvest data from any games or player activities

19.3. Users must not share, sell, or distribute any analysis, insights, or data derived from MDA with other users or entities

19.4. Potential actions for breaches: WARNING, SUSPENSION, PERMANENT BAN, CONFISCATION OF FUNDS

20. OFFENSIVE CONDUCT

20.1. Offensive Conduct is defined as any act that is (but not limited to):

a) defamatory, racist, vulgar, hateful, obscene, profane, threatening, insulting, offensive or discriminatory

b) Illegal, or associated with criminal activities

c) Intended to impersonate another person(s) or entity

d) Intended to advertise

e) Intended to solicit personal information

f) Intended to deceive or mislead others

g) Harmful to the computer, data, or financial security of any party

h) Considered to be ‘spamming’ other Users

20.2 Offensive Conduct includes, but is not limited to, one’s activities regarding a profile picture, chats, SnapCam, audio chat, or voice message.

20.3. Potential actions for breaches: CHAT SUSPENSION / CHAT BAN, WARNING, SUSPENSION, PERMANENT BAN

21. HIT AND RUNNING

21.1. Hit and Running is defined as leaving a table shortly after winning a significant pot, consequently depriving opponents of a chance to recover their losses.

21.2. Factors that are considered for Hit and Running include, but are not limited to, the size of the pot, the number of hands played post-winning the pot, and the frequency of such behavior.

21.3. Potential actions for breaches: WARNING, SUSPENSION, REWARD REMOVAL, PERMANENT BAN

22. PROMOTION ABUSING

22.1. Promotion Abusing is defined as actively participating in any Promotion for the purposes of receiving additional bonus/promotion/leaderboard rewards than the User is entitled to..

22.2. Potential actions for breaches: REWARD REMOVAL, PERMANENT BAN, CONFISCATION OF FUNDS

23. HACKING

23.1. Hacking is defined as gaining unauthorized access to an account – its username and password – by compromising digital device(s) and/or network(s).

23.2. If the User is a victim of Hacking, the User should report the incident immediately to the Security Team.

23.3. Potential actions for breaches: PERMANENT BAN, CONFISCATION OF FUNDS

24. PROHIBITED USE OF AUXILIARY TOOLS OR SERVICES

24.1 Natural8 strictly prohibits use of any auxiliary tools or services that may facilitate Prohibited Activities and Behaviors. Moreover, any tools or services that provide unfair advantage over the opponents or that result in violation of Natural8’s Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, House Rules, or SEP are strictly monitored and prohibited. It must be noted that any examples of auxiliary tools or services listed here do not represent, by any means, an exhaustive list.

a) Any tools or services that aid the execution of any poker action including, but not limited to, RTA, bots (fully or partially automated), solvers, charts, or HUDs are prohibited. However, tools or services that do not support or interact with Natural8 during gameplay will not be flagged.

b) Any tools or services that aid the execution of any additional action while accessing the client including, but not limited to, seating scripts or automated note taking tools.

d) Remote access tools that provide access to one’s machine or device, including, but not limited to, TeamViewer, AnyDesk, ChromeRDP, RDPClip, LogMeIn, Microsoft Remote Desktop, Splashtop, VNC Connect, RemotePC, and Zoho Assist.

e) Virtual machines or emulators of any kind that conceal one’s own machine and device including, but not limited to Oracle VM VirtualBox, VMware, Parallels, Microsoft Hyper-V, Nox, Bluestacks, or MEnu.

f) VPNs, Proxies, or any other tools that mask one’s location.

h) Any tools or services that are designed to extract or mine game data from the game client.

i) Any tools or services that enable control access to multiple devices including, but not limited to, Mouse without Borders, ShareMouse, Synergy, and Input Director.

25. ADVANTAGE PLAY

25.1 Advantage Play is defined as any act that is, but not limited to,:

a) keeping track of the cards played,

b) using any hardware or software to game outcomes for analysis

c) using any application of techniques or strategies enabling the gaining of unfair winnings.

25.2 Potential actions for breaches: SUSPENSION, PERMANENT BAN, CONFISCATION OF FUNDS

26. Backing Arrangements

26.1. Users participating in tournaments are required to disclose any private backing arrangements with third parties by using “Designate Backer” feature when buying into the tournament.

26.2. Failure to disclose these arrangements will be considered as intentional deception.

26.3. Backing may be prohibited depending on your territory.

26.4. Natural8 may request documentation and proof regarding any backing arrangement, which a User is obliged to provide.

26.5. Potential action for breaches: WARNING, SUSPENSION, PERMANENT BAN