Getting Started, General, and Technical

To help you find the answers you are looking for, we have organized our FAQ page into three major sections: Getting Started, General Questions and Technical Questions. If further assistance is needed, please contact us and we will be glad to answer any of your questions.

Getting Started

General Questions

Technical Questions

Is this legal?

You should check with local authorities regarding gambling in your jurisdiction. Fat Bet Poker does not accept bets from residents of Canada, Costa Rica or the United States of America.

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How do I download the Fat Bet Poker software?

You have two options:

Run this program from it's current location:

  • This will automatically run the installation of the executable file from the server that hosts the download. Just follow the prompts through the installation process. When complete, you will have a Fat Bet Poker icon on your desktop. Click this icon to launch the betterpoker application and start playing.

Save the program on your computer:

  • Just remember what folder you saved the file to. Once the download is complete, run this file and the installation will commence. Follow the prompts through the installation process. When complete, you will have a Fat Bet Poker icon on your desktop. Click this icon to launch the Fat Bet Poker application and start playing.

Please note that these web pages and those of our affiliates are the only ones we support for download. Software obtained elsewhere unless explicitly mentioned here may be faulty and we cannot assume responsibility for issues involved with its use.

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What are the minimum system requirements to play?

  • Windows 98/ME/2000
  • Download Size: Approximately 5 Megabytes (30 minutes on a 56k modem)
  • Pentium 120MHz processor with 16 MB RAM
  • 28.8k Modem
  • Sound card recommended but not required

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I have the software installed. Now, how do I sign up so I can play?

After opening the Fat Bet Poker application, a window opens asking for an email address and password. If you already have an account, enter the email address and password and click okay. This will take you to the lobby where a list of games is displayed that you can choose from.

If you do not have an account, you will have to create one before you can play. At the bottom of the login window, click the Sign up/Create Account button. This will open a window with the registration form. Alternatively, choose the 'Lobby' menu from the tool bar across the top of the window and select 'Create New Account'.

Choose your username carefully, as it cannot be changed. In order to process real money transactions, the information you provide must match the information the issuer of your credit card has on file.
Once you have filled out this form, click 'Create My Account'. If there are problems with the information you provided, you will be brought back to the Account Creation page. There will be a message directing you to the necessary changes.

Once accepted, another page will open telling you that your account has been created and a welcome email will be sent to you. The email will include a validation code that is necessary to activate your account.

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How do I validate my account?

An email with your validation code will be sent to you. There is a link included in this email that you can click to validate your account. You will receive an email confirming that your account has been validated.

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How do I get chips to play?

You are automatically credited with play money. Should you need more play money, go to the cashier and request that more play money be credited to your account. If you would like to play for real money, click 'Account' on the lobby's toolbar. This will open a new window. In the box on the top-right side of this window, there is a link titled 'Deposit Money'. Clicking this link will open a new window providing three options to deposit money into your account: Visa/Mastercard. Choose the method you wish to use.

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What is the Minimum Buy-in?

The minimum buy-in for a table is 10 times the size of the big blind. For example, you need $100 to sit at a $5/$10 table.

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How do I see what games and tables are available for me to play at?

When the lobby opens, the table list for Texas Holdem in the window in the bottom-left corner. We also offer Omaha, Omaha High-Low, Seven Card Stud, Five Card Stud and 1-on-1 tables. To display the table list for these games, click the appropriate tab within the window.

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How can I locate a player that might be playing in the room at one of the tables?

In the bottom right hand corner of the Lobby window, a search feature exists. Enter the username of the player you are trying to locate, and you will be taken to the table in which that player is seated. If the player is currently not in the room, you will be informed of their absence.

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How does the waiting list work?

If the table you want to play at is full, you can join the waiting list from the lobby or from the table itself. You will be added to the list and automatically notified when a seat is available.

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How does the waiting list work when a table is empty?

If no players are available to play a selected game, select the minimum number of players you wish to play against. When a game with enough players is established, you will automatically be notified.

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How do I open a table from the lobby?

Highlight the table that you wish to open, either by single clicking on the table within the list or by using the up and down arrow keys on your keyboard. Once the table you wish to open is highlighted, double click the highlighted area. The table window will open.

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Can I sit down at an empty table?

Absolutely. Normally, once someone sits at an empty table, others soon follow. You probably won't have much of a wait to start playing.

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How do I view hand histories?

A unique number is given to each hand played and is used to review the events when a player questions a specific hand. Hand histories can be viewed by clicking on the account tab and selecting the "Hand History" option. From the page that loads, enter in the game number and click 'Search'. You can only view a history for hands that you participated in.

If you missed the hand number of the game in question, make note of the hand currently being played and you can work back from there within the Hand History page. If you feel there is a legitimate error in a hand, forward all information to support@fatbetpoker.com for review.

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How do I change my account information?

To insure the highest levels of security, once you have created your account, changes to your information can only be change by an administrator. Send an email with your username and the information that needs to be changed to support@fatbetpoker.com for review.

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How do I change my username?

Generally we do not allow for usernames to be changed. If you have misspelled your username or have another reason for needing it to be switched, send a request to support@fatbetpoker.com.

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What does Avg. Pot and Plrs/Flop mean?

Avg. Pot refers to the average size of the pot over the last 30 hands average pot. Plrs/Flop is the percentage of players that stay in the hand for the Flop.

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How do I chat with the other players?

To chat with the other players, simply type what you would like to say in the box in the bottom left corner of the table window. You will see the text being entered and have the ability to edit before you commit the text to be read by others at the table. When you would like to submit the text to be viewed, simply hit the 'enter' key and your text will appear in the chat box. You may chat with players at a table that you are not seated at.

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What is the meaning of the shorthand that some players use in the chat?

As a shortcut, some players use acronyms to represent what they would like to say.

  • NH - Nice hand
  • VN / VNH - Very nice hand
  • TX / TKS / TY - Thanks / Thank you
  • WTG - Way to go
  • G1 - Good one

Some other chat room symbols that come up:

  • BRB - Be right back
  • LOL - Laughing out loud
  • ROFL - Rolling on the floor laughing
  • CUL - See you later
  • CYA - See you

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All the chat at the table is bothersome. Can I do anything to stop it?

You can customize what shows up in the chat box from the ‘Options’ menu. The ‘Options’ menu is located at the top, left corner of the table view.

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How can I be sure the game is fair?

All of the software used by Fat Bet Poker has been rigorously tested by Technical Systems Testing, an independent entity with years of experience verifying the security of software. As with any game, there will be times when you win and times when you lose. Sometimes these will extend into streaks. All information that is offered on these pages is to inform players of how the room operates and what measures are taken to ensure the integrity of the games at Fat Bet Poker. Should you ever have questions or concerns with regards to the operation of the poker room, you can contact the administrative staff at support@fatbetpoker.com.

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I have followed the instructions for creating an account but have not yet received my email verification code, what should I do?

Occasionally, our mail bot gets clogged and prevents outgoing mail from departing on a timely basis. Please send an email to support@fatbetpoker.com indicating you have registered but have not received your verification code and we will forward information on how to fix the problem immediately. NOTE: If you can't communicate with us via email, you can always call our customer help line at UK Toll Free: 0808 234 7540 or International: +599 693 0507.

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What happens if I get disconnected in the middle of a game?

It is important to understand how the software deals with disconnects in the middle of hands you are involved in. Your hand is protected as per an “All In” situation unless you do something to fold your hand. Please note that in order to prevent abuse of this feature, the number of times “All In” protection can be utilized in a 24 hour period is restricted by a site administrator. The All In counter is reset each day at 12:00am EST.

Folding of a hand will occur as a result of one of the following:

1. You leave the card room in the middle of a hand.
2. You exit the game using the close box (i.e. clicking the X in top right hand corner of the screen).
3. You click the fold button, accidentally OR intentionally.
4. You are disconnected from the game and re-enter the table before that hand has completed.
5. You fail to act on your hand within 20 seconds, e.g. you "Time Out".

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What happens when a hand is restarted?

Occasionally a hand will appear to start, as indicated by the shuffle of the cards and the prompt for the posting of the blinds, followed by a pause and the Dealer text indicating that the "Hand Will Start Over". Player accounts will be unaffected by hands that are not completed. Any blinds posted and bets made in an incomplete hand are returned to the player.

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What is the rake?

Money is removed from each pot to pay the house. Our variable rake structure is 5% of the pot size, with a maximum of $3.00. Additional details can be viewed here.

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Can I see how the game looks like before I commit to buying-in with real money?

Definitely. All you need to do is download and install our software and register an account. No credit information is needed to do this. Once registration has been completed, you are free to watch any game and participate in a 'play money' table. You can even chat with players to get a real testimonial of what Fat Bet Poker is like. For more detailed inquiries, we request you email us at support@fatbetpoker.com.

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What is done about collusion?

Fat Bet Poker has various methods of monitoring play at tables, and any player suspected of collusion will be closely monitored. Should the card room administrators deem it necessary, they will suspend the accounts of the offending player immediately and permanently. For more information regarding the integrity of the game, refer to our security policies.

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I enjoy the games offered at Fat Bet Poker. Are there plans to develop and release others?

Yes. Tournaments and new poker variations are continually being developed.

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I keep getting disconnected or frozen. What is the problem?

Normally, this is the result of an inconsistent Internet connection, usually caused by momentary hiccups on the Internet highway. Information traveling between your computer and the game server travels through many computers, and if one of the links in the chain goes down, your information will have to be rerouted through another computer. Unfortunately, in a real time interactive game, these delays can be enough to cause our system to think you have left the game.

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I keep getting an error message. What should I do?

Fat Bet Poker support will need the exact error message you are receiving and exactly what was happening when the error occurred. Forward this information to support@fatbetpoker.com.

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I have looked through your website for an answer to my question but my question isn’t covered here. Who should I contact?

support@fatbetpoker.com
Note: Be sure to include your username along with all other details you have on the issue The more information you provide, the better our support staff can assist you. If you are getting error messages, please include the exact text of the error message as well as what you were doing when the error occurred.

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