Americas Cardroom activates ScreenShield by default for all network players
Network-wide screenshot protection starts 4 November; streamers can opt out
Key Takeaways
- Winning Poker Network will enable ScreenShield by default for all players on 4 November.
- WPN reviewed more than 2,000,000 hands from devices with MeshAgent detection and found no evidence of hole-card knowledge use in those hands.
- About 200,000 of the reviewed hands were played by Paul Gregg; WPN found no proof he saw opponents’ cards.
- WPN closed Paul Gregg’s account after assessing additional information; the account decision was separate from gameplay findings.
- WPN has shared information about ScreenShield with other operators so they can evaluate similar safeguards for their players.
Americas Cardroom will enable ScreenShield by default for all players on the Winning Poker Network starting 4 November. The measure applies table-protection against screen-capture and sharing methods across the network, while leaving an option for players who stream or record sessions to disable the feature in Settings.
ScreenShield becomes the default setting on 4 November
From 4 November, Winning Poker Network (WPN) will change its table-protection feature ScreenShield so that it is enabled by default for players across the network. ScreenShield prevents protected content from WPN poker tables from appearing through the screen-capture and sharing methods the tool covers. Players continue to see their own tables normally and the game mechanics are not changed.
The network has explicitly left a legitimate-use route: users who want to stream, record sessions, produce training material or work with coaches can open the ScreenShield page in Settings and disable the feature themselves when they need capture capability.
Why WPN made the change and the prior game review
The change follows a large-scale review of hands linked to concerns about remote-access software. WPN examined more than 2 000 000 hands from players whose devices showed the presence of the MeshAgent software. According to the network, it found no evidence that any reviewed player was using hole-card knowledge on the network.
From that set, approximately 200 000 hands were played by Paul Gregg, who had been the focus of discussion within the high-stakes community. WPN says its review found no proof that Gregg could see opponents’ cards or that he used hole-card knowledge while playing on WPN. Separately, the network closed Gregg’s account after weighing additional information gathered during the investigation and communications with other operators; WPN notes the account decision was independent of the gameplay findings.
Assessment of additional policies: banning third-party software
WPN is assessing whether a broader policy will be necessary, including the possibility of banning the use of third-party software alongside the poker client. No final decision has been made; the current review seeks to balance increased security and integrity protection against legitimate uses by players.
The network has also treated ScreenShield as an industry security matter and has shared information with other online poker operators about how to implement this type of protection so they can assess whether similar safeguards would be useful for their own players. This cooperation with sector peers is part of wider efforts to improve game integrity.
What this means for players, streamers and technical providers
Recreational players will not notice changes to the playing experience unless they use capture tools; they will see their tables as always. Streamers and content creators retain the ability to capture and share their play by disabling ScreenShield in Settings when needed.
For software vendors and platforms, the update raises two practical implications: first, demand for mechanisms allowing granular management of screen capture and user experience will increase; second, any discussion about a possible ban on third-party software will force platforms and developers to review compatibilities and terms of use. Operators that already deploy integrity controls and software detection will face less investigative adaptation; the adjustment will be in managing visibility and the disable flows for content creators.
Context on Americas Cardroom and Winning Poker Network
Americas Cardroom, formerly known as ACR Poker, joined Winning Poker Network in 2011. WPN has been dealing cards since 2001 and presents itself as one of the more established brands in online poker. Americas Cardroom maintains a reputation for payments processing and reliable payouts, consistently ranked first in those categories according to its own description.
The implementation of ScreenShield across the network represents an operational and security measure applied by WPN to its partners and brands, including Americas Cardroom.
Industry implications and next steps
WPN will continue its review of third-party software use and the policy it ultimately adopts will affect players, software vendors and other operators. The network has already communicated operational details about ScreenShield to third parties to facilitate evaluation at other operators. If an external-software ban is decided, changes will require updates to terms of service, technical detection and compliance processes.
Operators’ compliance and platform teams should review their account management policies, software-detection practices and appeal routes in light of the closure of Paul Gregg’s account, given WPN’s distinction between gameplay findings and account decisions based on additional information.
For related reading and analysis of product and operations impact, product and compliance leads can consult our coverage sections in /b2b and in /regulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will ScreenShield be enabled by default on Americas Cardroom?
ScreenShield will be enabled by default across the Winning Poker Network on 4 November. The option will be preconfigured as on for all players and can be turned off from the ScreenShield page in Settings for users who need to capture their screen.
What did WPN check during its review of hands tied to MeshAgent?
WPN examined more than 2,000,000 hands from players whose devices showed MeshAgent and did not find evidence that the reviewed players used hole-card knowledge. The network separates those gameplay findings from other operational decisions.
How will the measure affect streamers and content creators?
Streamers and creators can manually disable ScreenShield in Settings when they need to record or broadcast. The feature will be on by default, but WPN retained a switch for legitimate uses such as streaming, session recording and creating training material.
Why did WPN close Paul Gregg’s account if it found no cheating in the reviewed hands?
WPN closed Paul Gregg’s account after assessing additional information gathered during the investigation and communications with other operators; according to the network, the account decision was independent of the gameplay review results.
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About the author
Sofía Carrasco
Poker Correspondent
Sofía Carrasco covers live and online poker — tournament series from the WSOP and EPT to the daily room grind, promotions, and the industry moves behind them. The reports keep every score, pot, and player name exactly as the record shows, and follow the story past the final hand: who qualified, what the structure rewarded, and how the field is shifting. For player moves, software, and regulation across the poker economy, Sofía Carrasco is the first read.
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