Chat rules and guidelines

Our goal is to be a fun place to play, where everyone can feel comfortable. As such, we will not tolerate vulgarity at the tables. All our players' chat needs to be clean and respectful.

There are a number of chat rules with penalties for each type of violation depending on the severity and recurrences. Anytime we conduct a review, we consider the user's account history and previous infractions.

The following are prohibited in our chat and may result in a warning or possible chat suspension:

1. Profanity/abuse: Profane, vulgar, racist or abusive/insulting chat. Do not engage in retaliatory chat, as this will likely result in sanctions for both users. We do have a feature by which certain profane or otherwise unacceptable words are asterisked out. Attempting to bypass this filter is also against chat rules.
2. Begging/solicitation: Repeatedly asking for chips (whether play money or real money).
3. Play money chip sales: Engaging in any discussion regarding the sale or purchase of play money chips. 
4. Flooding: The sending of multiple and frequent messages through chat in order to drown out legitimate chat.
5. Non-English chat (some exceptions apply): We are aware that our players are from different backgrounds and that for many of them English is not their first language. However, at this time our policy on most tables is that English is the only language allowed in the chat. In some special events, chat may be allowed in English and another language (e.g. in regional tournaments). These tables and tournaments will be clearly labelled. If you are not comfortable with non-English chat, please do not join these tables or tournaments. This rule applies to all play money games regardless of license, however for real money games there are exceptions. If you play on the .ES, .FR, .IT, or .PT license, you're allowed to chat in the country's official language, as well as English.
6. Commercial use: It is strictly prohibited to use chat for any commercial gain whatsoever, including making any statements which promote any third-party services or products.
7. Malicious behaviour: Chat cannot be used for any malicious or offensive behaviour, including but not limited to collusion, fraud or spam. Users shall not make statements about our site that are untrue or would reasonably be considered to be derogatory or critical. Users should be generally aware of the feelings of other customers and staff, and should act in a respectful manner.
8. Stalking/harassment: Following another player from table to table to harass, abuse, intimidate and intentionally disrupt the game is prohibited. We will investigate any such reports. When sending a report of this kind always include the Stars ID of the person reported and approximate dates and times, as well as the subject Chat Stalking Complaint - Attn: Stalking Team.

When we examine a chat complaint, we look at all chat involved, as well as context. We take appropriate action in all cases where a player is in violation of chat rules.

If reported players are still chatting, then they were either considered to be not abusive, or given a warning, rather than having their chat suspended.