Natural8 India Operating Rules ("House Rules")

House Rules for Poker

To read the Game Rules for each poker game, click the info icon in the game lobby. It is the responsibility of each player to verify their understanding of the rules of their chosen game prior to placing bets.

Below explains the specific rules and policies that apply to our poker games.

Multi-Hand Policy

Natural8 India allows players to play at multiple tables or in multiple games simultaneously; the maximum number of tables that a player can participate in or games that a player can participate in is limited by the Natural8 India software they are using (such as desktop-based, mobile device-based, internet browser-based, etc.).

Cash Table Posting Fee Policy

A player joining a Natural8 India cash table is usually required to pay an initial fee, equal to that table’s lower limit stake or small blind. This initial fee follows the same rules as the blind bets (initial mandatory bets, typically placed in the pot by the first two players to the left of the dealer in games of Hold’em and Omaha poker) and allows the new player to sit-in at the table and join the game.

Players sometimes have the option of “sitting-out” and waiting for the big blind before beginning to play.

Posting an initial fee ensures fairness to all players, by preventing players from gaining an undue advantage over others by entering a poker game in a “Late Position” in order to avoid placing blind bets.

Missed Blind Bets Policy

A player may choose to temporarily sit-out from a poker table; if the table is a cash game table (as opposed to a tournament table, at which the player typically will have paid a set buy-in amount in order to join), the player may need to post additional fees in order to rejoin the action:

1. A player may choose to temporarily sit-out from a poker table; if the table is a cash game table (as opposed to a tournament table, at which the player typically will have paid a set buy-in amount in order to join), the player may need to post additional fees in order to rejoin the action:
2. If, while sitting-out, the player misses their turn to place both the small blind and the big blind, upon re-sitting that player will be required to post a set amount. This post consists of a live bet, equal to the big blind, plus an additional “dead (non-active) bet”, equal to the small blind, which is added directly to the pot.
3. If, while sitting-out, the player misses their turn to place the small blind, the big blind, and the third blind(if supported), upon re-sitting that player will be required to post a set amount. This post consists of a live bet, equal to the third blind, plus two additional "dead (non-active) bet", equal to one small blind and one big blind, which is added directly to the pot.

Tie Hands Policy

In the event that two or more active players reach showdown at a poker table holding equal ranking hands, the winner is determined by card value (i.e. a pair of aces beats a pair of kings).

Should the poker hands remain tied (i.e. a pair of kings vs. a pair of kings), the highest ranked card, not held in common (the “kicker”), determines the hand’s winner.

In the event of exact ties in poker hand ranking, between two or more active players, the pot (the accumulated amount of chips in the centre of the table, being contested by the active players) will be split evenly between those players holding tied poker hands.

Play Time Limit Policy

To ensure a fair and enjoyable playing experience, Natural8 India players must act within a reasonable time limit that varies per table, per game variant and/or per game stage (i.e. the length of time that has elapsed in a given tournament, etc..).

Natural8 India’s time limits are enforced in an effort to maintain a reasonable speed of game play. Players who fail to act within the set time limit will have their hand automatically folded and will forfeit any amounts that he/she has previously wagered during that hand.

Time Bank Policy

In many Natural8 India poker games, if a player requires extra time to make a decision, a ‘time bank’ will be accessed if a decision is not made in time.

Depending on the software used, the time bank will be visually displayed and will ‘count down’ while being accessed. The time bank gives players extra time to complete their actions, and those who fail to act before the time bank is exhausted will automatically fold their hand.

Leave Table Policy

In order to ensure the best possible gaming experience for all, players may be penalized for sitting at cash game tables, playing one hand and subsequently leaving without playing at least 10 hands. The system will consider such an action as the player refusing the play at that table.

If a player refuses to play at multiple tables, they will be automatically penalized by being blocked from joining tables of the same blind level for some time. The length of this automatic block depends on the number of times within any 12-hour period that the player has refused to play at tables of that blind level:

• 1st Refusal: No Penalty
• 2nd Refusal: 5 Minute Block
• 3rd Refusal: 15 Minute Block
• 4th Refusal: 30 Minute Block
• 5th Refusal: 60 Minute Block

If a player leaves a table at which all other players at the table are sitting out, or if they are the only player seated at that table, the action will not be considered a refusal to play and no penalty will be applied.

The policy applies to all cash game variants and tables, excepting Rush & Cash.

Poker Rake and Fees Policy

As game host, Natural8 India applies a commission charge (often known as “rake”) to each pot at cash game tables. To find out more details on the rake collected at Natural8 India, please visit the Our Games section of the Natural8 India website and review each game variant’s page.

In tournaments, Natural8 India does not levy rake, but typically collects a tournament fee instead. The amount is often a set percentage of the tournament buy-in, and will be detailed in the tournament lobby for each event.

Table Etiquette

The normal courtesies extended at live poker tables are also expected at Natural8 India. Please see the list below for Natural8 India’s etiquette guidelines:

• Intimidation or harassment of other players at the table will not be tolerated;
• Do not spam emojis or engage in “shouting matches” with other players at the table;
• Lagging is a natural occurrence in an internet age. As it is unavoidable, please be polite when notifying a player who is lagging.

Tournament Policy

All tournaments will begin promptly at the scheduled time stated in the tournament lobby. Natural8 India reserves the right to delay or cancel any tournament without prior notice.

Seats are assigned to players at random. Prizes are awarded as stated in the tournament lobby, except when a deal is made or the tournament is cancelled. The prize structure used in any given tournament depends on several factors including the number of entrants and the number of players per table. The prizes awarded in any given tournament are not finalized until registration has closed and the rebuy and/or add-on period is over.

In order to be eligible to re-enter, rebuy or add-on in a re-entry or rebuy tournament, you must have the funds available in your account.

Late registration is available in most tournaments. The length of the late registration period varies but will always be shown in the tournament lobby. Late registration will close early if enough players are eliminated to begin payouts or the tournament has reached the maximum number of players allowed.

Most Natural8 India tournaments allow players to un-register until a few minutes before the event begins. The exact time at which un-registration closes may vary from event to event. Registration and un-registration times may vary between tournaments of different types. Not all tournaments allow un-registration, and some tournaments do not allow players to un-register if they won their way in via satellite or giveaway tournaments. Natural8 India reserves the right to alter registration and un-registration times without prior notice.

If a tournament that features late registration proceeds to a point at which the next eliminated player will receive a prize (also known as ‘in the money’), late registration may be closed, regardless of the late registration period detailed in the tournament lobby. No additional players will be able to enter. Furthermore, in such a situation the tournament prize pool will be solely determined by the amount collected via player registration, rather than any advertised guaranteed prize amount.

Tournament Elimination Policy

Most tournaments end when a single player accumulates all of the chips in play, and in some tournaments, when all remaining players will receive the same prize (for example, if a satellite tournament awards five (5) identical prizes, the tournament may end when there are five (5) players left).

If two or more players are eliminated on the same hand, the player with more chips at the start of that hand finishes ahead of the player(s) with fewer chips. If all players started the hand with an identical number of chips, the finishing rank is determined by table location, with the first eliminated player seated to the left of the button finishing ahead of the player(s) seated further away.

As players are eliminated from Natural8 India tournaments, the software will “break” tables to fill available empty seats. Players are re-seated randomly and may result in a player having to post multiple big blinds in a row. On occasion, the Natural8 India software may balance tables to ensure all tables have an equal (or as close to equal as possible) number of active players. Players moved to balance tables will, whenever possible, be moved to similar positions relative to the blinds.

Tournament Break Policy

Details about each tournament’s breaks are listed in that tournament’s lobby, with the amount of time remaining to the next break listed if the tournament is running.

Many tournaments feature synchronised breaks but not all do so, therefore Natural8 India encourages players to make themselves aware of the break times of each tournament they are playing in to better ensure a comfortable playing environment.

Tournament Disconnects and Sitting Out Policy

By participating in a tournament, Natural8 India players accept the risk of internet disconnection, due to problems with the connection between their device(s) and the servers, lag or freeze or some other problem in the player’s device(s) or how that device accesses the internet.

Natural8 India does not accept any responsibility for a player disconnect except in the case of a server crash. While each user is responsible for his or her own internet connection, we make an effort to protect players who are disconnected during the final stages of a real-money tournament, by allowing extra time to reconnect.

If a player times out during a hand, whether connected or disconnected, his or her hand will be folded if facing action or may be checked if facing no action.

If a player is not connected before a hand starts, he or she will be dealt cards, and a blind and/or ante will be posted. There is no rule against a single player choosing to sit out; the player doing so will continue to have blinds and antes posted and cards dealt. Two or more players may not make any agreement to sit out simultaneously, whether at the same table or different tables; such actions may fall under Natural8 India’s collusion policy.

Poker Rules

You are not permitted to make a bet in excess of the value of chips on the table at the beginning of a hand. You are permitted to acquire additional chips only between hands. If you run out of chips during a hand, you are considered “all-in”. you may not remove money from the table during a playing session. Taking money out of the Game and continuing to play is not allowed in a table bets format.

Players must refrain from “table talk” or “coffee-housing” or talking during a hand in a way that compromises an opponent’s hand. This applies if you are playing in the hand or watching the hand. Repeated abuse of this aspect of player behaviour will result in suspension or permanent restriction of play.

Abusive or offensive language or other behaviour considered inappropriate by us in the context of the Game will not be tolerated. Bad behaviour or offensive language identified by us or brought to our attention will be dealt with swiftly and may result in a suspension or loss of playing privileges or such other action as may be deemed necessary by us at our sole discretion.

You acknowledge and agree that you shall not interfere, interrupt, and attempt to interrupt, or attempt to manipulate the operations of the Website or the normal play of any of the Games in Natural8 India. Failure to comply with the preceding may lead to your exclusion from the Website and to criminal and civil investigations.

Chat Policy

The Company gives its customers the ability to participate in chats where they are able to communicate with other registered players within the site. We reserve the right to set the chat policy and change it at any time with or without notice.

The chat function is intended to be used for fostering a positive gaming experience, and basic communication for the players. We reserve the right to restrict an individual’s ability to participate in any chat based on the behaviour exhibited by the individual.

The Company gives its customers the ability to record and broadcast video content via the SnapCam feature, accessible within the Natural8 India software. Broadcasting contents deemed offensive by The Company is not permitted, nor is the use of SnapCam feature to harass other customers. Customers found misusing SnapCam will lose access to the feature, and The Company may take further measures if necessary, including but not limited to account suspension and banning. We also reserve the right to report any questionable content to the relevant authorities.

All users must refrain from any communication which:

1. Are defamatory in nature;
2. Are illegal, or the user has no legal right to disclose;
3. Contain anything that is racist, vulgar, hateful, obscene, profane, threatening, insulting, offensive, or discriminatory;
4. Are intended to impersonate another person or entity;
5. Are posted for the purpose of advertising
6. Contain a link to any virus, corrupted files, keyloggers, or any other malicious code or material that could cause harm to the computer, data or financial security of any party;
7. Are intended to take advantage of or collude with/against other players using our site;
8. Are associated with criminal activities;
9. Are intentionally false or misleading;
10. Are intended to solicit personal information such as contact information and/or real name;
11. Are protected by any form of intellectual property whether registered or unregistered or any contractual, statutory or equitable obligation of confidence;
12. Are considered to be ‘spamming’ other players

Our chat rooms are moderated, and all conversations that occur therein are logged and recorded. We reserve the right to retrospectively investigate any comments made by users and impose appropriate measures including but not limited to a temporary ban, permanent ban, or account closure. We also reserve the right to report any suspicious chats or comments to the relevant authorities.

Policy on hands-in-play

Intentionally or inadvertently influencing the progression of a hand that is in play or the action of its participants by way of discussion, use of emoji, or utilization of SnapCam are strictly prohibited and may result in temporary or permanent suspension of all communication functions.

Tournament Deal Making Policy

Deal making is allowed in many tournaments. If all remaining players in a tournament agree to making a deal, they should indicate so by selecting the appropriate option at the table. A deal can then be discussed and agreed upon or rejected by the participating players.

Bounty Tournament Policy

In some specially designated Natural8 India tournaments (e.g. as of April 2019, in Bounty Hunter tournaments), a bounty will be placed on some or all of the tournament participants. A player who eliminates an opponent will add the bounty amount to their own bounty total. Each surviving player’s bounty total will only be awarded once the prize-paying finishing positions are reached (i.e. the bubble bursts).

In the event that two players show identical winning hands and therefore split the pot in a hand that eliminates another player(s), any bounty awarded will be divided equally between the players that hold the winning hands.

Players may not make any agreement amongst themselves to eliminate a particular player in order to claim their bounty award. Such agreements are considered collusion and are grounds for disqualification from the tournament and/or other penalties.

Tournament Prize Award Policy

Natural8 India reserves the right (at any time) to modify the prizes awarded in any given tournament. Further, Natural8 India reserves the right to award a monetary prize of equal or greater value as the main prize in place of the main tournament prize, at its sole discretion.

Please note that players will not receive fractions of a paisa. In all instances where a player’s winnings include a fraction of a paisa, Natural8 India will round down such player’s winnings to the nearest paisa.

Multiple Satellite/Seats Prize Policy

If a player wins second and/or subsequent tickets or seats into a target tournament for which that player is already registered or has used all allowable entries, the player will be awarded Tournament Points (T) to the value of the target tournament buy-in amount less the tournament registration fee in lieu of the ticket or seat.

For example, if a player is already registered into a 90 goes into the prize pool and 100 tournament, the player will receive T 90 in lieu of the seat.

Refund Policy

In the event of Natural8 India servers crashing or a Natural8 India unscheduled downtime happening, Natural8 India shall refund players as described below. Natural8 India, in its sole discretion, shall decide otherwise for any other events disrupting play caused by the Licensee or the Licensee’s players.

For Cash Games, all hands in progress will be rolled back. Each player’s chip count will be reset to the amount at the beginning of the hand.

For tournaments, there are three (3) possibilities depending on the status of the Tournament:

1. If the tournament has not started, Natural8 India shall refund all buy-ins and fees to the registered players.
2. If the tournament has started and is in late registration period (that is to say, where the tournament allows a User to register as a player following the fixed registration time) or if the late registration period has finished but the tournament has not reached the paid places, remaining players shall be refunded their Fee and current bounty (if applicable). Regarding the prize pool, (fifty) 50% shall be paid equally to the remaining players at the time of cancellation with the other (fifty) 50% being paid according to the chip count to the remaining players at the time of cancellation. If the tournament has a guaranteed prize pool that has not been met or exceeded at the time of cancellation, only the prize pool amount collected via player registrations will be distributed.
3. If the tournament has reached the paid places, remaining players shall be refunded their Fee and current bounty (if applicable). Regarding the prize pool, the next prize to be won shall be distributed to each remaining player at the time of cancellation with the remainder being paid according to the chip count to the remaining players at the time of cancellation. All transactions, including pots won and lost, are posted to players’ accounts at the completion of each hand.

Please note that when calculating tournament refunds, Natural8 India will determine the moment the disruption began and use the state of play in any given tournament immediately prior to this disruption as a basis for calculating the refunds. Not all players may experience disruption at the same time.