Frequently Asked Questions about Pokernomics.com
1. Will pokernomics ever share hand histories with anyone?
Many people have written to us and expressed worries that their hand histories might be shared, sold, or otherwise used in a way that could hurt them. The bottom line is that no one who is not working on this project will ever have access to any of the hand histories that are sent to us.
2. Is pokernomics just some company looking to make money by selling hand histories I might send in?
Pokernomics is not a company or in anyway looking to profit off of hand histories. We will never even share your data with people not on the project, so we definitely won't be selling it. By giving away prizes to people who submit sufficiently large hand histories we are incurring a good deal of expense. Our sole motivation for putting together the pokernomics database is for research.
3. Is this project really for research purposes? How do I know that this is a legitimate academic project?
Yes. Pokernomics is being run out of a major university by a very well-established economist. Though poker may not seem like the usual academic topic the person running the project is certainly not one to shy away from unusual topics. Some of the subjects he has researched include: the link between the drop in crime during the 1990s and legalized abortion, cheating in sumo wrestling and on standardized tests by public school teachers, discrimination on the game show "The Weakest Link", and NFL gambling markets.
You can also find a posting about the site on Steven Levitt's Freakonomics blog: posting about pokernomics.
If you are still unconvinced that we are a legitimate academic project or do not feel comfortable submitting your hand histories online you can mail them in and we will reimburse you for postage. The address is:
Pokernomics
c/o The University of Chicago
Initiative on Chicago Price Theory
5807 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637
4. Who is in charge of Pokernomics and what is his affiliation?
The pokernomics project is run by economist Steven Levitt. In 2001, he won the John Bates Clark Medal given by the American Economic Association to the best American economist under 40. Levitt is also co-author of the New York Times Bestselling book "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything". He also writes for a monthly column in the New York Times Magazine. You can read more about him in the section "Who is Steven Levitt".
Levitt is also an avid and experienced gambler. Although no longer a frequent poker player, it was his main hobby (along with betting horses) many years ago.
Research for Pokernomics is done out of the Initiative on Chicago Price Theory, a center housed in the University of Chicago's business school. Levitt is the director of the center and one of its co-founders.
5. Are you still accepting hand histories?
Yes. We are still accepting hand histories. Unfortunately, we no longer are offering rewards to people who submit to the Pokernomics Project. Anyone who submitted a database after March 8th, 2006 will not be eligible for a free analysis.