Caribbean Dominoes is committed to providing a fair, competitive, and enjoyable gaming experience for all players. This Fair Play Policy outlines the standards of conduct expected from all participants and the measures we take to maintain game integrity.
1. Game Integrity
All game logic runs on our servers (server-side authoritative model). This means that the server controls tile distribution, turn order, scoring, and game outcomes. No player can manipulate the game state from their device. This architecture ensures:
- Random and fair tile distribution using cryptographically sound shuffling algorithms
- Validated moves — every tile placement, draw, and pass is verified server-side before being accepted
- Tamper-proof scoring — scores and ELO ratings are calculated exclusively on the server
- Hidden information protection — players can only see their own tiles; opponent hands are never sent to your device
2. Prohibited Conduct
The following behaviors are strictly prohibited:
2.1 Cheating
- Using third-party software, scripts, or bots to play on your behalf or gain an unfair advantage
- Exploiting bugs or glitches in the game (please report these to us instead)
- Using multiple accounts to manipulate matchmaking or ratings (multi-accounting)
- Colluding with other players to fix match outcomes
- Sharing account credentials to allow others to boost your rating
2.2 Unsportsmanlike Behavior
- Intentionally disconnecting or stalling to avoid a loss ("rage quitting")
- Deliberately playing slowly to frustrate opponents ("slow-rolling")
- Intentionally losing games to lower your rating ("sandbagging" or "tanking")
- Harassing, threatening, or using abusive language toward other players
- Using offensive or inappropriate display names
2.3 System Abuse
- Attempting to overload the server with excessive requests
- Attempting to intercept or modify network traffic
- Reverse engineering the game client or server protocols
- Circumventing security measures, rate limits, or access controls
3. ELO Rating System
Our ELO rating system is designed to provide fair and balanced matchmaking. Ratings are adjusted after each completed game based on the outcome and the relative ratings of the participants. The system is transparent:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Starting Rating | All new players begin at 1000 ELO |
| K-Factor | 32 (standard for online games, allows meaningful rating changes) |
| Win vs. Higher Rated | Larger rating gain for the winner |
| Win vs. Lower Rated | Smaller rating gain for the winner |
| Disconnection | Treated as a loss for the disconnecting player |
4. Enforcement
We take fair play violations seriously. Depending on the severity and frequency of violations, we may take the following actions:
| Violation Level | Action |
|---|---|
| First offense (minor) | Warning notification |
| Repeated minor offenses | Temporary suspension (1-7 days) |
| Serious violation | Extended suspension (30 days) and rating reset |
| Severe or repeated serious violations | Permanent ban |
All enforcement decisions are made at our sole discretion. We reserve the right to modify penalties based on the specific circumstances of each case.
5. Reporting
If you encounter a player who you believe is violating this Fair Play Policy, please report them through the in-game reporting system (coming soon) or by contacting us at [email protected]. Please include as much detail as possible, including the room code, approximate time, and a description of the behavior.
6. Appeals
If you believe an enforcement action was taken against your account in error, you may appeal by contacting us at [email protected]. We will review your case and respond within 7 business days.
7. Updates
We may update this Fair Play Policy as the game evolves. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. Continued use of the Service constitutes acceptance of the current policy.