Safety Tips
Poker Date is a gaming and a dating platform with the purpose to connect with new people and learning about new cultures to play and connect single people around the globe to find love, in all its forms. Nothing would make us happier than knowing we’ve succeeded in introducing new friends that want to meet and learn about each other’s lives and find love.
Meeting new people is exciting, but you should always be cautious when interacting with someone you don’t know. We take the safety of our members very seriously. Our experienced cabin crew constantly moderates all profiles, photos and language use on the platform and we keep our platform to the highest of standards in order to safeguard your privacy and security. We will never hesitate to take action when someone has broken the rules – we've got your back!
However, we feel it's important to remind you that online safety is also your responsibility. So fasten your seat belt and please take a moment to read the following safety instructions. Use your best judgment and put your safety first, whether you are exchanging initial messages or meeting in person. While you can’t control the actions of others, there are things you can do to help you stay safe during your Poker Date experience.
Online Safety
Here are some tips that can help you protect yourself from being easy prey for someone with ulterior motives.
Keep your account safe. Choose a strong password, keep it safe and make sure you don’t use it on other sites as well. We highly recommend that you periodically change your password. Never forward emails from Poker Date to anyone, as the some links in our emails provide direct access to your account
Trust your gut instinct. Your instinct is a powerful tool that helps you decide when to move forward with someone and when to turn back and fly away. If something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.
Stay on the Platform. Keep your conversations on the Poker Date platform while you get to know your match. Users with bad intentions often try to move the conversation to text, messaging apps, email, or phone right away.
Protect your personal information. Don't give out any personal information like your social security number, home or work address, or details about your daily routine (e.g., that you go to a certain gym every Monday) with people you don’t know. If you are a parent, limit the information that you share about your children on your profile and in early communications. Avoid sharing details such as your children’s names, where they go to school, or their ages or genders straight away.
• Never send money or financial information. Scammers might tell you a heartbreaking story about their lives, ask for money to help them and claim they’ll pay you back soon. Or they might ask for money to come and visit you. Be wary of anyone who will not meet in person or talk on a phone/video call—they may not be who they say they are. If someone is avoiding your questions or pushing for a serious relationship without meeting or getting to know you first — that’s a red flag. Please don’t fall for it and report it to us immediately.
Meeting Offline
Do not Be In A Rush
Take your time and get to know the other person before agreeing to meet or chat off Poker Date. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to screen for any red flags or personal deal breakers. A phone or video call can be a useful screening tool before meeting. There is zero shame in doing some background research. Checking social media to make sure a match is who they say they are is something many people do, and a great way to raise any red flags.
Meet in Public and Stay in Public
Meet for the first few times in a populated, public place — never at your home, your date’s home, or any other private location. If your date pressures you to go to a private location, end the date.
Tell Friends and Family About Your Plans
Tell a friend or family member of your plans, including when and where you’re going. Have your cell phone charged and with you at all times.
Be in Control of Your Transportation
We want you to be in control of how you get to and from your date so that you can leave whenever you want. If you’re driving yourself, it’s a good idea to have a backup plan such as a ride-share app or a friend to pick you up.
Know Your Limits
Be aware of the effects of drugs or alcohol on you specifically — they can impair your judgment and your alertness. If your date tries to pressure you to use drugs or drink more than you’re comfortable with, hold your ground and end the date.
Don’t Leave Drinks or Personal Items Unattended
Know where your drink comes from and know where it is at all times — only accept drinks poured or served directly from the bartender or server. Many substances that are slipped into drinks to facilitate sexual assault are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. Also, keep your phone, purse, wallet, and anything containing personal information on you at all times.
If You Feel Uncomfortable, Leave
It’s okay to end the date early if you’re feeling uncomfortable. In fact, it’s encouraged. And if your instincts are telling you something is off or you feel unsafe, ask the bartender or server for help.
LGBTQ+ Travel
Be careful while traveling
We recognize and believe in the importance of being inclusive of all gender identities and sexual orientations, but the reality is this: nowhere in the world is without potential risk, and some countries have specific laws that target LGBTQ+ people.
Check out the laws around you when you travel to a new place and research what types of legal protection, if any, are available to you based on sexual orientation.
It’s important to exercise extra caution if you choose to connect with new people in these countries - as some law enforcement have been known to use dating apps as tools for potential entrapment. Some countries have also recently introduced laws that criminalize communications between individuals on same-sex dating applications or websites and even aggravate penalties if that communication leads to sexual encounters.
Visit ILGA World to see the latest sexual orientation laws by country, and consider donating to support their research.