What To Do With Pub Trivia Cheaters

In a bar or pub, a fun way to pass the time with friends is to play a relaxing trivia game. Generally, this involves an electronic question and answer system using remote terminals that people can use at their tables. The questions appear on a television screen that everyone can easily see. You have a time limit to answer during which time the score available for each question drops as the system gives hints to the answer. There are numerous ways to cheat at such a game. Few things in life are as annoying as cheaters They will ruin any game in which they participate and reduce the fun of the other players. The will never win in the long run but will cause much grief in the short term. 

How can people cheat at this kind of game? Several methods present themselves:

*Use a cell phone to look up the answer
*Use a book to look up the answer
*Have a friend who works at the pub provide you with the answers
*Jury rig the answer device to always provide the correct answer

The first two methods are counterproductive. Since scoring maximum points means you have to answer speedily, taking the time to look something up defeats the purpose. The final two options present more of a problem since any player employing either one will likely achieve a perfect score in every game. Honest players will quickly tire of someone ALWAYS winning. They might even leave the pub to go elsewhere. Cheaters can therefore not only ruin a game but one's business as well. 

What should be done about cheaters? In the case of the first two cheating methods, it is probably best to do nothing. They will waste so much time looking they will never score well enough to win. If you feel you must do something, just warn the players and confiscate their game consoles if it continues. In the second two methods, there is very little you can do without first investigating. It is unwise to accuse a player of cheating if that person is simply very smart or a trivia whiz. That can be more disastrous than any cheating result. Casually question your employees about the game to see if you can find any leads. If none appear, then you have no cause to suspect further. Otherwise, take whatever action you deem necessary to handle the situation.

Damaging a game console is destruction of property, so it is very unlikely a player will risk such a step merely to win at pub trivia. If some fanatic attempts it, it will not be easy to keep such activity hidden from employees and other patrons.