A friend of mine was an avid online poker player. He says the AI systems beat humans all the time, and that the platforms countered with AI AI detection systems which allow for a maximum tolerance of winning hands that is considered human level. As a response, players using AI systems added deliberate error rates to hide from the detection.
If they're worthless then, why play at all?
If they are scarce, convey any kind of status on the platform or unlock anything at all, then i assure you there will be someone gaming the system.
Poker requires gambling something with at least symbolic value, or else people don't care about winning or losing hands and just go all in recklessly all the time.