Can someone other than the player in a game commit Fraud?

The understanding of fraud in the context of Magic: The Gathering is primarily about intentional deception to gain an unfair advantage during gameplay. In this scenario, it is important to recognize that teammates can indeed engage in deceptive behaviors that fall under the umbrella of fraud, especially if they conspire together to cheat or manipulate the game in a way that undermines its integrity.

A teammate's involvement in fraud is facilitated by their potential direct support of one another's actions, whether through signaling or sharing information that could affect a match's outcome. This collaboration creates a situation where the actions of one player can have a cascading effect on the game's result, all while operating under the spirit of the game, which promotes fairness.

In contrast, observers or other individuals who are not part of the match do not have the same capacity to commit fraud in the context of the game because they are not actively participating in gameplay and thus do not have the ability to influence the outcome through deceptive practices. The established rules and ethical code of MTG make it clear that actions must come from those with a stake in the game itself. Understanding these dynamics helps maintain the integrity of competitive play and reinforces the importance of ethical behavior among participants.