Uncanny Valley | WIRED How to Hack a Poker Game
18 snips
Oct 30, 2025 Andy Greenberg, a senior writer at WIRED specializing in hacking and cybersecurity, joins to discuss a fascinating Hack Lab project involving the Deckmate 2 card shuffler. He reveals how they exploited its vulnerabilities using a USB device to access sensitive firmware and an internal camera. The conversation dives into the mechanics of card shuffling machines, the risks of digital connectivity in everyday devices, and even parallels with a recent DOJ indictment related to gambling fraud. Andy cautions poker players about the dangers of automated shufflers and insider threats.
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Camera Inside Shuffler Is A Liability
- The Deckmate 2 contains an internal camera intended to verify deck integrity.
- That camera becomes a major attack surface if firmware can be altered to expose deck order.
Live Poker Cheat Demonstration
- Andy Greenberg and IOActive researcher Joseph Tortaro rigged a Deckmate 2 in a live Texas Hold'em game to demonstrate cheating.
- Joseph received deck order via the hacked shuffler and signaled Andy with chip cues to win large pots.
Exposed USB Port Under Tables
- The Deckmate 2's USB port often sits exposed under tables, letting someone plug in devices or phones.
- Researchers noted players sometimes use that port to charge phones, increasing attack opportunities.
