“These shuffle machines are rigged!”
That’s been the sentiment across poker media after information surfaced about a cheating ring involving automated shufflers that may or may not be rigged.
The result? Unsuspecting players are losing millions of dollars in private games, and several NBA stars and others have been charged and arrested.
I happen to have some intimate knowledge of this issue. I would like to share with everyone what I know about these machines and what every player should consider when choosing where and which games to play.
(Note: These are my opinions only and not necessarily those of anyone I’ve worked for, currently work for, or ever will work for.)
Assessing the risk: Threat levels
When I evaluate where to play, I always factor in the type of shufflers being used. Let’s break it down by threat level.
Threat Level Zero – Hand shuffle or basic machine
If a casino is hand-shuffling the deck, the threat level is zero. There’s nothing to worry about.
Even basic shuffle machines, those with simple red and green indicator lights that warn you if a card is missing, are harmless.
These machines can count or weigh cards, but they cannot identify specific ranks or suits.
They’re simply not capable of being weaponized for cheating in any meaningful way. When a licensed casino is using these shufflers, the threat level remains at a solid zero.
Threat Level One – Deckmate 2 in a regulated casino
Here’s where things get a little more interesting.
The Deckmate 2, the newer model of casino shufflers, does have advanced capabilities. It includes a small computer that can sort and verify a full deck, even indicating if a specific card — such as the three of diamonds — is missing.
However, context is key. Inside a regulated Las Vegas casino, my personal threat level remains at one.
Why? Because while it’s theoretically possible to 'Ocean’s Eleven' a Deckmate 2, it’s incredibly difficult to pull off.
Casinos have layers of oversight, including floor managers, surveillance, and manufacturer audits, all working together to prevent any such tampering.
In short, the higher the stakes of the game, the tighter the security, the lower the threat level.
If you happen to see any of these guys lurking, that threat level might just go up a notch.Threat Level Eight – Deckmate 2 in a private or unregulated game
Take that same Deckmate 2 and move it out of the casino, perhaps to a private home game, a basement setting, or any unregulated location, and the threat level skyrockets.
In these environments, the machines aren’t being serviced or monitored by the manufacturer. No one’s checking for tampering. No oversight means no protection.
And as far as I’m concerned, the threat level goes up one digit for every NBA player in the lineup.
Danger! Danger! Danger! Don’t play in those games.
My best analogy is this: if I took a chainsaw and gave it to a lumberjack ---- very safe. If that lumberjack goes on hard times and sells it to a guy in a hockey mask, I would call that situation very dangerous. Nothing good is about to happen.
That's the same thing that's happening with these shuffle machines.
Final advice
If you want to play poker safely, stick to regulated casinos. You have nothing to worry about there.
But the further you drift from that and the deeper into private, unregulated games you travel, the greater your risk becomes, especially when machines capable of reading or sorting cards are in play.
Because, in the wrong hands, those same machines can be programmed to reveal to a person or persons in a compromised game what’s coming next and who’s about to win. That’s never good.
My advice, once again, is always to stay aware and diligent when choosing where to play poker. That’s your best and wisest course of action.
Want to test your rules knowledge? Got a tricky ruling or situation you’d like my take on? Drop it in the comments — I’ll feature the best ones in future columns.
Justin Hammer is the Live Events Director for PokerAtlas, online Tournament Director for the Texas-based poker app Hijack, and a Tournament Director for Thunder Valley Casino Resort. He also brings his expertise as a consultant and minority owner of Desert Bluffs Casino in Kennewick, Washington.
With years of experience across live, online, and casino operations, Justin has established himself as a trusted leader in the poker world.
For more info visit PokerAtlas.com, HijackPoker.com, and bluffs.poker. Follow Justin on X.
Additional images courtesy of Warner Bros/Alcon Media Group/Light & Wonder.
