Hacking the DeckMate2: How to Cheat in Poker Without Getting Caught

Andy Greenberg and Joseph Tartaro, a security expert and a hacker, collaborated to hack the DeckMate2 shuffling machine, which is used in most US casinos. Their method involves using a USB port on the machine to replace the original software with custom code, allowing them to control the card layout. The DeckMate2 shuffling machine uses a camera to recognize the values of cards, which is intended for security but can be exploited for cheating. The hackers can use a Bluetooth transmitter to send the card layout to a phone, allowing them to know the strongest hand at the showdown.

The company Light&Wonder, which owns Shuffle Master, initially dismissed the hacking method as unrealistic but later patched the vulnerability. However, the hackers still have doubts about the effectiveness of the patch, as the machines do not have the ability to update directly via the internet, and a technician working for the company could still gain access to the internal program.

Greenberg and Tartaro tested their hacking method at a poker table in Las Vegas, successfully cheating two unsuspecting players in a game of Texas Hold'em. They used a custom device connected to the USB port of the DeckMate2 machine, which transmitted the card layout to Tartaro's phone via Bluetooth. Tartaro then relayed the information to Greenberg, allowing him to make informed decisions during the game.