A hidden camera inside a casino card shuffler lets hackers see every card and cheat perfectly in Texas Hold'em.
The episode begins with hosts Michael Calori and Lauren Good introducing guest Andy Greenberg, a WIRED senior writer covering hacking and cybersecurity. Greenberg explains that the story originated three years ago from security researchers at IOactive who were inspired by a poker cheating scandal at Los Angeles' Hustler Live Casino. In 2023, IOactive discovered vulnerabilities in the Deckmate 2 shuffling machine, which has a camera inside intended to prevent cheating but can be hacked via its USB port. Greenberg collaborated with IOactive researcher Joseph Tortaro in 2025 to demonstrate the hack in a live poker game in Las Vegas. They inserted a device into the shuffler's USB port to access the camera, learn the deck order, and transmit it via Bluetooth to a phone app. During the game, Tortaro acted as Greenberg's cheating partner, using a covert signaling system with chips to instruct Greenberg on betting. Despite initial losses due to bad hands, they eventually cleaned out the unsuspecting players. The episode then shifts to a recent U.S. Justice Department indictment against 31 individuals, including NBA coach Chauncey Billups and former player Damon Jones, for allegedly running rigged gambling games using similar Deckmate 2 manipulation. Greenberg notes the indictment describes almost identical methods, such as transmitting deck order over the internet and using a 'quarterback' player to signal others. He discusses responses from Light and Wonder, the parent company of Shuffle Master, which makes the Deckmate 2, including security updates that may patch vulnerabilities but don't address insider threats. The conversation broadens to the implications of digitizing simple devices, highlighting risks in medical devices and smart homes. Greenberg and the hosts conclude with practical advice, such as avoiding private games with automated shufflers. The episode ends with a lighthearted segment called 'WIRED and TIRED,' where the hosts share personal recommendations and critiques on topics like Brazilian coconut sweetbread and difficult video games.
