In a shocking revelation by WIRED, the intricate world of poker has been rattled by a high-tech scandal involving hacked card shufflers. The notorious Deckmate 2 shufflers, renowned for their speed and precision, were exploited by an alleged mob operation to orchestrate a poker scam that sent ripples through the NBA and beyond.
The Deckmate 2 shufflers, equipped with internal cameras capable of peeking at the deck, inadvertently provided a window of opportunity for sophisticated hackers to manipulate the game. This vulnerability was exploited by 31 individuals, including reputed members of organized crime families and notable NBA figures like Chauncey Billups and Damon Jones, to execute a rigged-gambling scheme that spanned from New York to Miami.
The elaborate operation involved luring victims into high-stakes poker games with promises of playing alongside NBA stars, only to deceive them with advanced cheating tactics. Hacked shufflers were just one of the many high-tech tools used to ensure the victims’ losses, amounting to over $7 million over several years.
As FBI director Kash Patel aptly put it, ‘These individuals used technology and deceit to scam innocent victims out of millions of dollars,’ ultimately serving as a means to fund criminal networks like La Casa Nostra.
Source: WIRED