Automatic card shuffler vulnerabilities revealed
While not easy, it is possible to hack the Deckmate 2 shuffler, according to a security researcher from IOActive.
An article in Wired Magazine this week has exposed a security flaw in Deckmate 2, one of the automatic shufflers used in live card rooms across the world.
Following the review of the Robbi Jade Lew controversy, one of the statements made in her defence was that the automatic shuffler used was unhackable. This prompted Joseph Tartaro, a security researcher from IOActive, to conduct his own investigation.
They discovered that the Deckmate 2 could be compromised by plugging a device into the exposed USB port, and a hacker could alter the device's shuffling code. They could also hack an internal camera which would allow them to know the order of the deck in real-time. It was also possible to hack Deckmate 2 remotely using a phone. However, to alter the shuffling technique the device would have to be restarted manually without drawing attention to it.
The device used at the Hustler Casino during the infamous stream with Robbi Jade Lew was the Deckmate 1, not the Deckmate 2.
The gaming device company that sells the Deckmate, Light & Wonder, defended their product, stating that their card shufflers have never been compromised in a real casino and that IOActive's tests don't reflect real-world conditions.
Do you prefer poker rooms to be dealer shuffled? Let us know in the comments:
