Justin Hammer is breaking down rumors and giving clear advice on how players can choose the safest poker shuffle options.
This sentence has been circulating on social media in the poker community after information surfaced that automated shufflers were rigged and part of a cheating ring.
The news led to innocent players losing millions of dollars in private games, and several NBA stars have been accused 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.”
-says Justin Hammer, who made a nice and clear summary of the threats of poker shuffles, and what to look out for. Let’s dig in!
Measuring the risk: Threat levels by Justin Hammer
Hammer says that when considering where to play, a player should always consider the type of shufflers being used. He brings it down to a few threat levels.
Threat Level Zero – Hand shuffle or basic machine
A player shouldn’t worry if a casino is hand-shuffling the deck. The threat level is zero.
Basic shuffle machines – with the simple red and green lights – are also a safe decision, because even though they can count or weigh cards, they cannot identify specific ranks or suits. The machines simply cannot be used for cheating in any meaningful way, so when a licensed casino is using basic poker shufflers, you’re safe.
Threat Level One – Deckmate 2 in a regulated casino
This level is where things start to get interesting.
The casino shuffler’s newer model, Deckmate 2, does have advanced capabilities. It can sort and verify a full deck; it can even recognize if a specific card—like the three of diamonds—is missing, thanks to its included small computer. Hammer reassures everyone that in a regulated Las Vegas casino, the threat level stays at one.
Why? Because the Deckmate 2 might be possible to pull off for Ocean’s Eleven, but in real life, it’s incredibly difficult. Casinos have strict layers of security, including floor managers, supervision, and manufacturer audits, all working in perfect sync to prevent any such mess-up.
All in all, the higher the game’s stakes, the stricter the security and the lower the threat level.
Threat Level Eight – Deckmate 2 in a private or unregulated game
We just learned that in a regulated casino, a Deckamte 2 cannot cause trouble. However, put in an unregulated location like a private home game, a basement setting, and your threat level just jumped through the roof. In these environments, the machines aren’t monitored or serviced by the manufacturer. Nobody’s checking on it for tampering. And no supervising means no protection.
Hammer is concerned that, for every NBA player in a lineup, the threat level increases by 1 digit.
“Those are Danger! Danger! Don’t play in those games.”
His best analogy is: if someone 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, you would call that situation very dangerous. Nothing good is about to happen.
The same applies to these shuffle machines.
Justin Hammer’s Final advice
Hammer advises players to stick to regulated casinos if they want to play poker safely. Players have nothing to worry about there.
However, the more you dive into the private and unregulated games, the more your risk grows. Especially if we’re talking about machines that can read and sort cards, if those are in the wrong hands, they can be programmed to reveal what’s coming next and who is about to win in a compromised game. That’s far from ideal.
Hammer’s advice is once again, is to always stay aware and diligent when choosing where to play poker. That’s the wisest action you can take for a safe game.
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. Via poker.org
