DOJ particulars tech allegedly utilized in poker scandal tied to NBA, mob

The Division of Justice detailed the know-how allegedly utilized by NBA stars, organized crime members and their associates to rig high-stakes poker video games and cheat victims out of thousands and thousands of {dollars}.

A variety of subtle tools, together with altered shuffling machines, wi-fi communication, a chip tray analyzer and an X-ray desk had been allegedly utilized by the people indicted for his or her roles within the rigged video games at varied places in New York Metropolis, East Hampton, New York and all through the U.S., the Justice Division stated. 

“For years, these people allegedly hosted unlawful poker video games the place they used subtle know-how and enlisted present and former NBA gamers to cheat folks out of thousands and thousands of {dollars},” NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated in an announcement. “This advanced scheme was thus far reaching that it included members from 4 of the organized crime households, and when folks refused to pay as a result of they had been cheated, these defendants did what organized crime has at all times completed: they used threats, intimidation, and violence.” 

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The instruments and the way they had been allegedly used to rig video games, in response to the DOJ’s indictment: 

Altered Shuffling Machines

Whereas they appeared regular, these machines had hidden elements that gave the members of this scheme a bonus. 

In a typical official poker recreation, in response to the indictment, a seller makes use of a shuffling machine to shuffle the playing cards randomly earlier than dealing them to all of the gamers in a specific order. However within the rigged video games, the shuffling machines contained hidden know-how permitting them to learn all of the playing cards within the deck earlier than dealing them. 

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Head coach Chauncey Billips of the Portland Path Blazers was arrested on Thursday for his alleged involvement in unlawful playing. (Steph Chambers/Getty Photos)

Wi-fi Communication

For the reason that playing cards had been at all times dealt in a specific order to the gamers, the machines might successfully decide which participant would have the profitable hand. That data was then allegedly transmitted to somebody off-site, who then transmitted that data via a cellphone again to the participant on the desk. The participant who was programmed to win was known as the “Quarterback” or “Driver.”

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Chip tray analyzer

The defendants additionally allegedly used a chip tray analyzer. It appears like an odd poker chip tray, which holds the seller’s chips throughout a recreation, however it was modified with hidden cameras, giving it the flexibility to secretly learn all playing cards.

FBI Director Kash Patel leads a information convention to announce arrests tied to unlawful sports activities betting and poker recreation schemes, in New York Metropolis on Oct. 23, 2025. (ANGELA WEISS/AFP through Getty Photos)

X-ray Desk 

The X-ray desk might learn playing cards face down on the desk. Nonetheless, the conspirators additionally allegedly used particular contact lenses or eyeglasses that might learn pre-marked playing cards.

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All of the gadgets allegedly allowed the dishonest workforce to know which participant would win every hand, permitting them to wager accordingly. In flip, the unsuspecting gamers would lose a big amount of cash, generally tens or lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} in a single recreation that was allegedly funneled to organized crime households, in response to the indictment.