Back in 2020, Americas Cardroom made a strategic move that signaled its commitment to keeping online poker fair and competitive. The US-facing platform, already known for its focus on game integrity, brought in professional poker legend Randy “Nanonoko” Lew as a security consultant and gameplay expert.
Lew wasn’t just a recognizable name in the community; he was a player with over $1.6 million in live tournament winnings, a $484,617 championship score in Macau, and a reputation for handling up to 24 online tables simultaneously. His deep understanding of poker dynamics made him an ideal fit for detecting patterns in suspicious gameplay, including fraud, collusion, and the use of automated bots.
Lew’s arrival underscored an important truth: while technology plays a massive role in securing poker games, there’s no substitute for human intuition and experience. However, as online poker environments grow more sophisticated—and as bad actors become more creative—Americas Cardroom recognizes the need for a hybrid defense strategy. That’s why, alongside Lew’s human oversight, the company began integrating advanced artificial intelligence into its security operations.
This combination of human expertise and machine precision is now central to Americas Cardroom’s mission. Where Lew can identify suspicious betting patterns based on years of hands-on play, AI can monitor millions of hands in real time without ever needing a break, flagging irregularities in seconds.
The result is a layered approach that gives players confidence that they’re competing on one of the safest platforms in the industry.
AI as the Backbone of a Stronger Security Framework for US Poker
- Americas Cardroom has recently taken bold steps to ensure its platform remains a hostile environment for cheaters. In one of its most significant security upgrades, the company banned the use of virtual machines and remote desktop tools like TeamViewer. While these technologies have legitimate uses, investigations revealed they could also facilitate real-time collusion and other unfair advantages.
- The new rule (effective since August 3, 2023) requires the software to run directly from a native hard drive, eliminating one common avenue for coordinated cheating. Violators now face a strict enforcement process: one warning for a first offense, followed by potential account suspensions, permanent bans, and even confiscation of illicit winnings for repeat offenders.
- This move is part of a broader technological strategy for the US poker site. Americas Cardroom has deployed sophisticated artificial intelligence and machine learning systems that continuously scan for suspicious activities. These systems look for deviations from normal gameplay, spotting patterns that might be invisible to the human eye but obvious to an algorithm trained on massive datasets.
- The results speak for themselves. In a recent investigation prompted by player reports, AI-assisted security teams uncovered a coordinated network of accounts engaging in collusion. Eight accounts were permanently banned, and 25 related accounts were suspended as a precaution. Over $184,000 in misallocated winnings were redistributed to ensure fairness.
- This blend of player vigilance, human security expertise, and AI’s relentless monitoring shows why Americas Cardroom is a step ahead of many competitors. As poker pro Chris Moneymaker put it, online poker is a “high-tech game of Whack a Mole” and the only way to stay ahead of bad actors is by constantly upgrading both people and technology.
Why Artificial Intelligence Is Essential for Poker Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity in online poker helps maintain fairness and protects the trust that keeps players coming back. Unlike traditional fraud detection methods, which rely on human review and delayed investigations, AI offers a level of speed and accuracy that can stop threats before they cause real damage.
Artificial intelligence excels at spotting anomalies in large datasets. As we discussed in our 12 Best AI Tools for Cybersecurity article, this technology acts like a tireless guard—watching every table, every hand, and every action without pause. In the context of poker, that means recognizing when a player’s betting patterns suddenly shift in improbable ways, detecting signs of multi-accounting, or noticing subtle timing tells that could suggest the use of prohibited software.
AI proactively scans every game, looking for the telltale fingerprints of cheating before it escalates. This is especially critical in high-stakes online poker, where even a few minutes of unchecked collusion or bot activity can shift thousands of dollars. AI-powered detection tools act as a multiplier for human security teams, allowing them to cover more ground with greater precision. The result is a platform that adapts to emerging threats in real time rather than reacting after the fact.
By building AI directly into its security infrastructure, Americas Cardroom ensures its games remain as fair as any in the industry. This investment not only safeguards the player experience but also strengthens the site’s reputation in a competitive market where trust is everything.
Beyond Security: AI as a Driver of New Poker Formats
- While much of Americas Cardroom’s AI focus has been on security, the platform is also using artificial intelligence to create fresh and engaging poker experiences. One of its most innovative offerings is Poker Races, a fast-paced game that blends traditional multi-table tournament dynamics with the excitement of daily fantasy sports. In Poker Races, players buy in for a fixed fee and are assigned five AI-controlled “racers” in a simulated tournament.
- The game plays out at high speed, with key hands displayed in an easy-to-read interface showing stack sizes and tournament position. Players can choose to take over a racer’s seat once they reach the money, turning an automated entry into a skill-based finish. The result is a hybrid of luck, strategy, and entertainment designed to attract both seasoned grinders and casual fans.
- Another AI-assisted format is Bounty Hunter, a quickfire progressive knockout tournament where players “stake” a random virtual entrant. Every elimination earns bounty rewards, and special bonuses are awarded for specific hand outcomes, like showing down flushes. Both formats offer near-instant poker action, appealing to audiences used to the fast gratification of video games and televised poker highlights.
- Americas Cardroom has even incorporated AI into its branding, using ChatGPT on its homepage to clearly summarize what makes the platform different from competitors.
- It’s a small but telling detail that reflects CEO Phil Nagy’s willingness to embrace disruptive technology. Nagy has long been open to pushing boundaries, whether that’s adopting cryptocurrency for deposits and withdrawals, exploring NFTs, or experimenting with entirely new game mechanics.
- For Americas Cardroom, artificial intelligence is a tool for transformation. By combining AI’s power with human expertise and creative risk-taking, the platform is redefining what online poker can be, both in terms of fairness and fun.
