Wave of DDoS Attacks Hits Major Poker Sites! How to Protect Your Game & Account

03 Jun 2025

4 min. read

Amid the busiest season in poker – the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas and concurrent online bracelet events on GGPoker – the online poker world is facing a new wave of cyber threats. Several leading online poker operators, including GGPoker, PokerStars, and WPT Global, have confirmed experiencing significant DDoS attacks (Distributed Denial-of-Service) targeting their servers in recent days.

What’s Happening?

DDoS attacks are malicious attempts to overwhelm a target service’s servers with a massive flood of internet traffic, typically generated by a network of compromised devices (a “botnet”). The goal is to crash or severely slow down the infrastructure, making the service inaccessible to legitimate users.

Player Symptoms: Extremely slow lobby loading, inability to log into accounts, frequent disconnections during play (especially in critical hands!), frozen tables, errors when registering for tournaments – particularly during peak hours or major events like the WSOP Online Bracelets.
Timing: Attacks often target the start of major guaranteed tournaments, Sunday majors, or the late stages of popular events – times of peak player activity where financial risks for sites and player frustration are highest.

Why Should YOU Care?

Game Disruption & Financial Loss: Disconnecting mid-tournament can cost you your entire stack or force an auto-fold with a strong hand. In cash games, it can mean losing money already on the table.
Missed Registrations: Inability to access the client can prevent you from registering for high-value tournaments.
Account Risk (Indirect): The chaos caused by an attack can be used as cover for other fraud (phishing, hacking attempts) or to distract site security teams.
Ruined Experience: Constant technical issues destroy gameplay enjoyment and erode trust in the platform.

Who’s Behind This & Why?

Attacker motivations vary:

Competitive Sabotage: Rare, but theoretically possible.
Extortion (Ransom DDoS): Demanding payment from the operator to stop the attack.
“Hacktivism” or Vandalism: Attacks simply to cause damage or make a statement.
Smokescreen for Other Attacks: Distracting IT/Security teams to enable more sophisticated breaches or data theft.

What Are the Sites Doing?

Major operators like GGPoker and PokerStars are quickly acknowledging issues via social media and in-client messages, confirming they are working on fixes. They invest in:

Robust DDoS Mitigation Systems: Specialized cloud services (e.g., Cloudflare, Akamai Prolexic) to filter malicious traffic.
Infrastructure Redundancy: Distributing load across multiple servers and data centers.
24/7 Security Monitoring: Teams constantly watching traffic patterns for anomalies.

How Can YOU Protect Yourself? Expert Cybersecurity Tips for Players:

Don’t Panic & Avoid Suspicious Links: Phishing scams surge during attacks. NEVER click links in unexpected emails/messages “from support” asking you to “verify your account” or “update details.” Always access poker sites directly via your bookmark or typed URL.
Use a VPN (Cautiously!): A reputable VPN might help bypass some localized disruption. BUT: Ensure VPNs are allowed by the site’s terms! Some platforms block known VPN IPs. Use only trusted providers.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE. Even if hackers get your password, they can’t access your account without the unique code from your authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy) or SMS. Check NOW if 2FA is active on ALL your accounts!
Use Unique, Strong Passwords: Different passwords for every poker site and your associated email. A password manager is essential.
Monitor Official Channels: If experiencing issues, first check the site’s official Twitter (X) account or status page for updates and estimated resolution times.
Stay Calm During Disconnects: If dropped mid-game, wait for the client to auto-reconnect (most attempt this). Avoid frantic reloading. Avoid playing excessive tables during peak instability.
Document Problems: If a crash causes a financial loss (e.g., tournament elimination due to disconnect), take screenshots (timestamp, table, hand history if possible) and contact site support immediately after service resumes. Reputable sites have compensation policies for verified technical failures.

DDoS attacks are an unfortunate but increasingly common hazard in online poker, especially during peak events like the WSOP. Players must be aware and prepared. Vigilance about personal cybersecurity (especially 2FA!) combined with calm reliance on official communication channels are your primary defenses. Operators, for their part, must continuously fortify their infrastructure. We will continue monitoring the situation and provide updates on major incidents and security advice