"Cheating Crisis in the Canasta Community – EA Sports Needs to Step Up"

I’ve been a Canasta and card-game player since the early 2000s and truly enjoyed the game for years—not just for winning, but for the community and strategy. That’s why this feels like a real goodbye.

Over time, I’ve noticed repeated in-game patterns that don’t feel like normal glitches or bad luck. They tend to appear once a match becomes competitive and quickly shift the game in ways that make fair play impossible.

I’m not here to argue or accuse anyone. Complaining hasn’t changed anything, so I’m sharing what I’ve personally observed to help other players recognize the signs for themselves.

Cheat Code Patterns I’ve Observed

• Refreshing the game can still cause you to lose points, even if you were winning
• Closing pop-ups or hard-clicking out does not reliably protect your score
• One player suddenly receives most or all of the wild cards
• You’re left with very few wild cards (often one to three)
• Face cards and supporting cards stop appearing, making the game noncompetitive

Common Screens That Appear

• “You were disconnected due to inactivity”
• “Continue playing with robots”
• “The player has forfeited the game”
• Sometimes refreshing keeps your points
• Other times you’re removed and still lose them
• In some cases, a forfeit screen appears after the game ends

Gameplay Red Flags

• No sound during the opening deal
• Opponents frequently receive a Red 3 at the start
• Once you begin winning:
  • Cards glow yellow
  • Actions become delayed
  • Melding lags or stops responding

Membership Farewell

Because these issues have continued, I’ve decided to stop playing. When my current membership expires, I won’t be renewing.

I’m sharing this simply as a heads-up for others. If something feels off during a match, it probably is.