The boxes on deal or no deal have removable bases and a midget (one on each side) runs through the length of the hollow space within the table on which the boxes sit, swapping the box values via a series of trap doors, as dictated by that particular episode's script.

Naturally, a third midget occupies the space underneath the player podium table and does the same with the player's box. The midgets are supplied with oxygen tanks but there are no toilet facilities within the table tunnels.

Players are instructed to only ever touch or carry the boxes by the sides of the box, never the base. Any player who touches the base is removed from the show, contract voided.