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Do casino card shufflers cheat, or do they ensure a fair game for all parties? Physical and digital card shufflers are commonplace at modern casinos, but some players are suspicious of the machines that handle the deck every hand.
Continue reading to learn more about how card shufflers work and if they can be rigged. Also, I explain how shufflers can affect your odds and whether you should avoid them at casinos altogether.
How Do Casino Card Shufflers Actually Work?
Land-based and online live-dealer casinos use physical card shufflers to mimic the classic riffle shuffle.
The deck is split, and each half is placed on either side of the machine. Then, a motor turns rubberized rollers to pull the cards inward, one by one, combining them into a single deck. In theory, running the deck through a shuffler three times will produce a completely random deck.
High-end machines, such as those found at top-notch casinos, do not use mechanical rollers. Instead, they use advanced cameras or advanced optical sensors to sort cards in a random order generated by an RNG.
Large card shufflers can even handle more than one deck of cards at a time.
Why Do Casinos Use Card Shufflers?
Casinos use card shufflers to increase game speed and make it fairer for all parties involved. Experienced dealers can shuffle quickly and consistently, but novice dealers are less skilled.
A card shuffler is faster than the average human dealer. Also, it ensures the deck is shuffled randomly and minimizes opportunities for the dealer to fix it. Modern card shufflers also count the cards in the deck to ensure no cards are missing and no extra cards have been added.
Automatic vs. Continuous Shuffle Machines
There are two types of card shuffles: automatic and continuous.
Automatic shuffle machines (ASM) shuffle a deck or shoe once. Dealers can shuffle the shoe multiple times quicker than they could by hand.
Continuous shuffle machines (CSM), on the other hand, as the name implies, continuously shuffle the deck. The dealer returns the cards to the machine after they are discarded from play. In theory, this means that every card is available every round.
Can Automatic Card Shufflers Be Rigged?
Yes, automatic card shufflers can be rigged. However, casinos have no reason to rig their machines, as the house edge ensures they will win in the end.
On the other hand, card shufflers at house games are a different story. The person running the game can, in theory, fix it to shuffle cards in a specific way. If you are playing with people you trust, then this should not be an issue.
The Chauncey Billups Poker Scandal
The casino has little incentive to rig its own card shuffler. However, players looking for an added edge are a different story.
This issue came to light thanks to the DeckMate 2, a widely used card shuffler. The upgrades in the DeckMate 2 included a camera that was not present in the prior machine.
According to the FBI, people at an illegal high-stakes poker game used the DeckMate 2’s camera to learn the deck order and take advantage of the other players at the table. Among those arrested was former NBA player and coach Chauncey Billups.
Light & Wonder, the parent company behind the DeckMate 2, has issued security updates in recent years to address this vulnerability in its casino machines. However, that does not stop owners of private machines from modifying their own shufflers to cheat.
How Shufflers Affect Your Odds as a Player
The use of card shufflers has no measurable effect on the game for most players. Shufflers do increase the speed of the game, though, and can have serious consequences for advantage blackjack players.
Card Shuffles and Game Speed
Card shufflers can help skilled players achieve one of their main objectives, maximizing game speed.
Shuffling machines work faster than most dealers. As a result, players can see more hands over a long session if the casino uses shuffling machines instead of having the dealer shuffle.
Faster gameplay is not good news for all players. Inexperienced players are more likely to lose money by playing faster. Increasing the speed of the game with a card shuffler helps the casino take advantage of these novice players.
Are Card Shufflers Bad for Blackjack Players?
Automatic shuffling machines help dealers without affecting the game itself. Continuous shuffling machines, on the other hand, reset the shoe after every hand.
Since no cards are removed from play for more than a hand, CSMs effectively eliminate card counting in blackjack.
The count never changes for more than a hand if you use a CSM. So, methods like the hi-lo card counting system cannot be used effectively. CSMs also ensure that the count does not decrease, so players do not have to worry about facing the long odds of a low count.
Should You Avoid Tables With Shuffling Machines?
No, you should not avoid tables at a casino that use shuffling machines. ASMs are helpful tools that assist dealers in maintaining a fair game and increasing the pace of play.
Most players will not notice any difference other than an increased number of hands, regardless of the type of shuffler the casino uses.
The lone exception is advantage blackjack players who want to count cards. CSMs eliminate variance in the count since they shuffle cards back into the deck after every round.
Are Casinos Avoiding CSMs?
Yes, some casinos do avoid using CSMs at certain tables. Unsurprisingly, skilled blackjack players do not like CSMs. The machines can also be expensive for the house to maintain, limiting the number of CSMs in use at one casino.
Advantage players are often casinos’ biggest spenders, and the house does not want to scare them away completely.
Instead, casinos will avoid using CSMs at their high-roller tables. Smaller tables with inexperienced players still feature these machines, though.
Best Online Casinos for Blackjack Without the Shuffler Worry
The easiest way to avoid shufflers altogether is to play at the best blackjack casino sites.
BetUS Casino
BetUS is a great option for any blackjack player looking to avoid physical card shufflers. It offers 40 blackjack styles that use random number generators instead of physical shufflers.
Members can even access free demos of every game, allowing them to practice their skills before risking their bankroll. BetUS also offers high-roller versions of multiple titles, so experienced players can cash in on their skills.
BetUS has excellent blackjack tournaments as well. Members can access free tournaments every week, and there are special tournaments for every player based on their rewards level.
Check out our BetUS review to find out more about this casino’s blackjack options.
JacksPay
JacksPay is another great option for blackjack players hoping to use their skills to win money online.
You can play a variety of blackjack games at JacksPay, including:
- Multi-hand blackjack
- Blackjack with side bets
- Blackjack with multipliers
JacksPay offers exciting live dealer blackjack tables, too. Live dealers often use ASMs, but they are unlikely to have CSMs due to their costs so you can still use advantage play techniques.
Members of JacksPay can use the casino’s deposit match bonuses to frequently increase their bankroll. The casino offers large welcome bonuses and frequent reload bonuses for loyal members.
Our JacksPay review covers everything you need to know about this blackjack casino.
Ignition Casino
Ignition Casino is a well-rounded casino that offers tons of benefits for blackjack players. It has a wide selection, including popular titles like Perfect Pairs and Super 7. You can also play unique titles such as Zappit Blackjack, that are hard to find online.
The welcome bonus at Ignition includes up to $1,500 in casino bonus funds, which can be used to play some blackjack games. The other half of the bonus is used at the site’s top-rated online poker room.
Ignition’s reward program, the aptly named Ignition Rewards, can be a great tool for blackjack players, too. You can earn one point for every $2 wagered on blackjack or other table games. Points from the program can be redeemed for cash.
Our free and in-depth Ignition Casino review covers more about this blackjack site.
How Do You Feel About Card Shufflers?
Casino card shufflers do not cheat, but there are plenty of reasons skilled players like to avoid them. On the bright side, many casinos avoid using these machines at high-paying tables to attract players with big bankrolls.
You can also avoid any concerns about the casino’s shuffler being fair by playing online. Create a BetUS account to access dozens of fair blackjack games. The casino also offers profitable bonuses, such as its $5,000 casino welcome offer when you use the code CAS250.
Play Blackjack for Real Money at BetUS!
BetUS is one of the oldest gambling sites out there, having opened their virtual doors in 1994. They are a good choice if you’re looking for a well-rounded, reliable online casino, sportsbook, and racebook.
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