Willard Basically Settled the Matter of Which Card Calculates 10
There are several differences between poker and blackjack, but these two card games share two decks. And the question is, which deck is the best one to play? Well, that would be the one that ends with the name - jack. And now the tricky part begins - every culture has a different number of cards that make up the "blackjack" or "poker". So, which ones should we consider?
The answer is simple: the most popular ones in international casinos. That would be the French deck (or Belgian, or Spanish), which consists of 52 standard English playing cards (with their faces and denominations clearly defined). Now, let's not waste any more time and jump straight into the action!
Does the Order of Card Manufacturing Affect Blackjack and Poker Odds?
The Factory
In order to understand how decks are made, we've contacted one of the world's largest producers of playing cards - United States Playing Card Company, better known as USPCC, or The Bicycle Card Company (as they produce Bicycle brand playing cards). Their factory covers an area of 430,000 square feet (that would be 40,000 square meters for our European friends) and it's located in , Tennessee.
95% of the world's Bicycle® brand playing cards are made in our Kentucky facility.
After speaking with the management team, we've found out that 95% of the world's Bicycle® brand playing cards are, in fact, manufactured in their Kentucky facility. The rest of the work is done abroad, but only for the markets that are closest from there. Why is that so? Simple: almost 40% of gaming cards used worldwide come out of their Kentucky plant.
best casino site usaUSPCC employees turning cardstock into masterpieces.
USPCC is the oldest playing card manufacturer in the USA (founded in 1867), boasting fourcenturies' worth of experience. They supply casinos, poker players and magic lovers around the globe, taking pride in the quality of their products. And they have every right to do so as their factory in Kentucky is fully equipped.
For starters, they have all kinds of control systems, state-of-the-art technology and a large staff that knows what they're doing. Also, they have all necessary certificates (e.g. FSC, which stands for Forest Stewardship Council) and their raw materials are 100% acid & lkaline free, pH 7.0 or higher.
Besides Bicycle playing cards, USPCC also manufactures Egyptians, Bee, Tally-Ho, Aviation, Hoyle, Target, Aquarius and many other brands, as well as die cuts and cardstock for modello players. But more on that later.
From Cardstock to Completed Deck - The Process
Once the cardstock arrives at the factory, it goes through multiple controls before being transformed into playing cards. This process takes place in Kentucky. First, cardstock is stored in a large room until it's cut to size using roll slitters. After that, the sheeters take over.
Best Real Money Casinos You Need to Try (and Some Games Too!)Sheets of cardstock are pressed, trimmed to the proper size and checked for defects by skilled workers. Small stains, wrinkles or irregularities mean that these sheets won't be used. Then come the press operators who give shape and thickness to the cardstock, after which printed jokers are inserted.
One of the most important and most delicate steps follows: card lamination. In simpler terms, this is how front and back designs are attached to the cards. After this step is completed successfully, the cards enter the kingdom of machines. Cameras, computers, die-cutting machines, ink machines... Everything happens very fast at this point, but someone has to keep an eye on things just in case.
Finally, decks are packed in boxes (also double-checked for any defects) and prepared for shipping. It's important to mention that each deck goes through 70 pairs of human hands before it's ready to hit the market. Moreover, every single Bicycle deck features a unique number (on the tax strip) for its specific factory, showing how thorough these guys can be.
Where Do Casinos Come Into the Picture?
Although electronic random number generators are allowed by law, nearly all brick and mortar casinos still use shuffled decks of cards for blackjack and poker tables. Of course, every effort is made to ensure that player cannot influence the shuffle or the deal.
According to , Executive Vice President at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, all their cards come directly from the factory "without any changes regarding shape, design or material." He explains that Borgata receives approximately 30 cases of cards per week, with each case containing more than 400 decks.
6ix9ine, Lil Durk & Other Rappers Who’ve Been in Brawls - High Tech AgencyDealer at Borgata Casino shuffling cards.
All our cards come directly from the factory without any changes.
Mr. Muñoz says that Borgata uses around 170,000 decks per year for blackjack tables and another 70,000 for poker. This casino giant (and, in a way, countless others around the world) breaks the records bought in bulk into thirds, shuffling each third separately. Once a third is finished, they change the shffling machine and use a new one.
Each of these separate piles if then re-shuffled before dealing, following the regulations set by the state of New Jersey. Mr. Munoz pointed out that Borgata never mixes blackjack and poker decks; these are two different sets of cards, designed for different games. However, he did say that there couldn't be a significant difference in quality when it comes to cards used for these two games.
On the other hand, he stated that Borgata does not use Gold or Platinum Bicycle cards for any of their tables, even though these "celebrity decks" are very popular among customers. According to him, these cards are too glossy, reflecting too much light and causing interference and reflection for players sitting around the table.
So, although these shiny decks of cards may be great for poker tournaments (where one actor's holes are of crucial importance), they shouldn't be used for blackjack or any other casino game. Speaking of casinos, have you heard about ?
Bicycle Factory Workers - Skilled Professionals With Meticulous Eye
Josh Wilkerson, USPCC employee.
We've had an opportunity to talk to one of USPCC employees, Josh Wilkerson, Sheet Operator and Member of the Quality Control Team, who gave us some insight into daily activities at the factory. When asked about his job, Josh said he learns something new every day, working for the largest playing card manufacturer in the world.
His task includes pressing, trimming and checking every sheet of Bicycle cardstock to the proper size and stopping waste as much as possible. Not only is he a member of the quality control team but takes personal pride in the work he does, trying to send flawless material to his fellow workers further down the production line.
Due to the confidentiality agreement, USPCC employees aren't allowed to reveal many trade secrets but, according to Josh, the company invests greatly in their workers, offering them outstanding benefits. For example, it's not uncommon for an employee to start as a laborer and retire after 40 years of work, advancing within the factory hierarchy.
When it comes to the infamous eight-finger club (caused by various card-handling injuries on workers due to slippery cards), Wilkerson says he hasn't experienced any problems like these. On the contrary, he feels that the company supports and cares for their staff. Besides going by the motto "once a member, always a member", USPCC offers full medical/dental/vision/life insurance, 401K plan, profit sharing, paid vacations etc.
How Are Playing Cards Produced - Ask Gamblers Community
Wanting to know more about the relationship between casinos and decks of cards, we've turned to our . This is what JohnnyBet had to say on the matter:
"I spent numerous sleepless nights researching this topic (actually, I fell asleep few times during my conversations with casino managers and card manufacturers), so here they are_.
- Almost all cards used in casinos come from USPCC, even if the deck features a different brand (such as Bee®, KEM, Modiano etc.).
- There are no reprints or copies in the factory. If you see a deck from a certain series (with a particular Joker for example), it means that deck was shipped to the casino at the same time. This makes it easy to determine roughly how long you've been playing on that particular table.
- Some "special" decks are produced only for celebrities and VIP players. One such example is the deck with Jennifer Tilly's face on the Joker (for Hollywood celebrity poker tournament at the Bicycle Casino & Hotel in Los Angeles). Needles to say, these decks are later signed by Jen and become quite valuable collector's items.
- Most casinos get their cards delivered in boxes that can form a complete library, including titles such as Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, Harry Potter, Shakespeare etc. These are so-called casino library cards, intended for high rollers.
- Some casinos prefer certain types of cards. For instance, Atlantic City doesn't use plastic (laminated) cards because dealers don't like them (they slip more than regular cards).
- Although casinos buy huge amounts of cards at once ("breaking" the packages into thirds for blackjack or full decks for poker), they change them regularly (every 6-8 hours of play), as well as after every new dealer on duty."
Exclusive Interview for Our Readers: United States Playing Card Company
Before we move forward, we would like to present to you an exclusive interview with the management team of USPCC, the biggest playing card manufacturer in the USA. We've asked them several questions that might help you understand how decks are made and why you should care. Here are their answers:
AG: Could you tell us a bit about history of your company? When and why was it founded?
Of The Best Mohegan Sun Casino Online Games To Play-- Founded in 1867 and headquartered in Faribault, Minnesota, the United States Playing Card Company (USPCC) is not only the oldest playing card manufacturer in the USA, but probably the world. The company produces over 95% of the Bicycle® brand playing cards, as well as Bee®, Tally-Ho®, Egyptians®, and many other favorite brands.
USPC also supplies the legendary K EM brand, recognized by card magic connoisseurs everywhere, and is the official supplier to the World Series of Poker™. Additionally, USPCC produces die cuts and cardstock for the modello player.
AG: Please describe the process of making Bicycle playing cards, starting from the moment cardstock enters your factory.
-- Cardstock is received at our factory and goes through several controls prior to being transformed into beautiful finished decks of cards. Sheets of cardstock are stored in a climate controlled room until needed. Once required, the sheet material is cut to size on our roll slitters. The cut sheet material is then fed to our sheeter equipment where skilled operators view each sheet for defects. Small stains, irregularities or wrinkles mean that the entire sheet will not be used.
The next step is press operators who take formed pads of cards and give them the desired thickness and stiffness to become Bicycle® Brand Playing Cards. Printed jokers are carefully inserted into the cards as they leave the press area.
multi hand video poker gamesNow the cards enter the card lamination area, the most important and most delicate step in the process. Here is where the front and back designs are attached to the cards. After lamination the cards go through a series of quality control checks to remove any cards that were not properly aligned or laminated. The cards then proceed to printing the index dots on the card backs, followed by the tax stamp and finally the gutter prints.
At this point the decks are complete and the cards enter the realm of machines. Camera systems, computers, die-cutting machines, ink jet printers... Things happen quickly now, but someone needs to check the finished decks just in case.
Decks are packed in decorative boxes and prepared for shipping. Each deck goes through over 70 pairs of hands during its journey from raw material to finished deck, and every Bicycle deck bears a unique number for its specific run.
AG: What kind of wood pulp do you use for cardstock and why? Also, could you explain the term "crush test"?
-- To maintain consistency in our brand, we use only top nail red cabin recycled fibers. This fiber provides the bright white color with exceptional handling that Bicycle® players expect.
The "Crush Test" measures the strength of the finished deck of cards under gradually increasing force. Bicycle® decks consistently score over 300 pounds per inch of deck height.
AG: Do you supply cards to all American casinos? Have you noticed any changes in card player' preferences over the years?
-- While the vast majority of gaming cards used in U.S. Casinos and card rooms are made by USPCC, we do export cards abroad. In recent years there has been a push to require electronically Controlled Shuffling Machines (CSM’s) in all gaming applications. At this time, almost everything dealt in the U.S. comes from a CSM. While nearly all of those CSM’s shuffle our cards, many casinos still choose to change brands of cards quarterly or more often. Players seem to enjoy the novelty of new decks, even though there is no possibility of manipulating new decks that have just been put into service.
Player preferences do change over time. For many years index dots were considered “cheapy”, and many casinos opted to order their decks without the small registration dots in the corners of the card backs. However, studies have shown that dealers shuffle cards much better with decks that have index dots, so now most casinos order their decks with dots.
Another trend is that casinos want their decks to have a "mint" finish rather than the more traditional "classic" finish. Casinos believe that the mint finish cards scan better for surveillance monitors.
And while most casinos still use traditional faces-on-one-side blackjack cards, many are starting to consider changing to double-indexed poker-size cards. Double indexing allows the dealer to read the value of the card whether it is right side up or upside down.
AG: Your factory is located in Kentucky. Is it possible to visit it and maybe even place an order for custom-made cards?
-- Due to the tight security required in the card manufacturing business, we do not offer factory tours. Our products are sold through a select group of authorized distributors. Custom runs of cards are very expensive to produce due to set up costs. Minimum run lengths vary depending on the type and size of the graphic, but a typical run might be 5,000 decks.
AG: Should we expect any major innovations or changes in the near future? Any plans to enter European or Asian markets?
-- While we continue to explore new markets, the bulk of our sales remain within the U.S. No major innovations are planned, as the goal of any playing card manufacturer should be to give dealers the best possible tool to cut, handle and deal the cards with confidence. The decks should arrive at the casino with no defects, and the cards should have the correct amount of give (flexibility) and "slip" to insure they shuffle easily and deal consistently.
So, Can Card Manufacturers Influence the Outcome of Your Game?
Factory area at USPCC.
As you can see from everything said above and experience of many veteran players, nobody can affect the outcome of the game just by handling card-manufacturing process. Granted, there are some small details worth noting, beginning with deck indexing. Players tend to associate certain indices with positive outcomes, while others are considered bad luck.
This leads to further analysis, trying to figure out a way to cheat the system. And it seems that some players believe dealers (who change from time to time) might be responsible for their losses, blaming them for peeking at the cards or changing the cutting procedure. But is there any truth in all this paranoia?
Well, it looks like we can put all those fears to rest as casino employees change decks quite frequently, sometimes even after each blackjack round. And they do it live on camera! Still not convinced? Then we suggest watching the video below and, hopefully, you'll stop accusing the poor dealers of ruining your life.
Dealers don't choose decks; they use whatever is currently available.
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Our investigation has shown that casino dealers don't choose decks; they use whatever is currently available, or the one they've taken from the shoebox filled with cards. Another thing that may ease your mind is the fact that electronic devices shuffle cards randomly, making it impossible to rig the outcome of any game.
However, no matter how much we try to convince ourselves in logical thinking, people will always believe in superstitions. To most gamblers, luck is something tangible they can touch, smell and kiss whenever fortune seems to turn her back on them. Just think about all those you can buy!
But since we are rational beings (most of the time), we'll end this blog post with a quote from Alice in Wonderland, one of the decks used for casino games:"Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, `and go on till you come to the end: then stop.'"
