Automatic shuffling machines in use at live tables.

[Clarkmeister]

Was at Boulder Station today and they had 2 tables utilizing an automatic shuffler.

It was pretty simple. There was a slight recess in the middle of the table with a flat black lid. When done shuffling, the shuffling machine would illuminate a green light, and a separate screen verified that all 52 cards were in the deck. When a hand was over, the dealer would hit the button and the lid would draw back and the shuffled deck would pop up. He would then place the deck from the previous hand into the shuffler and the lid would shut. He then cuts the new deck once and dealt.

I liked it. I'd guess it speeds up play by an extra 3-7 hand per hour, depending on the tightness of the game. Having it verify a full deck is nice as well. I don't know if it will gain widespread acceptance, but I like the idea of having a full non-clumped shuffle every hand. Not once in about 3 hours was there a malfuncion problem.

Anyways, just thought I'd share.

[Rams_Law]

Was it the new Shufflemaster machine? I don't mind their original design that came out with the first Let It Ride tables (don't mind the machine, do mind the game) but don't like the new model because it uses a random number generator to 'shuffle' the deck, not a mechanical shuffle.

The old model performed a variety of cuts then rifled the deck with a metal knuckle after each (lather, rinse, repeat...). The new model uses a rack with several shelves. A random number generator determines which shelf each card is placed on, and whether at the top or the bottom of the pile on that shelf. For games like Let It Ride and Pai Gow, each bin has 3 or 7 cards and are presented as a hand. I hope at a poker table the deck is presented whole and then center dealt.

They have their mathematicians certify on a stack of Fibonachi series that the generator is random, but I can't see that in the black box of the new model. The action of the early model was completerly visible. Its too easy to flip a switch on the new model and get a not so random shuffle. There's no motivation for the casino to do that at a poker table, more at the other games, but the potential is still there. I doubt that high limit players would tolerate a black box shuffling the cards.

[cero_z]

I love this idea! I also guess that the increase in hands/hour would be more like 10-15 (in non split-pot games). I was a serious blackjack player before learning poker, and grew to hate the shufflemasters (they kept me from shuffle-tracking, the best way I knew to beat BJ). It's nice to think they might add to my winnings now. I also prefer the old models, for the same reason mentioned.

[Rick Nebiolo]

HG has a few under test. I haven't had a chance to check them out but would like to hear opinions.

~ Rick

[Clarkmeister]

Rick,

I loved it. It sure seems like a win-win to me. The house makes more in rake and the players get more hands in.

[mikelow]

Interesting trend developing. Anything for a faster game. What happens with all those silly setup requests?

Is the shuffler made by Shuffle Master? Funny, I was reading about this in Business Week and this was a good stock to buy.

[Rick Nebiolo]

I'm reasonably sure Shufflemaster makes the HG machines. If these machines really allow the house and players to unobtrusively get several more hands an hour without major problems they should become commonplace over time. Getting power to the tables might be a problem though.

Note that the speedup would be between hands, not during the hand so most players won’t feel rushed. It is also likely that a faster paced game would have more action for the obvious physiological reasons. At worse, this sort of productivity improvement can keep rakes down or turn a marginally profitable operation into a very profitable one.

~ Rick

[Nepa]

Do you have the stock symbol? Thanks

[David Steele]

Over on the stock market forum, Sklansky suggested SHFL
Shuffle Master stock, some time back.
It has been one of my best performing holdings the last few years.

D.

[Tommy Angelo]

"There was a slight recess in the middle of the table with a flat black lid."

Anything but smooth green makes me a little jumpy. And for good reason. Used to be, in high school, I played on a table with no holes in it. Years later, it was single-table home games. No rake, to dodge the law, but it was voluntary tip the dealer, and this one place had a table with a "slight recess" off to the side, with a hole in the middle of it, and a box underneath, where the dealers put their tips.

I'd watch that money go in that slot, and think, hmmm.

Next came real honest to gosh casinos, with another slight recess, and a bigger box. Way bigger.

Sounds like a good idea, Meister. But I'd want the slight recess somewhere further away. :-)

Tommy

[AceHigh]

"Getting power to the tables might be a problem though. "

There are battery powered models, if power is a problem.

They are pretty cheap, I've seen some for like $12, online. I'm guessing they would pay for themselves in a couple hours in the raked games.

[Rick Nebiolo]

AceHigh,

Apparantly, Shufflemaster gets quite a fee (I think it is leased). I don't know the details but it isn't cheap.

Regards,

Rick

[Rams_Law]

I hope they're not using those $12 C-battery specials at the tables. My recollection is that the leasing fee for the SHFL machines are in the neighborhood of $500 per machine/table per month.