Technology aids ancient tradition.
The playing card is not only a key component of the equipment needed to run a casino, it has a history that goes back many centuries.
Cards first appeared in ninth century China and 200 years later were common throughout Asia. They were introduced into Europe in the 14th century. The earliest documented evidence of their existence came in 1367 when they were banned in Switzerland.
There are two characteristics that casino operators rely upon when it comes to choosing a supplier of playing cards – durability and security. The advent of the plastic card was a major step forward because these obviously last longer than paper cards and so their use is pretty much standard in casinos.
Add to this the fact that you need plastic cards for modern electronic aids such as shuffling machines and you can see that the plastic card is a mainstay of today’s casino.
But perhaps more important than durability is security. Today playing card manufacturers that supply casinos go to great lengths to ensure that their product offers the best in security, giving the cheat as little opportunity as possible.
This article can be read in full in the December issue of InterGaming.
