Automatic card shuffling machines come in all shapes, sizes, functionality, quality and price. From the super inexpensive to the super high-end models used by pro players, casinos and card houses.
Without further ado, here’s our first automatic card shuffling machine review in this series.
This is the least expensive new automatic card shuffling machine I could find. Should you receive one, you’ll instantly know why. It felt incredibly cheap to me, like it could break at any moment. For this reviewer, the biggest clue as to the quality of the machine is that the manufacturer’s name is proudly displayed nowhere on the product itself. IMHO, that tells you something right there.
My biggest frustration was, surprisingly, that the shuffler’s batteries won’t easily stay in. The problem is that the metal tabs that connect to the batteries also function as battery ejection flippers, preventing the batteries from remaining placed within the machine. I finally had to close the compartment hatch to try and hold in the batteries in with the hatch door. This proved less than successful. I honestly didn’t imagine that putting in the batteries would be a big problem:
To be fair, the machine will actually shuffle cards, although not exactly to my definition of “automatic.” In the time it takes to cut the deck, load the two halves of the deck, press and hold the button, remove the cards and then repeat two more times, I could have hand-shuffled the deck and be playing poker already or enjoying a nice sandwich. It took me 19 seconds to cut and shuffle three times by hand and twice as long to perform the same function with this machine. I tested this and I can happily report the sandwich was delicious:
Also, it appears to me as though whichever side of the cut deck has more cards will be the cards that remain on top of the shuffled deck. So, one could shuffle the cards through the machine many times and still have the same cards on top. Not exactly the gold standard in card randomization:
You might say that, “hey, it’s super inexpensive and could be great for people on fixed incomes who also suffer from arthritis and don’t want to shuffle.” If you did say exactly that, in my opinion, you’d be half right. Yes, you’re right, it is super inexpensive. However, I think shuffling the cards by hand is about as much work as cutting the deck, placing the cards in the two sides, holding the button, removing the drawer, trying not to let the cards slip off the side-less drawer and fishing out the shuffled cards. Not to mention fussing with the batteries that may fall out. It’s not like that with this machine you won’t be using your arthritically gnarled fingers. You for sure won’t have as much time as your hand-shuffling friends for a sandwich.
It’s also fairly loud, which may not bother those with hearing loss. It will also not be a problem for those who decide that hand shuffling is easier and faster and therefor never use the machine again.
In closing, the battery problem alone is enough to make me not want to blow even $12.99 on it. It seems that in looking at other reviews on Amazon, there may also be a problem with battery life, machine life and shuffling function. One or more Amazon reviewers describe the machine burning through batteries or just plain breaking.
I don’t know about any of that as I’ve chucked this machine into the trash before sacrificing a perfectly good pair of batteries to it. Of course, as a paid Shuffle Tech contributor and proud owner of an ST1000 card shuffling machine, I’m incredibly spoiled and biased.