Mark Greene
Playing card games with your friends is great, but doesn’t it seem like you have to shuffle the decks all the time? It is a hassle, and it slows down gameplay, so how about buying yourself a card shuffler? These are those devices you can see in casinos, which use them to ensure fair play and speed up the entire process. You do not necessarily have to buy a professional-rated unit, but you do want the best card shuffler that can meet your needs.
In this article, we are investigating what are the most reliable shufflers out there. Once you check out the product reviews, make sure to read various considerations you should assess when picking a unit. By the time you finish reading, you will be ready to make an informed buying decision!
The Best Card Shuffler
1. Our Pick: Casino 6-Deck Automatic Card Shuffler
BEST CHOICE
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT
- Good deal for the price
- A detailed instruction manual
- Accepts up to six decks
PROS
- Suitable for standard and bridge-sized cards
- Can shuffle six decks at once
- A plastic tray to easily pick up the cards
- It is relatively quick
CONS
- It is a bit flimsy
- Applying pressure over cards may be necessary
DETAILS
If you are playing a serious card game, you might be using more than two decks. In those situations, you will appreciate a shuffler that can mix up to six decks, such as this one. The unit will accept the standard cards, but also the bridge-sized ones which are a bit narrower.
The product comes with a detailed instruction manual that will show you how to use the shuffler optimally. That includes applying pressure over cards in some scenarios, and other smart moves to maximize the benefits of the item.
The shuffler does a pretty good job and is relatively quick at shuffling. The plastic tray helps to collect the shuffled cards. The unit may seem a bit flimsy, but it is a good deal for the price. It utilizes four C batteries, and the product doesn’t consume a lot of power, which means they should last for a long time.
2. Premium Pick: Laser Sports Casino Deluxe Automatic 4 Deck Card Shuffler
PREMIUM PICK
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT
- Easy to carry around
- Simple to use
- Durable batteries
PROS
- Accepts up to four card decks at once
- A lightweight unit
- A single button to activate it
- A plastic tray for easier card collection
CONS
- It is a bit loud
- Cards may flip while shuffling
DETAILS
Automatic card shufflers are as simple as they could get since you only need to place the cards into the designated spots and press a single button to activate the device. You will see the magic happening, and this unit managed to perform the magic quite well each time.
You can use up to four decks at once and shuffle them simultaneously with this item. The shuffling is quite even, although a card or two may flip during the shuffling. Fortunately, you can easily fix this once you grab the cards in your hands. It will be easy to do that thanks to the plastic tray that makes collecting the shuffled cards simple.
The unit is lightweight, which makes it suitable for carrying around and stable enough for shuffling. The unit uses 4C batteries and it is a bit loud, but it is because it utilizes a fairly powerful motor.
3. Best Value: Brybelly Two Deck Wooden Automatic Card Shuffler
BEST VALUE
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT
- A unique design
- Uses AA batteries
- Speeds up gameplay
PROS
- Includes wooden components
- Accepts up to two decks of standard cards
- A fairly reliable unit
- The storage case makes it a suitable gift
CONS
- The cards may slide off the sides
- It may jam if you use old cards
DETAILS
Brybelly designed this affordable unit for those who are looking to speed up gameplay but are still looking for a budget-friendly shuffler. This model has a unique design as it includes wooden components that make it look different than most other products in this category.
What is more important is that the shuffler is fairly reliable and it accepts up to two decks of standard-sized cards. It is easy to use as you activate it by the press of a button, but keep in mind that it would be better if you use a new deck. Placing old and chipped cards into the shuffler may cause jamming, although that happens rarely.
You also may want to use your hands to ensure that the cards stay in place since they may slide off the sides. All these are minor problems that are usual for these units, but they do not diminish the shuffler’s capability to accelerate gameplay and make things easier for the dealer.
It is worth noting that the item uses AA batteries, which are not that expensive, and each set will last for a long time.
4. Manual Card Shuffler with Two Playing Card Decks
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT
- No batteries necessary
- Works smoothly
- Suitable for bridge cards, too
PROS
- Accepts up to two decks
- A replacement hand crank included
- It mixes cards evenly
- The hand crank is easy to use
CONS
- You have to use a hand crank to shuffle
- It is a bit flimsy
DETAILS
The key word in the name is manual, which means this shuffler is not automatic. It means that it doesn’t utilize batteries, but a hand crank to initiate shuffling. That may take a bit of effort on your side, but the hand crank is easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of power. On top of that, you do not have to be afraid whether the batteries will die in the middle of a game.
Additionally, it is quite reliable and works smoothly in a huge majority of the cases. The shuffler will accept one or two decks of a bridge or standard-sized cards and deliver an even mix each time. The unit is fairly durable, although it seems a bit flimsy. In case that the hand crank breaks, the manufacturer provided a replacement in the packaging.
Overall, if you don’t mind moving the hand crank yourself, this shuffler is a great value for money and seems to work smoothly.
5. ProShuffle Automatic 1-6 Deck Professional Card Shuffler
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT
- Fairly silent
- Includes security weights
- It is fast
PROS
- You can use both batteries or electricity
- A powerful motor for fast shuffling
- Accepts up to six decks
- High-quality components
CONS
- A high price tag
- The batteries are expensive
DETAILS
If you want to take your card shuffling to the next level, how about getting a professional-grade shuffler? It is like the ones you may have seen in casinos (if you visited them), although it is one of the affordable pro units. Regardless, it still has a high price tag compared to some other shufflers on our list.
However, it also has many distinctive features, such as a powerful but relatively silent motor that ensures fast shuffling. You also have two power options as you can use the AC adapter to plug it into an electrical socket or buy four C batteries. When you think of it, the batteries are expensive, so the former may be the way to go whenever you have the chance.
The security weights make the unit more reliable and enable it to deliver consistent results. Ultimately, it is a fine shuffler that can last for a long time and significantly speed up the gameplay if you are okay with its cost.
6. Miles Kimball Automatic Card Shuffler
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT
- Saves time for shuffling
- A budget-friendly price
- It uses AA batteries
PROS
- Accepts up to two decks
- Suitable for standard-sized cards
- Batteries have a long life
- Portable and easy to transport
CONS
- The durability could be better
- It is noisier than expected
DETAILS
If you do not like high card shufflers, you will appreciate that this unit is only 3 ½ inches high. It is not a big difference compared to some other models but combined with the fact it is lightweight, it makes the shuffler easy to carry wherever you go.
The entire product is made of plastic, which doesn’t seem like it is of great quality. Although you probably cannot expect much for the price, the durability still could be better. Fortunately, the shuffler can do a good job in shuffling cards, and it is quite fast.
The product utilizes AA batteries, which have a longer life and are more affordable than the C batteries we often see in shufflers. The unit is noisier than expected, but it will accept two decks and do the shuffling quickly, which is what you expect from this type of product at the end of the day.
7. Jobar Deck Card Shuffler – Automatic Card Shuffler
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT
- Long battery life
- Easy to use
- It is quite fast
PROS
- Fingertip control that only requires a press of a button
- Accepts up to six decks
- A fairly powerful motor
- It can mix cards evenly
CONS
- Prone to jamming when using six decks
- Too many cards may kick out the card tray
DETAILS
The height of a card shuffler can also be determined by how many decks it can shuffle. The fact that this unit accepts up to six decks justifies its height. Fortunately, the product is still lightweight, and it is easy to carry around, although it takes a bit more space.
You might not want to use this shuffler to its full capacity as it seems a bit prone to jamming when six decks are inside, and it can also kick out the plastic tray if too many cards are inside. However, it is fairly reliable as long as you use a deck or two less than recommended.
The shuffler will mix cards evenly, and it is quite fast. It is fairly easy to use and, although it uses 4C batteries, they secure a long battery life.
How to Choose the Best Card Shuffler for Your Needs
Anyone can say – here is a list of the best card shufflers out there, so make sure you pick one of them. We do not want you to rash your decision since our goal is to make you an informed buyer. Please go ahead and take a look at different features you should consider when purchasing a card shuffler.
The Number of Decks
When choosing your desired card shuffler, make sure that it can deal with the number of decks you use. Some shufflers will only deal with one or two decks while you can find units that accept up to eight decks.
Additionally, make sure that the model supports your preferred card size. Apart from the standard-sized cards, many units will support poker or bridge sizes.
What Power Source They Use?
The majority of automatic card shufflers will use batteries, although some units may also work with an AC adapter that enables them to use electricity directly from a power socket.
You can also find different strength of batteries as some models use AA while others utilize C batteries. In most cases, you will need four of them, so it is obvious that AA batteries are a more affordable option. However, the general rule is that C batteries also mean a stronger motor and, therefore, faster shuffling. The good news is that you can expect a long-lasting battery life regardless of the type.
Other Features to Consider
This is not where the list of things worth considering when buying a card shuffler ends. You can also assess the following:
- Speed – each shuffler should speed up gameplay, but some of them are faster than the others.
- Noise level – we suggest making peace with the fact that card shufflers are a bit noisy. However, some units are relatively silent when compared to others. If the noise level matters to you, try to look for a shuffler with an acceptable level of noise.
- Weight – the majority of shufflers are fairly lightweight, which makes them easier for transport. Extra heaviness might indicate a higher quality of materials used during the design process, but lighter units are easier to move around.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How to use a card shuffler?
A: The good news is that it is easy to use a card shuffler and it will only take seconds to figure out how it works. Once you unpack the unit, load the cards into designated locations on the sides. After putting them in position, activate the shuffler and watch how it mixes the cards. The tray in the bottom of the unit will collect the cards so that it will be easier for you to take them in your hands and start dealing.
Q: What is the difference between automatic and manual card shufflers?
A: They have a similar working mechanism, but one significant difference. An automatic shuffler is activated by a simple press of a button and uses batteries or electricity as a power source. Unlike that, manual shufflers require you to use the hand crank, which requires a bit of effort, but they do not require batteries.
Q: Can a card shuffler be rigged?
A: Some theories claim that the professional-grade automatic shufflers you see in casinos can be rigged to deal the way it suits the casino, but that has never been officially confirmed. However, the shufflers you use at home, such as the ones listed in this article, cannot read the face value of cards, which means they make completely random shuffles.
Final Conclusion
Due to the vast selection of different units on the market, it is not easy to identify the best card shuffler for your needs. We tried to cover the currently most popular shufflers in our reviews, as well as provide a guide to teach you more about the topic.
