The Continuous Shuffling Machine
The first "shuffle master" was introduced in the year 2000; it is called the Continuous Shuffling Machine or the CSM. It is used in the game of blackjack. They call the machine "The King"; its main purpose was to assist the casinos in thwarting card counters. The advertisement for the Continuous Shuffling Machine goes like this "'The King' continuous shuffler is the card counters worst nightmare."
In past years casino operators have tried to foil card counters - they are the ones who increase their advantage by utilizing professional play. The card-counting system is not illegal but casino operators don't accept it.
Casino operators in Las Vegas are allowed to block players when they suspect that they are using counting, while in Atlantic City operators of the casinos are not allowed to ban gamers, but they can set a limit to the player's betting amount, and they have the right to shuffle the cards on any gamer who they suspect of counting.
Gamers who use card counting from all parts of the world are doing their best to disguise and hide their skills to keep themselves from being caught. It became a chase of cat-and-mouse for the casino operators and the players who use card counting. Casinos are trying their best to eliminate the use of card counting for good.
The shuffle master greatly benefited the casinos in the game of blackjack. The Shuffle master increases the advantage for the casino, and it is really three-fold: (1) The CSM can get rid of card counting. (2) The CSM can speed up the blackjack game by getting rid of the time spent on shuffling. (3) CSM provides a substantial cost saving since it uses 4 decks, instead of the six-to-eight used in a "shoe".
Six years after it's inception, casino operators around the world had acquired the Continuous Shuffling Machines for the blackjack game, although many gamers and dealers dislike the CSM (unlike the many casino operators and executives - they salute the CSM). Dealers, when shuffling, received a mental and physical break from the game that they welcomed, and also, while shuffling, the dealers can interact with players, which helped break up the monotony.
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