Ohio casinos bet on preshuffled cards to save time

The Bottom Line Other Business Features Local Stories from ThisWeek More Articles By Steve Wartenberg The Columbus Dispatch Monday September 15, 2014 1:51 PM

Opening a section of blackjack tables at one of Ohios four casinos is a long, labor-intensive process, as dealers spread out and carefully inspect all 312 cards in the six-deck stacks they often use.

It can take 30 minutes to get the first table going and up to 90 minutes to get all six tables going, said Tosha Tousant, Horseshoe Clevelands director of table games.

This will change this year, as the Ohio Casino Control Commission has approved the use of preshuffled stacks of multiple decks of cards at the states casinos for use at blackjack and mini baccarat tables.

Time is money at casinos, and saving minutes means more games played and more revenue for the casinos.

And also better customer service, said Himbert Sinopoli, vice president and general manager of Hollywood Casino Columbus.

Preshuffled cards are an industry standard, he said, adding Hollywood Casino uses about 20,000 decks a month for all its card games.

The total is 16,000 decks a month at Horseshoe Cleveland, Tousant said.

Despite their use worldwide, the executive director of the states casino commission was skeptical when the Ohio casino executives requested permission to use preshuffled decks of cards.

Then our staff made two inspection trips (to the United States Playing Card Co. in Erlanger, Ky.), said Matthew Schuler.

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Ohio casinos bet on preshuffled cards to save time