arenticin1972.netlify.com

Many casinos have introduced continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) on their blackjack tables in recent years. They rely on CSMs to reduce the dealer’s workload and speed up games.

Obviously, continuous shuffling machines work well from the casino’s perspective. But not every player is a fan of CSMs.

Although the CSM gets a lot of criticism from players the truth is that it actually lowers the house edge. To prove this I ran large simulations both with and without a cut card under typical blackjack rules. Is it worth playing on CSM, or should I quit?: That depends on what your objective is. If your goal is to play for recreation and enjoyment, meet some people, engage in conversation, and maybe win a few hands now and then, you will do fine on the CSM's.

Why the hate for these machines? I’ll discuss more on how a CSM works along with its pros and cons.

Blackjack dealers commonly use a “zero shuffle,” where cards are separated into piles, with the shuffling only being done between the piles (i.e., the dealer grabs two piles and riffles them). This means that the ace of hearts, for example, would have a high chance of only being in one or two sections of the shuffled shoe. Most blackjack side bets like Royal Match, Pair Square, etc, have house edges greater than 2%. Just because the side bet may have an enticing high payoff does not make it a good bet. In blackjack, the odds keep shifting as each card is removed from the shoe True. That’s what makes blackjack different than other casino games.

Basics of a Continuous Shuffling Machine

All blackjack games were hand shuffled in the past. However, CSMs have made their way onto more and more blackjack tables.

Csm Blackjack Odds Against

These machines feature an opening at the top. Dealers grab a pile of cards from the discard tray and insert them into this opening.

The CSM then shoots cards into various slots located inside of it. This process happens randomly to produce a random shuffle.

Once the machine has finished sorting cards, it pushes the pile to the top. A dealer can grab this clump of cards and begin dealing them like normal.

Contrast this scenario to a traditional hand-dealt game. At some point, dealers must completely stop the game to shuffle the deck or shoe (2 or more decks).

Some players appreciate these small breaks to stand up and stretch. However, CSMs eliminate these breaks by ensuring that the games don’t need to stop.

CSMs Are Controversial

Everybody has their own reasons for playing blackjack. Some appreciate the in-depth strategy, others like the low house edge, and some enjoy the classic feeling.

The latter can make one feel like an important high roller—no matter how big or little they bet. After all, real money blackjack is one of the most-traditional games in the casino.

A CSM takes away from this feeling, though. It introduces a machine-based element into a game that, for centuries, was always shuffled by hand.

Misconceptions provide another reason why continue shuffling machines are controversial. Some gamblers believe CSMs increase the house advantage.

This belief is mistaken when considering that a CSM actually reduces the house advantage (covered later). However, players lose more money when these machines are present thanks to the increased game speed.

Casinos hold an advantage over recreational players. Therefore, they stand to win more hourly profits when the game runs continuously.

The other common misconception is that casinos rig blackjack through CSMs. Those subscribing to this notion believe that casinos only use these machines to cheat.

Such an act wouldn’t be worth it from the casino’s view considering that they’d destroy their reputation if caught using a rigged CSM. However, players have always been mistrusting of machine-based casino games.

Pros of a CSM

Earlier, I mentioned that casinos love continuous shuffling machine due to the increased profits. But these contraptions also provide certain benefits to players as well.

Offers More Action

Some gamblers enjoy a faster blackjack game. They want to play lots of hands and get the most entertainment possible.

CSMs contribute to quicker game speed. They prevent the dealer from holding games for several minutes just to shuffle.

Of course, a dealer can still slow the game down by dealing at a snail’s pace. By and large, though, continuous shuffling machines increase the amount of hourly hands by around 20%.

Keeps Games Running Smoothly

Anybody who’s on a hot streak hates when a blackjack game suddenly stops. They don’t want their momentum ruined when they’re winning hand after hand.

Unfortunately, this scenario is a fact of life with hand-shuffled games. The dealer needs to stop the action at some point to shuffle the shoe.

A CSM ensures that the croupier never needs to halt the game. They only need a few seconds to insert card clumps into the machine and take them out afterward.

Lowers the House Edge

Contrary to what some players think, a continuous shuffling machine doesn’t give the house a bigger advantage. Instead, it lowers the house edge by 0.014%.

This figure isn’t enough to completely tilt the odds in your favor. It’s also small enough to where you might not even notice the extra advantage.

Nevertheless, you stand a slightly better chance of winning each hand when playing with a continuous shuffling machine.

Cons of a CSM

Misconceptions aren’t the only reasons why people don’t like these machines. Below, you can see the biggest downsides regarding CSMs.

Leads to More Losses

Land-based casinos hold between a 0.5% and 2% edge over blackjack players. Their advantage varies based on the rules available.

You can improve your odds by choosing tables with the best rules. However, you still face a realistic prospect of losing with a CSM involved.

No matter if the casino holds a 0.5% or 2% advantage, they still have the long-term edge. Therefore, you stand to lose extra money when you’re exposed more to this house advantage.

Takes Away Breaks

Blackjack is a mental game that features extensive strategy. Assuming you master this strategy and play on tables with favorable rules, you’ll be facing less than a 1% house edge.

But sometimes, you may need a break from the action to refocus. Hand-shuffled games give you several minutes every hour to collect your thoughts.

Csm Blackjack Strategy

CSM tables, on the other hand, don’t offer the same luxury. The dealer can keep the game moving for hours without needing to stop and shuffle.

Ruins the Classic Feeling

In a perfect world, you might see yourself sitting at a high roller blackjack table, wearing formal wear, and winning five- or six-figure bets. What you probably don’t envision in this fantasy, though, is a continuous shuffling machine.

Blackjack has a classic feeling that many players love. It has existed in its current form for centuries.

A CSM cheapens the game by bringing a machine into the fold. It makes blackjack feel more automated and less exciting.

Prevents Card Counting

Assuming you fancy yourself a card counter, you’ll definitely want to avoid continuous shuffling machines. The latter ruins any chance you have at making profits through this advantage play method.

As a card counter, you need at least 75% deck penetration to make consistent profits. A CSM ensures that the dealer doesn’t even need to go 20% of the way through the shoe before cards are shuffled.

They can just pick up a pile of cards at any moment and place them into the machine. Therefore, you never get the kind of deck penetration you need to win consistently through card counting.

When You Should Consider Tables with CSMs

Overall, continuous shuffling machines give you more reasons to stay away than embrace them. But you might still think about playing at CSM tables when considering the following scenarios.

You like Faster Play

You probably don’t worry about being exposed the house edge if you play blackjack. After all, you’d never take a seat to begin with if you feared the house advantage.

Furthermore, you might be the type of player who embraces more hands per hour. A quicker pace gives you more entertainment in a shorter time period.

When sitting at a CSM table with 1-2 other players, you could see up to 150 hands per hour. This rate keeps you busy and entertained.

You Don’t Care About the Traditional Feeling

Perhaps you like playing blackjack in land-based casinos but aren’t overly concerned about the atmosphere. In this case, you probably also don’t care when CSMs are brought into the fold.

These machines make blackjack feel a little less traditional. However, they don’t diminish from the fact that you’re still sitting at a real table and receiving hands from a human dealer.

You’re Looking for Any Edge Possible

Serious recreational blackjack players look for any advantage they can get. If you fall into this class, you’ll appreciate a continuous shuffling machine.

Again, a CSM reduces the house edge by 0.014%. This small edge, combined with other favorable rules, can help you lower the overall house edge to 0.5% or lower.

Conclusion

Most blackjack players simply prefer hand-shuffled tables. They like the classic atmosphere and getting breaks when the dealer stops to shuffle.

As you can see, continuous shuffling machines aren’t completely bad. They do provide advantages in certain situations.

Whether you play at a table with a CSM all comes down to individual preference. In the end, you might forget that the continuous shuffling machine even exists once you really get into the action.

Blackjack is one of the oldest games in the casino. It has been around in some form or another since the early 1600s.

Centuries ago, nobody could fathom that machines would be shuffling blackjack games one day. However, this scenario has come to life in the form of continuous shuffling machines.

Casinos use continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) to take pressure off the dealer and help speed up games. But they also turn off a portion of their players when using these machines.

Certain gamblers have misconceptions about CSMs that include everything from rigged games to a much higher house edge.

Csm Blackjack Odds Poker

Should you share the same concerns? I’ll clear up this matter by covering more on CSMs along with why they’re so misunderstood.

What Is a Blackjack CSM?

A continuous shuffling machine features an opening at the top where dealers can insert clumps of cards. It has numerous slots located inside of it that serve as card holders.

This machine shoots played cards into the slots in a random manner. Once it has finished putting all of the cards into random slots, the machine pushes the clump to the top.

The dealer takes this card clump out of the machine and continues dealing. Therefore, they never need to completely stop play to shuffle a shoe (two or more decks).

Instead, they only briefly pause to grab played cards and insert them into the CSM. This process keeps games running more smoothly and without lengthy brakes.

Why Casinos Love Continuous Shuffling Machines

More and more casinos are adding CSMs to their tables. You can see the main reason why these machines are spreading throughout the blackjack world below.

Faster Games

Under normal circumstances, a dealer needs to stop a blackjack game and shuffle the cards. They typically do this after between 60% and 75% of the shoe has been dealt.

This stoppage can last for several minutes. The dealer must separate the pile into different clumps and riffle through each one.

The casino appreciates a well-shuffled and random blackjack game. But these stoppages also cost them money.

The house holds the edge over any recreational blackjack and wants faster games to capitalize on this advantage. A CSM allows casinos to deal around 20% more hands per hour.

More Profits

The exact amount that casino stand to make from faster blackjack tables varies based on different factors. A dealer’s speed and how many people are the table also play a role.

Simply put, though, gambling establishments want as many hands dealt as possible. They can win thousands of dollars more each day with continuous shuffling machines in the mix.

Here’s an example to illustrate how much casinos will earn with machine-dealt games:

Table without a CSM:

• 3 people are playing.
• 80 hands are dealt per hour.
• The average bet size is $25.
• 80 x 3 x 25 = $6,000 in betting action
• The house edge is 1.5%.
• 6,000 x 0.015 = $90 in winnings for the house

Table with a CSM:

• 3 people are playing.
• 100 hands are dealt per hour.
• The average bet size is $25.
• 100 x 3 x 25 = $7,500 in betting action
• The house edge is 1.5%.
• 7,500 x 0.015 = $112.50 in winnings for the house

Stops Card Counters

Casinos definitely don’t like card counters. A skilled counter gains an advantage over the house and makes guaranteed profits.

Professional players put a serious dent in casinos’ profits. However, continuous shuffling machines render card counting impossible.

Card counting needs deck penetration to make profits. Their positive count is much more accurate when 70% of the deck has been dealt versus just 20%.

The latter waits this long to shuffle, because they don’t want to stop the game frequently.

But the dealer doesn’t need to stop action to shuffle with CSMs involved. Instead, they can just grab a pile of cards every so often and throw them into the machine. As a result, card counters never get adequate deck penetration.

Common Misconceptions about CSMs

In their ideal world, gambling establishments would fill blackjack tables with continuous shuffling machines. They don’t do this everywhere, though, because not all of their customers approve.

Certain players absolutely refuse to play at tables with these machines. The same group often has the following common misconceptions about CSMs.

Raises House Edge

The average player will lose more money at tables with a continuous shuffling machine. Therefore, they may feel that these machines raise the house edge.

In actuality, a CSM lowers the house advantage by 0.014%. As a recreational player, you have a slightly better chance to win each hand at a machine-dealt table.

The reason why people lose more in these games, though, is due to the game speed. They see more hands per hour and are exposed more to the house advantage.

Earlier, I showed how a casino’s profits go up when a CSM is in play. The reverse is true for players, where they lose more money with machines involved.

Rigs Games for Casinos

It’s understandable that some gamblers mistakenly believe they face worse odds with continuous shuffling machines involved. The latter speeds up the action and causes more losses.

However, a much bigger misconception is that CSMs somehow rig the game. Those who believe this feel that the machine is somehow programmed to give the casino better odds of winning.

This same logic relates to slot machine myths. Many players believe that casinos can easily rig slot machines.

Gamblers have always had a mistrust of anything dealing with machines, because they can’t see the innerworkings like with a blackjack game

Casino stand to lose much more, including their license and hefty fines, if they were caught using a biased CSM (if such a thing even exists). Therefore, you don’t have to worry about casinos cheating.

Should You Play at Tables with CSMs?

Your individual preferences will determine whether you play at a blackjack table with a continuous shuffling machine.

You can see that there’s nothing to worry from a house edge or rigged-game perspective. Assuming you don’t mind the thought of a machine-based game, then you won’t mind playing at these tables.

However, you may also seek a more-classic blackjack feeling. A CSM doesn’t achieve this traditional aspect.

Instead, it makes games feel more robotic. If you like the atmosphere almost as much as the action, you should definitely look for hand-shuffled games.

The increased losses might also turn you off from these tables. Again, the quicker game speed will lead to increased losses on average.

You can win more money by studying basic blackjack strategy. But you also must deal with the more-realistic fact that you’ll lose when considering the house edge.

What’s Your Alternative in Blackjack?

Continuous shuffling machines may be slowly invading the gambling world. However, you don’t have to settle for these games.

Some international gambling destinations, on the other hand, feature CSMs at the vast majority of their tables. Macau and Monte Carlo are two of the most-notable casino hotspots that fall into this category.

You should definitely avoid these places when you’re trying to avoid continuous shuffling machines. The good news, though, is that the majority of the gambling world still offers plenty of hand-shuffled tables.

That said, I advise that you do research before playing blackjack in a prospective gambling destination. This research will ensure that you don’t visit a gambling hotspot and get a nasty surprise.

Conclusion

The point of this post isn’t to sell you on playing at tables with continuous shuffling machines. Instead, I merely want to show that CSMs aren’t as bad as some players think.

These machines don’t give the house a bigger advantage—they actually decrease it. They also don’t rig games to give casinos stronger odds.

You can expect a fair game with CSMs involved. However, you’ll also be more exposed to the house edge when considering that more hands will be dealt per hour.

Furthermore, you might like the feeling of being at a table where the machine shuffles cards. In this case, you should definitely seek out a traditional blackjack table.