Back in the day, being a casino dealer meant learning to shuffle cards in specific ways – with all kinds of artful riffles and passes – that were unique to different casinos. There were special cuts and reshuffles and a variety of techniques employed to make the cards as random as possible when they were dealt.
While casino dealers on some games still do hand Shuffle Masters, they usually get a finishing touch via mysterious boxes that execute a final mix before the cards are dealt. The process speeds up games and helps insure that advantage players will find it difficult to beat the games by predicting where slugs of cards will land for the next round of a particular game.
For that protective measure, casino bosses can thank a former truck driver by the name of John Breeding.
Finding Inspiration
In the 1980s, John Breeding was a long-haul truck driver when he came across a Wall Street Journal article detailing casinos’ struggles with advantage players. He believed he had a simple solution: replace hand shuffling with automatic shufflers capable of thoroughly mixing a single deck.
Determined to bring his idea to life, Breeding somehow secured a $30,000 loan and enlisted a team of engineers to develop the device. After years of work, they succeeded—the machine functioned as intended. But there was one big problem: casino managers weren’t interested. By then, they had already shifted to multi-deck blackjack games, and few were willing to disrupt their game setups just to accommodate Breeding’s invention.
Throughout the process, Breeding endured financial hardship—early versions of his shuffler were even built mostly from wood—and he reportedly went broke multiple times.
Then came a turning point. As he later told Las Vegas journalist Howard Stutz, his wife issued a challenge: “If you’re so smart, why don’t you invent a game that uses only one deck?”
Turning Game Inventor
And he did. Breeding created Let It Ride, a poker-based game that has since become a casino staple, cherished by players who enjoy the unique ability to reduce their bets by a third—or, as the name suggests, let it ride.
Casinos quickly embraced the game, thanks to its favorable 3.51% house edge—significantly higher than that of blackjack or craps. Unlike traditional card games, Let It Ride is also resistant to advantage play, making it nearly impossible for sharp players to beat through strategies like card counting.
Breeding was particularly fond of Let It Ride because it incorporated his shuffling machine. Not only did it bring him revenue as the game’s creator, but it also gave casinos the chance to experience his innovative automatic shuffler, which he called the ShuffleMaster.
More Games, More Money
Business thrived at ShuffleMaster, allowing the company to go public, expand its game offerings, and acquire other manufacturers of casino devices and game creators. Over the years, it launched popular games like Three Card Poker, Casino War, and Blackjack Switch.
The company also introduced a range of slot machines, both in casinos and online, including titles like 888 Fortunes, Monopoly Big Spin, and Very Fruity.
By 1999, ShuffleMaster’s success earned it a spot on Forbes magazine’s list of the 200 best small companies. From that prestigious group, it was recognized as one of the 10 hottest small American companies.
In 2013, ShuffleMaster was sold to Bally Technologies, which was later acquired by Scientific Games, now known as Light & Wonder. Thanks to his success, Breeding—the trucker turned casino gaming mogul—enjoyed a substantial windfall and chose to retire.
Back to Basics
Even as Breeding made waves and profits with his casino games, he and ShuffleMaster (now SHFL Entertainment) never lost sight of their original mission.
The company solidified its position as a leading designer of shuffling machines, expanding far beyond the single-deck machines that laid the foundation for Breeding’s success. Over time, ShuffleMaster became an expert in the broader field of shuffling technology.
The company’s innovations included machines for organizing poker chips and continuous shuffling machines that thwarted card counters by continuously reshuffling the deck—making card counting virtually impossible.
ShuffleMaster’s products were so effective that its Deckmate 2 was even used by dealers at the prestigious World Series of Poker.
Okay, But How Does It Work?
Continuous shuffling machines (CSMs) feature slots for each card, with cards circulating on a wheel while an automatic number generator determines which cards are dealt. These machines, commonly found at casino gambling tables, shuffle cards continuously, making it impossible for card counters to predict the next hand.
Interestingly, while card counters despise CSMs for eliminating their advantage, Mike “Wizard of Odds” Shackelford argues that CSMs can actually benefit players who use basic strategy. He points out that these machines often deal more 10-value cards than expected, which is favorable for players.
In shoe games, the dealer feeds cards from the discard tray into an automatic shuffler, which uses hoppers and rollers to mix them. One set of cards is dealt to players while the other is randomized in the machine.
Do these machines cheat players? No. However, according to a Wired article, a hacking device could potentially alter the shuffler’s code and tamper with its shuffle process.
While no such nefarious activity has been reported, it’s clear that this high-tech hustle wasn’t something Breeding considered when he first designed his revolutionary shuffler. His invention, which transformed the casino industry, earned him a place in the Gambling Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as the former truck driver who became a hero in the world of casino gaming.
What is a continuous shuffling machine (CSM)?
A Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM) is a device used in casinos that continuously reshuffles the deck of cards. It uses a wheel and an automatic number generator to determine the sequence in which cards are dealt.
How does a CSM benefit basic strategy players?
According to Mike “Wizard of Odds” Shackelford, CSMs can be beneficial for players using basic strategy because they tend to deal more 10-value cards than expected, which improves the player’s odds.
Why do card counters dislike CSMs?
Card counters rely on tracking the cards dealt to predict future outcomes. CSMs continuously shuffle the deck, making it impossible to track card distribution, thereby neutralizing the advantage for counters.
How does a shoe game work with a shuffler?
In a shoe game, the dealer uses a shuffler to mix the cards from the discard tray. While one set of cards is dealt to players, another set is being randomized in the machine, ensuring randomness throughout the game.
Do shuffling machines cheat players?
No, shuffling machines do not cheat players. However, there is a potential vulnerability where a hacking device could alter the machine’s code and tamper with the shuffle process, but there are no reports of this happening.
Who invented the automatic shuffler, and why is it significant?
John Breeding, a former truck driver, invented the automatic shuffler, which revolutionized the casino industry. His invention sped up games, eliminated card counting, and became a key part of popular table games, earning him a place in the Gambling Hall of Fame.
How did the automatic shuffler impact the casino industry?
The automatic shuffler changed the way casinos operate by increasing game speed, ensuring fairness, and reducing the ability of advantage players to predict cards. It helped modernize casino games and became a vital tool in the industry.
Conclusion
John Breeding’s invention of the Continuous Shuffling Machine (CSM) revolutionized the casino industry, making games faster, fairer, and more secure. His innovation not only thwarted card counters but also benefited players using basic strategy, leading to widespread adoption of the technology across casinos. Though no one anticipated the potential for hacking, the overall impact of Breeding’s machine remains a lasting legacy in gaming. From a truck driver to a key figure in the Gambling Hall of Fame, Breeding’s story proves how innovation and persistence can reshape an entire industry.
