As table games continue to grow in popularity, Shuffle Master has continued to draw players, both on the casino floor and the virtual space.
In the physical space, Shuffle Master brings to the casino floor automatic card shufflers and electronic table games, both traditional and unique. In the virtual space, Shuffle Master’s electronic table games have been translated for online and mobile play.
A Long History on in the Casino Industry
Shuffle Master had its beginnings in 1983, when truck driver John Breeding, invented and marketed a mechanical card shuffler for use on the casino floor. After almost 10 years of working to bring the product to market, it finally began appearing on the casino floor in 1992. The device quickly became a staple at casino card tables all over the world. After this initial success, Shuffle Master began manufacturing other brick-and-mortar casino machines, such as slot machines and table game machines.
In 2012, the company rebranded itself as SHFL Entertainment, to better reflect the wide range of products it had to offer. SHFL Entertainment was purchased in 2013 by Bally Technologies, and in 2014, it merged with Scientific Gaming. With this final acquisition, the name was changed back to Shuffle Master.
With a long history in the casino industry, Shuffle Master has both respect and a wealth of experience in the field. In fact, for more than five years in a row, Forbes magazine listed Shuffle Master among the 200 Best Small Companies in America.
Although it is often dwarfed as an online gaming developer by giants like NetEnt, Shuffle Master has decades of experience newer companies do not. Following Shuffle Master’s acquisition by Scientific Games, its online reach only increased, and its games can be found on many online casinos.
What Makes Shuffle Master Unique?
Historically, Shuffle Master’s expertise has been on the traditional, brick-and-mortar casino floor, and this heritage has carried over online. The company continues to be known for its online table games, producing interesting and technically sound games for online casinos.
Shuffle Master’s online games are good, but they are often overlooked in the iGaming market. However, players in the know treasure its modest portfolio of game titles as an insider secret. The company has only a handful of slot titles. Its proprietary card games, such as Three Card Poker and Let it Ride, are something no serious card player can ignore.
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Pros and Cons of Shuffle Master Games
Pros:
- Simple, straightforward slot games with nice graphics
- Excellent traditional and proprietary table games
- A proven company with easy to use software
Cons:
- A very small catalog of slot games
- The slot games might be too simple for some players
About Shuffle Master Online Casino Games
Shuffle Master keeps its games delightfully simple, focusing on clear graphics for straightforward enjoyable gameplay.
Shuffle Master slot games have attractive graphics and play like a traditional slot. The slot games have a pretty average Return to Player of close to 96%, which is solid but average.
Shuffle Master’s table games are where this company shines. It’s not surprising that a company that innovated automatic deck shufflers would bring that sort of technical perspective to its online games.
Known for offering a generous range of side bets and progressives, Shuffle Master table games make play more riveting, especially for strategic players.
Shuffle Master’s Online Slot Games
Despite many years building slot machines for brick-and-mortar casinos, Shuffle Master has a very modest portfolio of online titles.
However, these attractive and easy to play slots should not be overlooked for the flashier games newer companies are serving up. Many of the Shuffle Master titles have been released online under the Action Spins brand.
King of Babylon
Based on the ancient civilization of Babylon, the stunning graphics feature the civilization’s distinctive cuneiform text, temple statuary, lions, and, of course, the King. The five online slot reels and 20 pay lines are set against the backdrop of the ancient city’s famous Hanging Gardens, which are drawn in rich detail.
The wagers for each spin on each of the 20 pay lines range from 0.01 to 5.00, and the game pays out with three or more matching symbols across a pay line.
88 Fortunes
Originally developed for land-based slot machines in Asia, this is a progressive lover’s dream come true. Packed with four progressives and a maximum bet of 8.80, this game offers 243 ways to win.
As you might expect from a Chinese-themed slot game, the colors are rich, reds and golds, and the symbols feature lucky gold coins, turtles, phoenix birds, and Maneki-neko, the lucky, Japanese cat.
Silver Stallion
The imagery in this game is set in the Australian Outback. It’s hopping with kangaroos, dingos, and bush hats. The wild, silver stallion serves as the wild symbol.
The format is a standard, 5-reels with active 20 pay lines, players can bet from just 0.20 per spin all the way up to 200.00. Best of all, there are progressive jackpots and an average return of 96.3%.
Very Fruity
With mouth-watering wins possible on every spin, Very Fruity is a fresh take on an old-fashioned, 5-of-a-kind slot machine. Serving up the traditional symbols of an old-school fruit machine, such as cherries, grapes, oranges, lemons, plums, and watermelons, the reels also include lucky 7s and dazzling diamonds.
Very Fruity also boasts modern game features such as free spins, wilds, and exciting bonuses. The 5-reels and 20 fixed pay lines blend old-fashioned fun with fresh bonus features and 15 different betting options. You can play from just 0.20, all the way up to 500.00 per spin.
Eureka Reels Blast
Set against the backdrop of the California Gold Rush, the five-reels have an incredible 50 pay lines and tons of bonus features. The game icons feature symbols of the Old West mining days, such as picks and shovels, a miner’s helmet, a mine car, and a burro-each loaded with gold and, best of all, sticks of dynamite.
The dynamite blasts open a bonus Lock it Link round, as well as a round of re-spins, awarding prizes based on the number of dynamite sticks landing during the round. Like most Shuffle Master slots, bets have a wide range, starting at just 0.10 all the way up 200.00.
Shuffle Master Table Games
Tables games are what set Shuffle Master apart; this is the company’s online strong point. Unlike younger developers who simply pump out new versions of the old classics, Shuffle Master has created the original titles others merely copy.
You can find Baccarat, Craps, Pai Gow, Roulette, and, of course, every type of poker and blackjack you can imagine.
The animated graphics look like what a player would see on a traditional casino floor, with a dealer, chips, and rows of slot machines in the background. Shuffle Master online table games are famous for the wide range of side bets that can be placed. This not only enlivens the game but also raises the stakes, offering strategic players more chances to win.
Let it Ride
Perhaps Shuffle Master’s most famous title, Let it Ride is a 5-card blackjack variant in which the players place three bets. As the cards are gradually revealed, players can decide whether or not to drop one of their bets or ‘let it ride.’ Winnings are finally paid out on the remaining standing bets. Winning hands include a three- or four-card straight flush, a three- or four-card royal flush, a pair of 10s or higher or four high cards.
Three Card Poker
Rather than betting against other players, players bet against the dealer. What makes Shuffle Master’s version of the game attractive to serious players are the progressives; if a player places a progressive wager and their hand doesn’t win, they could still win the Envy Bonus if at least one other player has a suited ace-king-queen. However, a player can’t win an Envy for their own or the dealer’s hand.
Casino War
Another unique title, Casino War is perhaps the fastest and easiest table game available. The rules are simple: players place their bet, if their card is higher than the dealer’s, they win. However, if the player’s card matches the dealer’s, things get interesting. At that point, the player can end the game by giving up half of their wager, or, they can keep playing by placing an additional bet equal to the original, which the dealer will match. If the player beats the dealer’s card, they win it all. If the two cards tie again, the player not only wins both bets but also gets another unit. But if the dealer’s second card wins, all bets lose.
Ultimate Texas Hold’em
Shuffle Master’s Ultimate Texas Hold’em plays against the dealer with an exciting side bet. This intriguing version gives the player a few advantages, including the player doesn’t have to fold to see the community cards. Also, the sooner the player bets, the more they can wager. Best of all, the Trips bonus pays out if the player’s last hand is a three-of-a-kind or better.
Caribbean Stud Poker
This is yet another original Shuffle Master poker variation, based on five-card stud poker. However, unlike traditional stud poker, Caribbean Stud plays against the house, not other players.
As the name suggests, the game originated in the Caribbean, around the island of Aruba. Caribbean Stud Poker is an appealing and unique variation. If you like five-card stud, you’ll likely love this game, too.
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