Whether you are a big poker player, a blackjack star or a classic rummy player, the pack of cards you play with can make or break your night, and your wallet. There is a huge industry in creating plastic playing cards, and within that industry are big names, famous for producing playing cards for casinos and clubs across the globe.
Playing cards were first invented in China during the Tang dynasty and soon caught on as a way to pass time and allow gentlemen to enjoy and create lots of different games - some which are still popular today. Western games were invented a long time after the initial cards were produced in China, but still proved popular as their use grew more widespread.
Modern materials for the modern game
The materials used in creating playing cards have changed over the past 1,000 years to give us different styles of playing cards such as decorative cards, custom playing cards, royal card decks and the modern plastic playing cards that we use and love today.
Amongst the playing cards that are popular in use today, there are two types of card decks that make a big difference when it comes to the feel of the cards themselves, as well as the price and the quality. The usual playing cards that you can pick up just about anywhere are simply cheap playing cards that are sometimes referred to as Bicycle playing cards.
These playing cards are designed in lots of many different ways depending on the style that you like, so think highly decorative, simple and jumbo decks that have bigger letters and simpler symbols to see and read. These playing cards are generally manufactured with a paper which is then covered in a thin plastic layer to give them a little more durability.
Resistant, durable and smooth
These playing cards, whilst handy to have at any time are rather poor in quality. The thin layer of plastic that protects the underlying paper of the playing card can wear of incredibly fast for any professional or amateur player. This means that whilst costing anywhere from $8 to $12 a deck, they can last a single game of a few hours or so and start to deteriorate quickly form there.
For professional use such as in casinos and for pro players or enthusiasts, there are two big companies which make authentic playing cards that last the test of time and offer a premium quality that no standard deck of cards at the dollar store can offer. One of those companies is KEM.
KEM plastic playing cards
KEM is one of the biggest manufacturers of playing cards in the world, their popularity stemming from their quality, longevity and their professional use within the poker game. KEM plastic playing cards are made from 100% plastic to give them a more durable finish when compared to standard playing cards, which does not deteriorate anywhere near as quickly.
KEM plastic playing cards due to their durability, can last anywhere between 100 to 200 playing hours at a professional table in a casino, and are the top choice around the world when it comes to quality and look. KEM decks tend to shuffle better than their counterparts, being slightly thinner than other varieties.
COPAG plastic playing cards
COPAG playing cards offer an alternative to KEM, offering a premium card deck that is also used by many of the world’s leading casinos. The COPAG brand offers again 100% plastic playing cards that are resistant to heavy use due to their manufacturing process.
COPAG 100% plastic playing cards are even thinner than their counterparts, offering impressive shuffling ability for the duration of their lives. Plastic playing cards are a much better alternative to the paper variety due to them being less prone to bending, folding, buckling and becoming useless when damp.
Plastic playing cards are the only choice when it comes to playing poker, blackjack, or just about any other card game imaginable. If you really want a deck of cards that will last longer, be more durable and offer the player a premium feel and look, then a choice of either KEM or COPAG 100% plastic playing cards will give you hours upon hours of enjoyment, and might actually help you practise your shuffling tricks better!
