Expanding Horizons
Despite facing challenges, Breeding’s company adapted to casino preferences, including the adoption of multi-deck automated shufflers to combat card counting. Meanwhile, they sought opportunities to utilize their technology in other games.
Let It Ride, a single-deck table game offering multiple betting options and significant payouts for strong poker hands, emerged as a successful solution. By 1995, it became the company’s top revenue generator, surpassing their shuffling devices.
In subsequent years, the company diversified its offerings, introducing a range of slot machines and other games. Although slots were not their forte, they developed popular video slot games later acquired by industry giants like IGT and Bally.
Their primary successes remained in table games. In 1999, they secured the rights to Three Card Poker, renowned as one of the most successful proprietary table games. Additionally, they produced versions of games like Blackjack Switch and Casino War, drawing considerable player interest.
In 2012, the company rebranded as SHFL Entertainment to reflect its expanded portfolio beyond shufflers. The following year, Bally Technologies acquired the firm for $1.3 billion. Today, both brands operate under Scientific Games, a leading player in the gaming industry.
In-Demand Casino Offerings
Shuffle Master products have been a fixture in modern live casinos for decades. Most notably, the company is renowned for its deck shufflers, now tailored for a variety of games including blackjack, baccarat, and poker, among others. They even produce customizable versions to accommodate different game rules.
Additionally, Shuffle Master plays a significant role in manufacturing and maintaining gaming tables. Their automatic chip sorters commonly seen at roulette tables are a hallmark of their offerings. Moreover, they develop electronic tables featuring versions of popular games like baccarat, roulette, and live dealer Sic Bo, alongside innovative hybrid tables integrating electronic systems to assist live dealers.
For players, Shuffle Master is celebrated for its extensive portfolio of proprietary games. These include new side bets for classics like blackjack, baccarat, and craps, introducing bonus bets such as “Bet the Set,” “House Money,” or “King’s Bounty.”
Among their proprietary tables, Shuffle Master boasts both widely recognized games and lesser-known titles. While games like Three Card Poker, Let It Ride, Four Card Poker, and Caribbean Stud are familiar, lesser-known titles like Discard Inferno offer unique gameplay dynamics. In Discard Inferno, players compete to form a better five-card hand than the dealer from initially dealt six-card hands, benefiting from dealer discards.
Triple Shot Rummy is another Shuffle Master creation gaining popularity in casinos. In this game, players compete against the dealer to achieve the lowest possible score, with aces counting as one point, face cards as 10, and numbered cards at their pip value. Notably, pairs or trips count as 0, as do consecutive suited cards, providing a fresh take on traditional gameplay akin to Three Card Poker.
The company now diversifies into slot machines. Popular examples include the 88 Fortunes Megaways slot machine, where you have up to 117,649 ways to win. It’s an online slot with a cascading reels mechanism,
A Lasting Influence on the Industry
Despite not offering direct products for online play, Shuffle Master has made a significant impact on the iGaming sector. While online players may not immediately recognize their contributions, many popular games originally popularized by Shuffle Master have made their way into online casinos, albeit sometimes under altered names or rules to avoid copyright issues. Games like Three Card Poker and Let It Ride are commonly found at online casinos, showcasing the company’s influence.
Even for iGaming enthusiasts, it’s important to acknowledge the significant role Shuffle Master plays. For players at live casinos, especially those enjoying games beyond slots, Shuffle Master’s technology enhances the overall gaming experience by ensuring smooth and efficient gameplay. While card counters may not appreciate their continuous shuffler, the majority of players have benefited from the company’s innovations.