KEM Cards ID Please? (1 Viewer)

[Mikiethebull]

I just noticed this part of your comment. What you are showing in the pic are what most refer to as “circle backs”. They have been sold that way in the past by vendors as well. Kem may officially call the Casino Back. I don’t know

These are “Club Casinos”
https://www.kem.com/cards/KEM-CAS-BLU-BUR-2.html

And these are Kem “Alpha” also with a standard casino style back design.

https://www.kem.com/cards/PC-KEM-ALP-GB.html

I called Kardwell two years ago and asked the difference between their “consumer” vs “casino” Kems. They said nothing was different but looks. Seemed odd but I didn’t feel like spending $60 +$12 shipping to find out. I think it may be possible the “casino” cards simply come in the brown paper box instead of the black plastic.

Like I said before the Kems Borgata used when they opened felt more substantial than the ones I was using at home. Yet Kem claimed there is no difference (back in 2003) so I chalked it up to me being off.

Ohhh, now I see. What I thought people were calling "circle backs" are the Club Casinos with the circle in the middle. But after reading this it clicked because of all the little circles on the back of the cards I posted. Thnx

 

[Mikiethebull]

View attachment 162118

There is a massive difference. 5 Star are some of the cheapest feeling cards I own. Maybe the worst. The are thick but feel very light. The plastic seems to be less dense.

Here is a pic. The two on the top are Superflex. The only difference beside back design is that the Superflex branded cards use security ink. They are the same card stock and material though Kardwell sells the non branded style slightly cheaper.

The one on the bottom is Five Star. I got them for ~$8 off Kardwell. They are barely worth that.

Hey, Old State. The cards in the top right corner of your photo are Kardwell's Gemaco "Monte Carlos" right, and those are Superflex? Kardwell is having a 40% off sale on those. https://www.kardwell.com/gemaco-monte-carlo.html

 

[Jambine]

Thanks, guys. These were manufactured in May 2003. And yes, I've seen this design with casino logos, like Binion's Horseshoe, so I was able to figure out that they weren't a lower grade product. But this guy wants $50 + Shipping. Not sure it's worth it merely to satisfy my curiosity about pre & post USPC KEMs.

These might be re-packaged. Every set up of casino Kems I've seen would show the joker on an unwrapped set

 

[Old State]

Hey, Old State. The cards in the top right corner of your photo are Kardwell's Gemaco "Monte Carlos" right, and those are Superflex? Kardwell is having a 40% off sale on those. https://www.kardwell.com/gemaco-monte-carlo.html

Yes.

But that “sale” has been going on for at least two years(y) :thumbsup:

Not a big fan of the look or feel but they are quality. Definitely one of my favorite back designs though.

One reason I have so many setups is because Kardwell stocks a bunch of brands but charges crazy shipping. It’s not economical to just buy one thing from them. They had high quality blackjack shoes and some other stuff I wanted so I put one big order in. Their shipping doesn’t go up much but starts high.

I just noticed they have Congress cards. I think they are Fornier but someone here can probably confirm.

 

[BGinGA]

Hey, Old State. The cards in the top right corner of your photo are Kardwell's Gemaco "Monte Carlos" right, and those are Superflex? Kardwell is having a 40% off sale on those. https://www.kardwell.com/gemaco-monte-carlo.html

Yes.

So the Monte Carlo cards are Superflex PVC material, just without the security ink? Superflex jokers, too?

 

[BGinGA]

Ah, I get it now. Gemaco made those specifically for Kardwell: Sorta like the custom cards they made for @wgicon (using the Five Star backs artwork).

Produced for us by Gemaco, our brand new, exclusive Monte Carlo back design playing cards are professional quality.

 

[Old State]

Ah, I get it now. Gemaco made those specifically for Kardwell: Sorta like the custom cards they made for @wgicon (using the Five Star backs artwork).

Produced for us by Gemaco, our brand new, exclusive Monte Carlo back design playing cards are professional quality.

That must be it.

A few setups I got from Kardwell say they were made for them like these.....I know Copags....

I think those cheaply priced DalNegros as well. I tried them too. Beware- they had some type of sticky resin on them. You could barely shuffle them out of the box. I wiped each off with a damp rag and dried them and they were fine. However they took on a bow after a few months

BTW I guess those Five Stars are also called Gem Pros.

 

[Mikiethebull]

These might be re-packaged. Every set up of casino Kems I've seen would show the joker on an unwrapped set

Yes, that is right. I will need to confirm these are "new". Not really care about them being wrapped; just don't want beat down cards that were used in a casino.

 

[Mikiethebull]

Yes.

But that “sale” has been going on for at least two years(y) :thumbsup:

Not a big fan of the look or feel but they are quality. Definitely one of my favorite back designs though.

One reason I have so many setups is because Kardwell stocks a bunch of brands but charges crazy shipping. It’s not economical to just buy one thing from them. They had high quality blackjack shoes and some other stuff I wanted so I put one big order in. Their shipping doesn’t go up much but starts high.

I just noticed they have Congress cards. I think they are Fornier but someone here can probably confirm.

Yes.

But that “sale” has been going on for at least two years(y) :thumbsup:

Not a big fan of the look or feel but they are quality. Definitely one of my favorite back designs though.

One reason I have so many setups is because Kardwell stocks a bunch of brands but charges crazy shipping. It’s not economical to just buy one thing from them. They had high quality blackjack shoes and some other stuff I wanted so I put one big order in. Their shipping doesn’t go up much but starts high.

I just noticed they have Congress cards. I think they are Fornier but someone here can probably confirm.

When you say you don't like the "feel" of the Monte Carlos, do you mean as compared to the Gemaco Branded Superflex, or are you just saying that you don't like the feel of Gemaco Superflex generally. I was assuming the Monte's and the Gemaco Brand labelled Superflex were exactly the same card except for back design and other graphics, so they would feel identical.

 

[Mikiethebull]

These might be re-packaged. Every set up of casino Kems I've seen would show the joker on an unwrapped set

. . . however, perhaps the circle backs, being casino cards, didn't come with jokers. Can anyone comment on this?

 

[TheBigTater]

Yeah the Monte Carlo's have been on sale for a while, unfortunately they only have Green/Brown left in Bridge/Jumbo stock, been out of Red/Blue for quite some time. Wish they would put the SuperFlex B/J R/B on sale

 

[Jambine]

. . . however, perhaps the circle backs, being casino cards, didn't come with jokers. Can anyone comment on this?

They do come with jokers. Also a strange sort out of the package. Starting from the top down, Ace up to king, clubs, spades, hearts, diamonds.
Took some pics of a set-up I opened recently.

 

[mike32]

I have a couple decks of the Monte Carlo Gemaco cards, they come with a Superflex information card from Kardwell. I think they are excellent cards, and I agree the five star cards get a zero star rating.

I used to have 2 setups of five star poker sized cards in red and blue. The hilarious thing was in both setups the blue ones warped concave, the red ones convex. Even when they were new and flat they sucked. I have since sent them to the landfill.

 

[Old State]

When you say you don't like the "feel" of the Monte Carlos, do you mean as compared to the Gemaco Branded Superflex, or are you just saying that you don't like the feel of Gemaco Superflex generally. I was assuming the Monte's and the Gemaco Brand labelled Superflex were exactly the same card except for back design and other graphics, so they would feel identical.

Yes, the Monte Carlo and the deck that has the “S” are both Superflex material and feel exactly the same. The only difference is security ink.

I will say that my red “S” deck took a very slight bow. The Montecarlo have remained flat. I think this is more of a random thing but proves several brands other than Kem can bow. Kem do have the highest likelihood though so I would highly recommend the dealer button/cut card on top storage protocol.

 

[Mikiethebull]

Yes, the Monte Carlo and the deck that has the “S” are both Superflex material and feel exactly the same. The only difference is security ink.

I will say that my red “S” deck took a very slight bow. The Montecarlo have remained flat. I think this is more of a random thing but proves several brands other than Kem can bow. Kem do have the highest likelihood though so I would highly recommend the dealer button/cut card on top storage protocol.

thnx - too bad I didn't realize this when I ordered the brand labled Superflex - lol.

 

[Old State]

thnx - too bad I didn't realize this when I ordered the brand labled Superflex - lol.

Ah well. Maybe they will be collectible someday (y) :thumbsup:

Here is the joker from a Montecarlo deck. And for the hell of it, here is my stack of jokers from the bridge sized decks I bought in the last three years AND opened. I have a problem.....

 

[Old State]

These are the setups I own; I've assumed the Green/Brown were Five Star (though if you count the middle there's a sixth star), but they're all Superflex cards. On price point they were >$20 a setup when I bought them, and both setups have red security ink.

View attachment 162133

Mystery solved?

https://www.straightpokersupplies.c...perflex-bridge-narrow-size-regular-index.html