The Ideal Spot to Table Mount a Shuffler? (17 Viewers)

[Old State]

So I will soon be the owner of a Deckmate thanks to @minedelta . My ideal scenario is to mount it in my table. I have a few obstacles to consider (a racetrack design, an under table chip tray and a cash box) but still have several placement option.

I play a lot in casinos and there doesn’t seem to be any standard as too where these are mounted…some to the left of the dealer others to the right, some in the center of the table and others, like at my favorite card room Borgata, to the right and on a slant.

I’m interested in hearing your favorite locations and why….before I cut a hole

Pictured is my table with a Deckmate cutout template for scale. And some casino examples to consider

 

[jamesjkim]

I prefer operating it horizontally - door opens up and away from you. Given your drop chip slot is on the right, I think the left side makes sense so you have easy access from underneath should you need it (although for maintenance you would probably take it out). Possibly at an angle like the photo of the Borgata.

I suggest waiting to have it in hand and use it unmounted for a session or two to know the orientation you like, and then decide.

Congrats on the deckmate!

 

[Old State]

I prefer operating it horizontally - door opens up and away from you. Given your drop chip slot is on the right, I think the left side makes sense so you have easy access from underneath should you need it (although for maintenance you would probably take it out). Possibly at an angle like the photo of the Borgata.

I suggest waiting to have it in hand and use it unmounted for a session or two to know the orientation you like, and then decide.

Congrats on the deckmate!

I definitely will wait until I have it.

Borgata’s is so odd I was thinking it’s for ergonomic reasons. There are so many thinks mounted to a casino poker table now they may be avoiding something underneath

I wish I was paying more attention to dealers actually using these before.

 

[Taghkanic]

With the racetrack, things are going to start to get crowded... What about a chair-height cabinet on wheels like many other PCFers have built?

 

[doublebooyah85]

I would honestly consider a new table (without a racetrack) Altho I do love the chip drawer! Hmmm

 

[Old State]

With the racetrack, things are going to start to get crowded... What about a chair-height cabinet on wheels like many other PCFers have built?

I probably will start with that but I don’t have a lot of room around my table

I would honestly consider a new table (without a racetrack) Altho I do love the chip drawer! Hmmm

My Grandfather built this for me in 2004 and passed away 2010. It’s a sentimental piece …otherwise I would own a more casino like design table.

My cousin is building a game room and the thought of giving it to him and it being kept with another grandson has crossed my mind. But I’m not sure he is that into poker

That said the way this table is built allows me to cover up the hole if I didn’t like it. It’s one piece of plywood covered with a quarter inch piece of oak veneer. The center felted area is a cut out of the quarter inch oak veneer. I have another centerpiece I made at the time to swap out in case someone spilled a drink or something on the table. My thought was to take the other centerpiece, cut the hole through it and the table underneath and if I didn’t like it at some point, I could use the other centerpiece to cover it up.

Also, if you look where most casinos mount them, they are toward the centerline of the table…away from the racetrack area…. so I don’t think the racetrack really causes an issue other than aesthetics.

 

[danopoker]

Putting it like this has worked very well for me.

 

[doublebooyah85]

Putting it like this has worked very well for me.
View attachment 1652887View attachment 1652889

That would work nicely w the racetrack too

 

[Old State]

Putting it like this has worked very well for me.
View attachment 1652887View attachment 1652889

Is the “dealer” position closest I assume ?

 

[Machine]

Congrats on your shuffler, I would suggest not cutting hole in the table your grand crafted.

But if you are set on it, I would say mount it on the left side of the drawer with a bit of clearance, provided you are right handed

 

[chippitydoodah]

Having played at your place I can tell you where you have that piece of paper is the best spot for you. Since you sit at the chip drawer seat, and when your son deals he sits across from you, that position covers both spots. My preference would be to put it in a rolling cabinet but I know how tight it is at your place with a full ring and it would be really hard to put that between any two seats. It would have to be set back behind someone on an end and the person in that seat would have to be in charge of swapping the decks.

 

[Old State]

Congrats on your shuffler, I would suggest not cutting hole in the table your grand crafted.

But if you are set on it, I would say mount it on the left side of the drawer with a bit of clearance, provided you are right handed

I hear you…but the way he built it, it would be very easy to go back. I have two separate felted pieces for the center. If I didn’t like it I could cover the hole by just dropping in the extra center section.

Having played at your place I can tell you where you have that piece of paper is the best spot for you. Since you sit at the chip drawer seat, and when your son deals he sits across from you, that position covers both spots. My preference would be to put it in a rolling cabinet but I know how tight it is at your place with a full ring and it would be really hard to put that between any two seats. It would have to be set back behind someone on an end and the person in that seat would have to be in charge of swapping the decks.

I just picked up the IKEA everyone here seems to like today. I’ll reassess once I get the shuffler. I think you were right on the spot though. I was thinking about my son dealing, but that’s not gonna be a permanent thing. Might only have that luxury for a few years until he goes to college.…..if he doesn’t get bored of doing it. He will also will likely start not being available on Friday and Saturday nights much like older son.

 

[Old State]

Another obstacle. I upgraded the table legs to these BBO table legs that has a middle bar that doesn’t give enough clearance . It may have to go here

 

[Old State]

Well ….this is where is ended up getting mounted. Best of the options I had…should work well. Racetrack table isn’t ideal but I think there is ample betting area for the seat in front of it

I also have the other center felted section (shown in the post above) that is not cut. I can take the shuffler out and swap the centers out…all in about 3 minutes and you would never know there was a shuffler there. (Also kept the cut out piece)

I know some didn’t want me to cut the table my grandfather made…including a couple of my friends…but I don’t think they understood this concept. My Dad agreed my grandfather would think this was pretty cool