Gemaco Playing Cards
Casino Industry Standard Since 1982
About Gemaco
George C. Matteson, Jr. was born in Kansas City, MO in 1929 and founded Gemaco Playing Cards in 1965. Upon earning a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business in 1950, he returned to Kansas City and created the Gemaco brand. He combined the letters "G" and "E" from his first name George, the "M" and "A" in Matteson, and the "C" and "O" from company.
The Gemaco brand was initially introduced to the promotional products industry in 1965 and then to the casino industry in 1982. Matteson's service in the Navy during the Korean War, along with his professional experience in marketing and management, enabled the Gemaco brand to become a highly respected supplier to both industries. He retired from Gemaco in 1994 and passed away in May of 2011.
Gemaco has a long-standing reputation for product quality, innovation, and cutting-edge production processes. As one of the casino industry's largest playing card and table layout manufacturers, Gemaco is known for expert printing, precision finishing, world-class customer service, and on-time delivery. The brand is now part of GPI (Gaming Partners International).
Source: gpigaming.com/company/history
Casino Standard
Gemaco is used by many casinos and considered by many to be the best cards you can get for the home game. I like the flex on these cards and they had good travel on the felt. The design is classic and the cards easy to read on the board and in the hand.
The case is decent but the plastic feels a little thin. I like that the case is clear for quick, easy deck identification.
My primary complaint — and what makes these unplayable for me — is the feel. These cards feel and sound like sandpaper! They are really good cards in all other categories but the feel is a deal breaker.
Note on texture: The Gemaco texture that bothers this reviewer is intentional — it's designed for casino dealing machines and shoe-dealt games where a rougher texture helps cards feed consistently. Some players love this feel; others don't. If you've played with Gemaco cards in a casino and liked them, you'll like these. If you haven't tried them, the texture is worth experiencing before buying a full setup.
Pros
- Good flex
- Good travel on the felt
- Classic easy-to-read design
- Clear case for quick deck identification
Cons
- Very rough sandpaper texture (by design — polarizing)
- Thin case plastic
| Type | Plastic |
|---|
| Size | Bridge |
|---|
| Index | Large |
|---|
| Pips | Two |
|---|
| Jokers | Two |
|---|
| Made in | USA |
|---|
