Playing Cards: 10 Incredible Facts

A deck of playing cards has to be one of your favourite things if you enjoy playing card games. But have you ever wondered about the cards themselves, rather than the various games that might be played with them? Most of you, we're sure, haven't.

So, let's take a closer look at the cards with Uwin Sports and see what they are, where they came from, and why they are so popular with people of all ages. Keep reading to learn some fascinating facts about one of history's most popular games: playing cards.

The deck of playing cards has 52 cards, much like a calendar has 52 months. According to some studies, the colours black and red on the cards signify day and night, while the four suits reflect the four seasons.

Even more intriguing, the number of moon cycles in a single year is equal to the number of cards in a single suit. The twelve court cards reflect the twelve months of the year. Isn't it perplexing?

Most of us believe that playing cards were invented in the United States, however this is not the case. Rather, the majority of studies demonstrate that playing cards were originated in China in the nineteenth century.

The first printed cards are also thought to have originated in China. According to scholars, the card game then expanded slowly through India, Egypt, and Persia before arriving in Europe, where it took on many forms.

Decks of playing cards at Las Vegas casinos survive little more than 12 hours before being sold or thrown. It all depends on how crowded the table is and how long a deck has been in use. It also depends on whether the shuffling was done manually or by a computer.

A deck of cards may not even last an hour if you visit a casino during peak hours. Because the decks are switched out at such short intervals, any distinguishing marks on the cards, such as scuffs and bends, are removed.

The world's oldest and most valuable whole deck of cards is on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It's a hand-printed tarot deck from the 15th century in the Netherlands. The deck's excellent condition indicates that it was barely used.

In the 1970s, a collector paid $2,800 for this deck, which he later sold to MET for $143,000. So it is, following five years of inquiry into its past. Other century-old decks of cards with their database on cards are stored at other organisations. Yale University is one such institution.

Any flaws in a deck of cards can draw a lot of attention from the keen-eyed players, who may even try to cheat their way to a big win. As a result, Casino Cards necessitate a high level of security at all times in order to avoid such incidents.

The cards normally include key symbols and characters to help CCTV cameras detect any suspicious activity. Before playing, the dealers and pit bosses must also sign the cards. When the deck is finally retired and sold off with intentional defects, every card is counted to ensure they don't end up back in the casino.

On a standard deck of 52 French cards from the 16th century, you might recognise some familiar faces. It's because some of them are based on well-known people. You might recognise Julius Caesar, Alexander the Great, and Pallas Athena as the king and queen of some suites if you look closely. Isn't that impressive?

During World War II, the US government used cards in a variety of ways. They collaborated with a well-known card manufacturer to create secret card decks for the American POWS (prisoners of war). When wet, these cards may be peeled off to reveal maps with escape routes. Who'd have guessed that cards may also be used as secret maps?

It is a truth that Bicycle, a US company, produces the most recognisable decks of cards. The same company gave secret cards with escape routes to US POWs.

The Ace of Spades from this company's cards has a special position in popular culture because it was used by American soldiers to scare away Vietnamese Cong members during the Vietnam War. These cards may now be found in most casinos and magic shows.

The United States Playing Card Company is the world's largest manufacturer. The USPCC produces well-known cards such as Aviator, Tally-Ho, Bee, and the well-known Bicycle cards. Many casinos in the United States use it for their card decks. Cartamundi, a German company, also claims to be one of the world's largest card manufacturers.

When you visit a casino, you may notice that the cards are not the same as the usual decks. It's due to the fact that they're constructed of plastic. One argument is that plastic cards are easier to handle and survive a little longer in games like Poker. Furthermore, while using plastic cards, players are unable to cheat by marking the cards.