Gambling terms, explained straight

Not a distinct object; the phrase is another name for the cut card used by the dealer during the cut and deal process.

Casino & Table Games

Dealer cut cards

A dealer cut card is a stiff plastic marker placed against the bottom of the deck to conceal the bottom card and signal when the remaining cards reach the cut point, triggering a reshuffle.

Also called
cut card, blank plastic card, dealer’s cut card23
Used in
blackjack, poker, and any casino card game that uses a cut before dealing12
Function
Placed in the shuffled pack or shoe; when it appears, it marks the last hand before a reshuffle34

Key points

  • The dealer cut card is not a separate game term; it is the same plastic marker as a standard cut card, used to hide the bottom card and control deck penetration.23
  • In blackjack, the cut card's position determines how many cards are dealt before a reshuffle, directly affecting card-counting opportunities.56
  • The card is placed near the bottom of the deck or shoe; dealing continues until it appears, then the round finishes and the deck is reshuffled.3

Where this term is used

Not the same as

  • Card dealer shoe — a device that holds multiple decks, whereas the cut card is a marker placed inside or alongside the shoe
  • Blackjack cut card — the same type of marker but used specifically in blackjack to control penetration and signal reshuffles
Casino games Blackjack rules dealer Explains the dealer's actions and obligations in a blackjack game. Casino games Cut card The general term for the plastic marker used in card games to cut the deck and signal reshuffles. Casino games Casino dealer license Covers the licensing requirements for casino dealers in various jurisdictions. Casino games Blackjack odds dealer vs player Compares the house edge and probability outcomes between dealer and player hands. Casino games Casino An overview of casino operations, games, and regulations. Casino games Roulette table Describes the layout, bets, and mechanics of a roulette table.

Sources

  1. Cut (cards) en.wikipedia.org Establishes the cut card's role in the cut and deal process generally.
  2. Glossary of poker terms - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org Confirms the term 'dealer cut card' as an alternative name for the cut card in poker.
  3. Shoe (cards) en.wikipedia.org Describes the cut card's placement in a shoe and its function in signalling reshuffles.
  4. Poker dealer en.wikipedia.org Details the dealer's use of the cut card during dealing.
  5. Card counting en.wikipedia.org Links the cut card's position to deck penetration and card counting.
  6. The Cost to a Casino of High Cut Card wizardofodds.com Provides analysis of the cut card's impact on blackjack house edge.

Sources are drawn from regulators, universities and published research, and each one is labelled with what it actually is — a preprint is not called a paper. Bookmaker and affiliate pages are never cited here, because a page that sells betting is not a neutral authority on it.

Written and maintained by Ellis Warrender, writer and maintainer.

Last updated 28 July 2026. Spotted an error? Tell me and it gets fixed and logged on the corrections page.