The market for playing card suppliers in China demonstrates a clear trend of specialization and segmentation. On one hand, local Chinese companies such as Yaoji and Wangjing Cards dominate the mass-market and professional barcoded card segment, leveraging their large-scale production capacity and advanced barcode anti-counterfeiting technology. On the other hand, international giants like Belgium's Cartamundi and Japan's Angel monopolize the Casino Grade high-end market, particularly for venues like Macau, by utilizing sophisticated technologies such as invisible UV barcodes and RFID chip implants.

This analysis report aims to provide a detailed introduction to these key suppliers in the specialized production field, ranging from local customization service providers to global casino giants, and offer professional guidance on selecting a suitable supplier.

The development history of China's playing card industry can be broadly categorized into the following stages:

1. Mass Production Phase: Focused on traditional printing, products primarily served mass entertainment needs, emphasizing cost-effectiveness and volume distribution.

2. Scaling and Branding Phase (1990s to Present): Represented by Shanghai Yaoji Playing Cards Co., Ltd., this phase saw the establishment of large-scale production capabilities, a focus on brand building, and standardized products, gradually positioning them as leaders in the domestic market.

3. Specialization and Anti-Counterfeiting Technology Introduction Phase (Early 21st Century to Present): Driven by the growth of professional competitive games and casino demand, suppliers began introducing barcoded playing cards and advanced anti-counterfeiting technologies (such as UV inkjet and laser engraving) to meet the need for precise identification and anti-cheating, with companies like Wangjing Cards being representative.

4. High-End and Intelligent Phase: International suppliers introduced Casino Grade standards to the Chinese market, characterized by extremely short lifespan (e.g., 8 hours) and high-tech tracking features like RFID chip implants and invisible UV barcodes, marking the entry of casino playing cards into an era of high security and intelligent tracking.

Professional playing cards are used beyond traditional entertainment, mainly concentrating on the following high-demand areas:

• Company Profile: Established in 1994, headquartered in Shanghai Anting International Auto City, it is a nationally renowned playing card manufacturer, famous for the "Yaoji" brand.

• Positioning: Domestic leader in standardized and scaled playing card production.

• Product Features:

  • Possesses large-scale production capacity with a rich product line.

  • Mainly produces standardized playing cards and barcoded playing cards.

  • Although casino-specific business is not explicitly mentioned, its barcoded technology can serve professional competitions.

• Company Profile: A National High-tech Enterprise focused on providing high-tech anti-counterfeiting card solutions.

• Positioning: Full-chain barcode playing card solution provider, emphasizing anti-counterfeiting and environmental protection.

• Product Features:

  • Advanced Anti-counterfeiting: Utilizes dual-process anti-counterfeiting (UV inkjet and laser engraving).

  • High Capacity: Daily production capacity can reach hundreds of millions.

  • Environmental Commitment: Holds FSC certification and uses a solvent-free ink solution.

• Company Profile: A globally recognized manufacturer of cards and board games, with an excellent reputation in the high-end casino playing card sector.

• Positioning: Top global supplier of casino-grade playing cards.

• Product Features:

  • Casino Grade Quality: Adopts the highest industry standards, supplied exclusively to high-end casinos.

  • Invisible UV Barcode Technology: Used for machine reading and anti-cheating, offering extremely high security.

  • High Price Point: Wholesale price per deck is up to 380 Macanese Pataca (MOP), reflecting its technology and quality value.

• Company Profile: Specializes in providing high-tech, high-security playing cards and gaming equipment solutions to casinos.

• Positioning: Leader in chip-implanted, high-tech casino playing cards.

• Product Features:

  • RFID Tracking: Playing cards are implanted with chips (RFID) for precise game tracking and monitoring.

  • Extremely Short Lifespan: Primarily serves Macau casinos, with an average lifespan of only 8 hours to maximize security before disposal.

• Company Profile: Established in 2014 with two branches in Guangzhou, it is a professional card printing company integrating design, development, production, and sales. It operates a 10,000 square meter facility with a professional team.

• Positioning: Professional customized playing card, board game, and printing solution provider.

• Product Features:

  • Customization Services: Specializes in customized playing cards, board game cards, Tarot cards, flash cards, and learning cards, among other diverse products.

  • Own Brands: Owns two independent brands: “ESV" and “XIAOHUAMAN".

  • Rich Experience: Possesses over ten years of experience in the card printing field.

Selecting the right playing card supplier requires a comprehensive evaluation based on the application scenario, security requirements, and budget:

Core Selection Criteria:

1. Product Suitability (Core): Can the supplier provide the core technology (e.g., RFID, UV barcode) that matches the application scenario (e.g., casino grade, competition grade, customized)?

2. Anti-Counterfeiting Capability: Evaluate the level and reliability of the anti-counterfeiting technology, especially for professional use (e.g., Wangjing Cards' dual-process anti-counterfeiting).

3. Quality and Certification: Check if the product meets international standards (e.g., Cartamundi's casino-grade standard) and if it has environmental certifications (e.g., Wangjing Cards' FSC certification).

4. Supply Chain Capability: For large-volume or customized needs, assess the supplier's capacity, lead time, and printing experience (e.g., Yaoji's scalability and Guangzhou Yuhua's customization experience).