A poker table is a table specially designed for playing cards- usually poker. It is covered with a soft material or a smooth fabric that allows cards to glide smoothly. It is either an actual table or a portable top that can be fixed and removed as need be. Usually the edge of the table is raised to allow players to keep their hand on it. This is called the rail.

A poker table can be made of different materials like wood, plastic, metal etc. Various types of clothing and fabric are used as the covering cloth or felt. Usually the fabric used for table tops are casino print cloth, velveteen, speed cloth or billiards cloth.

The tables come in different shapes as well. Some passionate poker players believe in creating their own tables while some others get customized or ready-made tables from the makers. Poker tables used for tournaments are bigger and sturdier. They sometimes come with foldable and detachable legs. Usually very good quality material is used for the construction of poker tables for casinos since they have to endure the 24x7 environment there.

Casinos generally have accessories like card shuffling machines along with the poker tables. This machine is very useful at casinos since it can get several thousands more hands per month, and this amounts to greater profits and revenue for them, making them very popular at casinos. Drop boxes and clip sets are also commonly found accessories with poker tables at casinos. The felt used for these tables are also of a very high quality at casinos, they are usually high quality nylon, and recently good quality polyester has started being used. The felt is chosen to ensure smooth gliding of cards at the correct speed that is neither too fast nor too slow.

Poker table layouts are also of primary importance when they are to be used at casinos. They need to be printed in the right colors to allow a clear view of chips while playing. Logo graphics need to be chosen carefully so that casino cameras can detect the difference between a printed logo and a chip. In case they are similar in print and color, a lot of confusion may occur.

Company logo, family name initials, photos and other things can be used as logo and can be installed on the layout as a part of the customization process. For all those trying to do it within a budget can follow a simple method of customization. Changing the felt of the poker table and giving it a different color can change the look completely and make it seem new. This would give a long enduring last to the poker table top as well.