Custom Poker Tables: A Must Have or a Waste of Money?

   If you're a high roller and looking to impress, a custom poker table may be in your cards. As wild or tame as you desire, custom poker tables add the "wow" factor to your game - and just may bring you luck.


Are Custom Poker Tables Worth the Expense?

    Yes, but only if you really love poker.
    "If it's your passion and this is something you do all the time and you really love, it's definitely - it's almost necessary - to go custom, because you're going to get a better product and it's going to be tailored to you and your needs and your desires," the owner of Stine Game Tables, Jeff Stine, said.
    When deciding whether to go custom, consider how often you play. If it's just a once-in-a-while thing, then maybe sticking with a standard poker table is your best choice. But if you're playing often, a custom poker table is a nice treat.


What can You Get?

    Simply put. Anything. If your pockets are deep enough, they can build your dreams. But the average person sticks with the basics that are easy to customize. Typically, custom tables start with choosing the type and color of fabric used on the table. Then it's whether you'd like a design embroidered on the fabric. Next it's whether you want a chip rack, solid chip rack or no chip rack.
    If you need a little more personalization, poker tables can be made into custom shapes and sizes.
    "We have people that are in wheelchairs and they needs the table to be shorter for them," Stine said. "Somebody's like, 'Hey, I made a diamond shape room in my house. Can you make a diamond shaped table?' Yes."
    When deciding what you want, don't be afraid to be creative. Stine has had customers ask to have their tattoo design embroidered on their table fabric, and has created complete leather playing surfaces. The possibilities are limitless.


How to Avoid Mistakes

    Sure, you may wake up one day and decide the color you chose for your custom poker table is hideous, but that's the smallest of concerns. Rather than lamenting over what color to choose or fabric looks right, focus on who's making your table. The biggest mistake people make when going custom is working with the middleman, according to Stine.
    When purchasing a custom poker table, make sure you're working directly with the manufacturer. Check into the manufacturer's reputation to make sure they produce quality. After all, if you're going to go custom, you want it to turn out exactly like you expect. In this case, no surprises are a good thing.    


Photo Credit: Stine Game Tables, custom poker table made for Meat Loaf