Faded Spade Playing Cards
- Founded
- 2017-01-01 in Orlando, Florida, United States
Faded Spade is a premium playing card brand that has rapidly become a leading supplier to the global poker industry, known for its high-performance 100% plastic and casino-grade paper playing cards. Founded in 2017 by Tom Wheaton, the company was born from a lifelong passion for poker and a vision to create a superior card that balances thickness, flexibility, and durability—qualities often missing from standard decks. Faded Spade’s cards are designed to withstand the heavy rotation of automatic card shufflers while maintaining their shape and feel, making them a favorite among both casual home game players and professional casino operators. The company gained significant industry recognition after being named the preferred playing card of the World Poker Tour (WPT), and its FSX line of plastic cards is now used in top poker rooms across the United States, including Wynn Las Vegas, Potawatomi Casino Hotel, and Lucky Chances Casino. In 2025, Faded Spade expanded its product offering with the launch of casino-grade paper playing cards, debuting at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E). Beyond direct sales, Faded Spade has forged numerous partnerships with major poker tours such as the PartyPoker LIVE, the Irish Poker Tour, and the Vamos Poker Tour. The brand is recognized for its modern, clean card graphics and its commitment to quality, positioning itself as “the new face of cards” for today’s poker generation.
Detailed Review
History and Founding
Faded Spade was officially founded in 2017 by Tom Wheaton, a lifelong poker enthusiast who, after years of playing cash games and climbing a corporate career ladder, decided to act on his vision for a better playing card. The company quickly differentiated itself in a market dominated by legacy brands by focusing on an “intentional balance of thickness, flexibility, and strength.” This engineering approach resulted in the FSX line, a 100% plastic card that is thick enough to withstand shufflers yet flexible enough for comfortable handling.
Products and Innovations
A pivotal early milestone was becoming the preferred playing card of the World Poker Tour (WPT). This partnership provided immense credibility and exposure, leading to adoption in live stream cash games and featured tournaments. The company also produces RFID-enabled cards used for television broadcasts, a technology that enhances the viewing experience by tracking cards in real-time.
Faded Spade’s product lineup includes several variations of the FSX card (Classic, Modern, and 4-Color designs), along with branded merchandise like table mats and apparel. The company has also collaborated with poker legends Phil Hellmuth and Chris Moneymaker to create signature card decks. In October 2025, Faded Spade launched a new line of casino-grade paper playing cards, marking its entry into the paper card segment and targeting casinos that prefer a single-use, high-quality paper card.
Business Model and Partnerships
The company’s business model focuses on business-to-business (B2B) sales to casinos and poker rooms, as well as direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales through its website. In 2019, Genesis Gaming Solutions became the primary North American distributor for Faded Spade, further solidifying its presence in the casino supply chain. Recent expansions include partnerships with international poker tours, positioning Faded Spade as a global brand. Under the leadership of founder and CEO Tom Wheaton, the company continues to innovate and grow, emphasizing quality and the player experience.
Key Products
FSX Playing Cards (Classic, Modern, 4-Color)
The flagship 100% plastic poker playing cards, designed for durability and flexibility. Each variant features a different design aesthetic—Classic (traditional faces), Modern (contemporary look), and 4-Color (enhanced suit distinction for players).
Casino-Grade Paper Playing Cards
Launched in 2025, this product line offers high-quality single-use paper cards designed for casino environments that prefer paper over plastic.
RFID Playing Cards
Custom cards embedded with radio-frequency identification technology, used for live television broadcasts and streaming to enable real-time card tracking (e.g., on WPT broadcasts).
Phil Hellmuth Signature Playing Cards
Co-branded decks featuring the 16-time WSOP bracelet winner, available in plastic and paper versions.
Chris Moneymaker Signature Playing Cards
Co-branded decks featuring the 2003 WSOP Main Event champion, available in plastic and paper versions.
Poker Table Mats
Branded table covers designed for home use, providing a professional playing surface.
Branded Apparel
Includes mesh trucker hats, snapback hats, and flexfit hats, used for marketing and retail sales.
Key Persons
Tom WheatonFounder & CEO