Playing cards with separable components

A device for separating a playing card (10), the card an obverse (12) comprising a face surface and a first attachment surface (18) opposite the face surface, so that the face surface carrying at least a mark range (20) readable by a person, and at least one marking stick (22) readable by a person, a back (14) having a surface (30) back and a fixing surface (28) opposite the back surface, so that the back surface includes a non-unique pattern, the device comprising: means for guiding (202, 206, 208) the playing card along a path; means for directing (210, 218) the playing card along the path; and means for applying a separating force (102) while the playing card is driven down along the path, the force being sufficient separation to release the front backwards along a plane of shear (112).