Machine Description

Card Whiz emerged during the mid-1970s as part of Gottlieb's series of card-themed pinball machines, arriving at a time when the pinball industry was on the cusp of transitioning from electro-mechanical to solid-state technology. The machine captured the popularity of card games and gambling themes that were prevalent in arcade entertainment of the era.

The playfield design likely featured card-related artwork and scoring objectives tied to poker hands and card combinations, a common approach for gambling-themed pinball machines of this period. Traditional Gottlieb features from this era would have included pop bumpers, drop targets, and likely a spinner, all integrated into the card game theme. The scoring system would have utilized the classic mechanical reels characteristic of electro-mechanical machines.

As one of the last electro-mechanical machines produced before the industry-wide shift to solid-state electronics, Card Whiz represents an important transition point in pinball history. While production numbers aren't definitively known, machines from this era typically saw production runs between 2,000 and 4,000 units. The game serves as a testament to the creative theme integration that characterized Gottlieb's output during the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball.