A urethane-coated table can make picking up cards nigh-impossible, without having to slide them across the whole table surface to the edge.

The best poker tables have a thin layer of cushion under the playing fabric for this exact reason – cards are much easier to pick up and play with when you can get your fingertips under them. The give of a firm foam surface aids in gameplay substantially, whether dice, cards, or miniatures are the focus. A resilient but cushioning foam pad does more than make a table comfortable to sit at for an extended period of time, which is what most people think padding on these tables is for.