Abstract: A smart card handling system is for handling a plurality of smart cards. It includes an infeed mechanism, a discharge mechanism, a rotary drum, an indexing mechanism, a motor and a control system. The rotary drum has a plurality of evenly spaced smart card read modules. The drum is mechanically connected to the infeed mechanism and the discharge mechanism. Each smart card read module is adapted to receive a smart card from the infeed mechanism and is adapted to read information from the smart card received therein. The discharge mechanism is adapted to receive smart card from the smart card read modules. The indexing mechanism is operably connected to the drum. The motor has a drive shaft mechanically connected to the indexing mechanism. The control system receives information from each of the plurality of read modules.