A smart card reader device, comprising: a first row of a first plurality of means for contacting a first surface of a smart card; a second row of a second plurality of means for contacting the first surface of the smart card; and a means for dissipating heat generated by the smart card, the means for dissipating the heat generated by the smart card being positioned between the first row of the first plurality of means for contacting the first surface of the smart card and the second row of the second plurality of means for contacting the first surface the smart card, wherein the means for dissipating heat generated by the smart card, in use, contacts the first surface of the smart card; wherein the first row of a first plurality of means for contacting the first surface of the smart card comprises a row of a first plurality of smart card contacts, and the second row of the second plurality of means for contacting the first surface of the smart card comprises a row of a second plurality of smart card contacts; wherein each of the first and the second plurality of smart card contacts includes a circuit board contact portion configured to be electrically coupled to a circuit board, and a smart card contact portion configured to make an electrical connection with a contact pad on the first surface of the smart card; and wherein the means for dissipating heat generated by the smart card is a heat sink, the heat sink being positioned between the first row of the first plurality of smart card contacts and the second row of the second plurality of smart card contacts, the heat sink including a smart card heat sink contact portion configured to make physical contact with the first surface of the smart card; characterised in that the smart card reader device further comprises an encasing member, and further characterised in that each of the first and second plurality of smart card contacts further includes a mounting portion held secure by the encasing member. a first row of a first plurality of means for contacting a first surface of a smart card; a second row of a second plurality of means for contacting the first surface of the smart card; and a means for dissipating heat generated by the smart card, the means for dissipating the heat generated by the smart card being positioned between the first row of the first plurality of means for contacting the first surface of the smart card and the second row of the second plurality of means for contacting the first surface the smart card, wherein the means for dissipating heat generated by the smart card, in use, contacts the first surface of the smart card; wherein the first row of a first plurality of means for contacting the first surface of the smart card comprises a row of a first plurality of smart card contacts, and the second row of the second plurality of means for contacting the first surface of the smart card comprises a row of a second plurality of smart card contacts; wherein each of the first and the second plurality of smart card contacts includes a circuit board contact portion configured to be electrically coupled to a circuit board, and a smart card contact portion configured to make an electrical connection with a contact pad on the first surface of the smart card; and wherein the means for dissipating heat generated by the smart card is a heat sink, the heat sink being positioned between the first row of the first plurality of smart card contacts and the second row of the second plurality of smart card contacts, the heat sink including a smart card heat sink contact portion configured to make physical contact with the first surface of the smart card; characterised in that the smart card reader device further comprises an encasing member, and further characterised in that each of the first and second plurality of smart card contacts further includes a mounting portion held secure by the encasing member.