Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into plural hands of cards, wherein each of the hands contains a random arrangement of cards. The apparatus comprises a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack, and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanism and the elevator so that an individual card is moved into an identified compartment. The number of compartments receiving cards and the number of cards moved to each compartment may be selected.

Abstract: A playing card delivery shoe is used in the play of the casino table card game of blackjack is disclosed.

Abstract: A method of playing a casino table poker-type game comprises a player placing an Ante wager on the poker-type game. The dealer provides at least one hand to the player placing the wager on the poker-type game and at least two hands to the dealer. The player elects to a) fold, b) place a wager to compete against less then all dealer hands, or c) placing a wager to compete against all dealer hands. After the election has been made by the player, the dealer discloses all of the dealer's at least two hands. Wagers made in accordance with b) and c) are resolved.

Abstract: A player-banked casino game utilizes at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising: each player placing at least one wager to participate in the casino game; dealing a first number of cards to a dealer as a banker's hand, the first number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for the banker's hand; dealing a second number of cards to each player, the second number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for each player; the dealer discarding at least one card from the banker's hand to form a resulting single dealer hand; each player discarding at least one card to form a resulting player's hand for each player, wherein the number of cards in resulting player's hands and the resulting banker's hand are equal; and resolving each player hand against the banker's hand according to predetermined game rules.

Abstract: A card shuffling device includes a top surface, a card receiving area for receiving an initial set of playing cards, a randomizing or arranging system for the initial set of playing cards, a collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, and an elevator for raising the collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. An automatic card shuffler includes a microprocessor with memory. An automated calibration system is provided that calibrates the precise position of the card supporting platform in the elevator so that precise insertion of cards can be performed during card handling procedures.

Abstract: A distinct dealing shoe having no shuffling functionality receives shuffled, randomized or ordered group of cards. The cards may be mechanically moved one at a time from a receiving area for the deck to a buffer area where more than one card is temporarily stored. The cards in the buffer area are then mechanically moved to a card delivery area where the cards may be manually removed, one-at-a-time, by a dealer. The cards are read one-at-a-time inside of the dealing shoe, either before the buffer area or after leaving the buffer area, but preferably before the cards are being manually removed from the card delivery area. The information from the card reading may be used for game tracking, hand tracking, player information, and other security issues at casino table card games.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming apparatus comprising a gaming table with a gaming surface having at least one predetermined location for receiving a gaming token. A gaming token supporter is mounted at each of the at least one predetermined location for receiving a gaming token on the gaming surface of the gaming table such that the gaming token supporter is flush with the gaming surface and forms a gaming token receiving location. A photoelectric sensor for each gaming token supporter that emits and receives modulated radiation is mounted to the gaming table such that each sensor is aligned with and in sensing proximity to a gaming token supporter.

Abstract: A card shuffler has a drivable shuffling storage means (2?) which is provided with compartments (69) for receiving cards (13). The storage means is associated with an input apparatus for the insertion of cards one by one into the compartments (69) and an output apparatus spaced from the same for the shuffled cards, with the drive of the shuffling storage means (2?), the input apparatus and the output apparatus being controlled by a microprocessor. The number of shuffled cards supplied to the output apparatus at a time is adjusted to be the number of cards necessary per player for the respective card game. In order to improve the shuffling result in such a shuffler it is provided that the cards supplied to the output apparatus are taken from at least two compartments (69) of the shuffling storage means (2?).

Abstract: A multi-player automated casino table card game platform enables play of casino table poker-type games according to rules effected through a processor. Rules may include games similar to Let It Ride® stud poker such as playing a wagering game comprising a player placing a wager comprising at least two distinct parts and providing to the player at least a portion of the player's game elements so that partial information or a game outcome is provided; giving the player at least one opportunity, before the player's final game outcome is determined, to withdraw from engagement in the game at least one part of said at least two parts, but less than all of said at least two parts, and continuing play of the game with additional portions of the player's game elements being displayed to the player.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method of play in the practice of the present invention that are described below. An apparatus supporting the play of a casino table card game according to the present invention may comprise: A playing surface; A card-delivery device; A microprocessor operatively connected to the card-delivery device; Player controlled election identifiers that provide a visible signal of an election; At least two areas for display of at least partial card hands from which only one card hand may be elected for a wagering game by a player; The card-delivery device having at least one sensor thereon for sensing the presence of cards in a delivery area of the card-delivery device from which cards may be removed; The at least one sensor on the card-delivery device providing a signal to the microprocessor that a sensed set of cards has been removed from the delivery area; and in response to the signal, the microprocessor preventing players from entering a new election.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into plural hands of cards, wherein each of the hands contains a random arrangement of cards. The apparatus comprises a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack, and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanism and the elevator so that an individual card is moved into an identified compartment. The number of compartments receiving cards and the number of cards moved to each compartment may be selected.

Abstract: A poker-type card game comprises at least one player making at least one ante wager in the poker-type game at least against a dealer/banker's hand. The player receives a first number of cards and the dealer receives a second number of cards that is at least one card more then the number of cards received by the player. A set of community cards is provided that are used by the dealer and the player. One of the dealer's cards is exposed to the table to provide an exposed dealer card. The dealer is compelled to discard the exposed dealer's card if the rank of the exposed dealer's card is within a first range of values and the dealer is compelled to discard an unexposed dealer's card if the exposed dealer's card is within a second range of values. After resolving the status of the dealer's hand, the player may be allowed to amend the initial one ante wager.

Abstract: A method of playing a poker-type wagering game is disclosed. The method includes the steps of: a) placing a mandatory Ante bet to participate in a poker-type card game against a dealer hand; b) placing a mandatory Super Bonus bet on the occurrence of one of a predetermined plurality of winning poker hands; c) a dealer dealing at least two hands of cards to the dealer position and a hand of cards to each player participating in the game; d) and when the dealer's first hand meets or exceeds a predetermined high ranking hand value, discarding the first hand and playing the second hand; e) each player placing an additional mandatory Bet after viewing at least the player's hand of cards to stay in the game; f) resolving each player hand against the dealer hand; g) paying the player on the Ante and Bet if the player's hand ranking exceeds that of the dealer; and h) paying the player on the Super Bonus bet if the player hand is one of a plurality of predetermined winning poker hands.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for moving playing cards from a first group of cards into a second group of cards, wherein the second group of cards is randomly arranged or shuffled. The apparatus comprises a card receiver for receiving the first group of cards, a single stack of card-receiving compartments generally adjacent to the card receiver, the stack generally vertically movable, an elevator for moving the stack, a card-moving mechanism between the card receiver and the stack for moving cards one at a time into a selected one of the compartments, another card moving mechanism for moving cards from one of the compartments to a second card receiver and a microprocessor that controls the card-moving mechanisms and the elevator. A count of cards within specified areas of the card handling system is maintained and card handling is halted and all cards counted by adding a count of all cards not within the specified areas to the total of cards counted within the specified areas.

Abstract: A game feature, and especially a bonus event game feature for video wagering apparatus has a unique method of displaying at least some of the potential individual rewards or other bonus event results, hiding those potential individual awards or other bonus event results ‘beneath’ a symbol or region, rearranging a location of the awards, allowing the player to select a symbol or region according to game play methods, and revealing at least the awards or other bonus event results that were underneath selected symbols or areas. Excitement is promoted by having a player anticipate the availability of specific bonus game awards and events during the selection process, as opposed to making selections without any specific knowledge of at least some of the specific bonuses or events that are potentially available in the bonus event.

Abstract: A multi-player automated casino table card game platform enables play of casino table baccarat-type games according to rules effected through a processor. Rules may include games similar to Baccarat or Mini Baccarat with an optional side bet on a point spread between the player and bank hands.

Abstract: A discard rack moves and reads suit and rank of individual cards. The cards are provided to a card in-feed area and moved to a card collection area. Both suit and rank of each card is read in the card in-feed area or between the card in-feed area and the card collection area. The discard rack comprises a) a card in-feed area with card moving elements that move only a bottom card from a set of cards in the card in-feed area, b) a card collection area that receives cards from the card moving area in the same sense as cards are received in the card in-feed area, c) an image capture device that captures data from a card while the card is between the card in-feed area and the card collection area, d) preferably a communication port to send out captured data to a processor, and e) an elevator that lowers to maintain a level at which cards are received in the card collection area.

Abstract: A method of controlling the game of baccarat is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a card delivery shoe equipped with a sensor capable of reading at least a rank of each card; a first processor capable of controlling operation of the card delivery shoe; and a second processor capable of receiving signals from the sensor and programmed to display information related to the game of baccarat.

Abstract: A live casino operated tables, games, video games, automated games with live players, or by having a dealer or banker provided with a casino table poker game utilizes at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising: each player placing at least one wager to participate in the casino game; dealing a first number of cards to a dealer as a banker's hand, the first number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for the banker's hand; dealing a second number of cards to each player, the second number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for each player; the dealer discarding at least one card from the banker's hand to form a resulting single dealer hand; each player discarding at least one card to form a resulting player's hand for each player, wherein the number of cards in resulting player's hands and the resulting banker's hand are equal; and resolving each player hand against the banker'