Abstract: A ball-launching system mounts to a top rim of a roulette wheel and positions a ball launcher configured to launch a roulette ball into the roulette wheel. The ball-launching system includes an outer jaw and an inner jaw which clamp to the top rim. At least a part of a ball launcher extends into a concave bowl of the roulette wheel and facilitates launching the roulette ball directly into a ball track underneath the top rim within the concave bowl.

Abstract: A ball-launching system mounts to a top rim of a roulette wheel and positions a ball launcher configured to launch a roulette ball into the roulette wheel. The ball-launching system includes an outer jaw and an inner jaw, which clamp to the top rim. At least a part of a ball launcher extends into a concave bowl of the roulette wheel and facilitates launching the roulette ball directly into a ball track underneath the top rim within the concave bowl.

Abstract: A playing card shuffling device includes a visual display in information communication with the playing card shuffling device. At least one processor is programmed to provide displayable information to the visual display indicative of an amount of time remaining or time expired in a procedure performed by the playing card shuffling device.

Abstract: A multiple-mode card shuffling and/or card verification 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 that can be disabled, a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the card collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, a card imaging system and an elevator for raising the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. The processor is programmed such that cards can be verified without changing an order of cards present in the card receiving area, verified during randomization, and randomized without card verification.

Abstract: A playing card shuffling device includes a visual display in information communication with the playing card shuffling device. At least one processor is programmed to provide displayable information to the visual display indicative of an amount of time remaining or time expired in a procedure performed by the playing card shuffling device.

Abstract: Methods of handling cards using card-handling devices may involve transferring a set of playing cards into a card storage device of a card-handling device using a card input mechanism by distributing the set of playing cards among compartments of the card storage device. Cards may be simultaneously removed from at least two of the compartments to form a stack of cards using a movable ejector.

Abstract: Automatic card shufflers include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a movable rack configured to move vertically within the card shuffler. The movable rack may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two cards therein. The card output mechanism includes a movable ejector configured to simultaneously eject cards out from two or more card storage compartments of the movable rack. Related methods include methods of fabricating such card shufflers, and methods of using such card shufflers.

Abstract: Playing-card-shuffling devices may include a card input, a card output, and a temporary card-storage area. The card input may be located on a same lateral side of the temporary card-storage area as a lateral side of the temporary card-storage area on which the card output is located. A processor may be in communication with a graphic display, with touch screen controls integrated in the graphic display. The graphic display may be configured to automatically display information from the shuffler. The touch screen controls may be configured to receive user-inputted data to send to the processor to affect at least one of performance, activity and mode of operation of the shuffler. The graphic display may be located on a lateral side of the temporary card-storage area opposite the lateral side of the temporary card-storage area on which the card input and the card output are located.

Abstract: Card-reading shoes may include an input area configured to support cards therein. A card-reading system may be located within the card-reading shoe, the card-reading system including at least one sensor configured to detect at least a rank and suit of each card processed by the card-reading shoe. A toggle weight may be pivotally mounted proximate an output end of the shoe. The toggle weight may be configured to selectively rotate to enable cards to be removed from the card-reading shoe via the output end and to selectively remain stationary to prevent removed cards from being reinserted into the card-reading shoe via the output end. The card-reading shoes may optionally include a removable cartridge including a delivery end configured to enable manual removal of cards from the removable cartridge when the removable cartridge is removed from the input area.

Abstract: Card-reading shoes may include an input area configured to support cards therein. A card-reading system may be located within the card-reading shoe, the card-reading system including at least one sensor configured to detect at least a rank and suit of each card processed by the card-reading shoe. A toggle weight may be pivotally mounted proximate an output end of the shoe. The toggle weight may be configured to selectively rotate to enable cards to be removed from the card-reading shoe via the output end and to selectively remain stationary to prevent removed cards from being reinserted into the card-reading shoe via the output end. The card-reading shoes may optionally include a removable cartridge including a delivery end configured to enable manual removal of cards from the removable cartridge when the removable cartridge is removed from the input area.

Abstract: A playing card handling device is disclosed. The device includes a first side and a second opposite side. Components of the device include a card infeed tray, a card output tray and a card handling zone. The card infeed tray and card output tray are on the same first side of the device and an upper surface of the card infeed tray and an upper surface of the card output tray are in the same plane. Card handling devices of the present invention also include a touch screen display, as well as a movable card gate.

Abstract: Card shufflers usable in forming and dispensing randomized playing card hands for use in playing card games include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler. The rotatable wheel may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. Related methods involve the use of such card shufflers in playing card games.

Abstract: Automatic card shufflers may include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting cards from the card shuffler.

Abstract: Card shufflers usable in forming and dispensing randomized playing card hands for use in playing card games include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler. The rotatable wheel may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. Related methods involve the use of such card shufflers in playing card games.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods 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 may comprise 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 has a cartridge for receiving a first set of shuffled playing cards useful in the play of the casino table card game, the cartridge having a back end and front card delivery end. An automated motor-driven playing card delivery shoe has a cartridge receiving area. The card delivery shoe has a pick-off roller that moves playing cards from the front card delivery end of the cartridge. An image capture system captures image data of at least one of card value and card rank. A motor drives at least one set of rollers. A card delivery chute receives playing cards one at a time from the set of rollers.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods 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 may comprise 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 multiple-mode card shuffling and/or card verification 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 that can be disabled, a card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards, the card collection surface receiving cards positioned so that all cards collected are below the top surface of the device, a card imaging system and an elevator for raising the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated above the top surface of the device. The processor is programmed such that cards can be verified without changing an order of cards present in the card receiving area, verified during randomization, and randomized without card verification.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods 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 may comprise 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: Card shufflers usable in forming and dispensing randomized playing card hands for use in playing card games include a card input mechanism for inputting cards into the card shuffler, a card storage device for receiving cards from the card input mechanism and temporarily storing cards within the card shuffler, and a card output mechanism for outputting shuffled cards from the card shuffler. The card storage device may include a wheel configured to rotate within the card shuffler. The rotatable wheel may have a plurality of card storage compartments therein, each of which may be sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein. Related methods involve the use of such card shufflers in playing card games.