Abstract: A roulette mechanism having a base, a stationary rim mounted on the base having a central opening and a curved face around which roulette balls travel, a rotating roulette wheel configured to spin and positioned in the central opening of the and supported by the base. The roulette wheel includes a movable central cone and pockets distributed around the movable central cone, the pockets hold one or more roulette balls that fall from the rim into pockets. Each pocket corresponds to unique identifiers on the roulette wheel. The cone includes an edge, a number of sub-pockets under the edge and a motor. The edge is configured to stop a roulette ball that has entered a pocket. The motor is configured to raise the edge so that the roulette ball moves from the pocket to the sub-pocket and to lower the edge once the roulette ball is in the sub-pocket.

Abstract: A card randomization system comprises a drum with a plurality of slots to store cards. Each slot holds one type of card and comprises a locking arm to restrain the card in the slot. A randomization process determines a card to be extracted from the drum. The drum aligns a slot associated with the card with an extraction mechanism. The extraction mechanism comprises a first belt on a first side of the card and at least one of a second belt or a plurality of rollers on a second side of the card. A locking arm actuator unlocks the locking arm and the extraction mechanism extends at least partially into the slot to extract the card. A camera takes an image of the card to determine an identity of the card, and the card is transported to an output system, based on the determined identity of the card.

Abstract: A card randomization system comprises a drum with a plurality of slots to store cards. Each slot holds one type of card and comprises a locking arm to restrain the card in the slot. A randomization process determines a card to be extracted from the drum. The drum aligns a slot associated with the card with an extraction mechanism. The extraction mechanism comprises a first belt on a first side of the card and at least one of a second belt or a plurality of rollers on a second side of the card. A locking arm actuator unlocks the locking arm and the extraction mechanism extends at least partially into the slot to extract the card. A camera takes an image of the card to determine an identity of the card, and the card is transported to an output system, based on the determined identity of the card.

Abstract: A card randomization system comprises a drum with a plurality of slots to store cards. Each slot holds one type of card and comprises a locking arm to restrain the card in the slot. A randomization process determines a card to be extracted from the drum. The drum aligns a slot associated with the card with an extraction mechanism. The extraction mechanism comprises a first belt on a first side of the card and at least one of a second belt or a plurality of rollers on a second side of the card. A locking arm actuator unlocks the locking arm and the extraction mechanism extends at least partially into the slot to extract the card. A camera takes an image of the card to determine an identity of the card, and the card is transported to an output system, based on the determined identity of the card.

Abstract: A roulette machine having a launch device including an automatic ball-change device is described. The ball-change device includes a rotatable main wheel comprising a plurality of pockets, and a rotatable switch wheel switching between an open position and a closed position. The main wheel receives and stores a plurality of roulette balls for future use and facilitates changing of a current game ball and, with the switch wheel, delivering the roulette ball to a launch start position or other desired output. The main wheel and the switch wheel may be independently rotatable, and coordinate with one or more sensors to determine a timing and delivery of a specifically-selected game ball to start a game cycle.

Abstract: A roulette machine having a launch device including an automatic ball-change device is described. The ball-change device includes a rotatable main wheel comprising a plurality of pockets, and a rotatable switch wheel switching between an open position and a closed position. The main wheel receives and stores a plurality of roulette balls for future use and facilitates changing of a current game ball and, with the switch wheel, delivering the roulette ball to a launch start position or other desired output. The main wheel and the switch wheel may be independently rotatable, and coordinate with one or more sensors to determine a timing and delivery of a specifically-selected game ball to start a game cycle.

Abstract: A roulette mechanism having a base, a stationary rim mounted on the base having a central opening and a curved face around which roulette balls travel, a rotating roulette wheel configured to spin and positioned in the central opening of the and supported by the base. The roulette wheel includes a movable central cone and pockets distributed around the movable central cone, the pockets hold one or more roulette balls that fall from the rim into pockets. Each pocket corresponds to unique identifiers on the roulette wheel. The cone includes an edge, a number of sub-pockets under the edge and a motor. The edge is configured to stop a roulette ball that has entered a pocket. The motor is configured to raise the edge so that the roulette ball moves from the pocket to the sub-pocket and to lower the edge once the roulette ball is in the sub-pocket.

Abstract: A shuffling apparatus comprising: at least three card holders, each adapted to hold at least one deck of cards; a conveying mechanism adapted to convey cards between each card holder and at least two other card holders, the conveying mechanism controllable to select a destination card holder of the at least two card holders; and a controller arranged to control the conveying mechanism in a shuffling mode in which cards are sent between a source card holder and selected ones of the at least two destination card holders.

Abstract: A shuffling apparatus comprising: at least three card holders, each adapted to hold at least one deck of cards; a conveying mechanism adapted to convey cards between each card holder and at least two other card holders, the conveying mechanism controllable to select a destination card holder of the at least two card holders; and a controller arranged to control the conveying mechanism in a shuffling mode in which cards are sent between a source card holder and selected ones of the at least two destination card holders.