Abstract: A table game system capable of providing a table game to provide a chance to bet more higher paid off odds and additional wagering opportunities during the play in a way that is not complicated is provided. The set of shuffled decks of playing cards has a different card arrangement orders due to shuffling, and thus, each set is unique. Therefore, in order to identify each set, an ID code is used in the form of a bar code or a quick response (QR) code. The set of shuffled decks of playing cards has a special card which has been packaged together with other normal cards of the shuffled decks of playing cards in one package in a factory.

Abstract: A method and system encourage continued play of scratch-off lottery tickets remaining in a game after award of the seeded top prizes in the game. A total set of scratch-off lottery tickets for the game are subject to a single multi-tier prize structure that includes a top tier prize and a plurality of lower tier prize levels. Subsets of the total set of tickets each have a predetermined winning outcome at one of the lower tier prize levels. A first one of the subsets is divided into qualifying tickets and non-qualifying tickets, the qualifying tickets eligible for play in an additional game having a game prize at least equal to the top tier prize. The qualifying and/or non-qualifying tickets are provided with a printed mark that distinguishes the qualifying tickets from the non-qualifying tickets within the first subset. At redemption, the qualifying tickets are identified and entered into the additional game.

Abstract: A method of providing payment towards financial obligations through online gaming, which allows the player to identify at least one financial obligation; provides the player an opportunity to participate in at least one online game to receive one or more credits for successfully participating in, completing, or winning the online game; credits one or more credits to the player's account for successfully participating in, completing, or winning the game; assigns, once the player has accumulated one or more credits, a monetary value to the credits; allows the player to exchange the assigned monetary value of a determined number of credits from the player's account for monetary credit towards payment of at least one financial obligation; and submits, on the player's behalf, a monetary payment towards at least one financial obligation that is equivalent to the monetary credit exchanged by the player.

Abstract: A method for playing a cooperative card wagering game for a plurality of players and a dealer using a customer cooperative wagering table and a deck of cards with each card having a numerical value, the cooperative wagering table having a dealer table edge, a community table edge, and a community line positioned therebetween, each player has an individual hand, and contributes a card to form a community hand by placing the card upon the community line, the players cooperate to maximize the value of the community hand, while also maximizing their respective individual hands, whereby the players cannot obtain a player win result if the community hand is less than the dealer's hand in value.

Abstract: In various embodiments, players may compete in a gaming context.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for monitoring progressive game activities at a plurality of gaming tables. For example, embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for monitoring that a bet for playing a progressive game was made, the amount of the bet, the position of the bet, the identification of the player who made the bet and the identification of the gaming table at which the bet was made. A progressive jackpot metric may be computed based on the data captured at the gaming table for increasing or decreasing one or more progressive jackpots. Visual elements corresponding to the one or more progressive jackpots may be rendered on a jackpot interface display.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method of electronic gaming includes initiating, in response to an initial wager, a primary game, selecting, in response to the initiating the primary game, a plurality of primary game symbols, and displaying the plurality of primary game symbols in a plurality of symbol display positions associated with a plurality of reel strips. The method may further include initiating, in response to the initial wager, a jackpot game, selecting, in response to initiating the jackpot game, a jackpot game symbol from a plurality of jackpot game symbols, displaying the jackpot game symbol in a symbol display position associated with a single reel strip, and determining a jackpot award based upon the jackpot game symbol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing hybrid draw poker games to online players, poker hands comprise both physical card values dealt by a dealer and electronically-generated card values from the gaming server. The gaming server receives an indication from each of the remote players of how many hands each player would like to play, and a wager amount for each hand. Electronic indications of an initial set of physical cards dealt by the dealer are then provided to the online players. In response, each player provides an indication of card values that each player would like to retain and/or an indication of card values that each player would like to discard. The gaming server assigns the retained card values selected by each player to each player's respective hands, and then generates electronic replacement card values for each hand of each player. The gaming server then performs a win/lose analysis for each hand.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for designating game indicia locations during current gaming events to enhance game indicia at the identified positions in subsequent gaming events. In a poker context, card positions in a first poker game may be randomly selected, and if any are randomly selected, enhanced cards are repeatedly provided in periodic or random intervals of subsequent poker games at corresponding card positions until a termination event occurs.

Abstract: A method of playing a card game between a dealer and a player includes dealing first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth cards to the player. Second, fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth card are dealt to the dealer. A determination is made whether the first or second card has a higher value for a first point, whether the third or the fourth card has a higher value for a second point, whether the first, third and fifth combination of cards or the second, fourth and sixth combination of cards has a higher three-card stud poker hand for a third point, whether the seventh or eighth card has a higher value for a fourth point, and whether the first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth combination of cards or the second, fourth, sixth, eighth and tenth combination of cards has a higher five-card stud poker hand for a fifth point.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a game controller to determine from a base game if an outcome meets a first eligibility, in response to the outcome meeting the first eligibility, increment a first counter, determine if the first counter meets a feature eligibility, in response to the first counter meeting the feature eligibility, increment a feature counter, determine jackpot features having jackpots, the jackpot features being associated with eligibility thresholds, and some of the jackpot features have different eligibility thresholds, provide on a display device one or more of the jackpot features having respective eligibility thresholds satisfied by the feature counter, receive, via a player interface, a selection of a first jackpot feature of the one or more of the plurality of jackpot features, and display the first jackpot feature selected.

Abstract: Games related to the aggregation of information are described.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing video analysis to enhance in-play sports wagering by overlaying potential play outcomes with the live video and adjusting the display of the potential outcomes based on the video analysis of the actual play's outcome.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices configured for linked game play. First and second gaming devices that are separately playable by first and second players are electronically linked so that a gaming event being played at the first gaming device may also be being played at the second gaming device. Also provided is a method of sharing game play across multiple gaming devices, where the method includes receiving a wager from a first player at a first gaming device, receiving a wager from a second player at a second gaming device, initiating a gaming event that is displayed at the first and second gaming devices, and awarding prizes associated with gaming outcomes displayed at the first and second gaming devices. These and other arrangements of the present concept may allow cooperative or competitive game play between the first and second player.

Abstract: A video poker system and method allow a player to play a primary game in a conventional fashion while seeking a bonus payout based on cards from the primary game poker hand and one or more secondary poker hands from separate decks of cards. Certain pre-established poker hands (e.g., 4s of a kind) formed using cards from the primary game poker hand and the one or more secondary poker hands provide bonus payouts. A bonus hand may comprise a royal flush hand made using one royal flush card from each of five secondary poker hands. The system and method increase player interest, player wagers and provide meaningful bonus payouts.

Abstract: In one implementation, an electronic gaming system includes: a plurality of physical playing cards that are dealt by an automated or human dealer; a scanner that is configured to identify each physical playing card of the plurality of physical playing cards as they are dealt; a plurality of player computing devices that are configured to provide individualized gaming interfaces for a plurality of players; and a gaming computing device that is communicably connected to the scanner and the plurality of player computing devices. The gaming computing device may select different sets of dealt cards to provide different types of games to players at different ones of the gaming computing devices.

Abstract: A method for playing a cooperative card wagering game for a plurality of players and a dealer using a customer cooperative wagering table and a deck of cards with each card having a numerical value, the cooperative wagering table having a dealer table edge, a community table edge, and a community line positioned therebetween, each player has an individual hand, and contributes a card to form a community hand by placing the card upon the community line, the players cooperate to maximize the value of the community hand, while also maximizing their respective individual hands, whereby the players cannot obtain a player win result if the community hand is less than the dealer's hand in value.

Abstract: A method and system execute a competitive event based on poker comprising: providing random playing cards to a specific area defined as a placement area for dealer hand playing cards and providing random playing cards to a second specific area defined as a placement area for player hand playing cards; providing exactly 2, 3 or 4 random playing cards from the set to the placement area for player hand playing cards and dealing 2+3, 3+3 or 4+3 playing cards, respectively, to the dealer hand position; moving one of the random playing cards in the dealer hand position to the player hand position to form a final player hand and a final dealer hand position; and comparing the respective poker ranks of the final player hand and the final dealer hand to determine a winning, losing or tying outcome between the final player hand and the final dealer hand.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing, conducting and modifying wagering games involving standard playing cards to include multiple sources of randomly ordered one or more decks of standard playing cards, either remotely or locally, and electronically or virtually provided cards, or through physical card shuffling sources, from which a player may select to receive cards in the wagering game for any purpose, such as to form initial or final hands in the wagering game.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for monitoring progressive game activities at a plurality of gaming tables. For example, embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods for monitoring that a bet for playing a progressive game was made, the amount of the bet, the position of the bet, the identification of the player who made the bet and the identification of the gaming table at which the bet was made. A progressive jackpot metric may be computed based on the data captured at the gaming table for increasing or decreasing one or more progressive jackpots. Visual elements corresponding to the one or more progressive jackpots may be rendered on a jackpot interface display.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for electronic gaming are disclosed. In a first aspect, a method of electronic gaming includes initiating, in response to an initial wager, a primary game, selecting, in response to the initiating the primary game, a plurality of primary game symbols, and displaying the plurality of primary game symbols in a plurality of symbol display positions associated with a plurality of reel strips. The method may further include initiating, in response to the initial wager, a jackpot game, selecting, in response to initiating the jackpot game, a jackpot game symbol from a plurality of jackpot game symbols, displaying the jackpot game symbol in a symbol display position associated with a single reel strip, and determining a jackpot award based upon the jackpot game symbol.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for increasing potential payout opportunities using multiple card indicia representing multiple cards. One embodiment involves determining whether any one or more of a plurality of cards of a poker game having multiple poker hands are to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia representing multiple cards, presenting the plurality of cards of the poker hands, including the one or more of the plurality of cards determined to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia, and identifying a plurality of resulting hands for each of the multiple poker hands that include a multiple card indicia, where each of the plurality of resulting hands includes a different subset of a total of the indicia of the other cards in the respective poker hand and any cards provided with multiple card indicia.

Abstract: The present application relates to a method and apparatus for wagering on games that involve the use of playing chips or tokens for wagering. In one form, the present application provides an apparatus for wagering on a game having predetermined rules adapted for at least one or more players to participate by wagering on game outcome events including a playfield having a gaming layout adapted for placement of game elements and a wagering layout adapted for accepting placement of at least one wager. The wagering layout including at least one indicium for accepting placement of an apportioned wager and at least one wagering token. One or a combination of the at least one wagering token and the at least one indicium of the wagering layout provides a single wager that has its value apportioned to a number of outcome events.

Abstract: A system for providing a gaming trend display at a gaming table comprising a processing device, memory and a display device for displaying historical Baccarat game outcomes in one or more predefined formats stored in memory, the systems and methods comprising a data communication device for detecting a new game outcome, the processing device converting the new game outcome for display in the one or more predefined formats on the display device and responsive to updating the display device with the new game outcome, activating the display of an illustrative game outcome in the one or more predefined formats, wherein the illustrative game outcome has the display characteristics of being visually distinguishable from the historical game outcomes, and wherein the illustrative game outcome display is deactivated responsive to receiving a new game outcome detected by the data communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for implementing a blackjack game, the methods including providing a physical blackjack table and at least one physical deck of cards, providing a paytable with a plurality of numbers of cards of a specific suit and a respective payout, receiving a main wager and a side wager from a player using physical chips, dealing a reference hand from the at least one physical deck of cards, determining a number of cards in the reference hand that are of the specific suit, providing predetermined side wager resolution rules, and resolving the side wager using the predetermined side wager resolution rules. The predetermined side wager resolution rules include paying a payout on the side wager using the paytable if the number of cards is at least a predetermined number and collecting the side wager if the number of cards is not at least the predetermined number.

Abstract: A game for wagering on a card game, comprising the steps of providing a set of cards, each card having an assigned numerical value from one to eleven, a suit, a color and a rank. A first wager and a second wager are accepted. A first player card is dealt to a player and a first dealer card is dealt to a dealer from the set of cards. A second player card is dealt to the player and a second dealer card is dealt to the dealer. The second dealer card is hidden from view from the player. A winner of the first wager is determined based on whether a pair has been dealt, the pair comprises at least two of the first player card, the second player card, the first dealer card and the second dealer card. Each card of the pair has the same rank.

Abstract: Provided is a game system including at least one processor configured to execute predetermined game processing based on an object group including a plurality of objects, the at least one processor being configured to: display first object information on each of the plurality of objects included in the object group, on a display; add a selected object to the object group; and display second object information for identifying the object added to the object group, on the display.

Abstract: A gaming system includes a game controller to determine from a base game if an outcome meets a first eligibility, in response to the outcome meeting the first eligibility, increment a first counter, determine if the first counter meets a feature eligibility, in response to the first counter meeting the feature eligibility, increment a feature counter, determine jackpot features having jackpots, the jackpot features being associated with eligibility thresholds, and some of the jackpot features have different eligibility thresholds, provide on a display device one or more of the jackpot features having respective eligibility thresholds satisfied by the feature counter, receive, via a player interface, a selection of a first jackpot feature of the one or more of the plurality of jackpot features, and display the first jackpot feature selected.

Abstract: Computer implemented methods and systems for providing a uniform data platform for at least one application of a plurality of applications are disclosed. Exemplary methods include receiving application data from at least one of a device and a server, a device executing a portion of an application of a plurality of applications, storing the application data in a data platform, the data model including at least one metadata and at least one event, the one metadata corresponding to at least one object indicated in the data model, and the one event corresponding to a trigger condition associated with the one metadata entry, wherein values of the one metadata and one event are associated with a user profile and accessing via a plurality of remote networked services, the application data stored in the data platform, the plurality of remote network services accessing the application data using the data model.

Abstract: In various embodiments, players may compete in a gaming context.

Abstract: Embodiments related to conducting a wagering game according to the rules of a base game includes defining a finite set of game indicia. In some embodiments the player plays multiple sequential game hand by placing a wager, receiving game indicia from the finite set cumulatively excluding any game indicia previously dealt, playing the game hand to completion, collecting the game indicia from the player and excluding the dealt game indicia from further play, and displaying at least the excluded game indicia or any winning combinations precluded by the excluded game indicia. In some embodiments the game hands continue in sequence until a restoration event, which may include a manually triggered restoration or an automatic restoration event that restores the excluded game indicia. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: An auxiliary blackjack game to a conventional game of blackjack is played before the conventional game of blackjack is played at a casino or remotely by secure communication to a remote player terminal. A Lucky High Low auxiliary blackjack game is dependent on a special purpose computer processor for determining a card value of an artificial intelligence determined dealer face-up card value and a two card conventional blackjack card hand played by a player. The auxiliary game may be played with as few as one deck. To win a suited three wager, at least three decks of cards may be utilized for play of blackjack and Lucky High Low game. A special purpose computer determines a winning player hand by summing the dealer face-up card value and the two card conventional blackjack player card hand. If the total card value total is 3, 4, 5, 30, 29, 28 or 27, the player wins currency as physical items which may be free game plays or comprise currency or fractional currency.

Abstract: The gaming system of the present disclosure provides a Class II bingo game with a corresponding Class III game outcome presentation. For a play of the Class II bingo game and for a player, the gaming system simulates the game play and appearance of a traditional Class III game by displaying a Class III game outcome presentation associated with the outcome of the bingo card. If the matched spots on the player's bingo card form one of multiple winning patterns, the gaming system displays one of multiple winning Class III game outcome presentations. If the matched spots on the bingo card almost form one of the winning patterns without forming any of the winning patterns, the gaming system displays an anticipatory losing Class III game outcome presentation that almost forms one of the winning Class III game outcome presentations without forming any of the winning Class III game outcome presentations.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are directed to providing a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) based distributed games that allows two or more teams of players to develop mathematical and problem-solving skills. Game controllers allow each team to submit a number to a game device that performs one or more arithmetic operations on the set of numbers to compute a guess that is compared to a puzzle solution. If the guess equals the puzzle solution prior to a timer time period expiring, then the players win a reward, such as deploying a shower of confetti, providing candy, display of lights, conspicuous sounds, vibrations, and/or the like.

Abstract: Methods of playing commission-free pai gow poker games are disclosed. The commission-free pai gow poker games have multiple features, including a novel push mechanism and a novel copy-fostering mechanism, that provide a gaming establishment with an adequate house edge without the need to charge a commission on player wins. The features of the commission-free pai gow poker games may be incorporated in one or more instruction sets or software configured in one or more mechanical devices and/or electronic devices. Furthermore, the features may be configured in one or more displays in communication with one or more servers as desired. Furthermore, the commission-free pai gow poker games may be offered in a non-gaming media environment as desired.

Abstract: A method of providing physiological self-regulation challenges prior to participating in a series of activities or exercises at a series of predefined locations includes determining a physiological goal associated with each location. A sensing device measures a physiological state of a user, and a mobile communication device communicates to a user whether or not the user has achieved the physiological goal for the challenge. The level of difficulty of the physiological goal may be reduced if the user does not meet the goal. The physiological goal may comprise a brain state that is conducive to learning, and the sensing device may be configured to measure brain state values representing cognitive engagement. Upon achievement of each physiological goal, the participant is provided with a reward such as information concerning the current predefined location and/or information concerning the next predefined location.

Abstract: A system and method for conducting a card game including a player v. dealer arrangement involving a comparison of HI and LO hand values. Players declare a three-card hand as either HI or LO and a dealer forms three-card LO and HI hands using five cards with a shared card being used in both the LO and HI hand. Aces have a value of 1 point when used in a LO hand and 11 when used in a HI hand, face cards have a value of 0 points and cards 2 through 10 have values matching their rank. Match and poker bonus features may also be incorporated.

Abstract: Methods, Systems and apparatuses for playing a regulated casino wagering game with poker or blackjack cards. Disclosed is a trade-in 21 game where a player gets a payout if they have under 21 or exactly within a quantity of cards and a payout if they receive multi 21's within that game. Those same features can be used in a casino table apparatus played electronically or as a lottery game. Also disclosed is a place card poker game where a player selects the position of the poker zone. Also disclosed are place card games for poker and a numerical objective that that can be played as a tournament or a social game. Also disclosed is a baccarat table game where a player wagers on the specific numerical additive value of the cards with payouts specific in general correspondence to the probability of winning that said value.

Abstract: A method of simulating a heads up gaming tournament utilizing at least one game server and a plurality of personal communication devices includes receiving value from a plurality of participants using the personal communication devices, providing the participants with wagering units, pairing unpaired first and second ones of the participants to play a heads up game, initiating the game by generating a game state, for example, dealing the private cards of a hold'em poker game, and transmitting the game state to the participants for display on the personal communications devices, whereupon the first participant transmits an action to the game server in response to the game state, receiving the action and updating the game state, receiving a second input in response to the first participant's action from the second participant, continuing play until the outcome of the heads up game is determined, updating the number of wagering units held by the first and second participants, repairing the participants for the n

Abstract: A method for playing a hold 'em card game with two hands provides a variant to a standard hold 'em card game by dealing four hole cards to a player, and splitting the hole cards into two sets of hole cards, with each set of hole cards being independently played, bet, raised, or folded in relation to the same community cards. An initial round of wagering occurs, followed by dealing four hole cards to each player. The hole cards are split into two sets of hole cards that are played independently of each other. There is another round of betting, before a turn and a river are also dealt. If the dealer's best of five hands exceeds a poker hand ranking of the player's, the player forfeits the wager. If the player's best of five hands exceeds the dealer's, the player receives an equal amount of units to the wager.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display, an indicator display device, a symbol selector, a function allocator, and an award allocator. The display includes display positions. The indicator display device is configured to visually display the indicator symbol for visually identifying a single display position. The symbol selector is configured to randomly select symbols from a set of symbols and, after display of the indicator symbol, place the selected symbols on the display with at least one of the selected symbols placed in each of the display positions including the single display position. The function allocator is configured to determine which symbol is placed in the single display position and perform a game function in response to the identity of the selected symbol in the single display position. The award allocator may be configured to allocate an award based on at least one of the placed symbols.

Abstract: This concept is directed to methods of operating a gaming device to analyze game information that is part of a gaming event having a player interaction in advance of the player interaction to make a determination about the game play. These methods may be used for a variety of gaming devices such as slot machines, video keno devices, video poker machines, electronic table games, internet gaming terminals, etc. In each type of gaming device, these operation methods evaluate future game information during game play to determine one of multiple manners by which the game play will continue. These continuation manners may include changing the speed of game play, determining display characteristics of the game and outcome, providing tips or information to the player about the future game information, automatically initiating a subsequent game, or otherwise altering an aspect of the game play parameters in response to the evaluated game information.

Abstract: A casino management networked computer system is described. The networked computer system includes a database server computer and an application server computer coupled to the database server computer and to a plurality of gaming devices. The database server processor is programmed to generate and store a program file including a patron logic matrix that includes data records of patron ranking information included in the spreadsheet. Each data record includes a market definition value, a patron ranking value, a theoretical loss value, and a comp reinvestment data. The application processor is programmed to calculate patron comp point values based on the comp reinvestment data and patron wager data included in a patron data record.

Abstract: An electronic gaming system includes a progressive system server configured to establish a tiered plurality of progressive jackpots that includes a first jackpot increasable a first cap value, a second jackpot increasable to a second cap value greater than the first cap value, and at least one intermediate jackpot increasable to at least one intermediate cap value greater than the first cap value and less than the second cap value. The progressive system server is further configured to allocate portions of player wagers to one of i) the first jackpot, ii) the at least one intermediate jackpot, and iii) the second jackpot, whereby the first jackpot is initially incrementally increased to the first cap value, the at least one intermediate jackpot is next incrementally increased to the at least one intermediate cap value, and the second jackpot is next incrementally increased to the second cap value.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine includes a processor configured to control a display device to display a plurality of columns of symbol positions, where each column of symbol positions includes a plurality of symbols selected from an associated reel strip of a plurality of reel strips. The processor is also configured to select the symbols for each column, and control the display device to simulate stopping the first reel strip prior to controlling the display device to simulate stopping the second reel strip, whereby a sub-category of prize associated with a prize sub-category symbol is indicated to a player of the electronic gaming machine prior to indicating a category of prize associated with a prize category symbol. The processor is also configured to determine whether a first column includes the prize sub-category symbol as well as whether a second column includes the prize category symbol.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for a method and apparatus for administering a blackjack game. In some instances, administering the blackjack game comprises receiving at least one wager in a designated player wager area on a gaming surface associated with the blackjack game. In some instances, the at least one wager is associated with at least one tangible gaming chip. Furthermore, in some instances, the blackjack game is associated with a physical gaming table with a play surface and at least one deck of physical card. In some instances, administering the blackjack game comprises dealing, after receiving the at least one wager, at least one hand from the at least one deck for the blackjack game; determining that an outcome of the hand necessitates a dice roll of a set of specialized physical dice associated with a secondary game; determining a payout value on the at least one wager based on an outcome of the dice roll; and resolving the at least one wager according to the payout value.

Abstract: A method for playing a cooperative card wagering game for a plurality of players and a dealer using a customer cooperative wagering table and a deck of cards with each card having a numerical value, the cooperative wagering table having a dealer table edge, a community table edge, and a community line positioned therebetween, each player has an individual hand, and contributes a card to form a community hand by placing the card upon the community line, the players cooperate to maximize the value of the community hand, while also maximizing their respective individual hands, whereby the players cannot obtain a player win result if the community hand is less than the dealer's hand in value.

Abstract: Games related to the aggregation of information are described.

Abstract: In various embodiments, players may compete in a gaming context.

Abstract: Method (300) and control unit (6) for monitoring shuffle quality of cards (4) during a card game. The method (300) comprises: identifying (301) each card (4) of a first round of cards; storing (302) a first sequence of the identified (301) cards (4) of the first round of cards, in the order they are discarded; identifying (303) each card (4) of a second round of cards (4), after shuffling but before being provided to one or more players; storing (304) a second sequence of the identified (303) cards (4) of the second round of cards, in the order they are provided to the one or more players; comparing (305) the stored (302) first sequence of cards (4) with the stored (304) second sequence of cards (4); detecting (306) a predetermined pattern in the second sequence of cards (4), originating from the first sequence of cards (4); and providing (307) an alert (8) when the predetermined pattern is detected (306) in the second sequence of cards (4).