A system that manages a package of shuffled playing cards and gaming chips includes a storage box and a control apparatus. The storage box is provided in association with a game table and stores a plurality of shuffled playing cards and a plurality of chip cases and also includes a card reader that reads playing card ID codes of the shuffled playing cards and a chip reader that reads case ID codes of the chip cases. The control apparatus outputs total numbers of the shuffled playing cards and the chip cases stored in the storage box and the playing card ID codes and case ID codes stored in the storage box by monitoring read playing card ID codes and case ID codes.

The present invention relates to a device for assisting in electronic gaming, the device comprising a scanning device. The scanning device comprises a scanning surface, wherein the scanning surface is arranged for throwing a die or dice thereon, the flatbed scanning device being configured for scanning instantaneously an image of the scanning surface. The device also comprises a processor configured for receiving scanning information regarding the image of the scanning surface upon which a die or dice are thrown and programmed for deriving, based on said image, data regarding the dice thrown. The scanning device comprises a detection system whereby the detection area span by the detection elements is maximally 10% smaller than the area span by the scanning surface.

There is provided a system for managing a table game in which management for which cards are certainly discarded after being used without being dispersed in a unit of packages in which they are packaged is realized in a unit for cartons for discard. The system for managing a table game according to the present invention stores information on carton IDs read by an ID card reader, and a moving apparatus (700) of the carton (600) for discard for accepting discarded cards (3) in different areas (600A) in a unit of packages is provided below an outlet (4) of a game table (2). The moving apparatus (700) is provided with an X-Y table (701) moving the carton (600) for discard in an X-Y direction (shown in FIG. 5), and the carton (600) for discard is mounted and fixed on the X-Y table (701).

A method for providing scratch-off lottery tickets for sale remote from a POS location in a retail establishment includes configuring the tickets with a game play area having play characters covered by a scratch-off coating. A print characteristic is provided in the game play area that is optically scannable but not reproducible when photocopying the game play area. In a database, identification of the printed characteristic is linked to a computer file associated with the lottery ticket at a central lottery computer. An optically scannable random identifier is also provided in the game play area and is linked to the computer file. Upon presentation of the lottery ticket for purchase, the ticket or a scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the print characteristic is present in the game play area. The scanned image of the ticket is analyzed to verify that the random identifier assigned to the lottery ticket is present in the game play area of the scanned image.

A device for forming a random set of playing cards comprises a card in-feed area, a shuffling system, a card removal area, and a card reading system located within the device, the card reading system employing a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor and a hardware component, the hardware component capable of converting signals from the CMOS sensor into vector sets and comparing the vector sets to known vectors to determine rank and suit.

A card includes a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first surface has a first surface area. The card also includes an image area on the first surface. The image area has a second surface area less than the first surface area. The cars further includes a contrast region between the image area and an edge of the substrate. The contrast region is a solid border surrounding the image area. The card additionally includes a plurality of markings extending from the contrast region into the image area. Each marking of the plurality of markings arranged in a pattern such that the markings of the plurality of markings are separated from one another by a portion of the image area.

A game tile shuffler may include a tile loader, a tile container, a belt, and a tile dispenser. The tile loader may be capable of holding a plurality of game tiles. The game tiles pass from the tile loader to the tile dispenser through the tile loader and the belt. The belt may be capable of capturing and carrying the game tiles. The tile dispenser may include a chute opening and a tunnel that may split into multiple directions. A tunnel door may direct the game tiles between the multiple directions. The tile dispenser may be capable of identifying individual game tiles prior to dispensing. The game tile shuffler may be operable between a shuffle mode, whereby game tiles are circulated through the device, and a dispensing mode, whereby game tiles pass through the tunnel.

Chip racks include a rack for holding chips and a card reader. Gaming devices may include such chip racks.

A card reading apparatus is provided for playing a casino table game identified as Down Under Blackjack. The apparatus includes a camera assembly, a computer, a housing assembly and a plurality of color indicators. The computer receives pixel-based image data from the camera assembly. This data is obtained from the dealer's down card during play of the game. The computer processes this data to output information related to a predetermined set of playing cards associated with the down card. Such output activates one of the color indicators corresponding to that particular predetermined set. The information associated with the activated indicator can be used by players in playing the Down Under Blackjack game. Use of the apparatus enables the game to be played using conventional playing cards.

An automatic playing card shuffler system including an automatic playing card shuffler and deck of modified playing cards. The modifications relate to asymmetrical information on each card face, back and/or side for identifying playing card orientation. The asymmetrical information is discernable by one or more image-capturing and/or sensors associated with the automatic playing card shuffler. Accordingly, the orientation of the playing cards may be monitored by the automatic playing card shuffler. The orientation data can be analyzed by a processor of the automatic playing card shuffler to determine unusual orientation patterns indicative of advantage play or cheats. Another version utilizes two distinct marks to identify important cards and less important cards.