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

A playing card handling device comprises an elevator platform configured to receive one or more cards from an input platform to form a shuffled set of cards, a card gripper positioned above the elevator platform, and configured to grip cards from the shuffled set of cards, and a processor configured to control the elevator platform to have a grip position for the card gripper to grip the shuffled set of cards, wherein the grip position is adjusted based, at least in part, on a correction value associated with a particular card insertion. A related method includes determining a grip position of an elevator platform of a card handling device based, at least in part, on a desired insertion location within a stack of shuffled cards as adjusted based on a corrective value that is different for a plurality of different insertion locations.

A card feed system for feeding cards into a card handling system. The card feed system includes a card input compartment with a playing card support surface, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls. The playing card support surface slopes toward the front wall at an angle between 12 degrees and 22 degrees. A slot is provided in the front wall to allow single cards to pass into the card handling system. The card feed system also includes a card moving system to advance cards through the slot.

Card shuffler apparatuses include a card repositioner used to randomly reposition a plurality of cards on-edge over an aperture extending through a card support surface to allow cards to sequentially pass through the aperture in a random order. The apparatuses may be capable of continuously and sequentially forming playing card hands for use in a game. Shuffler apparatuses may be used to obtain a measurement relating to a thickness of the deck of cards. Methods involve the use of card shuffler apparatuses to form one or more playing card hands in a playing card game. Additional methods involve counting playing cards present within a stack of playing cards using a shuffler apparatus. In further methods, a number of shuffler apparatuses and a lesser number of shuffler activation devices are provided in a gaming establishment so as to preclude simultaneous use of all the shuffler apparatuses in the establishment.

An automatic card shuffler to shuffle eight decks of cards (or less) and deal a round of Baccarat. The automatic shuffler comprises two pre-shuffle bins, each receiving approximately four decks of cards wherein the pre-shuffle bins are spaced apart from one another with card slides directing to a card-receiving area. Cards are randomly selected from the cards in each of the pre-shuffle bins and propelled onto the card slides directing the cards to the card-receiving area. Once a sufficient number of buffer cards (e.g., seven) have been deposited into the card-receiving area, a card flipper moves the seven cards against a face plate of an integral dealing shoe. A buffer-holder member maintains the buffer cards against the face plate for dealing as the card flipper returns to a home position to receive more shuffled cards while buffer cards are being dealt in a round of Baccarat.

A chip sanitizing device comprises an area that is substantially enclosed and includes a sanitizing unit comprising a germicidal bulb and a power source. One or more chips is placed within the device and after the germicidal bulb is activated the one or more chips is sanitized. In another embodiment of the invention a chip rack is modified to include a sanitizing unit comprising a germicidal bulb, a power source and a fan stored in a housing attached to the chip rack. The slots are modified to contain openings to allow ultraviolet light to reach the chips sitting atop the rack. The ultraviolet light may sterilize microorganisms such as germs and bacterium found on chips. A fan is used to provide circulation and may increase the likelihood of germs and bacteria coming into contact with the ultraviolet light. In a further embodiment of the invention a lid is provided that substantially covers the chip rack and stores the sanitizing unit. In a further embodiment, the inner surfaces of a lid or housing may be covered with reflective material to increase the likelihood that the ultraviolet light comes into contact with germs or bacteria.

An automatic card shuffler to shuffle eight decks of cards (or less) and deal a round of Baccarat. The automatic shuffler comprises two pre-shuffle bins, each receiving approximately four decks of cards wherein the pre-shuffle bins are spaced apart from one another with card slides directing to a card-receiving area. Cards are randomly selected from the cards in each of the pre-shuffle bins and propelled onto the card slides directing the cards to the card-receiving area. Once a sufficient number of buffer cards (e.g., seven) have been deposited into the card-receiving area, a card flipper moves the seven cards against a face plate of an integral dealing shoe. A buffer-holder member maintains the buffer cards against the face plate for dealing as the card flipper returns to a home position to receive more shuffled cards while buffer cards are being dealt in a round of Baccarat.

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.

A chip sanitizing device comprises an area that is substantially enclosed and includes a sanitizing unit comprising a germicidal bulb and a power source. One or more chips is placed within the device and after the germicidal bulb is activated the one or more chips is sanitized. In another embodiment of the invention a chip rack is modified to include a sanitizing unit comprising a germicidal bulb, a power source and a fan stored in a housing attached to the chip rack. The slots are modified to contain openings to allow ultraviolet light to reach the chips sitting atop the rack. The ultraviolet light may sterilize microorganisms such as germs and bacterium found on chips. A fan is used to provide circulation and may increase the likelihood of germs and bacteria coming into contact with the ultraviolet light. In a further embodiment of the invention a lid is provided that substantially covers the chip rack and stores the sanitizing unit. In a further embodiment, the inner surfaces of a lid or housing may be covered with reflective material to increase the likelihood that the ultraviolet light comes into contact with germs or bacteria.