SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20150321077 | Methods of Administering A Wagering Game Based on Comparison of Straights - Methods of administering wagering games include comparing a longest alternating color straight of a first set of cards with a longest alternating color straight of a second set of cards. Systems, gaming tables, and electronic gaming machines may perform such wagering methods. | 11-12-2015 |
20150087377 | METHODS OF ADMINISTERING ROULETTE BONUS WAGERS AND RELATED APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS - Methods of administering games of roulette may involve accepting a wager may from a player. A multiplier may be randomly selected from a group of fixed multipliers for a payout on the wager. A number and associated color may be randomly generated from within a range of numbers and associated colors. The wager may be resolved by determining whether the randomly generated number is identical to a randomly generated number from an immediately preceding round. A payout may be paid to the player when the randomly generated number is identical to the randomly generated number from the immediately preceding round, an amount of the payout being equal to an amount of the wager multiplied by the randomly selected multiplier. The amount of the wager may be collected for the house when the randomly generated number is different from the randomly generated number from the immediately preceding round. | 03-26-2015 |
20150080117 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF LINKING GAMING STATIONS ADMINISTERING DIFFERENT WAGERING GAMES TO THE SAME PROGRESSIVE JACKPOT - Systems and methods of operating a major progressive jackpot linked to wagering games having different jackpot triggers with different probabilities. The major jackpot winning probabilities may be normalized such that players may have the substantially the same odds to win the major progressive jackpot regardless on the wagering game being played. During game play, the gaming stations may be randomly selected to participate for a chance to win the major progressive jackpot according to an eligibility probability, which may be inversely proportional to the probability of a jackpot trigger for the wagering game administered by the gaming station. Players may be informed of whether the current round of game play is eligible for the major progressive jackpot after wagers are placed and before the current round of game play. | 03-19-2015 |
20140295948 | WAGER RECOGNITION SYSTEM HAVING AMBIENT LIGHT SENSOR AND RELATED METHOD - A gaming table apparatus has a gaming table with a gaming table support surface. A token sensor assembly includes a container having a height and side walls which define an inside and outside perimeter of the container, and a top surface and bottom surface, a translucent cover disposed on the top surface of the side walls, a circuit board secured to the inside perimeter of the container, a plurality of lights disposed on a top side of the circuit board, and a passive ambient light sensor disposed on the top side of the circuit board. The passive ambient light sensor and the translucent cover may operate within predetermined wavelength ranges for receiving and passing light, respectively. A condition of the passive ambient light sensor may not be polled if the plurality of lights are emitting light. | 10-02-2014 |
20140274351 | Method and Apparatus for Variable Contribution Progressive Jackpots - Methods and apparatuses for variable contribution multiple progressive jackpot games are disclosed. A variable contribution rate is determined as a function of a wager level. A contribution amount is determined by multiplying each wager by its corresponding contribution rate. The contribution amount is then added to at least two jackpot meters. | 09-18-2014 |
20140246831 | Methods for handling playing cards with a card handling device - The present invention features a playing card shuffling device, which through the use of a small image capturing means, captures an image of a face value of each card and stores the image in memory. This image is sorted in the format of a bitmap image. An operator of the device would be able to recall, through the use of a keypad, the images of the cards that comprised individual hands in the previous game. This feature allows for verification of a winning hand after a game has been completed. Thereby, a quick recheck of hands before playing a winning hand is performed. The face value of each card is determined by character recognition software. These card values would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring the randomness of the game and determining the number of winnings hands. | 09-04-2014 |
20140246830 | Playing Card Shuffler - An apparatus is for shuffling a plurality of playing cards used in gaming The apparatus includes a card support adapted to support the unshuffled cards on-edge. An exciter is also included, and is adapted to impart vibrational action to the supported cards. Cards drop in a random fashion such as by controlling the relative position of the cards and passage through one or more card slots in a card rest. In at least some of the apparatuses, a medial card receiver is adapted to receive at least one card dropped from the card support and to retain the at least one received card to substantially block the card slot to prevent further cards from dropping. A positioner is preferably included to change a relative position of the unshuffled deck and card slots though which the cards drop. | 09-04-2014 |
20140203505 | Card Shuffler with Adjacent Card Infeed and Card Output Compartments - 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. | 07-24-2014 |
20140200071 | BET SENSORS, GAMING TABLES WITH ONE OR MORE BET SENSORS, AND RELATED METHODS - A bet sensor for determining the value of a wager includes a transparent cover having a bet placement surface configured and oriented to support a stack of gaming tokens thereon. A mirror arrangement is disposed on an opposing side of the transparent cover from the bet placement surface. The bet sensor also includes an image sensor. The mirror arrangement is located and configured to direct an image of a lateral side surface of a stack of gaming tokens supported on the bet placement surface onto the image sensor. A gaming table may incorporate such a bet sensor. Methods of forming such bet sensors include disposing a mirror arrangement on an opposing side of a transparent cover from a bet placement surface, and locating an image sensor such that the mirror arrangement directs an image of a lateral side surface of a stack of gaming tokens onto the image sensor. | 07-17-2014 |
20140183818 | Methods and Apparatuses for an Automatic Card Handling Device and Communication Networks Including Same - An automatic card handling device, automatic card handling devices within a network, and methods of use are disclosed. An automatic card handling device includes a shuffling apparatus with a controller and configured to deliver a set of shuffled cards, and a communication module operably coupled to the controller. The communication module is configured for establishing an electronic communication with a local or world-wide network and thereafter sending and receiving information related to the operation of the automatic card handling device across the network. A network of automatic card handling devices may include a plurality of automatic card shufflers. The network may also include at least one server operably coupled to the plurality of automatic card shufflers. In addition, the server may be operably coupled to a service center through a world-wide network. | 07-03-2014 |
20140175742 | Card Weight for Gravity Feed Input for Playing Card Shuffler - A card-feeding device for feeding cards into a card-handling device is disclosed. Examples of card-handling devices include shufflers, card sorters, card delivery devices and card verification devices. The device includes a card infeed area that supports a stack of cards. The card infeed area has a card support surface. Included in the device is a card-removing system that removes cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm presses against a card at the top of the stack. At least one sensor is provided that detects at least one of a position of the arm and a presence of a card in the card infeed area. A method of shuffling cards is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing cards to be shuffled into a card infeed area as a stack with a top and bottom and removing cards one at a time from the bottom of the stack and moving the removed cards to a shuffling zone. Cards are then shuffled. The stack of cards is stabilized by a pivoting arm capable of pressing against the top of the stack in an engaged position. The pivot arm may be automatically rotated from a first card-engaging position to a second recessed position. | 06-26-2014 |
20140138908 | Ergonomic Card Delivery Shoe - An apparatus for handling cards has a dispensing end. The dispensing end has a base plate for supporting cards being manually removed. An upper plate with a U-shaped opening is spaced above the base plate and defines a slot for cards to pass. First and second spaced apart card guides define side edges of the slot. The first card guide is shorter than the second card guide, creating an offset in a first direction of travel of cards being removed. A method of removing cards is also disclosed, enabling movement of cards in at least two directions due to the presence of a card guide offset. | 05-22-2014 |
20140138907 | Automatic System and Methods for Accurate Card Handling - A playing card handling device comprises a card storing area that supports a stack of playing cards, the card storing area having a playing card support surface. A card removing system removes playing cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm is automatically moved by a motor between at least two positions, wherein in a first position the end of the arm opposite a pivot is disengaged from a playing card at the top of the stack and in a second position the end of the arm is engaged with a playing card at the top of the stack. A processor in the playing card handling device directs movement of the pivoting arm between at least the first and second positions when a predetermined number of cards is present in the card storing area. Methods of card handling include employing the use of such a pivotal arm. | 05-22-2014 |
20140125010 | Shuffling Devices Including One or More Sensors for Detecting Operational Parameters and Related Methods - An automatic card shuffling device for randomizing playing cards is disclosed. The device comprises a processor in informational connection with the shuffling device, and a detection system capable of detecting or predicting a deficiency in operation of at least one component of the shuffling device. The detection system is configured to transmit an indication of a deficiency to a distal location. | 05-08-2014 |
20140103608 | Flush Mounted Card Shuffler with Shuffling Mechanism Below a Gaming Table Surface - A device for forming a random set of playing cards is disclosed. The device comprises: a top surface and a bottom surface of the device. A single card receiving area is provided for receiving an initial set of playing cards. A randomizing system for randomizing an order of the initial set of playing cards is provided. A card collection surface in a card collection area for receiving randomized playing cards one at a time into the card collection area, the collection surface receiving cards so that all cards are received below the top surface of the device is also provided. An image capture device reads rank and suit of each card before each card is received on the card collection surface. An elevator raises the card collection surface so that at least some randomized cards are elevated at least to the top surface of the device. A processor controls operation of the device. A motor drives the elevator, wherein an encoder is provided for communication with the motor, and wherein the encoder provides a signal indicating that a shuffle has occurred. Embodiments include a processor that creates commands and then receives system signals verifying that the commands were properly executed. | 04-17-2014 |
20140094244 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR DISPLAYING HISTORICAL ROULETTE INFORMATION - Methods and apparatuses for displaying information relating to a roulette game. A roulette game display comprises at least one of a hot bet field, a number frequency field, and an even-money bet road chart. The hot bet field displays a message including information relating to a highest ranking event stored in an event history. The number frequency field includes an arrangement of indicator spaces configured for marking to show recent results of a plurality of roulette wheel spins. The even-money bet road chart includes a grid for displaying a plurality of recently winning even-money bets. | 04-03-2014 |
20140091521 | CARD RECOGNITION SYSTEM, CARD HANDLING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR TUNING A CARD HANDLING DEVICE - A card recognition system comprises an imaging device configured to capture a raw image of at least a portion of a card, and a processor operably coupled with the imaging device. The processor is configured to perform an image processing analysis of the raw image to identify measurements of at least one of a rank area around a rank of the card, and a suit area around a suit of the card, and automatically generate a calibration file based, at least in part, on the image processing analysis. A card handling device comprises a card infeed, a card output, and a card recognition system. A method for tuning a card handling device comprises capturing a plurality of images from a deck of cards, storing the images in memory, analyzing the plurality of images for card identification information, and generating a calibration file including parameters associated with the card identification information. | 04-03-2014 |
20140087800 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSISTING PLAYERS IN ARRANGING HANDS FOR TABLE GAMES - A system and method for enabling play of a casino table card game. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. An automatic card shuffler is configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. A processor receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed. At least one display is in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards a house way. Processors of the present invention may also cause a display of a house commission amount. | 03-27-2014 |
20140087799 | Methods of Playing Wagering Games - A card game is played against a pay table, wherein a player receives a partial hand that is preferably completed by community cards, but may be completed by cards dealt directly to a hand or a combination of cards dealt directly to a hand and at least one community card or wild card. After placement of an ante wager, each player will have an opportunity to place a game wager before receiving another card for the player's hand (whether dealt directly to the player or as a community card revealed to all players). At least some or all game wagers may be an amount within a range of multiples of the player's ante wager, such as one times, two times, three times, four times, or five times the amount of the ante wager. The range of wagers may remain the same or vary with the number of dealt cards or community card revealed to the players. | 03-27-2014 |
20140084543 | METHODS AND GAMING TABLES FOR WAGERING GAMES THAT PERMIT REWAGERING - Methods of administering wagering games comprise accepting a first wager to participate in a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules. A second wager to participate in a second, different wagering game according to a second, different set of game rules is accepted. The second wager is resolved according to the second set of game rules. An instruction is accepted from each player who won the second wager to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager. The first wager is resolved according to the first set of game rules. Games of the present disclosure may be implemented as live card games, EGM games, multi-player EGM games, on-line games, scratch ticket games and live card games with electronic betting interfaces. | 03-27-2014 |
20140084538 | Card Shuffling Apparatus and Card Handling Device - 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. | 03-27-2014 |
20140077457 | METHODS FOR ADMINISTERING A WAGERING GAME - A variant game of Hold 'Em poker allows for rules of play of one or all of players being allowed to remain in game with an option of checking or making specific wagering amounts in first play wagers, being limited in the size of subsequent available play wagers or prohibited from making additional play wagers if a first play wager has been made, being limited in the size of available later play wagers if a first or earlier play wager has been made, and having the opportunity for at least two and as many as three or four distinct opportunities in the stages in the play of a hand to be able to make one or more play wagers. | 03-20-2014 |
20140049005 | METHODS OF RANDOMIZING CARDS - 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. Apparatuses for feeding cards may comprise a surface for supporting a stack of cards, a feed roller with a frictional outer surface, a drive mechanism for causing rotation of the feed roller, a pair of speed-up rollers to advance the cards out of the feed roller, and a clutch mechanism for disengaging the feed roller from the drive mechanism as the card comes into contact with the speed-up rollers. | 02-20-2014 |
20130324203 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GAMES THAT PERMIT REWAGERING - Methods of administering wagering games comprise accepting a first wager to participate in a first wagering game according to a first set of game rules. A second wager to participate in a second, different wagering game according to a second, different set of game rules is accepted and resolved according to the second set of game rules. An instruction is accepted from each player in whose favor the second wager is resolved to award at least a portion of winnings from the second wager directly to the player or to add at least a portion of winnings from the second wager to the first wager. The first wager is resolved according to the first set of game rules. Games of the present invention may be implemented as live card games, EGM games, multi-player EGM games, on-line games, scratch ticket games and on live card games with electronic betting interfaces. | 12-05-2013 |
20130316775 | Methods of Administering Wagering Games and Systems for Administering Wagering Games - Poker card game deals four cards to a player, four cards to a dealer, and three community cards. Player discards one card and bets 1×-4× ante wager. After a first community card is exposed, player bets 1×-3× ante wager. After a second community card is exposed, player bets 1×-2× ante wager. A final community card is exposed. Dealer reveals dealer's best five-card poker hand formed from any of dealer's four cards and three community cards, and player reveals player's best five-card poker hand formed from any of player's three cards and three community cards. Highest ranking hand wins. Pays ante wagers according to a paytable. Pays even money on play wagers. Allows side wager that pays according to a paytable. Played with one deck of cards. Includes card game method, device-readable storage medium containing device-executable code, and device-executable code stored on a device-readable storage medium. | 11-28-2013 |
20130296025 | Distributing Supplemental Pot in Wagering Games Based on Predetermined Event - Methods and systems for administering wagering games are disclosed. A sample method comprises accepting a first wager from a player, the first wager being added to a first pot; accepting a second wager from the player, the second wager being added to a second pot; dealing cards to each player; resolving the first wager according to a set of game rules, wherein a winning player wins at least a portion of the first pot at the conclusion of each round of play; in response to an occurrence of a predetermined event, awarding a payout from the second pot to one or more players contributed to the second pot. | 11-07-2013 |
20130296024 | Administering Wagering Games Having Supplemental Pot - Methods and systems for administering wagering games are disclosed. A sample method comprises accepting a first mandatory wager from a player, the first wager is added to a first pot. A second wager, which may be mandatory or optional, is accepted from the player, the second wager is added to a second pot. A rake is taken from at least one wager. Cards are dealt to each player. The first wager is resolved according to a set of game rules, wherein a player wins at least a portion of the first pot at the conclusion of each round of play. The second wager is resolved by awarding a portion of the second pot or the entire second pot to at least one player who holds a predetermined winning hand combination or a premium winning hand composition. | 11-07-2013 |
20130274003 | Interactive Financial Transactions - An interactive financial transactions systems and methods are disclosed for providing gaming activity using funds located at a financial institution. Prior to initiating gaming activity, the player indicates the amount of funds the player would like to wager in a session. The financial institution is contacted to block the player funds from being used for another purpose while the player is placing wagers on the interactive gaming system. As the player completes wagers, the results of wagering activities may be passed to the financial institution. When the player completes the gaming session, the financial institution is instructed to release the blocked funds. In one embodiment, the interactive gaming system contacts an intermediary business which performs the account blocking and financial transactions with the financial institution. | 10-17-2013 |
20130228972 | Method and Apparatus for Card Handling Device Calibration - A device for automatically calibrating for card size and thickness during card handling is disclosed. The device includes a card receiving area, a card stacking area and a card moving system for moving cards from the card receiving area to the card stacking area. An elevator located in the card stacking area has a movable platform for moving a stack of cards. At least one sensor senses at least one of position of the platform, height of the platform, position of a card in the elevator, height of a card or cards in the elevator, pressure applied to a card in the elevator, presence of the platform at a predetermined height, presence of the platform at a predetermined position, presence of card(s) on the platform, and absence of card(s) on the platform. A method for calibrating a card handling device during shuffling is also disclosed. | 09-05-2013 |
20130193642 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDLING, SHUFFLING, AND MOVING CARDS - Card-handling devices include a card-holding area and a card output shoe. The card output shoe includes a card-way for passage of cards from the card-holding area into a dealing-ready area. A movable gate is positioned between the card-way and the dealing-ready area to prevent cards in the dealing-ready area from re-entering the card-way. Card shufflers include a gate mounted to allow movement of randomized groups of cards from card-receiving compartments to proximate a terminal end plate of a card output shoe and to block movement of cards in an opposite direction. In related methods of moving cards, card movement through the card-way to the dealing-ready position is allowed by a movable gate and card movement from the dealing-ready position into the card-way is prevented by the movable gate. | 08-01-2013 |
20130173048 | CARD HANDLING DEVICES AND METHODS OF USING SUCH DEVICES - A card-handling device reads a suit and value of individual cards that are moved through the card-handling device. Reading of the cards is effected after the cards have been received into a card holding area and before the cards have been delivered into a card collection area from which cards are removed from the card-handling device for use. The read suit and rank are then sent to a processor, wherein the processor identifies whether any card is a card that should be rejected from the card-handling device and the card-handling device then rejecting that card from the card-handling device. | 07-04-2013 |
20130161905 | MULTIPLE MODE CARD SHUFFLER AND CARD READING DEVICE - 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. | 06-27-2013 |
20130157752 | Methods of Playing Wagering Games and Related Apparatuses - Methods of administering wagering games may comprise receiving a first wager from each player. Cards comprising a partial hand, which may be three player cards available to respective players individually, may be dealt to each player. An election to fold or a second wager, which may be between one and four times an amount of the ante wager, at the player's option, to continue participation in the wagering game may be received from each player. Additional cards, which may be two community cards available to all players, may be dealt to complete the hand, which may be a five-card poker hand, of each player. The first and second wagers may be resolved and a payout may be paid on each of the first and second wagers to each player holding a complete hand of a predetermined rank, which may be a pair of jacks, or higher. | 06-20-2013 |
20130134674 | CARD WEIGHT FOR GRAVITY FEED INPUT FOR PLAYING CARD SHUFFLER - A card-feeding device for feeding cards into a card-handling device is disclosed. Examples of card-handling devices include shufflers, card sorters, card delivery devices and card verification devices. The device includes a card infeed area that supports a stack of cards. The card infeed area has a card support surface. Included in the device is a card-removing system that removes cards individually from the bottom of the stack. A pivoting arm presses against a card at the top of the stack. At least one sensor is provided that detects at least one of a position of the arm and a presence of a card in the card infeed area. A method of shuffling cards is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing cards to be shuffled into a card infeed area as a stack with a top and bottom and removing cards one at a time from the bottom of the stack and moving the removed cards to a shuffling zone. Cards are then shuffled. The stack of cards is stabilized by a pivoting arm capable of pressing against the top of the stack in an engaged position. The pivot arm may be automatically rotated from a first card-engaging position to a second recessed position. | 05-30-2013 |
20130109455 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING UPSTREAM COMMUNICATION IN A CARD SHUFFLER | 05-02-2013 |
20130099448 | AUTOMATIC CARD SHUFFLER WITH PIVOTAL CARD WEIGHT AND DIVIDER GATE - 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. | 04-25-2013 |
20130087972 | PLAYING CARD DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GAMES WITH MULTIPLE DEALING ROUNDS - Playing card delivery systems include a shuffling apparatus and a processor programmed to direct the shuffling apparatus to deliver a first randomized set of a first number of playing cards, the first randomized set comprising a partial hand, and to deliver a second randomized set of a second number of playing cards to augment the partial hand. The first number of cards may be equal to or not equal to the second number of playing cards. Methods or providing cards to a player from a card delivery system include moving a first randomized set of cards from a shuffling apparatus to a card output area to provide a partial hand for a player and moving a second randomized set of playing cards from the shuffling apparatus to the card output area to augment the partial hand for the player. | 04-11-2013 |