Hand-forming card shuffling apparatuses including multi-card storage compartments, and related methods

A card shuffler, comprising:

• a card input configured to move cards from a card-receiving area at an exterior of the card shuffler into an interior of the card shuffler;
• a card storage device positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input and temporarily store cards within the interior of the card shuffler;
• a card output positioned and configured to remove shuffled cards from the card storage device and output the shuffled cards to the exterior of the card storage device;
• and
• a control system configured to control operation of the card shuffler, the control system including:
• a touch screen control panel configured to receive input information from an operator of the card shuffler and to output information to an operator of the card shuffler;
• and
• a player display mounted to the card shuffler, the control system configured to display information to players of a playing card game in which the card shuffler is used on the player display.

A card shuffler, comprising:

• a card input receptacle;
• a card output receptacle;
• a card input positioned and configured to input cards from the card input receptacle into the card shuffler;
• a card storage positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input and temporarily store cards within the card shuffler;
• a card output positioned and configured to move shuffled cards from the card storage to the card output receptacle;
• and
• a drip pan located and configured to divert fluid introduced into at least one of the card input receptacle and the card output receptacle to an exterior of the card shuffler.

A card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, comprising:

• a card input positioned and configured to input cards into the card shuffler;
• a card storage device positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input and temporarily store cards within the card shuffler, the card storage device comprising a plurality of card storage compartments, at least a majority of the card storage compartments sized and configured to hold two or more cards therein;
• a card output positioned and configured to move shuffled cards from the card storage device and output the shuffled cards into a delivery tray;
• a control system configured to control operation of the card shuffler;
• and
• a printer operationally coupled with the control system, the control system configured under control of a program to cause the printer to print information onto a printable medium using the printer, the information usable in verifying a winning playing card hand generated by the card shuffler in a round of game play.

A card shuffler configured to generate a number of randomized playing card hands for use in a playing card game, comprising:

• a card input positioned and configured to input cards into the card shuffler;
• a card storage positioned and configured to receive cards from the card input;
• a card output positioned and configured to remove shuffled cards from the card storage and output the shuffled cards into a card delivery tray;
• and
• at least one light-generating device located within the card shuffler, the at least one light-generating device configured to generate light within the card shuffler, the light not used by any sensor of the card shuffler.