# US 2021/0275900 A1 · Multi-deck automatic smart card shuffler and security system configured to shuffle and deliver hands for a casino table game such as baccarat

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- Number: US 2021/0275900 A1
- Document ID: US20210275900A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/303,221
- Filed: 2021-05-24
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2018-10-16
- Assignees: Shark Trap Gaming & Security Systems, LLC
- Applicants: Shark Trap Gaming & Security Systems, LLC
- Inventors: Michael Earnest Riordan; Louis Wilson DeGregorio; Steven Louis Forte; Dino Louis DeGregorio
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275900A1

## CPC

- A63F 1/12: Card shufflers
- A63F 1/14: Card dealers
- A63F 2001/001: {Bridge or baccarat}
- A63F 2009/2435: {using a video camera}
- A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A card shuffler and dealing module shuffles eight decks of cards (or less) and delivers Baccarat hands (or other games) to a dealer. Cards are randomly selected from two pre-shuffle bins and delivered to a connected or integral dealing module. The card shuffler initially selects and delivers four cards (the minimum number needed for a hand of Baccarat) to a dealing area of the dealing module. Two additional cards (the maximum number of additional cards needed for a hand of Baccarat) are then selected and delivered to the dealing module rear of the four initial cards. Accordingly, up to six cards are available to be dealt during the Baccarat hand. The smart card shuffler tracks the rank of the cards and discerns the future outcome of the Baccarat game and adjusts the cards made available to the dealer via an automatic dealing module cover and card transport mechanism.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of conducting a Baccarat game comprising:
utilizing a random selection shuffler to select and move six individual cards from one or more stacks of cards to a first dealing area;
identifying a rank of each card moved to said first dealing area;
via a processor, determining a number of cards necessary to complete said Baccarat hand based on identifying a rank and order of said six cards selected and moved from said one or more stacks of cards to said dealing area;
transporting a first four cards of said six individual cards to a second dealing area accessible by a human dealer;
moving zero, one or two of said two remaining two individual cards to said dealing area based on said determination of said number of cards necessary to complete said Baccarat hand.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of conducting a Baccarat game of claim 1 further comprising moving any unused of said two remaining individual cards to said dealing area for inclusion in a next hand of Baccarat.

### Claim 3

A card dealing module for dealing a Baccarat hand comprising:
a processor;
a dealing area configured to receive six cards from a plurality of cards out of a card shuffler mechanism;
a retractable cover positioned about said dealing area adjacent to said card shuffler mechanism, said retractable cover configured to open and close based on one or more sensors determining that a pre-established number of cards are within said dealing area; and
wherein said processor is configured to: (i) calculate, based on the rank and order of said six cards, a total number of cards needed to play said Baccarat hand wherein said total number of cards is either four, five or six cards; (ii) cause a first four cards to be positioned for removal from said dealing area by a human dealer; (iii) cause zero, one or two of said remaining cards to said positioned for removal from said dealing area by a human dealer and (iv) responsive to zero cards or one card being moved in step (iii), cause movement of said two or one remaining cards as part of the six cards for inclusion in a next hand of Baccarat.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The dealing module of claim 3 further comprising holding tabs to maintain said cards in said dealing area while said retractable cover opens.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The dealing module of claim 3 further comprising a compartment to receive said retractable cover when it opens to expose cards in said dealing area.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The dealing module of claim 3 wherein said retractable cover comprises a top, two sides and rotatable door.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The dealing module of claim 3 wherein said rotatable door and two sides are about 3/16″ in height to accommodate up to ten stacked cards.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The dealing module of claim 3 wherein said dealing area is dimensioned to accommodate at least three cards or card stacks positioned side-by-side.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The dealing module of claim 3 wherein said retractable cover is optically black.

### Claim 10 (depends on 3)

The dealing module of claim 3 wherein said retractable door closes prior to step (iii).

### Claim 11

An automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands comprising:
a processor;
a dealing area configured to receive six cards from a plurality of cards being shuffled by said automatic card shuffler;
one or more imaging devices, said imaging devices configured and positioned to capture at least a rank and order of each card being moved to said area; and
wherein said processor is configured to: (i) calculate, based on the rank and order of said six cards, a total number of cards needed to play said Baccarat hand wherein said total number of cards is either four, five or six cards; (ii) cause a first four cards to be positioned for removal from said dealing area by a human dealer; (iii) cause zero, one or two of said remaining cards to said positioned for removal from said dealing area by a human dealer and (iv) responsive to zero cards or one card being moved in step (iii), cause movement of said two or one remaining cards as part of the six cards for inclusion in a next hand of Baccarat.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands of claim 11 further comprising a retractable cover positioned about said dealing area, said retractable cover configured to open and close based on said one or more sensors determining that a pre-established number of cards are within said dealing area.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands of claim 12 further comprising holding tabs to maintain said cards in said dealing area while said retractable cover opens.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands of claim 12 further comprising a compartment to receive said retractable cover when it opens to expose cards in said dealing area.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands of claim 12 wherein said retractable cover comprises a top, two sides and rotatable door.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands of claim 15 wherein said rotatable door and two sides are about 3/16″ in height to accommodate up to ten stacked cards.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands of claim 11 wherein said dealing area is collectively dimensioned to accommodate at least three cards or card stacks positioned side-by-side.

### Claim 18 (depends on 12)

The automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands of claim 12 wherein said retractable cover is optically black.

### Claim 19 (depends on 12)

The automatic card shuffler configured to deal Baccarat hands of claim 12 wherein said retractable door closes prior to step (iii).