Method and apparatus for card printing

Abstract

A printer system and method for printing media during a wagering game is disclosed. The system comprises a print device configured to receive blank media and print the blank media responsive to a request during the wagering game. A map corresponding to at least a suit and a value of at least one playing card of one or more decks of playing cards may be created and stored after receiving the request. Printed media configured as playing cards or coupons may be stored or distributed after printing with the print device during play of the wagering game. The playing cards may also be printed with authorization data. The system may further comprise a discard rack to receive and monitor playing cards discarded during play of the wagering game. Playing cards that are in the discard rack may be destroyed if they are authorized and retained if they are unauthorized.

1 . A printer system for printing media on a table game comprising, in combination: 
 a random number generator configured to generator random numbers;    a processor configured to map the generated random numbers to at least card value and suit to create electronic card data; and    a print device configured to receive media and, responsive to a request to print cards, print at least one card based on the electronic card data to thereby create at least one printed card.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one bin configured to store at least one printed media, received from the print device, prior to dealing.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one random number generator is located at a server.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the printer is located at the table.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one memory configured to store at least one image and alphanumeric data suitable for printing on the media by the print device.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate coupon data which is printed by the printer on a media for distribution during play of the wagering game.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate advertising data which is printed by the printer on a media for distribution during play of the wagering game.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate jackpot award data which is printed by the printer on a media for distribution during play of the wagering game to award a mystery award or progressive award to a player of the card game.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate data for printing a media, the data to be printed on the card comprising at least one of the following: encoded data configured to secure the printed media, a table identifier, a dealer identifier, a card rank and value identifier, a media source identifier, an operator identifier and a card serial number.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one discard rack configured to receive at least one printed media, the at least one discard rack in communication with a detection device to audit at least a portion of the at least one printed media.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shoe configured to receive the printed cards and make the printed cards accessible for dealing of a card game.  
     
     
         12 . A method for printing playing cards for distribution during a wagering game comprising: 
 providing at least one print device, accessible by a dealer of the wagering game, configured to receive and print on to a media;    generating random numbers;    mapping the random numbers to cards;    retrieving card data from memory based on the mapping of random numbers to playing cards, the card data utilized to print the cards;    printing on the media to create printed cards in response to the card data; and    providing the cards to at least one player during play of a wagering game.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein mapping the random numbers to cards comprises mapping one or more random numbers to a card value, rank and suit.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 printing authorization data on at least a portion of media to create authorize printed media, wherein the authorization data comprises one or more of the following data: a time and date stamp, a table identifier, a dealer identifier, a card rank and value identifier, a media source identifier, a print device identifier, an operator identifier and a card serial number or other unique identification.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 providing a discard rack associated with the printer system;    receiving printed media in the discard rack during play of the wagering game; and    monitoring the printed media to determine when printed media is unauthorized.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 generating coupon data;    printing coupon data on to a card;    distributing the card with the coupon data to a player during play of the wagering game.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 generating award data;    printing award data on to a card;    distributing the card with the award data to a player during play of the wagering game to thereby award a mystery jackpot or progressive jackpot to the player.    
     
     
         18 . A printer system for printing media on a table game comprising, in combination: 
 a random number generator configured to one or more random numbers, wherein the random number generator is located at or is part of a remote server;    a processor configured to map the generated random numbers to at least one card value and suit to create electronic card data; and    a print device, located at a wagering table, configured to receive media and, responsive to a request to print cards, print at least one card based on the electronic card data to thereby create at least one printed card for use in a wagering game.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a shoe configured house the printer and provide the at least one printed card for dealing during the wagering game.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to generate jackpot award data which is printed by the printer on a media for distribution during play of the wagering game to award a mystery award or progressive award to a player of the card game.