Card shooter device and method

Abstract

A card shoe apparatus including a card housing unit for housing a plurality of cards; an opening in the card housing unit for manually withdrawing the cards one by one from the card housing unit in a card reading direction; a card reading unit that reads information on the cards as the cards are manually withdrawn from the card housing unit in the card reading direction; a control unit that stores rules of a card game and determines the results of the card game based on the information read by the card reading unit and the rules of the card game; an optical device that detects movements of the cards relative to the card reading direction; and a card entry/exit restriction unit provided in the opening. The card entry/exit restriction unit restricts the entry or exit of any of the cards when the cards are improperly withdrawn from the opening.

1 . A playing card shoe comprising:
 a card housing for holding a plurality of playing cards;   a card guide unit for allowing the playing cards to be manually removed from the playing card shoe;   a card restriction means for controlling the removal of the playing cards from the card guide unit;   a controller in communication with the card restriction means,   wherein the controller detects a predetermined condition which indicates the irregularity in the arrangement order of the playing cards.   
     
     
         2 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor for detecting a mark on the playing card as the playing card is pulled from the card guide unit, the sensor being in communication with the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein when the sensor and controller detect an unauthorized playing card the controller can cause the actuation of the card restriction means. 
     
     
         4 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor detects a signature from a taggant material. 
     
     
         5 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the sensor detects codes on the playing cards. 
     
     
         6 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the codes are printed on the playing cards in ink visible in special light. 
     
     
         7 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is physically part of the playing card shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the controller is part of the playing card shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the card restriction means pressed a card to restrict the movement of the card. 
     
     
         10 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the card restriction means increases a friction encountered upon pulling the playing card from the card guide unit. 
     
     
         11 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the card restriction means includes a friction restriction member extending at least partially across the card guide unit. 
     
     
         12 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the card restriction means includes a selectively lockable restriction member extending at least partially across the card guide unit. 
     
     
         13 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the card restriction means includes a restriction member actuatable between a closed and open position. 
     
     
         14 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the card restriction means is associated with the rules of a card game. 
     
     
         15 . The playing card shoe as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the card restriction means is associated with an action by a dealer.