Technical Field

The present invention relates to a card selection apparatus and in particular to a card selection apparatus for selecting a random card for use in playing a card game.

Background

In many card games it is required to randomly select a card, or a series of cards.

Traditionally, a card is randomly selected by shuffling, and optionally cutting, one or more decks of cards, and then taking the top card. Similarly, a series of cards is randomly selected by shuffling, and optionally cutting, one or more decks of cards, and then repeatedly taking the top card.

The likelihood of different outcomes occurring when playing a card game can be determined and calculated using statistical methods, and odds assigned to the different outcomes based on the calculated likelihoods. However, in order for these calculations to be predictive and useful, and for the odds to be correctly assigned, it is generally necessary that the card or series of cards are randomly selected.

Accordingly, it is desirable to increase the degree of randomness with which a card is selected. Further, in order for players of a card game to be able to see that a game is fair, it is desirable that it is clearly evident to observers that a card or series of cards are randomly selected.

Summary of the Invention

In a first aspect, the invention provides a card selection apparatus comprising:

a plurality of card receiving positions each arranged to receive a respective card; a first receiving means arranged to receive a first signal indicating that cards are located at the plurality of card receiving positions;

selection means arranged to randomly select a card receiving position in response to receiving said first signal; and

visual indication means;

wherein the visual indication means is arranged to automatically indicate the card receiving position selected by the selection means.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a card selection system comprising a card selection apparatus according to the first aspect, and further comprising a card shuffler device arranged to shuffle the cards before they are received at the card receiving positions. The card shuffler device may be of conventional type having an input portion for receiving a stack of cards to be shuffled and card transfer mechanism which receives cards from the input stack and delivers them in random or pseudo random order to an output portion from which a croupier may take them. The card selection system and the card shuffler may be incorporated into a cardplaying apparatus which comprises a table having a playing surface upon which cards in play may be placed and which may or may not have markings relevant to the game to be played.

Accordingly, in a third aspect, the invention provides a cardplaying apparatus comprising a table having a playing surface, a card shuffler supported by or adjacent the table and operable to deliver cards from an input stack to an output position in random or pseudo random order, a plurality of card receiving positions on the table adapted to receive a card, and randomising means for randomly or pseudo randomly selecting one of said card receiving positions. Thus, in a card game played using said apparatus, a number of cards, corresponding to the number of card receiving positions, maybe taken from the output position of the shuffler and each placed in a respective one of said card receiving positions. Thereafter, the randomising means may be activated to select one of six positions and thereby determine the next card to be selected in the game. Thus, in this aspect of the invention, the next card in a card game is subjected is subjected to 2 randomising steps, the first being performed by the card shuffler and the second by the randomising means which selects one of the card receiving positions. In this way, the randomness of the selection of the next card is substantially increased.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of card selection with a card selection apparatus comprising:

receiving a first signal indicating that cards are located at a plurality of card receiving positions;

randomly selecting a card receiving position in response to receiving said first signal; and

automatically indicating the selected card receiving position using a visual indication means.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a method of card selection using a card selection apparatus, the card selection apparatus comprising:

a plurality of card receiving positions each arranged to receive a respective card;

a first receiving means arranged to receive a first signal indicating that cards are located at the plurality of card receiving positions;

selection means arranged to randomly select a card receiving position in response to receiving said first signal; and

visual indication means arranged to automatically indicate the card receiving position selected by the selection means;

the method comprising:

placing a card at each of the plurality of card receiving positions so that the identify of each of the placed cards is concealed;

providing the first signal indicating that cards are located at the plurality of card receiving positions; and revealing the identify of the card at the card receiving position indicated by the visual indication means.

In another aspect, the invention provides a card selection apparatus and method in which a plurality of cards are dealt face down, or otherwise concealed, onto respective card receiving positions. One of the card receiving positions is then randomly or pseudo randomly selected. The card at the selected card receiving position is then revealed and used, for example to play a game.

Brief description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will are described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the general arrangement of a card selection apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of a control unit of the card selection apparatus of figure 1 ;

Figure 3 a shows a plan view of card stations of the card selection apparatus of figure 1 in a first state in use;

Figure 3b shows a plan view of card stations of the card selection apparatus of figure 1 in a second state in use;

Figure 3 c shows a plan view of card stations of the card selection apparatus of figure 1 in a third state in use;

Figure 3d shows a plan view of card stations of the card selection apparatus of figure 1 in a fourth state in use; and

Figure 4 shows a flow chart of operation of the card selection apparatus of figure 1. Detailed Description

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for randomly selecting a card. The randomly selected card may then be used in a card based game of chance in any usual manner.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of the general arrangement of a card selection apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The card selection apparatus 1 comprises six card stations 2a to 2f. Each card station 2a to 2f comprises a respective card receiving position 3 a to 3 f sized and shaped to receive a playing card, and a light 4a to 4f associated with the respective card receiving position 3 a to 3 f.

Each card station 2a to 2f has its respective light 4a to 4f located adjacent to its respective card receiving position 3 a to 3 f so that when its respective light 4a to 4f is illuminated this provides an unambiguous visual indication of its respective card receiving position 3 a to 3 f.

In the illustrated embodiment each of the lights 4a to 4f is a light emitting diode (LED). In other examples other forms of light source may be used.

The card selection apparatus 1 also comprises a control unit 10 connected to the card stations 2a to 2f. The control unit 10 controls the illumination of the lights 4a to 4f.

The card selection apparatus 1 further comprises a first user input means comprising a first push button 5 and a second user input means comprising a second push button 6 to allow a user to control operation of the card selection apparatus 1. The first and second push buttons 5 and 6 are connected to the control unit 10. In the illustrated embodiment a card selection system 16 is provided comprising the card selection apparatus 1 in combination with a mechanical card shuffler 17. The mechanical card shuffler 17 may also be referred to as a card shuffling and dealing apparatus. The card selection system and the card shuffler are incorporated into a cardplaying apparatus that comprises a table (not shown) having a card playing surface (not shown).

Card shufflers are well known, and need not be described in detail herein.

In the illustrated embodiment each of the first and second user input means is a push button. In other examples other forms of user input means may be used.

Figure 2 shows a schematic view of the control unit 10. The control unit 10 comprises an input module 7, an output module 8, a random number generator module 9, a clock module 11, and a central processing module 12.

The input module 7 is arranged to receive control signals from the first and second push buttons 5 and 6 along respective control signal lines 5a and 6a, and to provide the received control signals to the central processing module 12.

The output module 8 is arranged to receive a card receiving station selection signal from the central processing module 12, and to provide a driving signal to the light 4a to 4f of the selected card station 2a to 2f along a respective drive signal line 13a to 13f.

The random number generator module 9 is arranged to receive a request for a random number from the central processing module 12, and to respond to this request by providing a random number to the central processing module 12.

The clock module 11 provides a clock signal to the central processing module 12. Figures 3a to 3d show plan views of the card stations 2a to 2f of the card selection apparatus 1 at different stages of a card selection operation using the card selection apparatus 1.

As can be seen in figures 3a to 3d, the six card stations 2a to 2f are provided by a single common card display body 14.

Figure 3 a shows the card display body 14 in a starting state before commencing the card selection operation. In the starting state shown in figure 3 a there are no cards present on the card display body 14 and the lights 4a to 4f are not illuminated.

Each of the card stations 2a to 2f comprises a respective card receiving position 3a to 3f located on an upper surface 14a of the card display body 14. Each of the six card receiving positions 3 a to 3f comprises a respective rectangular area having two long edges and two short edges, and being sized and shaped to receive a playing card. The rectangular areas of the different card receiving positions 3 a to 3 fare all the same size and shape, and are arranged spaced apart side by side in a line, with the long sides of adjacent rectangular areas in parallel.

Preferably, the rectangular areas of the card receiving positions 3 a to 3f are marked in a plain colour contrasting with the remainder of the upper surface 14a of the display body 14. In the illustrated example the rectangular areas are white and the remainder of the upper surface 14a is black. In other examples different colours may be used.

Each of the card stations 2a to 2f also comprises a respective light 4a to 4f associated with the respective card receiving position 3a to 3f. Each of the lights 4a to 4f is located adjacent a short edge of the rectangular area of the associated card receiving position 3 a to 3 f, with all of the lights 4a to 4f being located on the same side of the line of rectangular areas. Each of the lights 4a to 4f extends in a direction parallel to the short edges of the rectangular areas for a distance approximately equal to the length of the short edges of the rectangular area of the associated card receiving position 3 a to 3 f.

The location of the lights 4a to 4f adjacent to the respective card receiving positions 3 a to 3 f with which they are associated ensures that each light 4a to 4f can provide an unambiguous visual indication of the associated card receiving position 3 a to 3 f when the light 4a to 4f is illuminated.

In operation of the card selection system 16, six cards 15a to 15f are shuffled by the mechanical card shuffler 17, and then dealt from the mechanical card shuffler 17 onto the card selection apparatus 1. Each card 15a to 15f in turn is placed face down on the upper surface 14a of the display body 14 on a different one of the card receiving positions 3 a to 3 f of the card stations 2a to 2f, as shown in figure 3b.

The cards 15a to 15f may be dealt by a first user, such as a dealer or croupier, from one or more conventional decks of playing cards which have been shuffled by the mechanical card shuffler 17. In a preferred example the cards 15a to 15f may be dealt from one or more conventional decks of playing cards which have been shuffled twice by the mechanical card shuffler 17, that is, shuffled, and then shuffled again. A number of different designs of mechanical card shuffler are known, and these need not be described in detail herein.

When the six cards 15a to 15f have been dealt face down onto respective card receiving positions 3 a to 3f, the first user presses the first push button 5 to generate a deal complete signal to notify the control unit 10 that the six cards 15a to 15f have been dealt.

The method followed by the card selection apparatus 1 is shown in the flow chart of figure 4. In a first receiving step 20, the card selection apparatus 1 receives a user input notifying that the deal is complete, in the illustrated embodiment this user input is made by a first user pressing the first push button 5.

The deal complete signal generated by the first push button 5 is sent to the control unit 10, where the input module 7 sends the deal complete signal to the central processing module 12. The central processing module 12 identifies the deal complete signal and begins the method.

Next, in a second random illumination step 21, in response to the deal complete signal the card selection apparatus 1 successively illuminates random ones of the lights 4a to 4f, each for a predetermined short time period. As is explained above, each light 4a to 4f is associated with a respective card receiving position 3a to 3f. Accordingly, each of the predetermined short time periods is associated with a random one of the lights 4a to 4f being illuminated and with the corresponding one of the card receiving position 3 a to 3 f.

The central processing module 12 is provided with a series of random numbers by the random number generator module 9. The central processing module 12 uses the current random number in the series to chose one of the lights 4a to 4f to be illuminated, and then instructs the output module 8 to supply power to only the chosen one of the lights 4a to 4f. The output module 8 then supplies power to the chosen one of the lights 4a to 4f along the corresponding respective one of the power lines 13a to 13f.

In one example the different ones of lights 4a to 4f may each be assigned a number in the range 1 to 6, and the random number generator module may provide random numbers in the range 1 to 6. In response to each random number value the light which has been assigned the same value may be chosen. Different choosing methods may be used in other examples. After a predetermined time period, the central processing module 12 uses the next random number in the series to chose one of the lights 4a to 4f to be illuminated, and then instructs the output module 8 to supply power to only the chosen one of the lights 4a to 4f. The output module 8 then supplies power to the chosen one of the lights 4a to 4f along the corresponding respective one of the power lines 13a to 13f. Accordingly, randomly selected ones of the lights 4a to 4f are illuminated for each of a series of the predetermined time periods.

It should be noted that since the choosing of the light to be illuminated is random, this may result in a different one of the lights 4a to 4f, or the same one of the lights 4a to 4f, being illuminated in successive time periods of the series of time periods..

This process of randomly choosing one of the lights 4a to 4f and illuminating it for a predetermined period of time is repeated in the random illumination step 21, until the card selection apparatus 1 receives a user input of a card selection signal, or a predetermined maximum duration of the random illumination step 21 is reached without the card selection signal being received.

When the process of randomly choosing one of the lights 4a to 4f and illuminating it for a predetermined period of time is repeated in the random illumination step 21, the predetermined time for which the chosen light is illuminated before the random selection is repeated is reduced on successive occasions of selection until the predetermined time reaches a lower limit. This reduction in the successive illumination times may generate a perception of acceleration of events in users, and prompt users to input a card selection signal.

The provision of a lower limit is not essential. However, it may be preferred to select a lower limit based on the persistence of vision phenomenon in humans, so that when the predetermined time is at the lower limit observers will still be able to perceive successive illuminations of different lights.

In a first alternative procedure, the card selection apparatus 1 receives a user input of a card selection signal before the predetermined maximum duration has expired in a receive card selection signal step 22, in the illustrated embodiment this user input is made by a second user pressing the second push button 6.

The card selection signal generated by the second push button 6 is sent to the control unit 10, where the input module 7 sends the card selection signal to the central processing module 12. The central processing module 12 then identifies the card selection signal and proceeds to a continuous illumination step 23.

Next, in the continuous illumination step 23, the card selection apparatus 1 continuously illuminates the chosen one of the lights 4a to 4f which was being illuminated when the card selection signal was received for a predetermined illumination time, and then stops illuminating any of the lights 4a to 4f.

In response to receiving the card selection signal, the central processing module 12 identifies which one of the lights 4a to 4f is the chosen light currently being illuminated, and then instructs the output module 8 to continue to supply power to only that identified one of the lights 4a to 4f. The output module 8 then supplies power to the identified one of the lights 4a to 4f along the corresponding respective one of the power lines 13a to 13f.

After the predetermined illumination time has expired, the central processing module 12 instructs the output module 8 to stop the supply of power to the identified one of the lights 4a to 4f, and the output module 8 then stops supplying power to the identified one of the lights 4a to 4f. In a second alternative procedure, the predetermined maximum duration expires without the card selection apparatus 1 receiving a user input of a card selection signal, in a maximum duration reached step 24

The central processing module 12 determines that the predetermined maximum duration has expired, and proceeds to the continuous illumination step 23.

Next, in the continuous illumination step 23, the card selection apparatus 1 continuously illuminates the chosen one of the lights 4a to 4f which was being illuminated when the predetermined maximum duration expired for a predetermined illumination time, and then stops illuminating any of the lights 4a to 4f.

In response to determining that the predetermined maximum duration has expired, the central processing module 12 identifies which one of the lights 4a to 4f is currently the chosen light being illuminated, and then instructs the output module 8 to continue to supply power to only that identified one of the lights 4a to 4f. The output module 8 then supplies power to the identified one of the lights 4a to 4f along the corresponding respective one of the power lines 13a to 13f.

After the predetermined illumination time has expired, the central processing module 12 instructs the output module 8 to stop the supply of power to the identified one of the lights 4a to 4f, and the output module 8 then stops supplying power to the identified one of the lights 4a to 4f.

The central processing module 12 uses a clock signal provided by the clock module 11 to determine when the predetermined periods of time, the predetermined maximum duration, and the predetermined illumination time, have expired. The card selection apparatus 1 in the continuous illumination step 23 is shown in figure 3 c. In figure 3 c the light 4c is illuminated. It should be understood that this is only an example and any one of the lights 4a to 4f could be illuminated in the continuous illumination step 23.

As is explained above, the location of the lights 4a to 4f adjacent to the respective card receiving positions 3 a to 3 f with which they are associated ensures that each light 4a to 4f provides an unambiguous visual indication of the associated card receiving position 3a to 3f when the light 4a to 4f is illuminated.

Accordingly, the continuous illumination of the selected one of lights 4a to 4f provides an unambiguous visual indication of the associated card receiving position 3a to 3f, and of the face down card 15a to 15f located at that card receiving position 15a to 15f, indicating that the face down card 15a to 15f located at that card receiving position 15a to 15f is the selected card.

The first user then turns over the indicated card 15a to 15f located on the card receiving position 3 a to 3f associated with the light 4a to 4f which is illuminated in the continuous illumination step 23, and places this card 15a to 15f face up on the card receiving position 3a to 3f, as shown in figure 3d. In the illustrated example the indicated card turned face up is the card 15c, which is the four of hearts.

This indicated card 15a to 15f which is turned face up is the card selected by the card selection apparatus 1. In the illustrated example this selected card is card 15c, the four of hearts.

This selected card can then be used in any card game, or card based game of chance, as desired. If it is desired to select a series of cards, the method described above can be repeated as necessary to select the series of cards one by one.

In other embodiments the card selection apparatus 1 may be used in isolation, and not as a part of a card selection system 16. In such embodiments the card selection apparatus 1 is used without a mechanical card shuffler 17. In such embodiments the cards may be been randomised in some other way before being dealt onto the card selection apparatus 1. For example, the cards may be dealt onto the card selection apparatus 1 from a deck which has been manually shuffled.

According to the present invention a card is selected from a deck of cards by dealing a number of cards face down, and then selecting one of the face down cards for use by randomly indicating different ones of the face down cards until either a user selection is made or a maximum time is reached. The face down card which is being indicated when the user selection is made or the maximum time is reached is selected for use.

Clearly, this process will increase the degree of randomness of the selected card beyond what would be obtained by taking a card directly from the deck, regardless of how thoroughly the deck has previously been shuffled.

In the illustrated embodiment the cards are randomised for a first time by shuffling in the mechanical card shuffler, and then randomised for a second time by the operation of the card selection apparatus. This carrying out of first and second consecutive randomisations of the cards increases the degree of randomness of the selected card above what would be obtained by carrying out only a single randomisation.

The card selection apparatus and the card shuffler are incorporated into a cardplaying apparatus which comprises a table (not shown in the drawings) having a playing surface (not shown in the drawings) upon which cards in play may be placed and which may or may not have markings relevant to the game to be played. The card shuffler is supported by or adjacent the table and operable to deliver cards from an input stack to an output position in random or pseudo random order and the card receiving positions of the card selection system are located on the playing surface.

Thus, in a card game played using said apparatus, a number of cards, corresponding to the number of card receiving positions, may be taken from the output position of the shuffler and each placed in a respective one of said card receiving positions. Thereafter, the card selector system may be activated to select one of six positions and thereby determine the next card to be selected in the game. Thus, the next card in a card game is subjected is subjected to 2 randomising steps, the first being performed by the card shuffler and the second by the randomising means which selects one of the card receiving positions. In this way, the randomness of the selection of the next card is substantially increased.

In some embodiments a card shuffling device other than a mechanical card shuffler may be provided to shuffle the cards.

Further, the selection of one card from a number of cards which have already been dealt face down may make it evident to observers that the card has been randomly selected because once the cards have been dealt face down it will not be possible for the cards to be exchanged or identified before the selected card is turned over.

This may provide particular reassurance to users that the card has been randomly selected in examples where the card selection apparatus is used in a gaming or gambling environment where the outcome of bets or wagers is based, directly or indirectly, on the identity or value of the selected card or cards. In such examples bets or wagers may be placed after the number of cards has been dealt face down but before the card is selected. Accordingly, users can be reassured that the identities of the number of cards, which have already been dealt out face down, cannot have been selected or changed in response to the bets or wagers made.

In an alternative embodiment the second button could be omitted and the selection of one of the card receiving stations, and the card located at that card receiving station, made directly by the card selection apparatus without any user input.

In one example of this alternative embodiment the card selection apparatus could simply be arranged to always follow the second alternative procedure of selecting a card receiving station based on which light is illuminated when a predetermined maximum duration is reached, as described above.

In other examples, different procedures for random selection of a card receiving positions, and the card located at that card receiving position, by the card selection apparatus could be followed, and the outcome of this selection indicated by illuminating an appropriate one of the lights.

In the described embodiments, a first user deals the cards face down and provides the first user input of a deal complete signal. In examples where the card selection apparatus 1 is used to randomly select cards for use in a card game, the first user will generally be a dealer or croupier running the game.

In such examples the dealer or croupier will generally turn over the selected card and place it face down. In many gaming situations it is forbidden for anyone other than the dealer or croupier running the game to touch the cards.

In the illustrated embodiment, a second user provides the card selection signal. In examples where the card selection apparatus 1 is used to randomly select cards for use in a card game, the second user will generally be a player in the game. However, the first user and second user could be the same person. In examples where the first user is a dealer or croupier running a card game it will usually be preferred for the second user to be a player in order to reassure players that the selection is outside the control of the dealer or croupier.

In the described embodiments, one card only is selected from the number of face down cards. This is not essential. In other examples more than one card may be selected, and additionally or alternatively the selection may be from a different number of face down cards, provided that the number of selected cards is less than the number of face down cards.

In the described embodiments, the cards which are available for selection are placed face down. This is not essential. In other examples the identities or values of the cards may additionally, or alternatively, be concealed in other known ways.

In the described embodiments, the selection of the light to be illuminated is random, and this may result in a different one of the lights 4a to 4f, or the same one of the lights 4a to 4f, being selected and illuminated in successive selections during the random illumination step. This is not essential. In other examples the selection of the light to be illuminated may be constrained to always select a non- illuminated light different from the currently illuminated light, but a random one of the non-illuminated lights.

In general, the use of random selection of the light to be illuminated is preferred. However, in some examples the selection of the light to be illuminated may follow a predetermined sequence such as a pseudo-random sequence. It will be understood that provided the predetermined sequence cannot be predicted by a user watching the card selection apparatus 1 this may still result in increased randomness in the card selection.

In the described embodiments, during the random illumination step the predetermined time for which a selected light is illuminated before the random selection is repeated is reduced on successive occasions of selection. This is not essential. In other examples this predetermined time may be constant.

In the described embodiments, a series of random numbers are used to select which lights are to be illuminated. In some examples these may be a pseudo random sequence of numbers.

In the described embodiments, a first push button is used to generate the first user input of a deal complete signal. This is not essential. In other examples, the deal complete signal may be generated by alternative user input means. In further examples, the card selection apparatus may comprise sensing means able to determine whether cards are present at the card receiving stations and generate a deal complete signal when cards are present at all of the card receiving stations.

In the illustrated embodiment, a single second push button is used to generate the card selection signal. In examples where the card selection apparatus 1 is used to randomly select cards for use in a card game having more than one player, one of the players may be selected to push the second button and generate the card selection signal. This player selection may be carried out in any preferred manner. The player selection may for example be random, or by a game dealer or croupier, or may be based on rules or actions within the game being played.

In alternative embodiments, a plurality of second push buttons, or other input means, may be used. In examples where the card selection apparatus 1 is used to randomly select cards for use in a card game having more than one player, each of the players may have a separate second button to generate the card selection signal. In some examples where multiple second buttons are used, one player may be selected to push their second button and generate the card selection signal in a similar manner to the examples described above where only one second button is used. In other examples inputs from the different players may be used to generate the card selection signal in any convenient manner. For example, the first player to press the second button may generate the card selection signal.

In examples where the card selection apparatus 1 is used to randomly select cards for use in a card game in a casino or similar establishment the or each second button may be replaced by input means provided by a graphical user interface of a player portable gaming device, such as a tablet computer. Such tablet computers are commonly used as input devices for players to place bets and otherwise interact with games in casino and similar establishments.

In the described embodiments, a light located near to a card receiving position is illuminated to provide a visual indication of the card at that card receiving position. In other examples the size or shape of the light may be different form that shown in the illustrated example. In other examples alternative visual indicators, for example pointer or arrows, may be used. These alternative visual indicators may or may not be illuminated. In one example the card receiving positions may be arranged around a rotatable pointer or needle arranged to stop at an unpredictable position, and the card pointed to by the pointer when it stops may be selected.

In one example the card receiving positions may be rendered on a visual display surface, and a visual graphic or animation rendered on the visual display surface to provide a visual indication of the selected card.

In the described embodiments, the card selection apparatus is used to select cards from a deck comprising one or more conventional packs of cards. By a conventional pack of cards is meant a pack comprising four suits, hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades, with each suit comprising the values ace, two to ten, and jack, queen and king, together with zero, one or two jokers. In other examples the card selection apparatus may be used with other types of card deck. In the described embodiments, the control unit selectively illuminates lights by selectively providing power to the lights. This is not essential. Other control arrangements may be used. In some examples the control unit may send control signals to a local power supply associated with one or more of the lights, the control signals instructing which light was to be supplied with power by the local power supply.

In the described embodiments, the different parts of the card selection apparatus 1 are connected by signal lines. This is not essential. In other examples signals may be carried between different parts of the apparatus by wireless means, for example infra-red signalling or Bluetooth™. In such examples the signals may be protected by suitable encryption.

In the described embodiments, the card receiving stations are all formed together in a single display body. This is not essential. In other examples the card receiving sections may be formed separately. In examples where the card receiving stations are formed together in a single display body this display body may form a gaming table or gaming surface.

In some examples the modules of the control unit 4 may comprise dedicated electronic circuits. In other examples the modules may comprise software elements executed by one or more processors of the control unit 4. In some examples the modules may comprise a mixture of dedicated circuits and software elements.

It should be understood that the above description is illustrative and is not intended to be limiting. The combination of features from different embodiments and examples not explicitly described may be carried out, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the above description. The scope of the invention is not limited to the described embodiments and examples, and is defined by the claims.