Intelligent Baccarat shoe

Abstract

A method of controlling the game of baccarat is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a card delivery shoe equipped with a sensor capable of reading at least a rank of each card; at least one first processor capable of controlling operation of the card delivery shoe; and receiving signals from the sensor and programmed to display information related to the game of baccarat, visual result information for each round of play being displayed on the card delivery shoe or on a screen provided on a casino table.

1 - 51 . (canceled)  
     
     
         52 . A playing card delivery shoe for use in the play of the casino table card game of baccarat comprising 
 a) an elongate support body;    b) a card storage compartment in the support body for receiving a first set of playing cards useful in the play of the casino table card game of baccarat;    c) a card delivery end in the support body, the card delivery end including an exposed tapered projection extending from the support body, the tapered projection having a surface thereon providing a card resting position for facilitating the removal of cards from the delivery shoe;    d) a card chute defining a sloping cavity within the support body, the card chute including a card receiving end and a card dispensing end, the card receiving end being in card providing communication with the card storage compartment and configured and dimensioned to facilitate the movement of a plurality of cards therein from the card storage compartment, the card dispensing end being connected with the card delivery end and including an aperture configured and dimensioned to accommodate the movement of a card from the card chute onto the tapered projection of the card delivery end;    e) a visual display disposed on the support body, the visual display enabling illumination of at least one of a game result or condition associated with the card delivery shoe; and    f) at least one playing card reading sensor disposed in the support body that reads at least one playing card value of each playing card separately at least upon each playing card being removed from the exposed surface of the delivery end;    wherein there is a communication link between the playing card reading sensor and a processor, which processor analyzes data received through the link according to rules of play of the game of baccarat and determines results of play for a round of play of baccarat based upon the data, wherein a signal of the results communicated from the processor to the visual display may actuate the illumination of the game results on the visual display.    
     
     
         53 . The shoe of  claim 52  wherein the results of play for a round of play of baccarat are determined before delivery of playing cards to players, the determination based upon a specific set of rules applied by the processor executing software with said data.  
     
     
         54 . The shoe of  claim 53  wherein the data determines expected card information that is at least temporarily stored in a memory storage component in at least one of the shoe and an external computer for each shuffled set of playing cards inserted in the compartment area for receiving a shuffled set of playing cards.  
     
     
         55 . The shoe of  claim 54  wherein a system of comparison is present to compare the value of the playing cards read in step f) with the expected playing card information for each shuffled set of playing cards inserted in the card storage compartment.  
     
     
         56 . The shoe of  claim 52  wherein the at least one playing card value data is read before the playing card is being removed from the shoe and said data is processed by the processor and stored by said processor.  
     
     
         57 . The shoe of  claim 52 , further comprising a user interface, wherein the user interface is in communication with the visual display for selecting a visual display response to the at least one of a game result or condition associated with the card delivery shoe.  
     
     
         58 . The shoe of  claim 52 , wherein the visual display comprises a plurality of lights capable of illuminating in a plurality of colors.  
     
     
         59 . The shoe of  claim 52 , wherein the visual display is configured to illuminate at least upon the game results of a dealer win, a player win, and a dealer-player tie.  
     
     
         60 . The shoe of  claim 52 , wherein the visual display is configured to illuminate an indication of a condition that the card storage compartment is devoid of cards.  
     
     
         61 . The shoe of  claim 52 , further comprising: 
 a) first card mover that moves playing cards from the first set of playing cards positioned in the card storage compartment to a playing card staging area wherein at least one playing card is staged in an order by which playing cards are removed from the first set and moved to the playing card staging area; and    b) second playing card mover that moves playing cards from the playing card staging area to the card delivery end wherein playing cards removed from the staging area to the card delivery end are moved in the same order by which playing cards were removed from the first set of playing cards and moved to the playing card staging area.    
     
     
         62 . The shoe of  claim 61 , wherein the first and second playing card movers are structurally supported substantially within the card chute.