A set of playing cards

Abstract

A set of playing cards, comprising N playing cards, N>1, each playing card having a detectable card identification string. The card identification string is a series of M characters. The set of playing cards is provided with a set identification string, the set identification string consisting of N groups of R characters, R≤M. Each card identification string provides a group of R characters from the series of M characters of the card identification string to the set identification string. The order of the N groups of R characters in the set identification string is the same as the order of the N cards in the set of playing cards.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to playing cards, and to sets of playing cards, such as random playing cards, typically sets of casino playing cards. The present invention particularly relates to such sets of playing cards that reduce the risk of fraud and / or predicting game results. Background Art

[0002] Card games are very popular in casinos and similar establishments. Such card games are prone to potential fraud and cheating.

[0003] The first source of potential fraud and cheating is the arrangement made between the dealer and the players, for example, giving a signal about the next card being dealt. For this reason, it is tried to make it impossible for the dealer to see the next card as the cards are dealt. Sophisticated card dealers and card distribution systems are made to prevent the dealer and players from knowing information about the next card(s).

[0004] Another source of fraud or cheating is the leakage of information about the order in which the cards appear in a deck used during the game, which information is obtained during the production of the deck and during the transportation of the deck from the manufacturer of the cards and the decks, through the locked area of ​​the casino to the table where the deck is distributed. In order to reduce the risk of information leakage, the transportation and production chains are kept as short as possible in both time and distance.

[0005] The next source of possible fraud and cheating is the card identification (rank and suit) information related to tiny defects visible on the cards themselves. Such tiny defects could be small color deviations, deviations from the pattern printed on the cards, small deviations from the rectangular shape due to imperfect card cutting, etc. A high level of quality control is used to reduce or even eliminate any kind of card defects.

[0006] Finally, yet another source of possible fraud and cheating may be the use of counterfeit cards mixed into the deck either during the game itself or during the production and transportation of the deck to the dealing table. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to a first aspect, a set of playing cards is provided. The set of playing cards includes N playing cards, N>1, each playing card having a detectable card identification string. The card identification string is a series of M characters. The set of playing cards is provided with a set identification string, the set identification string consisting of N groups of R characters, R≤M. Each card identification string provides a group of R characters from the series of M characters of the card identification string to the set identification string. The order of the N groups of R characters in the set identification string is the same as the order of the N cards in the set of playing cards.

[0008] The set identification string may thus be obtained by concatenating R characters taken from each of the N card identification strings (taken in the order in which the cards appear in the set).

[0009] Thus, the first R characters of the N groups of R characters in the set identification string are the R characters taken from the first playing card in a set of playing cards, the second R characters of the N groups of R characters in the set identification string are the R characters taken from the second playing card in a set of playing cards, and so on.

[0010] Thus, the set identification string stores information about the order of cards present in a set of playing cards. This information string can be used as a control tool when using a set of playing cards, such as when dealing cards. When a card is drawn from a set of playing cards, the card identification string is read or obtained, and the R characters in this card identification string are identified, these R characters can be compared with the R characters in the set identification string. If the R characters of the card identification string match the R characters of the set identification string at the appropriate position of the string, the position of the card in the set is correct. If there is a difference, it is likely that the position of this card in the set has changed, which can indicate the presence of fraudulent activity or cheating.

[0011] The cards in a set of playing cards are preferably random, meaning that the N cards present in a set of playing cards may be chaotic, and the order of the cards is not sorted in an organized manner with respect to the rank and / or suit of the cards.

[0012] According to some embodiments, the card identification string may be printed on the front side of the playing cards.

[0013] According to some embodiments, the brand identification string may be encrypted into a brand identification code.

[0014] This encryption may use a given encryption key, thus allowing the card identification code to be decrypted back into a card identification string.

[0015] Instead of the card identification string, the card identification code may be printed on the playing cards.

[0016] According to some embodiments, the card identification code may be printed on the front of the playing cards.

[0017] This first encryption ensures that in the case where the card identification string holds the rank and suit or any other relevant information about the card, this does not result in information about the rank and suit or any other relevant information being too easily available when the card identification code is read. The encryption / decryption key of this first encryption is required to reveal this rank and suit or any other relevant information.

[0018] As will be further described, the set identification string and / or set identification code can be stored with a set of playing cards. For example, the set identification code (which can also be a series of characters) can be printed on the packaging of a set of playing cards or on a seal used to seal the packaging.

[0019] The card identification string and / or card identification code may be printed on the front of the card more than once, for example 2, 3 or 4 times, to facilitate easier identification and reading of the string or code.

[0020] N, M and R are all positive integers.

[0021] N is a positive integer greater than 1. N can be, for example, 52 or greater, for example 54 or greater, such as a multiple of 52. Most preferably, a set includes one or more decks of playing cards, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10. Each deck includes 13 cards of four suits, the four suits being: clubs, diamonds, spades and hearts. The 13 cards each have a different number of points, namely: A, K, Q, J and 10 to 2. Optionally, there may be other playing cards in a set of playing cards, which play a role in the game intended to be played with this set of playing cards.

[0022] M is preferably between 1 and 40, such as greater than 1, greater than 2, greater than 3 or even greater than 4, and less than 4, such as less than 35, for example less than 30, even less than 25. Preferably, M is between 2 and 20.

[0023] R is preferably between 1 and 40, such as greater than 1, greater than 2, greater than 3 or even greater than 4, and less than 4, such as less than 35, for example less than 30, even less than 25. Preferably, R is between 1 and 20, such as between 1 and 10, for example between 1 and 8, for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

[0024] According to some embodiments, the value of R may be between 1 and 5.

[0025] Characters are understood to be characters selected from the alphabet, the numbers 0 to 9, punctuation marks, and special characters like &, @, #, §, $, £, €, any other ASCII character, etc.

[0026] Preferably, the characters are characters selected from the alphabet and the numbers 0 to 9. The characters may be characters selected from the numbers 0 to 9 and A to F, thereby providing hexadecimal codes and strings. The characters may be characters selected from the numbers 0 to 9, thereby providing decimal codes and strings. More preferably, the card identification string and the set identification string consist of the characters 0 and 1, thereby providing binary codes and strings.

[0027] The card identification string can be printed on the playing cards. The card identification string or the card identification code (as will be further explained) is detectable, which means it can be read from one of the two sides of the card by using appropriate lighting and reading tools. It can be detected and read by a vision system (such as a camera) under ambient lighting and is visible to the naked eye. It can also be provided using invisible ink, which becomes visible only under special lighting (such as ultraviolet light) and is thus detectable.

[0028] According to some embodiments, the set identification string can be encrypted into a set identification code.

[0029] This encryption can use a given encryption key, thus allowing the set identification code to be decrypted back into the set identification string.

[0030] Instead of the set identification string, this set identification code can be used as additional information for a set of playing cards.

[0031] The use of encrypting the string into a code can further reduce the risk of fraudulent activities. The identification of R characters for both the card identification string and the set identification string is not easily obtained and read, and both require complex operations on the code usually using a confidential encryption / decryption key pair.

[0032] According to some embodiments, a set of playing cards can be packaged in a sealed package, and the set identification code is printed on the package and / or the seal.

[0033] According to some embodiments, the card identification string can include information about the rank and suit of the playing card.

[0034] A given number A1 (A1 < M) of characters in the card identification string can be associated one-to-one with the rank and suit of the card. For example, A1 is equal to 6 or greater, and each card with a different rank and suit is associated one-to-one with a binary sequence of 6 or more characters 0 or 1. Preferably, there is no logic between cards with consecutive ranks and the same suit, and the content of A1 characters is distributed to each of these cards.

[0035] According to some embodiments, a set of playing cards can include B decks of playing cards, B > 1, and the card identification string includes information about the deck to which the card belongs in the set.

[0036] A given number A2 (A2 < M) of characters can be associated one-to-one with one of the B decks in the set. For example, B is equal to 8, A2 is one character, and A2 is a number between 1 and 8, which is the number of the deck to which the card belongs. If the card belongs to the first deck, then A2 is equal to 1; if the card belongs to the second deck, then A2 is equal to 2, and so on.

[0037] Alternatively, A2 is a sequence of 3 characters (either 0 or 1). If the card belongs to the first deck, A2 is equal to 000; if the card belongs to the second deck, A2 is equal to 001; ...; if the card belongs to the eighth deck, A2 is equal to 111.

[0038] It can be understood that if the card identification string also includes information about the rank and suit of the playing card by means of A1 characters, then A1 and A2 together must be less than or equal to M.

[0039] According to some embodiments, the brand identification string may include information regarding:

[0040] • The date and / or time the card was printed, and / or

[0041] • The location where the cards were printed, and / or

[0042] • The company that printed the cards, and / or

[0043] • The type of game the cards are printed for, and / or

[0044] • Brand, and / or

[0045] • Casinos that print cards.

[0046] According to some embodiments, the brand identification string may include a sequential number and / or a random number.

[0047] Preferably, the sequence number or random number may preferably include 1 to 40 characters, such as 1 to 20 characters. For example, the sequence number or random number may preferably include more than 1, more than 2, more than 3, or even more than 4, and less than 4, such as less than 35, for example less than 30, or even less than 25 characters. Preferably, the sequence number or random number includes / is between 1 and 20 characters, such as between 1 and 10, for example between 1 and 8, for example 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.

[0048] For a set of R characters taken from the M characters of the brand identification string, the positions of the R characters in the M strings are preferably always the same. Therefore, for the R characters and the integers p1 to p2 representing the positions in the M strings R , p1 to p R is an integer between 1 and M. Preferably, although not necessarily, p1 to p R is a continuous number, that is, for integers q varying between 2 and R, p q = p q-1 +1.

[0049] According to some embodiments, the group of R characters taken from the series of M characters of the brand identification string can be a group of R consecutive characters in the series of M characters of the brand identification string, and the first character of the R consecutive characters is always the character at the same position in the series of M characters of the brand identification string.

[0050] According to some embodiments, the brand identification string or the brand identification code (if applicable) may be printed using UV-visible ink.

[0051] Preferably, an ink is used that is visible to the naked eye under UV light but not visible to the naked eye under ambient lighting.

[0052] The brand identification string or code may not be visible to the naked eye. The brand identification string or code may be made visible, and therefore detectable, only by UV illumination or by irradiation with invisible light of a given wavelength or wavelength range. A UV illumination source, such as LED (light emitting diode) UV illumination, may be used to make the brand identification string or code readable using a suitable camera system.

[0053] The card identification string and / or card identification code (if applicable) is represented on the card by a barcode, a QR code (also known as a two-dimensional code), a quick tag, a binary code and / or a set of characters.

[0054] According to some embodiments, micro-dot encryption may be used to print a card identification string or code. From US9254435 it is known to use micro-dots to identify the card rank and suit on the front of a card.

[0055] There are several advantages to a set of playing cards according to the first aspect of the invention. When using cards in a card game where the order of the cards needs to be random and unpredictable, it is very counter-intuitive to identify each card. Marked cards are always out of the question. Furthermore, identification can allow control systems to be established to reduce the risk of fraud and cheating (e.g. through fraudulent card exchanges). This is especially true when the card identification is not visible to the naked eye.

[0056] Playing cards with card identification strings and / or codes are part of a set of playing cards. Once a set of playing cards is made, the order of the playing cards that are part of the set is known to the maker. When the card identification strings or codes in a set of playing cards are checked at any time, any counterfeit cards that are part of the set will be detected. If during game play, the card identification string is read, or the card identification code is read and decrypted instead of the string, and the R characters of the read or converted string are compared with the set identification string, it is impossible to deal cards that were not originally part of the set.

[0057] Thus, when the cards are dealt, the immediate reading of the card identification string or the code converted back to the string can be used as a control measure. If the playing card being dealt is not the next card in the sequence, this may indicate that an impermissible handling of the set of playing cards has occurred, or that a fraudulent card swap has occurred. Thus, this can also target attempts at fraud or cheating.

[0058] In practice, the card dealer can read the card identification string or code, and the data read can be forwarded to the central processing unit. The latter (i.e. the central processing unit) can decrypt the code back to the card identification string. R characters of the card identification string can be selected and compared with the relevant characters in the set identification string (optionally obtained by decrypting the set identification code), which should be associated with this card. If there is a mismatch, it indicates fraud or defective card operation.

[0059] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards, the method comprising:

[0060] Providing a set of playing cards according to any one of the preceding claims;

[0061] providing a card dispenser adapted to read said card identification string or said card identification code (if applicable);

[0062] reading the brand identification string or the brand identification code (if applicable);

[0063] Extract R characters of the brand identification string, and compare the R characters of the brand identification string with the characters in the set identification string.

[0064] According to some embodiments, a method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards may include:

[0065] A. Providing a set of playing cards according to any one of the preceding claims;

[0066] B. providing a dealing shoe adapted to read the card identification string or the card identification code (if applicable);

[0067] C. Providing a processing unit, the processing unit is suitable for:

[0068] • Decrypt the card identification code into a card identification string, if applicable,

[0069] • If applicable, decrypt the set identification code into a set identification string,

[0070] • extract the R characters from the brand identification string, and

[0071] • comparing R characters from the card identification string to the set identification string;

[0072] D. inserting the set of playing cards into the card dealer;

[0073] E. providing the set identification string or brand identification code (if applicable) to the processing unit;

[0074] F. drawing a playing card from the card dealer;

[0075] G. reading the card identification string or card identification code (if applicable) by the card distributor, and providing the card identification string or card identification code (if applicable) to the processing unit;

[0076] H. if applicable, decrypting the brand identification code into the brand identification string;

[0077] I. extracting R characters of the brand identification string and comparing the R characters of the brand identification string with the characters in the set identification string;

[0078] J. Repeat steps F to I as long as step I determines that the R characters of the card identification string are equal to the characters in the set identification string;

[0079] K. When step I determines that the R characters of the card identification string are not equal to the characters in the set identification string, a defect signal is issued.

[0080] N is a positive integer greater than 1.

[0081] The signal may be a visual or audible signal, such as an alarm.The processing unit may be part of the card dealer itself, or may be a remote processing unit, for example a processing unit that is part of the device controlling the game being played.

[0082] Features of one aspect of the present invention may be combined with features of other aspects of the present invention as long as there is no technical incompatibility.

[0083] When referring to a range, unless otherwise indicated, the range is inclusive.

[0084] The independent and dependent claims set out particular and preferred features of the invention. Features from the dependent claims may be combined with features of the independent or other dependent claims and / or with features set out in the above and / or following description, as appropriate.

[0085] The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the principles of the present invention by way of example. This description is given for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The reference numerals cited below refer to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0086] Figure 1 Schematic diagram of a playing card that is part of a set of playing cards according to the present invention. Figure 2 Schematically shows Figure 1 The card identification string of the card. Figure 3 It shows how the set identification string and the set identification code are configured from the brand identification string.

[0087] Figure 4 A set of cards according to the invention is shown.

[0088] Figure 5 Schematic diagram of a playing card that is part of a set of playing cards according to the present invention. Figure 6 Schematically shows Figure 5 The card identification string of the card. Figure 7 It shows how the set identification string and the set identification code are configured from the brand identification string.

[0089] Figure 8 Schematic diagram of a playing card that is part of a set of playing cards according to the present invention. Fig. 9 Schematically shows Figure 8 The card identification string of the card. Fig.10 It shows how the set identification string and the set identification code are configured from the brand identification string.

[0090] Fig.11 A set of cards according to the invention is shown.

[0091] In different drawings, the same reference numbers identify the same, similar or analogous elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0092] The invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that the term "comprising" used in the claims should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It will therefore be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, steps or components mentioned, but not excluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps or components or combinations thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprises a tool A and a tool B" should not be limited to the device consisting of only component A and component B. This means that for the purposes of the present invention, the relevant components of the device are only A and B.

[0093] Throughout this specification, reference is made to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment." Such reference indicates that a particular feature described in relation to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, although they may.

[0094] Furthermore, the particular features or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, in one or more embodiments.

[0095] Figure 1 1 shows a playing card that is part of a set of playing cards according to the present invention. By way of example, a set of playing cards includes 8 decks of 52 cards. Thus N is 416. The playing card 10, in this case the Ace of Hearts, carries a card identification string 13. This card identification string 13 is printed with UV visible ink and is not visible to the naked eye under ambient lighting.

[0096] like Figure 2 As shown, the card identification string 13 is a binary string of characters 0 and 1, which can be composed of several character groups 31, 32 and 33. The first group 31 is a string associated one-to-one with the points and suits of the playing cards. Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the example shown, the Ace of Hearts is associated with the string "10001011". All Aces of Diamonds in a deck of playing cards have this string as the first 8 digits of their card identification string. These first groups 31 can be obtained by giving each card a card number from 1 to 52 and converting the card number into the string by encrypting the card number using a given encryption value.

[0097] The second group 32 is a sequence of 3 characters (0 or 1). If the card belongs to the first deck present in a set of playing cards, group 32 equals 000. If the card belongs to the second deck, group 302 equals 001, and so on. This means that for Figure 1 and Figure 2 This particular card shown in the , this card belongs to the fourth deck in existence.

[0098] It will be appreciated that the second group of 32 characters may have more than 3 characters, for example 4, 5 or more. In an alternative embodiment, this group may be a randomly generated group, for example having a given number of characters.

[0099] The third group 33 is a control bit. For example, if the digital string provided by the groups 31 and 32 includes an even number of "1", it (i.e., the third group 33) represents 0, and if the digital string provided by the groups 31 and 32 includes an odd number of "1", it (i.e., the third group 33) represents 1.

[0100] Figure 3 5 card identification strings of 5 consecutive cards 51 to 55 in a set of playing cards are shown. In this set of playing cards, card 51 is equal to Figure 1 Card 53 will be the Ace of Hearts, but is from the fourth deck in the set. Card 54 will be a different card than the Ace of Hearts, but it is also a card from the fifth deck.

[0101] The set identification code 60 is a series of characters, each character being from the group consisting of letters and the numbers 0 to 9. With the aid of an appropriate decoding key or algorithm 70, the set identification code can be converted into a set identification string 61. The 3rd, 7th and 11th characters are selected from each card identification string as a group of R characters (3 characters in this embodiment) 80. The first 3 characters 62 in the set identification string will be the 3rd, 7th and 11th characters of the card identification string 51 (i.e., the card identification string of the first card in the set). The next 3 characters 63 in the set identification string will be the 3rd, 7th and 11th characters of the card identification string 52 (i.e., the card identification string of the second card in the set), and so on. In this way, all groups of R characters are concatenated one after another in the same order as the corresponding cards appear in a set of cards.

[0102] therefore, Figure 4 A packaged set of cards 90 having a seal 91 showing a set identification code 60 can be used to play a card game during which the order of the cards in the set can be monitored to see if the order of the cards in the set is equal to the original order when the set was created and the set identification string and code was generated.

[0103] Figure 5 An alternative playing card is shown as part of a set of playing cards according to the present invention. For example, a set of playing cards includes 8 decks of 52 cards. Again, N is 416. Playing card 100, in this case the Ace of Diamonds, carries a card identification code (which is an 8-bit string selected from letters, the numbers 0 to 9, the special characters &, #, §, $, £ and €, and any other ASCII characters).

[0104] like Figure 6 As shown, the card identification string 104 (a binary string of characters 0 and 1) can be obtained by an appropriate decryption algorithm 202. The card identification string 104 can be composed of several character groups 301, 302 and 303. The first group 301 is a string associated with the rank and suit of the playing card one-to-one. Figure 5 and Figure 6 In the example shown, the Ace of Diamonds is associated with the string "10110010". All Aces of Diamonds in a deck of playing cards will have this string as the first 8 digits of their card identification string.

[0105] The second group 302 is a sequence of 3 characters (0 or 1). If the card belongs to the first deck of a set of playing cards, group 302 equals 000. If the card belongs to the second deck, group 302 equals 001, and so on. This means that for Figure 5 and 6 The particular card shown is from the seventh deck of playing cards.

[0106] Likewise, it should be understood that this second group 302 of characters may have more than 3 characters, such as 4 characters, 5 characters or more. In an alternative embodiment, the group may be a randomly generated group of, for example, a given number of characters.

[0107] The third group 303 is a control bit. For example, if the digital string 20 provided by the groups 301 and 302 includes an even number of "1", it represents 0, and if the digital string provided by the groups 301 and 302 includes an odd number of "1", it represents 1.

[0108] Figure 7 5 card identification strings of 5 consecutive cards 501 to 501 in a set of playing cards are shown. In this set of playing cards, card 501 is equal to Figure 8 Card 100. Card 503 is the Ace of Diamonds, but is from the first deck in the set.

[0109] The set identification code 600 is a series of 8 characters, each character is selected from the group consisting of letters, numbers 0 to 9, special characters &, #, §, $, £ and €, and any other ASCII characters. With the help of an appropriate decoding key or algorithm 700, the set identification code 600 can be converted into a set identification string 601. A group 302 of 3 characters is selected from each card identification string as a group 800 of R characters (3 characters in this embodiment). The first 3 characters 602 in the set identification string will be the group 302 of the card identification string 501 (i.e., the card identification string of the first card in the set). The next three characters 603 in the set identification string will be the group 302 of the card identification string 502 (i.e., the card identification string of the second card in the set), and so on.

[0110] Thus, a packaged set of cards having a seal displaying the set identification code 600 can be used to play a card game during which the order of the cards in the set can be monitored to see if this order equals the original order when the set was created and the set identification string and code was generated.

[0111] Figure 8 An alternative playing card of a portion of a set of playing cards according to the present invention is shown. For example, a set of playing cards includes 8 decks of 52 cards, i.e., 416 cards. N is 416. Playing card 1000, in this case the Ace of Spades, carries a card identification code, in this case four times, i.e., a micro-dot image code 1002. It should be understood that instead of a micro-dot code, the code may be a QR code (also known as a two-dimensional code), which may be located in the same position as the micro-dot code, or, for example, below and adjacent to the right of the rank indication of the card.

[0112] like Fig. 9As shown, the card identification string 1004 is a binary string of characters 0 and 1, which can be obtained by an appropriate decryption algorithm 2002. The card identification string 1004 can be composed of several character groups 3001 and 3002. The first group 3001 is a string associated with the points and suits of the playing cards one-to-one. Figure 8 and Fig. 9 In the example shown, the Ace of Spades is associated with the string "111111". All Aces of Spades in a deck of playing cards have this string as the first 6 digits of their card identification string.

[0113] The second group 3002 is a sequence of 3 characters (0 or 1). If the card belongs to the first deck that exists in a set of playing cards, group 3002 equals 000. If the card belongs to the second deck, group 3002 equals 001, and so on. This means that for Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The particular card shown in , card 1000, belongs to the eighth deck in a set of playing cards.

[0114] Here too, it should be understood that this second group 3002 of characters may have more than 3 characters, such as 4 characters, 5 characters or more. In an alternative embodiment, this group may be a randomly generated group of, for example, a given number of characters.

[0115] Fig.10 5 card identification strings of 5 consecutive cards 5001 to 5005 in a set of playing cards are shown. In this set of playing cards, card 5001 is equal to Figure 8 Card 5003 is the Ace of Spades, but is from the second deck in the set.

[0116] The set identification code 6000 is a barcode. With the aid of an appropriate decoding key or algorithm 7000, the set identification code 6000 can be converted into a set identification string 6001. A group 3002 of 3 characters is selected from each card identification string as a group 8000 of R characters (3 characters in this embodiment). The first 3 characters 6002 in the set identification string will be the group 3002 of the card identification string 5001 (i.e., the card identification string of the first card in the set). The next three characters 6003 in the set identification string will be the group 3002 of the card identification string 5002 (i.e., the card identification string of the second card in the set), and so on.

[0117] Therefore, if Fig.11 As shown, a packaged set of cards 9000 having a seal 9001 displaying a set identification code 6000 can be used to play a card game, during which the order of the cards in the set can be monitored to see if the order is equal to the original order when the set was created and the set identification string and code were generated.

[0118] It should be understood that although preferred embodiments and / or materials have been discussed for providing embodiments according to the present invention, various modifications or changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Claims

1. A set of playing cards, the set comprising N playing cards, N>1, each playing card having a detectable card identification string, the card identification string being a series of M characters, the set of playing cards being provided with a set identification string, the set identification string being composed of N groups of R characters, R≤M, each card identification string providing the set identification string with a group of R characters from the series of M characters taken from the card identification string, for all card identification strings, the positions of the R characters in the series of M characters being the same, the N groups of R characters being concatenated to form a set identification string, the order of the concatenated N groups of R characters in the set identification string being the same as the order of the N playing cards in the set of playing cards.

2. A set of playing cards according to claim 1, wherein: R <M。 3. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The card identification string is printed on the front side of the playing cards.

4. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The brand identification string is encrypted into a brand identification code.

5. A set of playing cards according to claim 4, wherein: The card identification code is printed on the front side of the playing cards.

6. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The value of R is between 1 and 5.

7. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The set identification string is encrypted into a set identification code.

8. A set of playing cards according to claim 7, wherein: The set of playing cards is packaged in a sealed package, and the set identification code is printed on the package and / or seal.

9. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The card identification string includes information about the rank and suit of the playing card.

10. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The set of playing cards includes B decks of playing cards, B>1, and the card identification string includes information about the deck to which the card belongs in the set of playing cards.

11. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The brand identification string includes information about: the date and / or time of printing of the said card, and / or the location where said cards were printed, and / or The company that printed the said cards, and / or the type of game the cards are printed on, and / or the brand of the brand, and / or The casino for which the cards were printed.

12. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The brand identification string includes a serial number and / or a random number.

13. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The group of R characters taken from the series of M characters of the card identification string is a group of R consecutive characters in the series of M characters of this card identification string, and the first character of the R consecutive characters is always the character at the same position in the series of M characters of the card identification string.

14. A set of playing cards according to claim 4 or 5, wherein: The brand identification code is printed using UV-visible ink.

15. A set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The brand identification string is printed using ultraviolet visible ink.

16. A method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards, the method comprising: Providing a set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the card identification string is encrypted into a card identification code; providing a card dispenser suitable for reading the card identification code; reading the brand identification code; The R characters of the brand identification string are extracted and compared with the characters in the set identification string.

17. A method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards, the method comprising: Providing a set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2; providing a card dealer suitable for reading the card identification string; Reading the brand identification string; The R characters of the brand identification string are extracted and compared with the characters in the set identification string.

18. A method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards, the method comprising: A. Providing a set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the card identification string is encrypted into a card identification code; B. providing a card dispenser suitable for reading said card identification code; C. Providing a processing unit, the processing unit is suitable for: Decrypt the card identification code into a card identification string, If applicable, decrypt the set identification code into a set identification string, extract the R characters from the brand identification string, and comparing the R characters from the card identification string to the set identification string; D. inserting the set of playing cards into the card dealer; E. providing the set identification string or, if applicable, the set identification code to the processing unit; F. drawing a playing card from the card dealer; G. reading the card identification code by the card distributor and providing the card identification code to the processing unit, H. decrypting the brand identification code into the brand identification string; I. extracting the R characters of the brand identification string and comparing the R characters of the brand identification string with the characters in the set identification string; J. Repeat steps F to I as long as step I determines that the R characters of the card identification string are equal to the characters in the set identification string; K. When step I determines that the R characters of the card identification string are not equal to the characters in the set identification string, a defect signal is issued.

19. A method for dealing playing cards from a set of playing cards, the method comprising: A. Providing a set of playing cards according to claim 1 or 2; B. providing a card distributor suitable for reading the card identification string; C. Providing a processing unit, the processing unit is suitable for: If applicable, decrypt the set identification code into a set identification string, extract the R characters from the brand identification string, and comparing the R characters from the card identification string to the set identification string; D. inserting the set of playing cards into the card dealer; E. providing the set identification string or, if applicable, the set identification code to the processing unit; F. drawing a playing card from the card dealer; G. reading the card identification string by the card dealer and providing the card identification string to the processing unit, I. extracting the R characters of the brand identification string and comparing the R characters of the brand identification string with the characters in the set identification string; J. Repeat steps F to I as long as step I determines that the R characters of the card identification string are equal to the characters in the set identification string; K. When step I determines that the R characters of the card identification string are not equal to the characters in the set identification string, a defect signal is issued.

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