Patent ID: 7300056

Claim:
An automated method comprising: (a) physically randomizing a plurality of physical playing instruments without the utilization of a random number generator, each playing instrument having at least one identifier, wherein the randomization process includes a scrambling process comprising: (i) introducing a plurality of playing cards in an inclined chamber having a base comprising an elevated portion and a lowered portion, wherein the plurality of playing instruments are introduced with the first side facing down with respect to the base and the second side facing upwards; (ii) introducing a vacuum force upon at least a portion of the lowered portion of the chamber wherein the first side of at least one playing instrument is pulled against the chamber base; and (iii) rotating the chamber, wherein the first side of the plurality of playing instruments remains substantially downward, and the at least one playing instrument pulled against the chamber base rotates at substantially the same velocity as the chamber until rotating to a location within the elevated portion of the chamber that is not substantially proximate to the vacuum force, wherein the first side of the at least one playing instrument ceases to be pulled against the chamber base. (b) electronically determining the identity of at least two physical playing instruments in a sequential order before initiation of a game; and (c) electronically storing the identity of the at least two playing instruments of (b) on one or more computer-readable mediums to create a virtual deck of virtual playing instruments derived from the physical plurality of playing instruments for use in one or more electronic games, wherein the identity of the at least two playing instruments is stored in correlation to the sequence the identities were determined in (b).