Patent ID: 8221244

Claim:
A method of automating game play at a gaming table using a smart hand held card holder (HHCH), comprising: receiving data at said HHCH indicating a player or dealer position to which cards are being dealt; detecting at said HHCH an identity of cards dealt to said player position; storing at said HHCH a history of cards dealt to said player position; totaling cards dealt to said dealer; determining at said HHCH one or more game status results; and indicating by said HHCH one or more game status indications writing data to a playing card indicating one or more of: time dealt; player identity; dealer identity; total of hand resulting from that card; information regarding indications prompting deal of that card, such as detection of player hand action, detection of dealer input, detection of card placement, and time of actions; active bet at time of deal; information regarding placement of cards detected on table.