A method for supplying playing cards (12) in which indicia carried by
the
cards (12) is derived or selected randomly and applied to the cards (12)
prior to dealing. The indicia carried by the cards (12) is removed after
the game is played thereby allowing the cards (12) to be reused and have
further randomly derived indicia to be applied. The apparatus (10) for use
in the method includes a card delivery chute (26), an indicia removing device
(25), a card storage device (11) in which cards (12) are stacked,
and an image applying device for applying indicia to the cards (12) for
delivery to a card feeding device (24) for playing a game. The method and
apparatus may be applied to other game playing pieces and the cards and pieces
may be in many different configurations and include an electronic display for displaying indicia.