US Patent 8033548 Playing cards and table game system

The present invention provides playing cards which allow a code to be read reliably from the cards shot out at various speeds. Playing cards (1) are provided with a code (2) not readable under a lighting condition of visible light, but readable under lighting conditions other than the visible light. The code (2) comprises four code elements (3) arranged in two rows and two columns and represents suit and rank information of the playing cards (1). The code elements (3) include at least two types of mark which differ in length in a column direction corresponding to a reading direction of the code (2). Row-by-row combinations of the code elements (3) arranged in a row direction orthogonal to the code reading direction can be identified uniquely and the suit and rank information of the playing cards (1) represented by the code (2) can be identified based on the row-by-row combinations of the code elements (3).