Method and apparatus for monitoring casinos and gaming

• US 6,460,848 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital Table Systems LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: MindPlay LLC (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Soltys, Richard, Huizinga, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US09/474,858
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 463/23, 463/29, 463/46, 463/47, 463/11, 463/12, 463/13, 273/292, 273/148.R, 273/149.R, 273/149.P, 273/309
• US Class Current: 273/149.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/242 Bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

A system automatically monitors playing and wagering of a game, including the gaming habits of players and the performance of employees. A card deck reader automatically reads a symbol from each card in a deck of cards before a first one of the cards is removed. The symbol identifies a respective rank and suit of the card. A chip tray reader automatically images the contents of a chip tray, to periodically determine the number and value of chips in the chip tray, and to compare the change in contents of the chip tray to the outcome of game play for verifying that the proper amounts have been paid out and collected. A table monitor automatically images the activity occurring at a gaming table. Periodic comparison of the images identify wagering, as well as the appearance, removal and position of cards and other game objects on the gaming table. A drop box automatically verifies an amount and authenticity of a deposit and reconciles the deposit with a change in the contents of the chip tray. The drop box employs a variety of lighting and resolutions to image selected portions of the deposited item. The system detects prohibited playing and wagering patterns, and determines the win/loss percentage of the players and the dealer, as well as a number of other statistically relevant measures. The measurements provide automated security and real-time accounting. The measurements also provide a basis for automatically allocating complimentary player benefits.

Claims

1. A card deck reader, comprising:

a housing having a cradle sized to receive a plurality of playing cards; and

a reading head positioned in the housing to read a respective symbol on each of the playing cards before a first one of the plurality playing cards is manually removed from the housing.

2. The card deck reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a drive mechanism coupled to the reading head to move the reading head with respect to at least two of the playing cards.

4. The card deck reader of claim 1 wherein the reading head includes at least one linear optical sensor.

7. The card deck reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a light source received in the housing and positioned to illuminate at least a portion of a respective surface of each of at least two playing cards when the playing cards are received in the housing.

8. The card deck reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a decoder coupled to the reading head to receive and decode a signal from the reading head corresponding to a number of machine-readable symbols read from the playing cards.

9. The card deck reader of claim 1, further comprising:

a microprocessor coupled to the reading head to receive a signal from the reading head corresponding to a number of machine-readable symbols read from the playing cards; and

a memory coupled to the microprocessor to provide instructions thereto, the memory including instructions that cause the microprocessor to decode the signal from the reading head and to verify that the plurality of playing cards is complete and contains on substituted playing cards.

10. The card deck reader of claim 1 wherein the plurality of playing cards includes more than a single deck of 52 playing cards.

3. A card deck reader, comprising:

a housing having a cradle sized to receive a plurality of playing cards; and

a reading head positioned in the housing to read a respective symbol on each of the playing cards before a first one of the plurality playing cards is manually removed from the housing

wherein the reading head is an area imager having a field-of-view covering an information bearing portion of at least two of the playing cards when the playing cards are received in the housing.

5. A card deck reader, comprising:

a housing having a cradle sized to receive a plurality of playing cards; and

a reading head positioned in the housing to read a respective symbol on each of the playing cards before a first one of the plurality playing cards is manually removed from the housing

wherein the housing includes a base to support the housing on a gaming table and a slopped card support surface, the card support surface forming an angle with respect to the base of the housing to expose identifying information carried on an edge of each of the plurality of cards received in the housing and supported by the card support surface.

6. A card deck reader, comprising:

a housing having a cradle sized to receive a plurality of playing cards;

a reading head positioned in the housing to read a respective symbol on each of the playing cards before a first one of the plurality playing cards is manually removed from the housing; and

a card support surface within the housing, the card support surface being sloped with respect to a gravitational axis when in use to expose a portion of a surface of each of the plurality of cards when the plurality of cards are received in the housing.

11. A card deck reader, comprising:

a housing having a cradle sized to receive a plurality of playing cards;

a reading head having a field-of-view, the reading head carried by the housing;

a motor coupled to drive the field-of-view of the reading head with respect to the playing cards; and

a motor controller programmed to drive the field-of-view of the reading head across at least an information bearing portion each of the playing cards before a first playing card is removed from the cradle.

12. The card deck reader of claim 11 wherein the reading head includes linear array charged couple device.

13. The card deck reader of claim 11 wherein the housing includes a base to support the housing on a gaming table when in use and a slopped card support surface forming an angle with respect to the base of the housing, the card support surface cooperatively engaging the plurality of cards to expose identifying information carried on an edge of each of the plurality of cards received in the cradle.

14. The card deck reader of claim 11, further comprising:

a microprocessor coupled to the reading head to receive a signal from the reading head corresponding to a number of machine-readable symbols read from the playing cards; and

a memory coupled to the microprocessor to provide instructions thereto, the memory including instructions that cause the microprocessor to decode the signal from the reading head and to verify that the plurality of playing cards is complete and contains on substituted playing cards.

15. A card deck reader, comprising:

a housing having a cradle sized to receive a plurality of playing cards;

a two-dimensional array reading head positioned in the housing to read a respective symbol on each of at least two playing cards before a first one of the playing cards is removed from the cradle.

16. The card deck reader of claim 15 wherein the housing includes a base to support the housing on a gaming table when in use and a slopped card support surface forming an angle with respect to the base of the housing and cooperatively engaging the cards to expose identifying information carried on an edge of each of the plurality of cards received in the housing.

17. The card deck reader of claim 15, further comprising:

a microprocessor coupled to the reading head to receive a signal from the reading head corresponding to a number of machine-readable symbols read from the playing cards; and

a memory coupled to the microprocessor to provide instructions thereto, the memory including instructions that cause the microprocessor to decode the signal from the reading head and to verify that the plurality of playing cards is complete and contains no substituted playing cards.