Method and apparatus for monitoring casinos and gaming

• US 6,517,435 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• 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 (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Soltys, Richard, Huizinga, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US10/055,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068625A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/17, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/28-29, 273/148.R, 273/309, 705/7, 705/11, 700/91, 700/92, 700/93
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 method of monitoring employees at a gaming table, comprising:

determining a value of a bank at the gaming table prior to game play;

determining a respective amount of each of a number of wagers on the gaming table;

determining an outcome of the game play;

determining an amount of payouts and takes for each of the wagers based on the determined amounts of the wagers and the determined outcome of the game play;

determining the value of the bank at the gaming table after the game play;

reconciling the determined payouts and takes with the determined value of the bank prior to game play and the determined value of the bank after the game play; and

identifying discrepancies from the reconciliation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the value of the bank at the gaming table before an item of value is deposited in a drop box located proximate the gaming table;

determining a value of the item of value deposited into the drop box;

determining the value of the bank at the gaming table after the deposit; and

reconciling the determined value of the item of value deposited into the drop box with the determined value of the bank at the gaming table after the deposit and the determined value of the bank at the gaming table before the deposit.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying an authenticity of an item of value deposited into a drop box located proximate the gaming table;

providing an indication of the authenticity of the deposit;

determining a value of the verified item of value;

determining the value of the bank at the gaming table after the deposit; and

reconciling the determined value of the item of value with the determined value of the bank at the gaming table after the deposit and a value of the bank at the gaming table before the deposit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a value of a bank at the gaming table prior to game play includes automatically determining a value of each of a number of chips in a chip tray and summing the values for all of the chips in the chip tray.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a value of a bank at the gaming table prior to game play includes imaging a number of chips in a chip tray and determining a value for each of the chips from the image.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a respective amount of each of a number of wagers on the table includes automatically scanning the gaming table for a chip.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a respective amount of each of a number of wagers on the gaming table includes imaging at least a portion of the gaming table, and automatically identifying a number of chips on the gaming table from the image.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an outcome of the game play includes automatically determining the value of at least one game piece.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an outcome of the game play includes imaging a game piece and automatically determining a value of the game piece from the image.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determining an amount of the payouts and takes for each of the wagers includes automatically multiplying the wager by the odds for each winning wager and setting the amount of the take equal to the wager for each losing wager.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the value of the bank at the gaming table after the game play includes automatically determining a value of each of a number of chips in a chip tray and summing the values for all of the chips in the chip tray.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the value of the bank at the gaming table after the game play includes imaging a number of chips in a chip tray after paying the payouts and collecting the takes and determining a value for each of the chips from the image.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein reconciling the determined payouts and takes with the value of the bank at the gaming table prior to game play and the value of the bank at the gaming table after the game play includes automatically comparing the difference between value of the bank before the game play and the value of the bank after the game play with the determined amount of payouts and takes.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying discrepancies from the reconciliation includes providing an alert when the difference between value of the bank before the game play and the value of the bank after the game play does not match the determined amount of payouts and takes.

15. A method of reconciling transactions at a gaming table, comprising:

determining a value of a bank at the gaming table prior to a round of game play;

determining a value of the bank at the gaming table following the round of game play; and

reconciling a difference between the value of the bank before and following the round of game play with an outcome of wagers placed on an outcome of the game play.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining a respective amount of each of a number of wagers on the gaming table;

determining an outcome of the game play;

determining the outcome of each of the wagers based on the determined outcome of the game play;

determining an amount of payouts and takes for each of the wagers based on the determined amounts of each of the wagers and the determined outcome of each of the wagers.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing an alert if the difference between the value of the bank before and following the round of game play with is not reconcilable with the outcome of the wagers placed on the outcome of the game play.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the value of the bank at the gaming table before a deposit of an item of value;

determining a value of the item of value deposited;

determining the value of the bank at the gaming table after the deposit of the item of value; and

reconciling the difference between the determined value of the bank at the gaming table before the deposit and the determined value of the bank at the gaming table after the deposit with the determined value of the deposited item of value.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the bank includes a chip tray and determining a value of a bank at the gaming table prior to game play includes imaging a number of chips in the chip tray and determining a value for each of the chips from the image.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the bank includes a chip tray and determining the value of the bank at the gaming table after the game play includes imaging a number of chips in the chip tray after paying the payouts and collecting the takes and determining a value for each of the chips from the image.