Method and apparatus for monitoring casinos and gaming

• US 6,533,662 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2002
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• 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 (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Soltys, Richard, Huizinga, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US10/051,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072405A1
• Time in Patent Office: 424 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/29, 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/17, 463/25, 434/219, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/309, 700/91, 700/92, 700/93, 705/7, 705/11, 273/148.R, 273/309
• 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 performance of employees. A card deck reader automatically reads symbols from each card in a deck, 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, and a table monitor automatically images the activity occurring at a gaming table. The system 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.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring employee efficiency for a game played at a gaming table, comprising:

determining an actual change in the value of a bank at the table for a number of game plays;

determining a theoretical change in a value of the bank for the gaming number of game plays; and

automatically comparing the determined actual change in the value of the bank to the determined theoretical change in the value of the bank.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a theoretical change in the value of the bank for the number of plays of the game, includes selecting the theoretical change in value from a lookup table.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a theoretical change in the value of the bank for the number of plays of the game, includes statistically calculating the theoretical change in value based on a set of odds for the game and the number of plays of the game.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a theoretical change in the value of the bank for the number of plays of the game, includes

monitoring at least one value of at least one game piece; and

statistically calculating the theoretical change in value based on a set of odds of the game, the number of plays of the game, and the at least one value of the at least one game piece.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a theoretical change in the value of the bank for the number of plays of the game, includes

monitoring a value of a hand of a plurality of cards;

and

calculating the theoretical change in value based on a set of odds of the game, the number of game plays, and the values of each of a number of the cards forming the hand.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a theoretical change in the value of the bank for the number of game plays, includes

monitoring a value of at least one die;

and

calculating the theoretical change in value based on a set of odds of the game, the number of game plays, and the value of the at least one die.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a theoretical change in the value of the bank for the number of game plays, includes

monitoring a value at least one gaming wheel;

and

statistically calculating the theoretical change in value based on a set of odds of the game, the number of game plays, and the value of each spin of the at least one gaming wheel where each of the spins is one of the game plays.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a rate at which hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table by a current dealer; and

displaying the determined rate at which the hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table by the current dealer.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a rate at which hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table during a current shift; and

displaying the determined rate at which the hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table during the current shift.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a rate at which hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table over a time period; and

displaying the determined rate at which the hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table over the period of time.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an average number of players per game dealt to by a current dealer at the gaming table; and

displaying the determined average number of players per game dealt to by the current dealer at the gaming table.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an average number of players per game dealt to during a current shift at the gaming table; and

displaying the determined average number of players per game dealt during the current shift at the gaming table.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an average number of players per game dealt to during a time period including at least two shifts; and

displaying the determined average number of players per game dealt during the time period including at least two shifts.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of times the bank at the gaming table is short for a current dealer; and

displaying the determined number of time the bank at the gaming table is short for the current dealer.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of times the bank at the gaming table is short for a current shift; and

displaying the determined number of time the bank at the gaming table is short for the current shift.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of times the bank at the gaming table is short for a time period including at least two shifts; and

displaying the determined number of time the bank at the gaming table is short for the time period including at least two shifts.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a cumulative amount by which the bank at the gaming table is short for a current dealer; and

displaying the determined cumulative amount by which the bank at the gaming table is short for the current dealer.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a cumulative amount by which the bank at the gaming table is short for a current shift; and

displaying the determined cumulative amount by which the bank at the gaming table is short for the current shift.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a cumulative amount by which the bank at the gaming table is short for a period of time including at least two shifts; and

displaying the determined cumulative amount by which the bank at the gaming table is short for the time period including at least two shifts.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an elapsed amount of time during which a current dealer deals hands of cards at the gaming table; and

displaying the determined elapsed amount of time that the current dealer deals hands of cards at the gaming table.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an elapsed amount of time of during which hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table during a current shift; and

displaying the determined elapsed amount of time of during which hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table during the current shift.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an elapsed amount of time of during which hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table during a time period including at least two shifts; and

displaying the determined elapsed amount of time of during which hands of cards are dealt at the gaming table during the time period including at least two shifts.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an amount of idle time during which a current dealer is not dealing hands of cards while operating the gaming table; and

displaying the determined amount of idle time during which the current dealer is not dealing hands of cards while operating the gaming table.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an amount of idle time for a current shift at the gaming table during which hands of cards are not being dealt at the gaming table; and

displaying the determined amount of idle time for the current shift at the gaming table during which hands of cards are not being dealt at the gaming table.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an amount of idle time for a time period including at least two shifts at the gaming table during which hands of cards are not being dealt at the gaming table; and

displaying the determined amount of idle time for a time period including at least two shifts at the gaming table during which hands of cards are not being dealt at the gaming table.