Method and apparatus for monitoring casinos and gaming

• US 6,712,696 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2001
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• 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:
  US10/015,324
• Publication Number:
  US 20020045478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/29, 463/12, 463/13, 463/22, 273/138.2, 273/237, 273/238, 273/309, 273/288, 273/148.R, 273/148.B
• 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. 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. The system can produce measurements relevant to providing automated security, real-time accounting and providing a basis for automatically allocating complimentary player benefits.

Claims

1. A gaming table monitoring system to monitor a game played at a gaming table, comprising:

a bank on the gaming table for holding a number of chips associated with a house;

a chip reader positioned to image the chips in the bank, the chip reader having an output to carry a bank image signal corresponding to the image of the chips in the bank;

a table imager positioned to image at least a chip placement portion of a playing surface of the gaming table including a number of chips on the playing surface associated with at least one player, the table imager having an output to carry a table image signal corresponding to the image of the playing surface portion and the chips on the chip placement playing surface portion; and

a computer coupled to the outputs of the bank reader and the table imager and programmed to track the chips in the bank and the chips on the playing surface portion of the gaming table.

2. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the bank includes a chip tray for holding the chips associated with the house.

3. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1 where the bank includes a delimited portion of the playing surface of the gaming table.

4. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1 where the game is played with playing cards, further comprising:

a card reader having a card reader output to carry a card signal corresponding to a set of identifying information on the playing cards.

5. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1 where the game is played with playing cards, further comprising:

a card reader having housing including a cradle sized to receive a plurality of playing cards and a reading head positionable in the housing to read a respective symbol on each of the playing cards before a first one of the playing cards is removed from the housing.

6. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the table imager images at least one game piece on the playing surface and the computer is further programmed to identify the game piece on the playing surface of the gaming table.

7. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

an automated drop box having an imager to image at least an amount indicating portion of an item deposited in the drop box and identify an amount indicated in the amount indicating portion, and an output coupled to the computer to carry a signal corresponding to the amount identified to the computer, the computer being further programmed to reconcile changes to the bank and the amount identified for the deposited item.

8. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

an automated drop box having an imager to image at least an amount indicating portion of an item deposited in the drop box, a processor coupled to receive the image from the imager and to verify an authenticity of the deposited item and identify an amounted indicated in the amount indicating portion, and an output coupled to the computer to carry a signal corresponding to the amount to the computer, the computer being further programmed to reconcile changes to the bank with the amount identified for the verified deposited item.

9. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1 where the game is played with playing cards, further comprising:

a monitor coupled to the computer to receive a display signal generated by the computer, the display signal corresponding to a graphical simulation of an actual gaming environment including a graphical representation of a contents of the bank and a graphical representation of any wagers placed and any playing cards dealt at each of a number of playing positions in the actual gaming environment.

10. The gaming table monitoring system of claim 1 where the game is played with playing cards, further comprising:

a monitor coupled to the computer to receive a display signal generated by the computer, the display signal corresponding to a graphical simulation of an actual gaming environment including a graphical representation of a contents of the bank and a graphical representation of any wagers placed and any playing cards dealt at each of a number of playing positions in the actual gaming environment, the display signal further corresponding to a set of calculated game play statistics.

11. A system to monitor wagering, comprising:

a chip tray reader to read identifying information from chips in a chip tray, the chip tray reader having an output to carry a chip tray information signal;

a table imager positioned to image at least a portion of a gaming table playing surface, the table imager having an output to carry a table image signal corresponding to the image; and

a computer coupled to the chip tray reader to receive chip tray information signal and coupled to the table imager to receive the table image signal.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the chip tray reader includes at least one imager having a field-of-view for imaging at least a portion of the chip tray.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the chip tray reader includes at least one scanner having a field-of-view for scanning at least a portion of the chip tray.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

the chip tray, wherein at least a portion of the chip tray reader and at least a portion of the table imager are each housed within the chip tray.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a card reader having a card reader output to carry a card signal corresponding to a set of identifying information on the playing cards.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a card reader having housing including a cradle sized to receive a plurality of playing cards and a reading head positionable in the housing to read a respective symbol on each of the playing cards before a first one of the playing cards is removed from the housing.

17. A gaming table monitor, comprising:

a chip tray having a base including a front portion, and a chip carrying surface supported by the base, the chip carrying surface including a number of wells sized to receive chips therein;

a first table imaging camera mounted in the chip tray, the first table imaging camera having a first table imaging field-of-view extending outwardly from the front portion of the base; and

a first chip imaging camera mounted in the chip tray, the first chip imaging camera having a chip imaging field-of-view extending upwardly from the chip carrying surface.

18. The gaming table monitor of claim 17, comprising:

a second table imaging camera mounted in the chip tray and having a second table imaging field-of-view extending outwardly from the front portion of the base, the second table imaging field-of-view different from and the first table imaging field-of-view; and

a digital signal processing circuit coupled to receive input signals at an input from the first and the second table imaging cameras and coupled to produce video output signals at an output.

19. The gaming table monitor of claim 17, comprising:

a drive mechanism coupled to drive the field-of-view of the first chip imaging camera with respect to the number of wells in the chip tray.

20. A method of monitoring a transactions in a game played on a gaming table monitoring system to monitor a game played at a gaming table, comprising:

successively imaging a number of chips in a chip bank;

successively imaging at least a chip placement portion of a playing surface of the gaming table; and

tracking the chips in the bank and on the chip playing portion of the playing surface.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein successively imaging a number of chips in a chip bank includes:

capturing a first image of at least a portion of the number of chips in the chip bank at a first time;

capturing a second image of at least the portion of the number of chips in the chip bank at a second time; and

determining any change in the number of chips between the first image and the second image.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein successively imaging at least a chip placement portion of a playing surface of the gaming table includes:

capturing a first image of at least the chip placement portion of the gaming table at a first time;

capturing a second image of at least the chip placement portion of the gaming table at a second time; and

determining any change in the number of chips between the first image and the second image.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein tracking the chips in the bank and on the chip playing portion of the playing surface includes:

determining a change in value of the chips in the chip bank between a first time and a second time.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein tracking the chips in the bank and on the chip playing portion of the playing surface includes:

determining at least one of a total number of chips or a total value of chips in the chip bank in a first image;

determining at least one of a total number of chips or a total value of chips in the chip bank in a second image; and

determining a change in at least one of the total number of chips or the total value of chips in the chip bank between the first image and the second image.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein tracking the chips in the bank and on the chip playing portion of the playing surface includes:

determining a change in value of at least one set of chips on the chip placement portion of the playing table between a first time and a second time.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein tracking the chips in the bank and on the chip playing portion of the playing surface includes:

determining at least one of a total number of chips or a total value of chips in at least a portion of the chip placement portion of the playing surface of the gaming table in a first image;

determining at least one of a total number of chips or a total value of chips in at least a portion of the chip placement portion of the playing surface of the gaming table in a second image; and

determining a change in at least one of the total number of chips or the total value of chips in the at least a portion of the chip placement portion of the playing surface of the gaming table between the first image and the second image.

27. A method of monitoring a transactions in a game played on a gaming table monitoring system to monitor a game played at a gaming table, comprising:

successively imaging a number of chips in a chip bank;

successively imaging at least a chip placement portion of a playing surface of the gaming table; and

determining at least one of a total number of chips or a total value of chips in the chip bank in a first chip placement portion image;

determining at least one of a total number of chips or a total value of chips in the chip bank in a second chip placement portion image; and

determining a change in at least one of the total number of chips or the total value of chips in the chip bank between the first chip placement portion image and the second chip placement portion image;

determining at least one of a total number of chips or a total value of chips in at least a portion of the chip placement portion of the playing surface of the gaming table in a first chip bank image;

determining at least one of a total number of chips or a total value of chips in at least a portion of the chip placement portion of the playing surface of the gaming table in a second chip bank image; and

determining a change in at least one of the total number of chips or the total value of chips in the at least a portion of the chip placement portion of the playing surface of the gaming table between the first chip bank image and the second chip bank image.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

identifying a number of separate stacks of chips in an image of the chip placement portion of the gaming table.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

identifying a number of separate stacks of chips in an image of the chip placement portion of the gaming table, and wherein the determining a change in at least one of the total number of chips or the total value of chips in the chip bank between the first chip placement portion image and the second chip placement portion image occurs separately for each of the identified stacks of chips.