Method and apparatus for tracking play at a roulette table

• US 8,092,293 B2
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Richards, Tim, Steil, Rolland N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US11/520,854
• Publication Number:
  US 20080076529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A wagering monitoring system configured to detect player wagers at a roulette table. A table having antennas associated with the various wagering areas is provided for the players. A reader connects to each antenna to thereby communicate via the antenna with tokens equipped with an identification element. By monitoring wagers, game play is monitored and processing may occur to track each player wager and the amount wagered by each player. To facilitate play at a roulette table, the identification element associated with each token includes a token color identification code which identifies the color of the token. The token color identification code is associated with a specific player which in turn provides means to associated each wager and a total amount wagered with that player.

Claims

1. A roulette game wager detection system comprising:

an antenna configured to establish a detection zone associated with a plurality of wagering areas and an association area on a game table surface and to detect each of a plurality of tokens placed within a plurality of the wagering areas by a plurality of different players, wherein;

(a) each of the tokens;

(i) is included in a token set of a designated number of token sets, wherein each of the token sets;

(A) is associated with a different one of a plurality of different token colors, and

(B) includes a plurality of the tokens having the token color associated with said token set,

(ii) includes a token identification element, and

(iii) includes a token memory storing token data, wherein the token data includes a token value, a token serial number, and a token color identification code, the token color identification code identifying the token color of said token, the token color identified by the token color identification code being assignable to one of the different players,

(b) each of the wagering areas is;

(i) associated with a different one of a plurality of different wager options, and

(ii) configured to receive at least one of the tokens from a plurality of the different players; and

(c) the association area is different from the wagering areas;

a reader connected to the antenna, wherein the reader is configured to;

(a) when a first one of the tokens having a first one of the token colors assigned to a first one of the different players and a second one of the tokens having a second different one of the token colors assigned to a second one of the different players are located within a same one of the wagering areas;

(i) read the token data of the first one of the tokens and the second one of the tokens, the token data of the first one of the tokens including a first token color identification code identifying the first one of the token colors, the token data of the second one of the tokens including a second token color identification code identifying the second one of the token colors, and

(ii) communicate the first token color identification code and the second token color identification code to a processor to enable the processor to determine that wagers from the first one of the different players and the second one of the different players are located within the same one of the wagering areas; and

(b) when a third one of the tokens is located within the association area, read the token data of the third one of the tokens and operate with the processor to assign the third one of the tokens a value associated with the association area, and

a dealer interface configured to enable a dealer to;

(a) indicate that all wagers for a round of play of the roulette game have been placed, and

(b) activate the reader.

2. The roulette game wager detection system of claim 1, wherein the game table surface is configured in a roulette table layout.

3. The roulette game wager detection system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to track a total value of wagers made using the tokens having the same token color identification code.

4. The roulette game wager detection system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine if at least one of the tokens located within at least one of the wagering areas or the association area satisfies predetermined game rules and, if the predetermined game rules are not satisfied, to generate an alert.

5. The roulette game wager detection system of claim 1, which includes a roulette wheel monitor configured to detect a status of a roulette wheel.

6. The roulette game wager detection system of claim 1, wherein the reader is configured to, when a fourth one of the tokens and a fourth player identification element are located within a second association area on the game table surface:

(a) read a fourth player identification data stored on the fourth player identification element and the token data of the fourth one of the tokens, the token data of the fourth one of the tokens including a fourth token color identification code identifying a fourth token color, the fourth player identification data identifying a fourth player, and

(b) communicate the fourth token color identification code and the fourth player identification data to the processor to enable the processor to assign the fourth token color to the fourth player.

7. A method of identifying wagering activity during a game of roulette, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing, with an antenna, a detection zone associated with a plurality of wagering areas and an association area on a game table surface, the antenna being configured to detect each of a plurality of tokens placed within a plurality of the wagering areas by a plurality of different players, the association area being different from the wagering areas, each of the wagering areas being;

(a) associated with a different one of a plurality of different wager options, and

(b) configured to receive at least one of the tokens from a plurality of the different players;

causing a processor to assign a first one of a plurality of different token colors to a first one of the different players and a second different one of the token colors to a second one of the different players, wherein;

(a) each of the token colors is associated with a different one of a designated number of token sets, each of the token sets being comprised of a plurality of the tokens of the token color associated with said token set, and

(b) each of the tokens includes a token identification element and a memory, the memory storing token data including a token value, a token serial number, and a token color identification code, the token color identification code identifying the token color of said token;

detecting, with the antenna;

(a) a first one of the tokens having the first one of the token colors and a second one of the tokens having the second different one of the token colors located within a same one of the wagering areas, the first one of the tokens including a first token color identification code identifying the first one of the token colors, the second one of the tokens including a second token color identification code identifying the second different one of the token colors; and

(b) a third one of the tokens within the association area;

activating a reader, wherein the reader is configured to read the token data of each of a plurality of the tokens placed on the same one of the wagering areas by the different players; and

causing the reader to;

(a) read the token data of the first one of the tokens and the second one of the tokens, and communicate the read token data to the processor to enable the processor to determine that wagers from the first one of the different players and the second one of the different players are located within the same one of the wagering areas and to calculate the amount wagered by the first one of the different players and the amount wagered by the second one of the different players; and

(b) read the token data of the third one of the tokens and operate with the processor to assign the third one of the tokens a value associated with the association area.

8. The method of claim 7, which includes:

(a) detecting, with the antenna, a fourth one of the tokens and a fourth player identification element within a second association area on the game table surface, and

(b) causing the reader to;

(a) read a fourth player identification data stored on the player identification element and the token data of the fourth one of the tokens, the token data of the fourth one of the tokens including a fourth token color identification code identifying a fourth token color, the fourth player identification data identifying a fourth player; and

(b) communicate the fourth token color identification code and the fourth player identification data to the processor to enable the processor to assign the fourth token color to the fourth player.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the association area comprises an area of the game table surface having the antenna in proximity thereto to detect both the player identification data and the token color identification code.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising causing the processor to provide a comp award to one of the different players based on the amount wagered by said player, wherein the processor determines the amount wagered by said player based on token data read by the reader, wherein the processor provides the comp award regardless of the outcome of the game of roulette.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the token identification element comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating an alert if a wager violates a wagering rule.