Game token management system

Abstract

A gaming chip management system for a casino comprising: a gaming chip reader configured to read an RFID embedded in a gaming chip placed in one of a plurality of chip placement area provided for each player position on a game table to obtain a chip ID stored in the RFID; a memory device configured to store the chip ID of the gaming chip in association with a holder of the gaming chip; and a control device configured to update the memory device SO that the holder of a payout gaming chip placed in the chip placement area is changed to a holder of a bet gaming chip which RFID is read from the chip placement area by the gaming chip reader before payment of the payout gaming chip. 20 25 20 35 56 16 M ay 2 02 5 2 0 2 5 2 0 3 5 5 6 1 6 M a y 2 0 2 5 A B S T R A C T

Description

[0103] The controller 2014 can determine, on the basis of the RFID information read by the chip reader 25, a chip type such as a cash chip, a rolling chip, or a promotion chip, and can store an amount of bet money for each type of the determined chips and an amount of money collected or redeemed.

[0104] A rolling chip is a special chip that can be purchased by a specific member and cannot be exchanged for cash, and an amount of the purchased rolling chips is managed for each member. A rolling chip must be consumed for betting, and redemption for betting using a rolling chip is made by a cash chip. By storing an amount of the rolling chips bet or collected on the basis of the RFID information read by the chip reader 25, an amount of rolling chips that a specific member is expected to have can be determined.

[0105] The chip reader 25 has a function of a confirmation area, and can read a game token 1 placed for redemption. As illustrated in FIG. 15, in a case where redemption is made to banker at the sitting number 2, the game token 1 for the redemption is placed and read in the chip reader 25. In FIG. 15, the game tokens 1 are placed next to the 2025203556   16 May 2025 won game tokens 1 bet on banker at the sitting number 2. The controller 2014 can compare an amount of redemption, which is determined by using a measurement result of a position, an amount, and the number of the game tokens 1 based on a game result obtained from the game result determination device and the image analysis result by the image analyzer, with an amount of the game tokens 1 placed for each sitting number, which is based on a reading result by the chip reader 25, determine whether or not the amount of the redemption agrees with the amount of the game tokens 1 placed for each sitting number, and output a determined result. In FIG. 16, at the sitting number 1, the total number of the game tokens 1 expected to be paid is four, whereas a reading result by the chip reader 25 is three, which means the total number of the game tokens 1 and the reading result disagree. In a case where an amount of redemption disagrees with an amount of the game tokens 1 placed for each sitting number, a signal indicating the disagreement is output, and the dealer can replace a game token 1 for redemption on the basis of the output signal. In a case where the game token 1 is replaced, determination is performed again, and a determination result can be output. An area for placing the game token 1 for redemption may be anywhere in the chip reader 25. Further, as illustrated in FIG. 15, separately from a betting area, a payment confirmation area 26 may be arranged on a dealer side of the betting area. In FIG. 15, a game token 1 for 2025203556   16 May 2025 redemption is placed in a payment confirmation area 26 at a sitting number 6, the chip reader 25 performs reading, the controller 2014 makes determination, and a redemption chip is placed next to the won game token 1 placed in banker.

[0106] For the confirmation area, the image analyzer 2012 may perform image analysis, and the controller 2014 may check a result of the image analysis with a reading result by the chip reader 25 to determine whether or not a total number of the result of the image analysis and a total number of the reading result by the chip reader 25 match.

[0107] On the basis of the determination made, the controller 2014 can output a signal. The signal may be displayed in a display unit of the chip tray 9 or a display unit of a card distributor 13, or may be output to the pit manager or to the backyard of the casino.

[0108] The chip reader 25 may use an entire betting area as one reading area for each sitting number as illustrated in FIG. 17, or may use, for each sitting number, a set of a player betting area and a banker betting area as one reading area, and a set of tie betting area, player pair betting area, and a banker pair betting area as one reading area as illustrated in FIG. 18. Further, as illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 22, each side betting area for a tie betting area, a player pair betting area, and a banker pair betting 2025203556   16 May 2025 area may be treated as one reading area.

[0109] A game token 1 used in an embodiment will be described below. FIG. 20 is an external view of and FIG. 21 is a front sectional view of a game token 1 used in this system. The game token 1 has a multi-layer structure in which a plurality of plastic layers in different colors are laminated. The game token 1 includes at least an intermediate color layer 101 and white layers 102 or light color layers on both sides of the color layer 101. The light color layers, which are not illustrated, are required at least to be layers in color lighter than color of the color layer 101. With the multi-layer structure in which the intermediate color layer 101 and the white layers 102 or light color layers, which is not illustrated and required at least to be layers in color lighter than color of the color layer 101, on both sides of the color layer 101 are laminated, as illustrated in FIG. 20, to form a stripe pattern in a lamination direction on a side surface, and different colors (red, green, yellow, blue, or the like) are used for the color layer 101, a type (10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1,000 points, or the like) of the game token 1 can be identifiable.

[0110] As illustrated in FIG. 21, the color layer 101 may be formed of a plurality of colored layers (FIG. 21 illustrates three layers). Because the plurality of the 2025203556   16 May 2025 colored layers (three layers in FIG. 21) are thermally press-bonded to one another, three-layer structure is not visible as illustrated in FIG. 21 that illustrates the three layers for description. Furthermore, a bore B is partially provided in a middle of the three layers of the color layer 101, and RFID is embedded therein.

[0111] A structure of the game token 1 is not limited to a structure in which plastic is laminated, and may be similar to the color layer 101 in appearance.

[0112] A method for analyzing the game token 1 by the image analyzer 2012 will be described below in detail. The image analyzer 2012 analyzes an image recorded on a recorder 11 and recognizes at least two colors, which are a specific color 121 that is at least partially attached to the game token 1 and a reference color R that is present in the image and is different from the specific color 121. Note that the specific color 121 is at least partially provided to a predetermined position of a game token 1 or in a predetermined form. For example, the specific color 121 may be provided as the color layer 101, may be provided on a side surface of the game token 1 in a circumferential direction, or may be provided on a surface of the game token 1 as a predetermined mark. Further, the reference color R may be, for example, a color of a specific area of the game table 2004, or may be a color attached to a place 2025203556   16 May 2025 different from the specific color 121 in the game token 1.

[0113] The image analyzer 2012 includes an artificial intelligence device 12a that identifies a specific color by, for example, deep learning technology, and determines the number and types of the game tokens 1 placed on the game table 2004. A recognition device 12 may further determine a position of the game token 1 on the game table 2004 .

[0114] The image analyzer 2012 acquires a plurality of images of the game token 1 and reference color R, which are irradiated with different illuminances, learns the acquired images and a correct specific color 121 and reference color R of the game token 1 in each image as teaching data by teaching from a human, and creates a learning model 13a (recognition program). Note that a relative relation of the specific color 121 and the reference color R can be acquired, because in the images of the game token 1 and the reference color R irradiated with an illuminance of the same condition, the specific color 121 and the reference color R are irradiated with the same illuminance. For example, this relative relation may be used for recognition of the specific color 121.

[0115] Further, without using artificial intelligence, a chip recognition device 12 may extract a center line C of 2025203556   16 May 2025 the game token 1 with a method for measuring a feature of a shape, brightness, saturation, and hue in the images by using a result of an image analysis of the images captured by a camera 200212 and recorded as images.

[0116] Furthermore, the artificial intelligence device 12a is configured to recognize at least two colors of the specific color 121 and the reference color R, which is different from the specific color 121 in a peripheral image of a predetermined range around the extracted center line C, by analyzing the peripheral image, which is for example a range of eight pixels orthogonal to the center line as a center. Note that, the extracted peripheral image of the predetermined range around the center line C may be analyzed as is, or after image processing such as color emphasis and noise reduction so that the specific color 121 can be easily recognized.

[0117] In summary, the artificial intelligence device 12a of the recognition device 12 is an artificial intelligence device configured to extract the center line C from the image of the game token 1 and recognize at least two colors of the specific color 121 and the reference color R different from the specific color 121, which are in the peripheral image, by analyzing the peripheral image of the predetermined range around the center line C as a center, and taught, as teaching data, the plurality of peripheral 2025203556   16 May 2025 images of the game token 1 and the reference color R irradiated with different illuminances.

[0118] In another embodiment, the controller 2014 further includes a function to determine at least one among whether or not: 1) in each game, there is transference of a chip from time of start of drawing cards or start of game operation by the dealer to time before display of a win / loss result of the game by a card distributor, 2) after an end of each game, there is transference of a chip by a person other than the dealer while the dealer is collecting the chips bet by a loser among the game participants, 3) after an end of each game, any chip has been added while the dealer is collecting a chip bet by a loser among the game participants, 4) after an end of each game, the dealer has paid to a position of a chip that a winner among the game participants has bet, and 5) after an end of each game, a winner among the game participants has taken a bet chip and a payed chip.

[0119] Further, the controller 2014 may be configured to determine at least one of 1) to 5) described above by detecting transference of hands of the dealer and game participant, transference of chips, or transference of the 2025203556   16 May 2025 hands and the chips by using an analysis result from the image analyzer.

[0120] As a feature function, the controller 2014 has functions described in 1) to 5) below to determine whether or not there is any wrong against a rule of a baccarat game : 1) In each game, the controller 2014 monitors, by information that the image analyzer 2012 obtains by using the camera 2002, whether or not there is transference of a game token 1 from time of a signal that starts drawing of cards obtained from the card distributor 2003, or time of start of game operation by the dealer 2005 pressing a start button 4s to time before display of a win / loss result of the game by the card distributor 2003. 2) After an end of each game, the controller 2014 monitors, by information that the image analyzer 2012 obtains by using the camera 2002, whether or not a loser 6 has wrongly taken a game token 1 while the dealer 2005 is collecting a game token 1 bet by a loser among game participants 2006. 3) After an end of each game, the controller 2014 monitors, by information that the image analyzer 2012 obtains by using the camera 2002, whether or not a person other than the dealer 2005 (winner or loser) has added a won game token 1W or has replaced the game token 1 to a winning position not bet while the dealer 2005 is 2025203556   16 May 2025 collecting a game token 1 bet by a loser among the game participants . 4) After an end of each game, the controller 2014 monitors, by information that the image analyzer 2012 obtains by using the camera 2002, whether or not the dealer 2005 has correctly placed a won game token 1W for payment to a position of the game token 1 that a winner among the game participants 2006 has bet. 5) After an end of each game (the dealer 2005 operates the card distributor 2003 to display a win / loss result in a display lamp 13), the controller 2014 monitors, by information that the image analyzer 2012 obtains by using the camera 2002, whether or not a winner 6W among the game participants 2006 has taken a bet game token 1 and a payed game token 1W.

[0121] Note that, in the above embodiment, the image analyzer 2012 and the controller 2014 are devices having an artificial-intelligence utilization structure or deeplearning structure. Specifically, the image analyzer 2012 and the controller 2014 may analyze an image or perform various controls described above by using scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, a convolutional neural network (CNN), deep learning, machine learning, or the like. These technologies perform image recognition of a captured image to recognize an object included in the image. In recent years, in particular, deep learning 2025203556   16 May 2025 technology using a multilayered neural networks has been used to recognize an object with high accuracy. This deep learning technology generally recognizes an object with high accuracy by, over a plurality of stages, layering in an intermediate layer between an input layer and an output layer of a neural network. Regarding this deep learning technology, a convolutional neural network, in particular, has drawn attention for having higher performance than a conventional object recognizing method based on an amount of image features.

[0122] In a convolutional neural network, a recognition object image to which a label is attached is learned, and a main object included in the recognition object image is recognized. If there are a plurality of main objects in a learning image, learning is performed by designating a region with a rectangle and attaching a label to an image corresponding to the designated region. Furthermore, in a convolutional neural network, it is also possible to determine a main object and position of the object in the image .

[0123] To further describe a convolutional neural network, an object recognition process involves extraction of candidate regions based on a local feature by performing edge extraction processing, or the like, on a recognition object image, input of the candidate regions to the 2025203556   16 May 2025 convolutional neural network, classification of the candidate regions after extracting feature vectors, and obtainment of a classified candidate region with a highest degree of certainty as a recognition result. A degree of certainty is quantity indicating how much similarity of an object in an image learned together with a certain image region and a label is relatively higher than similarity of another class.

[0124] As described above, various embodiments have been described. However, it is needless to say that a device of the present embodiments may be modified by a person skilled in the art as appropriate within the scope of the preset disclosure according to a game to which the present disclosure is applied. (Appendix)

[0125] A game token management system according to an embodiment has a configuration in which: a single RFID tag having a data non-rewritable area and a data rewritable area is attached to a game token, the data non-rewritable area of the RFID tag stores, as fixed information, at least one of production information of the game token, product information of the game token, casino information, amount information of the 2025203556   16 May 2025 game token, or a serial number of the game token, the data rewritable area stores, as variable information, location information of the game token, and the variable information stored in the data rewritable area can be extracted from the fixed information stored in the data non-rewritable area in an identical RFID tag, and the game token management system further includes: a writer that adds the location information of the game token to the data rewritable area, a reader that can collectively reads the fixed information stored in the data non-rewritable area of the plurality of game tokens and, on the basis of the read fixed information, can read the location information, which is a counterpart of the fixed information and stored in the data rewritable area, and a management controller that examines the location information obtained from the reader, in which the data rewritable area stores a plurality of pieces of location information including at least latest location information among all pieces of location information written by the writer, and the management controller includes a function to determine whether or not any abnormality is present in history of the location information obtained from the reader, and is configured to be able to, if there is abnormality, generate an error signal and identify the 2025203556   16 May 2025 fixed information of the game token, which has been determined to be abnormal.

[0126] The data rewritable area is configured to store, together with the location information, information of time at which the writer writes to the game token, and the management controller is configured to determine, from the location information obtained from the reader, presence of abnormality by determining whether or not the game token has not been used for a predetermined period since last writing, or whether or not the location information, which is supported to be written, is not written .

[0127] In the management controller, the location information may include at least one of information indicating a cage, information indicating entry or exit, or information indicating a backyard, a situation where the game token has not been used for a predetermined period since last writing may be a situation where: 1) latest location information is information indicating a cage, and a predetermined period has passed before next information is written, 2) latest location information is information indicating entry, and a predetermined period has passed before next information is written, or 2025203556   16 May 2025 3) latest location information is information indicating exit, and a predetermined period has passed before next information is written, and a situation where location information, which is expected to be written, is not written may be a situation where : 4) at a time of entry to a gaming hall, information indicating exit is not written as latest location information in the data rewritable area of the game token, 5) at a time of use at the cage, information indicating a backyard is not written, or 6) at a time of exit from the gaming hall, information indicating a cage or a backyard is not written.

[0128] The location information may include information about an owner who owns the game token.

[0129] The management controller may have a function to determine, on the basis of the owner information obtained from the reader, presence of abnormality when: 1) a person different from a latest owner whose information is stored in the data rewritable area exchanges the game token for cash or another game token in the gaming hall, or exits the gaming hall, or 2) a person different from an owner at a time of exit whose information is stored in the data rewritable area brings the game token in the gaming hall. 2025203556   16 May 2025

[0130] The information about the owner of the game token may be identified by face authentication or ID card reading.

[0131] The location information may further include information indicating a place of a chip tray of a specific game table, information indicating a place of a betting area, or information indicating a payout area.

[0132] The management controller may have a function to determine, on the basis of information indicating location of the chip tray of the game table or information indicating a place of the betting area or of the payout area, which is obtained from the reader, presence of abnormality when: 1) a person different from a latest owner whose information is stored in the data rewritable area uses the game token at a game table, 2) a person different from the person who purchased a game token without a record of use at a game table attempts to exchange the game token at a cage, 3) a game token not including information indicating a cage or a backyard is used in the gaming hall, or 4) latest location information is information indicating a betting area or a payout area, and after a predetermined period has passed, the game token 1 is exchanged for cash at a cage or is used at a game table. 2025203556   16 May 2025

[0133] Information that the RFID tag has may be encrypted.

[0134] The data non-rewritable area may be configured to be functionally non-writable or locked to disable wiring of data .

[0135] The reader may be configured to collectively read the fixed information stored in the data non-rewritable area and location information stored in the data rewritable area, and the management controller may be configured to extract and determine, from the plurality of pieces of fixed information of the plurality of game tokens, which are obtained from the reader, the location information stored in the data rewritable area in an identical RFID tag.

[0136] The game token according to an embodiment includes a single RFID tag having a data non-rewritable area and a data rewritable area, in which the data non-rewritable area stores, as fixed information, at least one of production information of the game token, product information of the game token, casino information, amount information of the game token, or a serial number of the game token, the data rewritable area is configured to store, as 2025203556   16 May 2025 variable information, location information of the game token written by the writer, and configured to extract the variable information stored in the data rewritable area based on the fixed information stored in the data nonrewritable area in an identical RFID tag.

[0137] The game token may be configured to be able to collectively read the fixed information stored in the data non-rewritable area of the plurality of game tokens by a reader, and to read the location information stored in the data rewritable area on the basis of the read fixed information .

[0138] The table game management system according to an embodiment includes: a game token to which an individually identifiable RFID is attached, a game table for playing a game by using the game token, a game recorder that records, via a camera, an image of a game token bet by each game participant of a game played at the game table, an image analyzer that performs image analysis on the recorded image of the game token, a chip reader that reads RFID attached to the game token bet by each game participant, and a controller that determines an image analysis result 2025203556   16 May 2025 by the image analyzer and a reading result by the chip reader, in which the game table includes a plurality of betting areas including at least a player betting area and a banker betting area for each sitting number, the chip reader reads the game token regarding an entire betting area as one reading area for each sitting number, or reads the game token for each of a plurality of reading areas by dividing the entire betting area into a plurality of reading areas which are less than the number of betting areas, and the controller is configured to be able to determine types and the number of the bet game tokens separately for each betting areas including at least the player betting area and the banker betting area, on the basis of an image analysis result by the image analyzer, determine whether or not a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each of the sitting numbers or for each of the reading areas based on an image analysis result by the image analyzer agrees with a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each of the sitting numbers or for each of the reading areas based on a reading result by the chip reader, and output a determination result.

[0139] The controller may be configured to be able to output a sitting number with a determination result of disagreed amount or number. 2025203556   16 May 2025

[0140] The controller may be configured to be able to generate a signal that indicates a possibility that RFID attached to the game token is broken or RFID is not attached to the game token in a case where a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each of the sitting numbers based on a reading result of the chip reader is smaller than a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each of the sitting numbers based on an image analysis result by the image analyzer.

[0141] The controller may further be configured to be able to generate a signal that indicates a possibility of a reading error by the image analyzer reading the game token in a case where the total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each of the sitting numbers based on a reading result of the chip reader is larger than the total amount or a total number of the game tokens for each of the sitting numbers based on an image analysis result by the image analyzer.

[0142] The table game management system may include a database storing an ID of RFID attached to the game token, and the controller may be configured to be able to check an ID of RFID based on a reading result by the chip reader with an ID stored in the database, determine authenticity 2025203556   16 May 2025 of the game token, and output a determination result.

[0143] The table game management system includes: a chip tray that keeps a game token used by a dealer at a game table, a chip tray determination device that can determine types and the number of the game tokens contained in the chip tray, and a game result determination device that determines a game result of each game at the game table, in which the controller may include: a calculation function that calculates income and outgo at a game table for a casino, at every collection and redemption for each game by using a measurement result of positions, an amount, and the number of game tokens based on a game result obtained from the game result determination device and an image analysis result by the image analyzer, a collection determination function that, after collection of lost chips bet by each game participant, compares an amount of chips at the game expected to be collected, which is calculated from positions, types, and the number of chips bet by each game participant at the game table, and the game result with an amount of actually collected chips in the chip tray, and determines whether or not there is a difference between the amount of the chips expected to be collected and the amount of the actually 2025203556   16 May 2025 collected chips to determine whether or not there has been any wrong or an error with the collection of the game token, and a redemption determination function that performs redemption for a chip expected to be redeemed, compares, after the redemption, a total amount of chips expected to be in the chip tray based on an amount of the chips to be redeemed in the game, which is calculated from positions, types, and the number of chips bet by each game participant at the game table, and the game result, with an actual total amount of chips in the chip tray, and if having determined that there is a difference between the expected total amount and the actual total amount, determines that there has been a wrong or an error with the redemption.

[0144] The controller may be configured to identify the collected game token for each sitting number on the basis of information of an ID of RFID of the collected game token determined by the chip tray determination device and information of an ID of RFID of the game token read by the chip reader, compare, IDs, an amount, or the number of the identified game tokens with IDs, an amount, or the number of the game tokens expected to be collected for each sitting number, which has been determined by using a measurement result of positions, an amount, or the number of the game tokens based on a game result obtained from the game result determination device and an image analysis 2025203556   16 May 2025 result by the image analyzer, and determine whether or not the IDs, an amount, or the number of the identified game tokens agrees with the IDs, an amount, or the number of the game tokens expected to be collected for each sitting number .

[0145] The controller may be configured to be able to determine, at each game, a type of the game token classified by application or purpose of use on the basis of information of ID of RFID of the game token read by the chip reader, and store, for each sitting number, an amount of the bet game tokens or an amount of the collected or redeemed game tokens by the type.

[0146] The controller may be configured to be able to store a cumulative amount of the game tokens bet by type or a cumulative amount of the collected or redeemed game tokens for each sitting number in a plurality of games.

[0147] A type of the game token may be at least a cash chip, a rolling chip, or a promotion chip.

[0148] The controller may be configured to be able to identify an owner on the basis of ID information of the rolling chip and store a cumulative amount of bet, collected, or redeemed rolling chip for each owner. 2025203556   16 May 2025

[0149] The chip reader may be configured to read the game token for redemption placed on the chip reader for each sitting number, and the controller may be configured to be able to compare an amount of redemption, which is determined by using a measurement result of a position, an amount, and the number of the game tokens based on a game result obtained from the game result determination device and an image analysis result by the image analyzer, with an amount of the game tokens placed for each sitting number, which is based on the reading result by the chip reader, determine whether or not the amount of the redemption agrees with the amount of the game tokens placed for each sitting number, and output a determined result.

[0150] Further, the controller may be configured to be able to display disagreement in a case where a determination result of the redemption disagrees, perform determination again in a case where there has been any change in amount of the game tokens placed on and read by the chip reader for each sitting number, and output agreement or disagreement again.

[0151] The controller may be configured to be able to compare an amount of the game tokens placed for redemption for each sitting number with increase or decrease in amount 2025203556   16 May 2025 of the game tokens in the chip tray from before redemption to after the redemption and determine whether or not there is a difference.

[0152] The chip reader may include a payment confirmation area, which is arranged on a dealer side of the betting area, for placing the game token for redemption.

[0153] the table game management system may further include a game participant identification unit using a face authentication system or a player ID card, and the controller may be configured to be able to associate the sitting number with information of the game participant identified by the game participant identification unit.

[0154] A display unit that displays based on output of the controller may be included.

[0155] The game table may include a side betting area, in which the side betting area may be adjacently provided with a betting area for each sitting number, the chip reader may be able to collectively read at least one side betting area, and the controller may be configured to be able to determine types and the number of the game tokens bet at least one side betting area on the basis of an image 2025203556   16 May 2025 analysis result by the image analyzer, determine whether or not a total amount or the total number of the game tokens in at least one side betting area based on an image analysis result by the image analyzer agrees with a total amount or the total number of the game tokens in the side betting area based on a reading result by the chip reader, and output a signal of a determination result.

[0156] Another embodiment is a table game management system including : a game token to which an individually identifiable RFID is attached, a game table for playing a game by using the game token, a game recorder that records, via a camera, an image of a game token bet by each game participant of a game played at the game table, an image analyzer that performs image analysis on the recorded image of the game token, a chip reader that reads RFID attached to the game token bet by each game participant, and a controller that determines an image analysis result by the image analyzer and a reading result by the chip reader, in which the game table includes a betting area including a player betting area, a banker betting area, and a side betting area, 2025203556   16 May 2025 the side betting area is adjacently provided with a betting area for each sitting number, the chip reader is able to collectively read at least one side betting area, and the controller is configured to be able to determine types and the number of the bet game tokens separately for at least one side betting area on the basis of an image analysis result by the image analyzer, determine whether or not a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for at least one side betting area based on an image analysis result by the image analyzer agrees with a total amount or the total number of the game tokens of the side betting based on a reading result by the chip reader, and output a signal of a determination result.

[0157] The controller may be configured to be able to output the side betting with a determination result of disagreeing amount or number.

[0158] The controller may be configured to be able to generate a signal that indicates a possibility that RFID attached to the game token is broken or RFID is not attached to the game token in a case where a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each side betting based on a reading result of the chip reader is smaller than a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each side betting based on an image analysis 2025203556   16 May 2025 result by the image analyzer.

[0159] The controller may be configured to be able to generate a signal that indicates a possibility of a reading error by the image analyzer reading the game token in a case where a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each side betting based on a reading result of the chip reader is larger than a total amount or the total number of the game tokens for each side betting based on an image analysis result by the image analyzer.

[0160] The controller may include a database storing ID of RFID attached to the game token and may be configured to be able to check an ID of RFID based on a reading result by the chip reader with an ID stored in the database, and determine authenticity of the game token.

[0161] The controller may be configured to be able to identify the collected game token for each side betting on the basis of information of an ID of RFID of the collected game token determined by the chip tray determination device and information of an ID of RFID of the game token read by the chip reader, compare IDs, an amount, or the number of the game tokens expected to be collected for each side betting, which has been determined by using a measurement result of positions and an amount of the game tokens based on a game result obtained from the game result 2025203556   16 May 2025 determination device and an image analysis result by the image analyzer, with IDs, an amount, or the number of the game tokens collected for each side betting, and determine whether or not a collecting amount agrees for each side betting.

[0162] If there is, in an area of one chip reader 25, one chip or one chip stack to which payout chip is to be paid, the bet chip and the payout chip can be paired and associated with owner information without detecting the movement of the chip out of the area of the chip reader 25. That is, in the case where there is one bet chip or one stack consisting of a plurality of bet chips 1001 in an area of one chip reading device 25, even if it is not detected that the chip has moved outside the area of the chip reading device 25, the owner information can be associated by pairing the bet chip and the payout chip based on the information in which the payout chip has disappeared from the chip tray or the information in which the payout chip has been read by the chip reading device 25 on the table. Of course, the bet chip may be recognized on the basis of the information that the chip has moved out of the area of the chip reading device 25, and the payout chip and the bet chip may be paired based on the owner information of the bet chip, by using some of the information among the information on the chip taken out from the chip tray, the information on the chip placed in 2025203556   16 May 2025 the betting area, and the information on the chip moved out of the area of the chip reading device 25. Alternatively, the ID of the chip may be read by a RFID, and the type and the number of chips, also the identification of stacks may be recognized by cameras.

[0163] The case in which there is one chip or one chip stack to which payout chip is to be paid in an area of one chip reader 25 includes a case in which there was one chip or one chip stack to which payout chip is to be paid in the area at a timing of betting and a case in which there was a plurality of chip stacks at a timing of betting but only one stack remained in the course of proceeding with payout. Only the remaining one bet chip stack may be paired with the payout chip to be associated with the owner information. In this case, by treating the remaining one bet chip stack as the chip bet by the member, tracing of chips of members can be ensured. It is preferable that, only one member player may bet at each chip reader (e.g., each player position) and a plurality of non-member players may bet at each chip reader. In the case where there is one member player for each player position, since the chip and the owner are associated with each other, the information of the member player assigned for each player position can be determined from the information of the bet chip. Also, if there is a rule that a member player shall bet a chip prior to a non-member player, the first bet chip may be 2025203556   16 May 2025 associated with the member player information assigned to the player position (e.g., sitting at the player position 1), or such an association may be confirmed. A member card may be used to assign member players to player positions.

[0164] The chip reading device 25 may be provided for each area such as a player, a bunker, a tie, a pair, or the like, or may be a large reading device 25 may be provided for each player position, for each divided areas which is obtained by dividing the whole table into a plurality of areas such as an area including the player positions 1 to 3 and an area including the player positions 4 to 6, or for whole table. In any case, the bet chip and the payout chip can be paired and the owner information and the like can be updated based on information that the chip has moved out of the area of the chip reading device 25 (that the chip cannot be read by the chip reading device 25), the ID of the payout chip that has disappeared from the chip tray, the ID of the payout chip placed in the bet area, and the like .

[0165] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context reguires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of 2025203556   16 May 2025 integers or steps.

[0166] The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Claims

1. A table game management system for a game table for playing game with a gaming chip with an RFID storing a chip ID that can be individually identified, the table game management system comprising:a bet chip determination unit configured to identify the chip ID of a bet chip by reading the RFID of the bet chip placed in a betting area;a payout chip determination unit configured to identify the chip ID of a payout chip to be paid from chip tray to a bet chip that won the game;a memory configured to store the chip ID of the gaming chip and an owner information of the gaming chip in association with each other; andan updating unit configured to rewrite an owner information associated with the chip ID of the payout chip to be paid to the bet chip that won game in the memory, to an owner information of the bet chip that won the game;wherein when a plurality of players place bet chips in the same bet area, the bet chip determination unit is configured to identify a chip ID of last remaining bet chip by reading the RFID of the last remaining bet chip, after the bet chip of winning player among the plurality of players and payout chips paid to them have been transferred outside the bet area first, and2025203556   16 May 2025the updating unit is configured to rewrite the owner information associated with the chip ID of the payout chip identified by the payout chip determination means in the memory to the owner information associated with a chip ID of the last remaining bet chip, and wherein the payout chip determination unit is configured to:(1) identify the chip ID stored in the RFID, which is no longer being read in the chip tray by removing the payout chip from the chip tray, as a chip ID of the payment chip;(2) identify a chip ID of the payout chip by reading, in a confirmation area of the gaming table, the RFID of the payout chip that has been removed from the chip tray and placed in the confirmation area;(3) identify a chip ID of the payout chip by reading the RFID of the payment chip by a reader for the RFID of the gaming chip bet in the betting area; or(4) identify the chip ID stored in the RFID, which is no longer read in the betting area due to the player taking the payment chip from the betting area, as a chip ID of the payment chip.

2. The table game management system according to claim 1, further comprising a player identification unit configured to identify player information about who is playing a game at the game table using face authentication2025203556   16 May 2025technology or an ID card.

3. The table game management system according to claim 2, wherein the updating unit is further configured to determine that fraud exists when a combination of the player information identified by the player identification unit and a chip ID of gaming chips that the player has bet in the betting area does not match a combination of a chip ID of the gaming chip stored in the memory and owner information associated with a chip ID of the gaming chip.

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