System and method of data handling for table games

Abstract

A table game system is provided. The table game system includes a position system that generates position data, such as the positions of one or more players and the value of cards, dice, roulette wheels, or other game table positions. A wager system generates wager data, such as the wager placed by each player at each position. A payout system receives the position data and the wager data and generates payout data, such as by using the position data to determine the outcome of the table game and the wager data to determine the payout data based on the outcome of the table game.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY[0001]The present application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11 / 351,948, filed Feb. 10, 2006, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 695,207, filed Oct. 28, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 116,362 filed Apr. 4, 2002 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,676,517 B2 on Jan. 13, 2004), entitled “System and Method of Data Handling for Table Games,” which is a continuation of PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT / US01 / 24504 filed Aug. 3, 2001, entitled also “System and Method of Data Handling for Table Games,” which claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60 / 222,967, filed Aug. 4, 2000, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to automation of data acquisition, distribution and maintenance for casino gaming systems. More specifically, the invention automates data acquisition, distribution, and maintenance for casino gaming systems to allow casin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014]The present invention provides many important technical advantages. One important technical advantage of the present invention is a table game system that allows the complex transactions occurring at table games, such as blackjack, roulette, and craps, to be monitored and stored. The present invention thus helps to track transactions without requiring human observation and data entry, and can use data from such transactions to detect fraudulent activities, mistakes, or for other suitable purposes.

Problems solved by technology

However, the existing systems employ inefficient processes to provide this functionality and require that casinos rely on less accurate data that is commonly derived from operator-entered data, which often requires operators to provide estimates, use historical assumptions, or otherwise provide inaccurate data.

Furthermore, operators can become fatigued, only track a limited number of patrons, and may themselves be involved in illicit activities and may provide improper information for the purpose of defrauding the casinos.

In particular, table games such as black jack, roulette, and craps are among the most difficult to track, for a large variety of reasons.

A table game's integrity can be compromised inadvertently through dealer error, or by willful infractions such as fraud, theft or cheating.

These problems often go undetected because the primary method for detection is visual observation.

Further, when a dealer or supervisor observes a willful infraction on the part of a patron or another employee, there is no discreet method of communicating detailed information within the prior systems.

Dealers for table games must clock in and out at centrally located time clocks, which often results in lost productive time between the time the dealer clocks in and the time they reach the table.

Unfortunately, some dealers take advantage of the system and return from their break late.

There is no practical method for monitoring each dealer's return time.

This method of data acquisition is inefficient and inherently prone to error, and it is typical for this process to be accomplished through multiple personnel.

This historical method of data acquisition is also inaccurate because dollar transactions below $100 are generally ignored because of the transaction costs required to monitor these small transactions, which presents certain opportunities for breaches in security as well.

As an unknown player moves between table games, rating and / or establishing when the player has reached a particular threshold becomes increasingly difficult.

They are also not dedicated to securing photographic records for positive identifications of players, but rather are provided to allow security personnel to make identifications, making it difficult to validate ratings.

In these situations, a supervisor attempts to replicate the session by taking the cards from the discard rack and redistributing them to the players according to the rules of the game, which is a time consuming process.

If it is discovered that a dealer has in fact taken a player's bet incorrectly, an unscrupulous player may claim a larger bet than was actually wagered, taking advantage of the confusing situation to cheat the casino.

These and other problems with the tracking of table game wagering, payouts, events, and status result in table games having higher losses and greater uncertainty than other types of casino games.

Likewise, these problems also make monitoring of players and dealers at table games difficult and manpower-intensive.

Images