Alternative coin tray for game, table game management system, alternative coin tray system for game, and alternative coin management method for game

Abstract

To provide a new alternative coin tray system for a game including an alternative coin tray for a game of a double tray structure for storing alternative coins for a game.SOLUTION: An alternative coin tray system for a game includes a double tray composed of a lower stage tray 172 and an upper stage tray 171 to be overlapped on the lower stage tray to store alternative coins 120 for a game with an RF tag 125 storing tag information, a camera 2 for photographing the alternative coins 120 for a game stored in the upper stage tray 171 to acquire tray image data, an RIFD reader 170 for reading the tag information from the RF tags 125 of the alternative coins 120 for a game stored in the lower stage tray 172, and a game recording device 11 for recording the tray image data and / or an image analysis result of the tray image data about the alternative coins 120 for a game stored in the upper stage tray 171, and recording the tag information read by the RFID reader 170 about the alternative coins 120 of a game stored in the lower stage tray 172.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a gaming token tray for storing gaming tokens. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, gaming establishments such as casinos use gaming tokens that can be converted into cash, and game bets and payouts are made using the gaming tokens. U.S. Patent No. 5,735,742 employs an automatic settlement system that automatically monitors all gaming token transactions in a casino. In this automatic settlement system, RF tags are embedded in the gaming tokens, and the RF tags embedded in the gaming tokens are read using an electronic system including an antenna embedded in a gaming table. An antenna is also provided under the gaming token tray, and the RF tags of multiple gaming tokens in the gaming token tray are also read collectively without contact. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] However, when reading RF tags, multiple RF tags are read at once with one antenna, so it is not possible to know where multiple gaming tokens containing multiple RF tags are located within the reading area (e.g., gaming token tray). Therefore, for example, if counterfeit and illegal gaming tokens are mixed into a gaming token tray during the process of settling a game, it is possible to know that there is illegal gaming token in the gaming token tray, but it is not possible to determine where the gaming token came from, and it is not possible to identify the person who used the counterfeit gaming token.

[0004] In addition, in a gaming token tray having a double tray structure with an upper tray and a lower tray stacked on top of each other, if the RF tags of multiple gaming tokens stored in the upper tray and multiple gaming tokens stored in the lower tray are read all at once, it is not possible to distinguish whether the multiple RF tags read are for gaming tokens stored in the upper tray or those stored in the lower tray. In other words, it is not possible to grasp the movement of gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray.

[0005] Furthermore, in a method of reading the RF tags of multiple gaming tokens at once, even if the multiple gaming tokens include ones with faulty RF tags or ones without built-in RF tags, it is not possible to detect this.

[0006] Furthermore, in the method of reading RF tags, errors may occur in reading the RF tags depending on the angle or direction of the gaming tokens. In particular, for gaming tokens stored at an angle in the gaming token tray, it may be difficult to read the RF tags depending on the angle.

[0007] Furthermore, the method of reading RF tags involves reading them contactlessly by emitting radio waves from an antenna, meaning that dealers and players are exposed to radio waves for long periods of time, raising concerns about the effects on the human body.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a new gaming token tray system that includes a gaming token tray with a double tray structure for storing gaming tokens. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A gaming token tray according to one embodiment of the present invention is a gaming token tray that is provided on a gaming table and that holds gaming tokens, and includes an upper tray that is used for inserting and removing the gaming tokens when settling a game, and a lower tray that is disposed below the upper tray and that is used for storing the gaming tokens to be replenished to the upper tray, and the gaming tokens have a plastic layer and are at least partially provided with a specific color that allows the type of gaming token to be identified, and a printed layer that indicates the type of gaming token is applied to the top and bottom surfaces, and a side code that is individually identifiable is applied to the sides, and an RF tag is fixed to the plastic layer to form a structure, and the specific color identifies the gaming token. The upper tray has an open structure at the top so that the gaming tokens placed on the upper tray can be imaged by a camera, and the lower tray is configured so that the RF tags of the gaming tokens placed on the lower tray can be read by an RFID reading device. The upper and lower trays are configured to be capable of taking two states: a state in which they are stacked on top of each other, and an open state in which the gaming tokens on the lower tray can be inserted and removed, and the RFID reading device is configured not to read the RF tags of the gaming tokens placed on the upper tray when the upper and lower trays are stacked on top of each other.

[0010] After each game, the dealer pays out gaming tokens from the upper tray to the player and stores the gaming tokens collected from the player in the upper tray. Therefore, the number of gaming tokens stored in the upper tray fluctuates (increases or decreases) for each game. Therefore, it is desirable to know whether the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray are correctly increased or decreased for each game. With the above configuration, such frequent fluctuations in the gaming tokens in the upper tray can be known based on the tray image data.

[0011] In addition, the dealer moves multiple pieces of gaming tokens (for example, 100 pieces) from the upper tray to the lower tray when the gaming tokens in the upper tray increase and cannot be stored there, and conversely, moves multiple pieces of gaming tokens (for example, 100 pieces) from the lower tray to the upper tray when the gaming tokens in the upper tray run out. In this way, fluctuations (increases and decreases) in gaming tokens do not occur as frequently in the lower tray as in the upper tray (for example, about several times during the business hours of the casino). Therefore, it is desirable to confirm that the gaming tokens scheduled to be placed in the lower tray continue to exist there. According to the above configuration, the presence of gaming tokens stored in the lower tray and not visible from the outside can also be grasped by reading tag information from the RF tag.

[0012] That is, with the above configuration, the upper tray used for inserting and removing gaming tokens at the time of settlement of a game can be imaged by a camera to recognize the position and movement of the gaming tokens and detect fraud, and the lower tray for storing replenishment gaming tokens can have its RF tag readable even when the upper tray is stacked, and the RF tag of the gaming tokens in the upper tray is not read, so that the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the RF tag. In this way, since the gaming tokens in the upper tray and the gaming tokens in the lower tray can be grasped, the movement of the gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray can be grasped, and fraud in the movement can be detected. In addition, with the upper tray, gaming tokens with damaged RF tags and gaming tokens without RF tags can also be detected.

[0013] The gaming token tray may be configured such that, by identifying the side code, the position of the side code of each of the gaming tokens in the upper tray can be identified.

[0014] This configuration makes it possible to identify which gaming token is in which position on the upper tray.

[0015] In the above gaming token tray, the side code of the gaming token may be printed with ink that is invisible to visible light.

[0016] This configuration makes counterfeiting more difficult, increasing security, while also ensuring freedom in the design of the sides (visible with visible light) of the gaming tokens.

[0017] In the above gaming token tray, the side code may be printed with ink that absorbs infrared rays.

[0018] This configuration makes counterfeiting more difficult and increases security, while also ensuring freedom in the design of the sides of the gaming tokens (visible with visible light), and allowing the side codes to be captured by an infrared camera.

[0019] In the above gaming token tray, the side codes may be provided in multiple rows on the side surface.

[0020] This configuration improves the visibility of the side cords by the camera, and also enables the circumferential length of each side cord to be shortened, or enables a more complicated cord to be created within the same circumferential length.

[0021] The gaming token tray may further include a database that associates the side code of each of the multiple gaming tokens with tag information stored in the RF tag.

[0022] With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether the side code of the gaming token corresponds to the tag information of the RF tag by referring to the database.

[0023] In the above gaming token tray, the gaming tokens may be configured such that light-colored layers are provided on both sides of the specific color layer.

[0024] With this configuration, the specific color layer is sandwiched between the light color layers, so that when a plurality of game tokens are stacked and observed from the side, the specific color layers of adjacent game tokens do not become continuous, so that the number of game tokens can be accurately grasped.

[0025] The management system of one aspect of the present invention is a management system for a game that uses a gaming table, and includes a gaming token having a plastic layer, at least partially provided with a specific color that allows the type of gaming token to be identified, a printed layer that indicates the type of gaming token on the top and bottom surfaces, and a side code that can be individually identified on the sides, and an RF tag fixed to the plastic layer, and a configuration that allows the type of gaming token to be identified by the specific color; a gaming token tray that is provided on the gaming table and holds the gaming token; a camera that uses a camera to capture and record images of the gaming tokens placed on the gaming token tray; an RFID reader that reads the RF tags of each of the gaming tokens placed on the gaming token tray; and a recording device that records the image captured by the camera and the RFID reader. and a management control device that identifies and stores the type and number of gaming tokens on the gaming token tray using the reading results from the RFID reader, the gaming token tray having an upper tray used for inserting and removing the gaming tokens when settling a game, and a lower tray located below the upper tray for storing the gaming tokens to be replenished to the upper tray, the upper tray and the lower tray being configured to be capable of taking two states: a state in which they are stacked on top of each other, and an open state in which the gaming tokens on the lower tray can be inserted and removed, and further, the upper portion of the upper tray is configured to be open so that the gaming tokens placed on the upper tray can be imaged by the camera, and the lower tray is configured so that the RF tags of each of the gaming tokens placed on the lower tray can be read by the RFID reader.

[0026] With this configuration, the upper tray used for inserting and removing gaming tokens when settling a game can be imaged by a camera to recognize the position and movement of the gaming tokens and detect fraud, and the lower tray for storing replenishment gaming tokens can have its RF tag readable even when the upper tray is stacked, so that the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray can be identified by reading the RF tag. Also, the upper tray can detect gaming tokens with damaged RF tags or those without RF tags.

[0027] In the above management system, by identifying the side code, the management control device may be able to identify the position of the side code of each of the gaming tokens in the upper tray.

[0028] This configuration makes it possible to identify which gaming token is in which position on the upper tray.

[0029] In the above management system, the RFID reading device may be configured not to read the RF tags of gaming tokens placed on the upper tray when the upper tray and the lower tray are stacked.

[0030] With this configuration, the RF tags of the gaming tokens in the upper tray cannot be read, so the gaming tokens in the upper tray and the gaming tokens in the lower tray can be identified, and the movement of gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be identified.

[0031] The above management system may further include a database that associates the side code and the RFID in each of the multiple gaming tokens.

[0032] With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether the side code of the gaming token corresponds to the tag information of the RF tag by referring to the database.

[0033] In the above management system, the side code may be printed with ink that is invisible under visible light.

[0034] This configuration makes counterfeiting more difficult, increasing security, while also ensuring freedom in the design of the sides (visible with visible light) of the gaming tokens.

[0035] In the above management system, the side code may be printed with ink that absorbs infrared rays.

[0036] This configuration makes counterfeiting more difficult and increases security, while also ensuring freedom in the design of the sides of the gaming tokens (visible with visible light), and allowing the side codes to be captured by an infrared camera.

[0037] In the above management system, the side code may be provided in multiple rows on the side surface.

[0038] This configuration can improve the visibility of the side cords, and can also shorten the circumferential length of each side cord, or can create a more complicated cord within the same circumferential length.

[0039] In the above management system, the gaming token may be configured to have a light-colored layer on either side of the specific color layer.

[0040] This configuration improves the visibility of the side code through the camera.

[0041] The management system may be configured such that, when the side code differs from a pre-registered side code, the management control device is capable of determining that the token is fraudulent.

[0042] This configuration makes it possible to detect fraudulent gaming tokens that do not have the correct side code.

[0043] In the above management system, the management control device may output a determination result when it determines that the fraudulent gaming tokens in the upper tray collected by the dealer at the gaming table are fraudulent, and may be capable of playing back an image recording of the fraudulent gaming tokens using the camera.

[0044] With this configuration, the image recording of the fraudulent gaming tokens can be played back to analyze the fraudulent behavior.

[0045] In the above management system, the management control device may use the camera to determine where on the gaming table the gaming tokens collected by the dealer at the gaming table and placed on the upper tray came from, and may be capable of using the camera to play back the image recording of the movement of the gaming tokens.

[0046] With this configuration, it is possible to identify the person who used the fraudulent gaming token or the location of that person.

[0047] In the above management system, the camera may also be capable of capturing images of banknotes to be exchanged for the gaming tokens, and the management control device may be configured to use the captured images of the banknotes to identify the type and number of gaming tokens on the upper tray that should be reduced by exchanging the gaming tokens on the gaming token tray for banknotes, and to be able to measure and compare this with the actual total amount of the gaming tokens on the gaming token tray.

[0048] With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether the exchange of paper money and gaming tokens has been properly performed.

[0049] In the above management system, the management control device may be capable of comparing and determining whether the total amount of the gaming tokens grasped in the gaming token tray corresponds to an increase or decrease in the amount of the gaming tokens paid corresponding to the exchanged banknotes after the banknotes are exchanged for the gaming tokens, and an increase or decrease in the gaming tokens calculated from the amounts of the gaming tokens bet by all players and the outcome of the game.

[0050] With this configuration, when an exchange of paper money for gaming tokens and a settlement for a game are performed, it can be determined whether these have been performed correctly.

[0051] In the above management system, the management control device may be an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure that is capable of obtaining information on the type and number of gaming tokens even when part or all of one token is obscured by a camera's blind spot when measuring and determining the type and number of the gaming tokens.

[0052] With this configuration, the number and type of gaming tokens placed haphazardly on the gaming table can be recognized based on the image captured by the camera.

[0053] In the above management system, the gaming token may have the side code attached to the light-colored layer on the side in at least three places spaced apart in the rotational direction, and by reading the side code with the camera, the type and manufacturing information of the gaming token may be identified, and the identified information may be collated and managed against a specified database.

[0054] With this configuration, fraudulent gaming tokens can be detected by checking the contents of the side code indicating the type and manufacturing information against the database.

[0055] The above-mentioned management system may further include a camera that photographs and records the gaming tokens on the gaming table, and the camera may be configured to photograph the gaming tokens using a single camera or multiple cameras at different heights arranged at a predetermined position.

[0056] With this configuration, gaming tokens in various positions on the gaming table can be photographed from various angles.

[0057] A gaming token tray according to one embodiment of the present invention is a gaming token tray that is provided on a gaming table and that holds gaming tokens, and includes an upper tray that is used for inserting and removing the gaming tokens when settling a game, and a lower tray that is disposed below the upper tray and that is used for storing the gaming tokens to be replenished to the upper tray, and the gaming tokens have a plastic layer, and are at least partially provided with a specific color that allows the type of gaming token to be identified, and a printing layer that indicates the type of gaming token is provided on the upper and lower surfaces, and a value can be individually identified by the specific color, and an RF tag that indicates the value is attached to the plastic layer. The upper tray is a fixed structure, with the top open so that the gaming tokens placed on the upper tray can be imaged by a camera, and the lower tray is configured so that the RF tags of each of the gaming tokens placed on the lower tray can be read by an RFID reading device, and the upper and lower trays are configured to be able to take two states: a state where they are stacked on top of each other, and an open state where the gaming tokens on the lower tray can be inserted and removed, and the RFID reading device is configured not to read the RFID of the gaming tokens placed on the upper tray when the upper and lower trays are stacked on top of each other.

[0058] With this configuration, the upper tray used for inserting and removing gaming tokens when settling a game can be imaged by a camera to recognize the position and movement of the gaming tokens and detect fraud, and the lower tray for storing replenishment gaming tokens can have its RF tag readable even when the upper tray is stacked, and the RF tag of the gaming tokens in the upper tray is not read, so that the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray can be identified by reading the RF tag. In this way, the gaming tokens in the upper tray and the gaming tokens in the lower tray can be identified, and the movement of the gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray can be identified, and fraud in the movement can be detected. In addition, the upper tray can also detect gaming tokens with damaged RF tags and gaming tokens without RF tags.

[0059] In the above gaming token tray, the value of the gaming tokens may be specified, thereby making it possible to specify the number of the gaming tokens at each position in the upper tray.

[0060] With this configuration, it is possible to identify how many gaming tokens of what value are present in what positions on the upper tray.

[0061] The management system of one embodiment of the present invention is a management system for a game that uses a gaming table, and includes gaming tokens having a plastic layer, at least partially provided with a specific color that allows the type of gaming token to be identified, with printed layers representing the type of gaming token on the top and bottom surfaces, each of which has an individual value that can be identified by the specific color, and an RF tag representing the type fixed to the plastic layer, a gaming token tray that is provided on the gaming table and holds the gaming tokens, a camera that images the gaming tokens placed on the gaming token tray, an RFID reader that reads the RF tags of each of the gaming tokens placed on the gaming token tray, and a management system for managing the gaming tokens on the gaming token tray using the image captured by the camera and the read result by the RFID reader. and a management control device that identifies and stores the value and number of the gaming tokens above, and the gaming token tray is configured to have an upper tray used for inserting and removing the gaming tokens when settling a game, and a lower tray located below the upper tray for storing the gaming tokens to be replenished to the upper tray, and the upper tray and lower tray are configured to be able to take two states: a state where they are stacked on top of each other, and an open state which allows the gaming tokens on the lower tray to be inserted and removed, and further, the upper part of the upper tray is configured to be open so that the gaming tokens placed on the upper tray can be imaged by a camera, and the lower tray is configured so that the RFIDs of each of the gaming tokens placed on the lower tray can be read by the RFID reading device.

[0062] With this configuration, the upper tray used for inserting and removing gaming tokens when settling a game can be imaged by a camera to recognize the position and movement of the gaming tokens and detect fraud, and the lower tray for storing replenishment gaming tokens can have its RF tag readable even when the upper tray is stacked, so that the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray can be identified by reading the RF tag. Also, the upper tray can detect gaming tokens with damaged RF tags or those without RF tags.

[0063] In the above management system, the management control device may be capable of identifying the value and position of each of the gaming tokens in the upper tray using the camera.

[0064] This configuration makes it possible to identify which value of gaming token is in which position on the upper tray.

[0065] In the above management system, the management control device may be capable of using the camera to determine whether the gaming tokens in the upper tray are predetermined gaming tokens.

[0066] This configuration makes it possible to determine whether or not a fraudulent gaming token is present.

[0067] One embodiment of the gaming token tray system of the present invention is configured to include a double tray consisting of a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on top of the lower tray for storing gaming tokens equipped with RF tags in which tag information is stored, an image acquisition means for photographing the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray to acquire tray image data, an RFID reading means for reading the tag information from the RF tags of the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray, and a recording means for recording the tray image data and / or the image analysis results of the tray image data for the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray, and for recording the tag information read by the RFID reading means for the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray.

[0068] With this configuration, for the upper tray, by acquiring tray image data, it is possible to recognize the position and movement of the gaming tokens and detect fraud, and for the lower tray, by reading the RF tag, it is possible to grasp the gaming tokens contained in the upper tray even when the upper tray is stacked. Also, for the upper tray, it is possible to detect gaming tokens with damaged RF tags or gaming tokens without RF tags.

[0069] In the above gaming token tray system, the image acquisition means may be configured not to photograph the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray, the PFID reading means may be configured not to read the tag information of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray, and the recording means may not record the tag information of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray and may not record the tray image data and image analysis results of the tray image data of the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray.

[0070] With this configuration, the RF tags of the gaming tokens in the upper tray cannot be read, so the gaming tokens in the upper tray and the gaming tokens in the lower tray can be identified, and the movement of gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be identified.

[0071] In the above gaming token tray system, the lower tray may be installed in a position where the gaming tokens stored therein are not photographed by the image acquisition means, the RFID reading means may be configured not to read the tag information of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray, and the recording means may not record the tag information of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray and may not record the tray image data and the results of image analysis of the tray image data of the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray.

[0072] With this configuration, the RF tags of the gaming tokens in the upper tray cannot be read, so the gaming tokens in the upper tray and the gaming tokens in the lower tray can be identified, and the movement of gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be identified.

[0073] The above-mentioned gaming token tray system may further include an image analysis means for identifying the position of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data, and the recording means may record information on the position of the gaming tokens as a result of the image analysis.

[0074] With this configuration, the position of the gaming tokens in the upper tray can be identified and recorded.

[0075] In the above-mentioned gaming token tray system, the sides of the gaming tokens may be given a color indicating the value of the gaming tokens, and the system may further include an image analysis means for identifying the value indicated by the color of the side of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data, and the recording means may record the value information identified by the image analysis means as the result of the image analysis.

[0076] With this configuration, the value of the gaming tokens present in the upper tray can be identified and recorded by the color of their sides.

[0077] In the above gaming token tray system, identification information of the gaming token may be written on a side of the gaming token, The game device may further include an image analysis means for identifying identification information of the tokens stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data, The recording means may record the identification information specified by the image analysis means as the result of the image analysis.

[0078] With this configuration, it is possible to identify and record which gaming tokens are in the upper tray by the identification information written on the side of the tokens.

[0079] The gaming token tray system may further include a database in which the identification information is recorded.

[0080] With this configuration, fraudulent gaming tokens can be detected by comparing the identification information written on the side with a database.

[0081] In the above gaming token tray system, the image analysis means may perform image recognition based on machine learning on the tray image data.

[0082] With this configuration, the tray image data can be analyzed with high accuracy.

[0083] The gaming token tray system may further include a fraud detection means for detecting fraud based on the image analysis results.

[0084] With this configuration, fraud detection can be performed based on the results of image analysis.

[0085] The gaming token tray system may further include a fraud detection means for detecting fraud based on the image analysis results and the tag information read from the RF tag.

[0086] With this configuration, fraud detection can be performed based on the image analysis results and the read tag information.

[0087] One embodiment of the gaming token tray system of the present invention is configured to include a double tray consisting of a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on top of the lower tray for storing gaming tokens equipped with RF tags having tag information stored therein, an image acquisition means for photographing the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray to acquire tray image data, an RFID reading means for reading the tag information from the RF tags of the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray, and a fraud detection means for detecting fraud on the upper tray based on the tray image data and for detecting fraud on the lower tray based on the tag information read by the RFID reading means.

[0088] With this configuration, for the upper tray, fraud can be detected based on the tray image data, and for the lower tray, since the RF tag can be read even when the upper tray is stacked, the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray can be identified by reading the tag information. Also, for the upper tray, gaming tokens with damaged RF tags or those without RF tags can be detected.

[0089] In the above gaming token tray system, the sides of the gaming tokens may be given a color indicating the value of the gaming tokens, the RF tag may store information indicating the value of the gaming tokens as the tag information, and the system may further include an image analysis means for identifying the value indicated by the color of the side of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data, and the fraud detection means may detect fraud when the gaming tokens are moved between the upper tray and the lower tray by determining whether the value increased or decreased in the upper tray corresponds to the value increased or decreased in the lower tray based on the value identified by the image analysis means and the value read by the RFID reading means.

[0090] With this configuration, it is possible to determine whether the movement of the gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray has been performed correctly.

[0091] In the above gaming token tray system, the sides of the gaming tokens may be given a color indicating the value of the gaming tokens, and the system may further include an image analysis means for identifying the value indicated by the color of the side of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data, and the fraud detection means may detect fraud by determining whether the settlement amount corresponds to the increase or decrease in value in the upper tray before and after settlement based on the value identified by the image analysis means and the settlement amount based on the game result and the player's bet amount.

[0092] This configuration makes it possible to determine whether or not the settlement after the end of the game has been made correctly.

[0093] In the above gaming token tray system, the RF tag of the gaming token may store identification information of the gaming token as the tag information, the identification information of the gaming token may be written on the side of the gaming token, and the system may further include an image analysis means for identifying the identification information of the gaming token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data, and the fraud detection means may detect fraud by determining whether the identification information read by the RFID reading means corresponds to the identification information identified based on the tray image data when the gaming token is moved between the upper tray and the lower tray.

[0094] With this configuration, any fraudulent activity occurring during the movement of gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray can be detected using the identification information.

[0095] In the above-mentioned gaming token tray system, the side of the gaming token may be marked with identification information of the gaming token, and the system may further include an image analysis means for identifying the identification information of the gaming token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data, and a database storing a plurality of the identification information, and the fraud detection means may detect fraud by determining whether the identification information identified by the image analysis means is stored in the database.

[0096] With this configuration, gaming tokens that do not have the identification information stored in the database written on them can be detected as fraudulent gaming tokens.

[0097] In the above gaming token tray system, the fraud detection means may identify the location of a fraudulent gaming token whose identification information identified by the image analysis means is not stored in the database.

[0098] This configuration makes it possible to identify the location of fraudulent gaming tokens.

[0099] In the above gaming token tray system, the double tray may be installed on a gaming table, and the image acquisition means may further photograph the table surface of the gaming table to acquire table image data, and the fraud detection means may identify where on the table surface the fraudulent gaming token was collected based on the position of the fraudulent gaming token and the table image data.

[0100] This configuration makes it possible to identify where (which player or player position) the fraudulent gaming token came from.

[0101] In the above gaming token tray system, the double tray may be installed on a gaming table, and information indicating the value of the gaming token may be written on the side of the gaming token, and the image acquisition means may photograph the table surface of the gaming table to acquire table image data, and the system may further include image analysis means for identifying the amount of banknotes to be exchanged for the gaming token based on the table image data, and for identifying the value based on an image of the side of the gaming token stored in the upper tray, and the fraud detection means may determine whether the amount of banknotes identified by the table image analysis means corresponds to the value of the gaming token to be exchanged for the cash.

[0102] With this configuration, when paper money is exchanged for gaming tokens at the gaming table, it can be determined whether the exchange is being carried out correctly and at an equivalent value.

[0103] One embodiment of the gaming token tray system of the present invention is configured to include a double tray consisting of a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on top of the lower tray for storing gaming tokens equipped with RF tags having tag information stored therein, a tray image acquisition means for photographing the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray to acquire tray image data, and an RFID reading means configured to read the tag information from the RF tags of the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray, but not to read the tag information from the RF tags of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray.

[0104] With this configuration, tray image data can be obtained for the gaming tokens in the upper tray, the RF tags can be read for the gaming tokens in the lower tray, and the RF tags can be read without reading the RF tags for the gaming tokens in the upper tray, so that the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray can be identified by reading the RF tags.

[0105] One embodiment of the gaming token tray system of the present invention is configured to include a double tray consisting of a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on top of the lower tray for storing gaming tokens equipped with RF tags in which tag information is stored, an RFID reading means configured to read the tag information from the RF tags of the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray and not read the tag information from the RF tags of the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray, and a fraud detection means configured to detect fraudulent movement of the gaming tokens based on the tag information read by the RFID reading means when the gaming tokens are moved between the upper tray and the lower tray.

[0106] With this configuration, tray image data can be obtained for the gaming tokens in the upper tray, and the RF tags are read for the gaming tokens in the lower tray, so that the movement of the gaming tokens between the upper and lower trays can be grasped and any fraudulent activity such as the theft of the gaming tokens during that movement can be detected.

[0107] One embodiment of the gaming token management method of the present invention is a gaming token management method in a double tray consisting of a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on top of the lower tray for storing gaming tokens equipped with RF tags in which tag information is stored, and includes a tray image acquisition step of photographing the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray to acquire tray image data, an image analysis step of analyzing the gaming tokens stored in the upper tray by performing image analysis on the tray image data, a reading step of reading the tag information from the RF tags of the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray, and an unauthorized movement detection step of detecting unauthorized movement of the gaming tokens by determining whether an increase or decrease in the gaming tokens in the upper tray based on the tray image data corresponds to an increase or decrease in the gaming tokens in the lower tray based on the tag information read in the reading step.

[0108] With this configuration, tray image data can be obtained for the gaming tokens in the upper tray, and the RF tags are read for the gaming tokens in the lower tray, so that the movement of the gaming tokens between the upper and lower trays can be grasped and any fraudulent activity such as the theft of the gaming tokens during that movement can be detected.

[0109] In the above gaming token management method, the gaming token may have its value written on its side, and the image analysis step may identify the value of the gaming token stored in the upper tray by performing image analysis on the tray image data, and the gaming token management method may further include a settlement amount calculation step of calculating a settlement amount of the gaming token based on the game result and the player's bet amount, and a fraudulent settlement detection step of detecting fraudulent settlement by determining whether the settlement amount calculated in the settlement amount calculation step corresponds to the increase or decrease in value in the upper tray.

[0110] This configuration makes it possible to determine whether or not the transaction has been completed correctly.

[0111] In the above gaming token management method, the image analysis in the tray image analysis step may be image recognition based on machine learning.

[0112] This configuration can improve the accuracy of fraud detection. Effect of the Invention

[0113] According to the present invention, the upper tray used for inserting and removing gaming tokens when settling a game can be imaged by a camera to recognize the position and movement of the gaming tokens and detect fraud, and the lower tray for storing replenishment gaming tokens can have its RF tag readable even when the upper tray is stacked, and the RF tag of the gaming tokens in the upper tray is not read, so that the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray can be identified by reading the RF tag. In this way, the gaming tokens in the upper tray and the gaming tokens in the lower tray can be identified, and the movement of the gaming tokens between the upper tray and the lower tray can be identified, and fraud in the movement can be detected. In addition, the upper tray can also detect gaming tokens with damaged RF tags and gaming tokens without RF tags. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0114] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a token for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a token for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a token for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a token for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a token for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a token tray for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a side view of a token tray for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a state in which an upper tray is removed in an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 9] FIG. 11 is a side view showing another example of a token tray for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a side view showing another example of a token tray for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of cameras in a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining image analysis in an image analysis device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of gaming tokens stacked on a gaming table according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a perspective explanatory photograph illustrating a state in which different types of tokens for gaming are piled up in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a side view showing a modified example of a token for game use in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] A diagram showing four types of codes represented by a pair of marks on the top and bottom in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 11 is a side view showing another example of the side cord according to the embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing tray image data of game tokens stored in the upper tray of the game token tray according to the embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 20] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a plurality of gaming tokens stacked on a gaming table according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a side view showing still another example of a token for gaming according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0115] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below shows an example of a case where the present invention is implemented, and the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration described below. In implementing the present invention, a specific configuration according to the embodiment may be appropriately adopted.

[0116] A gaming token tray system in an arcade having a plurality of gaming tables and a management system for table games according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The management system according to this embodiment includes gaming tables and a gaming token tray system, and the gaming token system according to this embodiment includes gaming tokens, a gaming token tray, a camera, an RFID reader, a management control device, and the like.

[0117] First, the gaming token used in the management system or gaming token tray system of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a side view of the gaming token of this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the gaming token of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming token 120 is formed by laminating a plurality of plastic layers of different colors. The gaming token 120 has a multi-layer structure in which a specific color layer (specific color layer) 121 is at least in the middle, and light-colored layers (light-color layers) 122 are laminated on both sides of this specific color 121. The color of the light-colored layer 122 may be lighter (brighter) than the specific color, and includes white.

[0118] When manufacturing the gaming tokens 120, a plurality of plastic plate materials are laminated and thermocompressed, and then punched to obtain a plurality of gaming tokens 120. Specifically, a light-colored plastic plate material that will become the lower light-colored layer 122, a plastic plate material of a specific color that will become the specific color layer 122, and a plastic plate material that will become the upper light-colored layer 122 are laminated in this order to form a laminated structure consisting of a plurality of plastic layers. At this time, an RF tag (also called an RF chip or non-contact tag) 125, which is a wireless tag, is embedded in the approximate center of each punching process to obtain a plurality of gaming tokens 120. Specifically, the RF tag 125 is placed between the specific color layer 121 and the upper light-colored layer 122.

[0119] Patterns corresponding to each gaming token 120 are printed on the upper and lower surfaces of this laminated structure, and a transparent layer 124 is further provided on top of that. Then, each layer of the laminated structure and the transparent layer 124 are heat-pressed to heat-weld each layer to create a token original plate. At this time, in the portion overlapping with the RF tag 125, the plastic plate material is deformed by heat to correspond to the RF tag 125 (also, in FIG. 2, the RF tag 125 is drawn thicker than it actually is, but in reality it is thinner), so that the upper and lower surfaces of the gaming token 120 after each device is heat-pressed are not raised by the RF tag 125 and are formed flat.

[0120] The game token original plate thus produced is punched with a die to obtain a plurality of game tokens 120 of a predetermined shape. During this punching process, the upper and lower outer corners of the game tokens 120 are rounded with a die.

[0121] By forming the gaming token 120 into a multi-layer structure in which the specific color layer 121 and the light color layer 122 are laminated, a striped pattern is formed on the side surface in which the specific color layer 121 in the lamination direction is sandwiched between the light color layers 122, as shown in FIG. 2. Here, the specific color may be different for each type of gaming token 120 (i.e., value: 10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, etc.). For example, 10 points can be red, 20 points can be green, 100 points can be yellow, and 1000 points can be blue. The color of the light color layer 122 is used in common for each type of gaming token 120. That is, the color of the light color layer 122 is the same for all types of gaming tokens 120.

[0122] In this way, the gaming token 120 has a specific color layer 121 and a light color layer 122 at least in appearance so as to form an axial (thickness) striped pattern on the side, and has a configuration that allows the type of gaming token 120 to be identified by the color of the specific color layer 121. Therefore, even when multiple gaming tokens 120 are stacked, the type can be identified by the color of the specific color layer 121 sandwiched between the light color layers 122 by observing the side.

[0123] The RF tag 125 stores, as tag information, at least identification information that uniquely identifies the gaming token 120, the type (value) of the gaming token 120, the manufacturing date, etc. In a genuine gaming token 120, the type (value) stored in the RF tag 125 as tag information matches the type (value) indicated by the specific color layer 121 on the side.

[0124] 3 to 5 are cross-sectional views of other embodiments of game tokens. In Fig. 3, the specific color layer 121 is composed of three layers. The middle layer of the specific color layer 121 has a hole B formed in the center for accommodating the RF tag 125, and this is sandwiched between the upper and lower layers of the specific color layer 121 to form a cavity for accommodating the RF tag 125.

[0125] 4 shows an example in which a specific color portion 121 and a white portion 122 are formed by injection molding. Specifically, the specific color portion 121 is first molded using a resin of a specific color in a molding die (not shown), and then the light-colored portion 122 is molded using a resin of a light color, which is called two-color molding.

[0126] 5 shows an example in which a specific color layer sandwiched between light-colored layers is realized by forming the gaming token 120 using a light-colored resin or plastic material and then printing a specific color in the center of the side. In this case, the gaming token 120 may be formed by embedding an RF tag 125 between two light-colored plastic plates, overlaying a transparent layer 124 after printing on the upper and lower surfaces, thermocompressing the laminate, and punching the laminate, and then coloring the side with a specific color.

[0127] Next, the gaming token tray will be described. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the gaming token tray, and Fig. 7 is a side view of the gaming token tray. The gaming token tray 17 of this embodiment has a double tray structure consisting of an upper tray 171 and a lower tray 172. The gaming token tray 17 holds gaming tokens 120 in each of the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172. As shown in Fig. 7, the upper tray 171 is used by being stacked on top of the lower tray 172.

[0128] The lower tray 172 is disposed below the upper tray 171, and stores gaming tokens 120 to replenish the upper tray 171. The lower tray 172 is also used to store gaming tokens 120 that cannot be stored in the upper tray 171. During a game, the upper tray 171 is stacked on top of the lower tray 172, and is used to insert and remove gaming tokens 120 when settling a game. For this reason, the upper tray 171 has an open top. The upper tray 172 can also have its top open by removing the upper tray 171 from above, allowing insertion and removal of gaming tokens 120.

[0129] 6, the upper tray 171 has multiple rows of vertical storage sections 173 and one row of horizontal storage sections 174 above them. At the time of settlement, the gaming tokens 120 are paid out to the player from the vertical storage sections 173, and the gaming tokens 120 collected from the player are temporarily stored in the horizontal storage sections 174. The lower tray 172 has multiple rows of vertical storage sections 175.

[0130] An antenna 176 for reading the RF tag 125 of the gaming token 120 accommodated in the lower tray 172 is provided below the lower tray 172. The antenna 176 is connected to a reader 177, and the antenna 176 and the reader 177 constitute an RFID reading device 170. The antenna 176 is controlled by the reader 177 and generates radio waves. The RF tag 125 of the gaming token 120 accommodated in the lower tray 172 receives the radio waves, generates electric power by rectification, and transmits information (tag information) stored in the RF tag 125 via the radio waves. The antenna 176 receives the radio waves, and the reader 177 reads the tag information stored in the RF tag 125 of the RF tag 125 from the radio waves.

[0131] Here, the RFID reading device 170 consisting of the antenna 176 and the reader 177 is configured so that radio waves reach only the RF tags 125 in the gaming tokens 120 in the lower tray 172, and is therefore configured so as to read tag information from the RF tags 125 of the gaming tokens 120 housed in the lower tray 172, but not to read tag information from the RF tags 125 of the gaming tokens 120 housed in the upper tray 171. Such a configuration can be achieved by adjusting the frequency and strength of the radio waves transmitted from the antenna 176, the materials of the lower tray 172 and the upper tray 171, and the position of the antenna 176. The RFID reading device 170 may read tag information of the RF tags 125 by electromagnetic induction.

[0132] 8 is a plan view showing a state in which the upper tray 171 is removed (open state). When the upper tray 171 is removed, the top surface of the lower tray 172 is exposed, and it becomes possible to insert and remove the gaming tokens 120 into and from the lower tray 172. The upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172 are connected by a chain 178. The gaming token tray 17 thus consisting of the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172 can take two forms: a state in which the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172 are stacked on top of each other, and an open state in which the gaming tokens 120 on the lower tray 172 can be inserted and removed.

[0133] 9 and 10 are side views showing another example of the gaming token tray 17. In this example, the gaming token tray 17 is also configured as a double tray consisting of an upper tray 171 and a lower tray 172, but in this example, the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172 are connected by two links 179a and 179b of equal length, and as shown in Fig. 10, the upper tray 171 can be lifted diagonally upward while maintaining its parallelism with the lower tray 172.

[0134] When inserting or removing the gaming tokens 120 from the lower tray 172, the upper tray 171 is moved by the links 179a and 179b to the state shown in Fig. 10. With this configuration, the upper surface of the lower tray 172 can be opened without causing the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171 to spill out of the upper tray 171. In the state shown in Fig. 9, the upper tray 171 can be imaged by the camera 2.

[0135] Next, a management system for a gaming table including the gaming tokens 120 and gaming token tray 17 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an overview of the management system of this embodiment. The management system 100 uses a management control device 15 to manage table games at each gaming table in a gaming facility having multiple gaming tables 4. A management system 100 is configured for each gaming table. Although FIG. 11 shows a gaming table 4 and a management control device 15, the management control device 15 may be shared by multiple gaming tables 4 in the gaming facility.

[0136] One side of the gaming table 4 (upper side in FIG. 11) is straight, and the opposite side (lower side in FIG. 11) is curved. A dealer 5 positioned on the straight side faces multiple players positioned on the curved side. In front of each player at the gaming table 4, a betting area 8 divided for each player is provided, and a gaming token tray 17 is installed in front of the dealer 5. The gaming token tray 17 is embedded in the gaming table 4 so that an upper tray 171 is exposed on the table surface of the gaming table 4.

[0137] The management system 100 includes a plurality of cameras 2 for mainly photographing the table surface of the gaming table 4 (and gaming tokens, hands, etc. on the table surface). Although two cameras 2 are shown in Fig. 11, the actual arrangement of the cameras 2 is not limited to this example.

[0138] 12 is a diagram showing an example of the arrangement of a plurality of cameras 2 in the management system 100. In this example, the management system 100 includes, as the cameras 2, a camera 2L installed at the upper left of the gaming table 4 and mainly photographing the betting area on the right side of the gaming table 4, a camera 2R installed at the upper right of the gaming table 4 and mainly photographing the betting area on the left side of the gaming table 4, a camera 2C mainly photographing the gaming token tray 17 from above, and a camera 2P mainly photographing the gaming token tray 17 from diagonally above.

[0139] With such an arrangement, the multiple cameras 2 capture images of the progress of the game being played on the gaming table 4 and generate image data (video data or still image data). The multiple cameras 2 also capture images of operations performed by the player 6 and the dealer 5 with respect to the cards C and gaming tokens 120. The multiple cameras 2 correspond to the image acquisition means of the present invention.

[0140] The cameras 2C and 2P that photograph the gaming token tray 17 are both installed so as to photograph the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171. When the upper tray 171 is stacked on the lower tray 172, the cameras 2C and 2P cannot photograph the lower tray 172. Also, since the camera 2P photographs the upper tray 171 from diagonally above, and the lower tray 172 is embedded inside the gaming table 4, the camera 2P cannot photograph the lower tray 172 even when the upper tray 171 is removed from the lower tray 172 and the top surface of the lower tray 172 is exposed.

[0141] Returning to Fig. 11, a card distribution device 3 is placed on the gaming table 4. The card distribution device 3 is configured as a card shoe that stocks cards C used in the game and can dispense them one by one. The card distribution device 3 is a so-called electronic shoe that is already used by those skilled in the art, and has a function of determining and displaying the results of each game.

[0142] That is, the rules of the game are programmed in advance in the card distributing device 3. The card distributing device 3 reads the information of the cards C to be distributed and judges the outcome of the game according to the rules of the game. For example, in a baccarat game, a win for the banker, a win for the player, or a tie (draw) is basically determined by the ranks of two or three cards. The judgment result (win or loss result) is displayed on the result display lamp 31 of the card distributing device 3. The card distributing device 3 having such functions constitutes a win or loss result judgment device.

[0143] The gaming token tray 17 is embedded in the gaming table 4 with the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172 stacked on top of each other. The gaming token tray 17 is embedded in the center of a straight side of the gaming table 4 so that the upper tray 171 is exposed from the top surface of the gaming table 4, and is used by the dealer 5.

[0144] The management system 100 includes a management control device 15 as a device for controlling management of table games. The management control device 15 includes a game recording device 11, an image analysis device 12, and a cheating detection device 13. A reader 177, a card distribution device 3, and a plurality of cameras 2 are connected to the management control device 15. The reader 177 may be incorporated in the management control device 15.

[0145] The management control device 15 is realized by a general-purpose computer equipped with a CPU, memory, storage device, various interfaces, etc., executing a management control program. In the example of Fig. 11, the game recording device 11, image analysis device 12, and fraud detection device 13 are integrated to form the management control device 15, but some or all of these may be distributed to form a management control system.

[0146] The game recording device 11 records image data generated by photographing with the multiple cameras 2. The image data includes tray image data obtained by photographing the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171 of the gaming token tray 17 with the cameras 2C and 2P, and table image data obtained by photographing the betting area of ​​the gaming table 4 with the cameras 2L and 2R. The game recording device 11 further records tag information read by the reader 177 and the win / lose result determined by the card distributing device 3.

[0147] The image analysis device 12 performs image analysis on the image data recorded in the game recording device 11. Specifically, the image analysis device 12 detects the gaming tokens 120 from the image data by image recognition using machine learning. A convolutional neural network can be adopted for this machine learning, and the detection accuracy can be improved by learning using deep learning in particular. The detection targets of the image analysis device 12 are each type of gaming token 120, each type of card C, each type of bill (banknote), the hands of the dealer 5 and the player 6, etc., and the image analysis device 12 is equipped with an image recognition engine that has been trained to recognize these.

[0148] Furthermore, the image analysis device 12 can perform image recognition that is robust against occlusion, dirt, and deformation by performing matching using local features in image recognition. Specifically, even if gaming tokens 120 are placed randomly on a table so as to overlap each other and are partially occluded, such gaming tokens 120 can be recognized.

[0149] Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining image analysis in the image analysis device 12. The image analysis device 12 analyzes the movement of the dealer's hand to analyze from which player the gaming token 120 collected from the player and stored in the horizontal storage section 174 of the upper tray 171 has been collected. In the example of Fig. 13, it can be seen that the gaming token 120-a has been collected from the player 6La, the gaming token 120-b has been collected from the player 6Lb, and the gaming token 120-c has been collected from the player 6Lc.

[0150] As a result of the image analysis, the image analysis device 12 outputs information regarding which gaming token 120 was collected from which player, as well as the type and position of the gaming token 120 in the upper tray 171 to the fraud detection device 13 and records it in the game recording device 11.

[0151] The cheating detection device 13 detects cheating using the analysis results by the image analysis device 12, the game results by the card dealing device 3, and the tag information of the RF tag 125 read by the RFID reading device 170 (antenna 176 and reader 177) and recorded in the game recording device 11. The cheating detection device 13 may perform cheating detection immediately when the analysis results, game results, and tag information are obtained, or may record these in the game recording device 11 once and perform cheating detection at a predetermined timing thereafter or when instructed by the user. Cheating detection will be described in detail below.

[0152] At the gaming table 4, settlement is performed every time a game ends. That is, when a game ends, the dealer 5 collects the gaming tokens 120 bet from the player 6L who lost the game according to the outcome of the game, and pays out gaming tokens 120 according to the bet amount to the player 6W who won the game. The multiple cameras 2 capture the movement of the gaming tokens at such settlement, that is, the table image data and the tray image data before and after settlement.

[0153] The image analysis device 12 performs image recognition on the table image data for each game to determine which position in the betting area 8 each player 6 bets the gaming tokens 120 on (player, banker, or pair for each player), and the type (different values ​​are assigned to the gaming tokens 120 for each color) and number of the gaming tokens 120 bet. Also, the image analysis device 12 performs image recognition on the tray image data to determine the position, type, and number of the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171.

[0154] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a plurality of gaming tokens stacked on a gaming table 4. In the table image data, the gaming tokens 120 are stacked as shown in FIG. 14, and a striped pattern in the stacking direction is clearly formed on the side, so that the image analysis device 12 can easily grasp the type and number of the gaming tokens 120. Furthermore, if an artificial intelligence-based computer or control system and deep learning (structure) technology are used, image analysis and judgment can be performed accurately. Since artificial intelligence-based computers or control systems and deep learning (structure) technology are already known and available to those skilled in the art, detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0155] 15 is a perspective explanatory photographic diagram illustrating a state in which different kinds of gaming tokens 120 are piled up. The cameras 2L and 2R photograph the gaming tokens 120 placed by the player 6 on the gaming table 4 with the camera 2, and the image analyzer 12 determines the area in which they are placed (banker, player, pair, tie), and also determines the number and color of the specific color layers 121 of the gaming tokens 120 stacked in each area. The image analyzer 12 makes the above determination when or before or after the first card is drawn from the card dealing device 3, or after the dealer 5 signs that betting is over.

[0156] The fraud detection device 13 calculates how much to settle (recover, pay out) to each player 6 based on the game results (player, banker, tie) obtained from the card distribution device 3, the betting objects (player, banker, pair) of each player 6 obtained by analyzing the table image data, and the betting amounts. For this purpose, the fraud detection device 13 grasps, from the image analysis results by the image analysis device 12, the position (player, banker, pair) on the betting area 8 on which the gaming tokens 120 have been bet, the type (different amounts are assigned to the gaming tokens 120 for each color) and the number of the gaming tokens 120 bet, and judges whether the collection of the losing gaming tokens bet by each player 6 (indicated by arrow L) and the payment of the winning gaming tokens (120W) to the winning player 6W have been properly performed according to the winning or losing results of the game determined by the card distribution device 3 in each game.

[0157] If the calculated settlement amount differs from the actual settlement amount ascertained by image analysis, the fraud detection device 13 stores the image data in the game recording device 11. The stored image data can be verified later. If the verification shows that the intelligent fraud detection device 13 was wrong, the analyzed image can be used as sample data for supervised learning in deep learning technology to improve the accuracy of the intelligent fraud detection device 13.

[0158] The fraud detection device 13 determines the increase or decrease in the amount of the gaming tokens 120 on the gaming token tray 17 before and after settlement based on the analysis result of the tray image data in the image analysis device 12, and determines the increase or decrease in the amount of the gaming tokens 120 near each betting area of ​​the gaming table 4 before and after settlement based on the analysis result of the table image data in the image analysis device 12. In the gaming token tray 17, particularly, as described above, the gaming tokens 120 collected from the gaming table 4 are stored in the horizontal storage section 174 of the upper tray 171, and the gaming tokens 120 are paid out to each player from the vertical storage section 173 of the upper tray 171.

[0159] The fraud detection device 13 compares the calculated settlement amount with the increase or decrease in the gaming token tray 17 before and after the settlement, and also compares the calculated settlement amount of each player with the increase or decrease in the betting area of ​​each player of the gaming table 4, and judges whether they match. That is, the fraud detection device 13 judges whether the gaming token 120 of the calculated payout amount has been paid to the player 6W who should pay out the gaming token 120 (who won the game), and whether the gaming token 120 of the calculated recovery amount has been collected from the player 6L who should collect the gaming token 120 (who lost the game). If the calculated settlement amount (payout amount, recovery amount) matches the increase or decrease in the gaming token 120 analyzed by the image analysis device 12, the fraud detection device 13 judges that the settlement has been performed normally (there was no fraud).

[0160] If the calculated settlement amount (paid amount, recovered amount) does not match the increase or decrease in the gaming tokens 120 analyzed by the image analysis device 12, the fraud detection device 13 determines that a fraudulent settlement has occurred.

[0161] The image analysis device 12 can identify the type of all the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171 of the gaming token tray 17 of the gaming table 4 by analyzing the tray image data. The fraud detection device 13 calculates the total amount of all the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171 based on the analysis result. In addition, the fraud detection device 13 calculates how much the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 should increase or decrease according to the amount of the gaming tokens 120L bet by the losing player 6L and the amount of the gaming tokens 120W paid to the winning player 6W after the game ends and settlement according to the winning or losing result of the game.

[0162] The total amount of gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 17 varies for each game and is always kept track of by the tray image data, but whether the increase or decrease is correct is determined by the fraud detection device 13 based on the analysis results of the table image data by the image analysis device 12, the outcome of the game by the card distribution device 3, and the analysis results of the tray image data by the image analysis device 12. This function of the fraud detection device 13 also utilizes an artificial intelligence or deep learning structure.

[0163] The fraud detection device 13 detects fraud or mistakes based on the outcome of the game, information on how many of what type of gaming tokens 120 were bet and on which position (player, banker, or pair) in the betting area 8, and the increase or decrease in the amount of gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 after the gaming tokens 120 have been collected from losing players and paid out to winning players, so that fraud or mistakes can be detected without knowing the movement of the gaming tokens 120 after the game ends, i.e., whether the bet gaming tokens 120 have moved to the player's side or the dealer's side.

[0164] Here, in the case of baccarat, for example, the outcome of the game can be determined in accordance with the rules of baccarat by reading the rank of the card C played in the game in the card dealing device 3. The outcome of the game can also be determined by photographing the game table 4 with the camera 2, analyzing the image with the image analyzing device 12, and comparing the analysis result with the game rules in the cheating detection device 13. In this case, the camera 2, the image analyzing device 12, and the cheating detection device 13 constitute a win / loss result determination device. Information on the player at each play position 7, what type of gaming token 120, and how many coins have been bet on which position (player, banker, or pair) in the betting area 8 can be obtained by photographing the gaming token 120 placed in the betting area 8 with the camera 2 and analyzing the table image data for each play position 7 with the image analyzing device 12.

[0165] In addition, the increase or decrease in the amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 before and after the collection of the gaming tokens 120 of the losing player 6L and the payment of the gaming tokens 120 to the winning player 6W can be calculated by comparing the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 before such settlement (i.e., collection and payment) with the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 after settlement. The total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 before settlement and the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 after settlement can be detected by photographing the upper tray 171 containing the gaming tokens 120 with the camera 2 and analyzing the tray image data with the image analyzer 12.

[0166] For example, let us assume that the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 before the start of the game is Bb, and the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the gaming token tray 17 after the game is over and settlement is completed is Ba. Also, let us assume that in this game, the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 bet on the player area 8 at all play positions 7 is bp, the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 bet on the banker area at all play positions 7 is bb, and the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 bet on the tie area at all play positions 7 is bt. For example, if the outcome of this game is a win for the banker, Ba-Bb=bp-bb+bt should be established. Alternatively, the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the gaming token tray 17 after the game is over should be (Bb+bp-bb+bt). If this is not the case, it can be determined that there has been fraud or a mistake in the settlement of the gaming tokens 120 after the game ends.

[0167] The image analysis device 12 grasps the position, type and number of the gaming tokens 120L bet by the losing player 6L, and the fraud detection device 13 calculates the increase in the gaming tokens 120L in the game (the amount that the gaming tokens 120 should have in the collected gaming token tray 171). Furthermore, the image analysis device 12 grasps the actual total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the gaming token tray 171 after collection, and the fraud detection device 13 compares the actual total amount with the actual total amount to determine whether there is a discrepancy.

[0168] In addition, by using the gaming tokens 120W in the vertical storage section 173 of the upper tray 171 to pay out the gaming tokens 120W to the winning player 6W, it is possible to ensure that there is sufficient time for the image analysis device 12 and the fraud detection device 13 to grasp the actual total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the horizontal storage section 174 after they have been collected.

[0169] When the cheating detection device 13 determines that a cheating transaction has occurred, it records the time of the cheating in the game recording device 11. At this time, the cheating detection device 13 may record the occurrence of cheating in association with image data on which it has been determined that a cheating transaction has occurred. This makes it possible to replay the image at the time of the cheating when verifying the image later.

[0170] When it is determined that a fraudulent settlement has been made, the fraud detection device 13 may immediately output an alarm so that at least the dealer 5 can perceive it. This allows the dealer 5 to prevent further fraud by, for example, halting the game thereafter. In this case, it is not necessary to record image data, tag information, the results of image analysis, etc. in the game recording device 11.

[0171] As described above, the fraud detection device 13 determines that fraud has occurred when the calculated settlement amount does not match the actual increase or decrease in the gaming tokens 120. Therefore, the fraud detection device 13 detects not only intentional fraud but also mismatches caused by mistake as "fraud." In other words, "fraud" in this embodiment also includes unintentional negligence.

[0172] In the course of the game, when the upper tray 171 cannot accommodate all the gaming tokens 120, a predetermined number (e.g., 100 tokens) of gaming tokens 120 are moved from the upper tray 171 to the upper tray 172, and conversely, when the upper tray 171 has a shortage of gaming tokens 120, a predetermined number (e.g., 100 tokens) of gaming tokens 120 are moved (replenished) from the lower tray 172 to the upper tray 171. The fraud detection device 13 judges whether or not there is any fraud, such as removal of gaming tokens 120, in the movement of the gaming tokens 120 between the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172.

[0173] The fraud detection device 13 judges whether the movement of the gaming tokens 120 between the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172 has been performed correctly, based on information on the type and number of the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171 obtained by analyzing the tray image data of the upper tray 171 by the image analyzer 12, and information on the type and number of the gaming tokens 120 in the tag information read by the RFID reader 170. That is, the fraud detection device 13 judges that the movement is normal (no fraud) if the increase / decrease in the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 before and after the movement corresponds to the increase / decrease in the gaming tokens 120 in the lower tray 172, and judges that fraud has occurred if they do not correspond.

[0174] When the cheating detection device 13 determines that a cheating move has occurred, it records the time of the cheating in the game recording device 11. At this time, the cheating detection device 13 may record the occurrence of cheating in association with the image data on which it has been determined that a cheating move has occurred and the read data of the RF tag 125. This makes it possible to reproduce the image at the time of cheating when verifying the image later.

[0175] When it is determined that an illegal movement has occurred, the fraud detection device 13 may immediately output an alarm instead of or in addition to recording in the game recording device 11. This allows the manager of the gaming facility to prevent further fraud by, for example, stopping the game thereafter. As described above, the fraud detection device 13 determines that there has been fraud when the amount of the gaming tokens 120 increased or decreased in the upper tray 171 does not match the amount of the gaming tokens 120 increased or decreased in the lower tray 172. For this reason, the fraud detection device 13 detects not only intentional fraud but also a mismatch due to an error as "fraud". In other words, "fraud" in this embodiment also includes unintentional negligence.

[0176] The fraud detection device 13 constantly monitors the reading result by the RFID reader 170 at a fixed cycle (for example, every second), and when there is a change in the reading result, judges whether or not the change corresponds to an increase or decrease in the amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171. Therefore, if there is a change in the number or total amount of gaming tokens in the lower tray 172 when the upper tray 171 is not removed (when there is no attempt to move the gaming tokens 120 between the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172), it can detect the occurrence of fraud.

[0177] As described above, in the table game management system 100 of this embodiment, a gaming token tray 17 having a double tray structure consisting of an upper tray 171 and a lower tray 172 is used, and for the upper tray 171, the gaming tokens 120 stored therein are identified by analyzing image data, and for the lower tray 172, the gaming tokens 120 stored therein are identified by reading tag information from the RF tag 125.

[0178] At this time, the RFID reading device 170 that reads the RF tags 125 of the gaming tokens 120 stored in the lower tray 172 is configured not to read the RF tags 125 of the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171, so it is never unclear whether the tag information read by the RFID reading device 170 is from the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171 or from the gaming tokens 120 stored in the lower tray 172.

[0179] In this way, by combining image data and RF tag information, not only can all gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper and lower gaming token trays 17 be identified, but also the movement between the upper tray 171 and the lower tray 172 can be identified, making it possible to detect fraud. In addition, by using image data for the upper tray 171 where the gaming tokens 120 are handed over to and from the player (the betting area 8 of the gaming table 4) for each game, it can be identified which type of gaming token 120 is stored in which position of the upper tray 171.

[0180] Furthermore, the fraud detection device 13 calculates the income and expenditure of the gaming tokens 120 from the amount of gaming tokens 120 bet on the gaming table 4 for each game and the outcome of the game, and verifies the increase in the balance of the gaming tokens 120 in the gaming token tray 17 after the game. If the fraud detection device 13 detects a discrepancy in this verification, it issues an alarm or adds a record to that effect to the video record captured by the camera 2. The casino operator can investigate the cause of the discrepancy by checking the video.

[0181] The fraud detection device 13 of this embodiment adds or subtracts the increase or decrease in the gaming tokens 120 in a game, which is calculated from the positions, types and numbers of the gaming tokens 120 bet by all players 6 in that game and the win / loss result of that game obtained by the win / loss result determination device, from the total amount of gaming tokens 120 in the gaming token tray 17 before the settlement of each game, and compares the total amount that should be of the gaming tokens 120 in the gaming token tray 17 after settlement at the end of the game with the actual total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the gaming token tray 17 at the end of the game obtained via the image analysis device 12, and determines whether there is a discrepancy between the actual total amount and the total amount that should be.

[0182] The fraud detection device 13 grasps the position, type and number of gaming tokens 120 bet by each player via the image analysis device 12, and when all of the gaming tokens 120 bet by losing players have been collected, grasps the actual total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171, and compares the total amount of gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 that should be there, which is calculated by adding the increase in the upper tray 171 for that game based on the positions, types and numbers of the gaming tokens 120 bet by the losing player from the total amount of gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 before the settlement of each game, with the actual total amount of gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171, and determines whether there is a discrepancy between the total amount that should be there and the actual total amount.

[0183] As described above, the upper tray 171 is provided with a horizontal storage section 174 for collecting and temporarily storing the gaming tokens 120 bet by the losing player, and the fraud detection device 13 compares the total amount that should be of the gaming tokens 120 in the horizontal storage section 174, which is calculated by adding the increase in the gaming tokens 120 for the game in question, calculated from the position, type and number of the gaming tokens 120L bet by the losing player, with the actual total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the horizontal storage section 174, and determines whether there is a discrepancy between the total amount that should be and the actual total amount.

[0184] When the fraud detection device 13 determines that a discrepancy has occurred in which the actual total amount of the gaming tokens 120 grasped in the upper tray 171 of the dealer 5 of the gaming table 4 does not correspond to the increase or decrease in the gaming tokens 120 calculated from the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 bet by all the players and the win or loss result of the game, the game recording device 11 can add an index or time to the captured video, or identify and play back the scene of collection or payment of the gaming tokens 120, so that the game recording device 11 can analyze the record of the game in which the discrepancy occurred.

[0185] In this way, the fraud detection device 13 obtains the total amount of gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 after settlement at the end of the game via the image analysis device 12. In this case, the judgment after settlement is made when any of the following 1) to 4) occurs. 1) When the payouts to the winning players have been completed, 2) When the card C used in the game is collected and discarded in a discard area or a discard slot (not shown) of the gaming table 4, 3) When a predetermined button (a button to start the next game, a button to acknowledge the result of the game, etc.) associated with the winning / losing result determination device (card distribution device 3) is pressed, 4) When the marker indicating victory or defeat is replaced.

[0186] In addition, the fraud detection device 13 is an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure that grasps the position (player, banker, or pair) and amount (type and number) of the gaming tokens 120 bet at each playing position 7 on the gaming table 4, and compares the win / loss history of each player 6 obtained from the winning / losing results of each game and the amount of the gaming tokens 120 obtained (amount won) with statistical data (big data) of many past games, and can extract unique situations (set by the casino) that are suspected of fraud.

[0187] Typically, the device is equipped with an artificial intelligence or deep learning type fraud detection device 13 that can extract unusual situations such as the occurrence of a winning amount of more than a certain amount (1 million dollars) or a situation in which the amount of gaming tokens 120 bet at the time of a loss at a playing position 7 of a certain gaming table 4 is small and the amount of gaming tokens 120 bet at the time of a win is large over several consecutive games by comparing this with statistical data of past games (big data, etc.).

[0188] Furthermore, the management control device 15 including the cheating detection device 13 and the image analysis device 12 of the management system 100 identifies individual players 6 at the play positions 7 extracted as peculiar situations and individual players 6 at the play positions 7 who have won a predetermined amount or more. Such identification of players 6 can be performed by the image analysis device 12 performing image recognition using feature point extraction or the like on the image of the face of each player. When a player 6 is identified, the cheating detection device 13 records information on the identified player 6 by assigning an identity number (ID, etc.). Then, when the identified player 6 leaves his / her seat and sits at another gaming table 4, the cheating detection device 13 has a warning function that notifies the other gaming table 4 of the presence of the player 6. Specifically, the cheating detection device 13 notifies a pit manager who manages each gaming table 4 or a person in charge of each table (which may be a dealer) to prevent further peculiar phenomena.

[0189] The fraud detection device 13 further includes a database that records the history of the exchange of banknotes K and gaming tokens 120, and periodically or daily refers to the database to determine whether the amount of gaming tokens 120 held in the gaming token tray 17 of the dealer 5 at the gaming table 4 has increased or decreased in accordance with the payment amount of the gaming tokens 120 corresponding to the exchanged banknotes K, or the total amount of payment of the banknotes K corresponding to the exchanged gaming tokens 120.

[0190] In the above example, the winning / losing history and the amount of the gaming tokens 120 obtained (amount won) for each play position 7 may be monitored without identifying each individual player 6. In this case, if each player 6 leaves the seat, the player 6 cannot be tracked, but it is possible to detect a peculiar situation such as a situation in which the amount of the gaming tokens 120 bet when losing at a specific play position 7 of one gaming table 4 is small and the amount of the gaming tokens 120 bet when winning is large for several consecutive games. If such a play position 7 is detected, there is a suspicion of fraud or a mistake at that play position 7. Then, by verifying a video taken at that play position 7, the fraud or mistake can be discovered.

[0191] Specifically, the camera 2 is installed so as to photograph at least the gaming tokens 120 placed in the betting area 8 of the gaming table 4. The image analysis device 12 analyzes the image photographed by the camera 2 and detects whether the gaming tokens have been placed in the player, banker, or tie position in the betting area 8 for each user position 7, and the amount of the gaming tokens placed. The card distribution device 3 also functions as a win / loss result determination device and determines the win / loss result of the game.

[0192] The fraud detection device 13 records (monitors) the win / loss history and the amount of the acquired gaming token (gaming token acquisition amount) for each play position 7 in the game recording device 11 based on the position (player, banker, or pair) in the betting area 8 where the gaming token 120 is placed and the win / loss result of the game. Note that only one of the win / loss history and the gaming token acquisition amount may be recorded. When the win / loss history and / or the history of the gaming token acquisition amount are in a unique situation (set by the casino) compared with statistical data (big data) of many past games, the fraud detection device 13 identifies this player position 7 as a play position suspected of fraudulent activity.

[0193] If cheating is suspected at a certain player position 7, the management control system 100 may generate an alarm (light, sound, or vibration) that is perceptible at least to the dealer 5 at that time. This makes it possible to at least halt the game thereafter and prevent the cheating from continuing. Also, information indicating that cheating is suspected may be added to the video captured and recorded by the camera 2. This allows the cause of the suspected cheating to be identified by checking the video.

[0194] The management control system 100 in a gaming facility having the gaming table 4 in this embodiment further includes a function of inspecting when exchanging bills and gaming tokens, which is often performed at the gaming table 4. In a gaming facility such as a casino, a player 6 exchanges bills (cash, etc.) for gaming tokens for gaming at a predetermined gaming token exchange before playing a game. However, when the player 6 runs out of gaming tokens, the player 6 can continue playing the game by exchanging cash (bills) for gaming tokens 120 on the gaming table (baccarat table, etc.) without leaving the gaming table 4. However, this creates an opportunity for cheating between the dealer 5 and the player 6.

[0195] On a gaming table (such as a baccarat table), the exchange of cash (banknotes) for gaming tokens 120 must be performed when a game is not in progress. The card distributing device 3 is capable of detecting the start of card dealing and the end of dealing (the time when the outcome of the game is determined) in order to determine the outcome of the game. For this reason, the card distributing device 3 detects situations other than the distribution (dealing) of cards, and the fraud detection device 13 detects that the exchange of banknotes for gaming tokens 120 is being performed at the gaming table 4 in situations other than during card dealing. The situation during card dealing (or other situations) can be detected based on information obtained from the operation of the card distributing device 3 or the dealer 5.

[0196] The image analysis device 12 can analyze the image of the front side of the bills K to recognize the number and amount of the bills. Furthermore, at the gaming table 4, whether or not the bills K to be exchanged for the gaming tokens 120 are genuine is detected by irradiating the bills with a black light to detect the authenticity mark. The image analysis device 12 also performs image analysis to verify the authenticity mark, recognizes the total amount of genuine bills, and can recognize the total amount of gaming tokens even if multiple gaming tokens placed on the gaming table as exchange targets are hidden by the blind spot of the camera 2. The image analysis device 12 is an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure that can compare the total amount of the bills K placed on the gaming table 4 by the player with the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 placed on the gaming table 4 by the dealer 5, and determine whether the amounts of the two match.

[0197] The fraud detection device 13 is an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure capable of comparatively calculating whether the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 17 of the gaming table 4 has increased or decreased according to the payment amount of the gaming tokens 120 corresponding to the exchanged bills after the bills have been exchanged for the gaming tokens 120 and settlement has been made. The total amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the upper tray 171 of the dealer 5 can be detected by photographing the upper tray 171 containing the gaming tokens 120 with the camera 2 and analyzing the image with the image analysis device 12.

[0198] Furthermore, the fraud detection device 13 verifies whether the increase or decrease in the amount of the gaming tokens 120 in the gaming token tray 17 before and after the exchange of the banknotes for the gaming tokens matches the exchanged amount of the gaming tokens as a result of image analysis on the gaming table 4. The amount of the paid banknotes may be input by the dealer 5 to the management control device 15 by keying or the like, or may be identified by photographing the gaming table 4 where the banknotes are paid with the camera 2 and analyzing the image with the image analyzer 12.

[0199] As described above, the fraud detection device 13 judges whether the amount of the gaming tokens 120 deducted from the gaming token tray 17 due to the exchange of banknotes and gaming tokens matches the amount of the banknotes paid by the player 6 to the dealer 5. Furthermore, the fraud detection device 13 is an intelligent control device capable of comparing whether the amount of the banknotes deposited by the dealer 5 (usually by key input, etc.) matches the calculated amount of the banknotes as a result of image analysis by the image analysis device 12 after the banknotes are exchanged for gaming tokens and settlement is made, and may further be an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure.

[0200] Furthermore, the fraud detection device 13 is an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure capable of comparing and calculating whether the total amount of bills entered by the dealer at the gaming table 4 in charge of that dealer matches or does not match the total amount of bills as a result of image analysis by the image analysis device 12.

[0201] The fraud detection device 13 compares and determines whether the amount of gaming tokens 120 held in the gaming token tray 17 of the dealer 5 at the gaming table 4 has increased or decreased after the exchange of banknotes and gaming tokens 120 has been made, in accordance with the payment amount of the gaming tokens 120 corresponding to the exchanged banknotes, or the payment amount of the banknotes corresponding to the exchanged gaming tokens 120.

[0202] The fraud detection device 13 is an artificial intelligence-based or deep learning-structured control device that can obtain information on the type and number of gaming tokens 120 even when part of the gaming token or an entire token is hidden when measuring and determining the type and number of the gaming tokens 120.

[0203] Fig. 16 is a side view showing a modified example of the gaming token 120. The gaming token 120 is formed by stacking a plurality of plate-shaped plastic devices of different colors, integrating them by means of thermocompression or the like, and then punching them into a circle or a rectangle. The gaming token 120 manufactured in this manner has a multi-layer structure in which a specific color layer 121 is provided at least in the middle, and thin-color layers 122 are stacked on both sides (top and bottom in Fig. 16) of this specific color layer 121 in the middle.

[0204] By providing a specific color layer 121 in this manner and laminating thin color layers 122 on both sides of this intermediate specific color layer 121 to form a multi-layer structure, a striped pattern is formed in the lamination direction when viewed from the side as shown in Figure 16, and the type of gaming token 120 can be identified by changing the color (red, green, yellow, blue, etc.) of the specific color layer 121 for each type of gaming token 120 (10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, etc.).

[0205] Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 16, the gaming token 120 has a side code 126 indicating the type of gaming token 120 on the side of the light-colored layer 122. A transparent layer 124 is provided on the outermost layer, and each layer is thermocompression-bonded to form at least a five-layer structure. These gaming tokens 120 are made of a long, slender plastic material, and each layer (at least the specific color layer 121 and the light-colored layer 122) is thermocompression-bonded to form a tightly adhered state (e.g., a five-layer structure) in a long state, and then punched into a circle, rectangle, etc. by a press or the like.

[0206] When punching out by a press, the dimensions of the metal mold, die, and punch used for punching are designed so that R processing (rounded corners) is applied to the edge of the outermost layer 124. The transparent layer 124 may be a varnish coating layer. The side code 126 is applied to at least three places on the side of the gaming token 120. The side code 126 is applied by inkjet printing using ink that is visible under visible light.

[0207] In particular, in this modified example, the side code 126 is attached with or without marks M in multiple rows and columns. As shown in Fig. 16, the marks M in multiple rows and columns are paired with upper and lower marks M to form a code. In the example of Fig. 16, a 10-digit code is formed.

[0208] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing four types of codes represented by a pair of upper and lower marks M. The letter "Y" next to the mark M is an identification mark for distinguishing between the upper and lower sides of the mark. The code composed of the marks M is configured so that a specific combination of marks M can be specified. As a result, in the example shown in FIG. 17, there are four types of combinations of marks M in two rows, one above the other, and by printing ten rows of these, four types of codes (10 to the power of four) can be expressed. There are four types of 10-digit codes, and four to the power of four types of codes are given, so that the re-ID 126 of the gaming token 120 can be given sufficiently.

[0209] The gaming token 120 has a multi-layer structure in which a plurality of plastic layers of different colors are laminated, at least one of which has a specific color layer 121, and a light-colored layer 122 is laminated outside the specific color layer 121, so that a striped pattern is formed in the lamination direction on the side surface, and the type of gaming token 120 can be identified by the specific color layer 121. The side cords 126 are provided at least three locations (preferably six locations) at intervals in the circumferential direction on the side surface of the light-colored layer 122, and in the example of Fig. 16 and Fig. 17, six side cords 126 are provided at 60 degree pitches in the circumferential direction.

[0210] Naturally, all six side codes 126 indicate the same information. The gaming token 120 is provided with an individually identifiable (different for each one and uniquely identifiable) side code 126, which is provided at a pitch of 60 degrees in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) so that the side code 126 is always visible from the side. The side code 126 includes identification information that allows the gaming token 120 to be individually identified (different for each one and uniquely identifiable), information that indicates the type of the gaming token 120, and manufacturing information (manufacturing structure, manufacturing date, etc.).

[0211] The side code 126 attached to the gaming token 120 is read by the above-mentioned image analysis device 12. The management control device 15 includes a database (not shown), in which the identification information, type, and manufacturing information of all manufactured gaming tokens 120 (at least those that may be used in the gaming facility) are stored in association with one another.

[0212] The image analyzer 12 reads the side code 126 from the image data (table image data and tray image data). The fraud detection device 13 identifies the identification information, type, and manufacturing information of the gaming token 120 contained in the image data based on the results of reading by the image analyzer 12, and compares the combination of these with information stored in a database.

[0213] When there is a gaming token 120 in which the information of the side code 126 read by the image analyzer 12 does not match the information stored in the database, the fraud detection device 13 judges that the gaming token 120 is a fraudulent (counterfeit or damaged) gaming token 120. When the fraud detection device 13 detects fraud in this way, it records the time in the game recording device 11 together with information on the location of the fraudulent gaming token 120.

[0214] At this time, the fraud detection device 13 may record the position information and time of the fraudulent gaming token 120 in association with the image data (table image data or tray image data) on which it was determined that the gaming token 120 is fraudulent. This makes it possible to reproduce the image at the time of fraud when verifying the image later.

[0215] In this modification, the side cord 126 is applied by inkjet printing using ink that is visible under visible light. The side cord 126 may be printed using either ink that is invisible under visible light (e.g., ink that absorbs ultraviolet light) or ink that is at least visible under visible light (including ink that is very small and difficult to see), or a combination of both. The side cord 126 may also be printed using a combination of multiple types of ink.

[0216] The management system 100 is provided with, as the camera 2, at least a plurality of cameras corresponding to the ink in which the side code 126 is printed (i.e., a visible light camera if the ink is a visible ink, an infrared camera if the ink is an infrared-reactive ink, and an ultraviolet camera (UV irradiator and visible light camera) if the ink is a UV ink), or a camera that can switch between multiple functions of a camera corresponding to the ink (visible light camera, infrared camera, ultraviolet camera (UV irradiator and visible light camera), etc.).

[0217] FIG. 18 is a side view showing another example of the side code. In the gaming token 120-1, the side code 126 is printed with ink invisible to visible light (for example, ink that absorbs infrared light). In the gaming token 120-2, multiple rows and columns of marks M are printed with ink that appears black in visible light. In the gaming token 120-3, in addition to the marks M of the gaming token 120-2, marks M are also printed between the side codes 126 with ink that appears black in visible light, so that the side codes 126 blend into the design and become inconspicuous. In the gaming token 120-4, the start and end points of the multiple side codes 126 that are repeatedly added are indicated by marks Cf indicating the ends.

[0218] When the gaming tokens 120-1 to 120-4 are viewed with an infrared camera, the ink that absorbs infrared rays appears black due to the infrared rays absorbed, so the same side code 126 appears from all sides. That is, an image of the gaming token 120-5 is obtained by an infrared camera. The top and bottom of the side code 126 are indicated by marks CL indicating the top and bottom. The top and bottom relationship of the marks is as shown in FIG. 16. The side code 126 may be printed with a combination of ink that is visible with visible light and infrared absorbing ink.

[0219] The side code 126 attached to the gaming token 120 is read by the image analyzer 12. The image analyzer 12 is capable of reading the side code 126 of the gaming token 120 stored in the upper tray 171 of the gaming token tray 17 and the gaming token 120 placed on the gaming table 4.

[0220] 19 is a diagram showing tray image data of the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171 of the gaming token tray 17. In the tray image data, the gaming tokens 120 are stacked horizontally (horizontally). The image analyzing device 12 can read the side code 126 from such tray image data. In addition, the image analyzing device 12 can also read the side code 126 of the gaming tokens 120 on the gaming table 4 shown in the table image data.

[0221] 20 is a perspective view of a plurality of gaming tokens stacked on a gaming table 4. The gaming token 120 has a face code FC made of UV ink or ink that absorbs ultraviolet light (carbon black ink) on the surface X of the light-colored layer 122. This face code FC indicates the authenticity of the gaming token 120, and when exposed to ultraviolet light (or infrared light), the face code FC becomes visible, and the combination of its shape and numbers indicates that it is genuine.

[0222] A transparent layer (printed layer) 124 is further heat-pressed or coated (applied) on the outermost layer so as to cover the game parlor-specific printing 123 (10 points, etc.) and face code FC on the surface, and this transparent layer 124 is embossed or varnished to prevent the gaming tokens 120 from sticking to each other and to improve sliding. The gaming token 120 has a circular depression 127 in the center of the top and bottom surfaces. This depression 127 prevents the gaming tokens 120 from sticking to each other, and the large diameter of the depression 127 improves the sliding of the gaming tokens 120.

[0223] The edges of the outermost transparent layer (printed layer) 124 on which the printing 123 (100 points, etc.) is applied are rounded (R), which prevents the surface of the light-colored layer 122 from deforming and appearing on the sides during the punching process of the gaming token 120. It also prevents the commercial edges of the gaming token 120 from damaging the handle or other gaming tokens 120.

[0224] The specific color layer 121 may be formed of one or more colored layers. Furthermore, a layer within the specific color layer 121 may be provided with metal or ceramic to increase the weight. Specifically, the material of the layer within the specific color layer 121 may contain, for example, metal powder (e.g., one or more metal oxides of zinc oxide and titanium oxide) to increase the weight. A cutout is provided in a part of the specific color layer 121, or a space is provided between the specific color layer 121 and the light color layer 122, and an RF tag 125 is embedded therein. Information that is partly or entirely the same as the information indicated by the side code 126 is stored as tag information in the RF tag 125.

[0225] The fraud detection device 13 detects fraudulent gaming tokens 120 by comparing the side code 126 read from the image data (table image data and tray image data) by the image analysis device 12 with information stored in the database. Specifically, the fraud detection device 13: 1) When side code 126 exists that did not exist in the database, and 2) If two or more identical side codes exist, It is determined that there is an illegal gaming token 120.

[0226] As described above, the player 6 can exchange cash for gaming tokens at the cashier, but cash can also be exchanged for gaming tokens 120 at the gaming table 4. The cameras 2L and 2R capture images of bills placed on the gaming table 4 to be exchanged for the gaming tokens 120. That is, the multiple cameras 2L and 2R that capture images of the gaming tokens 120 on the gaming table 4 are each disposed at a different position.

[0227] The fraud detection device 13 specifies the type and number of gaming tokens to be dispensed from the upper tray 171 when exchanging the gaming tokens 120 for banknotes based on the recognition result of the banknotes by the image analysis device 12. The fraud detection device 13 compares the actual total amount of the gaming tokens 120 stored in the upper tray 171 before and after dispensing, and judges whether or not this difference corresponds to the specified type and number of gaming tokens 120 to be dispensed.

[0228] That is, the fraud detection device 13 compares and judges whether the total amount of the gaming tokens 120 grasped in the upper tray 171 corresponds to an increase or decrease according to the payment amount of the gaming tokens 120 corresponding to the exchanged banknotes after the banknotes are exchanged for the gaming tokens 120. In addition, when collection and payout according to the winning or losing result of the game are also performed at the same time, the fraud detection device 13 compares and judges whether the total amount corresponds to an increase or decrease in the gaming tokens 120 calculated from the amount of the gaming tokens 120 bet by all the players 6 and the winning or losing result of the game.

[0229] Here, the fraud detection device 13 is an artificial intelligence-utilizing or deep learning structure control device that is capable of obtaining information on the type and number of gaming tokens 120 even when part of the gaming token 120 or an entire token 120 is hidden when determining the type and number of the gaming tokens 120.

[0230] As described above, the gaming token 120 has the side codes 126 attached to the light-colored layer 122 on the side at at least three points spaced apart in the rotational direction (circumferential direction). By reading the side codes 126 with the image analyzer 12, it is possible to identify the type and manufacturing information of the gaming token 120. The information thus identified is collated with a database.

[0231] FIG. 21 is a side view showing yet another example of a gaming token. In this example, a light-colored layer 122 is provided in the center of the side of the gaming token 120, and specific color layers 121 are provided above and below it. A seven-digit number is printed as a mark as a side code 126 on the light-colored layer 122 sandwiched between the specific color layers 121, and the side code 126 is composed of these numbers. Since there are 10 to the power of 7 combinations of numbers, 10 to the power of 7 different side codes 126 can be given. The image analysis device 12 recognizes the 10-digit number by performing image recognition based on machine learning. [Industrial Applicability]

[0232] As described above, the present invention has an upper tray, which is used to insert and remove gaming tokens when settling a game, and by taking an image with a camera, the position and movement of the gaming tokens can be recognized to detect fraud, and the lower tray, which stores replenishment gaming tokens, is configured so that the RF tags can be read even when the upper tray is stacked, but the RF tags of the gaming tokens in the upper tray are not read.This has the effect of making it possible to identify the gaming tokens stored in the lower tray by reading the RF tags, and is useful as a gaming token tray, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0233] 100 Table Game Management System 120 Substitute coins for games 121 Specific color layer 122 Light-colored layer 123 Printing 124 Transparent layer 125 RF Tags 126 Side Code 127 Hollow 11 Game Recording Device 12 Image analysis equipment 13. Fraud detection device 15 Management control device 17. Gaming token tray 170 RFID Reader 171 Top Tray 172 Lower Tray 173 Vertical storage section 174 Horizontal storage section 175 Vertical storage section 176 Antenna 177 Leader 178 Chain 179a, 179b Link 2 Camera 3 Card distribution device 4 Gaming Table 5 Dealer 6 Players

Claims

1. A management system for managing gaming tokens having an RF tag for storing tag information and a side code associated with the tag information attached to a side thereof, comprising: an image capturing device configured to capture images of the plurality of gaming tokens stored in a chip tray; an image analyzing device configured to acquire a position of the gaming token and the side code for each of the plurality of gaming tokens based on the image; a reading device configured to read the RF tag of each of the gaming tokens stored in the chip tray and obtain tag information of the gaming token; a fraud detection device configured to determine whether the side code acquired by the image analysis device corresponds to the tag information of the plurality of gaming tokens acquired by the reading device, to determine that a first gaming token among the plurality of gaming tokens is a fraudulent gaming token or a potentially fraudulent gaming token, and to identify a location of the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token; A management system comprising:

2. Further comprising a database for storing the tag information for each of the gaming tokens in association with the side code of the gaming token; the fraud detection device further refers to the database to determine whether the tag information corresponds to the side code of the first gaming token, in order to determine whether the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token is, and identifies the location of the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token; The management system according to claim 1 , configured as follows:

3. 3. The management system of claim 2, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to record the location of the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token and the time of detection of the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token.

4. Further comprising a database configured to store the side code of the gaming token for each of the plurality of gaming tokens; 2. The management system of claim 1, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to determine whether or not the side code identified by the image analysis device is stored in the database for each of the plurality of gaming tokens.

5. 5. The management system of claim 4, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to determine that a second gaming token having a side code not stored in the database is the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token.

6. The management system of claim 1, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to, when two or more gaming tokens having the same side code are obtained from the plurality of gaming tokens, determine that the two or more gaming tokens among the plurality of gaming tokens are fraudulent gaming tokens or potentially fraudulent gaming tokens.

7. The management system of claim 5, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to identify the location of the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token whose side code identified by the image analysis device is not stored in the database.

8. The chip tray is placed on a gaming table, The image capturing device is further configured to capture an image of a table surface of the gaming table to acquire table image data, The management system of claim 1, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to identify from where on the table surface the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token was collected based on the position of the fraudulent gaming token or the potentially fraudulent gaming token and the table image data.

9. 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to identify a position of the side code of each of the plurality of gaming tokens.

10. 2. The management system of claim 1, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to detect one or more of the plurality of gaming tokens that have a damaged RF tag or no RF tag.

11. 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the fraud detection device is further configured to determine from which player or from which player position the first gaming token collected in the chip tray came.

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