Game management system

Abstract

To determine an appropriate minimum bet amount for a gaming table in a game management system for managing a casino game played on a gaming table of a casino facility.SOLUTION: A game management system for managing a casino game played on a gaming table (4) of a casino facility includes: a camera (2) which photographs a bet chip (9) to obtain an image; a control device (14) which specifies a bet amount for each player position on the gaming table (4) on the basis of a position, a type, and the number of sheets of the chip (9) in the image; a player number determination device which determines the number of players participating in a game on the gaming table (4); and a management control device which determines a recommended value of a minimum bet amount for each gaming table on the basis of information on a bet amount specified by the control device (14) and information on the number of players determined by the player number determination device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Patent Application No. 2018-27023, filed in Japan on February 19, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Technical Field]

[0002] The present invention relates to a game management system that manages casino games played at gaming tables in a casino facility (gaming parlor). [Background technology]

[0003] A casino facility is equipped with multiple gaming tables, and casino operators desire to increase sales throughout the casino facility, i.e., the total amount of bets by all players. The multiple gaming tables are closed or open depending on the number of players. At closed gaming tables, no games are played and players cannot play games. At open gaming tables, a dealer is stationed, games are played, and players can play games.

[0004] A minimum bet amount is set for each gaming table. The minimum bet amount is the smallest bet amount at that gaming table, and a player must bet an amount equal to or greater than the minimum bet amount set for that gaming table in one game. This minimum bet amount is set for each gaming table.

[0005] The number of players playing games at each gaming table is not fixed, and games may be played by a small number of players or a large number of players. Conventionally, when the number of tables playing games by a large number of players increases, casino operators have recognized this and carried out operations such as opening gaming tables that had been closed. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] If a gaming table contains a mix of players (high-bet players) who are betting amounts significantly higher than the minimum bet amount and players (low-bet players) who are betting amounts equal to or slightly higher than the minimum bet amount, the overall sales of the casino facility may be kept low.

[0007] Figure 19 illustrates such a situation. As shown in the upper part of Figure 19, assume that the minimum bet amount at a certain gaming table is set at $1,000, and a single high-value player is betting about $10,000. In this case, the average time required for one game is 60 seconds, and the average sales per hour is $600,000.

[0008] If three low-stakes players, each betting around $1,000, join this table, the total bet amount at the table will rise to around $13,000, but the average time required for one game will also increase as the number of players increases. Assuming that each additional player adds 10 seconds to the playing time, with four players the average time required for one game will be 90 seconds. As a result, hourly revenue will fall from around $600,000 to around $520,000. In this way, when high-stakes and low-stakes players are mixed at the same table, the casino operator's revenue will decrease even as the number of players increases.

[0009] Figures 20A and 20B are diagrams illustrating another example. As shown in Figure 20A, the minimum bet amount at one of two gaming tables is set to $10,000, and the minimum bet amount at the other is set to $1,000. The average time required for one game at the gaming table for high-value players is 70 seconds, and the sales per hour are approximately $1.03 million. On the other hand, the average time required for one game at the gaming table for low-value players is 90 seconds, and the sales per hour are approximately $160,000. Therefore, the total sales per hour at the two gaming tables is approximately $1.19 million.

[0010] In the example of Figure 20B, the two high-stakes players in Figure 20A are split between different gaming tables. That is, there are two gaming tables with a minimum bet amount set at $1,000, and at each gaming table, one high-stakes player betting about $10,000 and two low-stakes players betting about $1,000 each are playing. In this case, the average time required for one game at each gaming table is 80 seconds, and sales per hour are about $540,000, so the total sales per hour at the two gaming tables is about $1,080,000.

[0011] In this way, when high-value players are spread across multiple gaming tables and high-value and low-value players are mixed at each gaming table, the casino operator's sales will decrease (from $1.19 million to $1.08 million in the case of Figures 20A and 20B).

[0012] As in the example above, if the minimum bet amount is not set appropriately and high-spending and low-spending players are mixed at a gaming table, not only will the casino operator's revenue decrease, but high-spending players will also find it difficult to play comfortably as the time required for each game will increase.

[0013] The present invention aims to improve the sales of casino operators and enable casino facility operations in which high-value players can play comfortably by determining an appropriate minimum bet amount for a gaming table in a game management system that manages casino games played at gaming tables in a casino facility. [Means for solving the problem]

[0014] A game management system according to one aspect of the present invention is a game management system that manages casino games played at gaming tables in a casino facility, and is configured to include an information processing device that identifies the bet amount for each player position at the gaming table based on the position, type, and number of gaming tokens bet, a player number determination device that determines the number of players participating in the game at the gaming table, and a management control device that determines a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table based on information on the bet amount identified by the information processing device and information on the number of players determined by the player number determination device.

[0015] With this configuration, the recommended minimum bet amount is determined based on the bet amount and the number of players at each player position on the gaming table, thereby improving the casino operator's sales and enabling the operation of a casino facility where high-value players can play comfortably. Note that the information processing device may determine the position, type and number of gaming tokens based on an image obtained by photographing the gaming tokens that have been bet, or may determine the position, type and number of gaming tokens by other means.

[0016] In the above game management system, the management control device may be configured to be able to grasp the transition of bet amounts for each player position in a plurality of games.

[0017] The above-mentioned game management system may further include a game result determination device capable of determining the result of the game, and the management control device may be configured to be able to grasp the wins and losses and the profit and loss for each player position based on the information on the bet amount identified by the information processing device and the information on the game result determined by the game result determination device.

[0018] In the above game management system, the management control device may determine a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table based on information on the trend in bet amount for each player position or the trend in income and expenditure for each player position.

[0019] This configuration allows the recommended minimum bet amount to be determined based on the trends in bet amounts and income / expenses. For example, if the bet amounts of many players at a certain table are on a downward trend, a relatively small amount may be determined as the recommended minimum bet amount. As another example, if the income / expenses of many players at a certain table are on an upward trend, a relatively large amount may be determined as the recommended minimum bet amount.

[0020] In the above game management system, the management control device may be capable of grasping the degree of congestion in each area within the casino facility based on information on the number of players determined by the number-of-player determination device, and may have a function of determining a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table in each area according to the degree of congestion.

[0021] With this configuration, a recommended minimum bet amount can be determined based on the degree of congestion within the casino facility so as to guide players to a specific area.

[0022] In the above game management system, the management control device may have a function of determining a recommended minimum bet amount divided into multiple stages based on information on the number of players determined by the number-of-players determination device and information on the minimum bet amount among the bet amounts for each player position or information on the average bet amount.

[0023] With this configuration, when the minimum bet amount or the average bet amount is high, a high recommended minimum bet amount can be determined.

[0024] In the above game management system, the management control device may have a function of increasing the recommended minimum bet amount when the number of players betting an amount equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of the minimum bet amount of the gaming table is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio.

[0025] With this configuration, when the ratio of high-value players is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the recommended minimum bet amount is increased, thereby making it possible to exclude low-value players.

[0026] In the above-mentioned game management system, the management control device may be capable of grasping the number of open gaming tables within the casino facility, and may have a function of determining the recommended number of gaming tables to be open for each area depending on the degree of congestion.

[0027] This configuration allows gaming tables to be opened in appropriate areas depending on the level of congestion, so as to increase sales throughout the casino facility.

[0028] In the above-mentioned game management system, the management control device may be capable of recording the trend in congestion level for each area, and may have a function of determining the recommended number of gaming tables to be opened for each area based on the recorded trend information.

[0029] With this configuration, the degree of congestion can be predicted based on the transition of the degree of congestion and gaming tables can be opened.

[0030] The above-mentioned game management system may further include a player identification means for identifying players participating in a game at the gaming table, and the management control device may have a function for storing in a database information on players identified by the player identification means and betting amounts for each player position identified by the information processing device in association with each other, and may have a function for determining a recommended number of gaming tables to be opened for each area based on information on the past betting tendencies of each player.

[0031] With this configuration, the recommended number of gaming tables to be opened for each area can be determined based on the betting tendencies of each player.

[0032] In the above game management system, the management control device may determine the minimum bet amount of a newly opened gaming table based on the minimum bet amounts of gaming tables surrounding the newly opened gaming table.

[0033] With this configuration, when a new gaming table is opened, the minimum bet amount for that gaming table can be determined to be the same as or different from the minimum bet amounts for gaming tables around that gaming table.

[0034] In the above game management system, the management control device may determine the minimum bet amount for a newly opened gaming table based on the bet amounts identified by the information processing device for gaming tables surrounding the newly opened gaming table.

[0035] With this configuration, when a new gaming table is opened, the minimum bet amount for that gaming table can be determined according to the actual bet amounts on gaming tables around that gaming table.

[0036] In the above game management system, the management control device may manage the number of dealers and determine whether or not to open a new gaming table based on the number of dealers it manages.

[0037] This configuration allows new gaming tables to be opened based on the number of dealers.

[0038] In the above game management system, when a new gaming table is opened, the management control device may change the minimum bet amounts of gaming tables surrounding the newly opened gaming table.

[0039] This configuration can encourage players to move from an already open gaming table to a newly opened gaming table.

[0040] In the above game management system, the management control device may determine a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table so as to increase the profit margin to sales.

[0041] With this configuration, the minimum bet amount can be set according to the recommended value, thereby increasing the profit margin to sales. The management control device may determine the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table so as to maximize the profit margin to sales.

[0042] In the above game management system, the management control device may determine a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table so as to increase the average number of games per unit time or the average total bet amount per game.

[0043] With this configuration, by determining the minimum bet amount according to the recommended value, it is possible to increase the average number of games per unit time or the average total bet amount per game. Note that the management control device may determine the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table so as to maximize the average number of games per unit time or the average total bet amount per game.

[0044] In the above-mentioned game management system, the management control device may grasp the total bet amount for each player for each game and / or for each specified time or period for each gaming table, and determine a recommended value for the minimum bet amount for each gaming table.

[0045] This configuration allows the recommended minimum bet amount to be determined appropriately for each gaming table.

[0046] In the above-mentioned game management system, the management control device may manage the multiple gaming tables, grasp the total bet amount for each player for each game and / or for each specified time or period for each of the multiple gaming tables, and determine recommended minimum bet amounts that differ for each of the multiple gaming tables.

[0047] This configuration makes it possible to determine an appropriate recommended minimum bet amount by comprehensively taking into account multiple gaming tables.

[0048] In the above-mentioned game management system, the management control device may manage multiple gaming tables, grasp the total bet amount for each player for each game and / or for each specified time or period for each of the multiple gaming tables, and determine a recommended minimum bet amount for a newly opened gaming table.

[0049] With this configuration, it is possible to determine the recommended minimum bet amount for a newly opened gaming table by comprehensively taking into account a plurality of gaming tables.

[0050] In the above-mentioned game management system, the management control device may manage multiple gaming tables, grasp at least one item of information for each of the multiple gaming tables, such as the number of players, the bet amount, or the concentration or dispersion of the number of players, and determine a recommended value for the minimum bet amount for each of the gaming tables based on that information.

[0051] With this configuration, it is possible to determine an appropriate recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table based on the number of players at a plurality of gaming tables, the bet amount, the concentration or dispersion of the number of players, and the like. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0052] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the entire fraud detection system in an amusement center having a plurality of gaming tables according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] 2A is a perspective view of a chip showing examples of different stacking states of chips grasped in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 2B] 2A and 2B are perspective views of chips showing examples of different stacking states of chips grasped in the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the card dealing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a card according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main part of the card distribution device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, with a card guide part partially cut away. [Figure 6A] FIG. 6A is a side cross-sectional view of a main part showing a distribution limiting device that limits the insertion and removal of cards from a card storage unit of the card distribution device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6B] FIG. 6B is a side cross-sectional view of the essential parts showing a modification of the distribution limiting device that limits the insertion and removal of cards from the card storage unit of the card distribution device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the output waveforms of sensors and marks in the card dealing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a casino facility that has introduced the game management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an example of a table showing sales (total bet amount) for each gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is an example of a table showing sales for each game at each gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is an example of a table showing the total bet amount, profit (gross profit), and profit rate for each gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an example of a line graph showing the progress of profits at each gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is an example of a graph showing the transition of profits of the entire casino facility according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is an example of a bar graph showing the profit margin for each gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a game management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16A] FIG. 16A is a diagram showing an example of determining a recommended minimum bet amount according to an actual bet amount. [Figure 16B]FIG. 16B is a diagram showing an example of determining a recommended minimum bet amount according to an actual bet amount. [Figure 17A] FIG. 17A is a diagram showing an example of determining a recommended minimum bet amount according to the degree of table congestion. [Figure 17B] FIG. 17B is a diagram showing an example of determining a recommended minimum bet amount according to the degree of table congestion. [Figure 18A] FIG. 18A is a diagram illustrating an example in which a new gaming table is opened in a certain area. [Figure 18B] FIG. 18B is a diagram illustrating an example in which a new gaming table is opened in a certain area. [Figure 18C] FIG. 18C is a diagram illustrating an example in which a new gaming table is opened in a certain area. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the overall sales of a casino facility are kept low. [Figure 20A] FIG. 20A is a diagram illustrating another example of a situation in which the overall sales of a casino facility are kept low. [Figure 20B] FIG. 20B is a diagram illustrating another example of a situation in which the overall sales of a casino facility are kept low. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] (First embodiment) The true "revenue" of a casino facility (amusement hall) for a casino operator is the total amount of chips bet by players. Furthermore, the amount obtained by subtracting the amount paid out from this revenue is the casino operator's profit (gross profit). However, current casinos are unable to manage these revenues and profits. Furthermore, they are unable to grasp in detail the trends in revenues and profits for each table and pit.

[0054] Therefore, the purpose of this embodiment is to grasp the sales or profits of the entire casino, or the profits or profits of each table or pit.

[0055] In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of this embodiment is a game management system that manages casino games played at multiple tables in a casino facility, and includes a camera that photographs gaming tokens that have been bet to obtain an image, an information processing device that identifies bet targets based on the positions of the gaming tokens in the image and identifies bet amounts based on the type and number of gaming tokens in the image, a game result determination device that determines the game results of the casino games, a calculation device that calculates the profit of the casino operator for each table and game at each of the multiple tables based on the bet targets, the bet amounts, and the game results, and a recording device that records the profits.

[0056] The game result determination device may be an electronic shoe including a storage section for storing playing cards, a removal mechanism for removing the playing cards one by one from the storage section, a detection section for detecting the contents of the playing cards removed by the removal mechanism, and a determination section for determining the game result of the baccarat game based on the contents of the playing cards detected by the detection section in accordance with the rules of the baccarat game.

[0057] Another aspect of this embodiment is a game management system that manages casino games played in a casino facility, and is equipped with a bet detection means that detects bet details including the bet target and bet amount of the casino game, a game result determination means that determines the game result of the casino game, and a calculation means that calculates the profit of the casino operator based on the bet details and the game result.

[0058] The bet detection means may include an image capture means for capturing an image of the casino game, and an information processing means for identifying the bet content based on the image.

[0059] The information processing means may specify the bet content based on the position, type, and number of gaming tokens in the image.

[0060] The information processing means may identify the bet details based on the image by image recognition using a machine learning model.

[0061] The casino game may be a game using playing cards, and the game result determination means may comprise: an electronic shoe including a storage section for storing the playing cards, a removal mechanism for removing the playing cards one by one from the storage section, and a detection section for detecting the contents of the playing cards removed by the removal mechanism; and determination means for determining the game result of the casino game based on the contents of the playing cards detected by the detection section in accordance with the rules of the casino game.

[0062] The game machine may further include a dealer amount detection means for detecting the total amount of gaming tokens of the dealer, and the calculation means may further calculate the profit based on the total amount.

[0063] The gaming token may have an RF tag built in that stores information that can identify at least its value, and the dealer amount detection means may include an RF reader that reads the RF tag.

[0064] The bet detection means may detect the bet details for each game, the game result determination means may determine the game result for each game, and the calculation means may calculate the profit for each game based on the bet details and the game result of the same game.

[0065] The system may further comprise a table creating means for creating a table showing the profit for each game.

[0066] The casino facility may be equipped with a plurality of tables on which the casino games are played, the bet detection means and the game result determination means may be provided for each of the tables, and the calculation means may calculate the profit for each of the plurality of tables.

[0067] The device may further comprise a table creating means for creating a table showing the profit for each table.

[0068] The calculation means may further calculate a total bet amount based on the bet details.

[0069] The calculation means may further calculate a profit rate based on the profit and the total bet amount.

[0070] The device may further comprise an alarm means for generating an alarm for said profit rate being below a predetermined threshold.

[0071] The device may further comprise an alarm means for generating an alarm for the profit rate being equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0072] Yet another aspect of this embodiment is a game management system that manages casino games played at multiple tables in a casino facility, and is equipped with a camera that photographs gaming tokens that have been bet to obtain images, an information processing device that determines the bet amount based on the type and number of gaming tokens in the image, a calculation device that calculates the total bet amount for each of the multiple tables, and a recording device that records the total bet amount for each of the tables.

[0073] Yet another aspect of this embodiment is a game management system that manages casino games played at tables in a casino facility, and is equipped with a camera that photographs gaming tokens that have been bet to obtain images, an information processing device that determines the bet amount based on the type and number of gaming tokens in the image, a calculation device that calculates the total bet amount for each game, and a recording device that records the progress of the total bet amount for each game.

[0074] The game management system of this embodiment, with the above configuration, can grasp sales (total bet amount) and profits for the entire casino facility or for each part of it (table).

[0075] The game management system of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 shows an overview of the system. The game management system, installed in a gaming facility with multiple gaming tables 4, includes a game recording device 11 that records the progress of games played at the gaming tables 4 as video images via multiple cameras 2, including the players 6 and the dealer 5; an image analyzer 12 that serves as an information processing device for analyzing the recorded video images of the progress of the games; and a card dealing device 3 that determines and displays the results of each game played at the gaming tables 4. The card dealing device 3 is a so-called electronic shoe already used by those skilled in the art. The game rules are pre-programmed, and the card dealing device 3 is designed to read the information on the cards C dealt and determine the outcome of the game. For example, in a baccarat game, whether the banker wins, the player wins, or a tie (draw) is basically determined by the ranks of two or three cards, and the results (win or loss) are displayed by a result indicator lamp 13.

[0076] This game management system further includes a management control device 14 that compares the actual card ranks based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device 12 with the win / loss result determined by the card dealing device 3 to detect fraudulent behavior at the gaming table 4 (such as a discrepancy between the total rank of the dealt cards and the win / loss result). The card dealing device 3 is configured to be able to read the rank (A, 2-10, J, Q, K) and suit (heart, spade, etc.) of cards C manually dealt by the dealer 5, and the management control device 14 is configured to compare the rank and suit information obtained by the image analysis device 12 (using artificial intelligence) from images (captured using camera 2) of each card dealt at the gaming table 4 with the card and suit information read by the card dealing device 3 to determine whether they match. The image analysis device 12 and management control device 14 in this game management system are configured to be a composite of a computer, program, and memory, which may be an integrated or multiple-component configuration.

[0077] The image analysis device 12 and the management control device 14 have an artificial intelligence or deep learning architecture that can obtain card rank information even for cards C dealt at the gaming table 4 that have been bent or soiled by the player 6. A soiled card C can make it difficult to distinguish between clubs and spades, for example. Even in such cases, the suit can be determined by analyzing and determining the image using an artificial intelligence computer or control system and deep learning (structure) technology. Even if a card becomes bent due to squeezing by a player, as is often done in games such as baccarat, the artificial intelligence computer or control system and deep learning (structure) technology can recognize the suit and rank of the card before deformation by self-learning multiple image variations. Since artificial intelligence computer or control system and deep learning (structure) technology are already known and available to those skilled in the art, detailed description will be omitted.

[0078] A management control device 14 with an AI or deep learning architecture can determine, via the camera 2 and image analyzer 12, where each player 6 has bet their gaming tokens (hereinafter referred to as "chips") 9 in the betting area 8 (player, banker, or pair), as well as the type and number of chips 9 (each color of chips 9 is assigned a different value). The chips 9 are stacked in a staggered fashion, as shown in Figure 2A, rather than being aligned vertically. In this case, if the camera 2 is positioned in the direction of arrow X shown in Figure 2A (or if the orientation of the chips 9 is in a blind spot relative to the camera), it is assumed that the chips 9 will not be visible (will be in a blind spot), as shown in Figure 2B. AI-based computers or control systems and deep learning (architecture) technologies can use self-learning functions to recognize when chips 9 are hidden by blind spots (when part of a chip is hidden, or when the entire chip is hidden), and accurately determine the number of chips, etc. In this way, it is possible to know at which position in the betting area 8 the chips 9 have been bet (player, banker, or pair), the type of chips 9 bet (each color of chips 9 is assigned a different value), and the number of chips 9 bet. Therefore, in accordance with the outcome of each game determined by the card distribution device 3, the management control device 14 determines whether the collection of losing chips bet by each player 6 (as shown by arrow L) and the payment of winning chips (9W) to the winning player 6W have been carried out appropriately in accordance with the outcome of the game by analyzing the video of the game progress via the image analysis device 12.

[0079] The management control device 14 can analyze and grasp the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 of the dealer 5 at the gaming table 4 using the image analysis device 12, and after the game is over and settlement is made, it can compare and calculate whether the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 has increased or decreased according to the outcome of the game, depending on the collection of the losing chips 9 bet by each player 6 and the amount of winning chips 9W paid to the winning player 6W. Even if the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 is always grasped by means such as RFID, the control device 14 determines whether the increase or decrease is correct by analyzing video of the game progress via the image analysis device 12. These also utilize artificial intelligence or deep learning structures.

[0080] In this example, fraud and mistakes are detected based on the outcome of the game, information on how many of what type of chips 9 were bet and at which position in the betting area 8 (player, banker, or pair), and the increase or decrease in the amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the losing chips have been collected and the winning chips 9 have been redeemed. Therefore, fraud and mistakes can be detected without knowing the movement of the chips 9 after the game ends, i.e., whether the bet chips 9 have moved to the player's side or the dealer's side.

[0081] 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 dealt in the game with the card dealing device 3. The outcome of the game can also be determined by taking a picture of the gaming table 4 with the camera 2, analyzing the image with the image analyzer 12, and comparing the analysis results with the game rules with the control device 14. In this case, the camera 2, the image analyzer 12, and the management control device 14 constitute a win / loss result determination device. Information regarding the player at each playing position 7, what type of chips 9, and how many chips have been bet on which position (player, banker, or pair) in the betting area 8 is obtained by taking a picture of the chips 9 placed in the betting area 8 with the camera 2 and analyzing the image for each playing position 7 with the image analyzer 12.

[0082] Furthermore, the increase or decrease in the amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 before and after the collection of losing chips 9 and the redemption of winning chips 9 can be calculated by comparing the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 before the collection of losing chips 9 and the redemption of winning chips 9 with the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the collection of losing chips 9 and the redemption of winning chips 9. The total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 before the collection of losing chips 9 and the redemption of winning chips 9 and the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the collection of losing chips 9 and the redemption of winning chips 9 can be detected by photographing the chip tray 17 containing chips 9 with the camera 2 and analyzing the image with the image analyzer 12. Furthermore, the total amount of chips 9 contained in the chip tray 17 may be detected by embedding RFID tags indicating the amount in the chips 9 and providing an RFID reader in the chip tray 17.

[0083] For example, suppose the total value of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 before the game starts is Bb, and the total value of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the game ends and the collection of lost chips and the redemption of winning chips is Ba. Also, suppose the total value of the chips 9 bet in the player area at all play positions 7 in this game is bp, the total value of the chips 9 bet in the banker area at all play positions 7 is bb, and the total value of the chips 9 bet in the tie area at all play positions 7 is bt. For example, if the outcome of this game is a banker win, Ba - Bb = bp - bb + bt should be true. Alternatively, the total value of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the game ends should be (Bb + bp - bb + bt). If this is not the case, it can be determined that fraud or an error occurred in the collection or redemption of the chips.

[0084] An embodiment of the card dealing device 3 used in the game management system of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 3 to 7. The card dealing device 3 includes a card storage section 102 that stores a plurality of shuffled playing cards 1s, a card guide section 105 that guides the shuffled playing cards 1 when the dealer 5 or the like manually draws the shuffled playing cards 1 one by one from the card storage section 102 toward the gaming table 4, an opening 106 for removing the cards 1 guided by the card guide section 105, a card detection section (card detection sensors 22 and 23) that detects that the shuffled playing cards 1 have been drawn when the shuffled playing cards 1 are drawn, and a card reading section 10 that reads information indicating at least the number (rank) of the shuffled playing cards 1. 8, a control unit 109 that determines the outcome of the card game based on the number (rank) of shuffled playing cards 1 read in sequence by a card reading unit 108, a result display lamp 13 that displays the outcome determined by the control unit 109, a distribution limiting device 30 that is provided in the opening 106 and limits the entry and exit of cards 1 into and from the card storage unit 102, and a management control unit 114 that has the same function as the control unit 14, which are integrated together, and have the function of preventing further cards from being drawn from the card distribution device 3 after the control unit 14 detects a dealer's mistake or fraudulent behavior in the game or at a predetermined timing.

[0085] Next, a distribution limiting device 30 that limits the insertion and removal of cards 1 into and from card storage unit 102 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6A. Distribution limiting device 30 is provided in card guide 107 of card guide unit 105, which guides cards 1, which are removed one by one from opening 106 at the front of card storage unit 102, onto gaming table 4. Distribution limiting device 30 has a structure in which, when card 1 passes through slot 33 between card guide unit 105 and the guide cover of card guide 107, locking member 34 presses card 1 to prevent the insertion and removal of card 1 from slot 33. Locking member 34 is moved by driving unit 35, such as an electromagnetic solenoid or piezoelectric element, as indicated by arrow m, to take two positions: a position where it presses card 1 (restricted position) and a passable position where card 1 can pass. The drive unit 35 is controlled by a control unit 109 that is directly or indirectly connected to the management control device 14 by wire or wirelessly, and moves the lock member 34 to two states: a position that presses the card 1, and a passable position that allows the card 1 to pass. The rules of the baccarat game are pre-programmed and stored in the control unit 109.

[0086] Next, a modified example of the distribution restriction device 30 will be described with reference to FIG. 6B. In this modified example, the distribution restriction device 40 has a structure in which, when the card 1 passes through the slot 33 between the card guide section 105 and the card guide 107 (guide cover), a locking member 36 protrudes into the slot 33 to prevent the card 1 from moving. The locking member 36 is moved by a driving section 37, such as an electromagnetic solenoid or a piezoelectric element, as indicated by arrow m, so as to be able to take two states: a position that prevents the card 1 from moving (a restricting position) and a passable position that allows the card 1 to pass. The driving section 37 is controlled by a control section 109 connected to the control device 14, and moves the locking member 36 between the position that prevents the card 1 from moving and the passable position that allows the card 1 to pass.

[0087] Next, details of the code reading unit 108, which reads the code 52 representing the number (number, rank) of the card 1 from the card 1 when the card 1 is manually drawn from the card storage unit 102, will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the main parts of the card dealing device 3. In the figure, the code reading unit 108 is provided in a card guide unit 105 that guides the cards 1, which are manually drawn one by one through a front opening 106 of the card storage unit 102, onto the gaming table 4. The card guide unit 105 has an inclined surface, and card guides 107, which also serve as sensor covers, are attached to both edges. Each of the two card guides 107 is detachable with screws or the like (not shown). Removing the card guides 107 exposes the sensor group 115 of the code reading unit 108. The sensor group 115 consists of four sensors: two ultraviolet ray reaction sensors (UV sensors) 20 and 21, and object detection sensors 22 and 23.

[0088] The object detection sensors 22 and 23 are optical fiber sensors that detect the presence or absence of the card 1 and can detect the movement of the card 1. The object detection sensor 22 is located upstream of the card guide unit 105 in the direction of card 1 flow, and the other object detection sensor 23 is located downstream. As shown in the figure, the object detection sensors 22 and 23 are located upstream and downstream of the UV sensors 20 and 21. The UV sensors 20 and 21 are equipped with an LED that emits ultraviolet light (ultraviolet LED) and a detector. The card 1 is printed with a mark M of the code 52 using ultraviolet luminescent ink that changes color when exposed to ultraviolet light. The card 1 is irradiated with ultraviolet light (black light), and the reflected light from the mark M of the code 52 on the card 1 is detected by the detector. The UV sensors 20 and 21 are connected to the code reading unit 108 and the control unit 109 via cables. In the code reading unit 108, the combination of the marks M is determined from the output signals of the detectors of the UV sensors 20 and 21, and the number (rank) corresponding to each code 52 is determined.

[0089] In the code reading unit 108, the control unit 109 controls the start and end of reading by the UV sensors 20 and 21 based on the detection signals of the object detection sensors 22 and 23. The control unit 109 also determines whether the card 1 has passed through the card guide unit 105 properly based on the detection signals of the object detection sensors 22 and 23. As shown in FIG. 7, square marks M representing the rank (number) and suit (e.g., heart, spade) of the card are arranged in two columns and four rows on the edge of the card 1. When the UV sensors 20 and 21 detect the marks M, they output an ON signal. The code reading unit 108 determines the relative relationship between the signals input from the two UV sensors 20 and 21. As a result, the code reading unit 108 identifies the code based on the relative difference between the two marks M detected by the two UV sensors 20 and 21, and identifies the number (rank) and type (suit) of the corresponding card 1.

[0090] Figure 7 shows the relationship between the code 52 and the ON signal output of the two UV sensors 20 and 21. A specific combination of marks M can be identified based on the comparison results of the relative changes in the ON signal output of the UV sensors 20 and 21. As a result, if four combinations of marks M are printed in two columns, one above the other, and four columns are printed, 256 codes can be configured (the fourth power of four). Each of the 52 types of playing cards is assigned to one of the 256 codes, which are stored in memory or by a program as a lookup table. The code reader 108 identifies each code 52 and determines the number (rank) and type (suit) of card 1 from a predetermined lookup table (not shown). Furthermore, the 256 codes can be freely associated with the 52 types of cards and stored in the lookup table, allowing for complex combinations and the ability to change the combination of the 256 codes and the 52 types of cards depending on the time and location. The codes are printed with paint that becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light, and are preferably printed in a position that does not overlap with the card type markings or the index 103.

[0091] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a casino facility that has introduced the game management system 100 of this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, a plurality of gaming tables 4 are installed in the casino facility, and casino games are played at each gaming table 4. One side of each gaming table 4 is the dealer side where the dealer is located, and the other side is the player side where the player is located. In the example of FIG. 8, the upper side of each gaming table 4 is the player side, and the lower side is the dealer side.

[0092] Bets are placed using chips 9 on the gaming table 4. In each game, a player places a bet by placing the type and number of chips 9 that the player will bet on in an area on the gaming table 4 that corresponds to the bet target.

[0093] The chips 9 have different designs on the front and sides for each type, and the type can be identified by observing either the front or side. In this embodiment, different values (e.g., $1,000, $100, $10, etc.) are assigned to the chips 9 for each type. Therefore, the value of the chip 9 can be determined by identifying the type.

[0094] The chip 9 has an embedded RF tag on which information capable of identifying at least its type is recorded. The information recorded on the RF tag (RF tag information) may include information indicating the type of the chip 9, or may include identification information that uniquely identifies the chip 9. If the RF tag information is identification information, a database is prepared in which type information corresponding to the identification information is stored, and the type corresponding to the identification information read from the chip 9 can be identified by referring to the database. In this embodiment, both information indicating the type and identification information are recorded on the RF tag of the chip 9, and its value can be identified by the information indicating the type.

[0095] A chip tray 17 is provided on the dealer side of the gaming table 4. The dealer's chips 9 are stored in the chip tray 17. An antenna 173 is installed inside or outside the chip tray 17 to read RF tag information of the RF tag embedded in the chip 9. The antenna 173 receives radio waves from the RF tag of the chip 9 stored in the chip tray 17.

[0096] A card dealing device 3 that also functions as a win / loss determination device is placed on the gaming table 4 and used. As described above, in this embodiment, the card dealing device 3 determines the win / loss result for each game, whether it is a player win, a banker win, or a tie, in accordance with the rules of the baccarat game. That is, the card dealing device 3 is an electronic shoe that includes a card storage section 102 that stores playing cards 1s, a card guide section 105 and an opening section 106 that constitute a removal mechanism for removing the playing cards 1s one by one from the card storage section 102, card detection sensors 22 and 23 and a card reading section 108 that constitute a detection section that detects the contents of the playing cards 1 removed by the removal mechanism, and a control section 109 that serves as a determination section that determines the game result of the baccarat game in accordance with the rules of the baccarat game based on the contents of the playing cards detected by the card reading section 108.

[0097] A camera 2 is installed on each gaming table 4. The camera 2 is attached to the tip of a pole extending upward and is installed at a high position on the gaming table 4. The camera 2 has a shooting direction and a field of view set so that it can photograph an area that includes at least the betting area of the gaming table 4 (the area where players place chips 9 to bet), the card dealing device 3, and the chip tray 17. The camera 2 photographs the bet chips to obtain an image.

[0098] 8, one camera 2 is installed on each gaming table 4, but multiple cameras 2 with different installation positions, shooting directions, or angle of view may be installed on each gaming table 4 to capture different ranges. For example, a camera 2 that captures the betting area and a camera 2 that captures the chip tray 17 may be installed separately, or multiple cameras installed at different heights and with different shooting directions may capture the same betting area.

[0099] Each gaming table 4 is further provided with a management control device 14. The management control device 14 is connected to the camera 2 (or the cameras 2 if there are multiple cameras 2) of the gaming table 4, the card dealing device 3, and the RF antenna 173. The management control device 14 has multiple functions as an information processing device.

[0100] First, the management control device 14 functions as an RF reader that identifies the types of all chips 9 contained in the chip tray 17 based on radio waves received by the antenna 173, calculates the total value of the chips 9 contained in the chip tray 17, and records the results. The control device 14 also functions to receive and record the results of each game from the card dealing device 3. Furthermore, the management control device 14 functions as an image recognition device that acquires images from the camera 2, performs image recognition on the images using a machine learning model, and recognizes the bet details, i.e., which player bet how much on which bet object. The machine learning model may be a neural network with a deep learning structure. Specifically, the management control device 14 identifies the player and bet object based on the position of the chips 9 in the captured image, and determines the bet amount based on the type and number of chips 9 in the captured image.

[0101] In this way, at each gaming table 4, for each game, the management control device 14 uses the antenna 173 to grasp the total amount of chips 9 stored in the chip tray 17 (hereinafter also referred to as the "dealer amount"), uses the card dealing device 3 to grasp the outcome of the game (hereinafter also referred to as the "game result"), and grasps the bet details using the image from the camera 2. Based on this information (total amount of chip tray, game result, and bet details), the casino operator's sales and profits for each game can be calculated.

[0102] The game management system 100 includes a management device 50 connected to a management control device 14 of a plurality of gaming tables 4. The management device 50 is configured by a general-purpose computer. The management device 50 includes a calculation device 51 and a recording device 52. The calculation device 51 is realized, for example, by a general-purpose processor executing the computer program of this embodiment. The calculation device 51 includes a calculation unit 511, a table creation unit 512, and an alarm unit 513.

[0103] The calculation unit 51 acquires information on the dealer amount, game results, and bet details for each game from the multiple management control devices 14, and calculates the sales, profit (gross profit), and profit rate (gross profit rate) for each gaming table 4. The table creation unit 512 creates a table and graph in which the sales and profits calculated by the calculation unit 511 are arranged in chronological order for each table.

[0104] The calculation unit 511 may calculate the sales, profits, and profit rates for each player's position at each gaming table 4, and the table creation unit 512 may also create a table and graph in which the sales, profits, and profit rates are arranged in chronological order for each player's position at each gaming table 4. Furthermore, if the game management system 100 has a means for recognizing players, it may calculate the sales from player bets and the profits obtained from players for each player and create a table and graph.

[0105] The recording device 52 records the sales, profits, and profit ratios calculated by the calculation unit 511 in the form of tables and graphs created by the table creation unit 512.

[0106] Specifically, the calculation unit 511 calculates the total bet amount (sales) for each of the multiple gaming tables 4 and for each game, and determines how much to recover or redeem for each bet object based on the bet object, bet amount, and game result, thereby calculating the casino operator's profit. The calculation unit 511 also calculates the difference between the dealer amount before and after the table game for each of the multiple gaming tables 4 and for each game. The former profit is, so to speak, a theoretical value, and the latter profit is, so to speak, an actual value, and these should match. The calculation unit 511 may determine whether the theoretical value and the actual value match, and if they match, adopt that profit, and if they do not, issue a warning to that effect.

[0107] The calculation unit 511 further calculates the total amount of bets (sales) for each of the plurality of tables 4 and for each game. The calculation unit 511 also calculates the profit rate (gross profit rate) (= profit / sales) based on the sales and profit (gross profit) for a predetermined period or a predetermined number of games.

[0108] The table creation unit 512 compiles the sales, profits, and profit margins calculated by the calculation unit 511 to create various tables and graphs. FIG. 9 is an example of a table created by the table creation unit 512 showing sales (total bet amounts) for each gaming table 4. As shown in FIG. 9, the table creation unit 512 creates a table showing the number of each type of chip 9 bet for each gaming table 4. The number of each chip 9 may be the number compiled for each predetermined time period, such as from midnight to midnight the next day. If the casino facility is not open 24 hours a day, the number may be compiled for each business hour of a day. Furthermore, the table may be a summary of a predetermined time period in the past, based on the time of creation. This table also includes the total chip amount (sales) for each gaming table 4. This table allows sales for the same time period to be compared for each gaming table, making it possible to know the total sales for the entire casino facility for that time period.

[0109] FIG. 10 is an example of a table created by the table creation unit 512, showing sales for each game at each gaming table 4. FIG. 10 is a table showing sales for table 1. As shown in FIG. 10, the table creation unit 512 creates a table showing the number of various chips 9 betted for each game. The table creation unit 512 may create one table for a certain period (for example, 24 hours or one business day), or may create a table for every predetermined number of games (for example, 80 games). The table creation unit 512 may also create a table for a predetermined time period or a predetermined number of games in the past up to the time of table creation.

[0110] FIG. 11 is an example of a table created by the table creation unit 512, showing the total bet amount (sales), profit (gross profit), and profit ratio for each gaming table 4. As shown in FIG. 11, the table creation unit 512 creates a table showing the total bet amount (sales), profit (gross profit), and profit ratio (gross profit ratio) (= profit / sales) for each gaming table 4. The table creation unit 512 may create one table for each fixed period (e.g., 24 hours, one week, one month, etc.), or may create a table for each predetermined number of games (e.g., 100 games, 1000 games, etc.). The table creation unit 512 may also create a table for a predetermined time period or a predetermined number of games in the past up to the time of table creation.

[0111] FIG. 12 is an example of a line graph created by the table creation unit 512 to show the progress of profits at each gaming table 4, and FIG. 13 is an example of a graph showing the progress of profits at the entire casino facility. The examples of FIGS. 12 and 13 show the progress of profits over one business day when the casino facility is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 AM the next day. Graphs like those in FIGS. 12 and 13 make it easier to understand the progress of profits and enable management analysis of the casino facility. Furthermore, by showing the progress of profits for each table as in FIG. 12, it becomes easier to find tables with unusual progress of profits.

[0112] 14 is an example of a bar graph showing the profit rate for each gaming table 4, created by the table creation unit 512. This bar graph makes it possible to see at a glance how much profit has been made at each gaming table 4.

[0113] In the above example, the calculation unit 511 and the table creation unit 512 calculated the sales, profits, and profit margins for each gaming table 4 and created tables and graphs, but instead of or in addition to this, the sales, profits, and profit margins may be calculated for each pit where multiple gaming tables 4 are gathered and tables and graphs may be created.

[0114] The calculation unit 512 may calculate the sales, profits, and profit margins each time it obtains information on the dealer amount, game results, and bet details for each game, and may calculate the sales, profits, and profit margins when the table creation unit 512 creates a table.

[0115] The table creation unit 512 may create a table for each period covered by the table or graph. For example, when the table creation unit 512 creates a graph showing the progress of sales for each gaming table 4 over one day (24 hours), the table creation unit 512 may automatically create the table every 24 hours (as soon as data is collected). Alternatively, the table creation unit 512 may create a table or graph at a manually instructed timing, regardless of the period covered by the table or graph. Alternatively, the table creation unit 512 may automatically create a table or graph at intervals shorter than the period covered by the table or graph. For example, a table or graph may be created by aggregating data for the past 24 hours every six hours.

[0116] The alarm unit 513 determines that an unusual situation has occurred based on the sales, profits, and profit margins calculated by the calculation unit 511 and the tabulation by the table creation unit 512, and generates an alarm. For example, the alarm unit 513 may compare the profit margin calculated by the calculation unit 511 or the profit margin for a predetermined period or a predetermined number of games tabulated by the table creation unit 512 with a predetermined first threshold and generate an alarm if the profit margin is equal to or less than the first threshold, or may compare the profit margin calculated by the calculation unit 511 or the profit margin for a predetermined period or a predetermined number of games tabulated by the table creation unit 512 with a predetermined second threshold and generate an alarm if the profit margin is equal to or greater than the second threshold. The alarm unit 513 may also generate an alarm by comparing profits and sales with a predetermined threshold.

[0117] The warning unit 513 may discover an unusual situation by performing a more complex analysis of sales and profits. For example, the warning unit 513 may generate a warning based on the transition of profit margins in the table or graph created by the table creation unit 512. In this case, a machine learning model may be used to determine whether the situation is unusual. This machine learning model may be a model that receives the transition of profit margins obtained by the tabulation by the table creation unit 512 as input and outputs the probability that the situation is unusual. If the probability is equal to or less than a predetermined threshold, the warning unit 513 may determine that the situation is unusual and generate a warning.

[0118] The warning may be realized by marking elements determined to be peculiar in the table or graph created by the table creation unit 512, and in addition, may be realized by generating and outputting an image, sound, or a drive signal for an alarm device (lamp, buzzer, etc.) when such an anomalous situation occurs. In the example of Fig. 11, the warning is realized by shading Table 3, where the profit rate is below 0%.

[0119] As described above, according to the above embodiment, at the gaming table 4, the bet details are grasped by the camera 2 and the control device 14 as an image recognition device, the game results are grasped by the card dealing device 3, the dealer amount is grasped by the antenna 173 and the control device 14 as an RF reader, and this information is centrally managed by the management device 50, so that the sales, profits, profit margins, etc. of the casino operator can be automatically grasped.

[0120] In the above embodiment, the winning / losing determination device is realized by the card dealing device 3, that is, the card dealing device 3 is configured to also determine the winning / losing, but the winning / losing determination may be performed by the control device 14. In this case, the card dealing device 3 transmits information read from the cards to be dealt (card read information) to the control device 14, and the control device 14, as the winning / losing determination device, determines the outcome of the game in accordance with the game rules based on the card read information from the card dealing device 3.

[0121] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the calculation unit 511 calculates sales, profits, and profit ratios, and the table creation unit 512 aggregates the calculated sales, profits, and profit ratios to create tables and graphs. However, instead of this, the calculation unit 511 may aggregate some or all of the data, and the table creation unit 512 may create tables and graphs using the aggregation results of the calculation unit 511.

[0122] (Second embodiment) 15 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a game management system 101 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The game management system 101 includes a plurality of gaming tables 4 on which casino games are played and a management control device 60 for managing games at each gaming table 4, and manages casino games played at the plurality of gaming tables 4 in a casino facility. The plurality of gaming tables 4 are arranged in different areas of the casino facility. In this embodiment, each gaming table 4 has a capacity of eight players, i.e., each gaming table 4 has eight player positions.

[0123] A camera 2 is installed on each gaming table 4. The camera 2 is fixed to a pole. The camera 2 photographs the betting area on the gaming table 4, thereby photographing chips 9 placed in the betting area and betting to obtain an image. The camera 2 also photographs the player positions, thereby photographing players participating in the game at the gaming table 4 and obtaining an image.

[0124] 15 shows an example in which one camera 2 is installed on each gaming table 4, but a camera for photographing the betting area and a camera for photographing the player may be provided separately, or multiple cameras may be provided to photograph different parts of the betting area, or multiple cameras may be provided to photograph different player positions. Also, one camera 2 may be configured to change its angle between photographing the betting area and photographing the player, thereby photographing both the betting area and the player.

[0125] A display 15 is installed on each gaming table 4 as a display device. The display 15 is fixed to a pole provided on the gaming table 4 and is installed in a position where it can be seen not only by players participating in the game but also by people nearby. The display 15 displays various information including the minimum bet amount set for that gaming table 4.

[0126] Display 15 is typically a liquid crystal panel, but may also be a display device with a two-dimensional arrangement of LED lamps. In the example of Fig. 15, camera 2 and display 15 are provided separately, but they may also be fixed to the same pole. For example, camera 2 can be installed directly below display 15 to make it less noticeable.

[0127] Each gaming table 4 is equipped with a control device 14 as an information processing device. The control device 14 realizes multiple functions described below by a computer executing a predetermined program. The control device 14 first analyzes the image of the betting area acquired by the camera 2, and identifies the bet amount for each player position on the gaming table 4 based on the position, type, and number of chips 9 in the image. Various image recognition technologies can be used for this image analysis. For example, the image of the betting area may be input into a trained deep neural network, and the bet amount for each player position may be obtained as the output.

[0128] The control device 14 further functions as a player number determination device that analyzes images of player positions to determine the number of players participating in the game at the gaming table 4. Existing face recognition technology can be used to identify the players, and machine learning such as a support vector machine (SVM) may also be used.

[0129] The control device 14 also functions as a display control device that controls the display 15 to display predetermined information. Furthermore, although not shown, an operation input device may be connected to the control device 14 to receive operation input from the dealer from the operation input device. The control device 14 may also be connected to a card distribution device on the gaming table 4 that has a win / loss determination function, an RFID system that reads an RF tag built into the chip 9, and the like, to process various information related to them.

[0130] The control device 14 provided at each gaming table 4 is connected to a management control device 60 via wired or wireless communication. The management control device 60 includes a calculation device 61 and a recording device 62. The calculation device 61 includes a recommended value determination unit 611, which is realized by a processor executing a predetermined program, a congestion degree determination unit 612, a table opening / closing determination unit 613, a dealer management unit 614, and a player management unit 615.

[0131] The recommended value determination unit 611 determines a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4 based on information on the bet amount identified by the control device 14 and information on the number of players determined by the control device 14 functioning as a number-of-players determination device. The recommended value determination unit 611 determines a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4 so as to increase the profit margin on sales. The recommended value determination unit 611 may also determine a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4 so as to increase the average number of games per unit time or the average total bet amount per game.

[0132] The recommended value determination unit 611 has minimum bet amount candidates divided into multiple stages set therein. In this embodiment, five stages of minimum bet amount candidates, namely, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000, are set therein. The recommended value determination unit 611 determines the recommended value by selecting one of these minimum bet amount candidates. Note that the recommended value determination unit 611 may determine a more appropriate recommended minimum bet amount other than the set candidates, thereby enabling more detailed classification when the preset minimum bet amount candidates are inappropriate.

[0133] The management control device 60 outputs (transmits) the determined recommended value of the minimum bet amount to the control device 14 of the corresponding gaming table 4. The control device 14 displays the minimum bet amount on the display 15 based on the recommended value received from the management control device 60. When the control device 14 receives the recommended value of the minimum bet amount from the management control device 60, the control device 14 may display the recommended value directly on the display 15, or may show the recommended value only to the dealer and then display it on the display 15 in response to the dealer's operation.

[0134] (Recommended minimum bet amount based on actual bet amount) The recommended value determination unit 611 determines a recommended value by selecting one of the minimum bet amount candidates divided into multiple stages based on information on the number of players determined by the control device 14 as a player number determination device and information on the minimum bet amount among the bet amounts for each player position or information on the average bet amount.

[0135] The recommended value determination unit 611 grasps the total bet amount for each player for each game and / or for each predetermined time or period for each gaming table 4, and determines a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4. In this embodiment, the recommended value determination unit 611 increases the recommended minimum bet amount when there is a predetermined ratio or more of players betting an amount equal to or greater than the current minimum bet amount for the gaming table 4.

[0136] Specifically, the recommended value determination unit 611 ranks as high-value players, for each player position on each gaming table 4, players whose minimum bet amount for a predetermined number of past games (five games in this embodiment) is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (150% in this embodiment) of the minimum bet amount. If the number of high-value players is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (50% in this embodiment), the recommended value determination unit 611 determines a minimum bet amount higher than the minimum bet amount already set for that gaming table 4.

[0137] 16A and 16B are diagrams showing an example of determining a recommended minimum bet amount according to the actual bet amount. In the example of Fig. 16A and Fig. 16B, four players are participating in the game, and the minimum bet amount is set to $1,000.

[0138] In the example of FIG. 16A, the minimum bet amount of Player 1 in the past five games is $1,000, the minimum bet amount of Player 2 in the past five games is $2,000, the minimum bet amount of Player 3 in the past five games is $1,500, and the minimum bet amount of Player 4 in the past five games is $1,000. In this case, Players 2 and 3 have bet their minimum amounts in the past five games equal to or greater than $1,500, which is 150% of the current minimum bet amount of $1,000, and are therefore classified as high-value players. Since the ratio of high-value players (two players) among the four players participating in the game is 50%, which meets the standard of 50%, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines a minimum bet amount higher than the previously set minimum bet amount of $1,000 as the recommended value.

[0139] On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 16B, the minimum bet amount of player 1 in the past five games is $1,000, the minimum bet amount of player 2 in the past five games is $1,500, the minimum bet amount of player 3 in the past five games is $1,000, and the minimum bet amount of player 4 in the past five games is $1,100. In this case, player 2's minimum bet amount in the past five games is $1,500 or more, which is 150% of the current minimum bet amount of $1,000, and player 2 is classified as a high-value player. Furthermore, since the proportion of high-value players (one player) among the four players participating in the game is 25%, which is less than the standard of 50%, the recommended value determination unit 611 does not change the already set minimum bet amount of $1,000 and determines the current minimum bet amount of $1,000 as the recommended value.

[0140] When increasing the minimum bet amount, the recommended value determination unit 611 increases the minimum bet amount by one level and performs the same calculation as above. In the case of Figure 16A, if the current minimum bet amount is increased by one level to $5,000, the condition for determining a higher minimum bet amount as the recommended value is not met, so $5,000 is determined as the recommended minimum bet amount. If the above condition is still met when the minimum bet amount is increased by one level and the same calculation is performed, the minimum bet amount is increased by another level, and this is repeated until the above condition is no longer met.

[0141] In the above example, the recommended value determination unit 611 evaluated the minimum amount of bets made in the past five games for each player position (player), but instead, for each gaming table 4, for each player position, a player whose average bet amount (average bet amount) for a predetermined number of past games (e.g., five games) is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (e.g., 300%) of the minimum bet amount may be ranked as a high-bet player.

[0142] Also, in the above example, when the number of high-value players is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio, the minimum bet amount is changed to a value one level higher from among predetermined options. Alternatively, the minimum bet amount may be increased to a predetermined ratio (for example, 150%) of the minimum bet amount. In other words, in the example of Figure 16A above, the recommended minimum bet amount may be 150% of the minimum bet amount of 1000 dollars, or 150% of the minimum bet amount of 1000 dollars, or 1500 dollars.

[0143] The recommended value determination unit 611 may also grasp the transition of bet amounts for each player position in a plurality of games and determine the recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table based on that transition. Alternatively, the card dealing device 3 or the control device 14 may determine the results of the games and grasp the win / loss and balance for each player position, and the recommended value determination unit 611 may determine the recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table based on the information on the transition of balance for each player position.

[0144] (Recommended minimum bet amount depending on table congestion) Next, the determination of the recommended minimum bet amount according to the table congestion level will be described. The congestion level determination unit 612 calculates the table congestion level of each gaming table based on information about the number of players determined by the control device 14, which serves as a player number determination device. The table congestion level is the ratio of the number of players participating in the game to the capacity of each gaming table 4. The recommended value determination unit 611 determines the recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4 according to the table congestion level determined by the congestion level determination unit 612.

[0145] 17A and 17B are diagrams showing an example of determining a recommended minimum bet amount according to the degree of table congestion. As shown in Fig. 17A, there are four gaming tables 4a to 4d, of which two gaming tables 4a and 4b have a minimum bet amount set to $10,000, and the other two gaming tables 4c and 4d have a minimum bet amount set to $1,000.

[0146] As shown in FIG. 17A, two gaming tables 4a and 4b, which have a minimum bet amount set to $10,000, have a large number of players participating in the game (high table congestion), while two gaming tables 4c and 4d, which have a minimum bet amount set to $1,000, have a small number of players participating in the game (low table congestion).

[0147] In this situation, the recommended value determination unit 611 increases the minimum bet amount of gaming table 4d, which has the fewest players participating in the game (the least crowded table) among gaming tables 4c and 4d, both of which have a minimum bet amount of $1,000, to $10,000. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 17B, it is expected that players who were participating in the game at gaming table 4d will move to gaming table 4c, which has a minimum bet amount of $1,000, and that some of the players who were participating in the game at gaming tables 4a and 4b, which have a minimum bet amount of $10,000, will move to gaming table 4d, where the minimum bet amount has been increased to $10,000.

[0148] 20A and 20B, it is clear that the casino operator's sales will increase in Figure 17B compared to Figure 17A. In this way, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines the recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4 for each area, depending on the table congestion level determined by the congestion level determination unit 612, so that high-value players can play at gaming tables 4 with fewer players.

[0149] As described above, in this example, the recommended value determination unit 611 manages multiple gaming tables 4, grasps the total bet amount for each player for each game and / or for each specified time or period for each of the multiple gaming tables 4, and determines a recommended minimum bet amount that differs for each of the multiple gaming tables 4.

[0150] (Opening / closing of gaming tables based on area congestion) The congestion level determination unit 612 calculates the area congestion level of each area when the casino facility is divided into multiple areas, based on information on the number of players determined by the control device 14 as a player number determination device. The area congestion level is the ratio of the total number of players to the total number of player positions in the area. Note that the table opening / closing determination unit 613 may determine the area congestion level for each area as the ratio of gaming tables 4 whose table congestion level exceeds a predetermined value (e.g., 80%).

[0151] The table opening / closing determination unit 613 keeps track of all gaming tables 4 in the casino facility and the number of open gaming tables 4 among them, and determines the recommended number of gaming tables 4 to be open for each area according to the area congestion level determined by the congestion level determination unit 612. Specifically, when the area congestion level reaches a predetermined value (80% in this embodiment) or higher, the table opening / closing determination unit 613 determines to open a new gaming table 4 in that area.

[0152] When a new gaming table 4 is opened, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines a recommended value for the minimum bet amount for the gaming table 4. The recommended value determination unit 611 may simply set the minimum bet amount for the newly opened gaming table 4 to be the same as the minimum bet amounts for the gaming tables 4 surrounding the newly opened gaming table 4. This allows customers to be guided to that area and play efficiently.

[0153] On the other hand, when opening a new gaming table 4, the recommended value determination unit 611 may determine a recommended minimum bet amount so as to maximize the casino operator's sales. FIGS. 18A to 18C are diagrams illustrating an example of opening a new gaming table 4 in a certain area. Here, too, the average time required for one game when a single player is playing is 60 seconds, and the average time required for one game increases by 10 seconds for each additional player. The average bet amount for high-value players (those hatched in the diagram) is set to $5,000, and the average bet amount for low-value players (those filled in white in the diagram) is set to $1,000.

[0154] In the case of Figure 18A, gaming tables 4a and 4c are open, and seven players are participating in the game at each of the eight-person capacity tables, of which four are high-value players and three are low-value players. Figure 18B shows the situation in Figure 18A, in which a new gaming table 4b is opened with a minimum bet amount of $5,000. By setting the minimum bet amount of $5,000 for the newly opened gaming table 4b, as shown in Figure 18B, it is possible that all high-value players playing at gaming tables 4a and 4c will move to gaming table 4b.

[0155] In the case of Figure 18B, the average sales of $1.38 million per hour in the situation of Figure 18A drops to $1.377 million per hour. Thus, when a new gaming table 4 is opened, depending on the minimum bet amount set, sales may not increase significantly or may even decrease. Furthermore, when the costs incurred by opening a new gaming table 4 are taken into account, the casino operator's profits will decrease.

[0156] In the case of Figure 18A, it would be effective to set a low minimum bet amount for the newly opened gaming table 4b, as shown in Figure 18C, while simultaneously raising the minimum bet amounts for the already open gaming tables 4a and 4c. By doing so, average sales, which were $1.38 million per hour in the situation of Figure 18A, would increase to $1.76 million per hour.

[0157] In this way, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines the minimum bet amount of a newly opened gaming table 4 based on the actual bet amount and the minimum bet amounts of the gaming tables 4 surrounding the newly opened gaming table 4. Furthermore, as in the example of Fig. 18C, the recommended value determination unit 611 changes the minimum bet amounts of the surrounding gaming tables 4 at the timing when a new gaming table 4 is opened, thereby encouraging players to move from the surrounding gaming tables 4 to the newly opened gaming table 4.

[0158] The dealer management unit 614 manages the dealers who are on duty, and the table opening / closing determination unit 613 determines whether to open a new gaming table 4 depending on the number of dealers. Specifically, even when the area congestion level is high, if there are no waiting (available) dealers (i.e., when all dealers are seated at gaming tables 4) or when there are no new gaming tables 4 that can be opened (i.e., when all gaming tables 4 have been opened), the table opening / closing determination unit 613 does not determine to open a new gaming table 4, and the recommended value determination unit 611 responds by changing the minimum bet amount of the gaming table 4 that is already open.

[0159] The congestion level determination unit 612 may record the transition of the area congestion level for each area, and the table opening / closing determination unit 613 may determine the recommended number of gaming tables 4 to be opened for each area based on the information on the transition recorded by the congestion determination unit 612. In other words, when the area congestion level is on the rise, the table opening / closing determination unit 613 determines to open a new gaming table 4 in the area before the area congestion level reaches a predetermined value.

[0160] As described above, in this example, the recommended value determination unit 611 manages a plurality of gaming tables 4, grasps the total bet amount for each player for each game and / or for each predetermined time or period for each of the plurality of gaming tables 4, and determines the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for the gaming table to be newly opened.

[0161] (Recommended minimum bet amount based on player characteristics) The player management unit 614 functions as a player identification means for identifying players participating in a game at a gaming table. Specifically, the player management unit 615 identifies the player at each player position by analyzing an image of the player position sent from the control device 14 of each gaming table 4. For this purpose, the player registers his / her facial image in advance in the management control device 60. The player management unit 615 identifies the player by comparing the image sent from the control device 14 with the facial image registered in advance.

[0162] In addition to or instead of identifying a player by the above-mentioned facial image, the player management unit 615 may identify a player by a storage medium (e.g., a membership card, a point card, etc.) carried by the player. An ID identifying the player is stored in this storage medium. When the player sits at the gaming table 4, he or she hands the storage medium to the dealer, who then reads the ID using a predetermined reading device. The control device 14 transmits the ID read from the storage medium to the management control device 60. By receiving this ID, the player management unit 614 can identify the player.

[0163] Alternatively, the player management unit 615 may identify a player based on biometric information of the player playing at the gaming table 4. In this case, for example, a fingerprint recognition device is installed at each player position on the gaming table, and the player undergoes fingerprint authentication when he or she takes his or her playing position.

[0164] The control device 14 transmits information about the play details of each player position (including the bet amount, winning amount, and losing amount) to the management control device 60. The player management unit 615 records this play details information in the recording device 62, which serves as a database that stores the information in association with the ID of the player identified for that player position. In this way, the player management unit 615 records the past play details of each player in the recording device 62.

[0165] The player management unit 615 further calculates the average bet amount, the average continuous playing time at the same table, the rate of players leaving when the minimum bet amount increases, the recent win rate and winning amount, etc. for each player from the past play details, and stores these as tendency information for each player in the recording device 62 as a database, in association with the player's ID.

[0166] The table opening / closing determination unit 613 may determine, for each area, the recommended number of gaming tables to be newly opened, based on the tendency information of multiple players in that area stored in the recording device 62. Furthermore, the recommended value determination unit 611 may determine, for each area, the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for a currently open gaming table 4, or the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for a newly opened gaming table 4, based on the tendency information of multiple players in that area stored in the recording device 62.

[0167] In other words, in the above, it was assumed that when a new gaming table 4b with a relatively high minimum bet amount is opened from the state shown in Figure 18A as shown in Figure 18B, all high-betting players would move to that gaming table 4b. However, in reality, players may not move as shown in Figure 18B. Also, in Figure 18C, it was assumed that all low-betting players would leave when the minimum bet amount at gaming tables 4a and 4c is increased. However, it is possible that low-betting players will increase their bet amount in response to the increased minimum bet amount and remain at the same gaming tables 4a and 4c. Therefore, the recommended value determination unit 611 performs a simulation using probabilities based on the tendencies of each player stored in the recording device 62, and determines a recommended minimum bet amount that maximizes sales.

[0168] In the above second embodiment, the gaming table 4 has been described as a table for playing card games such as baccarat, but the games played on the gaming table 4 are not limited to card games, and the game management system 101 of the second embodiment can be applied to all games for which a minimum bet amount can be set.

[0169] Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, images of players captured by the camera 2 are analyzed to determine the number of players, but the means for determining the number of players is not limited to this. For example, the number of players can also be determined from the gaming tokens bet. That is, since the betting area defines positions for betting for each player position, it is possible to know how many players are participating in the game by knowing which positions are bet on. In other words, the means for identifying the bet amount for each player position may also serve as the means for determining the number of players.

[0170] Furthermore, in the second embodiment described above, when the minimum bet amount for a gaming table 4 is increased, the minimum bet amount may be increased to the lowest bet amount for a player at that gaming table 4. For example, at a table with a minimum bet amount of $500, if there is a player playing with $1000 and another player playing with $5000, the minimum bet amount may be increased to $1000.

[0171] In addition, in the second embodiment described above, the recommended minimum bet amount may be determined based on past statistics (such as bet amounts generally increasing in the evening.) For example, if past statistics show a tendency for bet amounts to increase in the evening, the bet amount may be increased at a predetermined timing in the evening.

[0172] In addition, in the second embodiment described above, the management control device 60 may manage multiple gaming tables, grasp at least one item of information for each of the multiple gaming tables 4, such as the number of players, the bet amount, or the concentration or dispersion of the number of players, and determine a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4 based on that information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0173] 1 Playing Cards 1s Multiple shuffled playing cards 2 Cameras 3 Card distribution device 4 Gaming Tables 5 Dealer 6 Customers (game participants / players) 9 chips 11 Game Recording Device 12 Image analysis equipment 13 Result display lamp 14 Control device 17 Chip Tray 30 Distribution Restriction Device 33 slots 34 Locking member 35 Drive unit 36 Locking member 37 Drive unit 40 Distribution Restriction Device 60 Management control device 61 Arithmetic unit 611 Recommended value determination unit 612 Congestion Degree Judgment Unit 613 Table opening / closing determination unit 614 Dealer Management Department 615 Player Management Department 62 Recording Device 102 Card storage section 103 Index 105 Card guide part 106 Opening 107 Card Guide 108 Card reader 109 Control Unit

Claims

1. A management device that connects to multiple gaming machines located within the casino facility, Multiple imaging devices placed within the aforementioned casino facility, The imaging device receives the player's face image, Access the facial image database and select a player ID that can be matched with the received facial image. The system comprises a player management device that transmits the selected player ID and the player's location information to the management device, The aforementioned control device is Access the gameplay database and identify the gameplay information associated with the selected player ID. The location information of the aforementioned player is identified, and the gaming device corresponding to the aforementioned player has a display. The display shows information based on the gameplay associated with the identified gameplay information. A game management system that records the gameplay details of the identified gaming device in the information of the identified gameplay details.

2. The aforementioned gaming device can be used by multiple players. The player management device receives facial images from multiple players using the gaming device, selects a player ID, and transmits the selected player ID and the player's location information to the management device. The game management system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned gaming device is usable by one player. The player management device receives the facial image of one player using the gaming device, selects a player ID, and transmits the selected player ID and the player's location information to the management device. The game management system according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned gaming device is a gaming table, The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the player's location information is the player's position on the game table.

5. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the aforementioned gameplay database records, for each player, the player ID of that player and the gameplay of that player in association with that player.

6. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the facial image database records, for each player, the player ID of that player and the facial image of that player in association.

7. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein, in cases where the player has previously registered their own face image in the face image database, the player management device identifies the player by comparing the face image received from the camera with the face image previously registered.

8. The gaming device has a reader that reads a storage medium containing the player ID, which is held by the player. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the player management device reads the player ID from the storage medium to identify the player.

Images