Casino system, casino article, and casino article providing method

Abstract

To reinforce security management of casino articles.SOLUTION: A casino system 30 in a casino 300 using a gaming chip 72 to which an RFID tag 721 storing identification information is granted includes an activation reader / writer 322 that is installed in the casino 300 and reads identification information from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72, and a registration device 325 for determining authenticity of the gaming chip 72 and registering the gaming chip 72 that is determined to be authentic as a usable article. The registration device 325 determines authenticity according to whether identification information granted from a manufacturer of the gaming chip 72 coincides with identification information read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 by the activation reader / writer 322, and registers identification information of the gaming chip 72 determined to be authentic as identification information of the usable gaming chip 72.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a casino system applied to a casino that uses casino items, casino items that can be used in a casino, and a method for providing casino items. [Background technology]

[0002] Casino equipment used in casinos requires high security and should be strictly managed. For example, casino equipment is manufactured in a manufacturing factory, but there is a risk that it may be stolen by malicious individuals during the process from the manufacturing factory to the casino where it is used on the floor. There is also a risk that counterfeit casino equipment may be used on the casino floor to unfairly win games. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Application Publication No. WO2008 / 120749 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention aims to strengthen security management of casino equipment. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] One embodiment of the casino system of the present invention is a casino system in a casino that uses casino items equipped with RFID tags that store identification information, and is equipped with a first reading device installed in the casino that reads the identification information from the RFID tag of the casino item, and a registration device that determines the authenticity of the casino item and registers the casino item that is determined to be authentic as usable item, and the registration device determines the authenticity based on whether the identification information provided by the manufacturer of the casino item matches the identification information read from the RFID tag of the casino item by the first reading device.

[0006] With this configuration, casino items are registered as usable items in the casino's backyard, and if casino items that have been stolen during transport to the casino and have not been registered are used on the casino floor, such fraudulent casino items can be discovered. Furthermore, the casino registers the casino items after comparing the identification information provided by the casino item's manufacturer with the identification information stored in the casino item's RFID tag, so it is possible to register the casino items only after confirming that they were indeed manufactured at the casino item manufacturing factory.

[0007] The above casino system may further include a verification device that is installed at a casino equipment handling location within the casino and that verifies the identification information read from the casino equipment with the identification information of the casino equipment registered in the registration device.

[0008] In the above casino system, the registration device may invalidate the registration of the identification information registered as identification information of usable casino items under predetermined conditions.

[0009] In the above casino system, the registration device may invalidate the registration of the identification information of the casino item from which the identification information cannot be read.

[0010] In the above casino system, the casino items may carry information for identifying the casino items by means other than the RFID tag, and the registration device may use the information for identifying the casino items to identify the identification information for which registration should be invalidated for the casino items whose identification information cannot be read, and invalidate the registration.

[0011] In the above casino system, the identification information may include tag identification information assigned by the manufacturer of the RFID tag and item identification information assigned by the manufacturer of the casino items.

[0012] In the above casino system, the verification device typically verifies the item identification information read from the casino item at a casino item handling location within the casino with the item identification information read in the past, and may, at a predetermined time and / or under predetermined conditions, verify the tag identification information read from the casino item at the casino item handling location with the tag identification information of the casino item registered in the registration device.

[0013] In the above casino system, the identification information provided by the manufacturer of the casino items may be encrypted, and the registration device may have a function for decrypting the encrypted identification information.

[0014] In the casino system, the registration device may store the identification information of the usable casino items with a flag indicating that the items are usable.

[0015] In the above casino system, the first reading device may simultaneously read the identification information from the RFID tags of the plurality of casino items, and the registration device may simultaneously determine the authenticity of the plurality of casino items.

[0016] In the above casino system, the multiple casino items may be contained in a single case, and the case may be assigned case identification information, the registration device may determine the authenticity of each case, and may further include a second reading device that reads the case identification information, and the registration device may further determine whether the case identification information provided by the manufacturer of the casino items matches the case identification information read by the second reading device.

[0017] In the above casino system, the multiple casino items may be contained in a single case that can hold a predetermined number of the casino items, and the registration device may determine the authenticity of each case, and the registration device may compare the number of casino items based on the number of identification information read by the first reading device with the predetermined number that can be held in the case.

[0018] In the above casino system, the multiple casino items may be contained in a single case, and the case may be assigned case identification information, the registration device may determine the authenticity of each case, and may further include a second reading device that reads the case identification information, and the registration device may identify the identification information of the multiple casino items contained in the case based on the case identification information read by the second reading device, and determine the authenticity based on whether the identified identification information matches the identification information read from the RFID tag of the casino item by the first reading device.

[0019] In the above casino system, the RFID tag may store manufacturing information indicating the manufacturing status of the casino item, type information indicating the type of casino item, and / or information about the casino where the casino item is used, and the registration device may be provided with the identification information, as well as the manufacturing information, type information, and / or casino information corresponding to the identification information, by the manufacturer of the casino item.

[0020] In the above casino system, the registration device may be provided with the type information along with the identification information by the manufacturer of the casino equipment, and the type of casino equipment to be determined may be specified by an operator of the registration device, and the registration device may determine whether the type information provided by the manufacturer of the casino equipment corresponding to the identification information read by the first reading device matches the type information specified by the operator.

[0021] In the above casino system, the RFID tag may store type information indicating the type of casino item, and the type of casino item to be determined may be specified in the registration device by an operator of the registration device, and the registration device may determine whether the type information read by the first reading device matches the type information specified by the operator.

[0022] The above casino system may further include an identification device that photographs the casino items and determines type information of the casino items from the photographed image, and the registration device may be provided with the type information along with the identification information from the manufacturer of the casino items, and the type information determined by the identification device, and the registration device may determine whether the type information provided by the manufacturer of the casino items that corresponds to the identification information read by the first reading device matches the type information determined by the identification device.

[0023] The above casino system may further include an identification device that photographs the casino equipment and determines type information of the casino equipment from the photographed image, and the RFID tag may store type information indicating the type of the casino equipment, and the registration device may determine whether the type information read by the first reading device matches the type information determined by the identification device.

[0024] In the above casino system, the type information may be information representing the value of the casino item.

[0025] In the above casino system, the casino items may further have the identification information by means other than the RFID tag.

[0026] In the above casino system, the identification information provided by the manufacturer of the casino equipment may be accompanied by date information, and the registration device may determine whether the difference between the date information provided by the manufacturer of the casino equipment and the current date exceeds a predetermined threshold.

[0027] In the above casino system, the casino items may be usable by players in the casino for betting on games and may be redeemable for cash.

[0028] A casino item according to one aspect of the present invention is provided with an RFID tag that stores identification information and is used in the casino system.

[0029] One aspect of the present invention is a method for providing casino items that can be used in casinos, which includes the steps of: preparing an RFID tag with tag identification information at a manufacturing factory; manufacturing casino items that include the RFID tag at the manufacturing factory and storing the item identification information in the RFID tag; transporting the casino items from the manufacturing factory to a casino; transporting a combination of the tag identification information and the item identification information from the manufacturing factory to the casino via a route different from the route along which the casino items are transported; reading the tag identification information and the item identification information from the RFID tag of the casino item at the casino; determining whether the combination of the tag identification information and the item identification information transported from the manufacturing factory matches the combination of the tag identification information and the item identification information read from the casino item; and registering the casino items that are determined to match in the determination as usable casino items. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the manufacturing and use process of a casino item according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gaming chip as a casino item according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing information stored in the RFID tag of the gaming chip according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a casino system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the data structure of information about each gaming chip recorded in the database according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the table system according to the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a gaming chip (with decals removed) as a casino item according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a procedure room system according to the first modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a procedure room system according to the second modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an overview of the entire table game management system according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an outline of a database according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of an RFID tag included in a gaming token according to a second example of the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a method for recording data of gaming tokens in a second example of the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an overview of the entire gaming token management system of the second example of the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a reading device and a writing device for game tokens in a second example of the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16A] FIG. 16A is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of gaming tokens in a second example of the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16B] FIG. 16B is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of another example of gaming token in the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another example of a database according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an overview of the entire management system for table games in a gaming facility having a plurality of gaming tables according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the results of reading the chip by the camera and RFID according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a gaming table according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is a diagram showing the state of gaming tokens bet on a gaming table in the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the state of gaming tokens bet on a gaming table in the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23A] FIG. 23A is a diagram showing details of a chip tray according to a fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23B] FIG. 23B is a diagram showing another example of the chip tray according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] FIG. 24 is a diagram of a gaming table according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] FIG. 25 is a diagram showing the results of reading the chip by the camera and RFID according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] FIG. 26 is a diagram of another example of a gaming table according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] FIG. 27 is a diagram of another example of a gaming table according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] FIG. 28 is a diagram of another example of a gaming table according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] FIG. 29 is a perspective view of a game token according to the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view of a game token according to the fourth modified example of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of a game token according to the fourth modification of the embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] The casino system and method of providing casino items according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or that are substantially the same.

[0032] In the following, an example will be described in which the casino items are gaming chips, but the casino items may be items other than gaming chips, such as shuffled playing card packages in which multiple decks of playing cards are shuffled and packaged. Furthermore, the casino items do not have to be items that are distributed within casinos like gaming chips, or items that are consumed and discarded in large quantities in casinos like shuffled playing card packages.

[0033] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the process of providing and using casino equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a gaming chip as a casino equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, a pattern indicating the value of the gaming chip 72 appears on the side of the gaming chip 72, and decals 723 are affixed to the center of the front and back surfaces of the gaming chip 72, and numbers indicating the price of the gaming chip 72 are written on the decals 723. The gaming chip 72 also has an RFID tag 721 built in.

[0034] 1, chip manufacturing factory 200, which serves as a chip manufacturer, purchases RFID tags 721 from RFID tag manufacturing factory 100, uses the RFID tags to manufacture gaming chips 72 with built-in RFID tags 721, and provides the gaming chips 72 to casino 300. Casino 300 purchases gaming chips 72 with built-in RFID tags 721 from chip manufacturing factory 200, and operates games using the gaming chips 72 on floor 302.

[0035] Fig. 3 is a diagram showing information stored in the RFID tag of the gaming chip according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 3, the RFID tag 721 includes, as storage areas, a TID area 211 for storing tag identification information assigned by the manufacturer (RFID tag manufacturing factory 100) of the RFID tag 721, and an EPC area 212 for storing product identification information assigned by the manufacturer (chip manufacturing factory 200) of the gaming chip 72 incorporating the RFID tag 721. The tag identification information is stored in the TID area 211 by the RFID tag manufacturing factory 100 that manufactures the RFID tag 721, and the product identification information is stored in the EPC area 212 by the chip manufacturing factory 200 that manufactures the gaming chip 72.

[0036] The TID area 211 stores a tag ID unique to the RFID tag 721 as tag identification information, and the EPC area 212 stores a chip ID unique to the gaming chip 72 as equipment identification information. In addition to the chip ID, the EPC area 212 also stores, as type information, the attributes of the gaming chip (whether it is a non-redeemable NN chip or a redeemable cash chip) and its value (10 dollars, 100 dollars, 1000 dollars, etc.). As manufacturing information, the EPC area 212 stores a manufacturing factory ID for identifying the manufacturing factory that manufactured the gaming chip 72 and its manufacturing date, a casino ID for identifying the casino where the gaming chip 72 is used, and a usability status and its update date and time as activation information. In this embodiment, the usability status is provided with two statuses: "valid," which indicates that the gaming chip is usable, and "invalid," which indicates that the gaming chip is unusable. At the time the gaming chip 72 is manufactured at the chip manufacturing factory 200, the usability status is set to "invalid."

[0037] The usability status may be expressed by a flag. In this case, if the flag is set, it is interpreted as "valid," and if the flag is not set, it is interpreted as "invalid" or "non-valid." Also, some or all of the type information, manufacturing information, casino ID, chip ID (item identification information), and activation information may be stored in a user area (not shown) of the RFID tag 721 instead of the EPC area 212.

[0038] In order to manufacture the gaming chip 72 incorporating the RFID tag 721 at the chip manufacturing factory 200, the RFID tag 721 is first manufactured at the RFID tag manufacturing factory 100. At this time, tag identification information for identifying the RFID tag 721 is written in the TID area 211 of the RFID tag 72. The RFID tag 72 manufactured at the RFID tag manufacturing factory 100 is provided to the chip manufacturing factory 200. The chip manufacturing factory 200 manufactures the gaming chip 72 incorporating this RFID tag 721. Then, at the chip manufacturing factory 200, a chip ID and other information (see FIG. 3) are written in the EPC area 212 of this RFID tag 721.

[0039] In parallel with the manufacture of gaming chips 72, the chip manufacturing factory 200 prepares a data file 73 in which a combination of a tag ID and a chip ID (hereinafter, the tag ID and the chip ID are collectively referred to as "identification information"). The chip manufacturing factory 200 supplies the manufactured gaming chips 72 to the casino 300, and also provides the data file 73 to the casino 300 via a separate route. The data file 73 may be sent by email from the manufacturer of the gaming chip 72 to the casino 300, or may be recorded on a portable storage medium and passed from the manufacturer of the gaming chip 72 to the casino 300, or may be stored in cloud storage by the manufacturer of the gaming chip 72 and downloaded by the casino 300. At this time, the data file 73 is provided from the chip manufacturing factory 200 to the casino 300 in an appropriately encrypted state.

[0040] The casino 300 has a backyard 301 as a security area that players 74 cannot enter, and a floor 302 where players 74 play games. The backyard 301 is equipped with a warehouse 31 for storing gaming supplies including gaming chips 72, a procedure room 32 for carrying out procedures to activate the gaming chips 72, a cashier 33 and a bank 34 that are connected to the floor 302.

[0041] The cashier 33 has a window that leads to the floor 302. The cashier 33 provides gaming chips 72 to players 74 on the floor 302 in exchange for cash, and provides cash to players 74 in exchange for gaming chips 72 provided by players 74 on the floor 302. That is, players 74 can purchase gaming chips 72 using cash through the window of the cashier 33, and can exchange the gaming chips 72 for cash.

[0042] The bank 34 fills and credits gaming chips 72 between the bank 34 and the pit 35. In the fill operation, when the pit 35 does not have enough gaming chips 72 to supply to the table 36, the bank 34 supplies gaming chips 72 to the pit 35. In the credit operation, when the pit 35 has enough gaming chips 72, the pit 35 returns gaming chips 72 to the bank 34. For this purpose, the bank 34 is provided with a passage or window for taking in and out gaming chips 72 between the bank 34 and the floor 302.

[0043] The gaming chips 72 supplied from the chip manufacturing factory 200 to the casino 300 are first stored in the warehouse 31 in the back yard 301. In the procedure room 32, an activation procedure is performed on the gaming chips 72 stored in the warehouse 31. The gaming chips 72 that have undergone the activation procedure are brought to the floor 302 via the cashier 33 or the bank 34. Note that the gaming chips 72 that have undergone the activation procedure may be temporarily stored in the warehouse 31 and then provided from the warehouse 31 to the cashier 33 or the bank 34.

[0044] A player 74 can purchase gaming chips 72 from the cashier 33 or a table 36. The player 74 bets the gaming chips 72 on a game played at the table 36. If the player 74 wins the game, the dealer 75 redeems the gaming chips 72. If the player 74 loses the game, the dealer 75 collects the gaming chips 72 that the player 74 bet on. In this way, the number of gaming chips 72 owned by the dealer 75 at the table 36 increases or decreases depending on the game. If the table 36 runs short of gaming chips 72, gaming chips 72 are replenished from the pit 35 to the table 36. If the table 36 runs out of gaming chips 72, gaming chips 72 are transferred from the table 36 to the pit 35. In addition, the player 74 can enter and exit the floor 302 through a gate 38. Some casinos allow players 74 to enter and exit the floor 302 while still possessing their gaming chips 72. The pit 35 oversees multiple tables 36.

[0045] The warehouse 31, processing room 32, cashier 33, bank 34, each pit 35, each table 36, and gate 38 in the casino 300 are all locations that handle gaming chips 72 as casino equipment, and hereinafter these will be collectively referred to as casino equipment handling locations. Note that the configuration of the casino 300 is not limited to the example above. In particular, the configuration of the backyard 301 is not limited to the example above. For example, the warehouse 31, processing room 32, and bank 34 may be collectively referred to as a backyard, cage, bank, or the like. Also, there may not be a pit 35 that oversees multiple tables 36. In that case, gaming chips 72 are transported between the backyard 301 and each table 36 for fills and credits.

[0046] 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a casino system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The casino system 30 includes a processing room system 320 in the processing room 32, a cashier system 330 in the cashier 33, a bank system 340 in the bank 34, a pit system 350 in each pit 35, and a table system 360 in each table 36.

[0047] The processing room system 320, cashier system 330, bank system 340, pit system 350, and table system 360 are communicatively connected to one another. Communication between these systems may be wired or wireless. In this manner, the casino system 30 is a network system including multiple subsystems (i.e., processing room system 320, cashier system 330, bank system 340, pit system 350, and table system 360) installed at each casino equipment handling location.

[0048] The procedure room system 320 includes an antenna 321 and an activation reader / writer 322 for reading the RFID tag 721 embedded in the gaming chip 72 brought into the procedure room 32, a central verification device 323 for verifying whether the gaming chip 72 at each casino equipment handling location is registered, an input device 324 for inputting data, a registration device 325 for activating (enabling, registering) the gaming chip 72, and a database 326 for storing information on each gaming chip 72 including identification information and usability status.

[0049] The cashier system 330 includes an antenna 331 and a cashier reader / writer 332 for reading the RFID tag 721 of a gaming chip 72 brought to the cashier 33 or a gaming chip 72 taken from the cashier 33 to the floor 302, and a cashier verification device 333 for verifying the gaming chip 72 using the information read by the cashier reader / writer 332.

[0050] The bank system 340 includes an antenna 341 and a bank reader / writer 342 for reading the RFID tag 721 of a gaming chip 72 brought into the bank 34 or a gaming chip 72 taken out from the bank 34 to the floor 302, and a bank verification device 343 for verifying the gaming chip 72 using the information read by the bank reader / writer 342.

[0051] The pit system 350 includes an antenna 351 and a pit reader / writer 352 for reading the RFID tag 721 of a gaming chip 72 brought into the pit 350 from the table 36 or the bank 34, or a gaming chip 72 taken out from the pit 350 to the table 36 or the bank 34, and a pit verification device 353 for verifying the gaming chip 72 using the information read by the pit reader / writer 352.

[0052] The table 36 is provided with a chip tray or chip float (hereinafter simply referred to as a "chip tray") for storing dealer's gaming chips 72. The table 36 is also provided with a betting area for betting gaming chips 72 for each player position. The table system 360 is equipped with an antenna 361a and a chip tray reader / writer 362a provided on the chip tray to read the RFID tags 721 of the gaming chips 72 stored in the chip tray, and an antenna 361b and a betting chip reader / writer 362b arranged in the betting area of ​​the table 36 to read the RFID tags 721 of the gaming chips 72 placed (betted) in the betting area of ​​the table 36.

[0053] The table system 360 further includes a pit verification device 363 for verifying the gaming chip 72 using information read by the chip tray reader / writer 362a and the bet chip reader / writer 362b, and a table storage device 364 for storing the information read by the chip tray reader / writer 362a and the bet chip reader / writer 362b. The gate 38 may also be provided with a gate system similar to the above-mentioned subsystems.

[0054] (Activation) The following describes the activation procedure carried out in the procedure room 32. The gaming chips 72 manufactured in the chip manufacturing factory 200 are brought to the back yard 301 of the casino 300 and stored in the warehouse 31. In the procedure room 32, the gaming chips 72 stored in the warehouse 31 are taken out, and the procedure for activating the gaming chips 72 is carried out using the procedure room system 320.

[0055] The procedure room system 320 is provided with a data file 73 recording identification information from the chip manufacturing factory 200 (manufacturer of the gaming chip 72), and the procedure room system 320 receives this data file 73 via an input device 324. Since the data file 73 is encrypted, the input device 324 decrypts this data file 73. In addition to the identification information, this data file 73 may also record some or all of the other information stored in the RFID tag 721 of each gaming chip 72 (see FIG. 3).

[0056] The antenna 321 and the activation reader / writer 322 read the tag ID and chip ID, which are identification information, from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 to be activated. The registration device 325 determines (verifies) whether the identification information read from the gaming chip 72 by the activation reader / writer 322 is present among the identification information stored in the data file 73 decrypted by the input device 324, thereby determining whether the gaming chip 72 is a genuine one officially manufactured at the chip manufacturing factory 200, or whether it is a counterfeit not officially manufactured at the chip manufacturing factory 200 or whether the RFID tag 721 is faulty. In other words, the registration device 325 determines the authenticity of the gaming chip 72 based on whether the identification information stored in the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 matches the identification information stored in the data file 73 (first validation).

[0057] If the registration device 325 determines that the gaming chip 72 is genuine in the authenticity determination, it registers the gaming chip 72 by recording its identification information (tag ID and chip ID) in the database 326. At this time, if other information such as manufacturing information is recorded in the RFID 721 and / or data file 73 of the gaming chip 72, this information is also associated with the identification information and recorded in the database 326. Furthermore, the registration device 325 records activation information of each gaming chip 72 in the database 326.

[0058] 5 is a diagram showing the data structure of information about each gaming chip recorded in a database according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the database 326 records, for each gaming chip 72, a tag ID as tag identification information 261, attributes and value as type information 262, a manufacturing factory ID and manufacturing date as manufacturing information 263, a chip ID and chip notation ID as chip identification information 264, a usability status and update date and time as activation information 265, and a history of the combination of location and read date and time as location history information 266.

[0059] When registering a gaming chip 72 that has been successfully verified and determined to be authentic in the database 326, the registration device 325 records the usability status of the activation information 265 as "valid" and records the date and time at that time as the update date and time, thereby activating (enabling) the gaming chip 72 as usable. This makes it possible to determine whether the usability status of each gaming chip 72 is "valid" or "invalid" by referring to the database 326, and also to know when the activation was performed (when the gaming chip was registered).

[0060] In this embodiment, since activation information is also recorded in the EPC area 212 of the RFID 721 of the gaming chip 72, the registration device 325 controls the writer function of the activation reader / writer 322 to rewrite the usability status recorded in the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 that has been successfully verified and determined to be authentic from "invalid" to "valid" via the antenna 321 as part of the process of registering the usable gaming chip 72. This allows the systems 330 to 360 at each gaming goods handling location to know whether the usability status of the gaming chip 72 is "valid" or "invalid" simply by reading the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72.

[0061] As described above, the gaming chip 72 is invalid until it is transported from the chip manufacturing factory 200 to the casino 300 and activated by the procedure room system 320. Therefore, even if the gaming chip 72 is stolen during transportation, the stolen gaming chip 72 cannot be used on the floor 302 of the casino 300. The casino only needs to strictly manage the gaming chip 72 after it has been activated through the activation procedure, which increases the level of security and reduces security costs compared to when strict management is required from the time the gaming chip 72 is manufactured. Furthermore, even after the gaming chip 72 is registered in the backyard, the usability status can be set to "invalid" until it is actually used. This ensures that even if a gaming chip 72 stored in the backyard is stolen, the gaming chip 72 cannot be used, thereby ensuring security.

[0062] (Verification at casino equipment handling locations) At the casino equipment handling locations, cashier 33, bank 34, pit 35, and table 36, the identification information of the gaming chips 72 handled there is verified and the usable status is confirmed using a cashier system 330, bank system 340, pit system 350, and table system 360, respectively. Each casino equipment handling location will be explained below.

[0063] At the cashier 33, the antenna 331 and cashier reader / writer 332 of the cashier system 330 read the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 in the cashier 33 to obtain the tag ID, chip ID, and usability status. If the usability status read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 is "invalid," the cashier verification device 333 first outputs an error signal indicating this. When the error signal is output, the cashier 33 stops handling the gaming chip 72.

[0064] The cashier verification device 333 further transmits the identification information (tag ID and chip ID) acquired by the cashier reader / writer 332 to the procedure room system 320. The central verification device 323 in the procedure room 330 verifies whether the identification information received from the cashier system 330 is stored in the database 326, and also confirms whether the usability status associated with the identification information is valid.

[0065] If the corresponding identification information is stored in the database 326 (i.e., is authentic) and its usability status is valid, the central verification device 323 determines that the gaming chip 72 is authentic and valid and transmits a response signal to that effect to the cashier system 330. On the other hand, if the inquired gaming chip 72 is not authentic, the central verification device 323 transmits an error signal to the cashier system 330 to indicate that it is not authentic, and if the inquired gaming chip 72 is authentic but its usability status is invalid, the central verification device 323 transmits an error signal to the cashier system 330 to indicate that it is authentic but invalid.

[0066] If the cashier verification device 333 finds that the usability status read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 is valid, but the database 326 records that the usability status of the gaming chip 72 is invalid, the cashier verification device 333 determines that the gaming chip 72 is counterfeit, and controls the writer function of the cashier reader / writer 332 to rewrite the usability status of the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 to "invalid" via the antenna 331. Alternatively, the cashier verification device 333 may rewrite the usability status to "unknown."

[0067] Furthermore, if the database 326 records the usability status as "valid," but the usability status read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 by the cashier verification device 333 is "invalid," it may be determined that the usability status stored in the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 has been rewritten for some reason, and the usability status stored in the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 may be rewritten to "valid." Alternatively, the usability status of such a gaming chip 72 may be rewritten to "invalid" or "unknown," and handling of the gaming chip 72 may be discontinued.

[0068] The gaming chips 72 brought to the cashier 33 directly from the processing room 32 or via the warehouse 31 are unlikely to be counterfeit or fraudulent because they have already been activated in the processing room 32, but the gaming chips 72 brought by users from the floor 302 and redeemed for cash may be counterfeit or fraudulent. Therefore, the cashier verification device 333 may verify the identification information and check the usable status, particularly for gaming chips 72 related to redemption, and show the results to the player 74 and the cashier staff. Alternatively, when the player 74 purchases a gaming chip 72, if the value information stored in the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 is read and shown to the player 74, the identification information may also be verified and the usable status may be checked at the same time, and the results may be shown to the player 74 together with the value information.

[0069] The bank system 340 basically operates in the same manner as the cashier system 330. The gaming chips 72 to be filled are carried from the bank 34 to the pit 35 on the floor 302. Since these gaming chips 72 are activated in the procedure room 32, it is unlikely that counterfeit or fraudulent gaming chips 72 have been mixed in. However, the gaming chips 72 brought from the floor 302 to the bank 34 when crediting include those that have been handed over to players 74 and then collected by dealers, and therefore there is a possibility that counterfeit or fraudulent gaming chips 72 have been mixed in. Therefore, the bank system 340 may refer to the database 326 to verify the identification information and confirm the usability status, particularly for the gaming chips 72 brought from the floor 302.

[0070] The pit system 350 basically operates in the same way as the cashier system 330. Gaming chips 72 filled from the bank 34 and excess chips 72 at the table 36 are brought into the pit 35. The pit system 350 collates the gaming chips 72 brought into the pit 35 in this way. Furthermore, excess gaming chips 72 at the pit 35 are moved (credited) to the bank 34, or, if there is a shortage of gaming chips 72 at the table 36, gaming chips 72 are replenished from the pit 35 to the table 36. The pit system 350 also collates the gaming chips 72 leaving the pit 35 in this way.

[0071] The operation of the table system 360 is as follows. At the table 36, the dealer 75 redeems gaming chips 72 from a chip tray to a player 74 who has won a game. The antenna 361a is provided on the chip tray, and the chip tray reader / writer 362a reads identification information and usable status from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 held in the chip tray. The identification information read by the chip tray reader / writer 362a is collated by a table collation device 363 and stored in a table memory device 364. When multiple gaming chips 72 are held in the chip tray, multiple pieces of identification information corresponding to the multiple gaming chips 72 are stored in the table memory device 364.

[0072] The table collation device 363 first compares the latest past identification information stored in the table storage device 364 with the current identification information read by the chip tray reader / writer 362a to determine whether or not they match.

[0073] If the identification information read by the chip tray reader / writer 362a contains identification information that is not included in the latest identification information stored in the table memory device 364, the table comparison device 363 performs a similar check as the cashier comparison device 333 described above for such gaming chip 72 to check whether the identification information is stored in the database 326 and whether the usability status corresponding to the identification information in the database is set to "valid."

[0074] Specifically, the table comparison device 363 normally compares the chip ID read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 with the previous chip ID registered in the table memory device 364, and when a new chip ID that was not read during the previous reading is read, it compares the identification information including the tag ID read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 with the identification information including the tag ID recorded in the database 326.

[0075] 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the table system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The antenna 361a and the chip tray reader / writer 362a read chip IDs from the RFID tags 721 of all gaming chips 72 in the chip tray (step S61). The table comparison device 363 compares the sets of chip IDs thus read with sets of chip IDs stored in the table storage device 364 as the most recent chip IDs, and determines whether or not the read chip IDs include a new chip ID that is not stored in the table storage device 364 (step S62).

[0076] If a new chip ID is read (YES in step S62), the antenna 361a and the chip tray reader / writer 362a specify the new chip ID, read the tag ID from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 having the new chip ID, and transmit the combination of this chip ID and tag ID to the procedure room system 320, which checks it against the information stored in the database 326 (step S63). Then, all the read chip ID pairs are stored in the table storage device 364 as new past chip ID pairs (step S64).

[0077] If no new chip IDs are read, i.e., if no new gaming chips 72 have been added to the chip tray since the previous reading, the table comparison device 363 compares the set of read chip IDs with the most recent set of chip IDs stored in the table memory device 364 to determine whether or not there is a chip ID that was read in the previous reading but is no longer read in the current reading (step S65).

[0078] If there is a chip ID that can no longer be read, that is, if the gaming chips 72 have been removed from the chip tray (YES in step S65), the set of all read chip IDs is stored in the table storage device 364 as the most recent set of chip IDs (step S64). On the other hand, if there is no chip ID that can no longer be read (NO in step S65), that is, if there has been no increase, decrease, or change in the gaming chips 72 in the chip tray, the table storage device 364 is not updated.

[0079] As described above, in the present embodiment, the chip tray of the table 36 normally reads the chip ID stored in the EPC area 212 at predetermined time intervals to monitor any variations, and when there is a variation in the chip ID, particularly when a new chip ID is read, the gaming chip 72 with the new chip ID is checked against the database 326 and the usability status of the database 326 is confirmed. This reduces the processing load and shortens the processing time required for one cycle (improving the processing speed).

[0080] The table comparison device 363 may be configured to compare the chip ID with the database 326 and check the availability status of the database 326 at a predetermined timing and / or under predetermined conditions, regardless of whether a newly read chip ID is present or not.

[0081] When a player 74 places a bet on a game, the player places the gaming chips 72 to be bet in a predetermined betting area on the game table. The antenna 361b is arranged below the betting area on the table surface of the game table, and the betting chip reader / writer 362b reads identification information from the RFID tag 721 of the betted gaming chip 72. The identification information read by the betting chip reader / writer 362b is collated by the table collation device 363 and stored in the table storage device 364. When multiple gaming chips 72 are bet in the betting area, multiple pieces of identification information corresponding to the multiple gaming chips 72 are stored in the table storage device 364.

[0082] The antenna 361b and the bet chip reader / writer 362b read not only the gaming chips 72 bet by the player 74 in the betting area, but also the RFID tags 721 of the gaming chips 72 dispensed from the chip tray by the dealer 75, and the table memory device 364 also reads the RFID tags 721 of the gaming chips 72 dispensed in this way.

[0083] The table verification device 363 also checks the usability status and collates the identification information read from the RFID tag 721 by the bet chip reader / writer 362b in the same manner as for the gaming chips 72 accommodated in the chip tray. Specifically, the table verification device 363 does not always check the identification information read by the bet chip reader / writer 362b against the database 326, but when new identification information that is not included in the latest identification information stored in the table storage device 364 as having been read from the bet chip reader / writer 362b is read by the antenna 361b and the bet chip reader / writer 362b, the table verification device 363 checks the identification information stored in the database 326 via the central verification device 323 and checks the usability status stored in the database 326.

[0084] In this embodiment, the registration device 325 is assumed to register the usability status as "valid" when a new gaming chip 72 is newly registered, but this is not limited to this. If the gaming chip is stored in the back yard for a relatively long period of time after registration before being released onto the casino floor 302, the usability status may be registered as "invalid" once, and then changed to "valid" before being released onto the casino floor 302 or when being moved to the cashier 33.

[0085] In this embodiment, the registration device 325 performs both the first validation and the change of the usability status to "valid" (activation), but the device that performs the first validation (determination device) and the device that performs the activation (registration device) may be separate devices. Also, the first validation may be performed in the chip manufacturing factory 200.

[0086] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a record is created in the database 326 for a gaming chip 72 determined to be authentic by first validation, and further, for a usable gaming chip 72, the usability status of the gaming chip 72 recorded in the database 326 is set to "valid." However, instead, a database (usable database) may be configured only from usable gaming chips 72. In this case, a gaming chip 72 with a record in the usable database is determined to be usable. Furthermore, in addition to the usable database recording such usable gaming chips 72, a genuine database of gaming chips 72 determined to be authentic by first validation may be prepared. In this case, gaming chips read at each casino equipment handling station may be compared with the usable database, and for a gaming chip 72 with no record in the usable database, the genuine database may be referenced to determine whether the gaming chip 72 was provided by the chip manufacturing factory 200.

[0087] (Deactivating registration) As described above, the registration device 325 stores information including the identification information of a new gaming chip 72 acquired from a factory in the database 326, thereby registering the gaming chip 72 in the database 326. On the other hand, the registration device 325 invalidates the usability status that was once enabled for a malfunctioning gaming chip 72 or an old gaming chip 72.

[0088] At each casino equipment handling station, gaming chips 72 from which information cannot be read from the RFID tag 721 (i.e., gaming chips 72 with damaged RFID tags 721) are excluded from the gaming chips 72 that can be used on the spot. Gaming chips 72 from which the identification information read from the RFID tag 721 fails to be verified are also excluded from the gaming chips 72 that can be used on the spot. Furthermore, gaming chips 72 whose usability status is not valid are also excluded. For gaming chips 72 with such problems, the registration device 325 performs a procedure for invalidating or deactivating them. Furthermore, for gaming chips 72 that have no problems but for which a predetermined period (e.g., one year) has passed since the date and time of their initial activation, a procedure for invalidating these gaming chips 72 is performed in order to discard the gaming chips 72.

[0089] In the invalidation process, the registration device 325 updates the usability status of the gaming chip 72 recorded in the database 326 to "invalid" and records the date and time of the update. Alternatively, the registration device 325 may delete information about the gaming chip 72 to be invalidated from the database 326. If the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 is malfunctioning, it is not possible to read the identification information to be invalidated from such a gaming chip 72. Therefore, the registration device 325 invalidates such a gaming chip 72 as follows.

[0090] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a gaming chip according to an embodiment of the present invention with the decal removed. The gaming chip 72 carries information for identifying the gaming chip 72 by a method other than the RFID tag 721. The gaming chip 72 has a circular recess in its center, and a decal 723 is affixed to the bottom surface 722 of the recess. A number representing the value of the gaming chip 72 is inscribed on the decal 723. When the decal 723 is removed, a chip notation ID is inscribed on the bottom surface (decal attachment surface) 722 as identification information unique to the gaming chip 72. The chip notation ID may be inscribed on the bottom surface 722 of the recess of the gaming chip 72 by laser engraving, or may be printed on the decal attachment surface 722 with some kind of ink. The chip notation ID may also be printed on the surface of the decal 723. In this case, the chip marking ID may be printed with visible ink, or the chip marking ID may be printed on the surface of the decal 723 using invisible ink that is invisible under normal conditions, such as UV luminescent ink that glows when irradiated with UV light or infrared absorbing ink that absorbs infrared light.

[0091] For a gaming chip 72 whose identification information cannot be read from the RFID tag 721, the registration device 325 identifies the identification information whose registration should be invalidated using the chip notation ID for identifying the gaming chip 72, and invalidates the registration. When invalidating a gaming chip 72 whose RFID tag 721 has malfunctioned and whose identification information cannot be read, an operator peels off the decal 723, visually confirms the chip notation ID written on the decal attachment surface 722, and inputs it into the registration device 325 via the input device 324. The registration device 325 refers to the database 326 to identify the identification information corresponding to the input chip notation ID (see FIG. 5). As a result, even for a gaming chip 72 whose RFID tag 721 has malfunctioned, the gaming chip 72 can be identified in the database 326 and the invalidation procedure can be carried out.

[0092] As described above, the gaming chips 72 given to the player 74 are passed between multiple players 74 and tables 36 in response to bets by the player 74 or payouts by the dealer 75, and are finally returned to the bank 34 via the pit 35. At this time, the registration device 325 performs a procedure to invalidate the gaming chips 72 that have been removed from each casino equipment handling location as described above.

[0093] Furthermore, for gaming chips 72 that are not rejected as problematic and are collected by the bank 34, the bank system 34 checks the identification information and confirms the usability status, and further determines whether a predetermined period has passed since the initial activation. At this time, if gaming chips 72 whose identification information fails to be checked, gaming chips 72 whose usability status is not "valid", or gaming chips 72 for which a predetermined period has passed since the initial activation are detected, procedures for disabling those gaming chips 72 are carried out.

[0094] In addition, in each casino equipment handling location, as a result of comparing the read identification information with the database 326, for a gaming chip 72 that is not registered in the database 326 or a gaming chip 72 whose usability status is not "valid", the registration device 325 may immediately take steps to invalidate the gaming chip 72 without waiting for the gaming chip 72 to return to the backyard 301. Furthermore, if the usability status of such a gaming chip 72 is "valid", the reader / writer in each casino equipment handling location may rewrite the usability status to "invalid".

[0095] When a gaming chip 72 is read at each casino equipment handling location, the central verification device 323 may check the location history of the gaming chip 72 based on information in the database 326. If the location history is inappropriate in light of predetermined criteria, the central verification device 323 may invalidate the usable status of the gaming chip 72 as a suspicious gaming chip 72. For example, if the location history shows that the gaming chip 72 has been moved directly from one player 74 to another player 74 without passing through the chip tray 36a, the location history of the gaming chip 72 is determined to be suspicious (possibly related to money laundering). Alternatively, the database 326 may prepare a list (blacklist) of suspicious gaming chips 72 in advance, and if the gaming chip 72 subject to verification is listed on the blacklist, the registration device 325 may actually invalidate the gaming chip 72.

[0096] (Gaming chip tracing) As described above, the information for each gaming chip 72 in the database 326 includes location history information 266. Each time the central introduction device 323 receives an inquiry about identification information from a casino equipment location, it updates the location history information 266 corresponding to that identification information. Specifically, when the central introduction device 323 receives an inquiry about identification information from a casino equipment location, it records information identifying the casino equipment location as location information and the date and time at that time as the read date and time in the location history information 266 corresponding to the identification information. The database 326 can record a predetermined number of pieces of information as this location history information, and after the predetermined number of pieces of location history information have been recorded, the oldest information is overwritten.

[0097] As described above, the location information is information that identifies the location of each casino equipment. For example, if the cashier 33 has multiple counters, the location information may be a counter ID that identifies each counter. If there are multiple pits 35 and tables 36, the location information may be a pit ID and a table ID that identify which pit 35 and which table.

[0098] Furthermore, when the gaming chips 2 are handed over to the player 74, the location information records the player ID of the player 74. For example, when an antenna 361b is provided for each player position at the table 36, the player ID of each player position can be identified by the member card held by the player 74 or by facial recognition of an image of the player playing at the table 36.

[0099] Then, by detecting to which player position the gaming chips 72 are paid out to a player, it is possible to know to which player ID the gaming chips 72 have been paid out. Furthermore, when a player 74 purchases gaming chips 72 at the cashier 33, the player ID of the player 74 is identified and the player ID is recorded as location information.

[0100] In this way, by recording the history of location information and information on the date and time of reading in the database 326, it is possible to know how the gaming chip 72 has been moved by referring to the database 326.

[0101] (Variation 1) 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a procedure room system according to a first modified example of an embodiment of the present invention. The procedure room system 320' according to the first modified example simultaneously activates multiple gaming chips 72. The multiple gaming chips 72 are activated while housed in a chip case 71. A barcode 722 is attached to the chip case 71 as case identification information for identifying the chip case 71.

[0102] In the data file 73 provided to the casino 300 by the manufacturer of gaming equipment, information on each gaming chip 72 is associated with code information represented by a barcode 722. The procedure room system 320' further includes a barcode reader 327. The barcode reader 327 reads the barcode 722 on the chip case 71 containing the gaming chip 72 related to activation.

[0103] The antenna 321 and activation reader 322 simultaneously read the RFID tags 721 of the multiple gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720. The registration device 325 receives as input the multiple pieces of identification information read from the RFID tags 721 of the multiple gaming chips 72 by the antenna 321 and activation reader 322, information in the data file 73′ decoded by the input device 324, and code information of the barcode 722 of the chip case 71 read by the barcode reader 327. The registration device 325 first determines whether the code information of the chip case 71 provided by the manufacturer of the gaming chip 72 matches the code information of the chip case 71 read by the barcode reader 327. That is, the registration device 325 first determines whether the chip case 71 itself is the chip case that should be there.

[0104] Next, the registration device 325 identifies, from the data file 73', the identification information of the gaming chips 72 corresponding to the code information of the barcode 722, i.e., the multiple gaming chips 72 related to the activation. The registration device 325 determines the authenticity of those gaming chips 72 by comparing the identification information of the identified gaming chips 72 with the identification information read from the RFID tags 721 of the gaming chips 72 related to the activation by the activation reader / writer 322. If the comparison is successful for all gaming chips 72 related to the activation, the registration device 325 sets the usability status of those gaming chips 72 to "valid" and stores information about those gaming chips 72 in the database 326, thereby registering those gaming chips 72.

[0105] According to this configuration, the gaming chips 72 can be stored and managed in the chip case 720 from manufacturing to activation, and it can be guaranteed that there are no more or less gaming chips 72 that should be stored in each chip case 720.

[0106] (Variation 2) FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a procedure room system according to a second modification of an embodiment of the present invention. The procedure room system 320" according to the second modification also activates multiple gaming chips 72 simultaneously. The gaming chips 72 store type information in addition to identification information. The procedure room system 320" includes a camera 3291 that photographs the side of the multiple gaming chips 72 whose RFID tags 721 are read by the antenna 321, and an image recognition device 3292 that performs image recognition on the image generated by the camera 329.

[0107] The multiple gaming chips 72 are photographed by the camera 329 in a stacked state. The camera 3291 generates image data by photographing. The image recognition device 3292 performs image recognition on the image data and determines the types of the multiple gaming chips 72 based on the patterns that appear on the sides. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the side of the gaming chip 72 has a center line as a pattern, and the color of the center line indicates the type of the gaming chip 72. Therefore, the image recognition device 3292 recognizes the center line from within the image and determines the type of the gaming chip 3292 in the image based on its color.

[0108] The registration device 325 determines whether the types of multiple gaming chips read by the activation reader 322, i.e., the number of each type, match the types of multiple gaming chips recognized by the image recognition device 3292, i.e., the number of each type.

[0109] According to this configuration, it is possible to check whether the type of gaming chip 72 related to activation determined from its appearance matches the type stored in the RFID tag 721. It is also possible to check whether the number of gaming chips 72 visible from its appearance matches the number of gaming chips 72 read from the RFID tag 721.

[0110] In this modified example 2, the type of the gaming chip 72 is identified from the appearance and it is determined whether or not it matches the type stored in the RFID tag 721, but instead of determining the type using the image and the RFID tag 721, the gaming chips 72 may be inspected by having the image recognition device 3292 recognize the number of chips based on the image and determining whether or not the number matches the number of RFID tags 721 read by the activation reader 322. In addition, in this modified example 2, it is not necessary to inspect multiple gaming chips 72 simultaneously, and they may be inspected one by one.

[0111] In the above-mentioned modified example 1, for the multiple gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720, the RFID tags 721 are read to ascertain the identification information and other information of the gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720, while the barcodes 722 are read with the barcode reader 327 and the data file 73' is referenced to ascertain the identification information and other information of the gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720, and the gaming chips 72 are inspected by comparing the ascertained information. In the above-mentioned modified example 2, for the multiple gaming chips 72, the RFID tags 721 are read to ascertain the types of the gaming chips 72, while the side faces of the multiple gaming chips 72 are photographed with the camera 329 and image recognition is performed to ascertain the types of the gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720, and the gaming chips 72 are inspected by comparing the ascertained information.

[0112] As another example, the gaming chips 72 may be inspected based on the number of gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720, without using the barcode reader 327 or the camera 329. That is, the procedure room system 320 may use a known case as the chip case 720, thereby making the number of gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720 known, and may inspect the gaming chips 72 by checking whether the number of RFID tags 721 read by the antenna 321 and the activation reader 322 is the known number.

[0113] Furthermore, instead of using the camera 3291 and the image recognition device 3292, the inspection may be performed based on information input by an operator of the activation procedure from the operation device 328. The operator may, for example, visually check the multiple gaming chips 72 to identify their type information and input it into the input device. In this case, the registration device 325 may inspect the gaming chip 72 by determining whether the type information of the gaming chip 72 input by the operator to the operation device 328 matches the type information read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 by the activation reader 322.

[0114] The registration device 325 may also inspect the gaming chip 72 by determining whether the type information entered by the operator into the operation device 328 matches the type information recorded in the data file 73 provided by the manufacturer of the casino equipment.

[0115] In the procedure room system 320'' of the above-described variant 2 and its variants, an inspection was performed by comparing the number of gaming chips 72 identified using the RFID tag 721 with the number of gaming chips 72 identified by image recognition, a known number based on the chip case 720, or a number input by an operator. This inspection makes it possible to detect gaming chips 72 with faulty RFID tags 721 (hereinafter referred to as "faulty chips"). In other words, the procedure room system 320'' can be used as an inspection device for detecting faulty chips.

[0116] This detection of defective chips may be performed in the procedure room 32 in the back yard 301 on gaming chips 72 to be activated, as well as gaming chips 72 to be filled in any of the pits 35 on the floor 302, and gaming chips 72 that have been used on the floor 302 and then returned to the back yard 301 by credit. Also, an inspection device similar to this procedure room system 320'' may be installed in the cashier 33, and inspection of defective chips may be performed on gaming chips 72 sold by the cashier 33 to players and gaming chips 72 exchanged for cash by the cashier 33.

[0117] Furthermore, an inspection device similar to the procedure room system 320'' may be installed in the pit 35 to inspect for defective gaming chips 72 brought from the back yard 301, gaming chips 72 credited from the pit 35 to the back yard 301, gaming chips 72 filled from the pit 35 to the table 36, and gaming chips 72 moved from the table 36 to the pit 35.

[0118] In this way, the registration device 325 may invalidate gaming chips 72 that are detected as broken by the inspection. When the above inspection is performed at the time of filling or crediting, the filling or crediting is performed after confirming that the gaming chips 72 related to the filling or crediting are not broken. Also, when the above inspection is performed at the time of cashing, the cashing is performed after confirming that the gaming chips 72 related to the cashing are not broken.

[0119] Furthermore, in fill and credit, the gaming chips 72 moving between the pit 35 and the backyard 301 may be inspected for defective chips to detect broken gaming chips 72. In this case, a carrier (cart) for transporting the gaming chips 72 may be provided with an inspection device similar to that of the procedure room system 320''.

[0120] In the above-described embodiment and modifications 1 and 2, a pit 35 that manages a plurality of tables 36 is provided on the floor 302, and in a fill operation, gaming chips 72 are supplied from the bank 34 in the backyard 301 to the table 36 via the pit 35, and in a credit operation, gaming chips 72 are transported from the table 36 to the bank 34 in the backyard 301 via the pit 35. However, the pit 35 need not be provided. If the pit 35 is not provided, filling and crediting are performed directly between the bank 34 and each table 36. In this case, the inspection that would be performed in the pit 35 is performed at the table 36.

[0121] (Variation 3) In the above embodiment, the usable / unusable status is stored as activation information in the database 326 and in the RFID tag 721 built into the gaming chip 72, but activation information may not be recorded in the RFID tag 721. Alternatively, activation information may not be recorded in the database 326 either, and a table containing only activated, valid gaming chips 72 may be created in the database 326, and the central verification device 323 may determine whether the gaming chip 72 is an activated, valid gaming chip 72 based on whether identification information corresponding to identification information read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 to be verified is present in the table.

[0122] (Variation 4) In the examples of the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the location history information is stored in the database 326, but the location history information may also be recorded in the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72.

[0123] With gaming tokens based on conventional technology, it was possible to determine the authenticity of the gaming token itself by reading the RFID and understanding the information written in the memory area. However, it was not possible to record or determine information obtained during use at a casino, particularly information about the owner of the gaming token. Therefore, if a gaming token is genuine but has an abnormal usage history, such as being used or exchanged by a different owner than the original owner, its existence cannot be detected by reading the RFID, and it was not possible to prevent such gaming tokens with abnormal usage history from being used in casinos.

[0124] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a system that constantly grasps and manages the owner information of each gaming token, thereby increasing security, and that when a dealer pays gaming tokens to a player and the ownership of the gaming tokens is transferred from the casino to a player, makes it possible to grasp and record to which player the ownership of the gaming tokens has been transferred.

[0125] (First example) An overview of the entire table game management system of the first example of Modification 4 will be described with reference to Fig. 10. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing an overview of the entire system. A gaming table 1004 for a baccarat game has betting areas for player 1441, banker 1442, tie 1443, player pair 1444, and banker pair 1445, for each of player positions 1131 to 1135. A chip placement area 1025 is provided for each player position, and a chip reader 1002 is provided to read the RFID of gaming currency 1001 placed in the chip placement area.

[0126] Furthermore, each chip placement area 1025 is provided with a pay area 1026 for placing gaming currency 1001 taken out from the chip tray 1009 of the gaming table 1004 when the dealer pays out gaming currency 1001 to a winning player from the chip tray 1009.

[0127] Furthermore, the device further includes a control device 1003 that grasps the results of reading the RFID of the gaming currency 1001 read by the chip reader 1002.

[0128] First, a player participating in a game bets gaming currency 1001 in a betting area within the chip placement area. The chip reader 1002 reads the RFID of the bet gaming currency 1001, and the control device 1003 obtains information about the owner of the gaming currency 1001 that is associated in the database with the ID information of the RFID.

[0129] If the casino wins based on the result of the game, the dealer collects the gaming currency 1001 bet by the losing player and places it in the chip tray 1009. The RFID of the gaming currency 1001 in the chip tray 1009 is detected by the chip reader 1002, and the control device 1003 records in the database that the owner of the gaming currency 1001 collected by the casino is the casino.

[0130] Based on the result of the game, the dealer pays out to the winning player gaming currency 1001 from the chip tray in an amount corresponding to the amount of the bet chips, in accordance with the rules of the game.

[0131] When making a payout, the pay chips may be placed in the pay area 1026 described above, or in a chip placement area other than the pay area.

[0132] Here, a method for recording information about the owner of a payment chip will be described with reference to Fig. 11. Fig. 11 shows a method for recording information about the owner of gaming currency 1001 when paying a chip to a winning player.

[0133] When multiple players place betting chips at the same player position, resulting in two or more stacks, the chip reader 1002 reads all of the gaming currency 1001 placed in the chip placement area 1025 at once, and therefore, during the game, acquires the ID 1010 of the bet gaming currency without knowing which gaming currency 1001 belongs to which player. After the outcome of the game is determined, when making payments to the winning players, the dealer pays out the gaming currency 1001 from the chip tray 1009 for each player (each stack). The gaming currency 1001 removed from the chip tray 1009 is placed in the chip placement area 1025. The chip reader 1002 reads the ID 1011 of the payment chip placed in the chip placement area 1025.

[0134] The paid-out gaming currency 1001 is received by the winning player together with the gaming currency 1001 that was initially bet. At this time, the betting chip and payment chip are moved outside the chip placement area 1025, so the IDs of the betting chip and payment chip disappear from the reading results by the chip reader 1002. As a result, the control device 1003 knows to which player the paid-out payment chip has been paid out by associating it with information about the owner of the betting chip.

[0135] The control device 1003 stores information about the owner of the payment chip in association with the ID of the gaming currency in a database.

[0136] As a result of the above, it becomes possible to trace the owner of the gaming currency 1001, and if there is any fraudulent transfer of the gaming currency 1001, it becomes possible to discover that the owner information stored in the database differs from the actual owner.

[0137] The actual owner can be identified by using facial recognition technology or ID such as a membership card.

[0138] In the above explanation, the ID of each gaming currency is managed on a database, but the gaming currency 1001 itself may store owner information.

[0139] In addition, the above-mentioned pay area 1026 may be provided for each player position, or may be configured as an area independent of each player position, and reading by the chip reader 1002 may be performed independently.

[0140] Furthermore, the configuration may be such that it is possible to select whether or not to use the pay area 1026 depending on the reading performance of the chip reader 1002.

[0141] Furthermore, this table game management system may be linked to an RFID reader that reads the chips in the chip tray 1009 using RFID, a camera that reads the bet chips, a shoe that determines the outcome of the game, and other outcome determination devices, and may be configured to allow information to be used mutually.

[0142] (Second example) First, we will explain the gaming token used in the gaming token management system of the second example of Modification 4. Fig. 12 shows the gaming token 1 used in this system. In the figure, an RFID tag 2 capable of storing various information is embedded in the gaming token 1. The RFID tag 2 has an area 21 where data cannot be rewritten and an area 22 where data can be rewritten.

[0143] The area 21 where data cannot be rewritten stores fixed information 3, which is information that does not change while the gaming token 1 is being used, information that does not change, or information that must not be changed. Specifically, the fixed information 3 stores production information, product information, casino information, amount information, serial number, etc. of the gaming token 1. The production information includes the date and time the gaming token was manufactured, the manufacturing machine, etc., and the product information includes, for example, information indicating that the gaming token is a chip for the VIP area of ​​a casino and information indicating the type of chip (for example, information indicating that it is a rolling chip or a cash chip), etc.

[0144] The area 21 where data cannot be rewritten may be an area where writing is functionally impossible due to the specifications of the RFID tag, or may be an area that is locked so that data cannot be written after the necessary information has been written in an area where data can be written.

[0145] The rewritable data area 22 stores variable information 4, which changes while the gaming token 1 is being used. For example, as shown in Fig. 12, the variable information 4 stores location-related information 220, which includes information 221 about the date and time, information 222 about the location and event, and information 223 about the owner.

[0146] The fixed information 3 and variable information 4 may be encrypted to prevent unauthorized reading or writing of the information by others, and may also be stored as metadata.

[0147] Fig. 13 shows an example of a method for recording data of the variable information 4 of the gaming token 1. As shown in Fig. 13, location-related information 220, which is made up of date and time information 221, location and event information 222, and owner information 223, is treated as a single block, and the information in the block is linked in a chain so that the history of the information 220 regarding the location of the gaming token 1 can be grasped.

[0148] Figure 13 shows an example of variable information 4 stored in the gaming token 1, and the following movement of the gaming token 1 can be understood. At 16:02 on January 28, 2019, Mr. A exchanges cash for gaming token 1 in cage 5. At 16:15 on the same day, Mr. A places a bet using gaming token 1 at table No. 325. At 16:43 on the same day, Mr. B receives gaming token 1 as redemption money for a winning bet at table No. 325. At 17:01 on the same day, Mr. B leaves the casino with gaming token 1.

[0149] The variable information 4 may be configured to store only the latest information as shown in FIG. 13, or may store information relating to all written locations. Also, some of the information relating to multiple locations may be selected and stored. When some information is selected and stored, information relating to multiple locations may be stored, including at least the information 220 relating to the latest location of all the information 220 relating to locations. With the above configuration, the variable information 4 of a certain gaming token 1 can reveal the history of use or movement of the gaming token 1. In other words, the traceability information of the gaming token 1 is written in the gaming token 1 itself, making it possible to understand it.

[0150] Next, a description will be given of the management system for the gaming token 1 of this embodiment. Figure 14 shows an overview of the entire system.

[0151] First, at the factory 6, the writing device 14 writes variable information 4 including information on completion of production or shipment from the factory as location information 220 into the data rewritable area 22 of the RFID tag 2.

[0152] The gaming token 1 shipped from the factory 6 undergoes an acceptance process in the casino's backyard 7. In the backyard 7, the reading device 13 reads the variable information 4 stored in the rewritable data area 22 of the gaming token 1. Based on the reading result, the management control device 15 determines whether location information 220 indicating that the information was written at the factory 6, which should have been written, has been written as the latest variable information 4. If there is no record of the information written at the factory 6, an error signal is generated indicating that the gaming token is suspected of being fraudulent. This allows the casino to refuse to accept the gaming token or to request an investigation from the factory. If there is no problem with the writing record, the writing device 14 writes the location information 220 indicating the backyard into the rewritable data area 22 of the RFID tag 2. When writing, location information indicating the backyard may be added to the location information indicating the factory, or the location information indicating the factory may be deleted and the location information indicating the backyard may be written instead. Furthermore, the reading and writing of gaming tokens in the backyard 7 can be carried out in conjunction with the normal validation and activation procedures for gaming tokens.

[0153] After the acceptance inspection in the back yard 7 is completed, the gaming token 1 is transported to the casino's warehouse 8 or cage 9. In the warehouse 8 or cage 9, the reading device 13 reads the variable information 4 stored in the rewritable data area 22 of the gaming token 1, and based on the reading result, the management control device 15 determines whether location information 220 indicating that the information was written in the back yard 7 has been written as the latest variable information 4, as information that should have been written. It may also be possible to check whether information indicating the factory 6 has been written in the history of the variable information 4. As with the inspection in the back yard 7 described above, the management control device 15 determines whether there are any abnormalities in the location information history. If there are no problems with the reading result, the writing device 14 writes location information 22 indicating the warehouse 8 or cage 9 into the rewritable data area 22.

[0154] A player purchases gaming token 1 in a cage 9. When a player purchases gaming token 1, a writing device 14 in the cage 9 writes the time the gaming token was purchased and information indicating that the owner of the gaming token has changed from the casino to a customer as variable information 4. Players may be identified and recorded using facial recognition technology or an ID card such as a casino membership card or a My Number card.

[0155] A player uses the gaming token 1 that has been exchanged for cash to place a bet in a betting area 11 at a gaming table. A reading device 13 reads location-related information 220, which includes date and time information 221, location and event information 222, and owner information 223, from the RFID tag 2 of the gaming token 1 that has been bet, and a management control device 15 determines whether there is any abnormality. For example, if a certain period of time has passed since the last written date and time of use information at a gaming table or exchange information for cash at a cage, or if the owner information 223 stored in the gaming token 1 differs from the owner information 223 identified by face authentication or an ID card, it can be determined that there is an abnormality.

[0156] If there is no problem with the reading result, the writing device 14 writes location-related information 220 to the data-rewritable area 22 of the betted gaming token 1. The location-related information 220 includes date and time information 221, location and event information 222, and owner information 223. At the table, for example, the writing device 14 writes variable information 4 including the player position number where the gaming token 1 is placed and player information. Player information may be identified by an ID card or facial recognition. Typically, multiple gaming tokens 1 are placed in a stack in the betting area 11, so writing is performed all at once while they are stacked.

[0157] When a player takes gaming token 1 off the casino floor, the player performs an exit process at gate 10. At the time of exit, location information 220 is read by reader 14, and management control device 15 determines whether there is any abnormality in variable information 4. Also at gate 10, writing device 14 writes variable information 4 including location and event information 222 information indicating the exit, and owner information 223.

[0158] When a player brings in a gaming token 1 that he or she has previously taken out when entering the casino floor, the location information is read by the reader 13, and the management control device determines whether there is any abnormality in the variable information 4. For example, if the owner of a gaming token 1 that was once taken out of the casino is different when the player leaves the casino from the owner when the player enters, it can be determined that the gaming token has been handed over outside the casino.

[0159] The above-mentioned management control device 15 may output an alarm to the cage 9 or gate 10 if the determination based on the reading result of the reader 13 is abnormal. When the owner of the gaming token 1 exchanges it for cash in the cage 9 or when exiting through the gate 10, the management control device 15 may refuse to exchange it for cash based on the alarm outputted, or may perform an individual check at the time of exit. Furthermore, if the determination result is abnormal, the management control device 15 may issue a warning to the dealer at each gaming table to suspend the game, or may issue a warning to the pit, so that the pit manager can decide whether to suspend or continue the game, or decide how to handle the situation, such as exchanging the gaming token 1. Alternatively, the management control device 15 may be connected to the casino's overall management control device 18 and issue a warning to the overall management control device 18.

[0160] Similarly, the management control device 15 may read the variable information 4 using the reader 13 when the token is exchanged for cash at the cage, and determine whether there is an abnormality. Specifically, an abnormality may be determined when a certain period of time has passed since the date and time of the last written information on use at the game table or exchange for cash at the cage, or when a person other than the owner information 223 stored in the gaming token 1 is attempting to exchange the token for cash. If an abnormality is determined, the management control device 15 may output a warning and refuse to exchange the gaming token 1 for cash for which an abnormality has been determined.

[0161] In the above description, the reading device 13 reads data, the management control device makes a decision, and then the writing device 14 writes data. However, the reading and writing may be performed simultaneously.

[0162] The following describes the details of an application example of this example.

[0163] At the factory 6, when production is completed or when products are shipped, the RFID tag 2 is read and / or written. Production information and product information are written as fixed information 3, and if necessary, this information is locked so that it cannot be rewritten, and variable information 4 is also written.

[0164] In the backyard 6, when the gaming token 1 shipped from the factory is received and activated as a usable gaming token 1, the RFID tag 2 is read and / or written.

[0165] In the warehouse 8, the RFID tag 2 is read and / or written when the gaming token 1 is moved from the warehouse 8 to the cage 9 or when the gaming token 1 is moved from the cage 9 to the warehouse 8. Alternatively, the RFID tag 2 may be read and / or written for the gaming token 1 stored in the warehouse 8 at regular intervals or at a predetermined timing.

[0166] The cage 9 reads and / or writes the RFID tag 2 when the tokens are moved to or from the warehouse 8, and when the gaming tokens 1 are exchanged for customer cash. When the exchange is performed in the cage 9, the variable information 4 is written as owner information 223, including the location of the exchange, event information 222, and information about the player who performed the exchange. The owner information 223 can be obtained from the player's casino ID card, a face authentication system, a credit card, etc.

[0167] At gate 10, when a player enters or leaves, the RFID tag 2 is read and / or written. When a player leaves, the location and event information 222 indicating the take-out and owner information 223 indicating the player taking out are written as variable information 4 for all gaming tokens 1 that the player takes out, and registration is performed, and similarly when a player enters, the location and event information 222 indicating the bring-in and owner information 223 indicating the player bringing in are written as variable information 4 for registration of gaming tokens 1 that the player takes out.

[0168] In the betting area 11, the RFID tags 2 of the gaming tokens 1 placed in the betting area 11 by the players to participate in betting are read and / or written. Also, the RFID tags 2 of the gaming tokens 1 placed in the betting area 11 by the dealer as redemption money for the players are read and / or written.

[0169] In the chip tray 12, the RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to the gaming tokens 1 collected in the chip tray and the gaming tokens 1 stored therein.

[0170] The gaming table further includes a payment area including an area 2007 and a pay area 1026, and may read and / or write RFID tags 2 on gaming tokens 1 placed in the betting area 11 by the dealer as redemptions to the player.

[0171] The management control device 15 has a function to determine whether there is an abnormality in the location information 220 obtained from the reading results of the reading device 13 at each location. To determine whether there is an abnormality, it can determine whether there is either an event that the information has not been used for a predetermined period of time since the last time it was written, or the information about the location that should have been written has not been written.

[0172] Events that have not been used for a specified period of time since the last write are 1) The latest location information is information indicating the cage 9, and the next information has been written for more than a predetermined time. 2) The latest location information indicates entry at Gate 10, and the next information has been written for more than a specified time. 3) The latest location information indicates exit at Gate 10, and the next information has been written more than the specified time ago. This is one of the following situations.

[0173] The event where the information about the location that should have been written is not written is as follows: 4) When entering the gaming facility, information indicating exit at gate 10 is not written as information about the latest location of data rewritable area 22 of gaming token 1. 5) When used in the cage 9, information indicating the backyard 7 is not written. 6) When leaving the amusement facility, there is no information written indicating the cage 9 or the backyard 7. This is one of the following situations.

[0174] The management control device 15 determines whether an abnormality exists based on the information 223 about the owner obtained from the reading device 13, as follows: 1) A person other than the final owner of the gaming token 1 stored in the data rewritable area 22 exchanges the gaming token 1 for cash or money within the gaming facility, or leaves the gaming facility. 2) A person other than the owner of the token at the time of exit, whose data is stored in the rewritable data area 22, brings the token into the gaming facility. It is possible to determine either of the following situations.

[0175] The management control device 15 determines whether an abnormality exists based on the information indicating the location of the betting area 11, the location of the chip tray 12, or the information indicating the payment area obtained from the reading device 13, as follows: 1) A person other than the final owner of the gaming token 1 stored in the data rewritable area 22 uses the gaming token 1 at a gaming table. 2) A person other than the person who purchased the gaming token 1 at the cage 9 exchanges the gaming token 1, which has no record of use at the gaming table, for cash at the cage 9. 3) A gaming token 1 without information indicating a cage 9 or a backyard 7 is used in the gaming facility. 4) The latest location information is information indicating the betting area 11 or the payment area, and after a predetermined period of time, the information is exchanged for cash in the cage 9 or used at the gaming table. Determine whether the situation is one of 1) to 4) above.

[0176] Fig. 17 shows another example of a database in Modification 4. The management system further includes a database 17 that records similar fixed information 3 and variable information 4 in addition to the gaming token 1. The management control device 15 records information in the database 17 based on the reading results of the reading device 13, and can compare the fixed information 3 and variable information 4 stored in the gaming token 1 with the information in the database to determine whether there is an abnormality.

[0177] In the RFID tag 2 of this example, the functionally unwritable area of ​​the unrewritable data area 21 may be the TID. After necessary information is written in the unrewritable data area 21, the area that is locked to prevent data from being written thereto may be the EPC or user area. The rewritable data area 22 may be the EPC or user area.

[0178] The reader 13 and the writer 14 may take different forms depending on the location. For example, in the factory 6 they are on a table as shown in FIG. 15, in the gate 10 they are box-shaped, and in the betting area 11 and the chip tray 12, the betting area 11 and the chip tray 12 themselves may have the functions of the reader 13 and the writer 14. Also, the gaming tokens 1 may be stacked as they are, or may be read and written while housed in a chip case or the like. Also, the reader 13 and the writer 14 may be integrated.

[0179] In the above modification example 4, we have explained a case where the gaming token has one RFID tag, and this single RFID tag has an area where data cannot be written and an area where data can be rewritten. In contrast, it is also possible to have two RFID tags in the gaming token, one of which stores fixed information and is locked so that data cannot be written, and the other RFID tag records variable information and is left rewritable.

[0180] However, in this case, when multiple gaming tokens are read at once, the information group of fixed information 3 and the information group of variable information 4 are read separately, as shown in Figure 16A, so the combination of fixed information and variable information for a specific gaming token cannot be determined, and the gaming token with an abnormality in the variable information cannot be identified.

[0181] In contrast, when there is only one RFID tag, as shown in Figure 16B, even when multiple gaming tokens are read at once, the mutual correspondence between the fixed information and variable information read by the reading device can be understood, so it is considered better to implement this using a single RFID tag.

[0182] Furthermore, since the reading accuracy of an RFID tag generally increases the larger the diameter, when an RFID tag is placed in a gaming token, it is desirable that the RFID tag have a diameter at least equal to or greater than the radius of the gaming token, but it is not desirable to place two RFID tags in a gaming token, which would result in the diameter of each RFID tag becoming smaller.Furthermore, placing two RFID tags increases the number of RFID tags to be read, which also leads to a decrease in reading speed when reading multiple gaming tokens.

[0183] For these reasons, it is believed that using a single RFID tag would be more effective.

[0184] (Third example) An overall outline of the management system for table games in an amusement facility having a plurality of gaming tables according to the third example of Modification 4 will be described below. Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an overall outline of the system, and the management system for table games in an amusement facility having a plurality of gaming tables 2004 comprises a game recording device 2011 that records games played at the gaming tables 2004 as images, including gaming tokens 1, via a plurality of cameras 2002, an image analyzing device 2012 that performs image analysis of the recorded images, a chip reading device 25 that reads the RFID attached to the gaming tokens 1, and a game result determining device 18 that determines and displays the game results of each game at the gaming table 2004.

[0185] The game result determination device 18 is, for example, a card dealing device 2003, which is a so-called electronic shoe already used by those skilled in the art. The rules of the game are pre-programmed, and the device is structured to be able to read the information on the dealt cards C and determine the outcome of the game. For example, in a baccarat game, whether the banker wins, the player wins, or there is a tie (draw) is basically determined by the ranks of two or three cards, and the determination result (win or loss result) is displayed on the result display lamp 2013.

[0186] 18, the gaming table 2004 is a baccarat table and has five sitting numbers 13 ("sitting number 1" 131, "sitting number 2" 132, "sitting number 3" 133, "sitting number 5" 134, and "sitting number 6" 135), allowing five players to participate in the game. A betting area 44 is provided for each sitting number 13. The betting area 44 for each sitting number 13 includes areas for a player (PLAYER) 441, a banker (BANKER) 442, a tie (TIE) 443, a player pair (P) 444, and a banker pair (B) 445. Each player places a bet by placing gaming tokens 1 in the position corresponding to the bet amount. In FIG. 18, for example, two gaming tokens 1 are placed on the tie 443 of sitting number 5, and two on the player 441. The gaming table 2004 is further provided with a player card area 45 where drawn player cards are placed, and a bank card area 46 where drawn bank cards are placed.

[0187] The control device 2014 can grasp, via the camera 2002 and the image analysis device 2012, on which position (player, banker, tie, or pair) each player 2006 has bet the gaming tokens 1 in the betting area 2008, the type of gaming tokens 1 bet (different values ​​are assigned to each color of the gaming tokens 1) and the number of coins. That is, it can grasp, for example, that two coins have been bet on the sitting number 5 tie 443 and two coins on the player 441.

[0188] As shown in FIG. 18, the chip reader 25 is arranged so that it can read all of the RFID tags of the gaming tokens 1 within the reading area, treating the entire betting area for each sitting number as a single reading area. Unique ID information, the amount, type, manufacturing information, and owner information of the gaming token 1 are written to the RFID tag attached to the gaming token 1. Alternatively, the ID information and the amount, type, manufacturing information, and owner information of the gaming token 1 may be stored in association with each other in a database. By reading the RFID tag attached to the gaming token 1, the chip reader 25 can identify the gaming tokens 1 for each sitting number and the total amount or number of gaming tokens. For example, if four gaming tokens are bet on sitting number 5, the type, amount, and ID of each gaming token can be identified.

[0189] 19, the control device 2014 ascertains the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 for each sitting number from the type and number of gaming tokens 1 bet in each bet area for each sitting number based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device 2012, and compares this with the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 for each sitting number based on the RFID information of the gaming tokens 1 read by the chip reader 25, and determines whether they match. Furthermore, it can output sitting numbers for which the above determination does not match, and can identify problematic sitting numbers.

[0190] If the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reader 25 is less than the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 for each sitting number based on the image analysis results of the image analyzer, it is possible that the RFID tags attached to the gaming tokens 1 are broken, unreadable, or that no RFID tags are attached to the gaming tokens 1. In Figure 19, the total number of readings based on the image analysis device by the image analyzer 2012 for the gaming tokens 1 bet on sitting number 1 is 4, while the total number of readings based on the RFID reading by the chip reader 25 is 3. Therefore, it is possible that the RFID of one of the four gaming tokens 1 bet on sitting number 1 was unreadable.

[0191] If the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reader 25 is greater than the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 for each sitting number based on the image analysis results by the image analyzer, it is possible that the image analyzer 2012 was unable to read the gaming tokens 1 due to factors such as the gaming tokens 1 being in the camera's blind spot. In Figure 19, the total number of readings based on the image analyzer by the image analyzer 2012 for the gaming token 1 bet on sitting number 3 is 1, while the total number of readings based on the RFID reading by the chip reader 25 is 2. Therefore, it is possible that although two gaming tokens 1 were bet on sitting number 3, the image analyzer was only able to recognize one.

[0192] The RFID ID information attached to the gaming token 1 is registered in the casino's database, which records information on production and shipping at the factory, as well as information on receipt, validation, and activation at the casino. The control device 2014 can compare the RFID information read by the chip reader 25 with the information in the database and determine whether it is authentic or not, and whether it is registered as something that should be used in the casino.

[0193] With this configuration, the camera can grasp the type and number of gaming tokens 1 bet in each betting area, and based on the RFID information of the gaming tokens 1 read by the chip reading device 25, it is possible to determine the authenticity of the gaming tokens 1 for each sitting number as being fraudulent or defective.

[0194] The system further includes a player identification means using a face recognition system or a player ID card, and the control device 2014 can link the player information identified by the player identification means with the sitting number. The control device 2014 can store the bet amount, redemption or recovery amount, and win / loss information stored for each sitting number for each player. Furthermore, the control device 2014 can collectively store information on multiple games played by a player at multiple tables.

[0195] The control device 2014 can determine the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 of the dealer 2005 of the gaming table 2004 using the chip tray determination device 12, and after the game is over and settlement is made, can compare and calculate whether the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 has increased or decreased according to the outcome of the game, depending on the recovery of the losing gaming tokens 1 bet by each player 2006 and the amount of winning chips 9W paid to the winning player 2006W. The chip tray determination device may determine the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 by photographing the gaming tokens 1 stored in the chip tray 17 using the camera 2002 and analyzing the image with an image analyzer, or an RFID reader may be provided in the chip tray 17 to detect the total amount of gaming tokens 1 stored in the chip tray 17.

[0196] In this example, fraud and mistakes are detected based on the outcome of the game, information on how many of what type of gaming tokens 1 were bet and at what position in the betting area 2008 (player, banker, tie, pair), and the increase or decrease in the amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 after the collection of losing chips and the redemption of winning gaming tokens 1 are complete, so fraud and mistakes can be detected without knowing the movement of the gaming tokens 1 after the game ends, i.e., whether the bet gaming tokens 1 moved to the player's side or the dealer's side.

[0197] 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 card C dealt in the game with the card dealing device 2003. The outcome of the game can also be determined by taking a picture of the gaming table 2004 with the camera 2002, analyzing the image with the image analyzer 2012, and comparing the analysis result with the rules of the game with the control device 2014. In this case, the camera 2002, the image analyzer 2012, and the control device 2014 constitute a game result determination device. Information on the player of each sitting number 7, what type of gaming token 1, and how many coins have been bet on which position (player, banker, tie, player pair, banker pair) in the betting area 2008 can be obtained by taking a picture of the gaming token 1 placed in the betting area 2008 with the camera 2002 and analyzing the image for each playing position 7 with the image analyzer 2012.

[0198] In addition, the increase or decrease in the amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 before and after the collection of losing gaming tokens 1 and the redemption of winning gaming tokens 1 can be calculated by comparing the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 before the collection of losing gaming tokens 1 and the redemption of winning gaming tokens 1 with the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 after the collection of losing gaming tokens 1 and the redemption of winning gaming tokens 1.

[0199] For example, let us assume that the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 before the start of the game is Bb, and that the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 after the game is over and the collection of losing chips and the redemption of winning chips is Ba. Also, let us assume that the total amount of gaming tokens 1 bet on all playing positions 7 in the player area is bp, the total amount of gaming tokens 1 bet on all playing positions 7 in the banker area is bb, and the total amount of gaming tokens 1 bet on all playing positions 7 in the tie area is bt. For example, if the outcome of this game is a win for the banker, then Ba - Bb = bp - bb + bt should be true. Alternatively, the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 after the game is over 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.

[0200] FIG. 23A is a diagram showing the details of the chip tray of this example, and FIG. 23B is a diagram showing another example of the chip tray. The chip tray 17 is provided with a collection chip tray 171 that collects and temporarily stores gaming tokens 1L bet by a losing player 2006L, and a redemption chip tray 172 that stores gaming tokens 1W to be redeemed. The image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 grasp the location, type, and number of gaming tokens 1L bet by the losing player 2006L, and calculate the increase in the gaming tokens 1L for the game (the amount of gaming tokens 1 that should be in the collection chip tray 171). Furthermore, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 grasp the actual total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 171 after collection, and compare the actual total amount with the expected total amount to determine whether there is a difference.

[0201] The control device 2014 further redeems the gaming tokens 1 to be redeemed, and when the redemption is complete, it compares the total amount that should be in the chip tray, which is based on the amount of chips to be redeemed for the game, calculated from the position, type, and number of chips bet by each game participant at the gaming table and the game result, with the actual total amount in the chip tray, and determines whether there is a difference between the total amount that should be and the actual total amount.

[0202] In addition, by using the gaming tokens 1 in the redemption chip tray 172 to redeem the gaming tokens 1W to the winning player 2006W, it is possible to ensure sufficient time for the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 to grasp the actual total amount of the gaming tokens 1 in the collection chip tray 171 after they have been collected.

[0203] As described above, in the third example, the control device 2014 calculates the chip balance for each game from the amount of chips bet on the gaming table 2004 and the results of the game, and verifies the increase in the chip balance in the chip tray 17 after the game. If the control device 2014 detects a discrepancy in this verification, it issues an alarm or adds a note to the video recording taken by the camera 2002. The casino operator can investigate the cause of the discrepancy by checking the video.

[0204] The management system for table games in the third example adds or subtracts the increase or decrease in the amount of chips in a game calculated from the positions, types, and numbers of gaming tokens 1 bet by all players 2006 in that game and the win / loss result of that game obtained by the win / loss result determination device, from the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 before the settlement of each game, and compares the total amount that should be of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 after settlement at the end of that game with the actual total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 at the end of that game obtained via the image analysis device 2012, and determines whether there is a difference between the total amount that should be and the actual total amount.

[0205] The control device 2014 grasps the position, type and number of chips bet by each player via the image analysis device 2012, and when all of the losing chips bet by each player have been collected, grasps the actual total amount of chips in the chip tray, and compares the total amount that should be of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17, which is calculated by adding the increase in the chip tray 17 for that game based on the position, type and number of chips bet by the losing player from the total amount of chips in the chip tray before the settlement of each game, with the actual total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17, and determines whether there is a difference between the total amount that should be and the actual total amount.

[0206] The control device 2014 compares the total amount of gaming tokens 1 that should be in the chip tray 17, which is the total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 before the settlement of each game, plus the increase in the amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 for that game based on the position, type, and number of gaming tokens 1 bet by the losing player, with the actual total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17, and determines that there is no difference between the total amount that should be and the actual total amount.The control device 2014 also compares the total amount that should be in the chip tray 17 after the settlement at the end of that game with the actual total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the chip tray 17 at the end of that game, obtained via the image analysis device 2012, and if it determines that there is a difference between the total amount that should be and the actual total amount, it determines that there is a payment error and generates a payment error signal to notify of the payment error.

[0207] The chip tray 17 is provided with a collection chip tray 171 for collecting and temporarily storing gaming tokens 1 bet by losing players, and the image analysis device 2012 compares the total amount that should be of the gaming tokens 1 in the collection chip tray 171, which is calculated from the position, type and number of gaming tokens 1L bet by the losing player and adds an increase in the amount of gaming tokens 1 for the game in question, with the actual total amount of gaming tokens 1 in the collection chip tray 171, and determines whether there is a difference between the total amount that should be and the actual total amount.

[0208] When the control device 2014 determines that the actual total amount of gaming tokens 1 held in the chip tray 17 of the dealer 2005 at the gaming table 2004 does not correspond to the increase or decrease in the amount of chips calculated from the amount of chips bet by all players and the outcome of the game, the game recording device 2011 can assign an index or time to the captured video, or identify and play back the scene of collection or payment of the gaming tokens 1, so that the game recording device 2011 can analyze the record of the game in which the above-mentioned difference occurred.

[0209] In this way, the control device 2014 obtains the total amount of chips in the chip tray 17 after settlement at the end of the game via the image analysis device 2012. In this case, the determination after settlement is made when any of the following 1) to 4) occurs. 1) When redemption of winning gaming token 1 is completed, 2) When the card C used in the game is collected and discarded in the discard area 41 or discard slot 42 of the table, 3) When a predetermined button attached to the winning / losing result determination device is pressed, 4) When marker 43, which indicates victory or defeat, is returned to its original position.

[0210] The control device 2014 has an artificial intelligence or deep learning structure that can grasp the positions (positions bet on player, banker, or pair) and amounts (type and number) of chips bet at each playing position 7 of the gaming table 2004, and can extract a unique situation (set by the casino) by comparing the win / loss history of each player 2006 and the amount of chips (winning amount) obtained from the win / loss results of each game with statistical data of many past games (big data). Typically, the control device 2014 has an artificial intelligence or deep learning structure that can extract a unique situation by comparing the occurrence of a winning amount of more than a certain amount (1 million dollars) or a situation in which the amount of bet chips when losing is small and the amount of bet chips when winning is large for several games at a playing position 7 of a certain gaming table 2004 with statistical data (big data, etc.) of past games.

[0211] Furthermore, the control device 2014 of this table game management system (integrated with the image analysis device 2012) is configured to be able to identify an individual player 2006 at a playing position 7 who has been extracted as having an unusual situation or who has won a predetermined amount or more. The image analysis device 2012 obtains an image of the player's face by extracting feature points or the like, and assigns an identity number (ID, etc.) to identify the player 2006. When the identified player 2006 leaves his / her seat and takes a seat at another gaming table, the control device 2014 has a warning function that notifies the other gaming table of the presence of the specific player. Specifically, the control device 2014 notifies a pit manager or a person in charge of each table (which may be a dealer) who manages each gaming table 2004, thereby preventing further unusual phenomena.

[0212] The control device 2014 can identify the collected gaming token 1 for each sitting number based on the RFID ID information of the collected gaming token 1 determined by the chip tray determination device and the RFID ID information of the gaming token 1 read by the chip reading device 25.

[0213] In Figure 20, gaming tokens 1 are bet as shown in the detailed tables of Figures 21 and 22. Analysis by the image analysis device 2012 makes it possible to determine the location (player, banker, etc.) where the gaming tokens 1 are bet, as well as the number (and amount) of tokens. Meanwhile, reading by the chip reading device 25 makes it possible to determine the RFID ID attached to the gaming token 1 for each sitting number. Furthermore, the chip tray determination device 25 can determine the ID of the gaming token 1 in the chip tray 9, so it is possible to determine the collected gaming token 1 by determining the ID that has increased before and after collection. In Figures 20 to 22, if the game result is a win for the banker, the analysis results of the image analysis device 2012 show that the two chips bet on the banker pair should be collected, and of the IDs of the collected chips determined by the chip tray determination device, the two chips with IDs 6 and 18, which the chip reader 25 read as having been bet on sitting number 5, are collected.

[0214] The control device 2014 further grasps the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 to be collected for each sitting number, determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the positions, amounts, and numbers of gaming tokens 1 based on the image analysis results by the image analyzer. Therefore, the control device 2014 can compare the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 collected for each sitting number, determined based on RFID, with the total amount or total number of gaming tokens 1 to be collected based on the image analysis results, and determine whether they match.

[0215] For example, if the reading result by the chip reading device 25 for sitting number 1 is "A, B, C, D, E," the analysis result by the image analysis device 2012 is "2 chips for tie, 2 chips for banker," the game result is "banker wins," and the reading result by the chip tray determination device 18 is "A, B," it can be determined that the chips A and B bet on tie have been correctly collected.

[0216] The control device 2014 can further determine whether or not the RFID ID information of the collected gaming token 1 determined by the chip tray determination device matches the RFID ID information of the bet gaming token 1 read by the chip reading device 25. This determination makes it possible to determine whether or not the gaming token 1 collected in the chip tray is the gaming token 1 that was bet on the gaming table, or whether or not it is gaming token 1 that was fraudulently collected from another location.

[0217] The control device 2014 can further determine the type of chip, such as a cash chip, rolling chip, or promotional chip, based on the RFID information read by the chip reading device 25, and can store the amount bet and the amount recovered or redeemed for each determined type of chip.

[0218] Rolling chips are special chips that cannot be exchanged for cash and can be purchased by specific members, and the amount purchased by each member is managed. They must be used for betting and consumed, and bets made using rolling chips are redeemed in cash chips. By storing the amount of rolling chips bet or collected based on the RFID information read by the chip reader 25, it is possible to determine the amount of rolling chips that a specific member should have.

[0219] The chip reader 25 further has a function of a confirmation area and is capable of reading the gaming token 1 placed for redemption. As shown in FIG. 24, when redemption is made for the banker sitting number 2, the gaming token 1 for redemption is placed in the chip reader 25 and read. In FIG. 24, it is placed next to the winning gaming token 1 bet on the banker sitting number 2. The control device 2014 compares the redemption amount determined using the measurement results of the position, amount, and number of the gaming token 1 based on the game result obtained from the game result determination device and the image analysis results by the image analyzer with the amount of the gaming token 1 placed for each sitting number based on the reading result of the chip reader 25, and determines whether the redemption amounts match or do not match, and can output the result. In FIG. 25, the total number of gaming tokens 1 to be paid for sitting number 1 is 4, but the chip reader 25 reads 3, indicating a mismatch. If the redemption amounts do not match, a mismatch signal is output, and the dealer can replace the gaming tokens 1 for redemption based on the output signal. If the gaming tokens 1 are replaced, a new judgment is made and the judgment result can be output. The area where the gaming tokens 1 for redemption are placed may be anywhere within the chip reader 25. Also, as shown in FIG. 24, a payment confirmation area 26 may be located on the dealer's side of the betting area, separate from the betting area. In FIG. 24, the gaming tokens 1 for redemption are placed in the payment confirmation area 26 for sitting number 6, the chip reader 25 reads them, the control device 2014 makes a judgment, and the redemption chip is placed next to the winning gaming tokens 1 placed on the banker's side.

[0220] Also, the image analysis device 2012 may perform image analysis on the confirmation area, and the control device 2014 may compare this with the reading result of the chip reading device 25 to determine whether the total number matches.

[0221] The control device 2014 can output a signal based on the determination it has made. The signal may be output to display on the display unit of the chip tray 9 or the display unit of the card dealing device 13, or the signal may be output to a pit manager or the casino backroom.

[0222] The chip reader 25 may treat the entire betting area for each sitting number as one reading area as shown in Fig. 26, or may treat the player betting area and banker betting area as one reading area for each sitting number, and the tie betting area, player pair betting area, and banker pair betting area as one reading area as shown in Fig. 27. Also, as shown in Figs. 18 and 31, the side betting areas for the tie betting area, player pair betting area, and banker pair betting area may each be one reading area.

[0223] The gaming token 1 used in this example will be described below. FIG. 29 is an external view of the gaming token 1 used in this system, and FIG. 30 is a front cross-sectional view. A multilayer structure is formed by laminating multiple plastic layers of different colors, with at least a colored layer 101 in the middle, and white layers 102 or light-colored layers (not shown, but which may be lighter in color than the colored layer 101) laminated on both sides of this intermediate colored layer 101. This multilayer structure, with the colored layer 101 and the white layers 102 or light-colored layers (not shown, but which may be lighter in color than the colored layer 101) laminated on both sides of this intermediate colored layer 101, forms a striped pattern in the lamination direction on the side as shown in FIG. 29. By changing the color of the colored layer 101 (e.g., red, green, yellow, or blue), the type of gaming token 1 (e.g., 10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points) can be identified.

[0224] The colored layer 101 may be formed of a plurality of colored layers (three layers in Fig. 30) as shown in Fig. 30. The plurality of colored layers (three layers in Fig. 30) are thermocompression bonded together, so the three-layer structure is not visible as in Fig. 30, and Fig. 30 shows three layers for the sake of explanation. Furthermore, a cutout B is provided in the middle layer of the three layers of the colored layer 101, and an RFID is embedded within it.

[0225] Furthermore, the gaming token 1 is not limited to a structure in which plastic is laminated, and may have an appearance similar to that of the colored layer 101.

[0226] The method by which the image analyzing device 2012 analyzes the gaming token 1 will be described in detail below. The image analyzing device 2012 analyzes the image recorded in the recording device 11 to recognize at least two colors: a specific color 121 that is at least partially imparted to the gaming token 1, and a reference color R that is different from the specific color 121 and that is present in the image. The specific color 121 is imparted at least partially to the gaming token 1 at a predetermined position or in a predetermined shape. For example, the specific color 121 may be imparted as a colored layer 101, may be imparted circumferentially to the side surface of the gaming token 1, or may be imparted as a predetermined mark on the surface of the gaming token 1. The reference color R may be, for example, the color of a specific area of ​​the gaming table 2004, or may be a color imparted to a location on the gaming token 1 that is different from the specific color 121.

[0227] The image analysis device 2012 includes an artificial intelligence device 12a that identifies a specific color using, for example, deep learning technology, and determines the number and type of gaming tokens 1 placed on the gaming table 2004. The recognition device 12 may further determine the position of the gaming tokens 1 on the gaming table 2004.

[0228] The image analysis device 2012 acquires multiple images of the gaming token 1 and the reference color R illuminated at different illuminances, and learns by manual instruction of the acquired images and the correct colors of the specific color 121 and reference color R of the gaming token 1 in each image as training data, thereby creating a learning model 13a (recognition program). Note that, for images of the gaming token 1 and the reference color R illuminated at the same illuminance conditions, the relative relationship between the specific color 121 and the reference color R can be acquired because the specific color 121 and the reference color R are illuminated at the same illuminance. For example, this relative relationship may be used to recognize the specific color 121.

[0229] Furthermore, the chip recognition device 12 may extract the center line C of the gaming token 1 without using artificial intelligence by measuring image features such as shape, brightness, saturation, and color using the results of image analysis that is performed after the image is photographed and recorded by the camera 200212.

[0230] The artificial intelligence device 12a further has a configuration for analyzing a peripheral image of a predetermined range around the extracted center line C (for example, a range of 8 pixels centered on the center line and perpendicular to the center line), thereby recognizing at least two colors in the peripheral image: the specific color 121 and the reference color R that is different from the specific color 121. When analyzing the peripheral image of a predetermined range around the extracted center line C, the image may be analyzed as is, or may be subjected to image processing such as color enhancement and noise removal to make it easier to recognize the specific color 121.

[0231] In summary, the artificial intelligence device 12a of the recognition device 12 is configured to extract a center line C from an image of the gaming token 1, and perform image analysis of the surrounding images of a predetermined range centered on the center line C, thereby recognizing at least two colors, a specific color 121 in the surrounding image and a reference color R different from the specific color 121, and is an artificial intelligence device that has been taught multiple surrounding images of the gaming token 1 and the reference color R illuminated at different illuminances as training data.

[0232] In another example, the control device 2014 further 1) In each game, whether there is any movement of chips between the start of card withdrawal or the start of the game by the dealer and the display of the game result by the card distribution device. 2) After the end of each game, while the dealer is collecting the chips bet by the losing players, whether or not anyone other than the dealer has made any chip movements. 3) After the end of each game, whether chips were added while the dealer was collecting the chips bet by the losing players, 4) After the end of each game, whether the dealer has paid out the winning chips of the players; 5) After each game, whether the winner among the players has taken the chips they bet and the chips they paid; and a function of determining at least one of the above.

[0233] Furthermore, the control device 2014 may be configured to determine at least one of 1) to 5) by detecting the hand movements, chip movements, or the hand movements and chip movements of the dealer and game participants using the analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0234] The control device 2014 has the following functions 1) to 5) as characteristic functions of the present invention, and determines whether or not any cheating that violates the rules is being performed in accordance with the rules of the baccarat game. 1) In each game, from the time when a signal to start drawing out cards is received from the card dealing device 2003, or from the time when the dealer 2005 starts the game by pressing the start button 4s, until the result of the game is displayed by the card dealing device 2003, the image analyzing device 2012 monitors for any movement of the gaming token 1 using information obtained by the camera 2002. 2) After each game ends, while the dealer 2005 is collecting the gaming tokens 1 bet by the losers among the game participants 2006, the image analyzer 2012 monitors whether or not the losers 6 have fraudulently taken the gaming tokens 1, based on information obtained by the camera 2002. 3) After each game ends, while the dealer 2005 is collecting the gaming tokens 1 bet by the losers among the game participants, the image analyzer 2012 monitors, using information obtained by the camera 2002, whether or not a person other than the dealer 2005 (winner or loser) adds a winning gaming token 1W or places a new gaming token 1 on the winning side where no bet has been made. 4) After each game is over, the dealer 2005 monitors whether or not the payment token 1W has been placed correctly at the position of the token 1 on which the winner among the game participants 2006 had bet, based on information obtained by the image analyzer 2012 using the camera 2002. 5) After each game is over (the dealer 2005 operates the card distribution device 2003 to display the winning or losing result on the display lamp 13), it is monitored by the information obtained by the image analysis device 2012 using the camera 2002 to see whether the winner 6W among the game participants 2006 has taken the gaming token 1 that he or she had bet and the gaming token 1W that he or she had paid.

[0235] In the above example, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 were devices utilizing artificial intelligence or having a deep learning structure. However, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 may perform image analysis and the above-mentioned various controls using, for example, a Scale-Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) algorithm, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), deep learning, machine learning, or similar techniques. These techniques recognize captured images by performing image recognition to recognize objects contained in the images. In particular, in recent years, deep learning techniques using multi-layered neural networks have been used to recognize objects with high accuracy. This deep learning technique generally recognizes objects with high accuracy by stacking multiple layers in intermediate layers between the input layer and output layer of a neural network. Among these deep learning techniques, convolutional neural networks in particular have attracted attention for their superior performance in object recognition compared to conventional methods based on image features.

[0236] A convolutional neural network learns labeled target images and recognizes the main object contained in the target image. If there are multiple main objects in the training image, they are designated by a rectangular area, and the image corresponding to the designated area is labeled for training. Furthermore, the convolutional neural network can determine the main object and its location in the image.

[0237] To further explain convolutional neural networks, the target recognition process involves extracting candidate regions based on local features by performing edge extraction or other processing on the image to be recognized, inputting the candidate regions into the convolutional neural network to extract feature vectors and then classifying them, and obtaining the classified candidate region with the highest confidence as the recognition result. Confidence is a quantity that indicates how high the similarity of the subject of an image learned together with a certain image region and label is relative to the similarity of other classes.

[0238] Various examples have been described above, but it goes without saying that the above-described embodiments can be modified by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention, and the device of this embodiment may be appropriately modified according to the needs of the game to which it is applied. (Addendum)

[0239] In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the gaming token management system of the present invention comprises: A single RFID tag having an area where data cannot be rewritten and an area where data can be rewritten is attached to the gaming token; The area of ​​the RFID tag where the data cannot be rewritten stores at least one of production information, product information, casino information, amount information, and serial number of the gaming token as fixed information, The rewritable data area stores variable information relating to the location of the gaming token, The variable information stored in the rewritable area of ​​the same RFID tag can be extracted from the fixed information stored in the non-rewritable area, The system comprises: a writing device that writes information regarding the location of the gaming token in the data rewritable area; a reading device that can collectively read the fixed information stored in the data-rewritable areas of the plurality of gaming tokens, and based on the read fixed information, can read the location information stored in the data-rewritable areas paired with each of the fixed information; a management control device that examines the location information obtained from the reading device; the rewritable data area stores a plurality of pieces of location information including at least the latest piece of location information written by the writing device, The management control device has a function to determine whether there are any abnormalities in the history of information regarding the location obtained from the reading device, and if there is an abnormality, it generates an error signal and is configured to be able to identify the fixed information of gaming tokens that are determined to be abnormal.

[0240] Furthermore, the rewritable data area is configured to store information about the location as well as information about the time when the writing device wrote data into the gaming token, The management control device is configured to determine whether or not there is an abnormality based on the location information obtained from the reading device, by determining whether or not either of the following events has occurred: the device has not been used for a predetermined period of time since the last time it was written, or the location information that should have been written has not been written.

[0241] Furthermore, the management control device is configured such that the information regarding the location includes at least one of information indicating a cage, information indicating entry or exit, or information indicating a backyard, The above-mentioned event of not being used for a specified period of time since the last write is 1) The latest location information indicates a cage, and the next information has been written more than a predetermined time ago. 2) The latest location information indicates entry, and the next information has been written more than a predetermined time ago. 3) The latest information on the location indicates an exit, and the next information has been posted more than a predetermined time ago. In either of the following situations, The event in which the information about the location that should have been written is not written is as follows: 4) When entering an amusement facility, information indicating exit is not written as information regarding the latest location of the area of ​​the gaming token where the data can be rewritten. 5) When using the cage, there is no information indicating the backyard. 6) When leaving the amusement facility, there is no information written indicating the cage or back yard. It may be either of the following situations.

[0242] Furthermore, the information regarding the location may include information regarding the owner of the gaming token.

[0243] Furthermore, the management control device determines whether or not the abnormality is present based on the information about the owner obtained from the reading device, as an event: 1) A person other than the final owner of the gaming token stored in the rewritable data area converts the gaming token into cash or exchanges it for money within the gaming facility, or leaves the gaming facility. 2) A person other than the owner of the token stored in the rewritable data area at the time of exit brings the token into the gaming facility. The device may have a function for determining either the above-mentioned situation 1) or 2).

[0244] Furthermore, information regarding the owner of the gaming token may be identified by facial recognition or reading an ID card.

[0245] The location information may further comprise information indicating the location of the chip tray of the particular gaming table, or information indicating the location of the betting area, or information indicating the payout area.

[0246] Furthermore, the management control device determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred based on the information indicating the location of the chip tray of the gaming table, the location of the betting area, or the information indicating the payment area obtained from the reading device, as an event: 1) A person other than the final owner of the gaming token stored in the rewritable data area uses the gaming token at a gaming table. 2) A person other than the person who purchased the gaming token at the cage exchanges it for cash if the gaming token has no record of use at the gaming table. 3) Gaming tokens that do not have information indicating a cage or backyard are used within the amusement facility. 4) The latest location information is information indicating a betting area or a payment area, and after a predetermined period of time, it is exchanged for cash in the cage or used at the gaming table. It may be a device that has the function of determining any of the above situations 1) to 4).

[0247] Furthermore, the information contained in the RFID tag may be encrypted.

[0248] Furthermore, the area where data cannot be rewritten may be configured so that data cannot be written functionally, or may be configured so that data cannot be written.

[0249] Furthermore, the reading device is configured to simultaneously read the fixed information stored in the non-rewritable data area and the location information stored in the rewritable data area, The management control device may be configured to extract and grasp the location information stored in an area of ​​the same RFID tag where the data can be rewritten from the multiple fixed information of the multiple gaming tokens read by the reading device.

[0250] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the related art, the gaming token of the present invention is provided with a single RFID tag having an area where data cannot be rewritten and an area where data can be rewritten, The area where the data cannot be rewritten stores at least one of production information, product information, casino information, amount information, and serial number of the gaming token as fixed information, The rewritable data area is configured to store, as variable information, information regarding the location of the gaming token written by a writing device, The configuration is such that the variable information stored in the area where the data cannot be rewritten in the same RFID tag can be extracted from the fixed information stored in the area where the data cannot be rewritten.

[0251] Furthermore, the gaming tokens may be configured so that a reading device can read the fixed information stored in an area where the data of multiple gaming tokens cannot be rewritten all at once, and based on the read fixed information, read the location information stored in an area where the data can be rewritten.

[0252] In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the management system for table games of the present invention comprises gaming tokens with individually identifiable RFID tags attached thereto, a gaming table for playing games using the gaming tokens; a game recording device that records, as an image via a camera, gaming tokens bet by each game participant in a game played at the gaming table; an image analyzer that analyzes the image of the recorded gaming token; a chip reader that reads the RFID tag attached to the gaming token bet by each game player; a control device that grasps the image analysis results of the image analysis device and the reading results of the chip reading device, the gaming table has a plurality of betting areas including at least a player betting area and a banker betting area for each sitting number; The chip reading device reads the gaming tokens for each sitting number, either by treating the entire betting area as a single reading area, or by dividing the entire area into a plurality of reading areas each of which is less than the number of betting areas, and reading the gaming tokens for each reading area. The control device is configured to grasp the type and number of gaming tokens bet independently for each betting area, including at least the player betting area and the banker betting area, based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device, determine whether the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each sitting number or each reading area based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each sitting number or each reading area based on the reading results by the chip reading device, and output the determination result.

[0253] The control device may be configured to be capable of outputting a sitting number for which the determination result is inconsistent.

[0254] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating that the RFID attached to the gaming token may be broken or that the gaming token may not have an RFID attached when the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reading device is less than the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each sitting number based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device.

[0255] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating a possible misreading of the gaming tokens by the image analysis device when the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reading device is greater than the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each sitting number based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0256] The game machine further includes a database that stores the RFID IDs attached to the gaming tokens, The control device may be configured to compare the RFID ID based on the reading result of the chip reading device with the ID stored in the database, determine the authenticity of the gaming token, and output the determination result.

[0257] Furthermore, a chip tray for holding gaming tokens used by a dealer at the gaming table; a chip tray determination device capable of determining the type and number of the gaming tokens stored in the chip tray; a game result determination device that determines the game result of each game at the gaming table; the control device has a calculation function for calculating the casino's income and expenditure at the gaming table for each collection and redemption of each game, using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the positions, amounts, and numbers of gaming tokens based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device; a collection determination function for determining whether or not there has been any fraud or mistake in the collection of gaming tokens by comparing the amount of chips to be collected in the game, calculated from the position, type and number of chips bet by each game player at the gaming table and the game result, with the actual collected amount in the chip tray, and determining whether or not there is a difference between the amount to be collected and the actual collected amount, when the collection of the losing chips bet by each game player has been completed; The device may be provided with a redemption determination function that performs redemption for chips to be redeemed, and when redemption is complete, compares the total amount that should be in the chip tray based on the amount of chips to be redeemed for the game, which is calculated from the position, type and number of chips bet by each game participant at the gaming table and the game result, with the actual total amount in the chip tray, and if it is determined that there is a difference between the total amount that should be and the actual total amount, determines that there has been fraud or an error in the redemption.

[0258] Furthermore, the control device identifies the collected gaming tokens for each sitting number based on the RFID ID information of the collected gaming tokens determined by the chip tray determination device and the RFID ID information of the gaming tokens read by the chip reading device, The configuration may be such that the ID, amount or number of the identified gaming tokens is compared with the ID, amount or number of the gaming tokens to be collected for each sitting number, determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount and number of gaming tokens based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device, and whether or not there is a match can be determined for each sitting number.

[0259] The control device may also be configured to determine the type of gaming token, categorized by use or purpose of use, based on the RFID ID information of the gaming token read by the chip reading device in each game, and to store the amount bet or the amount recovered or redeemed for each type of gaming token for each sitting number.

[0260] The control device may also be configured to be able to store the cumulative amount bet or the cumulative amount collected or redeemed for each type of gaming token for each sitting number in a plurality of games.

[0261] The type of the gaming tokens may be at least a cash chip, a rolling chip, or a promotional chip.

[0262] The control device may also be configured to identify the owner based on the ID information of the rolling chip, and to store, for each owner, the cumulative amount bet with the rolling chip or the cumulative amount recovered or redeemed.

[0263] Furthermore, the chip reader reads the gaming tokens for redemption placed on the chip reader for each sitting number, The control device may be configured to compare the redemption amount determined using the game result obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount and number of gaming tokens based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device with the amount of gaming tokens placed for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reading device, determine whether the redemption amounts match or do not match, and output the result.

[0264] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to display a discrepancy if the result of the judgment on the redemption amount is a discrepancy, and further to make a judgment again if there is a change in the amount of the gaming token placed on the chip reading device for each sitting number read by the chip reading device, and to re-output whether it is a match or a discrepancy.

[0265] The control device may also be configured to compare the amount of gaming tokens placed for redemption for each sitting number with the increase or decrease in the amount of the chip tray before and after redemption, and determine whether there is a difference.

[0266] The chip reader may also include a payout confirmation area located on the dealer's side of the betting area where the gaming tokens may be placed for redemption.

[0267] The system further includes a face authentication system or a means for identifying game participants using a player ID card, The control device may be configured to be able to link the sitting number with information about the game player identified by the game player identification means.

[0268] The device may further include a display device that displays information based on the output of the control device.

[0269] The gaming table further includes a betting area for side bets, The betting area for side bets is provided adjacent to each other for each sitting number, The chip reader can read at least one of the side bet areas at once, The control device may be configured to grasp the type and number of gaming tokens bet in the at least one side bet betting area based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device, determine whether the total amount or total number of gaming tokens in the at least one side bet betting area based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of gaming tokens in the side bet betting area based on the reading results of the chip reading device, and output a signal of the determination result.

[0270] Another aspect of the present invention is a table game management system, comprising: a gaming token with an individually identifiable RFID tag attached thereto; a gaming table for playing games using the gaming tokens; a game recording device that records, as an image via a camera, gaming tokens bet by each game participant in a game played at the gaming table; an image analyzer that analyzes the image of the recorded gaming token; a chip reader that reads the RFID tag attached to the gaming token bet by each game player; a control device that grasps the image analysis results of the image analysis device and the reading results of the chip reading device, the gaming table has a betting area consisting of a player betting area, a banker betting area, and a side bet betting area; The betting area for side bets is provided adjacent to each other for each sitting number, The chip reader can read at least one of the side bet areas at once, The control device is configured to grasp the type and number of gaming tokens bet independently for at least one of the side bet betting areas based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device, determine whether the total amount or total number of gaming tokens in the at least one side bet betting area based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for the side bet based on the reading results of the chip reading device, and output a signal of the determination result.

[0271] The control device may be configured to be able to output the side bet when the determination result is a mismatch.

[0272] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating that the RFID attached to the gaming token may be broken or that the gaming token may not have an RFID attached when the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each side bet based on the reading results of the chip reading device is less than the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each side bet based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device.

[0273] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating a possible misreading of the gaming tokens by the image analysis device when the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each side bet based on the reading results of the chip reading device is greater than the total amount or total number of gaming tokens for each side bet based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0274] The game machine further includes a database that stores the RFID IDs attached to the gaming tokens, The control device may be configured to compare the RFID ID based on the reading result of the chip reading device with the ID stored in the database, and determine the authenticity of the gaming token.

[0275] The control device may also be configured to identify the collected gaming tokens for each side bet based on the RFID ID information of the collected gaming tokens determined by the chip tray determination device and the RFID ID information of the gaming tokens read by the chip reading device, compare the ID, amount or number to be collected for each side bet determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount and number of gaming tokens based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device with the ID, amount or number of the gaming tokens collected for each side bet, and determine whether the collected amounts match or do not match for each side bet.

[0276] When one chip reader 25 contains one chip or chip stack to receive a payment, the betting chip and the payment chip can be paired and their owner information can be linked without detecting that the chip has moved outside the area of ​​the chip reader 25. In other words, when one chip reader 25 contains one gaming currency 1001 or one stack of betting chips consisting of several gaming currencies 1001, the betting chip and the payment chip can be paired and their owner information can be linked based on information that the payment chip has disappeared from the chip tray or information that the payment chip has been read by the chip reader 25 on the table, without detecting that the chip has moved outside the area of ​​the chip reader 25. Of course, the betting chip can be recognized based on information that the chip has moved outside the area of ​​the chip reader 25, and the payment chip can be paired with the betting chip using some of information on the chip removed from the chip tray, the chip placed in the betting area, and the chip moved outside the area of ​​the chip reader 25, thereby linking information on the owner of the payment chip based on the owner information of the betting chip. Alternatively, the chip ID may be read by RFID, and the type and number of chips, including stack identification, may be recognized by a camera.

[0277] A single chip or chip stack eligible for payment within a single chip reader 25 includes cases where there was only one chip or chip stack in the area at the time of betting, or cases where there were multiple stacks at the time of betting but the stack was reduced to the last one as payments proceeded. Only the last betting chip stack may be paired with the payment chip and linked to its owner information. In this case, the last remaining stack is designated as the chip bet by the member, ensuring the tracing of the member's chips. It is preferable to allow one member to bet per chip reader (e.g., per player position) while multiple non-members can bet. When there is only one member per player position, the chips are linked to their owner, so the information about the member assigned to each player position can be determined from the information about the bet chips. Furthermore, if a rule requires members to bet before non-members, the first bet chip within a player position may be linked, or confirmed, to the information about the member assigned to that player position (e.g., the member sitting at player position 1). Membership cards may be used to assign members to player positions.

[0278] A chip reader 25 may be provided for each area such as player, banker, tie, pair, etc., or may be provided for each player position, or may divide the entire table into multiple areas such as player positions 1 to 3 and player positions 4 to 6, or may be one large reader 25 for the entire table. In any case, betting chips and payment chips can be paired and owner information, etc. can be updated based on information such as chips being moved out of the area of ​​chip reader 25 (chips being no longer readable by chip reader 25), the ID of a payment chip that has disappeared from the chip tray, and the ID of a payment chip placed in the betting area. [Explanation of symbols]

[0279] 31 Warehouse 32 Proceedings Room 33 Cashier 34 Bank 35 Pit 36 tables 72 Gaming Chips 73 Data Files 74 Players 75 Dealer 100 RFID tag manufacturing factories 200 chip manufacturing plants 211 TID area 212 EPC area 300 Casino 301 Backyard 302nd Floor 320 Procedure Room System 321 Antenna 322 Activation Reader / Writer 323 Central Collation Device 324 Input Device 325 Registration Device 326 databases 327 Barcode Reader 328 Operating device 330 Cashier System 340 Bank System 350 Pit System 360 Table System 720 Chip Case 722 Barcode 721 RFID tags 3291 Camera 3292 Image Recognition Device

Claims

1. A casino system in a casino that uses casino equipment to which an RFID tag storing identification information is attached, a reader that reads the RFID tags to acquire identification information for a plurality of casino items delivered from a manufacturer to the casino; a determination device that determines whether the identification information acquired by the reading device matches any of a plurality of pieces of identification information prepared by the manufacturer; a database that stores the identification information and a usable / unusable status of the casino items used in the casino in association with each other; A registration device updates the status of the casino equipment in the database to "usable" when the determination device determines that the identification information acquired by the reading device matches any one of a plurality of identification information prepared by the manufacturer. a verification device that is installed in a casino equipment handling location in the casino, reads the identification information from the RFID tag of the casino equipment, and verifies whether the status associated with the read identification information is usable by referring to the database; A casino system equipped with

2. 2. The casino system of claim 1, wherein the registration device registers the casino item in the database when the determination device determines that the identification information obtained from the reading device matches any of the multiple identification information provided by the manufacturer.

3. The casino system of claim 2, wherein when the verification device determines that the identification information read from the RFID tag matches the identification information stored in the database, the registration device stores the identification information of the casino item in the database.

4. 4. The casino system according to claim 3, wherein the verification device verifies whether the identification information read from the RFID tag is stored in the database.

5. The casino system according to claim 2 , wherein the determination device makes the determination when the registration is performed by the registration device.

6. 3. The casino system according to claim 2, wherein the determination device is installed in a manufacturing factory of the plurality of casino items and performs the determination on the plurality of casino items manufactured and shipped from the manufacturing factory.

7. The casino system of claim 2, wherein the registration device updates the usable / unusable status of at least one of the plurality of casino items recorded in the database to unusable under predetermined conditions.

8. 3. The casino system according to claim 2, wherein the registration device deletes the casino items that satisfy a predetermined condition from the database.

9. The casino equipment carries information for identifying the casino equipment by a method other than the RFID tag, The casino system of claim 2, wherein the registration device updates the usable / unusable status of the casino item stored in the database to unusable or deletes the casino item stored in the database when the registration device cannot obtain the identification information from the reading device but can identify the information carried on the casino item.

10. 3. The casino system of claim 2, wherein the identification information stored in the RFID tag includes tag identification information assigned by a manufacturer of the RFID tag and equipment identification information assigned by a manufacturer of the casino equipment.

11. the identification information provided by the manufacturers of the plurality of casino items is encrypted; 3. The casino system according to claim 2, wherein the registration device has a function of decrypting the encrypted identification information.

12. The casino system of claim 2 , wherein the registration device simultaneously registers several casino items among the plurality of casino items, and the several casino items include the casino item.

13. The RFID tag stores manufacturing information indicating the manufacturing status of the casino item, type information indicating the type of the casino item, and / or casino information regarding the casino where the casino item is used, 2. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the registration device is provided with the identification information, as well as the manufacturing information, the type information, and / or the casino information corresponding to the identification information, by the manufacturer.

14. The RFID tag stores type information indicating the type of the casino item, The type of casino item to be determined is designated to the determination device by an operator of the registration device, 2. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the determination device determines whether the type information read from the RFID tag matches the type information specified by the operator.

15. a camera that captures images of the casino equipment; an identification device that identifies type information of the casino equipment from the image; Furthermore, the determination device is provided with the type information together with the identification information from the manufacturer, and is also provided with the type information determined by the identification device; The casino system described in claim 1, wherein the determination device determines whether the type information provided by the manufacturer corresponding to the identification information obtained from the reading device matches the type information determined by the identification device.

16. a camera that captures images of the casino equipment; an identification device that identifies type information of the casino equipment from the image; Furthermore, The RFID tag stores type information indicating the type of the casino item, 2. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the determination device determines whether the type information acquired from the reading device matches the type information identified by the identification device.

17. The casino system according to claim 1 , wherein the casino equipment further has the identification information by means other than the RFID tag.

18. date information is added to the identification information prepared by the manufacturer, 2. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the determination device determines whether a difference between the date information provided by the manufacturer and the current date exceeds a predetermined threshold.

19. 2. The casino system of claim 1, wherein the casino items are usable by players at the casino for betting on games and are redeemable for cash.

20. A casino system, casino equipment provided with an RFID tag storing identification information; a reader that reads the RFID tags to acquire identification information for a plurality of casino items delivered from a manufacturer to a casino; a determination device that determines whether the identification information acquired by the reading device matches any of a plurality of pieces of identification information prepared by the manufacturer; a database that stores the identification information and a usable / unusable status of the casino items used in the casino in association with each other; A registration device updates the status of the casino equipment in the database to "usable" when the determination device determines that the identification information acquired by the reading device matches any one of a plurality of identification information prepared by the manufacturer. a verification device that is installed in a casino equipment handling location in the casino, reads the identification information from the RFID tag of the casino equipment, and verifies whether the status associated with the read identification information is usable by referring to the database; A casino system equipped with

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