Token Management System

Abstract

We provide a token management system that manages electronic tokens that can be exchanged for physical tokens. [Solution] The token management system 100 includes a storage device 623 that stores the amount of electronic tokens owned by a player, a smartphone 62 carried by the player for identifying the amount of electronic tokens owned by the player in the storage device, a first increase / update unit 71 that increases the amount of the player's electronic tokens stored in the storage device according to the amount of purchase price received from the player in a cage within the casino, a first decrease / update unit 72 installed on the casino game table that decreases the amount of electronic tokens in the storage device identified by the smartphone according to the amount of physical tokens handed over to the player, and a second increase / update unit 73 that increases the amount of the player's electronic tokens stored in the storage device according to the amount of physical tokens received from the player.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a token management system for managing electronic tokens that can be exchanged with physical tokens in a casino.

Background Art

[0002] In a casino, a player acquires gaming chips as physical tokens with cash and plays games. Thus, a player may play games while carrying a large amount of cash in the casino, and such a situation is not preferable from the viewpoint of security.

[0003] On the other hand, in a casino, an electronic betting system that bets and pays out with electronic tokens without using physical tokens is also known (for example, Patent Document 1). In such an electronic betting system, since the sense of presence and the sense of operation of betting by moving physical tokens to the betting area on the game table are lost, it is not preferred by conventional casino fans.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a token management system for reducing the security risk of a player playing a game while carrying a large amount of cash in a casino on the premise of using physical tokens on a game table.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] One embodiment of a token management system is a token management system for managing electronic tokens that are exchangeable for physical tokens used by players to place bets in a casino, which are paid out to players based on the bet amount and game results when a player wins a game, and collected by the casino based on the bet amount and game results when a player loses a game, and the system comprises: a storage means for storing the amount of electronic tokens owned by the player; a player's portable device carried by the player for identifying the amount of electronic tokens owned by the player in the storage means; a first increase update means for increasing the amount of electronic tokens stored in the storage means for the player in accordance with the amount of purchase price received from the player in a cage within the casino; a first decrease update means for decreasing the amount of electronic tokens in the storage means identified by the player's portable device in accordance with the amount of physical tokens delivered to the player, which is installed on a game table in the casino; and a second increase update means for increasing the amount of electronic tokens stored in the storage means for the player in accordance with the amount of physical tokens received from the player.

[0007] The above-described token management system may further include a second reduction update means that reduces the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means for the player in accordance with the amount of the payment to be made to the player.

[0008] In the above-described token management system, the first increment update means is provided on the player's portable device and may receive the purchase price via electronic payment.

[0009] In the above-described token management system, the first increase update means may receive the purchase price from the player by reducing the player's deposit amount.

[0010] In the above-described token management system, the second increase / renewal means may be installed at the gate of the casino, and the physical tokens may be prohibited from being taken outside the casino.

[0011] In the above-described token management system, the second increment update means may be installed on the game table, and the physical token may be usable at the game table where it is delivered to the player, and may be prohibited from being used at other game tables.

[0012] In the above-described token management system, the second increase update means may be provided at the game table in the casino and may increase the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means for the player in accordance with the payout amount to be paid out to the player who has won the game.

[0013] In the token management system described above, the player's portable device may be equipped with identification information storage means for storing identification information of the player carrying it or the player's portable device, and the token management system may further be equipped with history storage means for storing a history of changes in the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means in association with the identification information.

[0014] In the token management system described above, the change history may include at least one of the following: (1) a reduction in the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means corresponding to the delivery of the physical tokens to the player; (2) an increase in the amount of the purchase price received from the player; (3) an increase in the amount of the physical tokens received from the player; (4) an increase in the amount of the payout to the player who won the game; and (5) a reduction in the amount of cash paid to the player.

[0015] In the token management system described above, the storage means may be provided in the player's portable device, and the first reduction update means may reduce the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means of the player's portable device in accordance with the amount of the physical tokens handed over to the player.

[0016] In the token management system described above, the storage means may be provided in a device other than the player's portable device and store the amount of electronic tokens owned by the player in association with the identification information of the player or the player's portable device; the player's portable device may be equipped with an identification information storage means that stores the identification information of the player or the player's portable device that carries it; and the first reduction / update means may read the identification information from the identification information storage means and reduce the amount of electronic tokens stored in the storage means that are associated with the read identification information, in accordance with the amount of physical tokens to be handed over to the player.

[0017] The above-described token management system may further include a physical token reading means for reading the amount of the physical tokens presented by the player, and the second increase / update means may increase the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means in accordance with the amount of the physical tokens read by the physical token reading means.

[0018] The token management system described above may further include a physical token reading means for reading the amount of the physical token presented by the player, and a player's portable item reading means for reading the identification information from the identification information storage means of the player's portable item. The second amount increase update means may increase the amount of the stored electronic token associated with the identification information in accordance with the amount of the physical token read by the physical token reading means in connection with the reading of the identification information.

[0019] In the token management system described above, the player's portable device may be a dedicated terminal device for managing the electronic tokens usable within the casino.

[0020] In the above-described token management system, the player's portable device may be a general-purpose information processing device that executes a program for managing the electronic tokens.

[0021] In the above token management system, the player portable device may be a card for managing the electronic tokens that can be used within the casino.

[0022] In the above token management system, an expiration date may be set for the electronic tokens.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the token management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the exchange relationship among cash, electronic tokens, and physical tokens according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the token management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of information stored in the storage device of the smartphone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a transaction according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the token management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the token management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of information stored in the database according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0024] The token management system 100 manages electronic tokens that are exchangeable for physical tokens. Here, physical tokens are used by players to place bets in a casino, and are paid out to the player based on the bet amount and game result when the player wins a game, and are collected by the casino based on the bet amount and game result when the player loses a game; they are typically gaming chips.

[0025] An electronic token is electronic data that contains information about the value of at least one exchangeable physical token, i.e., information about the value of the electronic token. That is, an electronic token cannot be used directly for betting at the game table 54, but it is exchangeable for physical tokens that can be used for betting at the game table 54. Furthermore, in the embodiments described below, the electronic token can be converted into cash. However, the electronic token cannot be used outside the casino to purchase goods or services in the same way as currency. In other embodiments, the electronic token may be usable to purchase other services or goods other than those at the casino.

[0026] Electronic tokens are stored in a storage device. Electronic tokens may be stored in a database as a storage device, associated with a player ID. Alternatively, electronic tokens may be stored on a storage medium carried by the player. Blockchain technology may be employed for the electronic tokens.

[0027] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of a token management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 1, the casino 50 is provided with a backyard 51 and a game floor 52. Players 61 cannot enter the backyard 51. The backyard 51 is equipped with a cage 53 that has a window 531 leading to the game floor 52. Players 61 on the game floor 52 can purchase and exchange tokens with staff in the cage 53 via the window 531. The game floor 52 is equipped with multiple game tables 54. Players 61 possess their own smartphones 62 as player accessories. Players 61 can play games at the game tables 54.

[0028] A cage system 10 is installed in cage 53, and a table system 20 is installed in each game table 54. The smartphone 62, as a general-purpose information processing device, has other functions, as well as the function of storing and updating the electronic tokens owned by the player 61.

[0029] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the exchange relationship between cash, electronic tokens, and physical tokens in the first embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 shows the conversion of the forms of value owned by the player. By paying cash to the casino, the player can charge electronic tokens to their smartphone 62 (exchange E1). By spending the electronic tokens charged to the smartphone 62, the player can acquire physical tokens (exchange E2). The player 61 can use physical tokens to place bets on games at each game table 54.

[0030] Player 61 can pay the casino with their physical tokens to top up their smartphone 62 with electronic tokens (Exchange E3). Player 61 can also exchange the electronic tokens on their smartphone 62 for cash (Exchange E4).

[0031] Figure 2 shows a method for converting cash owned by players into physical tokens used in games via electronic tokens. However, in Casino 50, in parallel with this, it may also be possible to directly convert cash into physical tokens as in the conventional method (i.e., to purchase physical tokens with cash), and it may also be possible to directly convert physical tokens into cash (i.e., to exchange physical tokens for cash).

[0032] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a token management system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The token management system 100 comprises a cage system 10, a table system 20, and a smartphone 62. The cage system 10 comprises a short-range communication device 11 and an electronic token management device 12. The table system 20 comprises a short-range communication device 21 and an electronic token management device 22. The smartphone 62 comprises a short-range communication device 621, an update device 622, and a storage device 623.

[0033] The short-range communication devices 11 and 21 are equipped with antennas and readers (not shown). The antenna of the short-range communication device 11 may be installed, for example, on the counter of the window 531, and the antenna of the short-range communication device 21 may be installed, for example, on the table surface of each player position of the game table 54. Both the short-range communication devices 11 and 21 communicate with the short-range communication device 621 of the smartphone 62 held by the player 61 in accordance with a short-range wireless communication standard such as NFC. The short-range communication devices 11 and 21 may be equipped with, for example, an antenna and an NFC reader / writer (NFC controller), and the short-range communication device 621 may be an NFC tag.

[0034] The electronic token management devices 12 and 22 are configured such that a computer, each equipped with a processor, memory, etc., and operating on a predetermined OS, executes the computer-readable program of this embodiment. The electronic token management device 12 functions as an update processing unit 120, and the electronic token management device 22 functions as an update processing unit 220.

[0035] The token management system 100 includes a first increase update unit 71, a first decrease update unit 72, a second increase update unit 73, and a second decrease update unit 74. In this embodiment, the update processing unit 120 of the cage system 10 is provided with the first increase update unit 71 and the second decrease update unit 74, and the update processing unit 220 of the table system 20 is provided with the first increase update unit 71, the first decrease update unit 72, and the second increase update unit 73. However, the update processing unit 120 of the cage system 10 may further be provided with the first decrease update unit 72 and the second increase update unit 73, and the update processing unit 220 of the table system 20 may further be provided with the second decrease update unit.

[0036] The update device 622 of the smartphone 62 performs update processing to increase or decrease the balance stored in the storage device 623 in response to instructions from the first increase update unit 71, the first decrease update unit 72, the second increase update unit 73, and the second decrease update unit 74. When the update device 622 performs an increase update in cooperation with the first increase update unit 71, such update device 622 also functions as the first increase update unit; when the update device 622 performs a decrease update in cooperation with the first decrease update unit 72, such update device 622 also functions as the first decrease update unit; when the update device 622 performs an increase update in cooperation with the second increase update unit 73, such update device 622 also functions as the second increase update unit; and when the update device 622 performs a decrease update in cooperation with the second decrease update unit 74, such update device 622 also functions as the second decrease update unit.

[0037] In this embodiment, the player's portable device is shown as a smartphone 62. However, the player's portable device may be a dedicated device, or a card-type device that does not have its own power source, as long as it is equipped with the above-mentioned short-range communication device 621, update device 622, and storage device 623.

[0038] Figure 4 shows the configuration of information stored in the storage device of a smartphone according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The storage device 623 stores transaction history such as the date and time of the transaction, the type of transaction, and the transaction amount, as well as the balance of the electronic tokens, as electronic tokens. The transaction types include "Chip buy-in," which indicates that physical tokens were acquired by consuming electronic tokens; "Charge by cash," which indicates that electronic tokens were charged by handing cash to the casino; "Charge by chips," which indicates that electronic tokens were charged by handing physical tokens to the casino; and "Cash-out," which is not shown in the figure but indicates that part or all of the balance of electronic tokens was exchanged for cash. The latest balance indicates the amount of electronic tokens that can be consumed at that time.

[0039] In other words, the storage device 623 records the change history of the amount of electronic tokens as follows: a decrease in the amount of electronic tokens corresponding to the delivery of physical tokens to the player is recorded as the "Chip buy-in" amount; an increase in the amount of electronic tokens corresponding to the purchase price received from the player 61 is recorded as the "Charge by cash" amount; an increase in the amount of electronic tokens corresponding to the amount of physical tokens received from the player 61 is recorded as the "Charge by chips" amount; and a decrease in the amount of electronic tokens corresponding to the amount of cash paid to the player is recorded as the "Cash-out" amount. Furthermore, as will be described later, if the payout to the winning player 61 is made with electronic tokens, an increase in the amount of electronic tokens corresponding to the payout amount to be paid to the winning player 61 may be recorded as the "Pay-out" amount.

[0040] Figure 5 is a diagram showing a transaction according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The processing of each update unit 71 to 74 will be explained with reference to Figure 5. The terms "increase" and "decrease" in each update unit 71 to 74 refer to the increase and decrease of the electronic tokens owned by the player 61. Therefore, the increase process refers to the process of increasing the balance of electronic tokens, and the decrease process refers to the process of decreasing the balance of electronic tokens.

[0041] The first increase / update unit 71 processes an increase in the balance of the electronic token in exchange for the cash (purchase price) paid by the player 61 to the casino (exchange E1 in Figure 2). Specifically, when casino staff (for example, the staff of cage 53 and the dealer at game table 54) receive the cash for the transaction from the player 61, they specify the amount of this cash to the first increase / update unit 71. Upon receiving the specified amount, the first increase / update unit 71 communicates with the short-range communication device 621 of the smartphone 62 via the short-range communication device 11 or 21 and causes the update device 622 to perform the increase / update process. The update device 622 functions as the first increase / update processing unit and processes an increase in the balance stored in the storage device 623 by the specified amount.

[0042] The first reduction / update unit 72 processes a reduction in the balance of electronic tokens in exchange for the casino paying physical tokens to the player 61 (exchange E2 in Figure 2). Specifically, when the casino staff receives a request for physical tokens and the amount specified by the player 61, they pay the player 61 the physical tokens of that amount and also specify that amount to the first reduction / update unit 72. Upon receiving the specified amount, the first reduction / update unit 72 communicates with the short-range communication device 621 of the smartphone 62 via the short-range communication device 21 and causes the update device 622 to perform the reduction / update process. The update device 622 functions as the first reduction / update processing unit and processes a reduction of the specified amount from the balance stored in the storage device 623.

[0043] The second increase / update unit 73 processes an increase in the balance of electronic tokens in exchange for physical tokens handed over from the player 61 to the casino (exchange E3 in Figure 2). Specifically, when the casino staff receives the physical tokens related to the transaction from the player 61, they specify the amount of these physical tokens to the second increase / update unit 73. Upon receiving the specified amount, the second increase / update unit 73 communicates with the short-range communication device 621 of the smartphone 62 via the short-range communication device 21 and causes the update device 622 to perform the increase / update process. The update device 622 functions as the second increase / update processing unit and processes an increase in the balance stored in the storage device 623 by the specified amount.

[0044] Furthermore, when the dealer dispenses a physical token from the chip tray to a player 61 who has won the game, the dealer may increase the electronic tokens of the winning player 61 instead of dispensing a physical token. In this case, the dealer specifies the amount to be dispensed to the second increase / update unit 73 of the table system 20. Upon receiving the specified amount, the second increase / update unit 73 communicates with the smartphone's short-range communication device 621 via the short-range communication device 21 and causes the update device 622 to perform the increase / update process. In this case as well, the update device 622 functions as the second increase / update processing unit and performs the process of increasing the balance stored in the storage device 623 by the specified amount.

[0045] The second reduction update unit 74 processes a reduction in the balance of the electronic token in exchange for the cash paid from the casino to the player 61 (exchange E4 in Figure 2). Specifically, when the casino staff receives a request for cash and the amount from the player 61, they pay that amount of cash to the player 61 and also specify that amount to the second reduction update unit 74. Upon receiving the amount, the second reduction update unit 74 communicates with the short-range communication device 621 of the smartphone 62 via the short-range communication device 11 and causes the update device 622 to perform the reduction update process. The update device 622 functions as the second reduction processing unit and processes a reduction of the specified amount from the balance stored in the storage device 623.

[0046] In a casino, it may be prohibited to take physical tokens outside the casino floor 52. In this case, when a player 61 playing on the casino floor 52 leaves the casino floor 52, they must convert their physical tokens into electronic tokens using the second increase / renewal unit 73 at the game table 54 before leaving the casino floor 52.

[0047] Furthermore, some casinos may prohibit players from taking physical tokens from the game table 54. In this case, players leaving the game table 54 must convert their physical tokens into electronic tokens using the second increase / update unit 73 of the table system 220 before leaving the game table 54.

[0048] If the removal of physical tokens from game table 54 is prohibited, then physical tokens are only to be used within that game table 54. Therefore, the table system 20 may calculate the amount of physical tokens a player possesses by keeping track of the amount of physical tokens a player has acquired at game table 54 in exchange for electronic tokens, the increase or decrease in physical tokens as a player plays the game, and the amount of physical tokens a player has converted into electronic tokens. Based on this, the system may determine whether a player leaving game table 54 possesses any physical tokens from that game table.

[0049] (Second Embodiment) Figure 6 shows the overall configuration of the token management system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for elements that are the same as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted as appropriate. Casino 50 is provided with gates 55 for players 61 to enter and exit the casino floor 52, and a gate system 30 is installed at gates 55.

[0050] A database 240 is installed in the backyard 51. The cage system 10, table system 20, and gate system 30 are each connected to the database 240 via LAN. The cage system 10, table system 20, and gate system 30 may be connected to the database 240 via wireless LAN. The database 2490 may be installed on a communication network such as the internet outside the casino. In this case, a management system (not shown) that integrates the cage system 10, table system 20, and gate system 30 may be provided, and this management system may be connected to the database 240 via the communication network so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0051] Figure 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a token management system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The cage system 10, the table system 20, and the gate system 30 are each equipped for communication with the database 240. These communication devices 13, 23, and 33 may be LAN ports when each system 10, 20, and 30 is connected to the database 240 via a wired LAN, or they may be wireless LAN modules when connected via a wireless LAN.

[0052] In this embodiment, the player's portable device carried by player 61 is an IC card. In this embodiment, the IC card 62' includes a short-range communication device 621 and a storage device 623, and does not include the update device 622 of the first embodiment. The storage device 623 stores player identification information that identifies the player.

[0053] The gate system 30 comprises a short-range communication device 31, an electronic token management device 32, and a communication device 33. In this embodiment, the update processing unit 320 of the electronic token management device 32 of the gate system 30 includes a second increment update unit 73 that performs processing to convert the physical tokens held by the player 61 into electronic tokens.

[0054] The short-range communication devices 11, 21, and 31 communicate with the IC card 62' short-range communication device 621, similar to the short-range communication devices 11 and 21 of the cage system 10 and table system 20 in the first embodiment. In particular, the short-range communication devices 11, 21, and 31 of this embodiment acquire player identification information stored in the storage device 623.

[0055] The update processing units 120, 220, and 320 update the electronic token stored in the database 240 based on the player identification information read from the IC card 62' by the short-range communication devices 11, 21, and 31, respectively. Specifically, the update processing units 120, 220, and 320 access the database 240 via the communication devices 13, 23, and 33 to retrieve information from the database 240 and update the information stored in the database 240.

[0056] Figure 8 shows the structure of information stored in the database according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The database 240 stores player identification information and the electronic token of the player in association. The contents of the electronic token are the same as in the first embodiment. The update processing units 120, 22, and 320 each access the database 240 by specifying the player identification information and read or update the electronic token associated with the corresponding player identification information.

[0057] In this embodiment, player 61 is prohibited from taking a physical token outside the casino from the game floor 52. When player 61 with a physical token leaves the game floor 52, they hand the physical token to a staff member at gate 55 and have an electronic token of the same value charged to them. At this time, the staff member specifies the amount of the physical token received from player 61 to the second increase / update unit 73 of the update processing unit 320 of the electronic token management device 32. The short-range communication device 31 also reads the player identification information of player 61 from the player 61's IC card. The second increase / update unit 73, having received the specified amount, accesses the database 240 via the communication device 33, specifies the read player identification information, and increases the balance of the electronic token associated with that player identification information by the specified amount.

[0058] As described above, according to this embodiment, since the electronic token is stored in the database and not in the player's portable device, if player 61 has their portable device stolen or lost, the transaction of the electronic token related to the player identification information in the database 240 will be stopped at the request of player 61, and player 61's portable device will become unusable. Thus, security is ensured for player 61.

[0059] In the first and second embodiments described above, when the second amount increase / update unit 73 is used to charge electronic tokens in exchange for physical tokens handed over by the player 61, the staff at the game table 54 and gate 55 visually confirm the physical tokens handed over by the player 61 and specify the amount to the second amount increase / update unit 73. Alternatively, the physical tokens may be embedded with RFID tags to identify their value, and the total amount of physical tokens handed over by the player 61 may be determined by an antenna and an RFID reader. In this case, the sum of the amounts of each physical token read by the RFID reader is specified to the second amount increase / update unit 73, and the second amount increase / update unit 73 processes the electronic tokens to increase the amount specified by the RFID reader.

[0060] Alternatively, the physical tokens offered by player 61 may be photographed with a camera to generate an image, and the value of each physical token offered by player 61 may be determined by analyzing this image.

[0061] Furthermore, in the first and second embodiments described above, when the first increment / update unit 71 is used to charge electronic tokens in exchange for cash handed over by the player 61, the staff of the cage 53 and game table 54 visually confirm the physical tokens handed over by the player 61 and specify the amount to the first increment / update unit 71. Alternatively, the staff may place the cash received from the player 61 into a cash reader, and the cash reader will determine the total amount of cash handed over by the player 61. In this case, the sum of the amounts of each banknote read by the cash reader is specified to the first increment / update unit 71, and the first increment / update unit 71 performs the process of increasing the electronic tokens by the amount specified by the cash reader.

[0062] Furthermore, the first increase / update unit 71 may receive payment for the purchase of electronic tokens through electronic payment such as credit cards, electronic money, or cryptocurrencies. For example, player 61 can deposit cash in the form of electronic money, and the first increase / update unit 71 may reduce the deposit amount when charging electronic tokens. That is, the first increase / update unit 71 may increase the electronic tokens by obtaining payment from player 61 by reducing the deposit amount of player 61's electronic money. Furthermore, the second decrease / update unit 74 may perform a process to change the electronic tokens to a deposit amount. That is, the second decrease / update unit 74 may decrease the electronic tokens and add the same amount to the balance of player 61's electronic money deposit.

[0063] Furthermore, the casino may be equipped with an unmanned electronic token trading device that includes update units 71-72 in place of or in addition to cage 53. This unmanned electronic token trading device has a configuration that receives and reads cash related to a transaction from player 61, pays out cash related to the transaction to player 61, receives and reads physical tokens related to a transaction from player 61, and pays out physical tokens related to the transaction to player 61. The update units 71-74 then perform update processing to increase or decrease the electronic tokens of player 61 in response to such receipt and payout of cash and receipt and payout of physical tokens.

[0064] Furthermore, an expiration date may be set for the electronic token. In this case, the expiration date may be stored in the storage device 623. The expiration date may be renewed each time any transaction is performed with the electronic token. For example, the expiration date may be one year, in which case the electronic token becomes invalid if no transactions are performed with the electronic token for one consecutive year.

[0065] Furthermore, in the first embodiment described above, the electronic token is stored in the player's portable device, and in the second embodiment, player identification information is stored in the player's portable device and the electronic token is stored in the database. However, instead of these, the electronic token and player identification information may be stored in the player's portable device, and the electronic token may also be stored in the database, and the electronic token stored in the player's portable device and the electronic token stored in the database may be updated in a synchronized manner. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 10 Cage System 11 Near field communication device 12 Electronic token management device 13. Communication equipment 20 Table System 21 Near field communication device 22 Electronic token management device 23 Communication equipment 30 Gate System 31 Near field communication device 32 Electronic token management device 33 Communication equipment 40 databases 51 Backyard 52 Game Floors 53 cages 54 Tables Gate 55 61 players 62 Smartphones 71. Section 1: Increased / Renewed 72. Section 1: Reduction and Renewal 73. Section 2: Increased / Renewed 74. Section 2 of the Reduction and Renewal Department 100 Token Management System 120 Update Processing Unit 220 Update Processing Unit 320 Update Processing Unit 621 Near field communication device 622 Update device 623 Storage device

Claims

1. A token management system for managing electronic tokens that are exchangeable for physical tokens, which are used by players to place bets within a casino, and which are paid out to players based on the bet amount and game results when players win a game, and collected by the casino based on the bet amount and game results when players lose a game. A storage means for storing the amount of electronic tokens owned by the aforementioned player, A player's portable device carried by the player, for identifying the amount of electronic tokens owned by the player in the storage means, A first increase / update means that increases the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means for the player in accordance with the amount of purchase price received from the player in the cage within the casino, A first reduction update means, installed on the game table of the casino, reduces the amount of the electronic tokens in the storage means identified by the player's personal belongings according to the amount of the physical tokens handed over to the player, A second increase update means that increases the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means for the player in accordance with the amount of the physical tokens received from the player, A token management system equipped with [features].

2. The token management system according to claim 1, further comprising a second reduction update means for reducing the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means for the player in accordance with the amount of the payment to be made to the player.

3. The token management system according to claim 1, wherein the first increase / renewal means is provided on the player's portable device and receives the purchase price by electronic payment.

4. The token management system according to claim 1, wherein the first increase update means receives the purchase price from the player by reducing the player's deposit amount.

5. The second increase update means is installed at the gate of the casino, The token management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the physical token is prohibited from being taken outside the casino.

6. The second increase update means is installed on the game table, The token management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the physical token is usable at the game table where it is delivered to the player, and is prohibited from being used at other game tables.

7. The token management system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second increase update means is provided on a game table in the casino and increases the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means for the player in accordance with the payout amount to be paid to the player who has won the game.

8. The aforementioned player's portable device is equipped with identification information storage means for storing identification information of the player carrying it or the player's portable device, The token management system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a history storage means for storing a history of changes in the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means in association with the identification information.

9. The change history is the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means, (1) A reduction in the amount corresponding to the delivery of the physical token to the player, (2) An increase in proportion to the amount of the purchase price received from the player, (3) An increase in the amount of the physical tokens received from the player, (4) An increase in the amount paid out to the player who won the game, and (5) A reduction in the amount of cash to be paid to the player, The token management system according to claim 8, comprising at least one of the following.

10. The storage means is provided in the player's portable device. The token management system according to claim 1, wherein the first reduction update means reduces the amount of the electronic token stored in the storage means of the player's personal device in accordance with the amount of the physical token to be handed over to the player.

11. The storage means is provided in a device other than the player's portable device and stores the amount of electronic tokens owned by the player in association with the identification information of the player or the player's portable device. The aforementioned player's portable device is equipped with identification information storage means for storing identification information of the player carrying it or the player's portable device, The token management system according to claim 1, wherein the first reduction update means reads the identification information from the identification information storage means and reduces the amount of the electronic tokens stored in the storage means and associated with the read identification information, in accordance with the amount of the physical tokens to be handed over to the player.

12. The system further comprises a physical token reading means for reading the amount of the physical token presented by the player, The token management system according to claim 10, wherein the second increase update means increases the amount of the electronic token stored in the storage means in accordance with the amount of the physical token read by the physical token reading means.

13. A physical token reading means for reading the amount of the physical token presented by the player, A player's portable device reading means for reading the identification information from the identification information storage means of the player's portable device, Furthermore, The token management system according to claim 11, wherein the second increase update means increases the amount of the stored electronic token associated with the identification information in accordance with the amount of the physical token read by the physical token reading means in association with the reading of the identification information.

14. The token management system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the player's portable device is a dedicated terminal device for managing the electronic tokens usable within the casino.

15. The token management system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the player's portable device is a general-purpose information processing device that executes a program for managing the electronic tokens.

16. The token management system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the player's portable device is a card for managing the electronic tokens usable within the casino.

17. The token management system according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the electronic token has an expiration date set.

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