Casino systems, casino supplies, and methods for providing casino supplies

Abstract

We will strengthen security management for casino equipment. [Solution] The casino system 30 in a casino 300 that uses gaming chips 72 to which an RFID tag 721 storing identification information is attached comprises an activation reader / writer 322 installed in the casino 300 that reads identification information from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72, and a registration device 325 that determines the authenticity of the gaming chip 72 and registers gaming chips 72 that are determined to be genuine as usable items. The registration device 325 determines the authenticity of the gaming chip 72 by checking whether the identification information provided by the manufacturer of the gaming chip 72 matches the identification information read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 by the activation reader / writer 322, and registers the identification information of gaming chips 72 that are determined to be genuine as the identification information of usable gaming chips 72.

Description

Technical Field

[0005] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a casino system applied to a casino using casino supplies, casino supplies that can be used in a casino, and a method for providing casino supplies for manufacturing casino supplies.

Background Art

[0002] High security is required for casino supplies used in casinos, and casino supplies should be strictly managed. For example, although casino supplies are manufactured in a manufacturing factory, there is a risk of being stolen by malicious persons during the process from the manufacturing factory to being transported to the casino and used on the floor. Also, on the casino floor, there is also a risk that counterfeit casino supplies may be used for a player to improperly win a game.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to strengthen the security management of casino supplies.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A casino system according to one aspect of the present invention is a casino system in a casino that uses casino goods to which an RFID tag storing identification information is attached, comprising: a first reader installed in the casino that reads the identification information from the RFID tag of the casino goods; and a registration device that determines the authenticity of the casino goods and registers the casino goods determined to be authentic as usable goods, wherein the registration device determines the authenticity of the casino goods based on whether the identification information provided by the manufacturer of the casino goods matches the identification information read from the RFID tag of the casino goods by the first reader.

[0006] This configuration allows casino supplies to be registered as usable items in the casino's backroom, and enables the detection of fraudulent casino supplies that have been stolen during transport to the casino and used on the casino floor without proper registration. Furthermore, the casino verifies that the casino supplies were manufactured in the designated factory before registering them, as it matches the identification information provided by the manufacturer with the identification information stored on the RFID tags of the casino supplies.

[0007] The casino system described above may further include a matching device installed at a casino supplies handling location within the casino, which compares identification information read from the casino supplies with the identification information of the casino supplies registered in the registration device.

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

[0009] In the casino system described above, the registration device may invalidate the registration of the identification information for casino equipment for which it is unable to read the identification information.

[0010] In the casino system described above, the casino equipment may carry information for identifying the casino equipment in a manner other than the RFID tag, and the registration device may, for casino equipment from which the identification information cannot be read, identify the identification information that should be invalidated using the information for identifying the casino equipment, and invalidate the registration.

[0011] In the casino system described above, the identification information may include tag identification information provided by the manufacturer of the RFID tag and product identification information provided by the manufacturer of the casino supplies.

[0012] In the casino system described above, the matching device may normally compare the item identification information read from the casino goods at the casino goods handling location within the casino with the item identification information read in the past, and at a predetermined timing and / or under predetermined conditions, it may compare the tag identification information read from the casino goods at the casino goods handling location with the tag identification information of the casino goods registered in the registration device.

[0013] In the casino system described above, the identification information provided by the manufacturer of the casino supplies may be encrypted, and the registration device may have a function to decrypt the encrypted identification information.

[0014] In the casino system described above, the registration device may store the identification information of the available casino supplies with a flag indicating that they are available.

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

[0016] In the casino system described above, the multiple casino items may be housed in a single case, 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 for reading 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 casino system described above, the plurality of casino items may be housed in a single case capable of accommodating a predetermined number of the casino items, 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 pieces read by the first reader with a predetermined number that can be housed in the case.

[0018] In the casino system described above, the plurality of casino goods may be housed in a single case, the case may be assigned case identification information, the registration device may determine the authenticity of each case, and may further include a second reader for reading the case identification information, the registration device may identify the identification information of the plurality of casino goods housed in the case based on the case identification information read by the second reader, and determine authenticity based on whether the identified identification information matches the identification information read from the RFID tag of the casino goods by the first reader.

[0019] In the casino system described above, the RFID tag may store manufacturing information indicating the manufacturing status of the casino goods, type information indicating the type of casino goods, and / or information of the casino in which the casino goods are used. The registration device may be provided by the manufacturer of the casino goods with the manufacturing information, type information, and / or casino information corresponding to the identification information, along with the identification information.

[0020] In the above casino system, the registration device may be provided with the type information together with the identification information from the manufacturer of the casino supplies, and the type of the casino supplies related to the determination may be designated by the operator of the registration device. The registration device may determine whether the type information provided by the manufacturer of the casino supplies corresponding to the identification information read by the first reading device matches the type information designated by the operator.

[0021] In the above casino system, the RFID tag may store type information indicating the type of the casino supplies. The registration device may be designated with the type of the casino supplies related to the determination by the operator of the registration device. The registration device may determine whether the type information read by the first reading device matches the type information designated by the operator.

[0022] The above casino system may further include an identification device that photographs the casino supplies and discriminates the type information of the casino supplies from the photographed image. The registration device may be provided with the type information together with the identification information from the manufacturer of the casino supplies, and the type information discriminated by the identification device. The registration device may determine whether the type information provided by the manufacturer of the casino supplies corresponding to the identification information read by the first reading device matches the type information discriminated by the identification device.

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

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

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

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

[0027] In the above casino system, the casino supplies may be usable for a player to bet in a game at a casino and may be exchangeable for money.

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

[0029] A method for providing casino supplies according to one aspect of the present invention is a method for providing casino supplies usable at a casino, comprising: preparing an RFID tag with tag identification information at a manufacturing factory; manufacturing casino supplies including the RFID tag at the manufacturing factory; storing article identification information in the RFID tag; transferring the casino supplies from the manufacturing factory to the casino; transferring a combination of the tag identification information and the article identification information from the manufacturing factory to the casino via a route different from the transfer route of the casino supplies; reading the tag identification information and the article identification information from the RFID tag of the casino supplies at the casino; determining whether a combination of the tag identification information and the article identification information transferred from the manufacturing factory matches a combination of the tag identification information and the article identification information read from the casino supplies; and registering the casino supplies determined to match in the determination as usable casino supplies.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0030] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the process of manufacturing and using casino supplies according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a gaming chip as a casino item according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the information stored in the RFID tag of the gaming chip according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a casino system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows the data structure of the information of each gaming chip recorded in the database of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the table system in an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a gaming chip (with the decal removed) as a casino item according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a procedure room system according to a modified example 1 of the present invention. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a procedure room system according to a modified example 2 of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows an overall overview of a table game management system according to a modified example 4 of the present invention. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a diagram showing an overview of the database of Modification 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram of the RFID tag on the game currency of the second example of Modification 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a conceptual diagram showing a method for recording data for game substitute currency in a second example of a modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14] Figure 14 shows an overall overview of a game currency management system for a second example of a modified embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 15] Figure 15 shows a reading device and writing device for game substitute currency in a second example of a modified embodiment 4 of the present invention. [Figure 16A] Figure 16A is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of a game substitute currency in a second example of a modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16B] Figure 16B is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of a game substitute currency in another example of Modification 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] Figure 17 shows a database of another example of Modification 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] Figure 18 shows an overview of a table game management system in a gaming hall having multiple gaming tables, according to a modified example 4 of the present invention. [Figure 19] Figure 19 shows the results of reading a chip using a camera and RFID in a modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] Figure 20 shows a game table according to a modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] Figure 21 shows the state of the substitute currency used for games placed on a game table in a modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] Figure 22 shows the state of the substitute currency used for games placed on a game table in a modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23A] Figure 23A shows details of a chip tray in a modified example 4 of the present invention. [Figure 23B] Figure 23B shows another example of a chip tray according to Modification 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] Figure 24 is a diagram of a game table according to a modified example 4 of the present invention. [Figure 25] Figure 25 shows the results of reading a chip using a camera and RFID in a modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] Figure 26 shows a game table for another example of modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] Figure 27 shows a game table for another example of modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] Figure 28 shows a game table for another example of modified example 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] Figure 29 is a perspective view of a game substitute coin according to Modification 4 of the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] Figure 30 is a cross-sectional view of a game substitute coin according to a modified example 4 of the present invention. [Figure 31] Figure 31 is a cross-sectional view of a game substitute coin according to a modified example 4 of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0031] The casino system and method of providing casino supplies 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 embodiments described below, and the components in the embodiments described below include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art or that are substantially the same.

[0032] The following example illustrates casino supplies as gaming chips, but casino supplies may be other items, such as shuffled playing card packages containing multiple decks of playing cards that have been shuffled and packaged. Furthermore, casino supplies do not have to be items that circulate within the casino, like gaming chips, nor do they have to be items that are consumed and discarded in large quantities within the casino, like shuffled playing card packages.

[0033] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the process of providing and using casino supplies according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a gaming chip as a casino supply according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the side of the gaming chip 72 has a pattern representing the value of the gaming chip 72, and a decal 723 is attached to the center of its front and back surfaces, with a number indicating the price of the gaming chip 72 written on the decal 723. In addition, an RFID tag 721 is embedded in the gaming chip 72.

[0034] As shown in Figure 1, the chip manufacturing plant 200, acting as a chip manufacturer, procures RFID tags 721 from the RFID tag manufacturing plant 100, uses them to manufacture gaming chips 72 with embedded RFID tags 721, and supplies them to the casino 300. The casino 300 procures the gaming chips 72 with embedded RFID tags 721 from the chip manufacturing plant 200 and operates games using the gaming chips 72 on floor 302.

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

[0036] The TID area 211 stores the tag ID unique to the RFID tag 721 as tag identification information, and the EPC area 212 stores the chip ID unique to the gaming chip 72 as product identification information. In addition to the chip ID, the EPC area 212 also stores type information such as the attributes of the gaming chip (whether it is a non-cashable NN chip or a cashable cash chip) and its value (e.g., $10, $100, $1000), manufacturing information such as the manufacturing plant ID and manufacturing date to identify the manufacturing plant that produced the gaming chip 72, and the casino ID to identify the casino in which the gaming chip 72 will be used, and furthermore, activation information such as the availability status and its update date and time. In this embodiment, the availability status has two options: "enabled" to indicate that it is usable, and "invalid" to indicate that it is not usable. At the time the gaming chip 72 is manufactured at the chip manufacturing plant 200, the availability status is "invalid".

[0037] The availability status may also be represented by a flag. In this case, if the flag is set, it is interpreted as "enabled," and if the flag is not set, it is interpreted as "disabled" or "invalid." In addition, some or all of the type information, manufacturing information, casino ID, chip ID (product identification information), and activation information may be stored in a user area (not shown) of the RFID tag 721, rather than in the EPC area 212.

[0038] To manufacture a gaming chip 72 with an embedded RFID tag 721 at the chip manufacturing plant 200, the RFID tag 721 is first manufactured at the RFID tag manufacturing plant 100. At this time, tag identification information to identify the RFID tag 721 is written to the TID area 211 of the RFID tag 72. The RFID tag 72 manufactured at the RFID tag manufacturing plant 100 is provided to the chip manufacturing plant 200. At the chip manufacturing plant 200, the gaming chip 72 with the embedded RFID tag 721 is manufactured. Then, at the chip manufacturing plant 200, the chip ID and other information (see Figure 3) are written to the EPC area 212 of the RFID tag 721.

[0039] At the chip manufacturing plant 200, in parallel with the manufacturing of gaming chips 72, a data file 73 is prepared that records the combination of tag ID and chip ID (hereinafter, tag ID and chip ID are collectively referred to as "identification information"). The chip manufacturing plant 200 supplies the manufactured gaming chips 72 to the casino 300, and also provides the data file 73 to the casino 300 through a separate route. The data file 73 may be sent to the casino 300 by email from the manufacturer of the gaming chips 72, or it may be recorded on a portable storage medium and given to the casino 300 from the manufacturer of the gaming chips 72, or it may be stored in cloud storage by the manufacturer of the gaming chips 72 and downloaded by the casino 300. In this case, the data file 73 is provided from the chip manufacturing plant 200 to the casino 300 in an encrypted state using an appropriate method.

[0040] 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 includes a warehouse 31 for storing gaming supplies, including gaming chips 72, a procedure room 32 for activating the gaming chips 72, and a cashier 33 and bank 34 that lead to floor 302.

[0041] Cashier 33 has a window leading to floor 302. Cashier 33 gives gaming chips 72 to players 74 on floor 302 in exchange for cash, and gives cash to players 74 in exchange for the gaming chips 72 given to them by players 74 on floor 302. In other words, players 74 can purchase gaming chips 72 using cash through the window of cashier 33, and can exchange gaming chips 72 for cash.

[0042] Bank 34 performs the filling and crediting of gaming chips 72 with Pit 35. In the case of filling, if Pit 35 does not have enough gaming chips 72 to supply to Table 36, Bank 34 will supply gaming chips 72 to Pit 35. In the case of crediting, if Pit 35 has enough gaming chips 72, gaming chips 72 will be returned from Pit 35 to Bank 34. For this purpose, Bank 34 is provided with a passage or window for the deposit and withdrawal of gaming chips 72 to and from Floor 302.

[0043] Gaming chips 72 supplied from the chip manufacturing plant 200 to the casino 300 are first stored in a warehouse 31 in the backyard 301. In the processing room 32, an activation procedure is performed on the gaming chips 72 stored in the warehouse 31. After the activation procedure, the gaming chips 72 are brought to the floor 302 via the cashier 33 or bank 34. Alternatively, the activated gaming chips 72 may be temporarily stored in the warehouse 31 and then provided from the warehouse 31 to the cashier 33 or bank 34.

[0044] Player 74 can purchase gaming chips 72 at cashier 33 or at table 36. Player 74 bets gaming chips 72 in games played at table 36. If they win, they receive the gaming chips 72 back from dealer 75; if they lose, the bet gaming chips 72 are taken back by dealer 75. In this way, the amount of gaming chips 72 owned by dealer 75 at table 36 increases or decreases depending on the game. If there is a shortage of gaming chips 72 at table 36, gaming chips 72 are replenished from pit 35 to table 36. If there is an excess of gaming chips 72 at table 36, gaming chips 72 are moved from table 36 to pit 35. Player 74 can also enter and exit floor 302 via gate 38. In some casinos, players are allowed to enter and exit floor 302 while possessing gaming chips 72. Pit 35 oversees multiple tables 36.

[0045] In Casino 300, the warehouse 31, processing room 32, cashier 33, bank 34, each pit 35, each table 36, and gate 38 are all places that handle gaming chips 72 as casino supplies, and hereinafter these will be collectively referred to as casino supplies handling locations. However, the configuration of Casino 300 is not limited to the above example. In particular, the configuration of the backyard 301 is not limited to the above example; for example, the warehouse 31, processing room 32, and bank 34 may be combined and called the backyard, cage, bank, etc. Also, there may not be a pit 35 that oversees multiple tables 36, in which case gaming chips 72 will be transported between the backyard 301 and each table 36 for filling and crediting.

[0046] Figure 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 comprises a procedure room system 320 provided in a procedure room 32, a cashier system 330 provided in a cashier 33, a bank system 340 provided in a bank 34, a pit system 350 provided in each pit 35, and a table system 360 provided in each table 36.

[0047] These procedure room systems 320, cashier systems 330, banking systems 340, pit systems 350, and table systems 360 are connected to each other in a communicative manner. Communication between these systems may be wired or wireless. Thus, the casino system 30 is a network system comprising multiple subsystems (i.e., procedure room systems 320, cashier systems 330, banking systems 340, pit systems 350, and table systems 360) installed at each casino supplies handling location.

[0048] The procedure room system 320 includes an antenna 321 and an activation reader / writer 322 for reading RFID tags 721 embedded in gaming chips 72 brought into the procedure room 32, a central verification device 323 for verifying whether the gaming chips 72 at each casino supplies handling location are registered, an input device 324 for inputting data, a registration device 325 for activating (validating, registering) the gaming chips 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 into the cashier 33 or taken out of 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 tags 721 of gaming chips 72 brought into bank 34 or taken out of bank 34 to floor 302, and a bank verification device 343 for verifying the gaming chips 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 tags 721 of gaming chips 72 brought into the pit 350 from table 36 or bank 34, or taken out of the pit 350 to table 36 or bank 34, and a pit verification device 353 for verifying the gaming chips 72 using the information read by the pit reader / writer 352.

[0052] Table 36 is provided with a chip tray or chip float (hereinafter simply referred to as "chip tray") for accommodating the dealer's gaming chips 72. Table 36 is also provided with a betting area for each player position to bet gaming chips 72. The table system 360 includes 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 contained in the chip tray, and an antenna 361b and a betting chip reader / writer 362b located in the betting area of ​​Table 36 to read the RFID tags 721 of the gaming chips 72 placed (bet) in the betting area of ​​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 that of each subsystem described above.

[0054] (Activation) The following describes the activation procedure performed in the procedure room 32. The gaming chips 72 manufactured in the chip manufacturing plant 200 are brought to the backyard 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 retrieved, and the activation procedure for the gaming chips 72 is performed using the procedure room system 320.

[0055] The procedure room system 320 is provided with a data file 73 containing identification information from the chip manufacturing plant 200 (manufacturer of the gaming chip 72), and the procedure room system 320 receives this data file 73 via the input device 324. Since the data file 73 is encrypted, the input device 324 decrypts it. In addition to the identification information, the data file 73 may also contain some or all of the other information stored in the RFID tag 721 of each gaming chip 72 (see Figure 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 by the activation reader / writer 322 from the gaming chip 72 exists in the identification information stored in the data file 73 decoded by the input device 324, thereby determining whether the gaming chip 72 is genuine, officially manufactured at the chip manufacturing plant 200, or a counterfeit not officially manufactured at the chip manufacturing plant 200, or whether the RFID tag 721 is faulty. In other words, the registration device 325 determines the authenticity of the gaming chip 72 by checking 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 process, 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, that information is also recorded in the database 326 in association with the identification information. Furthermore, the registration device 325 records the activation information of each gaming chip 72 in the database 326.

[0058] Figure 5 shows the data structure of the information of each gaming chip recorded in the database of an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the database 326 records, for each gaming chip 72, the tag ID as tag identification information 261, the attributes and value as type information 262, the manufacturing plant ID and manufacturing date as manufacturing information 263, the chip ID and chip marking ID as chip identification information 264, the availability status and update date and time as activation information 265, and the history of combinations of location and read date and time as location history information 266.

[0059] When the registration device 325 registers a gaming chip 72 that has been successfully verified and determined to be genuine in the database 326, it records the usability status of its activation information 265 as "enabled" and records the date and time of that registration as the update date and time, thereby activating (enabling) the gaming chip 72 to be usable. This allows the database 326 to determine whether the usability status of each gaming chip 72 is "enabled" or "disabled," and also to know when the activation was performed (when it was registered).

[0060] In this embodiment, since activation information is also recorded in the EPC area 212 of the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72, the registration device 325 controls the writer function of the activation reader / writer 322 as part of the process of registering usable gaming chips 72. Through the antenna 321, it rewrites the usability status recorded on the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 that has been successfully verified and determined to be genuine from "invalid" to "valid". As a result, the systems 330-360 at each gaming equipment handling location can determine 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, gaming chips 72 are invalid until they are transported from the chip manufacturing plant 200 to the casino 300 and activated in the processing room system 320. Therefore, even if gaming chips 72 are stolen during transport, they cannot be used on floor 302 of casino 300. The casino only needs to strictly manage the gaming chips 72 after they have been activated through the activation procedure, which allows for a higher level of security and lower security costs compared to a situation where strict management is required from the manufacturing stage of the gaming chips 72. Furthermore, even after registering the gaming chips 72 in the back room, by keeping their availability status as "invalid" until they are actually used, security can be ensured even if gaming chips 72 stored in the back room are stolen, as such chips cannot be used.

[0062] (Verification at casino supply locations) At the casino supply handling locations—cashier 33, bank 34, pit 35, and table 36—the identification information of the gaming chips 72 handled there is verified and their usability status is checked using the cashier system 330, bank system 340, pit system 350, and table system 360, respectively. The following describes each casino supply handling location.

[0063] In 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 availability status. First, if the availability status read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 is "invalid", the cashier verification device 333 outputs an error signal indicating this. If an 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 confirms whether the availability status associated with that identification information is valid.

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

[0066] Furthermore, if the cashier verification device 333 reads the usability status from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 as valid, but the database 326 records that the usability status of the gaming chip 72 is invalid, the cashier verification device 333 will determine that the gaming chip 72 is counterfeit and control 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 33 may rewrite the usability status to "unknown".

[0067] Furthermore, even if the database 326 records the availability status as "enabled," if the cashier verification device 333 reads the availability status from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 as "invalid," the device may determine that the availability status stored in the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 has been overwritten for some reason, and may rewrite the availability status stored in the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 to "enabled." Alternatively, the device may rewrite the availability status of the gaming chip 72 to "invalid" or "unknown" and discontinue handling it.

[0068] Gaming chips 72 brought directly from the processing room 32 or via the warehouse 31 to the cashier 33 are unlikely to be counterfeit or fraudulent because they have already been activated in the processing room 32. However, there is a possibility that counterfeit or fraudulent gaming chips 72 may exist among those brought in by users from the floor 302 for cashing. Therefore, the cashier verification device 333 may, in particular, verify the identification information and check the usability status of the gaming chips 72 that are to be cashed, 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 verification and usability status may also be performed at the same time, and the results may be presented to the player 74 along with the value information.

[0069] The bank system 340 operates in essentially the same way as the cashier system 330. The gaming chips 72 to be filled are transported from bank 34 to pit 35 on floor 302. Since these gaming chips 72 are activated in the processing room 32, it is unlikely that counterfeit or fraudulent gaming chips 72 are mixed in. However, the gaming chips 72 brought from floor 302 to bank 34 during crediting include those that have been in the hands of players 74 and then recovered by dealers, so there is a possibility that counterfeit or fraudulent gaming chips 72 may be mixed in. Therefore, the bank system 340 may refer to the database 326 to verify the identification information and check the usability status of gaming chips 72, especially those brought in from floor 302.

[0070] The pit system 350 operates in essentially the same way as the cashier system 330. Gaming chips 72 are filled from bank 34 and any excess chips 72 from table 36 are brought into pit 35. The pit system 350 verifies the gaming chips 72 brought into pit 35 in this manner. In addition, any excess gaming chips 72 in pit 35 are moved to bank 34 (as credits), or if there is a shortage of gaming chips 72 at table 36, gaming chips 72 are replenished from pit 35 to table 36. The pit system 350 also verifies the gaming chips 72 that leave pit 35 in this manner.

[0071] The operation of the table system 360 is as follows: In table 36, the dealer 75 redeems the winning player 74 with a gaming chip 72 from the chip tray. An antenna 361a is provided on the chip tray, and a chip tray reader / writer 362a reads identification information and availability status from the RFID tags 721 of the gaming chips 72 housed in the chip tray. The identification information read by the chip tray reader / writer 362a is verified by the table verification device 363 and stored in the table storage device 364. If multiple gaming chips 72 are housed in the chip tray, the table storage device 364 stores multiple pieces of identification information corresponding to the multiple gaming chips 72.

[0072] The table matching device 363 first compares the most recent 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 the two match.

[0073] If the table matching device 363 finds that the identification information read by the chip tray reader / writer 362a contains identification information that is not present in the latest identification information stored in the table storage device 364, it will perform a check on such gaming chip 72 in the same manner as the cashier matching device 333 described above to see if the identification information is stored in the database 326 and to confirm whether the availability status corresponding to the identification information in the database is "enabled".

[0074] Specifically, the table matching 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 storage device 364. If a new chip ID that was not read in the previous reading is read, the device 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] Figure 6 is a flowchart of the operation of the table system in an embodiment of the present invention. The antenna 361a and the chip tray reader / writer 362a read the chip IDs from the RFID tags 721 of all gaming chips 72 in the chip tray (step S61). The table matching device 363 compares these read sets of chip IDs with the sets of chip IDs stored in the table storage device 364 as the most recent chip IDs in the past, and determines whether there are any new chip IDs among the read chip IDs that are 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 and read the tag ID from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 having the new chip ID, and transmit this combination of chip ID and tag ID to the procedure room system 320 for comparison with 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] Furthermore, if no new chip IDs are read, that is, if no new gaming chips 72 have been added to the chip tray since the last read, the table matching device 363 compares the set of chip IDs read with the set of the most recent chip IDs stored in the table storage device 364 to determine whether or not there are any chip IDs that were read in the previous read but were not read in the current read (step S65).

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

[0079] Thus, in this embodiment, the chip tray of table 36 normally reads the chip ID stored in the EPC area 212 at predetermined time intervals to monitor its changes. If there is a change in the chip ID, especially if a new chip ID is read, the gaming chip 72 with the new chip ID is compared with the database 326 and the availability status of the database 326 is checked. This reduces the processing load and shortens the processing time required per cycle (improves processing speed).

[0080] Furthermore, the table matching device 363 may perform a match with the database 326 and check the availability status of the database 326 at predetermined timings and / or under predetermined conditions, regardless of whether or not a new chip ID has been read.

[0081] When a player 74 places a bet on a game, they place the gaming chip 72 to bet in a designated betting area on the game table. The antenna 361b is positioned 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 bet gaming chip 72. The identification information read by the betting chip reader / writer 362b is verified by the table verification device 363 and stored in the table storage device 364. If multiple gaming chips 72 are bet in the betting area, the table storage device 364 stores multiple pieces of identification information corresponding to the multiple gaming chips 72.

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

[0083] The table matching device 363 also checks the usability status and verifies the identification information read from the RFID tag 721 by the bet chip reader / writer 362b in the same way as the gaming chip 72 housed in the chip tray. Specifically, the table matching device 363 does not always verify the identification information read by the bet chip reader / writer 362b against the database 326. Instead, when new identification information that is not present in the most recent identification information stored in the table storage device 364 as having been read by the bet chip reader / writer 362b is read by the antenna 361b and the bet chip reader / writer 362b, the central matching device 323 verifies the identification information with the identification information stored in the database 326 and checks the usability status stored in the database 326.

[0084] In this embodiment, the registration device 325 is assumed to register the availability status as "enabled" when a new gaming chip 72 is newly registered. However, it is not limited to this, and if the chip is stored in the back room for a relatively long time between registration and being brought out to the casino floor 302, the availability status may be initially registered as "invalid," and then changed to "enabled" before being brought out to the casino floor 302 or when it is moved to the cashier 33.

[0085] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the registration device 325 performed both the first validation and the change of the usability status to "enabled" (activation). However, 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 at the chip manufacturing plant 200.

[0086] In this embodiment, a record is created in the database 326 for gaming chips 72 that are determined to be genuine by first validation, and the usability status of the gaming chips 72 recorded in the database 326 is set to "enabled" for usable gaming chips 72. Alternatively, a database (usable database) may be constructed containing only usable gaming chips 72. In this case, gaming chips 72 that have a record in the usable database are determined to be usable. In addition to the usable database that records such usable gaming chips 72, a genuine database of gaming chips 72 that are determined to be genuine by first validation may also be prepared. In this case, for gaming chips read at each casino supplies handling station, a comparison is made with the usable database, and for gaming chips 72 that do not have a record in the usable database, the genuine database may be referenced to determine whether or not the gaming chip 72 was provided by the chip manufacturing plant 200.

[0087] (Invalidate registration) As described above, the registration device 325 registers the gaming chip 72 in the database 326 by storing information including the identification information of the new gaming chip 72 obtained from the factory in the database 326. On the other hand, the registration device 325 deactivates the usability status that was previously activated for faulty gaming chips 72 and old gaming chips 72.

[0088] At each casino supplies handling station, gaming chips 72 whose information could not be read from the RFID tag 721 (i.e., gaming chips 72 with a damaged RFID tag 721) are excluded from the gaming chips 72 available for immediate use. Similarly, gaming chips 72 whose identification information read from the RFID tag 721 failed to match are also excluded from the gaming chips 72 available for immediate use. Furthermore, gaming chips 72 whose usability status was not valid are also excluded. These problematic gaming chips 72 are deactivated or invalidated by the registration device 325. Additionally, gaming chips 72 that have not encountered any problems but have passed a predetermined period (e.g., one year) since their initial activation are also deactivated in order to dispose of them.

[0089] In the deactivation process, the registration device 325 updates the availability status of the gaming chip 72 recorded in the database 326 to "deactivated" and records the date and time of the update. Alternatively, the registration device 325 may delete the information of the gaming chip 72 to be deactivated from the database 326. If the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 is faulty, the identification information to be deactivated cannot be read from such a gaming chip 72. In such cases, the registration device 325 deactivates such a gaming chip 72 as follows.

[0090] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a gaming chip with the decal removed according to an embodiment of the present invention. The gaming chip 72 carries information for identifying the gaming chip 72 in a manner other than that of the RFID tag 721. The gaming chip 72 has a circular recess in the center, and the decal 723 is attached to the bottom surface 722 of the recess. A number representing the value of the gaming chip 72 is inscribed on this decal 723. When this decal 723 is removed, the chip inscription ID is inscribed on its bottom surface (dical attachment surface) 722 as identification information unique to the gaming chip 72. The chip inscription ID may be inscribed on the bottom surface 722 of the recess of the gaming chip 72 by laser engraving, or it may be printed on the decal attachment surface 722 with some kind of ink. The chip inscription ID may also be printed on the surface of the decal 723. In this case, the chip ID may be printed with visible ink, or it may be printed on the surface of the Dical 723 using invisible ink that is not visible under normal conditions, such as UV-emitting ink that emits light when exposed to UV light, or infrared-absorbing ink that absorbs infrared light.

[0091] The registration device 325 identifies the identification information that should be invalidated for gaming chips 72 whose identification information cannot be read from the RFID tag 721, using the chip marking ID to identify the gaming chip 72, and invalidates the registration. For gaming chips 72 whose identification information cannot be read because the RFID tag 721 has malfunctioned, to invalidate it, the operator peels off the decal 723, visually checks the chip marking 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 and identifies the identification information corresponding to the input chip marking ID (see Figure 5). In this way, even for gaming chips 72 whose RFID tag 721 has malfunctioned, the database 326 can identify the gaming chip 72 and perform the invalidation procedure.

[0092] As described above, the gaming chips 72 given to player 74 circulate among multiple players 74 and tables 36 through bets by player 74 and payouts by dealer 75, and are finally returned to bank 34 via pit 35. At this time, as described above, any gaming chips 72 that have been excluded at each casino supplies handling location are invalidated by the registration device 325.

[0093] Furthermore, gaming chips 72 that are not excluded as problematic and are collected in bank 34 undergo identification information verification and usability status checks in the bank system 34, and it is also determined whether a predetermined period has elapsed since the initial activation. If a gaming chip 72 is detected that failed to verify its identification information, had an usability status that was not "valid", or had exceeded a predetermined period since the initial activation, a procedure for deactivating those gaming chips 72 is performed.

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

[0095] When a gaming chip 72 is read at each casino supplies handling location, the central verification device 323 may check the history of the gaming chip 72's location based on the information in the database 326. If the location history is inappropriate in light of predetermined judgment criteria, the central verification device 323 may invalidate the usability status of the gaming chip 72, deeming it a suspicious gaming chip 72. For example, if the location history shows that the gaming chip 72 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 judged to be suspicious (potentially related to money laundering). Alternatively, the database 326 may create a list of suspicious gaming chips 72 in advance (a blacklist), 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 trace) As described above, the information for each gaming chip 72 in the database 326 includes location history information 266. The central referral device 323 updates the location history information 266 corresponding to the identification information each time it receives an inquiry for identification information from each casino supplies handling location. Specifically, when the central referral device 323 receives an inquiry for identification information from each casino supplies handling location, it records the information identifying the casino supplies handling 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 location history entries have been recorded, the oldest information is overwritten.

[0097] Location information, as described above, is information that identifies the location of each casino supply handling facility. For example, if cashier 33 has multiple counters, the counter ID that identifies the specific counter can be used as location information. Similarly, since there are multiple pits 35 and tables 36, the pit ID and table ID that identify which pit 35 and which table are being referred to can be used as location information.

[0098] Furthermore, when the gaming chip 2 is passed to player 74, the player ID of player 74 is recorded as location information. For example, if an antenna 361b is provided for each player position on table 36, the player ID for each player position can be identified by the member card held by player 74, or by facial recognition of the image of the player playing at table 36.

[0099] Furthermore, by detecting which player position the gaming chip 72 is dispensed to, it is possible to determine which player ID the gaming chip 72 was dispensed to. Also, when player 74 purchases a gaming chip 72 at the cashier 33, the player ID of player 74 is identified and recorded as location information.

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

[0101] (Variation 1) Figure 8 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a procedure room system according to Modification 1 of the embodiment of the present invention. The procedure room system 320' of this Modification 1 simultaneously activates multiple gaming chips 72. The multiple gaming chips 72 are activated while housed in a chip case 71. The chip case 71 is marked with a barcode 722 as case identification information to identify the chip case 71.

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

[0103] Antenna 321 and activation reader 322 simultaneously read the RFID tags 721 of multiple gaming chips 72 housed in chip case 720. The registration device 325 receives the multiple identification information read from the RFID tags 721 of the multiple gaming chips 72 by antenna 321 and activation reader 322, the information in the data file 73' decoded by input device 324, and the code information of the barcode 722 of the chip case 71 read by barcode reader 327. First, the registration device 325 determines whether the code information of the chip case 71 provided by the manufacturer of the gaming chips 72 matches the code information of the chip case 71 read by 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 the identification information of the gaming chips 72 corresponding to the code information of the barcode 722 from the data file 73', that is, the multiple gaming chips 72 involved in the activation. The registration device 325 determines the authenticity of the gaming chips 72 by comparing the identification information of the identified gaming chips 72 with the identification information read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chips 72 involved in the activation by the activation reader / writer 322. If the registration device 325 has successfully compared all the gaming chips 72 involved in the activation, it sets the usability status of those gaming chips 72 to "enabled" and registers those gaming chips 72 by storing their information in the database 326.

[0105] With this configuration, the gaming chips 72 can be housed and managed in the chip case 720 from manufacturing to activation, and it is possible to ensure that there are no excess or deficiency of gaming chips 72 in each chip case 720.

[0106] (Modification 2) Figure 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a procedure room system in a modified example 2 of the present invention. The procedure room system 320'' of this modified example 2 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 sides of multiple gaming chips 72 whose RFID tags 721 are read by an antenna 321, and an image recognition device 3292 that performs image recognition on the images generated by the camera 329.

[0107] Multiple gaming chips 72 are photographed by camera 329 while stacked. Camera 3291 generates image data from the photograph. Image recognition device 3292 performs image recognition on the image data to determine the type of multiple gaming chips 72 based on the patterns that appear on their sides. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the side of each gaming chip 72 has a center line as a pattern, and the color of the center line represents the type of gaming chip 72. Therefore, image recognition device 3292 recognizes the center line in the image and determines the type of gaming chip 3292 in the image based on its color.

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

[0109] This configuration allows for checking whether the type of gaming chip 72 involved in activation matches the type stored in the RFID tag 721. It also allows for checking whether the number of gaming chips 72 visible externally matches the number of RFID tags 721 that are read.

[0110] In this modified example 2, the type of gaming chip 72 was identified from its appearance and it was determined whether it matched the type stored in the RFID tag 721. However, instead of determining the type using the image and the RFID tag 721, the gaming chip 72 could also be inspected by having the image recognition device 3292 recognize the number based on the image and then determining whether that number matches the number of RFID tags 721 read by the activation reader 322. Furthermore, in this modified example 2, multiple gaming chips 72 do not need to be inspected simultaneously; they may be inspected one by one.

[0111] In the above modified example 1, for multiple gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720, the identification information and other information of the gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720 were obtained by reading the RFID tag 721, while the identification information and other information of the gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720 were obtained by reading the barcode 722 with the barcode reader 327 and referring to the data file 73', and the gaming chips 72 were inspected by comparing the obtained information. In the above modified example 2, for multiple gaming chips 72, the type of gaming chip 72 was determined by reading the RFID tag 721, while the type of gaming chip 72 housed in the chip case 720 was determined by taking a picture of the side of the multiple gaming chips 72 with the camera 329 and performing image recognition, and the gaming chips 72 were inspected by comparing the obtained information.

[0112] As another example, the gaming chips 72 may be inspected by the number of gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720, without using a barcode reader 327 or camera 329. That is, the number of gaming chips 72 housed in the chip case 720 may be known by using a known case as the chip case 720, and the gaming chips 72 may be inspected by confirming whether the number of RFID tags 721 read by the antenna 321 and activation reader 322 matches this known number.

[0113] Alternatively, instead of the camera 3291 and image recognition device 3292, the inspection may be performed based on information entered by the activation procedure operator from the operating device 328. The operator may, for example, visually inspect 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 chips 72 by determining whether the type information of the gaming chips 72 entered by the operator into the operating 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 operating device 328 matches the type information recorded in the data file 73 provided by the casino equipment manufacturer.

[0115] In the procedure room system 320'' and its modified form described in Modification 2 above, the number of gaming chips 72 identified using the RFID tag 721 was compared with the number of gaming chips 72 identified by image recognition, the known number based on the chip case 720, or the number entered by the operator for inspection. This inspection allows the RFID tag 721 to detect a faulty gaming chip 72 (hereinafter referred to as "faulty chip"). In other words, the procedure room system 320'' can be used as an inspection device for detecting faulty chips.

[0116] This detection of faulty chips may be performed in the procedure room 32 of the backyard 301 on gaming chips 72 that are activated, as well as on gaming chips 72 that are filled into any pit 35 on the floor 302, and on gaming chips 72 that have been used on the floor 302 and returned to the backyard 301 by credit. In addition, an inspection device similar to this procedure room system 320'' may be installed in the cashier 33 to inspect for faulty chips on gaming chips 72 that are sold from the cashier 33 to players, and on gaming chips 72 that have been exchanged for cash at the cashier 33.

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

[0118] The registration device 325 may, in this manner, disable any gaming chip 72 that has been detected as broken during the inspection. If the above inspection is performed during a fill or credit transaction, the fill or credit transaction will be processed after confirming that the gaming chip 72 involved in the fill or credit transaction is not broken. Similarly, if the above inspection is performed during a cash redemption transaction, the cash redemption will be processed after confirming that the gaming chip 72 involved in the cash redemption transaction is not broken.

[0119] Furthermore, in the Phil and Credit processes, a faulty chip may be detected by inspecting the gaming chip 72 as it moves between the pit 35 and the backyard 301. In this case, the carrier (trolley) used to transport the gaming chip 72 may be equipped with an inspection device similar to that of the procedure room system 320''.

[0120] In the above embodiments and modifications 1 and 2, a pit 35 is provided on the floor 302 to manage multiple tables 36. For fills, gaming chips 72 are supplied from bank 34 in the backyard 301 to the tables 36 via the pit 35, and for credits, gaming chips 72 are transported from the tables 36 to bank 34 in the backyard 301 via the pit 35. However, a pit 35 is not required. If a pit 35 is not provided, fills and credits are performed directly between bank 34 and each table 36. In this case, the checks performed in the pit 35 are performed at the tables 36.

[0121] (Variation 3) In the above embodiment, the availability status was stored as activation information in the database 326 and in the RFID tag 721 embedded in the gaming chip 72. However, the activation information may be omitted from the RFID tag 721. Alternatively, the activation information may not be recorded in the database 326 either. Instead, a table may be created in the database 326 that contains only activated and valid gaming chips 72. The central matching device 323 can then determine whether a gaming chip 72 is an activated and valid gaming chip 72 by checking whether the table contains identification information corresponding to the identification information read from the RFID tag 721 of the gaming chip 72 to be matched.

[0122] (Modification 4) In the examples shown in Figures 3 and 5 of the above embodiment, the location history information was 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 conventional gaming currency based on existing technology, it was possible to determine the authenticity of the gaming currency itself by reading the RFID and obtaining the information written to the memory area. However, it was not possible to record and determine information obtained during use in a casino, particularly information about the owner of the gaming currency. Therefore, even if a gaming currency is genuine, if it has an abnormal usage history, such as being used or exchanged by an owner other than the original owner, its existence could not be detected by reading the RFID, and it was not possible to prevent such gaming currency with an unusual usage history from being used in a casino.

[0124] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a system that enables a dealer to track and record which player has acquired ownership of a game currency when the dealer pays the game currency to a player and ownership of the game currency is transferred from the casino to the player, in order to enhance security by constantly tracking and managing the ownership information of each game currency.

[0125] (Example 1) The overall overview of the table game management system in the first example of Modification 4 will be explained using Figure 10. Figure 10 is a diagram showing the overall overview of the system. The game table 1004 for the baccarat game has betting areas for player 1441, banker 1442, tie 1443, player pair 1444, and banker pair 1445 for each player position 1131 to 1135. In addition, a chip placement area 1025 is provided for each player position, and a chip reader 1002 is provided to read the RFID of the game currency 1001 placed in the chip placement area.

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

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

[0128] Initially, players participating in the game place their game currency 1001 in the betting area within the chip placement area. The chip reader 1002 reads the RFID of the placed game currency 1001, and the control device 1003 obtains the ID information of the RFID and the information about the owner of the game currency 1001 that is associated with it in the database.

[0129] Based on the game's outcome, if the casino wins, the dealer collects the game currency 1001 wagered by the losing player and places it in the chip tray 1009. The RFID tags of the game currency 1001 in the chip tray 1009 are read by the chip reader 1002, and the control device 1003 records in the database that the casino is the owner of the game currency 1001 collected by the casino.

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

[0131] When disbursing, the payment chips may be placed in the aforementioned pay area 1026, or in any chip placement area other than the pay area.

[0132] Here, we will explain how to record the owner information of the payment chips using Figure 11. Figure 11 shows how to record information about the owner of the game currency 1001 when paying chips to the winning player.

[0133] If multiple players place betting chips within the same player position, resulting in two or more stacks, the chip reader 1002 reads all the game currency 1001 placed in the chip placement area 1025 at once. Therefore, during the game, it obtains the ID 1010 of the bet game currency without knowing which game currency 1001 belongs to which player. After the game's outcome is determined, when paying the winning player, the dealer pays out from the chip tray 1009 for each player (each stack). The game 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 chips placed in the chip placement area 1025.

[0134] The dispensed game currency 1001 is received by the winning player along with the initially wagered game currency 1001. At this time, since the wagering chips and payment chips move outside the chip placement area 1025, the IDs of the wagering chips and payment chips are removed from the reading results by the chip reader 1002. As a result, the control device 1003 determines which player the dispensed payment chips went to by associating them with information about the owner of the wagering chips.

[0135] The control device 1003 stores information about the owner of the identified payment chip in a database, associating it with the ID of the game currency.

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

[0137] Furthermore, the actual owner can be identified using facial recognition technology or IDs such as membership cards.

[0138] Furthermore, while the above explanation describes managing the ID of each game currency in a database, it is also acceptable to have a configuration where the owner information is stored in the game currency 1001 itself.

[0139] Furthermore, in addition to having one pay area 1026 for each player position, the pay area may be configured independently of each player position, and the chip reader 1002 may also read the chips independently.

[0140] Furthermore, the configuration may allow for the selection of 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 configured to be linked to an RFID reader that reads chips in the chip tray 1009 using RFID, a camera that reads bet chips, a shoe or other device that determines the outcome of the game, and to allow for the mutual use of information.

[0142] (Second example) First, we will describe the substitute currency used in the management system for substitute currency in the second example of Modification 4. Figure 12 shows the substitute currency 1 used in the system. In this figure, the substitute currency 1 has an RFID tag 2 embedded in it that can store various information. The RFID tag 2 has a data-rewritable area 21 and a data-rewritable area 22.

[0143] Area 21, where data cannot be rewritten, stores fixed information 3, which is information that will not be changed, will not be changed, or should not be changed while the substitute currency 1 for gaming is in use. Specifically, fixed information 3 stores production information, product information, casino information, monetary value information, serial number, etc., for the substitute currency 1 for gaming. Production information includes the date and time the substitute currency for gaming was manufactured and the manufacturing machine, etc. Product information includes, for example, information indicating that it 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).

[0144] The area 21 where data cannot be rewritten may be an area that is functionally unwriteable according to the specifications of the RFID tag, or it may be an area that has been locked to prevent further data writing after the necessary information has been written to the writable area.

[0145] The data rewritable area 22 stores information that changes while the game currency 1 is being used, as variable information 4. For example, as shown in Figure 12, location information 220 is stored as variable information 4, including date and time information 221, location and event information 222, owner information 223, etc.

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

[0147] Figure 13 shows an example of a method for recording data for the fluctuation information 4 of the substitute currency 1 used for games. As shown in Figure 13, location information 220, consisting of date and time, time information 221, place, event information 222, and owner information 223, is treated as a single block, and the information in this block is linked in a chain-like manner so that the history of the location information 220 of the substitute currency 1 used for games can be grasped.

[0148] Figure 13 shows an example of the fluctuation information 4 stored in the substitute currency 1 used for gambling, and the movement of the substitute currency 1 can be understood as follows: At 4:02 PM on January 28, 2019, Mr. A exchanges cash for substitute currency 1 at cage 5. At 4:15 PM on the same day, Mr. A places a bet at table No. 325 using substitute currency 1. At 4:43 PM on the same day, Mr. B receives substitute currency 1 as a winnings from his bet at table No. 325. At 5:01 PM on the same day, Mr. B leaves the casino with the substitute currency 1.

[0149] The fluctuation information 4 may be configured to store only the latest information, as shown in Figure 13, or it may store all the location information that has been written to it. Alternatively, it may store some of the location information from among several. If some is selected to store, it may store information on multiple locations, including at least the latest location information 220 from all the location information 220. With the above configuration, the history of use or movement of a game substitute currency 1 can be determined from the fluctuation information 4 of that game substitute currency 1. In other words, the traceability information of the game substitute currency 1 is written to the game substitute currency 1 itself and is configured to be trackable.

[0150] Next, we will explain the management system for the substitute currency 1 used in this example. Figure 14 shows an overview of the system.

[0151] First, at the factory 6, the substitute currency for games 1 has variable information 4, including information on completion of manufacturing or shipment from the factory, written as location information 220 to the rewritable area 22 of the RFID tag 2 by the writing device 14.

[0152] The game currency 1 shipped from factory 6 is processed in the casino's backyard 7. In backyard 7, a reader 13 reads the variable information 4 stored in the rewritable area 22 of the game currency 1. Based on the reading result, the management control device 15 determines whether location information 220 indicating that it was written at factory 6 has been written as the latest variable information 4. If there is no record of writing at factory 6, an error signal is generated, indicating that the game currency is suspected of being fraudulent. This allows the casino to refuse to accept the game currency or to request an investigation from the factory. If there is no problem with the write record, the write device 14 writes the location information 220 indicating the backyard to the rewritable area 22 of the RFID tag 2. When writing, location information indicating the backyard may be added in addition to location information indicating the factory, or location information indicating the factory may be deleted and location information indicating the backyard may be added. Furthermore, the reading and writing of substitute currency for gaming in the aforementioned backyard 7 can be performed in conjunction with the normal validation and activation of the substitute currency for gaming.

[0153] The game currency 1, which has completed its acceptance inspection in backyard 7, is transported to the casino's warehouse 8 or cage 9. In warehouse 8 or cage 9, the reader 13 reads the variable information 4 stored in the rewritable area 22 of the game currency 1. Based on the reading result, the management control device 15 determines whether the location information 220, indicating that it was written in backyard 7, has been written as the latest variable information 4, as the information that should be written. It may also check whether information indicating factory 6 has been written in the history of variable information 4. The management control device 15 determines whether there are any abnormalities in the history of location information, similar to the inspection in backyard 7 described above. If there are no problems with the reading result, the write device 14 writes the location information 22 indicating warehouse 8 or cage 9 to the rewritable area 22.

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

[0155] Players place bets using the exchanged game currency 1 by placing it in the betting area 11 at the game table. The reader 13 reads location information 220 from the RFID tag 2 of the bet game currency 1, consisting of date and time information 221, location and event information 222, and owner information 223, and the management control device 15 determines whether there is an abnormality. For example, an abnormality can be determined if a certain period of time has passed since the last written information, such as the date and time of use at the game table or the exchange information at the cage, or if the owner information 223 stored in the game currency 1 differs from the owner information 223 identified by facial recognition or ID card.

[0156] If there are no problems with the reading result, the writing device 14 writes location information 220 to the rewritable area 22 of the bet substitute currency 1. The location 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 change information 4, which includes the player position number where the substitute currency 1 is placed and the player's information. The player's information may be identified by an ID card or facial recognition. Normally, multiple substitute currency 1 are stacked and placed in the betting area 11, so the data is written to them all at once while they are stacked.

[0157] When a player takes the substitute currency 1 used for gaming from the casino floor, they go through the exit process at gate 10. Upon exit, the reader 14 reads location information 220, and the management control device 15 determines whether there are any abnormalities in the change information 4. At gate 10, the write device 14 also writes the change information 4, which includes the location indicating the exit, event information 222, and owner information 223.

[0158] When a player enters the casino floor and brings in a substitute currency 1 that they previously took out, the reader 13 reads information about its location, and the management control device determines whether there are any abnormalities in the fluctuation information 4. For example, if the owner of the substitute currency 1 that was taken out of the casino is different from the owner at the time of entry, it can be determined that the substitute currency was exchanged outside the casino.

[0159] The aforementioned 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 substitute currency 1 for the game exchanges it at the cage 9 or exits through the gate 10, the control device 15 can refuse the exchange or perform individual checks upon exit based on the alarm it outputs. In addition, if the determination result is abnormal, the control device 15 may issue a warning to the dealer at each game table to interrupt the game, or issue a warning to the pit, allowing the pit manager to decide whether to interrupt or continue the game, or to take action such as exchanging the substitute currency 1. Alternatively, the control device 15 may be connected to the casino's overall control device 18 and configured to issue a warning to the overall control device 18.

[0160] Similarly, when an exchange is performed in the cage, the management control device 15 may read the fluctuation information 4 from the reader device 13 and determine if there is an abnormality. Specifically, an abnormality may be determined if a certain period of time has passed since the last written information regarding use at the game table or exchange in the cage, or if a person other than the owner information 223 stored in the substitute currency 1 for gameplay is attempting to exchange it. If an abnormality is determined, the management control device 15 may output a warning and refuse to exchange the substitute currency 1 for gameplay that has been determined to be abnormal.

[0161] Furthermore, although the above description assumes a configuration in which reading is performed by the reader 13, determination is made by the management control device, and then writing is performed by the write device 14, a configuration in which reading and writing are performed simultaneously is also possible.

[0162] The following provides details on the application of this example.

[0163] At factory 6, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to upon completion of production or shipment. Production information and product information are written as fixed information 3, and if necessary, they are locked to prevent rewriting, while variable information 4 is also written.

[0164] In backyard 6, when receiving the game currency 1 shipped from the factory and activating it as usable game currency 1, the RFID tag 2 is read and / or written to.

[0165] In warehouse 8, when moving the game substitute currency 1 from warehouse 8 to cage 9, or when moving the game substitute currency 1 from cage 9 to warehouse 8, the RFID tag 2 is read and / or written to. Alternatively, the RFID tag 2 may be read and / or written to the game substitute currency 1 stored in warehouse 8 at regular intervals or at predetermined timings.

[0166] In cage 9, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to when moving items from or to warehouse 8, and when exchanging customer cash for game currency 1. When an exchange takes place in cage 9, the location indicating the exchange, event information 222, and the player who made the exchange are written as owner information 223, and change information 4 is written to them. Owner information 223 can be obtained from the player's casino ID card, facial recognition system, credit card, etc.

[0167] At Gate 10, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to when players enter and exit. When a player leaves the casino, all gaming currency 1 taken out of the casino are registered by writing the location indicating the take-out, event information 222, and owner information 223 indicating the player taking the take-out as variable information 4. Similarly, when entering, the location indicating the bring-in, event information 222, and owner information 223 indicating the player bringing the bring-in are written as variable information 4 and registered for the gaming currency 1 brought into the casino.

[0168] In the betting area 11, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to the substitute currency 1 used for betting that players place in the betting area 11 to participate in betting. In addition, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to the substitute currency 1 used by the dealer in the betting area 11 as reimbursement to players.

[0169] The chip tray 12 reads and / or writes to the game substitute currency 1 collected in the chip tray and the game substitute currency 1 stored in the tray.

[0170] The game table further includes a payment area, which includes area 2007 and pay area 1026, and the dealer may read and / or write to the game substitute currency 1 that the dealer has placed in the betting area 11 as a reimbursement to the player using RFID tags 2.

[0171] The management control device 15 has a function to determine whether or not 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 or not there is an abnormality, it can determine 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 write, or the location information that should have been written has not been written.

[0172] The event that the account has not been used for a specified period of time since the last post is: 1) The most recent location information indicates cage 9, and the following information has been written more than the specified time: 2) The most recent location information indicates entry at Gate 10, and the following information has not been written for more than the specified time: 3) The most recent location information indicates exit at Gate 10, and the following information has been written more than the specified time: It is one of the following situations.

[0173] The event in which the location information that should be written is not written is, 4) When entering the game hall, the latest location information of the area 22 where the data of the substitute currency 1 for gameplay can be rewritten does not contain information indicating exit at gate 10. 5) When used in cage 9, information indicating backyard 7 is not written. 6) When leaving the gaming area, if information indicating cage 9 or backyard 7 is not written, It is one of the following situations.

[0174] The control device 15 determines whether an event is abnormal or not based on the owner information 223 obtained from the reading device 13, 1) A person other than the last owner stored in the data-rewritable area 22 exchanges or cashes the game currency 1 within the game hall, or leaves the game hall. 2) A person other than the owner at the time of departure, whose data is stored in area 22 where data can be rewritten, brings the substitute currency for the game into the game hall. It is possible to determine one of the following situations.

[0175] The control device 15 determines whether an event is abnormal or not based on information indicating the location of the bet area 11, the location of the chip tray 12, or the payment area, obtained from the reader device 13. 1) A person other than the last owner stored in the data rewritable area 22 uses the game substitute currency 1 at the game table. 2) A substitute game currency 1, which has no record of use at the game table, is exchanged for cash at cage 9 by a person different from the person who purchased the substitute game currency 1 at cage 9. 3) A substitute game currency 1 that does not have information indicating cage 9 or backyard 7 is used within the game hall. 4) The most recent location information is information indicating the betting area 11 or the payment area, and after a specified period of time has elapsed, it will be used for cashing out or playing at the game table in cage 9. Determine one of the situations described in 1) through 4) above.

[0176] Figure 17 shows a database for another example of Modification 4. The management system further includes a database 17 that records similar fixed information 3 and variable information 4 in addition to the substitute currency 1 used for games. Based on the reading results of the reader 13, the management control device 15 records information in the database 17 and can also compare the fixed information 3 and variable information 4 stored in the substitute currency 1 with the information in the database to determine any abnormalities.

[0177] In RFID tag 2 in this example, the functionally unwriteable area of ​​the non-rewritable data area 21 may be the TID. After writing the necessary information to the non-rewritable data area 21, the area that is locked to prevent further data writing may be the EPC or user area. The rewritable data area 22 may be the EPC or user area.

[0178] The reading device 13 and writing device 14 may take different forms depending on the location. For example, in factory 6 they are on a table as shown in Figure 15, in gate 10 they are box-shaped, and in betting area 11 and chip tray 12 the betting area 11 and chip tray 12 themselves may have the functions of the reading device 13 and writing device 14. Also, the substitute currency 1 for games may be stacked as is, or reading and writing may be performed while they are contained in a chip case or the like. Furthermore, the reading device 13 and writing device 14 may be integrated into one unit.

[0179] In the above modification 4, we described a case where the substitute currency for gaming 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 conceivable that the substitute currency for gaming has two RFID tags, with one RFID tag storing fixed information and locked to prevent data from being written, and the other RFID tag being made rewritable to record variable information.

[0180] However, in this case, when multiple game currency units are read at once, as shown in Figure 16A, the fixed information group 3 and the variable information group 4 are read separately. This makes it impossible to determine the combination of fixed and variable information for a specific game currency unit, and thus it becomes impossible to identify game currency units with abnormal variable information.

[0181] In contrast, when using a single RFID tag, as shown in Figure 16B, the reader can understand the correspondence between the fixed and variable information read by the reader even when reading multiple substitute currency items for gaming at once. Therefore, it is considered better to implement this using a single RFID tag.

[0182] Furthermore, since RFID tags generally have higher reading accuracy the larger their diameter, when incorporating RFID tags into substitute currency for gaming, it is desirable that the RFID tags have a diameter at least greater than the radius of the substitute currency. However, it is undesirable to reduce the diameter of individual RFID tags by incorporating two RFID tags into a substitute currency. In addition, incorporating two RFID tags increases the number of RFID tags to be read, which can lead to a decrease in reading speed when reading multiple substitute currencies.

[0183] For the reasons mentioned above, it is considered more effective to implement this using a single RFID tag.

[0184] (Third example) The following describes the overall outline of the table game management system in a game arcade having multiple game tables, as shown in the third example of Modification 4. Figure 18 is a diagram showing the overall outline of the system, and the table game management system in a game arcade having multiple game tables 2004 includes a game recording device 2011 that records games played on the game tables 2004 as images via multiple cameras 2002, including game substitute currency 1, an image analysis device 2012 that performs image analysis on the recorded images, a chip reader 25 that reads the RFID attached to the game substitute currency 1, and a game result determination device 18 that determines and displays the game results of each game on the game tables 2004.

[0185] The game result determination device 18 is, for example, a card distribution device 2003, which is a so-called electronic shoe already used by those skilled in the art. The rules of the game are programmed in advance, and the device is structured to read the information of the distributed cards C and determine the outcome of the game. For example, in a baccarat game, the banker wins, the player wins, or it's a tie is basically determined by the rank of 2-3 cards, and the result (win or loss) is displayed on the result display lamp 2013.

[0186] In the figure, the game table 2004 is a baccarat table with 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 sitting number 13 includes the areas for Player 441, Banker 442, Tie 443, Player Pair (P) 444, and Banker Pair (B) 445. Each player places a bet by placing the amount of their bet using substitute game currency 1 in the position corresponding to the item they are betting on. In Figure 18, for example, two substitute game currency 1 are placed in Tie 443 of Sitting Number 5 and two in Player 441. The game table 2004 is further provided with a player card area 45 for placing drawn player cards and a banker card area 46 for placing drawn banker cards.

[0187] The control device 2014 can determine, via the camera 2002 and image analysis device 2012, which position (player, banker, tie, or pair) in the betting area 2008 each player 2006 has bet with their substitute currency 1, the type of substitute currency 1 bet (each color of substitute currency 1 is assigned a different value), and the number of coins bet. For example, it can determine that 2 coins have been bet on tie 443 and 2 coins on player 441 at sitting number 5.

[0188] As shown in Figure 18, the chip reader 25 is arranged so that it can read the RFIDs of the game currency 1 within each sitting number, treating the entire betting area as a single reading area. The RFIDs attached to the game currency 1 contain unique ID information, the amount, type, manufacturing information, and owner information. Alternatively, the ID information may be linked and stored in a database. By reading the RFIDs attached to the game currency 1, the chip reader 25 can determine the number of game currency 1 for each sitting number and determine the total amount or number of coins. That is, for example, if four game currency coins are bet on sitting number 5, the type, amount, and ID of each can be determined.

[0189] As shown in Figure 19, the control device 2014 determines the total amount or total number of game currency 1 bet on each bet area of ​​each sitting number based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device 2012, and compares this with the total amount or total number of game currency 1 for each sitting number based on the RFID information of the game currency 1 read by the chip reader 25 to determine whether they match. Furthermore, it can output sitting numbers for which the above determination does not match, making it possible to identify the sitting numbers with problems.

[0190] If the total amount or number of game currency 1 for each sitting number, based on the reading results of the chip reader 25, is less than the total amount or number of game currency 1 for each sitting number, based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device, it is possible that the RFID attached to the game currency 1 is broken, unreadable, or that the game currency 1 does not have an RFID attached. In Figure 19, the total number of readings based on the image analysis device 2012 for game currency 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 game currency 1 bet on sitting number 1 was unreadable.

[0191] If the total amount or number of game currency 1 for each sitting number, based on the reading results of the chip reader 25, is greater than the total amount or number of game currency 1 for each sitting number, based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device, it is possible that the image analysis device 2012 was unable to read the game currency 1 due to factors such as the game currency 1 being in the camera's blind spot. In Figure 19, the total number of game currency 1 bet on sitting number 3, based on the image analysis device 2012, is 1, while the total number of game currency 1 bet on sitting number 3, based on the RFID reading by the chip reader 25, is 2. Therefore, it is possible that there were 2 game currency 1 bet on sitting number 3, but the image analysis device only recognized 1.

[0192] The RFID ID information attached to the substitute currency 1 for gaming is registered in the casino's database, which records information such as production and shipping information from 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 genuine or not, as it is registered to be used in the casino.

[0193] This configuration allows the camera to determine the type and number of game currency 1 placed in each betting area, and based on the RFID information of the game currency 1 read by the chip reader 25, it is possible to determine whether the game currency 1 is counterfeit or defective for each sitting number.

[0194] Furthermore, the system includes means for identifying game participants using a facial recognition system or player ID card, and the control device 2014 can link the game participant information identified by the game participant 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 game participant. It can also store information on multiple games played by a game participant at multiple tables.

[0195] The control device 2014 can determine the total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 of the dealer 2005 at the game table 2004 using the chip tray determination device 12. After the game ends and settlement is complete, the control device can compare and calculate whether the total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 has increased or decreased according to the game's outcome, based on the amount of the lost substitute game currency 1 bet by each player 2006 collected and the amount of winning chips 9W paid to the winning player 2006W. The chip tray determination device may determine the total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 by photographing the substitute game currency 1 contained in the chip tray 17 using the camera 2002 and analyzing the results of an image analysis device, or it may detect the total amount of substitute game currency 1 contained in the chip tray 17 by providing an RFID reader on the chip tray 17.

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

[0197] Here, the outcome of a game can be determined according to the rules of baccarat, for example, by reading the rank of card C dealt in the game using the card distributing device 2003. Alternatively, the outcome of a game can also be determined by taking a picture of the game table 2004 with the camera 2002, analyzing the image with the image analysis device 2012, and comparing the analysis results with the game rules using the control device 2014. In this case, the game result determination device consists of the camera 2002, the image analysis device 2012, and the control device 2014. Information on how many of each type of substitute currency 1 was bet by each player at sitting number 7 at each position (player, banker, tie, player pair, banker pair) in the betting area 2008 is obtained by taking a picture of the substitute currency 1 placed in the betting area 2008 with the camera 2002 and analyzing the image for each playing position 7 with the image analysis device 2012.

[0198] Furthermore, the increase or decrease in the amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before and after the collection of substitute currency 1 for losing games and the redemption of substitute currency 1 for winning games can be calculated by comparing the total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before the collection of substitute currency 1 for losing games and the redemption of substitute currency 1 for winning games with the total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 after the collection of substitute currency 1 for losing games and the redemption of substitute currency 1 for winning games.

[0199] For example, suppose the total amount of substitute currency 1 in chip tray 17 is Bb before the start of the game, and the total amount of substitute currency 1 in chip tray 17 after the game has ended, with the collection of losing chips and the redemption of winning chips being completed is Ba. Also, suppose that in this game, the total amount of substitute currency 1 bet on all 7 play positions in the player area is bp, the total amount of substitute currency 1 bet on all 7 play positions in the banker area is bb, and the total amount of substitute currency 1 bet on all 7 play positions in the tie area is bt. For example, if the outcome of this game is a banker win, then Ba - Bb = bp - bb + bt should hold true. Alternatively, the total amount of substitute currency 1 in chip tray 17 after the end of the game, Ba, should be (Bb + bp - bb + bt). If this is not the case, it can be determined that there was fraud or error in the collection or redemption of chips.

[0200] Figure 23A shows details of the chip tray in this example, and Figure 23B shows another example of a chip tray. The chip tray 17 is equipped with a collection chip tray 171 for collecting and temporarily storing the substitute game currency 1L wagered by the losing player 2006L, and a redemption chip tray 172 for storing the substitute game currency 1W to be redeemed. The image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 determine the location, type, and number of substitute game currency 1L wagered by the losing player 2006L, and calculate the increase in the substitute game currency 1L in the game (the amount of substitute game currency 1 that should be in the collection chip tray 171). Furthermore, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 determine the actual total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 171 after collection, and compare the expected total amount with the actual total amount to determine if there is a difference.

[0201] The control device 2014 can further redeem the substitute game currency 1 to be redeemed, and when the redemption is complete, it can compare the actual total amount in the chip tray with the total amount that should be in the chip tray, which is calculated from the position, type, and number of chips bet by each game participant on the game table and the game result, and determine if there is a difference between the total amount that should be in the chip tray and the actual total amount.

[0202] Furthermore, the redemption of the game substitute currency 1W to the winning player 2006W is performed using the game substitute currency 1 in the redemption chip tray 172, which allows sufficient time for the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 to determine the actual total amount of game substitute currency 1 in the collection chip tray 171 after collection.

[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 game table 2004 and the outcome 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 difference in this verification, it issues an alarm or adds a record to that effect to the video recording captured by the camera 2002. The casino operator can investigate the cause of the difference by reviewing the video.

[0204] The third example of a table game management system adds or subtracts the increase or decrease in chips in a game, calculated from the total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before settlement of each game, based on the position, type, and number of substitute game currency 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. It then compares the expected total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 after settlement at the end of the game with the actual total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 at the end of the game, obtained via the image analysis device 2012, and determines whether there is a difference between the expected total amount and the actual total amount.

[0205] The control device 2014, via the image analysis device 2012, determines the position, type, and number of chips bet by each player, and when all of the losing chips bet by each player have been collected, it determines the actual total value of chips in the chip tray, and compares the actual total value of the substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 with the actual total value of the substitute currency 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 players, from the total value of chips in the chip tray 17 before settlement of each game, and determines whether there is a difference between the expected total value and the actual total value.

[0206] The control device 2014 compares the total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before settlement of each game with the actual total amount of substitute currency 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 substitute currency 1 bet by losing players, to the total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before settlement of each game. If it determines that there is no difference between the total amount and the actual total amount, and if it determines that there is a difference between the total amount and the actual total amount, it determines that there is a payment error and generates a payment error signal to indicate the payment error.

[0207] The chip tray 17 is equipped with a collection chip tray 171 for collecting and temporarily storing the substitute game currency 1 wagered by losing players. The image analysis device 2012 compares the expected total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the collection chip tray 171, which is calculated by adding the increase in the amount of substitute game currency 1 wagered in the game based on the position, type, and number of substitute game currency 1L wagered by losing players, with the actual total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the collection chip tray 171, and determines whether there is a difference between the expected total amount and the actual total amount.

[0208] When the control device 2014 determines that the actual total amount of substitute game currency 1 known in the chip tray 17 of the dealer 2005 on the game table 2004 does not correspond to the increase or decrease in chips calculated from the amount of chips bet by all players and the outcome of the game, the game recording device 2011 can either assign an index or timestamp to the acquired video, or identify and play back the scene of the collection or payment of substitute game currency 1, so that the record of the game in which the above difference occurred can be analyzed.

[0209] Thus, 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 decision after settlement is made when any of the following 1) to 4) occurs. 1) When the redemption of the winning substitute currency 1 is completed, 2) When card C used in the game is collected and discarded to the discard area 41 or discard slot 42 of the table, 3) When a predetermined button attached to the win / loss result determination device is pressed, 4) When the win / loss marker 43 is returned to its original position.

[0210] Furthermore, the control device 2014 is an artificial intelligence-based or deep learning structure that can extract unique situations (set by the casino) when a player wins a game or loses a game, or when a player loses a game, by comparing the win / loss history and the amount of chips won (amount won) of each player 2006 obtained from the win / loss results of each game with statistical data from a large number of past games (big data). Typically, it includes an artificial intelligence-based or deep learning structure that can extract unique situations when a player wins a game or loses a game or when a player loses a game or wins a game or win, or when a situation occurs for several games where the amount of chips bet when losing is small and the amount of chips bet when winning is large, by comparing this with statistical data from past games (big data, etc.).

[0211] Furthermore, the control device 2014 of this table game management system (integrated with the image analysis device 2012) is structured to identify individual players 2006 at play position 7 who have been extracted as unique situations or have won more than a predetermined amount. Such identification of players 2006 is achieved by the image analysis device 2012 obtaining facial images through feature point extraction, etc., and assigning them an identity number (ID, etc.). The control device 2014 then has a warning function that notifies other game tables of the presence of the identified player 2006 when that player leaves their seat and takes a seat at another game table. Specifically, it notifies the pit manager or the person in charge of each game table (which may be a dealer) to prevent further unique phenomena.

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

[0213] In Figure 20, the substitute currency 1 for gaming is bet as shown in the detailed tables in Figures 21 and 22. Analysis by the image analysis device 2012 allows us to determine where the substitute currency 1 is bet (player, banker, etc.) and the number of coins (and the amount). Meanwhile, reading by the chip reader 25 allows us to determine the RFID ID attached to each substitute currency 1 for gaming for gaming for each sitting number. Furthermore, the chip tray determination device 25 can determine the ID of the substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 9, so by determining the increase in IDs before and after collection, it is possible to determine the amount of substitute currency 1 that has been collected. Figures 20-22 show that when the game result is a win for the banker, the analysis results from the image analysis device 2012 indicate that the two chips that were bet on the banker pair should be collected. Of the IDs of the collected chips determined by the chip tray determination device, the chip reader 25 read that IDs 6 and 18, which were bet on sitting number 5, were collected.

[0214] The control device 2014 further understands the total amount or total number of game substitute coins 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 position, amount, and number of game substitute coins 1 based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device. Therefore, the control device 2014 can compare the total amount or total number of collected game substitute coins 1 for each sitting number determined based on RFID with the total amount or total number of game substitute coins 1 to be collected based on the image analysis results, and determine whether they match.

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

[0216] The control device 2014 can further determine whether the RFID ID information of the recovered substitute game currency 1 determined by the chip tray determination device matches the RFID ID information of the substitute game currency 1 that was wagered, as read by the chip reader 25. This determination allows the device to determine whether the substitute game currency 1 collected in the chip tray is the substitute game currency 1 that was wagered on the game table, or whether it is a substitute game currency 1 that was illegally 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 reader 25, and can store the amount wagered, recovered, or redeemed for each determined chip type.

[0218] Rolling chips are special chips that can only be purchased by specific members and cannot be exchanged for cash. The amount of rolling chips purchased by each member is managed. They must be used and consumed through betting, and repayments for bets made with rolling chips are made with 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 particular member should possess.

[0219] The chip reader 25 also has a confirmation area function and can read the substitute game currency 1 placed for redemption. As shown in Figure 24, when redeeming the banker for sitting number 2, the substitute game currency 1 for redemption is placed in the chip reader 25 and read. In Figure 24, it is placed next to the winning substitute game currency 1 bet on the banker for sitting number 2. The control device 2014 compares the redemption amount determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount, and number of substitute game currency 1 based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device with the amount of the substitute game currency 1 placed for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reader 25, and can determine whether the redemption amounts match or not and output the result. In Figure 25, the total number of substitute game currency 1 to be paid for sitting number 1 is 4, but the reading result from the chip reader 25 is 3, resulting in a mismatch. When the redemption amount is mismatched, a mismatch signal is output, and the dealer can rearrange the substitute game currency 1 for redemption based on the output signal. If the substitute game currency 1 is rearranged, the judgment is performed again and the judgment result can be output. The area where the substitute game currency 1 for redemption is placed can be anywhere within the chip reader 25. Also, as shown in Figure 24, a payment confirmation area 26 may be placed on the dealer side of the betting area, separate from the betting area. In Figure 24, the substitute game currency 1 for redemption is placed in the payment confirmation area 26 for sitting number 6, the chip reader 25 reads it, the control device 2014 makes a judgment, and the redemption chip is placed next to the winning substitute game currency 1 placed in the banker.

[0220] Furthermore, the confirmation area may also be subjected to image analysis by the image analysis device 2012, and the control device 2014 may compare it with the reading results of the chip reader 25 to determine whether the total number of chips matches.

[0221] The control device 2014 can output a signal based on the judgment it has made. The signal may be displayed on the display unit of the chip tray 9 or the display unit of the card dispensing device 13, or it may be output to the pit manager or the casino's back room.

[0222] As shown in Figure 26, the chip reader 25 may treat the entire betting area as one reading area for each sitting number, or as shown in Figure 27, it may treat the player / layer betting area and the bunker betting area as one reading area, and the tie betting area, player pair betting area, and bunker pair betting area as one reading area for each sitting number. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 18 and 31, the side betting areas of the tie betting area, player pair betting area, and bunker pair betting area may each be treated as a separate reading area.

[0223] The following describes the substitute currency 1 used in this example. Figure 29 is an external view of the substitute currency 1 used in this system, and Figure 30 is a front cross-sectional view. It has a multilayer structure in which multiple layers of different colored plastics are laminated, with at least a colored layer 101 in the middle, and white layers 102 or light-colored layers (not shown, but any layer lighter in color than the colored layer 101) laminated on both sides of this intermediate colored layer 101. By having a colored layer 101 and a multilayer structure in which white layers 102 or light-colored layers (not shown, but any layer lighter in color than the colored layer 101) are laminated on both sides of this intermediate colored layer 101, a striped pattern in the direction of lamination is formed on the side as shown in Figure 29, and by changing the color of the colored layer 101 (red, green, yellow, blue, etc.), the type of substitute currency 1 (10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, etc.) can be identified.

[0224] The colored layer 101 may be formed by multiple colored layers (three layers in Figure 30), as shown in Figure 30. Since the multiple colored layers (three layers in Figure 30) are heat-pressed together, the three-layer structure is not visible as shown in Figure 30, and Figure 30 represents three layers for illustrative purposes. 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 substitute currency 1 for games is not limited to a structure made of laminated plastic, but may have an appearance similar to that of the colored layer 101.

[0226] The following describes in detail how the image analysis device 2012 analyzes the substitute game currency 1. The image analysis device 2012 analyzes the image recorded in the recording device 11 and recognizes at least two colors: a specific color 121 that is at least partially applied to the substitute game currency 1 and a reference color R that is different from the specific color 121 and is present in the image. The specific color 121 is applied at least partially to the substitute game currency 1 in a predetermined position or shape. For example, it may be applied as a colored layer 101, applied circumferentially to the side of the substitute game currency 1, or applied as a predetermined mark on the surface of the substitute game currency 1. The reference color R may be, for example, the color of a specific area of ​​the game table 2004, or a color applied to a location on the substitute game currency 1 different from the specific color 121.

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

[0228] The image analysis device 2012 acquires multiple images of the substitute game currency 1 and the reference color R illuminated at different illuminances. It learns by having a human provide training data using the acquired images and the correct colors of the specific color 121 of the substitute game currency 1 and the reference color R in each image, thereby creating a learning model 13a (recognition program). Images of the substitute game currency 1 and the reference color R illuminated under the same illuminance conditions allow for the acquisition of the relative relationship between the specific color 121 and the reference color R, since the specific color 121 and the reference color R are illuminated at the same illuminance. For example, this relative relationship may be used for the recognition of the specific color 121.

[0229] Alternatively, the chip recognition device 12 may extract the center line C of the game substitute currency 1 by measuring image features such as shape, brightness, saturation, and hue, using the results of image analysis captured by the camera 200212, without using artificial intelligence.

[0230] The artificial intelligence device 12a further includes a configuration that recognizes at least two colors in the surrounding image, namely the specific color 121 and the reference color R which is different from the specific color 121, by performing image analysis on a predetermined range of the surrounding image around the extracted center line C (for example, a range of 8 pixels perpendicular to the center line, centered on the center line). When performing image analysis on the surrounding image of the predetermined range around the extracted center line C, the image may be analyzed as is, or it may be analyzed after image processing such as color enhancement or noise reduction to facilitate the recognition of 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 substitute currency 1 for gaming, and to recognize at least two colors in the surrounding image, namely a specific color 121 and a reference color R different from the specific color 121, by performing image analysis of the surrounding image within a predetermined range centered on the center line C. The artificial intelligence device is taught using multiple surrounding images of the substitute currency 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, check for any movement of chips between the start of card drawing or the dealer's game start operation and the display of the game's outcome by the card distribution device. 2) After each game has ended, while the dealer is collecting the chips bet by the losing players, check to see if there have been any chip movements by anyone other than the dealer. 3) After each game ends, while the dealer is collecting the chips bet by the losers among the game participants, check whether any chips have been added. 4) After each game has finished, the dealer has checked whether he has paid out the chips that the winners among the game participants had placed. 5) After each game has finished, the winner among the game participants must determine whether they have taken the chips they wagered and the chips they have received. It includes a function to determine at least one of the following.

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

[0234] The control device 2014, as a characteristic function of the present invention, has the following functions 1) to 5) in accordance with the rules of the baccarat game and determines whether or not any cheating in violation of the rules has occurred. That is, 1) In each game, from the moment the card dispensing signal from the card dispensing device 2003 is received, or from the moment the dealer 2005 presses the start button 4s to initiate the game, until the card dispensing device 2003 displays the game's win / loss result, the camera 2002 is used to monitor for any movement of the substitute currency 1, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012. 2) After each game has finished, while the dealer 2005 is collecting the substitute game currency 1 that the losers among the game participants 2006 had bet, the camera 2002 is used to monitor whether the losers 6 have taken the substitute game currency 1 fraudulently, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012. 3) After each game has ended, while the dealer 2005 is collecting the substitute game currency 1 that the losers among the game participants had bet, the camera 2002 is used to monitor, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012, whether anyone other than the dealer 2005 (winners or losers) has added winning substitute game currency 1W or placed new substitute game currency 1 on the winning side that has not bet. 4) After each game ends, the camera 2002 is used to monitor whether the dealer 2005 has correctly placed the game currency 1W for payment in the location where the winning game participant 2006 had placed their bet, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012. 5) After each game has finished (the dealer 2005 operates the card distribution device 2003 to display the win / loss result on the display lamp 13), the camera 2002 is used to monitor whether the winner 6W among the game participants 2006 has taken the bet substitute currency 1 and the substitute currency 1W that was paid out, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012.

[0235] In the above example, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 were devices that utilized artificial intelligence or had a deep learning structure. Specifically, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 may use a scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, a convolutional neural network (CNN), deep learning, machine learning, or similar methods to perform image analysis and the various controls described above. These technologies are techniques for recognizing objects contained in captured images by performing image recognition on the captured image. In particular, in recent years, deep learning techniques with 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 the intermediate layers between the input and output layers of the neural network. In this deep learning technique, convolutional neural networks, in particular, are attracting attention because they have higher performance than conventional methods of recognizing objects based on image features.

[0236] In a convolutional neural network, labeled target images are trained to recognize the main object contained within those images. If multiple main objects exist within a training image, a region rectangle is used to specify it, and the corresponding image is labeled for training. Furthermore, a convolutional neural network can also determine the main object within an image and its position.

[0237] To further explain convolutional neural networks, the recognition process involves extracting candidate regions based on local features by performing edge extraction and other operations on the target image. These candidate regions are then input into a convolutional neural network to extract feature vectors, which are then classified. The candidate region with the highest confidence level is then recognized as the result. Confidence level is a measure of how much higher the similarity between a given image region and the subject of the image (as learned along with its label) is relative to the similarity between other classes.

[0238] Although various examples have been described above, it goes without saying that the embodiments described above can be modified by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention, and the apparatus of this embodiment may be appropriately modified as needed for the game to which it is applied. (Note)

[0239] To solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the management system for substitute currency for games of the present invention is: A single RFID tag having an area where data cannot be rewritten and an area where data can be rewritten is attached to the substitute currency for gaming. The area of ​​the RFID tag in which the data cannot be rewritten stores, as fixed information, at least one of the following: production information, product information, casino information, monetary information, and serial number of the substitute currency for the game. The area in which the aforementioned data can be rewritten stores information regarding the location of the substitute currency used for the game as variable information. The configuration allows for the extraction of variable information stored in a rewritable area of ​​the same RFID tag from the fixed information stored in a non-rewritable area of ​​the data. The aforementioned system, A writing device that adds information regarding the location of the substitute currency for the game to the area where the data can be rewritten, A reading device capable of reading the fixed information stored in an area of ​​multiple substitute game currency that cannot be rewritten, and reading the location information stored in an area that can be rewritten that corresponds to each piece of fixed information, based on the read fixed information. The system further comprises a management control device that examines the location information obtained from the reading device, The area in which the aforementioned data can be rewritten stores multiple pieces of location information, including at least the most recent piece of location information of all location information written by the writing device. The management control device has a function to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the history of location information obtained from the reading device, generates an error signal if there is an abnormality, and is configured to identify the fixed information of the substitute currency for games that has been determined to be abnormal.

[0240] Furthermore, the area where the data can be rewritten is configured to store information about the time the writing device wrote to the substitute currency for the game, along with the information about the location. 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 write, or the location information that should have been written has not been written.

[0241] Furthermore, the management control device includes at least one of the following information regarding the location: information indicating a cage, information indicating entry or exit, or information indicating a backyard. The aforementioned phenomenon of not having used the system for a specified period of time since the last post is as follows: 1) The most recent location information is information indicating the cage, and the following information has not been written for more than a specified time: 2) The most recent location information indicates entry, and the following information has not been posted for more than the specified time: 3) The most recent information regarding the location indicates that the person has left, and the following information has not been posted for more than the specified time: It is one of the following situations: The aforementioned event in which the location information that should be written is not written is, 4) When entering the amusement arcade, if the latest location of the rewritable area of ​​the substitute currency used for the game does not contain information indicating departure, 5) When used in a cage, information indicating the backyard is not written on it. 6) When leaving the gaming area, if information indicating a cage or back area is not written on it, It could be any of the following situations.

[0242] Furthermore, the information regarding the location may include information regarding the owner of the substitute currency used for the game.

[0243] Furthermore, the control device determines whether or not an abnormality is occurring based on the information about the owner obtained from the reading device, 1) A person other than the last owner of the data stored in the rewritable area exchanges or cashes the substitute currency for the game within the game hall, or leaves the game hall. 2) A person other than the owner at the time of departure, whose data is stored in a rewritable area, brings the substitute currency for the game into the game hall. It may be equipped with a function to determine either situation 1) or 2) above.

[0244] Furthermore, information regarding the owner of the aforementioned substitute currency for gaming may be identified by facial recognition or ID card reading.

[0245] Furthermore, the location information may include 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 payment area.

[0246] Furthermore, based on the information indicating the location of the chip tray of the game table obtained from the reading device, or the location of the bet area, or the information indicating the payment area, as an event for determining whether or not there is an abnormality, 1) A person different from the final owner stored in the area where the data can be rewritten uses the game substitute currency on the game table. 2) A person different from the person who purchased the game substitute currency at the cage of the game substitute currency cashes in the game substitute currency with no usage record on the game table at a place different from the purchase time at the cage. 3) Game substitute currency without information indicating the cage or the backyard is used inside the game hall. 4) The information regarding the latest location is information indicating the bet area or the payment area, and after a lapse of a predetermined period or more, it is cashed in at the cage or used on the game table. It may be provided with a function for determining any one of the situations from 1) to 4) above.

[0247] Furthermore, the information possessed by the RFID tag may be encrypted.

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

[0249] Furthermore, the reading device is configured to read collectively the fixed information stored in the area where the data cannot be rewritten and the information regarding the location stored in the area where the data can be rewritten. The management control device may be configured to extract and grasp the information regarding the location stored in the area where the data can be rewritten in the same RFID tag from the plurality of fixed information of the plurality of game substitute currencies read by the reading device.

[0250] In order to solve the above conventional problems, the game substitute currency of the present invention includes a single RFID tag having an area where data cannot be rewritten and an area where data can be rewritten. The area where the aforementioned data cannot be rewritten stores, as fixed information, at least one of the following: production information, product information, casino information, monetary information, and serial number of the substitute currency used for the game. The area in which the aforementioned data can be rewritten is configured to store information regarding the location of the substitute currency used for the game, which is written by the writing device, as variable information. This configuration allows for the extraction of variable information stored in the same non-rewritable area of ​​the RFID tag from the fixed information stored in the non-rewritable area of ​​the data.

[0251] Furthermore, the substitute currency for games may be configured such that a reader can read the fixed information stored in an area where the data of multiple substitute currency pieces cannot be rewritten, and based on the read fixed information, read the location information stored in an area where the data can be rewritten.

[0252] To solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the table game management system of the present invention uses game substitute currency with individually identifiable RFID tags, A game table for playing a game using the aforementioned substitute currency for games, A game recording device that records the substitute currency wagered by each game participant in a game played at the aforementioned game table as an image via a camera, An image analysis device for performing image analysis on the recorded images of the substitute currency used for games, A chip reader that reads the RFID attached to the substitute currency used for the game, which each game participant bets on, The system includes a control device that grasps the image analysis results of the image analysis device and the reading results of the chip reader, The aforementioned gaming table is equipped with multiple betting areas, each seating number including at least a player betting area and a banker betting area. The chip reader reads the game substitute currency for each sitting number by treating the entire betting area as a single reading area, or by dividing the entire area into multiple reading areas fewer than the number of betting areas and reading the game substitute currency for each reading area. The control device, based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, independently determines the type and number of game substitute currency bet for each betting area, including at least the player betting area and the banker betting area. The control device determines whether the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each sitting number or reading area based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each sitting number or reading area based on the reading results from the chip reader, and is configured to output the determination result.

[0253] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to output sitting numbers for which the determination result does not match.

[0254] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating that the RFID attached to the game substitute currency is broken or that the game substitute currency does not have an RFID attached if the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reader is less than the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each sitting number based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0255] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating the possibility of a reading error of the substitute game currency by the image analysis device if the total amount or total number of substitute game currency for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reader is greater than the total amount or total number of substitute game currency for each sitting number based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0256] Furthermore, the system includes a database that stores the RFID IDs attached to the aforementioned substitute currency for gaming. The control device may be configured to compare the RFID ID based on the reading result of the chip reader with the ID stored in the database, determine the authenticity of the substitute currency for the game, and output the determination result.

[0257] Furthermore, the game table includes a chip tray for holding substitute currency used by the dealer for gameplay, A chip tray determination device capable of determining the type and number of the substitute coins for the game contained in the chip tray, The system includes a game result determination device that determines the game result of each game on the gaming table, The control device is equipped with a calculation function that performs a calculation of the casino's profit and loss calculation at the game table for each game collection and redemption, using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount, and number of substitute currency used for games based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device. A collection determination function determines whether there was any fraud or error in the collection of substitute currency for games 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 participant on the game table and the game result, with the actual amount collected in the chip tray, and determining whether there is a difference between the amount to be collected and the actual amount collected. The system may include a redemption determination function that redeems chips that are to be redeemed, and when the redemption is complete, compares the actual total amount in the chip tray with the total amount that should be in the chip tray, calculated from the position, type, and number of chips bet by each game participant on the game table and the game result, and determines that there was fraud or error in the redemption if there is a difference between the total amount that should be in the chip tray and the actual total amount.

[0258] Furthermore, the control device identifies the collected game substitute currency for each sitting number based on the RFID ID information of the collected game substitute currency determined by the chip tray determination device and the RFID ID information of the game substitute currency read by the chip reader. The system may be configured to compare the ID, amount, or number of the identified substitute game currency with the ID, amount, or number of the substitute game currency 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 substitute game currency based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, and to determine whether they match for each sitting number.

[0259] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to determine the type of the substitute game currency, categorized by its intended use or purpose, based on the RFID ID information of the substitute game currency read by the chip reader in each game, and to store for each sitting number the amount wagered or recovered or redeemed for each type of substitute game currency.

[0260] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to store, for each sitting number and for each type of substitute currency used for the game, the cumulative amount wagered or the cumulative amount recovered or redeemed in multiple games.

[0261] Furthermore, the type of substitute currency used for gaming may be at least cash chips, rolling chips, or promotional chips.

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

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

[0264] Also, when the determination result of the repayment amount does not match, the control device may display a non-match indication. Further, when there is a change in the amount of the gaming substitute coins placed in the chip reading device for each sitting number read by the chip reading device, the control device may perform a re-determination and be able to re-output whether there is a match or a non-match.

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

[0266] Also, the chip reading device may include a payment confirmation area arranged on the dealer side of the bet area where the gaming substitute coins for repayment are placed.

[0267] Also, it may further include a game participant identification means using a face recognition system or a player ID card. The control device may be configured to be able to associate the sitting number with the information of the game participant identified by the game participant identification means.

[0268] Also, it may further include a display device that performs display based on the output of the control device.

[0269] Also, the gaming table may further include a side bet bet area. The side bet bet area is provided adjacent to the bet area for each sitting number. The chip reader is capable of reading at least one of the side bet betting areas at once. The control device may be configured to determine the type and number of the substitute game currency bet on at least one of the side bet areas based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, determine whether the total amount or total number of substitute game currency in at least one side bet area based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of substitute game currency in that side bet area based on the reading results from the chip reader, and output a signal of the determination result.

[0270] Another aspect of the present invention is a management system for table games, Game currency with individually identifiable RFID tags, A game table for playing a game using the aforementioned substitute currency for games, A game recording device that records the substitute currency wagered by each game participant in a game played at the aforementioned game table as an image via a camera, An image analysis device for performing image analysis on the recorded images of the substitute currency used for games, A chip reader that reads the RFID attached to the substitute currency used for the game, which each game participant bets on, The system includes a control device that grasps the image analysis results of the image analysis device and the reading results of the chip reader, The aforementioned gaming table is equipped with a betting area consisting of a player betting area, a banker betting area, and a side betting area. The aforementioned side bed area is provided with adjacent bed areas for each sitting number. The chip reader is capable of reading at least one of the side bet betting areas at once. The control device is configured to independently determine the type and number of the substitute game currency bet for at least one of the side bet areas based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, and to determine whether the total amount or total number of substitute game currency for at least one side bet area based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of substitute game currency for that side bet based on the reading results from the chip reader, and to output a signal of the determination result.

[0271] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to output the side bet for which the determination result is inconsistent.

[0272] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating that the RFID attached to the game substitute currency is broken or that the game substitute currency does not have an RFID attached if the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each side bet, based on the reading results of the chip reader, is less than the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each side bet, based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0273] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating the possibility of a reading error of the game substitute currency by the image analysis device if the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each side bet based on the reading results of the chip reader is greater than the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each side bet based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0274] Furthermore, the system includes a database that stores the RFID IDs attached to the aforementioned substitute currency for gaming. The control device may be configured to determine the authenticity of the substitute currency for gaming by comparing the RFID ID based on the reading result of the chip reader with the ID stored in the database.

[0275] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to identify the collected game substitute currency for each side bet based on the RFID ID information of the collected game substitute currency determined by the chip tray determination device and the RFID ID information of the game substitute currency read by the chip reader, and to compare the ID, amount, or number of game substitute currency 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 game substitute currency based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, with the ID, amount, or number of game substitute currency collected for each side bet, and to determine whether the collected amount matches or does not match for each side bet.

[0276] If there is only one chip or chip stack to be paid for within a single chip reader 25, the owner information can be linked by pairing the betting chip with the payment chip without detecting that the chip has moved outside the area of ​​the chip reader 25. In other words, if there is one betting chip consisting of one game currency 1001 or a stack of several game currency 1001s within a single chip reader 25, the owner information can be linked by pairing the betting chip with the payment chip 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 also be recognized based on information that the chip has moved outside the area of ​​the chip reader 25, and the owner information of the payment chip can be linked by pairing the payment chip with the betting chip using some of the information from the chip removed from the chip tray, the chip placed in the betting area, and the chip that has moved outside the area of ​​the chip reader 25, thereby linking the owner information of the payment chip with the owner information of the betting chip. Alternatively, the system may be configured to read the chip's ID using RFID, and to recognize the type and number of chips, including the stack, using a camera.

[0277] The case where there is one chip or chip stack to be paid for within a single chip reader 25 includes cases where there is 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 as payment progresses, only one stack remains. It is also possible to configure the system so that only the last stack of bet chips is paired with the payment chip and its owner information is linked. In this case, by making the last stack remaining a chip bet by a member, it is possible to reliably trace the chips of member players. It is desirable that each chip reader (for example, per player position) bets by one member player and multiple non-member players. When there is one member player per player position, the chip and its owner are linked, so the information of the member player assigned to each player position can be obtained from the information of the chips bet. In addition, if there is a rule that member players bet chips before non-member players, the first chip bet within a player position may be linked to, or confirmed to be linked to, the member player information assigned to that player position (for example, sitting in player position 1). Member cards may be used to assign members to player positions.

[0278] The chip reader 25 may be provided for each area such as player, banker, tie, and pair, or for each player position, or for the entire table to be divided into multiple sections such as player positions 1-3 and player positions 4-6, or there may be one large reader 25 for the entire table. In any case, information such as when chips have moved outside the area of ​​the chip reader 25 (i.e., when chips are no longer read by the 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 can be used to pair betting chips with payment chips and update owner information, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0279] 31 Warehouse 32 Procedure Room 33 Cashier 34 Bank 35 Pit 36 tables 72 Gaming Chips 73 Data files 74 players 75 Dealer 100 RFID tag manufacturing plants 200 chip manufacturing plants 211 TID area 212 EPC area 300 Casinos 301 Backyard Floor 302 320 Procedure Room System 321 Antenna 322 Activation Reader / Writer 323 Central Verification Device 324 Input Devices 325 Registered 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 RFID tags storing identification information are attached, database and A recording device for recording the identification information of the casino supplies used in the casino in the database, Equipped with, The database stores a list of the identification information recorded by the recording device. The aforementioned list includes status information indicating whether the casino supplies are available for use. The casino system further includes an activation device that enables the use of the status information of the casino equipment already recorded in the database when it is used in the casino.

2. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the activation device makes the status information available when taking out the casino supplies, which have already been recorded in the database and are stored in the storage location, from the storage location for use in the casino.

3. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the recording device records the identification information in the list of the database when the identification information in the list of manufacturers provided by the manufacturer of the casino goods matches the identification information stored in the RFID tag of the casino goods.

4. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the activation device makes the status information available when using a casino item in the casino, provided that the identification information in the manufacturer list provided by the manufacturer of the casino item matches the identification information stored in the RFID tag of the casino item.

5. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the recording device and the activation device are the same device.

6. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the recording device records, in the case of casino goods where the manufacturer of the casino goods determines that the identification information in the manufacturer list matches the identification information stored in the RFID tag of the casino goods, the identification information is recorded in the database list.

7. The system further comprises a reader for reading the RFID tags of multiple casino items housed in a case, The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the recording device records a plurality of the identification information read by the reading device in the database.

8. The casino system according to claim 1, wherein the activation device performs a deactivation process to disable the status information of the casino equipment when the casino equipment for which the status information is available meets predetermined conditions.

9. The casino system according to claim 8, wherein the activation device makes the status information of the casino equipment that has undergone the deactivation process available again if predetermined conditions are met.

10. The device further comprises a reader that reads the identification information from the RFID tag of the casino equipment, The casino system according to claim 8, wherein the activation device performs the deactivation process for casino equipment that the reading device cannot effectively read the identification information of.

11. The device further comprises a reader that reads the identification information from the RFID tag of the casino equipment, The aforementioned casino equipment carries information for identifying the casino equipment in a manner other than the RFID tag, The casino system according to claim 10, wherein the activation device, with respect to casino equipment for which the identification information cannot be read by the reading device, uses the information for identifying the casino equipment to identify the casino equipment to be deactivated and performs the deactivation process.

12. The device further comprises a reader that reads the identification information from the RFID tag of the casino equipment, The aforementioned casino equipment carries information for identifying the casino equipment in a manner other than the RFID tag, The casino system according to claim 8, wherein the activation device, when the identification information read from the RFID tag of the casino item by the reader is not recorded in the storage device as identification information for the usable casino item, uses the information for identifying the casino item to identify the casino item to be deactivated and performs the deactivation process.

13. The RFID tag stores manufacturing information indicating the manufacturing status of the casino goods, type information indicating the type of casino goods, and / or information of the casino in which the casino goods are used. The database stores, along with the identification information, the manufacturing information, the type information, and / or the casino information corresponding to the identification information. The casino system according to claim 8, wherein the activation device performs the deactivation process on the casino item having the identification information if the manufacturing information, type information, and / or casino information stored in the RFID tag does not match the manufacturing information, type information, and / or casino information stored in the database.

14. The casino system according to claim 8, wherein the activation device stores information indicating the year and month in which the identification information of the casino goods was registered in the storage device, and, referring to the storage device, performs the deactivation process for casino goods for which a predetermined period has elapsed since the year and month in which they were registered.

15. The casino system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the casino equipment is available for players to use in betting on games in a casino and is redeemable for cash.

16. Casino equipment equipped with an RFID tag storing identification information, for use in the casino system according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

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