Game Management System

Abstract

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

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of patent application number 2018-27023, filed in Japan on February 19, 2018, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. [Technical field]

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

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

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

[0005] At each gaming table, the number of players playing a game is not fixed, and games may be played by a small number of players or a large number of players. Conventionally, when the number of tables at which games are played by a large number of players increases, the casino operator recognizes this and performs operations such as opening gaming tables that were closed. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] If, at a certain gaming table, there is a mixture of players (high-bet players) who are betting amounts well above the minimum bet amount and players (low-bet players) who are betting amounts that are the minimum bet amount or slightly higher, the overall sales of the casino facility may be kept low.

[0007] Figure 19 is a diagram that explains such a situation. Now, as shown in the upper part of Figure 19, let us assume that the minimum bet amount at a certain gaming table is set to $1000, and a high-value player who bets about $10,000 is playing alone. In this case, the average time required for one game is 60 seconds, and the average sales per hour is $600,000.

[0008] If three low-spending players, each with a bet of about $1,000, join this gaming table, the total bet amount at this table will rise to about $13,000, but the average time required for one game will also increase with the increase in the number of players. If we assume that the playing time increases by 10 seconds for each additional player, the average time required for one game will be 90 seconds when the number of players increases to four. As a result, the revenue per hour will decrease from about $600,000 to about $520,000. In this way, when high-spending and low-spending players coexist at the same gaming table, the casino operator's revenue will decrease even if the number of players increases.

[0009] FIG. 20A and FIG. 20B are diagrams for explaining another example. Now, as shown in FIG. 20A, the minimum bet amount of one of the two gaming tables is set to 10,000 dollars, and the minimum bet amount of the other is set to 1,000 dollars. The average time required for one game at the high-value player's gaming table is 70 seconds, and the sales per hour are about 1.03 million dollars. On the other hand, the average time required for one game at the low-value player's gaming table is 90 seconds, and the sales per hour are about 160,000 dollars. Therefore, the total sales per hour at the two gaming tables is about 1.19 million dollars.

[0010] In the example of FIG. 20B, the two high-value players in FIG. 20A are distributed to different gaming tables. That is, there are two gaming tables with a minimum bet amount set to $1000, and at each gaming table, one high-value player with a bet amount of about $10,000 and two low-value players with bet amounts of about $1000 are playing. In this case, the average time required for one game at each gaming table is 80 seconds, the sales per hour are about $540,000, and the total sales per hour at the two gaming tables is about $1,080,000.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0019] With this configuration, the recommended minimum bet amount can be determined based on the bet amount and the transition of the balance. For example, when the bet amounts of many players at a certain table are on a downward trend, a relatively small amount may be determined as the recommended minimum bet amount. As another example, when the balance of many players at a certain table is on an upward trend, a relatively large amount may be determined as the recommended minimum bet amount.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0027] With this configuration, gaming tables can be opened in appropriate areas depending on the degree of congestion so as to increase sales throughout the casino facility.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0045] With this configuration, an appropriate recommended minimum bet amount can be determined for each gaming table.

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

[0047] With this configuration, it is possible to determine an appropriate recommended minimum bet amount by comprehensively taking into account a plurality of gaming tables.

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

[0049] With this configuration, a recommended minimum bet amount for a newly opened gaming table can be determined by comprehensively taking into account a plurality of gaming tables.

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

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

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

[0053] (First embodiment) The true "sales" of a casino facility (amusement hall) for a casino operator is the total amount of chips bet (wagered) by players. The profit (gross profit) of the casino operator is the amount obtained by subtracting the amount paid out from this sales. However, in current casinos, this sales and profits cannot be managed. Furthermore, it is not possible to grasp in detail the trends in sales and profits for each table and each pit.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0075] Hereinafter, the game management system of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the system, and the game management system in a gaming facility having a plurality of gaming tables 4 includes a game recording device 11 that records the progress of the game played at the gaming tables 4 as an image via a plurality of cameras 2 including the player 6 and the dealer 5, an image analyzing device 12 as an information processing device that performs image analysis of the recorded image of the progress of the game, and a card distribution device 3 that judges and displays the winning or losing result of each game at the gaming tables 4. The card distribution device 3 is a so-called electronic shoe that is already used by those skilled in the art, and is programmed with the rules of the game in advance, and is structured to be able to read the information of the cards C that are distributed and judge the winning or losing of the game. For example, in a baccarat game, the winning of the banker, the winning of the player, and a tie (draw) are basically determined by the ranks of 2-3 cards, and the judgment result (winning or losing result) is displayed by a result display lamp 13.

[0076] This game management system further includes a management control device 14 that compares the actual ranks of cards based on the image analysis results by the image analysis device 12 with the winning / losing result determined by the card distribution device 3, and detects fraudulent acts (such as a mismatch between the total ranks of the cards distributed and the winning / losing result) performed at the game table 4. The card distribution device 3 is structured to be capable of reading the ranks (A, 2-10, J, Q, K) and suits (hearts, spades, etc.) of the cards C manually distributed by the dealer 5, and the management control device 14 is structured to be capable of collating the rank and suit information obtained by the image analysis device 12 (using artificial intelligence) from the video of each card distributed at the game table 4 (taken using the camera 2) with the card and suit information read by the card distribution device 3 to determine whether they match. The image analysis device 12 and the management control device 14 in this game management system are structured to be equipped with a computer, a program, and a memory, which are either integrated or composed of multiple components.

[0077] The image analysis device 12 and the management control device 14 have an artificial intelligence or deep learning structure that can obtain information on the rank of a card C even if the card C is dealt at the gaming table 4 and is bent or soiled by the player 6. For example, a soiled card C may cause a situation in which it is difficult to distinguish between a club and a spade. Even in such a case, the suit can be determined by analyzing and judging the image using an artificial intelligence computer or control system and deep learning (structure) technology. Even if the card is bent due to squeezing the card by a player, which is often done in a baccarat game, the suit and rank of the card before deformation can be recognized by using the artificial intelligence computer or control system and deep learning (structure) technology by self-learning of a large number of image deformations. Since the artificial intelligence computer or control system and deep learning (structure) technology are already known and available to those skilled in the art, detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0078] The management control device 14, which has an artificial intelligence or deep learning structure, can grasp, via the camera 2 and the image analysis device 12, on which position (player, banker, or pair) each player 6 bets gaming tokens (hereinafter referred to as "chips") 9 in the betting area 8, the type of chips 9 bet (each color of chips 9 is assigned a different value), and the number of chips. The chips 9 are stacked in a shifted manner as shown in FIG. 2A, rather than being stacked in a vertically aligned manner. In this case, when the camera 2 is positioned in the direction of the arrow X shown in FIG. 2A (or when the direction of the chips 9 is relatively in a blind spot), it is assumed that the chips 9 are not visible (are in a blind spot) as shown in FIG. 2B. In the artificial intelligence-based computer or control system and deep learning (structure) technology, a self-learning function is used to recognize the hiding of the chips 9 due to a blind spot (when a part of a chip is hidden, or when the entire chip is hidden), and the number of chips, etc. is accurately grasped. In this way, it is possible to grasp which position in the betting area 8 the chips 9 have been bet on (player, banker, or pair), the type of chips 9 bet (each color of chips 9 is assigned a different value) and the number of chips 9 bet. Therefore, according to the outcome of each game determined by the card distribution device 3, the management control device 14 determines whether the collection of losing chips bet by each player 6 (as shown by arrow L) and the payment of winning chips (9W) to the winning player 6W have been properly carried out according to the outcome of the game by analyzing the video of the game progress via the image analysis device 12.

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

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

[0081] Here, in the case of baccarat, for example, the outcome of the game can be determined in accordance with the rules of baccarat by reading the rank of the card C played in the game in the card distribution device 3. The outcome of the game can also be determined by photographing the game table 4 with the camera 2, analyzing the image with the image analysis device 12, and comparing the analysis result with the game rules in the control device 14. In this case, the camera 2, the image analysis device 12, and the management control device 14 constitute a win / loss result determination device. Information on the player at each play position 7, what type of chips 9, and how many chips have been bet on which position (player, banker, or pair) in the betting area 8 is obtained by photographing the chips 9 placed in the betting area 8 with the camera 2 and analyzing the image for each play position 7 with the image analysis device 12.

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

[0083] For example, assume that the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 before the start of the game is Bb, and that the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the game is over and the collection of lost chips and the redemption of winning chips is Ba. Also assume that in this game, the total amount of chips 9 bet on all play positions 7 in the player area is bp, the total amount of chips 9 bet on all play positions 7 in the banker area is bb, and the total amount of chips 9 bet on all play positions 7 in the tie area is bt. For example, if the outcome of this game is a win for the banker, Ba-Bb=bp-bb+bt should be established. Alternatively, the total amount of chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the game is over should be (Bb+bp-bb+bt). If this is not the case, it can be determined that there has been fraud or a mistake in the collection or redemption of the chips.

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

[0085] Next, the distribution limiting device 30 that limits the insertion and removal of the card 1 from the card storage unit 102 will be described with reference to Figures 5 and 6A. The distribution limiting device 30 is provided in a card guide 107 of a card guide unit 105 that guides the cards 1, which are taken out one by one from an opening 106 at the front of the card storage unit 102, onto the gaming table 4. The distribution limiting device 30 has a structure in which a locking member 34 presses the card 1 when the card 1 passes through a slot 33 between the card guide unit 105 and a guide cover of the card guide 107, thereby preventing the card 1 from entering or leaving the slot 33. The locking member 34 moves as indicated by an arrow m by a driving unit 35 such as an electromagnetic solenoid or a piezoelectric element so as to be capable of taking two states: a position where the card 1 is pressed (a limiting position) and a passable position where the card 1 can pass. The driving unit 35 is controlled by a control unit 109 that is directly or indirectly connected to the management control device 14 by wire or wirelessly, and moves the locking member 34 to two states: a position for pressing the card 1, and a passable position for allowing the card 1 to pass. The rules of the baccarat game are preprogrammed and stored in the control unit 109.

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

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

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

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

[0090] The relationship between the code 52 and the output of the ON signal of the two UV sensors 20, 21 is shown in FIG. 7. Based on the result of comparing the relative changes in the output of the ON signal of the UV sensors 20, 21, a predetermined combination of the marks M can be specified. As a result, if four combinations of the marks M are printed in two rows, one above the other, and four rows are printed, 256 codes can be configured by the fourth power of four. Each of the 52 types of playing cards is assigned to one of the 256 codes, which are stored in a memory or program as a comparison table, and the code reading unit 108 specifies each code 52, thereby specifying the number (rank) and type (suit) of the card 1 from a predetermined comparison table (not shown). In addition, the 256 codes can be stored in a comparison table in a free combination corresponding to the 52 types of cards, so that the combinations can be made complex, and the combinations of the 256 codes and the 52 types of cards can be changed depending on the time and place. The codes are printed with paint that becomes visible when exposed to ultraviolet light, and are preferably printed in a position that does not overlap with the type notation of the cards or the index 103.

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

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

[0093] The designs of the front and side of the chip 9 vary depending on the type, and the type can be identified by observing either the front or side. In this embodiment, the chip 9 is assigned a different value (e.g., 1000 dollars, 100 dollars, 10 dollars, etc.) depending on the type. Therefore, the value of the chip 9 can be identified by identifying the type.

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

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

[0096] A card distribution device 3 that also functions as a winning / losing determination device is placed on the game table 4 and used. As described above, in this embodiment, the card distribution device 3 determines the winning / losing result of each game, either the player's win, the banker's win, or a tie, according to the rules of the baccarat game. That is, the card distribution device 3 is an electronic shoe including a card storage section 102 that stores playing cards 1s, a card guide section 105 and an opening section 106 that constitute a take-out mechanism for taking out the playing cards 1s one by one from the card storage section 102, card detection sensors 22, 23 and a card reading section 108 that constitute a detection section that detects the contents of the playing cards 1 taken out by the take-out mechanism, and a control section 109 as a determination section that determines the game result of the baccarat game according to the rules of the baccarat game based on the contents of the playing cards detected by the card reading section 108.

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

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

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

[0100] First, the management control device 14 has a function as an RF reader that identifies the types of all chips 9 stored in the chip tray 17 based on the radio waves received by the antenna 173, calculates the total amount of the chips 9 stored in the chip tray 17, and records it. In addition, the control device 14 has a function of receiving and recording the winning and losing results of each game from the card distribution device 3. Furthermore, the management control device 14 has a function as an image recognition device that acquires a photographed image from the camera 2, performs image recognition on the photographed image using a machine learning model, and recognizes the bet contents, that is, which player bets how much on which bet object. The machine learning model may be a neural network with a deep learning structure. Specifically, the management control device 14 identifies the player and the bet object based on the position of the chip 9 in the photographed image, and identifies the bet amount based on the type and number of the chips 9 in the photographed image.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0108] The table creation unit 512 creates various tables and graphs by tallying up the sales, profits, and profit rates calculated by the calculation unit 511. FIG. 9 is an example of a table showing sales (total bet amount) for each gaming table 4 created by the table creation unit 512. As shown in FIG. 9, the table creation unit 512 creates a table showing the number of chips 9 of each type bet for each gaming table 4. The number of chips 9 may be the number totaled for each predetermined time period, such as from midnight to midnight the next day. If the casino facility is not open 24 hours a day, the number may be the number totaled for each business hour of a day. Furthermore, the table may be a result of accounting within a predetermined time period in the past based on the time of creation. This table further includes the total chip amount (sales) for each gaming table 4. This table allows the sales for the same time period to be compared for each gaming table, and the total sales of the entire casino facility for that time period to be known.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0121] In addition, in the above embodiment, calculation unit 511 calculates sales, profits, and profit ratios, and table creation unit 512 tabulates the calculated sales, profits, and profit ratios to create tables and graphs. Alternatively, calculation unit 511 may perform some or all of the tabulation, and table creation unit 512 may create tables and graphs using the tabulation results of calculation unit 511.

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

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

[0124] 15 shows an example in which one camera 2 is installed on each gaming table 4, a camera for photographing the betting area and a camera for photographing the player may be provided separately, and further, multiple cameras for photographing different parts of the betting area may be provided, or multiple cameras for photographing different player positions may be provided. Also, a single camera 2 may be changed between an angle for photographing the betting area and an angle for photographing the player, so that the betting area and the player may be photographed separately.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0132] The recommended value determination unit 611 is set with candidates for the minimum bet amount divided into a plurality of stages. In this embodiment, the recommended value determination unit 611 is set with five candidates for the minimum bet amount, namely, 100 dollars, 500 dollars, 1000 dollars, 5000 dollars, and 10000 dollars. The recommended value determination unit 611 determines the recommended value by selecting one of these candidates for the minimum bet amount. The recommended value determination unit 611 may determine a more appropriate recommended value for the minimum bet amount other than the set candidates, thereby making it possible to perform more detailed classification when the preset candidates for the minimum bet amount are inappropriate.

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

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

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

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

[0137] 16A and 16B are diagrams showing an example of determining a recommended minimum bet amount according to an actual bet amount. In the example of FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, four players are participating in a game, and the minimum bet amount is set to $1000.

[0138] In the example of FIG. 16A, the minimum bet amount of player 1 in the past five games is $1000, the minimum bet amount of player 2 in the past five games is $2000, the minimum bet amount of player 3 in the past five games is $1500, and the minimum bet amount of player 4 in the past five games is $1000. In this case, the minimum bet amount of player 2 and player 3 in the past five games is $1500 or more, which is 150% of the current minimum bet amount of $1000, and they are classified as high-value players. And, since the ratio of high-value players (2 players) among the four players participating in the game is 50%, which reaches the standard of 50%, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines the minimum bet amount higher than the already set minimum bet amount of $1000 as the recommended value.

[0139] On the other hand, in the example of FIG. 16B, the minimum bet amount of player 1 in the past five games is $1000, the minimum bet amount of player 2 in the past five games is $1500, the minimum bet amount of player 3 in the past five games is $1000, and the minimum bet amount of player 4 in the past five games is $1100. In this case, player 2 has a minimum bet amount of $1500 or more in the past five games, which is 150% of the current minimum bet amount of $1000, and is classified as a high-value player. Since the ratio of high-value players (one person) among the four players participating in the game is 25%, which is less than the standard of 50%, the recommended value determination unit 611 does not change the already set minimum bet amount of $1000, and determines the current minimum bet amount of $1000 as the recommended value.

[0140] When the minimum bet amount is to be increased, the recommended value determination unit 611 increases the minimum bet amount by one level and performs the same calculation as above. In the case of Fig. 16A, if the current minimum bet amount is increased by one level to $5000, the condition for determining a higher minimum bet amount as the recommended value is not met, so $5000 is determined as the recommended minimum bet amount. If the minimum bet amount is increased by one level and the same calculation is performed, and the above condition is further met, the minimum bet amount is increased by another level, and this is repeated until the above condition is no longer met.

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

[0142] In addition, in the above example, when the number of high-value players is equal to or exceeds a predetermined ratio, the minimum bet amount is changed to one level higher from among predetermined candidates. Alternatively, however, the minimum bet amount may be increased to a predetermined ratio (e.g., 150%) of the minimum bet amount. In other words, in the example of FIG. 16A above, the recommended minimum bet amount may be set to 150% of the minimum bet amount of 1000 dollars, or 150% of that, i.e., 150% of the minimum bet amount of 1000 dollars, or 1500 dollars.

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

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

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

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

[0147] In such a situation, the recommended value determination unit 611 increases the minimum bet amount of the gaming table 4d, which has the fewest players participating in the game (the least crowded table) among the gaming tables 4c and 4d, both of which have a minimum bet amount of 1000 dollars, to 10,000 dollars. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 17B, it is expected that players who participated in the game at the gaming table 4d will move to the gaming table 4c, which has a minimum bet amount of 1000 dollars, and some of the players who participated in the game at the gaming tables 4a and 4b, which have a minimum bet amount of 10,000 dollars, will move to the gaming table 4d, whose minimum bet amount has been increased to 10,000 dollars.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0154] In the case of Fig. 18A, gaming tables 4a and 4c are open, and seven players are participating in the game for each of the eight seats, of which four are high-value players and three are low-value players. Fig. 18B shows a case where a new gaming table 4b is opened in the situation of Fig. 18A, and the minimum bet amount is set to $5000. By setting the minimum bet amount of the newly opened gaming table 4b to $5000, it is possible that all the high-value players who were playing at the gaming tables 4a and 4c will move to the gaming table 4b, as shown in Fig. 18B.

[0155] In the case of FIG. 18B, the average sales, which was $1.38 million per hour in the situation of FIG. 18A, drops to $1.377 million per hour. Thus, when a new gaming table 4 is opened, depending on the setting of the minimum bet amount, sales may not increase significantly or may even decrease. Furthermore, when the cost of opening a new gaming table 4 is taken into account, the profit of the casino operator will decrease.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0162] In addition to or instead of identifying a player by the face image, the player management unit 615 may identify the player by a storage medium (e.g., a member's card, a point card, etc.) held by the player. An ID for identifying the player is stored in this storage medium. When the player sits at the gaming table 4, he or she hands the storage medium to the dealer, who reads the ID with a predetermined reading device. The control device 14 transmits the ID read from the storage medium to the management control device 60. The player management unit 614 can identify the player by receiving this ID.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Claims

1. A game management system for managing a plurality of casino games played at a first gaming table in a casino facility, comprising: The management system includes a management control device, The management control device includes: determining a bet amount for each of a plurality of player positions of the first gaming table based on the position, type and number of the gaming tokens bet; determining a number of players participating in one of the casino games played at the first gaming table; determining a recommended minimum bet amount for the first gaming table based on history data including each past bet amount and the number of past players determined by the management control device; Game management system.

2. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the management control device determines, for each player position, a progression of respective bet amounts across a plurality of casino games.

3. Further comprising a game result determination device, the game result determination device determines the results of each game; the management control device determines win / loss and income / expenses at each player position based on the bet amounts determined for each player position by the management control device and the results of each game determined by the game result determination device; The game management system of claim 2.

4. 4. The game management system according to claim 3, wherein the management control device determines a recommended minimum bet amount based on the progress of wins and losses at each player position determined by the management control device, or based on the progress of income and expenditure at each player position.

5. 2. The game management system of claim 1, wherein the management control device determines the degree of congestion of each of a plurality of areas in a casino facility based on the number of players determined by the management control device, and determines a recommended minimum bet amount for each of a plurality of gaming tables in each area according to the degree of congestion of each area.

6. 6. The game management system according to claim 5, wherein the management control device determines a recommended minimum bet amount divided into multiple stages based on the number of players determined by the management control device and based on the minimum or average of the bet amounts at each player position determined by the management control device.

7. 6. The game management system according to claim 5, wherein the management control device determines the number of gaming tables to be opened in a casino facility, and determines a recommended number of gaming tables to be opened in an area depending on the degree of congestion in the area.

8. The game management system according to claim 7, wherein the management control device has a function of recording a transition in the degree of congestion and determining a recommended number of gaming tables to be opened in each area based on the recorded transition information.

9. The system further includes a player identification unit, and the management control device acquires the identification of the players participating in the game at the first gaming table by the player identification unit, and the management control device associates information of each identified player with a betting amount of each player position, records the association data in a database, and determines a recommended number of gaming tables to be opened in the area based on the past betting tendency of each player. The game management system of claim 7.

10. 2. The game management system of claim 1, wherein at least one processor increases the recommended minimum bet amount when a threshold percentage of players bet amounts equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio of a minimum bet amount preset on a gaming table.

11. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the management control device determines the minimum bet amount for the newly opened gaming table based on the minimum bet amount determined for a first gaming table surrounding the newly opened gaming table.

12. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the management control device determines a minimum bet amount for a newly opened gaming table based on bet amounts determined for first gaming tables surrounding the newly opened gaming table.

13. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the management control device manages the number of dealers and determines whether or not to open another gaming table based on the number of dealers under its control.

14. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the management control device changes the minimum bet amount of the first gaming table in response to the opening of another gaming table.

15. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein said management control device determines a recommended value of a minimum bet amount for each of a plurality of gaming tables so as to increase a profit ratio to sales.

16. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the management control device determines a recommended minimum bet amount for each of a plurality of gaming tables so as to increase the number of a plurality of casino games per unit time or the average total bet amount per game.

17. The management control device includes: determining a respective total bet amount for each of a plurality of gaming tables, including the first gaming table, for each game, and / or for each of a plurality of predetermined times or periods, for each player; determining a recommended minimum bet amount for each of a plurality of gaming tables; The game management system of claim 1 .

18. The management control device includes: Managing a plurality of gaming tables including the first gaming table; determining, for each of a plurality of gaming tables, a respective total bet amount for each player for each game played at each respective gaming table and / or for each of a plurality of predetermined times or periods; determining different recommended minimum bet amounts for each of a plurality of gaming tables; The game management system of claim 1 .

19. The management control device includes: Managing a plurality of gaming tables including the first gaming table; determining, for each of a plurality of gaming tables, for each game played at the respective gaming table and / or for each of a plurality of predetermined times or periods, a total bet amount for each player; Determine the recommended minimum bet amount for newly opened gaming tables; The game management system of claim 1 .

20. The management control device includes: Managing a plurality of gaming tables including the first gaming table; determining information including the number of players, the betting amount, or the concentration or dispersion of the number of players for each of the plurality of gaming tables; determining a recommended minimum bet amount for each gaming table based on the information; The game management system of claim 1 .

21. The game management system according to claim 1 , wherein the number of players is determined based on identification of the players using facial images.

22. 2. The game management system of claim 1, wherein the number of players is determined based on the identification of the member's cards of each of the players.

23. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the number of players is determined based on information of game tokens bet.

24. 2. The game management system according to claim 1, wherein the number of players is determined based on information on the positions of gaming tokens that have been bet.

25. The game management system of claim 1 , wherein the management control device obtains information regarding the location, type and number of gaming tokens bet, and determines the number of players using input from the same detection device.

Images