Game table reading system

Abstract

A gaming table reading system is provided. [Solution] The game table has multiple reading areas including multiple betting areas, multiple reading antennas installed corresponding to each of the multiple reading areas for reading RFID tags built into gaming tokens placed in the corresponding reading areas, a read restriction antenna that restricts reading by the reading antenna so that the reading antenna does not read RFID tags of gaming tokens in reading areas other than the reading area corresponding to the reading antenna, a read control device that acquires information stored in the RFID tag from the reading antenna, a read restriction control device that controls the read restriction antenna, a database that stores RFID tag information and related information in association with each other, and a management control device that updates the database based on the relationship between the RFID tag information read by the reading antenna and the reading area in which the RFID tag was read.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a game table reading system for reading RFID tags in a game table used for table games.

Background Art

[0002] In casinos, users bet using gaming tokens (gaming chips). Since gaming tokens are substitutes for currency, it is desirable that they can be managed in the casino. These days, technology has been developed to enable the casino side to grasp, through a system, which user (player) holds which gaming tokens, how many gaming tokens a user holds, which gaming tokens a user has bet, how many gaming tokens a user has bet, or which user holds a gaming token and where it is, etc.

[0003] For these management purposes, RFID tags storing identification information (chip ID) of the gaming token, the value (amount) of the gaming token, etc. are built into the gaming tokens.

[0004] Gaming tokens are bet by being placed in an area corresponding to the bet target on the game table, and the gaming tokens paid out by the dealer to the bet gaming tokens (hereinafter also referred to as "bet chips") are placed near the bet chips.

[0005] In the game table, antennas for reading RIFD tags embedded in gaming tokens are embedded corresponding to each area. A reading device is connected to each antenna. The reading device reads the information of the RFID tag by controlling each antenna. The reading control device grasps which gaming token is placed in which area on the game table based on which identification information is read by which antenna.

Summary of the Invention

[0006] However, if multiple areas on the game table are close to each other, even if an antenna is installed in each of those areas, each antenna may mistakenly read the RFID tags of the substitute currency used for the game that is placed in other areas.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a game table reading system that is advantageous for appropriately differentiating readings even when multiple reading areas are provided in close proximity to each other on a game table. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A game table reading system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a game table having a plurality of reading areas, each including at least a plurality of betting areas for positioning substitute game currency with embedded RFID tags; a plurality of reading antennas installed corresponding to each of the plurality of reading areas for reading RFID tags embedded in substitute game currency placed in the corresponding reading area; a reading restriction antenna that restricts reading by the reading antenna so that the reading antenna does not read RFID tags of substitute game currency in reading areas other than the reading area corresponding to the reading antenna; a reading control device connected to the reading antenna and controlling the reading antenna to acquire information stored in the RFID tag from the reading antenna; a reading restriction control device that controls the reading restriction antenna; a database that stores the RFID tag information and related information in association; and a management control device that updates the database based on the relationship between the RFID tag information read by the reading antenna and the reading area from which the RFID tag was read.

[0009] This configuration allows for the management of game currency by a database, even when multiple reading areas are located close together on the game table, by reading the RFID tag information of the game currency separately for each reading area.

[0010] In the game table reading system described above, the information on the RFID tag may include chip identification information for the substitute currency used for gaming, the associated information may include user identification information of the user possessing the substitute currency used for gaming, and the management control device may update the database so that the chip identification information of the substitute currency used for gaming, which is paid out to the user who wins the game, is associated with the user identification information of the user who wins the game.

[0011] This configuration allows for the identification of the game currency held by each user, even if the owner of the game currency changes depending on the game.

[0012] In the game table reading system described above, the plurality of reading areas may include a pay area for reading the dispensing substitute game currency, and the management control device may update the database so that the chip identification information of the substitute game currency read in the pay area is associated with the user identification information.

[0013] This configuration allows for the reliable identification of the substitute currency used for games that is dispensed.

[0014] In the game table reading system described above, the plurality of reading areas may include a plurality of betting areas corresponding to a plurality of types of betting targets for each play position, the game table reading system may further include user identification means for identifying user identification information of a user located in the play position, and the management control device may update the database when the chip identification information of the dispensed substitute game currency is read in the betting area, so that the chip identification information of the dispensed substitute game currency is associated with the user identification information associated with the substitute game currency bet in the betting area.

[0015] This configuration allows the database to be updated so that the holder of the bet game currency and the holder of the game currency paid out for that bet are the same person.

[0016] In the game table reading system described above, the plurality of reading areas may include a plurality of pay areas provided for each play position for reading the substitute game currency to be dispensed, and the management control device may update the database so associating the chip identification information of the substitute game currency read in the pay area with the user identification information identified at the play position corresponding to the pay area.

[0017] This configuration allows for the reliable identification of the substitute currency used for games that is dispensed.

[0018] In the game table reading system described above, the management control device may update the database so that, if the user identification means identifies the user identification information of one of two users simultaneously located in one play position, but does not identify the user identification information of the other user, and if multiple users are betting the substitute currency for games in one betting area, it associates the chip identification information of the substitute currency for games that is first dispensed to that play position with the identified user identification information.

[0019] This configuration allows for efficient database updates even when users with identifiable user information and users without identifiable user information are in the same betting area. This is achieved by performing payouts under an operational rule that prioritizes users whose user identification information has been identified when multiple payouts are made to the same play position.

[0020] In the game table reading system described above, the multiple betting areas may include player areas, banker areas, and side betting areas that are located close together for each play position.

[0021] This configuration allows for the recognition of the bets made for each player position and each bet target, i.e., for each side bet such as player, banker, tie, pair, etc.

[0022] In the game table reading system described above, the information of the RFID tag may include chip identification information for substitute currency used in games, and the related information may include location information that can identify the location of the reading antenna. The management control device may update the database to associate the chip identification information of the RFID tag with the location information that can identify the location of the reading antenna by identifying the reading antenna that read the RFID tag.

[0023] In the game table reading system described above, the location information may include information identifying the table, information identifying the chip tray, information identifying the gate, and / or information identifying the cage.

[0024] In the game table reading system described above, information on the value of the substitute currency for gaming may be stored in the RFID tag as the information on the RFID tag, or stored in the database as related information associated with the information on the RFID tag, the related information may include user identification information of the user possessing the substitute currency, the plurality of reading areas may include a plurality of betting areas corresponding to a plurality of types of betting targets for each play position, and the management system identifies the user identification information of the user located at the play position. The system may further provide means for identifying users, and the database may store, for each user, the user identification information of that user and the value of the substitute currency for games that the user possesses in association with each user, and the management control device may update the database so that the value of the substitute currency for games that is paid out to a user who wins a game is added to the value of the substitute currency for games that the winning user possesses, and the value of the substitute currency for games that is recovered by a user who loses a game is subtracted from the value of the substitute currency for games that the losing user possesses.

[0025] This configuration allows for the management of the value of the game currency each user possesses, i.e., the amount of money they hold, in a database.

[0026] In the above game table reading system, information on the value of substitute game currency may be stored in the RFID tag as the information of the RFID tag, or may be stored in the database as the associated information in association with the information of the RFID tag. The associated information may include user identification information of a user who has bet substitute game currency. The plurality of reading areas may include bet areas for each play position. The management system may further include user identification means for identifying user identification information of a user located at the play position. The database may store, for each user, the user identification information of the user in association with the value of the substitute game currency bet by the user. The management control device may update the database so as to add the value of the substitute game currency read by the reading antenna to the value of the substitute game currency bet associated with the user identification information of the user identified for the play position corresponding to the reading antenna.

[0027] With this configuration, for each user, the value of the substitute game currency bet, that is, the bet amount, can be managed in the database. Note that the bet amount may be managed as incentive points corresponding thereto.

[0028] In the above game table reading system, the information of the RFID tag may include information for authenticity determination of substitute game currency. The game table reading system may refer to the database, collate the information for authenticity determination read by the reading antenna, and output a warning when the collation is unsuccessful.

[0029] With this configuration, when illegal substitute game currency is used on the game table, a warning can be output.

[0030] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a game table reading system comprising: a game table having a plurality of reading areas, each including at least a plurality of betting areas for positioning substitute game currency with embedded RFID tags; a plurality of reading antennas, each of which is installed in accordance with the plurality of reading areas and which emit electromagnetic waves to read RFID tags embedded in substitute game currency placed in the corresponding reading area; a reading restriction antenna, which emits electromagnetic waves to restrict reading by the reading antennas so that they do not read RFID tags on substitute game currency in reading areas other than the corresponding reading area; and a shielding member for shaping the electromagnetic field so that the electromagnetic field generated by the reading antennas is weakened outside the reading area corresponding to the reading antennas.

[0031] This configuration allows for the differentiation of reading areas even when multiple reading areas are adjacent and densely packed together.

[0032] In the game table reading system described above, the shielding member may be a plate, tape, film, coating, or sheet containing at least one of aluminum, silver, copper, gold, or nickel.

[0033] In the game table reading system described above, the shielding member may be provided in substantially the same plane as the reading antenna.

[0034] In the game table reading system described above, the shielding member may be provided in substantially the same plane as the reading limiting antenna.

[0035] In the game table reading system described above, the shielding member may be shaped so that the electromagnetic field generated by the reading antenna is flattened outside the reading area corresponding to the reading antenna.

[0036] In the game table reading system described above, the system may have multiple reading limiting antennas corresponding to a single reading area in order to shape the electromagnetic fields generated by multiple reading antennas corresponding to multiple other reading areas adjacent to that single reading area. [Effects of the Invention]

[0037] According to the present invention, even when multiple reading areas are provided in close proximity to each other on a game table, the RFID tag information of the substitute currency for gameplay can be read separately for each reading area, and the substitute currency for gameplay can be managed by a database. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0038] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an overall overview of a table game management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a database according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram of the RFID tag attached to the substitute currency for games according to the second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a method for recording data for game substitute currency according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an overview of the management system for substitute currency used in games according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a reading device and writing device for game substitute currency according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7A] Figure 7A is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of a game substitute currency according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7B] Figure 7B is an explanatory diagram showing the data structure of a game substitute currency according to another second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] Figure 8 shows a database according to another second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9]Figure 9 shows an overview of a table game management system in a gaming arcade having multiple gaming tables according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] Figure 10 shows the results of reading a chip using a camera and RFID according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] Figure 11 shows a game table according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] Figure 12 shows the state of the substitute currency used for games placed on a game table according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] Figure 13 shows the state of the substitute currency used for games placed on a game table according to the third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14A] Figure 14A shows details of a chip tray according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14B] Figure 14B shows another example of a chip tray according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a diagram of a game table according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] Figure 16 shows the results of reading a chip using a camera and RFID according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 17] Figure 17 is a diagram of a game table according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 18] Figure 18 is a diagram of a game table according to another third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 19] Figure 19 is a diagram of a game table according to another third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 20] Figure 20 is a perspective view of a game substitute coin according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 21] Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view of a game substitute coin according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 22] Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of a game substitute coin according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 23]Figure 23 shows the configuration of a management system in the first example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 24] Figure 24 illustrates an example of updating change information in the first example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 25] Figure 25 illustrates an example of updating change information in the first example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 26] Figure 26 illustrates an example of updating change information in the first example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 27] Figure 27 shows the configuration of a management system in a second example of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 28] Figure 28 shows the configuration of a management system in the third example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 29] Figure 29 illustrates an example of updating a database in a third example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 30] Figure 30 illustrates an example of updating a database in a third example of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 31] Figure 31 illustrates an example of updating a database in a third example of a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 32] Figure 32 shows the configuration of a management system in a fourth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 33] Figure 33 shows the configuration of a management system in a fifth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 34] Figure 34 shows the configuration of a management system in a sixth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 35] Figure 35 illustrates an example of updating change information in a sixth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 36] Figure 36 illustrates an example of updating change information in a sixth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 37] Figure 37 illustrates an example of updating change information in a sixth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 38] Figure 38 illustrates an example of updating change information in a sixth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 39] Figure 39 shows the configuration of a management system in the seventh example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 40] Figure 40 illustrates an example of updating a database in the seventh example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 41] Figure 41 illustrates an example of updating a database in the seventh example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 42] Figure 42 illustrates an example of updating a database in the seventh example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 43] Figure 43 illustrates an example of updating a database in the seventh example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 44] Figure 44 illustrates an example of updating a database in the seventh example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 45] Figure 45 shows the configuration of a management system in the eighth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 46] Figure 46 shows the configuration of a management system in the ninth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 47] Figure 47 illustrates an example of updating change information in the ninth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 48] Figure 48 illustrates an example of updating change information in the ninth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 49] Figure 49 illustrates an example of updating variation information in the ninth example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 50] Figure 50 shows an example of a bed area in the 11th example of the 4th embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 51A] Figure 51A shows another example of the bed area of ​​the 11th example of the 4th embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 51B]Figure 51B shows another example of the bed area in the 11th example of the 4th embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 52] Figure 52 shows the configuration of the management system according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 53] Figure 53 is a diagram showing an overall overview of the game table reading system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 54] Figure 54 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a game table reading system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 55] Figure 55 is a cross-section of the bed area, which is the reading area, in the sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 56] Figure 56 shows the data structure of the game substitute currency and database according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 57] Figure 57 shows another example of a reading antenna and a reading limiting antenna according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 58] Figure 58 shows another example of a read-limiting antenna according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0039] (First Embodiment) The overall outline of the first embodiment of the present invention's table game management system will be explained with reference to Figure 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing the overall outline of the system. The game table 1004 for the baccarat game has betting areas for player 1441, banker 1442, tie 1443, player pair 1444, and banker pair 1445 for each player position 1131 to 1135. In addition, a chip placement area 1025 is provided for each player position, and a chip reader 1002 is provided to read the RFID of the game substitute currency 1001 placed in the chip placement area.

[0040] Furthermore, each chip placement area 1025 is provided with a pay area 1026 for the dealer to place the substitute game currency 1001 taken from the chip tray 1009 of the game table 1004 when dispensing the substitute game currency 1001 to the winning player from the chip tray 1009.

[0041] Furthermore, the system includes a control device 1003 that grasps the reading result of the RFID of the game currency 1001 read by the chip reader 1002.

[0042] Initially, players participating in the game place their game currency 1001 in the betting area within the chip placement area. The chip reader 1002 reads the RFID of the placed game currency 1001, and the control device 1003 obtains the ID information of the RFID and the information of the owner of the game currency 1001 that is associated with it in the database.

[0043] Based on the game's outcome, if the casino wins, the dealer collects the substitute currency 1001 wagered by the losing player and places it in the chip tray 1009. The RFID of the substitute currency 1001 in the chip tray 1009 is detected by the chip reader 1002, and the control device 1003 records in the database that the casino is the owner of the substitute currency 1001 collected by the casino.

[0044] Based on the outcome of the game, the dealer, in accordance with the rules of the game, pays out 1001 game currency from the chip tray to the winning player in an amount corresponding to the amount of chips wagered.

[0045] When disbursing, the payment chips may be placed in the aforementioned pay area 1026, or in any chip placement area other than the pay area.

[0046] Here, we will explain the method for recording information about the holders of the payment chips using Figure 2. Figure 2 shows the method for recording information about the holders of the game substitute currency 1001 when chips are paid to the winning player.

[0047] If multiple players place betting chips within the same player position, resulting in two or more stacks, the chip reader 1002 reads all the game tokens 1001 placed in the chip placement area 1025 at once. Therefore, during the game, it obtains the ID 1010 of the bet game tokens without knowing which player each token belongs to. After the game's outcome is determined, when paying the winning player, the dealer pays out from the chip tray 1009 for each player (each stack). The game tokens 1001 removed from the chip tray 1009 are placed in the chip placement area 1025. The chip reader 1002 reads the ID 1011 of the payment chips placed in the chip placement area 1025.

[0048] The disbursed game tokens 1001 are received by the winning player along with the initially placed game tokens 1001. At this time, since the betting chips and payment chips move outside the chip placement area 1025, the IDs of the betting chips and payment chips are removed from the reading results by the chip reader 1002. As a result, the control device 1003 determines which player the disbursed payment chips went to by associating them with information about the holder of the betting chips.

[0049] The control device 1003 stores information about the holder of the identified payment chip in a database, associating it with the ID of the substitute currency used for the game.

[0050] As a result, it becomes possible to trace the owner of the substitute currency 1001 used for gaming, and in the event of fraudulent transfer of the substitute currency 1001, it becomes possible to discover that the owner information stored in the database differs from the actual owner.

[0051] Furthermore, the actual owner can be identified using facial recognition technology or IDs such as membership cards.

[0052] Furthermore, while the above explanation describes managing the ID of each game substitute currency in a database, it is also acceptable to have a configuration where the owner information is stored in the game substitute currency 1001 itself.

[0053] Furthermore, in addition to having one pay area 1026 for each player position, the pay area may also be configured independently of each player position, and the chip reading by the chip reader 1002 may be performed independently.

[0054] Furthermore, the configuration may allow for the selection of whether or not to use the pay area 1026 depending on the reading performance of the chip reader 1002.

[0055] Furthermore, this table game management system may be configured to be linked with an RFID reader that reads chips in the chip tray 1009, a camera that reads bet chips, a shoe or other device that determines the outcome of the game, and to be able to mutually utilize information.

[0056] (Second Embodiment) First, the substitute currency used in the management system for substitute currency of the present invention will be described. Figure 3 shows the substitute currency 1 used in the system. In the figure, the substitute currency 1 has an RFID tag 2 embedded in it that can store various information. The RFID tag 2 has a data-rewritable area 21 and a data-rewritable area 22.

[0057] Area 21, where data cannot be rewritten, stores fixed information 3, which is information that will not be changed, will not be changed, or should not be changed while the substitute currency 1 for gaming is in use. Specifically, fixed information 3 stores production information, product information, casino information, monetary value information, serial number, etc., for the substitute currency 1 for gaming. Production information includes the date and time the substitute currency for gaming was manufactured and the manufacturing machine, etc. Product information includes, for example, information indicating that it is a chip for the VIP area of ​​a casino, and information indicating the type of chip (for example, information indicating that it is a rolling chip or a cash chip).

[0058] The area 21 where data cannot be rewritten may be an area that is functionally unwriteable according to the specifications of the RFID tag, or it may be an area that has been locked to prevent further data writing after the necessary information has been written to the writable area.

[0059] The data rewritable area 22 stores variable information 4, which is information that changes while the substitute currency 1 for games is being used. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the variable information 4 stores location information 220, which includes date and time information 221, location and event information 222, and holder information 223.

[0060] Fixed information 3 and variable information 4 may be encrypted to prevent unauthorized reading or writing of the information by others. Furthermore, fixed information 3 and variable information 4 may be stored as metadata.

[0061] Figure 4 shows an example of a method for recording data for the fluctuation information 4 of the substitute currency 1 used for games. As shown in Figure 4, location information 220, consisting of date and time, time information 221, location, event information 222, and holder information 223, is treated as a single block, and the information in this block is linked in a chain-like manner so that the history of location information 220 of the substitute currency 1 used for games can be grasped.

[0062] Figure 4 shows an example of the fluctuation information 4 stored in the substitute currency 1 used for gambling, and the movement of the substitute currency 1 can be understood as follows: At 4:02 PM on January 28, 2019, Mr. A exchanges cash for substitute currency 1 at cage 5. At 4:15 PM on the same day, Mr. A places a bet at table No. 325 using substitute currency 1. At 4:43 PM on the same day, Mr. B receives substitute currency 1 as a winnings from his bet at table No. 325. At 5:01 PM on the same day, Mr. B leaves the casino with the substitute currency 1.

[0063] The fluctuation information 4 may be configured to store only the latest information, or it may store all the location information that has been written to it. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, it may store some of the location information from among several locations. When storing some, it may store multiple locations, including at least the latest location information 220 of all the location information 220. With the above configuration, the history of use or movement of a game substitute currency 1 can be determined from the fluctuation information 4 of that game substitute currency 1. In other words, the traceability information of the game substitute currency 1 is written to the game substitute currency 1 itself and is configured to be trackable.

[0064] Next, the management system for the game substitute currency 1 of this embodiment will be described. Figure 5 shows an overview of the system.

[0065] First, at the factory 6, the substitute currency for games 1 has variable information 4, including information on completion of manufacturing or shipment from the factory, written as location information 220 to the rewritable area 22 of the RFID tag 2 by the writing device 14.

[0066] The game currency 1 shipped from factory 6 is processed in the casino's backyard 7. In backyard 7, a reader 13 reads the variable information 4 stored in the rewritable area 22 of the game currency 1. Based on the reading result, the management control device 15 determines whether location information 220 indicating that it was written at factory 6 has been written as the latest variable information 4. If there is no record of writing at factory 6, an error signal is generated, indicating that the game currency is suspected of being fraudulent. This allows the casino to refuse to accept the game currency or to request an investigation from the factory. If there is no problem with the write record, the write device 14 writes the location information 220 indicating the backyard to the rewritable area 22 of the RFID tag 2. When writing, location information indicating the backyard may be added in addition to location information indicating the factory, or location information indicating the factory may be deleted and location information indicating the backyard may be added. Furthermore, the reading and writing of substitute currency for gaming in the aforementioned backyard 7 can be performed in conjunction with the normal validation and activation of the substitute currency for gaming.

[0067] The game currency 1, which has undergone acceptance inspection in backyard 7, is transported to the casino's warehouse 8 or cage 9. In warehouse 8 or cage 9, the reader 13 reads the variable information 4 stored in the rewritable area 22 of the game currency 1. Based on the reading result, the management control device 15 determines whether the location information 220, indicating that it was written in backyard 7, is written as the latest variable information 4, as the information that should be written. It may also check whether information indicating factory 6 is written in the history of variable information 4. The management control device 15 determines whether there are any abnormalities in the history of location information, similar to the inspection in backyard 7 described above. If there are no problems with the reading result, the write device 14 writes the location information 22 indicating warehouse 8 or cage 9 to the rewritable area 22.

[0068] The player purchases game currency 1 in cage 9. When the player purchases game currency 1, the writing device 14 in cage 9 writes the time the game currency was purchased and information indicating that the holder of the game currency has changed from the casino to a customer as change information 4. The player may also be identified and recorded using facial recognition technology or an ID card such as a casino membership card or My Number card.

[0069] Players place bets using the exchanged game currency 1 by placing it in the betting area 11 at the game table. The reader 13 reads location information 220 from the RFID tag 2 of the bet game currency 1, consisting of date and time information 221, location and event information 222, and holder information 223, and the management control device 15 determines whether there is an abnormality. For example, an abnormality can be determined if a certain period of time has passed since the last written information, such as the date and time of use at the game table or the exchange information at the cage, or if the holder information 223 stored in the game currency 1 differs from the holder information 223 identified by facial recognition or ID card.

[0070] If there are no problems with the reading result, the writing device 14 writes location information 220 to the rewritable area 22 of the bet substitute currency 1. The location information 220 includes date and time information 221, location and event information 222, and owner information 223. At the table, for example, the writing device 14 writes change information 4, which includes the player position number where the substitute currency 1 is placed and the player's information. The player's information may be identified by an ID card or facial recognition. Normally, multiple substitute currency 1 are stacked and placed in the betting area 11, so the data is written to them all at once while they are stacked.

[0071] When a player takes the substitute currency 1 for gaming from the casino floor, they exit through gate 10. Upon exit, location information 220 is read by the reader 13, and the management control device 15 determines whether there are any abnormalities in the variable information 4. Also at gate 10, the writing device 14 writes the location indicating the exit, event information 222, and variable information 4 including holder information 223.

[0072] When a player enters the casino floor and brings in a substitute currency 1 that they previously took out, the reader 13 reads information about its location, and the management control device 15 determines whether there is any abnormality in the fluctuation information 4. For example, if the person holding the substitute currency 1 that was taken out of the casino is different from the person holding it when entering the casino, it can be determined that the substitute currency was exchanged outside the casino.

[0073] The aforementioned control device 15 may output an alarm to the cage 9 or gate 10 if the judgment based on the reading result of the reader 13 is abnormal. When the holder of the substitute currency 1 for the game attempts to exchange it for cash at the cage 9 or exits through the gate 10, the control device 15 can refuse the exchange or perform individual checks upon exit based on the alarm it outputs. In addition, if the judgment result is abnormal, the control device 15 may issue a warning to the dealer at each game table to interrupt the game, or issue a warning to the pit, allowing the pit manager to decide whether to interrupt or continue the game, or to take action such as exchanging the substitute currency 1. Alternatively, the control device 15 may be connected to the casino's overall control device 18 and configured to issue a warning to the overall control device 18.

[0074] Similarly, when a cash exchange is performed in the cage, the management control device 15 may read the fluctuation information 4 from the reader device 13 and determine if there is an abnormality. Specifically, an abnormality may be determined if a certain period of time has passed since the last written information regarding use in the game table or cash exchange in the cage, or if a person other than the holder information 223 stored in the substitute game currency 1 is attempting to exchange it. If an abnormality is determined, the management control device 15 may output a warning and refuse to exchange the substitute game currency 1 that has been determined to be abnormal.

[0075] Furthermore, although the above description assumes a configuration in which reading is performed by the reader 13, determination is made by the management control device, and then writing is performed by the write device 14, a configuration in which reading and writing are performed simultaneously is also possible.

[0076] The following details examples of applications of the present invention.

[0077] At factory 6, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to upon completion of production or shipment. The writing device 14 writes production information and product information as fixed information 3, locks it to prevent rewriting as needed, and also writes variable information 4.

[0078] In backyard 6, when receiving the game currency 1 shipped from the factory and activating it as usable game currency 1, the RFID tag 2 is read and / or written to.

[0079] In warehouse 8, when moving the game substitute currency 1 from warehouse 8 to cage 9, or when moving the game substitute currency 1 from cage 9 to warehouse 8, the RFID tag 2 is read and / or written to. Alternatively, the RFID tag 2 may be read and / or written to the game substitute currency 1 stored in warehouse 8 at regular intervals or at predetermined timings.

[0080] In cage 9, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to when moving from or to warehouse 8, and when exchanging customer cash for game currency 1. When an exchange takes place in cage 9, the location indicating the exchange, event information 222, and the player who made the exchange are written as holder information 223, and change information 4 is written to it. Holder information 223 can be obtained from the player's casino ID card, facial recognition system, credit card, etc.

[0081] At Gate 10, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to when players enter and exit. When a player leaves the casino, all gaming currency 1 taken out of the casino are registered by writing the location indicating the take-out, event information 222, and holder information 223 indicating the player taking the currency as variable information 4. Similarly, when entering, the location indicating the bring-in, event information 222, and holder information 223 indicating the player bringing the currency are registered by writing them as variable information 4 to the gaming currency 1 brought into the casino.

[0082] In the betting area 11, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to the substitute currency 1 used for betting that players place in the betting area 11 to participate in betting. Additionally, RFID tags 2 are read and / or written to the substitute currency 1 used for betting that dealers place in the betting area 11 as reimbursement for players.

[0083] The chip tray 12 reads and / or writes to the game substitute currency 1 collected in the chip tray and the game substitute currency 1 stored in the tray.

[0084] The gaming table further includes a payment area, and the dealer may read and / or write to the game substitute currency 1 placed in the betting area 11 as a reimbursement to the players using RFID tags 2.

[0085] The management control device 15 has a function to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the location information 220 obtained from the reading results of the reading device 13 at each location. To determine whether or not there is an abnormality, it can determine whether or not either of the following events has occurred: the device has not been used for a predetermined period of time since the last write, or the location information that should have been written has not been written.

[0086] The event that the account has not been used for a specified period of time since the last post is: 1) The most recent location information indicates cage 9, and the following information has been written for more than the specified time: 2) The most recent location information indicates entry at Gate 10, and the following information has been written for more than the specified time: 3) The most recent location information indicates exit at Gate 10, and the following information has been written for more than the specified time: It is one of the following situations.

[0087] The event in which the location information that should be written is not written is, 4) When entering the game hall, the latest location information of the area 22 where the data of the substitute currency 1 for gameplay can be rewritten does not contain information indicating exit at gate 10. 5) When used in cage 9, information indicating backyard 7 is not written. 6) When leaving the gaming area, if information indicating cage 9 or backyard 7 is not written, It is one of the following situations.

[0088] The control device 15 determines whether an event is abnormal or not based on the information 223 about the holder obtained from the reader 13, 1) A person other than the last owner recorded in the data rewritable area 22 exchanges or repays the game substitute currency 1 within the game hall, or leaves the game hall. 2) A person other than the person who possessed the game at the time of departure, as recorded in the data rewritable area 22, brings the substitute currency for the game into the game hall. It is possible to determine one of the following situations.

[0089] The management control device 15 determines whether an event is abnormal or not based on information indicating the location of the bet area 11, the location of the chip tray 12, or the payment area, obtained from the reader 13. 1) A person other than the last owner recorded in the data rewritable area 22 uses the game substitute currency 1 at the game table. 2) A substitute game currency 1, which has no record of use at the game table, is exchanged for cash at cage 9 by a person different from the person who purchased the substitute game currency 1 at cage 9. 3) A substitute game currency 1 that does not have information indicating cage 9 or backyard 7 is used within the game hall. 4) The most recent location information is information indicating the betting area 11 or the payment area, and after a specified period of time has elapsed, it will be used for cashing out or playing at the game table in cage 9. Determine one of the situations described in 1) through 4) above.

[0090] Figure 8 shows a database according to another embodiment of the present invention. The management system further includes a database 17 that records similar fixed information 3 and variable information 4 in addition to the substitute currency 1 for games. Based on the reading results of the reader 13, the management control device 15 records information in the database 17 and can also compare the fixed information 3 and variable information 4 stored in the substitute currency 1 with the information in the database to determine any abnormalities.

[0091] In the RFID tag 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the functionally unwriteable area of ​​the data-unrewritable area 21 may be the TID. After writing the necessary information to the data-unrewritable area 21, the area that is locked to prevent further data writing may be the EPC or user area. The data-rewritable area 22 may be the EPC or user area.

[0092] The reading device 13 and writing device 14 may take different forms depending on the location. For example, in factory 6 they are on a table as shown in Figure 6, in gate 10 they are box-shaped, and in betting area 11 and chip tray 12 the betting area 11 or chip tray 12 themselves may have the functions of the reading device 13 and writing device 14. Also, the substitute currency 1 for games may be stacked as is, or reading and writing may be performed while they are contained in a chip case or the like. Furthermore, the reading device 13 and writing device 14 may be integrated into one unit.

[0093] The above embodiment describes a case where the substitute currency for gaming has one RFID tag, and this single RFID tag has an area where data cannot be written and an area where data can be rewritten. In contrast, it is also conceivable that the substitute currency for gaming has two RFID tags, with one RFID tag storing fixed information and locked to prevent data writing, and the other RFID tag being made rewritable to record variable information.

[0094] However, in this case, when multiple game currency units are read at once, as shown in Figure 7A, the fixed information group 3 and the variable information group 4 are read separately. This makes it impossible to determine the combination of fixed and variable information for a specific game currency unit, and thus it becomes impossible to identify game currency units with abnormal variable information.

[0095] In contrast, when using a single RFID tag, as shown in Figure 7B, the reader can understand the correspondence between the fixed and variable information read by the reader even when reading multiple substitute currency items for gaming at once. Therefore, it is considered better to implement this using a single RFID tag.

[0096] Furthermore, since RFID tags generally have higher reading accuracy the larger their diameter, when incorporating RFID tags into substitute currency for gaming, it is desirable that the RFID tags have a diameter at least greater than the radius of the substitute currency. However, it is undesirable to reduce the diameter of individual RFID tags by incorporating two RFID tags into a substitute currency. In addition, incorporating two RFID tags increases the number of RFID tags to be read, which can lead to a decrease in reading speed when reading multiple substitute currencies.

[0097] For the reasons mentioned above, it is considered more effective to implement this using a single RFID tag.

[0098] (Third embodiment) The following describes an overall overview of a table game management system in an amusement arcade having multiple game tables according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an overall overview of the system, and the table game management system in an amusement arcade having multiple game tables 2004 includes a game recording device 2011 that records games played on the game tables 2004 as images via multiple cameras 2002, including game substitute currency 1; an image analysis device 2012 that performs image analysis on the recorded images; a chip reader 25 that reads the RFID attached to the game substitute currency 1; and a game result determination device 18 that determines and displays the game results of each game on the game tables 2004.

[0099] The game result determination device 18 is, for example, a card distribution device 2003, which is a so-called electronic shoe already used by those skilled in the art. The rules of the game are programmed in advance, and the device is structured to read the information of the distributed cards C and determine the outcome of the game. For example, in a baccarat game, the outcome (banker win, player win, tie) is basically determined by the rank of 2-3 cards, and the result (win / loss) is displayed on the result display lamp 2013.

[0100] In the diagram, the game table 2004 is a baccarat table with five sitting numbers 13 ("Sitting Number 1" 131, "Sitting Number 2" 132, "Sitting Number 3" 133, "Sitting Number 5" 134, and "Sitting Number 6" 135), allowing five players to participate in the game. A betting area 44 is provided for each sitting number 13. The betting area 44 for sitting number 13 includes areas for Player (PLAYER) 441, Banker (BANKER) 442, Tie (TIE) 443, Player Pair (P) 444, and Banker Pair (B) 445. Each player places a bet by placing the amount of their bet (game currency 1) in the position corresponding to the item they wish to bet on. In Figure 9, for example, two substitute game currency 1s are placed on tie 443 of sitting number 5, and two substitute game currency 1s are placed on player 441. The game table 2004 is further provided with a player card area 45 for placing drawn player cards and a banker card area 46 for placing drawn banker cards.

[0101] The control device 2014 can determine, via the camera 2002 and image analysis device 2012, which position (player, banker, tie, or pair) in the betting area 2008 each player 2006 has bet with their substitute currency 1, the type of substitute currency 1 bet (each color of substitute currency 1 is assigned a different value), and the number of coins bet. In other words, the control device 2014 can determine, for example, that two substitute currency 1 have been bet on sitting number 5, tie 443, and two substitute currency 1 have been bet on player 441.

[0102] As shown in Figure 9, the chip reader 25 is arranged so that it can read the RFIDs of the game currency 1 within each sitting number, treating the entire betting area as a single reading area. The RFIDs attached to the game currency 1 contain unique ID information, the amount, type, manufacturing information, and owner information. Alternatively, the ID information may be linked and stored in a database. By reading the RFIDs attached to the game currency 1, the chip reader 25 can determine the number of game currency 1 for each sitting number and determine the total amount or number of coins. That is, for example, if four game currency coins are bet on sitting number 5, the type, amount, and ID of each can be determined.

[0103] As shown in Figure 10, the control device 2014 determines the total amount or total number of game currency 1 bet on each bet area of ​​each sitting number based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device 2012, and compares this with the total amount or total number of game currency 1 for each sitting number based on the RFID information of the game currency 1 read by the chip reader 25 to determine whether they match. Furthermore, it can output sitting numbers for which the above determination does not match, making it possible to identify the sitting numbers that had problems.

[0104] If the total amount or number of game currency 1 for each sitting number, based on the reading results of the chip reader 25, is less than the total amount or number of game currency 1 for each sitting number, based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device 2012, it is possible that the RFID attached to the game currency 1 is broken, unreadable, or that the game currency 1 does not have an RFID attached. In Figure 10, the total number of readings for game currency 1 placed on sitting number 1, based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device 2012, is 4, while the total number of readings based on the RFID reading by the chip reader 25 is 3. Therefore, it is possible that the RFID of one of the four game currency 1 placed on sitting number 1 was unreadable.

[0105] If the total amount or number of substitute game currency 1 for each sitting number, based on the reading results of the chip reader 25, is greater than the total amount or number of substitute game currency 1 for each sitting number, based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device 2012, it is possible that the image analysis device 2012 was unable to read the substitute game currency 1 due to factors such as the substitute game currency 1 being in the camera's blind spot. In Figure 10, the total number of substitute game currency 1 bet on sitting number 3, based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device 2012, is 1, while the total number of readings based on the RFID reading by the chip reader 25 is 2. Therefore, it is possible that there were 2 substitute game currency 1 bet on sitting number 3, but the image analysis device 2012 only recognized 1.

[0106] The RFID ID information attached to the substitute currency 1 for gaming is registered in the casino's database, which records information such as production and shipping information from the factory, and information on receipt, validation, and activation at the casino. The control device 2014 can compare the RFID information read by the chip reader 25 with the information in the database and determine whether it is genuine or not, as it is registered to be used in the casino.

[0107] This configuration allows the camera to determine the type and number of game currency 1 placed in each betting area, and based on the RFID information of the game currency 1 read by the chip reader 25, it is possible to determine the authenticity and defects of the game currency 1 for each sitting number.

[0108] Furthermore, the system includes means for identifying game participants using a facial recognition system or player ID card, and the control device 2014 can link the game participant information identified by the game participant identification means with the sitting number. The control device 2014 can store the bet amount, redemption or recovery amount, and win / loss information stored for each sitting number for each game participant. It can also store information on multiple games played by a game participant at multiple tables.

[0109] The control device 2014 can determine the total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 of the dealer 2005 at the game table 2004 using the chip tray determination device 12. After the game ends and settlement is complete, the control device can compare and calculate whether the total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 has increased or decreased according to the game's outcome, based on the amount of the collected substitute game currency 1 bet by each player 2006 and the payment 9W of winning chips to the winning player 2006W. The chip tray determination device may determine the total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 by photographing the substitute game currency 1 contained in the chip tray 17 using the camera 2002 and analyzing the results of the image analysis device 2012, or it may detect the total amount of substitute game currency 1 contained in the chip tray 17 by providing an RFID reader on the chip tray 17.

[0110] In this example, fraud and errors are detected based on the game's outcome, information on how many of each type of substitute currency 1 were bet in each position (player, banker, tie, or pair) in the betting area 2008, and the increase or decrease in the substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 after the collection of losing chips and redemption of winning substitute currency 1. Therefore, fraud and errors can be detected without knowing the movement of the substitute currency 1 after the game ends, i.e., whether the bet substitute currency 1 moved to the player's side or the dealer's side.

[0111] Here, the outcome of a game can be determined according to the rules of baccarat, for example, by reading the rank of card C dealt in the game using the card distributing device 2003. Alternatively, the outcome of a game can also be determined by taking a picture of the game table 2004 with the camera 2002, analyzing the image with the image analysis device 2012, and comparing the analysis results with the game rules using the control device 2014. In this case, the camera 2002, the image analysis device 2012, and the control device 2014 constitute the game result determination device. Information on how many of each type of substitute currency 1 was bet by each player at sitting number 7 at each position (player, banker, tie, player pair, banker pair) in the betting area 2008 is obtained by taking a picture of the substitute currency 1 placed in the betting area 2008 with the camera 2002 and analyzing the image for each playing position 7 with the image analysis device 2012.

[0112] Furthermore, the increase or decrease in the amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before and after the collection of substitute currency 1 for losing games and the redemption of substitute currency 1 for winning games can be calculated by comparing the total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before the collection of substitute currency 1 for losing games and the redemption of substitute currency 1 for winning games with the total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 after the collection of substitute currency 1 for losing games and the redemption of substitute currency 1 for winning games.

[0113] For example, suppose the total amount of substitute currency 1 in chip tray 17 is Bb before the start of the game, and the total amount of substitute currency 1 in chip tray 17 after the game has ended, with the collection of losing chips and the redemption of winning chips being completed is Ba. Also, suppose that in this game, the total amount of substitute currency 1 bet across all 7 play positions in the player area is bp, the total amount of substitute currency 1 bet across all 7 play positions in the banker area is bb, and the total amount of substitute currency 1 bet across all 7 play positions in the tie area is bt. For example, if the outcome of this game is a banker win, then Ba - Bb = bp - bb + bt should hold true. Alternatively, the total amount of substitute currency 1 in chip tray 17 after the end of the game, Ba, should be (Bb + bp - bb + bt). If this is not the case, it can be determined that there was fraud or error in the collection or redemption of chips.

[0114] Figure 14A shows details of the chip tray in this embodiment, and Figure 14B shows another example of the chip tray. The chip tray 17 is provided with a collection chip tray 171 for collecting and temporarily storing the substitute game currency 1L wagered by the losing player 2006L, and a redemption chip tray 172 for storing the substitute game currency 1W to be redeemed. The image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 determine the location, type, and number of substitute game currency 1L wagered by the losing player 2006L, and calculate the increase in the substitute game currency 1L in the game (the amount of substitute game currency 1 that should be in the collection chip tray 171). Furthermore, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 determine the actual total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 171 after collection, and compare the expected total amount with the actual total amount to determine if there is a difference.

[0115] The control device 2014 can further redeem the substitute game currency 1 to be redeemed, and when the redemption is complete, it can compare the actual total amount in the chip tray with the total amount that should be in the chip tray, which is calculated from the position, type, and number of chips bet by each game participant on the game table and the game result, and determine if there is a difference between the total amount that should be in the chip tray and the actual total amount.

[0116] Furthermore, the redemption of the game substitute currency 1W to the winning player 2006W is performed using the game substitute currency 1 in the redemption chip tray 172, which allows sufficient time for the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 to determine the actual total amount of game substitute currency 1 in the collection chip tray 171 after collection.

[0117] As described above, in this embodiment, the control device 2014 calculates the chip balance for each game from the amount of chips bet on the game table 2004 and the outcome of the game, and verifies the increase in the chip balance in the chip tray 17 after the game. If the control device 2014 detects a difference in this verification, it issues an alarm or adds a record to that effect to the video recording captured by the camera 2002. The casino operator can investigate the cause of the difference by reviewing the video.

[0118] The table game management system of this embodiment adds or subtracts the increase or decrease in chips in the game, calculated from the total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before settlement of each game, based on the position, type, and number of substitute game currency 1 bet by all players 2006 in that game and the win / loss result of the game obtained by the win / loss result determination device. It then compares the expected total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 after settlement at the end of the game with the actual total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the chip tray 17 at the end of the game, obtained via the image analysis device 2012, and determines whether there is a difference between the expected total amount and the actual total amount.

[0119] The control device 2014, via the image analysis device 2012, determines the position, type, and number of chips bet by each player, and when all of the losing chips bet by each player have been collected, it determines the actual total value of chips in the chip tray, and compares the actual total value of the substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 with the actual total value of the substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17, which is calculated by adding the increase in the chip tray 17 for that game based on the position, type, and number of chips bet by the losing players, from the total value of chips in the chip tray 17 before settlement of each game, and determines whether there is a difference between the expected total value and the actual total value.

[0120] The control device 2014 compares the total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before settlement of each game with the actual total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17, which is calculated by adding the increase in the chip tray 17 for that game based on the position, type, and number of substitute currency 1 bet by losing players, to the total amount of substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 17 before settlement of each game. If it determines that there is no difference between the total amount and the actual total amount, and if it determines that there is a difference between the total amount and the actual total amount, it determines that there is a payment error and generates a payment error signal to indicate the payment error.

[0121] The chip tray 17 is equipped with a collection chip tray 171 for collecting and temporarily storing the substitute game currency 1 wagered by losing players. The image analysis device 2012 compares the expected total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the collection chip tray 171, which is calculated by adding the increase in the amount of substitute game currency 1 wagered in the game based on the position, type, and number of substitute game currency 1L wagered by losing players, with the actual total amount of substitute game currency 1 in the collection chip tray 171, and determines whether there is a difference between the expected total amount and the actual total amount.

[0122] When the control device 2014 determines that the actual total amount of substitute game currency 1 known in the chip tray 17 of the dealer 2005 on the game table 2004 does not correspond to the increase or decrease in chips calculated from the amount of chips bet by all players and the outcome of the game, the game recording device 2011 can either assign an index or timestamp to the acquired video, or identify and play back the scene of the collection or payment of substitute game currency 1, so that the record of the game in which the above difference occurred can be analyzed.

[0123] Thus, the control device 2014 obtains the total amount of chips in the chip tray 17 after settlement at the end of the game via the image analysis device 2012. In this case, the decision after settlement is made when any of the following 1) to 4) occurs. 1) When the redemption of the winning substitute currency 1 is completed, 2) When card C used in the game is collected and discarded to the discard area 41 or discard slot 42 of the table, 3) When a predetermined button attached to the win / loss result determination device is pressed, 4) When the win / loss marker 43 is returned to its original position.

[0124] Furthermore, the control device 2014 is an artificial intelligence-based or deep learning structure that can extract unique situations (set by the casino) when a player's winning or losing history and the amount of chips won (amount won) are obtained from the win / loss results of each game, by comparing them with statistical data from a large number of past games (big data). Typically, it includes an artificial intelligence-based or deep learning structure that can extract unique situations when a winning amount of more than a certain amount (1 million dollars) occurs, or when, at a particular play position 7 of a game table 2004, the amount of chips bet when losing is small and the amount of chips bet when winning is large for several games in a row, by comparing these with statistical data from past games (big data, etc.).

[0125] Furthermore, the control device 2014 of this table game management system (integrated with the image analysis device 2012) is structured to identify individual players 2006 at play position 7 who have been extracted as unique situations or have won more than a predetermined amount. Such identification of players 2006 is achieved by the image analysis device 2012 obtaining facial images through feature point extraction, etc., and assigning them an identity number (ID, etc.). The control device 2014 then has a warning function that notifies other game tables of the presence of the identified player 2006 when that player leaves their seat and takes a seat at another game table. Specifically, it notifies the pit manager or the person in charge of each game table (which may be a dealer) to prevent further unique phenomena.

[0126] The control device 2014 can identify the collected gaming substitute currency 1 for each sitting number based on the RFID ID information of the collected gaming substitute currency 1 determined by the chip tray determination device and the RFID ID information of the gaming substitute currency 1 read by the chip reader 25.

[0127] In Figure 11, the substitute currency 1 for gameplay is bet as shown in the detailed tables in Figures 12 and 13. Analysis by the image analysis device 2012 reveals where the substitute currency 1 is bet (player, banker, etc.) and the number of coins (and the amount). Meanwhile, reading by the chip reader 25 allows for the identification of the RFID ID attached to the substitute currency 1 for each sitting number. Furthermore, the chip tray determination device can determine the ID of the substitute currency 1 in the chip tray 9, so by determining the increase in IDs before and after collection, it is possible to identify the collected substitute currency 1. In Figures 11-13, if the game result is a banker win, the analysis results from the image analysis device 2012 show that the two coins bet on the banker pair should be collected, and among the IDs of the collected chips determined by the chip tray determination device, it can be seen that the two chips with IDs 6 and 18, which the chip reader 25 read as being bet on sitting number 5, have been collected.

[0128] The control device 2014 further understands the total amount or total number of game substitute coins 1 to be collected for each sitting number, determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the location, amount, and number of game substitute coins 1 based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device. Therefore, the control device 2014 can compare the total amount or total number of collected game substitute coins 1 for each sitting number determined based on RFID with the total amount or total number of game substitute coins 1 to be collected based on the image analysis results, and determine whether they match.

[0129] For example, if the reading result from the chip reader 25 for sitting number 1 is "A, B, C, D, E", the analysis result from the image analysis device 2012 is "2 chips on tie, 2 chips on banker", the game result is "Banker wins", and the reading result from the chip tray determination device 18 is "A, B", then it can be seen that the chips A and B that were bet on tie were correctly collected.

[0130] The control device 2014 can further determine whether the RFID ID information of the recovered game substitute currency 1 determined by the chip tray determination device matches the RFID ID information of the game substitute currency 1 that was wagered, as read by the chip reader 25. This determination allows it to determine whether the game substitute currency 1 collected in the chip tray is the game substitute currency 1 that was wagered on the game table, or whether it is game substitute currency 1 that was illegally collected from another location.

[0131] The control device 2014 can further determine the type of chip, such as a cash chip, rolling chip, or promotional chip, based on the RFID information read by the chip reader 25, and can store the amount wagered, recovered, or redeemed for each determined chip type.

[0132] Rolling chips are special chips that can only be purchased by specific members and cannot be exchanged for cash. The amount of rolling chips purchased by each member is managed. They must be used and consumed through betting, and repayments for bets made with rolling chips are made with cash chips. By storing the amount of rolling chips bet or collected based on the RFID information read by the chip reader 25, it is possible to determine the amount of rolling chips that a particular member should possess.

[0133] The chip reader 25 also has a confirmation area function and can read the substitute game currency 1 placed for redemption. As shown in Figure 15, when redeeming the banker for sitting number 2, the substitute game currency 1 for redemption is placed in the chip reader 25 and read. In Figure 15, it is placed next to the winning substitute game currency 1 bet on the banker for sitting number 2. The control device 2014 compares the redemption amount determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount, and number of substitute game currency 1 based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device with the amount of substitute game currency 1 placed for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reader 25, and can determine whether the redemption amounts match or not and output the result. In Figure 16, the total number of substitute game currency 1 to be paid for sitting number 1 is 4, but the reading result from the chip reader 25 is 3, so there is a mismatch. If the redemption amount does not match, a mismatch signal is output, and the dealer can reposition the substitute game currency 1 for redemption based on the output signal. If the substitute game currency 1 is repositioned, the determination is made again and the determination result is output. The area where the substitute game currency 1 for redemption is placed can be anywhere within the chip reader 25. In addition, as shown in Figure 15, a payment confirmation area 26 may be placed on the dealer side of the betting area, separate from the betting area. In Figure 7, the substitute game currency 1 for redemption is placed in the payment confirmation area 26 of sitting number 6, the chip reader 25 reads it, the control device 2014 makes a determination, and the redemption chip is placed next to the winning substitute game currency 1 placed in the banker.

[0134] Furthermore, the confirmation area may also be subjected to image analysis by the image analysis device 2012, and the control device 2014 may compare it with the reading results of the chip reader 25 to determine whether the total number of chips matches.

[0135] The control device 2014 can output a signal based on the judgment it has made. The signal may be displayed on the display unit of the chip tray 9 or the display unit of the card dispensing device 2003, or it may be output to the pit manager or the casino's back room.

[0136] As shown in Figure 17, the chip reader 25 may treat the entire betting area as one reading area for each sitting number, or as shown in Figure 18, it may treat the player betting area and banker betting area as one reading area, and the tie betting area, player pair betting area, and banker pair betting area as one reading area for each sitting number. Alternatively, as shown in Figures 19 and 22, the side betting areas of the tie betting area, player pair betting area, and banker pair betting area may each be treated as a separate reading area.

[0137] The following describes the substitute currency 1 used in the embodiment of the present invention. Figure 20 is an external view of the substitute currency 1 used in this system, and Figure 21 is a front cross-sectional view. Multiple layers of different colored plastics are laminated together, with at least one colored layer 101 in the middle, and white layers 102 or light-colored layers (not shown, but any layer lighter in color than the colored layer 101) laminated on both sides of this intermediate colored layer 101, forming a multilayer structure. By having a colored layer 101 and laminating white layers 102 or light-colored layers (not shown, but any layer lighter in color than the colored layer 101) on both sides of this intermediate colored layer 101, a striped pattern in the lamination direction is formed on the side as shown in Figure 20, and by changing the color of the colored layer 101 (red, green, yellow, blue, etc.), the type of substitute currency 1 (10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, etc.) can be identified.

[0138] The colored layer 101 may be formed by multiple colored layers (three layers in Figure 21), as shown in Figure 21. Since the multiple colored layers (three layers in Figure 21) are heat-pressed together, the three-layer structure is not visible as shown in Figure 21, and Figure 21 represents three layers for illustrative purposes. Furthermore, a cutout B is provided in the middle layer of the three layers of the colored layer 101, and an RFID is embedded within it.

[0139] Furthermore, the substitute currency 1 for games is not limited to a structure made of laminated plastic, but may have an appearance similar to that of the colored layer 101.

[0140] The following describes in detail how the image analysis device 2012 analyzes the substitute game currency 1. The image analysis device 2012 analyzes the image recorded in the recording device 11 and recognizes at least two colors: a specific color 121 that is at least partially applied to the substitute game currency 1 and a reference color R that is different from the specific color 121 and is present in the image. The specific color 121 is applied at least partially to the substitute game currency 1 in a predetermined position or shape. For example, it may be applied as a colored layer 101, applied circumferentially to the side of the substitute game currency 1, or applied as a predetermined mark on the surface of the substitute game currency 1. The reference color R may be, for example, the color of a specific area of ​​the game table 2004, or a color applied to a location on the substitute game currency 1 different from the specific color 121.

[0141] The image analysis device 2012 includes an artificial intelligence device 12a that identifies specific colors using, for example, deep learning technology, and determines the number and type of substitute game currency 1 placed on the game table 2004. The recognition device 12 may further determine the position of the substitute game currency 1 on the game table 2004.

[0142] The image analysis device 2012 acquires multiple images of the substitute game currency 1 and the reference color R illuminated at different illuminances. It learns by having a human provide training data using the acquired images and the correct colors of the specific color 121 of the substitute game currency 1 and the reference color R in each image, thereby creating a learning model 13a (recognition program). Images of the substitute game currency 1 and the reference color R illuminated under the same illuminance conditions allow for the acquisition of the relative relationship between the specific color 121 and the reference color R, since the specific color 121 and the reference color R are illuminated at the same illuminance. For example, this relative relationship may be used for the recognition of the specific color 121.

[0143] Alternatively, the chip recognition device 12 may extract the center line C of the game substitute currency 1 by measuring image features such as shape, brightness, saturation, and hue, using the results of image analysis performed on the image captured by the camera 2002, without using artificial intelligence.

[0144] The artificial intelligence device 12a further includes a configuration that recognizes at least two colors in the surrounding image, namely a specific color 121 and a reference color R different from the specific color 121, by performing image analysis on a predetermined range of the surrounding image around the extracted center line C (for example, a range of 8 pixels perpendicular to the center line, centered on the center line). When performing image analysis on the surrounding image of the predetermined range around the extracted center line C, the image may be analyzed as is, or it may be analyzed after image processing such as color enhancement or noise reduction to facilitate the recognition of the specific color 121.

[0145] In summary, the artificial intelligence device 12a of the recognition device 12 is configured to extract a center line C from an image of the substitute currency 1 for gaming, and to recognize at least two colors in the surrounding image by performing image analysis on the surrounding image within a predetermined range centered on the center line C, namely a specific color 121 and a reference color R different from the specific color 121. The artificial intelligence device is taught using multiple surrounding images of the substitute currency 1 and the reference color R illuminated at different illuminances as training data.

[0146] In another embodiment of the present invention, the control device 2014 further 1) In each game, check for any movement of chips between the start of card drawing or the dealer's game start operation and the display of the game's outcome by the card distribution device. 2) After each game has ended, while the dealer is collecting the chips bet by the losing players, check to see if there have been any chip movements by anyone other than the dealer. 3) After each game ends, while the dealer is collecting the chips bet by the losers among the game participants, check whether any chips have been added. 4) After each game has finished, the dealer has checked whether he has paid out the chips that the winners among the game participants had placed. 5) After each game has ended, the system includes a function to determine whether the winner among the game participants has taken the chips they wagered and the chips that were paid out.

[0147] Furthermore, the control device 2014 may be configured to determine at least one of 1) to 5) above by using the analysis results of the image analysis device 2012 to detect the hand movements of the dealer and the game participants, the movement of the chips, or the hand movements and the movement of the chips.

[0148] The control device 2014, as a characteristic function of the present invention, has the following functions 1) to 5) in accordance with the rules of the baccarat game and determines whether or not any cheating in violation of the rules has occurred. That is, 1) In each game, from the moment the card dispensing signal from the card dispensing device 2003 is received, or from the moment the dealer 2005 presses the start button 4s to initiate the game, until the card dispensing device 2003 displays the game's win / loss result, the camera 2002 is used to monitor for any movement of the substitute currency 1, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012. 2) After each game has finished, while the dealer 2005 is collecting the substitute game currency 1 that the losers among the game participants 2006 had bet, the camera 2002 is used to monitor whether the losers 6 have taken the substitute game currency 1 fraudulently, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012. 3) After each game has ended, while the dealer 2005 is collecting the substitute game currency 1 that the losers among the game participants had bet, the camera 2002 is used to monitor, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012, whether anyone other than the dealer 2005 (winners or losers) has added winning substitute game currency 1W or placed new substitute game currency 1 on the winning side that has not bet. 4) After each game ends, the camera 2002 is used to monitor whether the dealer 2005 has correctly placed the game currency 1W for payment in the location where the winning game participant 2006 had placed their bet, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012. 5) After each game has finished (the dealer 2005 operates the card distribution device 2003 to display the win / loss result on the display lamp 13), the camera 2002 is used to monitor whether the winner 6W among the game participants 2006 has taken the bet substitute currency 1 and the substitute currency 1W that was paid out, using information obtained by the image analysis device 2012.

[0149] In the above embodiment, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 were devices that utilized artificial intelligence or had a deep learning structure. Specifically, the image analysis device 2012 and the control device 2014 may use a scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm, a convolutional neural network (CNN), deep learning, machine learning, or similar methods to perform image analysis and the various controls described above. These technologies are techniques for recognizing objects contained in captured images by performing image recognition on those images. In particular, in recent years, deep learning techniques using multi-layered neural networks have been used to recognize objects with high accuracy. This deep learning technique generally recognizes objects with high accuracy by stacking multiple layers in the intermediate layers between the input and output layers of the neural network. In this deep learning technique, convolutional neural networks, in particular, have attracted attention because they have higher performance than conventional methods of recognizing objects based on image features.

[0150] In a convolutional neural network, labeled target images are trained to recognize the main object contained within those images. If multiple main objects exist within a training image, a region rectangle is used to specify it, and the corresponding image is labeled for training. Furthermore, a convolutional neural network can also determine the main object within an image and its position.

[0151] To further explain convolutional neural networks, the recognition process involves extracting candidate regions based on local features by performing edge extraction and other operations on the target image. These candidate regions are then input into a convolutional neural network to extract feature vectors, which are then classified. The candidate region with the highest confidence level is then recognized as the result. Confidence level is a measure of how much higher the similarity between a given image region and the subject of the image (as learned along with its label) is relative to the similarity between other classes.

[0152] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the above embodiments can be modified by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present invention, and the apparatus of these embodiments may be appropriately modified as needed for the game to which they are applied.

[0153] (Note) To solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the management system for substitute currency for games of the present invention is: A single RFID tag having an area where data cannot be rewritten and an area where data can be rewritten is attached to the substitute currency for gaming. The area of ​​the RFID tag in which the data cannot be rewritten stores, as fixed information, at least one of the following: production information, product information, casino information, monetary information, and serial number of the substitute currency for the game. The area in which the aforementioned data can be rewritten stores information regarding the location of the substitute currency used for the game as variable information. The configuration allows for the extraction of variable information stored in a rewritable area of ​​the same RFID tag from the fixed information stored in a non-rewritable area of ​​the data. The aforementioned system, A writing device that adds information regarding the location of the substitute currency for the game to the area where the data can be rewritten, A reading device capable of reading the fixed information stored in an area where the data of multiple substitute game currency cannot be rewritten, and reading the location information stored in an area where the data corresponding to each of the read fixed information can be rewritten, The system further comprises a management control device that examines the location information obtained from the reading device, The area in which the data can be rewritten stores multiple pieces of location information, including at least the most recent location information of all location information written by the writing device. The management control device has a function to determine whether or not there is an abnormality in the history of location information obtained from the reading device, generates an error signal if there is an abnormality, and is configured to identify the fixed information of the substitute currency for games that has been determined to be abnormal.

[0154] Furthermore, the area in which the data can be rewritten is configured to store information about the time when the writing device wrote to the substitute currency for the game, along with the information about the location. The management control device is configured to determine whether or not there is an abnormality based on the location information obtained from the reading device, by determining whether or not either of the following events has occurred: the device has not been used for a predetermined period of time since the last write, or the location information that should have been written has not been written.

[0155] Furthermore, the management control device includes at least one of the following information regarding the location: information indicating a cage, information indicating entry or exit, or information indicating a backyard. The aforementioned phenomenon of not having used the system for a specified period of time since the last post is as follows: 1) The most recent location information is information indicating the cage, and the following information has not been written for more than a specified time: 2) The most recent location information indicates entry, and the following information has not been posted for more than the specified time: 3) The most recent information regarding the location indicates that the person has left, and the following information has not been posted for more than the specified time: It is one of the following situations: The aforementioned event in which the location information that should be written is not written is, 4) When entering the amusement arcade, if the latest location of the rewritable area of ​​the substitute currency used for the game does not contain information indicating departure, 5) When used in a cage, information indicating the backyard is not written on it. 6) When leaving the gaming area, if information indicating a cage or back area is not written on it, It could be any of the following situations.

[0156] Furthermore, the information relating to the location may include information relating to the holder of the substitute currency used for the game.

[0157] Furthermore, the control device determines whether or not an abnormality is occurring based on the information about the holder obtained from the reading device, 1) A person other than the last owner of the data stored in the rewritable area exchanges or changes the substitute currency for the game within the game hall, or leaves the game hall. 2) A person other than the person who possessed the game currency at the time of departure, as recorded in the rewritable area of ​​the aforementioned data, brings the game substitute currency into the game hall. It may be equipped with a function to determine either situation 1) or 2) above.

[0158] Furthermore, information regarding the holder of the aforementioned substitute currency for gaming may be identified by facial recognition or ID card reading.

[0159] Furthermore, the location information may include information indicating the location of the chip tray of the particular gaming table, or information indicating the location of the betting area, or information indicating the payment area.

[0160] Furthermore, the control device determines whether or not an abnormality exists based on the information obtained from the reading device indicating the location of the chip tray on the gaming table, or the location of the betting area, or the payment area, as an event that determines whether or not an abnormality exists. 1) A person other than the last owner of the data stored in the rewritable area uses the substitute currency for the game at the game table. 2) A person other than the person who purchased the substitute currency at the cage exchanges for game currency that has no record of use at the game table. 3) Game currency without information indicating a cage or backyard is used within the game hall. 4) The most recent location information indicates a betting area or payment area, and after a specified period of time has elapsed, it is used for cashing out at the cage or at the gaming table. It may be equipped with a function to determine any of the situations described in 1) through 4) above.

[0161] Furthermore, the information contained in the RFID tag may be encrypted.

[0162] Furthermore, the area where the data cannot be rewritten may be configured in a way that prevents data from being written functionally, or it may be configured in a way that locks it to prevent data from being written.

[0163] Furthermore, the reading device is configured to read both the fixed information stored in the area where the data cannot be rewritten and the location information stored in the area where the data can be rewritten, all at once. The management control device may be configured to extract and grasp information regarding the location of a plurality of game substitute coins stored in a rewritable area of ​​the same RFID tag from the plurality of fixed information of the plurality of game substitute coins read by the reader.

[0164] To solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the game substitute currency of the present invention comprises a single RFID tag having an area where data cannot be rewritten and an area where data can be rewritten. The area where the aforementioned data cannot be rewritten stores, as fixed information, at least one of the following: production information, product information, casino information, monetary information, and serial number of the substitute currency used for the game. The area in which the aforementioned data can be rewritten is configured to store information regarding the location of the substitute currency used for the game, which has been written by the writing device, as variable information. This configuration allows for the extraction of variable information stored in the same non-rewritable area of ​​the RFID tag from the fixed information stored in the non-rewritable area of ​​the data.

[0165] Furthermore, the game substitute currency may be configured such that a reader can collectively read the fixed information stored in an area where the data of multiple game substitute currencies cannot be rewritten, and based on the read fixed information, read the location information stored in an area where the data can be rewritten.

[0166] To solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the table game management system of the present invention uses game substitute currency with individually identifiable RFID tags, A game table for playing a game using the aforementioned substitute currency for games, A game recording device that records the substitute currency wagered by each game participant in a game played at the aforementioned game table as an image via a camera, An image analysis device for performing image analysis on the recorded images of the substitute currency used for games, A chip reader that reads the RFID attached to the substitute currency used for the game, which each game participant bets on, The system includes a control device that grasps the image analysis results of the image analysis device and the reading results of the chip reader, The aforementioned gaming table is equipped with multiple betting areas, each seating number including at least a player betting area and a banker betting area. The chip reader reads the game substitute currency for each sitting number by treating the entire betting area as a single reading area, or by dividing the entire area into multiple reading areas, fewer than the number of betting areas, and reading the game substitute currency for each reading area. The control device is configured to independently determine the type and number of the substitute game currency bet for each betting area, including at least the player betting area and the banker betting area, based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, and to determine whether the total amount or total number of substitute game currency for each sitting number or reading area based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of substitute game currency for each sitting number or reading area based on the reading results from the chip reader, and to output the determination result.

[0167] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to output sitting numbers for which the determination result does not match.

[0168] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating that the RFID attached to the game substitute currency is broken or that the game substitute currency does not have an RFID attached if the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reader is less than the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each sitting number based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0169] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating the possibility of a reading error of the game substitute currency by the image analysis device if the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each sitting number based on the reading results of the chip reader is greater than the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each sitting number based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0170] Furthermore, the system includes a database that stores the RFID IDs attached to the aforementioned substitute currency for gaming, The control device may be configured to compare the RFID ID based on the reading result of the chip reader with the ID stored in the database, determine the authenticity of the substitute currency for the game, and output the determination result.

[0171] Furthermore, the game table includes a chip tray for holding substitute currency used by the dealer for gameplay, A chip tray determination device capable of determining the type and number of the substitute coins for the game contained in the chip tray, The system includes a game result determination device that determines the game result of each game on the gaming table, The control device is equipped with a calculation function that performs a calculation of the casino's profit and loss calculation at the game table for each game collection and redemption, using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount, and number of substitute currency used for games based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device. A collection determination function determines whether there was any fraud or error in the collection of substitute currency for games by comparing the amount of chips to be collected in the game, calculated from the position, type, and number of chips bet by each game participant on the game table and the game result, with the actual amount collected in the chip tray, and determining whether there is a difference between the amount to be collected and the actual amount collected. The system may include a redemption determination function that redeems chips that are to be redeemed, and when the redemption is complete, compares the actual total amount in the chip tray with the total amount that should be in the chip tray, calculated from the position, type, and number of chips bet by each game participant on the game table and the game result, and determines that there was fraud or error in the redemption if there is a difference between the total amount that should be in the chip tray and the actual total amount.

[0172] Furthermore, the control device identifies the collected game substitute currency for each sitting number based on the RFID ID information of the collected game substitute currency determined by the chip tray determination device and the RFID ID information of the game substitute currency read by the chip reader. The system may be configured to compare the ID, amount, or number of the identified substitute game currency with the ID, amount, or number of the substitute game currency to be collected for each sitting number, determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount, and number of substitute game currency based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, and to determine whether they match for each sitting number.

[0173] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to determine the type of the substitute game currency, categorized by its intended use or purpose, based on the RFID ID information of the substitute game currency read by the chip reader, for each game, and to store the amount wagered or recovered or redeemed for each type of substitute game currency for each sitting number.

[0174] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to store, for each sitting number and for each type of substitute currency used for the game, the cumulative amount wagered or the cumulative amount recovered or redeemed in multiple games.

[0175] Furthermore, the type of substitute currency used for gaming may be at least cash chips, rolling chips, or promotional chips.

[0176] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to identify the owner based on the ID information of the rolling chip and to store, for each owner, the cumulative amount wagered on the rolling chip or the cumulative amount recovered or redeemed.

[0177] Furthermore, the chip reader reads the substitute game currency placed in the chip reader for redemption for each sitting number, The control device may be configured to compare the redemption amount determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount, and number of substitute game currency based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device with the amount of the substitute game currency placed for each sitting number based on the reading results from the chip reader, and to determine whether the redemption amounts match or not and output the result.

[0178] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to display a mismatch if the determination result of the redemption amount is inconsistent, and to perform a determination again if there is a change in the amount of substitute currency for games placed in the chip reader for each sitting number read by the chip reader, and to output a re-output of whether it matches or is inconsistent.

[0179] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to compare the amount of the substitute currency for gameplay placed for redemption for each sitting number with the increase or decrease in the chip tray before and after redemption, and to determine whether or not there is a difference.

[0180] Furthermore, the chip reader may include a payment confirmation area located on the dealer side of the betting area where the substitute currency for the game is placed for redemption.

[0181] Furthermore, the system includes means for identifying game participants using a facial recognition system or player ID card. The control device may be configured to link the sitting number with the information of the game participant identified by the game participant identification means.

[0182] Furthermore, the system may also include a display device that displays information based on the output of the control device.

[0183] Furthermore, the gaming table is further equipped with a betting area for side bets. The aforementioned side bed area is provided with adjacent bed areas for each sitting number. The chip reader is capable of reading at least one of the side bet betting areas at once. The control device may be configured to determine the type and number of the substitute game currency bet on at least one of the side bet areas based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, determine whether the total amount or total number of substitute game currency in at least one side bet area based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of substitute game currency in that side bet area based on the reading results from the chip reader, and output a signal of the determination result.

[0184] Another embodiment of the present invention is a management system for table games, Game currency with individually identifiable RFID tags, A game table for playing a game using the aforementioned substitute currency for games, A game recording device that records the substitute currency wagered by each game participant in a game played at the aforementioned game table as an image via a camera, An image analysis device for performing image analysis on the recorded images of the substitute currency used for games, A chip reader that reads the RFID attached to the substitute currency used for the game, which each game participant bets on, The system includes a control device that grasps the image analysis results of the image analysis device and the reading results of the chip reader, The aforementioned gaming table is equipped with a betting area consisting of a player betting area, a banker betting area, and a side betting area. The aforementioned side bed area is provided with adjacent bed areas for each sitting number. The chip reader is capable of reading at least one of the side bet betting areas at once. The control device is configured to independently determine the type and number of the substitute game currency bet for at least one of the side bet areas based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, and to determine whether the total amount or total number of substitute game currency for at least one side bet area based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device matches the total amount or total number of substitute game currency for that side bet based on the reading results from the chip reader, and to output a signal of the determination result.

[0185] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to output the side bet for which the determination result does not match.

[0186] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating that the RFID attached to the game substitute currency is broken or that the game substitute currency does not have an RFID attached if the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each side bet, based on the reading results of the chip reader, is less than the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each side bet, based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0187] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to generate a signal indicating the possibility of a reading error of the game substitute currency by the image analysis device if the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each side bet based on the reading results of the chip reader is greater than the total amount or total number of game substitute currency for each side bet based on the image analysis results of the image analysis device.

[0188] Furthermore, the system includes a database that stores the RFID IDs attached to the aforementioned substitute currency for gaming, The control device may be configured to determine the authenticity of the game currency by comparing the RFID ID based on the reading result of the chip reader with the ID stored in the database.

[0189] Furthermore, the control device may be configured to identify the collected game substitute currency for each side bet based on the RFID ID information of the collected game substitute currency determined by the chip tray determination device and the RFID ID information of the game substitute currency read by the chip reader, and to compare the ID, amount, or number of game substitute currency to be collected for each side bet, determined using the game results obtained from the game result determination device and the measurement results of the position, amount, and number of game substitute currency based on the image analysis results from the image analysis device, with the ID, amount, or number of game substitute currency collected for each side bet, and to determine whether the collected amount matches or does not match for each side bet.

[0190] (Fourth embodiment) A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

[0191] (Example 1) Figure 23 shows the configuration of a management system in the first example of the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The management system 110 traces the holders of the substitute currency for games without using a database. For this purpose, the holder's information is stored in the substitute currency for games. The management system 110 is equipped with a roughly elliptical game table 4004. A player 82 is located on one side of the game table 4004 (the lower side in Figure 23), and a dealer (not shown) is located on the opposite side. On the top surface of the game table 4004, betting areas 41a to 41e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "betting area 41") are partitioned for each of the multiple play positions. The betting area 41 is an area where the player 82 places bets by placing their substitute currency 83. On the dealer position side of the game table 4004, a chip tray 12 is provided for the dealer to place their substitute currency 82 for games.

[0192] The substitute currency for games 83 has the same configuration as the substitute currency for games in the above embodiment. Specifically, the substitute currency for games 83 has an RFID tag 2 embedded in it, which has a non-rewritable area 21 for storing fixed information 3 and a rewritable area 22 for storing variable information 4. The RFID tag 2 stores a chip ID (identification information) as unique information 3 that uniquely identifies the substitute currency for games 83. The RFID tag 2 also stores a user ID as variable information 4 that uniquely identifies the owner of the substitute currency for games 83.

[0193] Furthermore, casinos and dealers are assigned a common user ID, and if a casino owns the substitute currency 83 for gaming (including when it is stored in the chip tray 12), the fluctuation information 4 stores the user ID that indicates the casino or dealer.

[0194] Each betting area 41a to 41e of the gaming table 4004 is equipped with an RFID antenna 511a to 511e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "RFID antenna 511"). Specifically, each RFID antenna 511 is embedded under the felt of the gaming table 4004, in a position where the corresponding betting area 41 is partitioned off. An RFID antenna 513 is also provided on the chip tray 12.

[0195] The RFID antenna 511 reads and writes data to the RFID tag 2 embedded in the substitute currency 83 for gaming placed in the corresponding bet area 41. The RFID antenna 513 reads and writes data to the RFID tag 2 embedded in the substitute currency 83 for gaming placed in the chip tray 12.

[0196] RFID antennas 511a to 511e and RFID antenna 513 are connected to the RF control device 54. In Figure 23, only the line connecting antenna 511e to the RF control device 54 is shown, and the lines connecting antennas 511a to 511d to the RF control device 54 are omitted for clarity. However, antennas 511a to 511d are also connected to the RF control device 54 in the same way as antenna 511e. The same applies to the following diagrams. The RF control device 54 controls reading and writing for each antenna. The RF control device 54 controls reading and writing for each antenna individually. For this purpose, each antenna is assigned an area ID that uniquely identifies the area in which reading and writing will be performed by that antenna. Furthermore, when reading, the RF control device 54 performs readings periodically.

[0197] By referring to this area ID, it is possible to determine whether the read game currency 83 is in the chip tray 12 or in the betting area 41, and for the betting area 41, it is also possible to determine which play position's betting area 41a to 41e it is.

[0198] When performing a read operation, the RF control device 54 receives data read from each antenna and identifies the area from which the data was read, i.e., the area ID. When performing a write operation, the RF control device 54 identifies the antenna to be written to, i.e., the area ID, and transmits the data to be written. In this way, the RF control device 54 can individually control reading and writing for each antenna.

[0199] The RF control device 54 outputs the user ID of the game currency 83 ("User ID" in Figure 23) and the area ID of the area where the user ID was read ("Area ID" in Figure 23) based on the data read by each antenna. The management system 110 further includes a management control device 56 connected to the RF control device 54. The management control device 56 receives the user ID and area ID from the RF control device 54 and specifies to the RF control device 54 the user ID to be written to the RFID tag 2.

[0200] As explained below, the user ID stored in the RFID tag 2 of the game currency 83 changes when the game currency 83 is moved. However, the RFID tag 2 also stores past user IDs in addition to the latest user ID as variable information 4. Therefore, by referring to this variable information 4, it is possible to investigate the changes in ownership of each game currency 83. Furthermore, in the following explanation, expressions such as "rewriting the user ID" mean changing at least the latest user ID, and do not necessarily mean simultaneously deleting past user ID information.

[0201] The management control device 56 updates the fluctuation information 4 of the game currency 83 based on the data (user ID and area ID) of the game currency 83 received from the RF control device 54. The method for updating the fluctuation information 4 will be described below.

[0202] Figures 24-26 illustrate an example of updating fluctuation information. As shown in Figure 24, the player has placed a game token 831 in the betting area 41b. The management control device 56 receives the user ID of the betting token 831 and the area ID of the betting area 41b, which are obtained by reading the RFID tag 2 of the game token 831 (hereinafter also referred to as "betting token 831") that the player has placed in the betting area.

[0203] When a bet is placed, as shown in Figure 24, the same user ID (in the example in Figure 24, "P1") is read from the betting area 41b, and the same ID (in the example in Figure 24, "D", indicating that the holder is a casino or dealer) is read from the chip tray 12. If this player wins the game, as shown in Figure 25, the dealer dispenses (redeems) game currency (hereinafter also referred to as "payout chips 832") from the chip tray 12 and places it next to the betting chips 831 in the betting area 41b.

[0204] In this case, in addition to "P1", "D" will be read from bet area 41b as a user ID. If the management control device 56 reads two types of user IDs for the substitute currency 83 for gameplay from the same bet area 41, and one of them is "D" and the other is a user ID assigned to a player, it controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the user IDs of all the substitute currency 83 in that bet area 41 to the user ID assigned to that player (in the case of Figure 25, "P1"). In this case, the bet chip 831 that had "P1" stored as its user ID will have the same "P1" added as the latest user ID.

[0205] On the other hand, if a player loses the game, the dealer collects the bet chips 831 into the chip tray 12, as shown in Figure 26. In this case, in addition to "D", "P1" will be read from the chip tray 12 as a user ID. If the management control device 56 reads a user ID other than "D" from the game substitute currency 83 in the chip tray 12, which is a user ID assigned to the player (in the example of Figure 26, "P1"), it rewrites the user IDs of all the game substitute currency 83 in the chip tray 12 to "D".

[0206] Alternatively, a collection float may be provided in the chip tray 12 for temporarily storing the game substitute currency 83 collected, and the antennas may be separated from the collection float and other parts so that the above processing is performed only on the game substitute currency 83 collected in the collection float.

[0207] The above processing by the management control device 56 updates the user ID stored in the game substitute currency 83 in accordance with the change in the actual holder. In other words, in this embodiment, the user ID is stored in the RFID tag 2 of the game substitute currency 83, and the user ID of the payout chip 832 is updated so that it becomes the same holder as the bet chip 831. Therefore, without using a database or player identification system described later, and without the management control device 56 knowing the progress of the game (betting stage, game stage, settlement stage), it is possible to trace the changes in holders due to games played at the game table 4004.

[0208] Furthermore, when a player purchases new game currency 83, the player is identified using the player identification system described later, and the casino or dealer's user ID is rewritten to the identified player's user ID before the game currency 83 is given to the player. Also, when a player exchanges game currency 83 for cash, the user ID of the game currency 83 given by the player is rewritten to the casino or dealer's user ID.

[0209] (Second example) Figure 27 shows the configuration of the management system in the second example of the fourth embodiment. The management system 120 includes a player identification system in addition to the configuration of the management system 110 in the first example. The player identification system includes an image recognition system consisting of a camera 52 and an image recognition device 55, and a card authentication system consisting of a card 81 and a card reader 53, but either one or the other may be included.

[0210] Camera 52 captures the face of player 82 positioned at the play position and outputs the image generated by the capture to image recognition device 55. Image recognition device 55 is equipped with a face recognition engine using a neural network that has learned the face images of multiple registered players 82 (hereinafter, registered players are also referred to as "members"). By inputting the image from camera 52 into the neural network, image recognition device 55 identifies which of the registered members the input face image belongs to. If image recognition device 55 determines that the image from camera 52 does not belong to any of the registered members, it outputs a result indicating that the face image is that of a non-member.

[0211] Furthermore, the image recognition device 55 identifies the play position of the member based on the position of the face in the image in which it was authenticated. The image recognition device 55 outputs the user ID of the member corresponding to the image from the camera 52 ("User ID" in Figure 27) along with the area ID ("Area ID" in Figure 27) of the identified play position. If the image recognition device 55 cannot identify which member it is, it outputs "Unknown" as the user ID.

[0212] The card reader 53 scans the membership card 81 handed to the dealer by the player 82 and reads the information stored on the membership card 81. The membership card 81 is a magnetic card with a magnetic stripe, and at least the user ID of the player 82 (member) is stored on the magnetic stripe. When the dealer receives the membership card 81 from the player 82, they scan the membership card 81 using the card reader 53 and input the player 82's play position into the card reader 53. The card reader 53 outputs the user ID read from the membership card 81 ("User ID" in Figure 27) and the area ID of the play position entered by the dealer ("Area ID" in Figure 27).

[0213] The management control device 56 receives the user ID and area ID stored in the game substitute currency 83 from the RF control device 54 and read using the antenna 511, the user ID and area ID identified based on the player's facial image from the image recognition device 55, and the user ID obtained by reading the membership card 81 from the card reader 53 and the area ID designated by the dealer.

[0214] If, for the same area ID, the management control device 56 does not match the user ID read from the antenna 511, i.e., the user ID stored as the holder of the game currency 83 bet in the betting area 41, with respect to the user ID read from the membership card 81 or the user ID identified by the image recognition device 55, i.e., the player identified by the player identification system, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the user ID stored as the holder in the variable area 4 of the game currency 83 bet in the betting area 41 with the user ID of the player identified by the player identification system.

[0215] The RF control device 54 uses the antenna 511 to write the user ID of the player identified by the player identification system to the rewritable area 22 of the RFID tag 2 of the substitute currency 83 for gaming placed in the betting area 41. At this time, the RF control device 54 also records in the rewritable area 22 that the user ID as holder information has been rewritten due to a mismatch in the user ID. This allows the casino or dealer to know that there was a mismatch in the holder when they acquire this substitute currency 83 by referring to the history of changes in holder, and it is also possible to identify the player involved in such a mismatch.

[0216] Furthermore, the player identification system may use either facial recognition to identify the player or reading the membership card 81, but not both. In other words, registered members do not necessarily need to use their membership card 81 to identify themselves when they arrive at the playing position; in such cases, the player will be identified solely by the facial recognition system. Also, even if the player's face cannot be properly captured and facial recognition is not possible, the player may still be identified by the membership card 81.

[0217] Furthermore, a player may be identified by either facial recognition or the membership card 81. In this case, the user ID of the player identified by facial recognition may differ from the user ID of the player identified by the membership card 81. If either of these user IDs matches the user ID read from the game currency 83, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to record in the writable area 22 of the game currency 83 that there was a mismatch in the player identification by the player identification system, along with the user ID that does not match the user ID read from the game currency 83.

[0218] In this example, as in the first example, the user ID stored in the game currency 83 is updated according to the actual holder. Furthermore, in this example, if the user ID of a player identified by the player identification system does not match the user ID stored in the game currency 83, the mismatch is corrected, and the fact that such a mismatch occurred is recorded in the game currency 83. Therefore, by referring to this record in the game currency 83, it is possible to know that game currency 83 has been exchanged between players, and the players involved can be identified.

[0219] When cashing in the substitute game currency 83, by using the same player identification system as described above, if the user ID of the player (the user attempting to cash in) identified by face authentication or the membership card 81 is different from the user ID stored in the substitute game currency 83 used for cashing in, an alarm to that effect may be output and the operator may not approve the cashing in.

[0220] (The third example) FIG. 28 is a diagram showing the configuration of the management system of the third example of the fourth embodiment. The management system 130 includes a database 57 in addition to the configuration of the management system 110 of the first example. In the database 57, a chip ID (「Chip ID」 in FIG. 28) that uniquely identifies the substitute game currency 83 and the user ID of the player who holds the substitute game currency 83 are stored in association with each other. As described above, although the substitute game currency 83 is purchased, used in the game, and the holder is changed by cashing it in, the database 57 records the history of past holders. Therefore, by referring to the database 57, it is possible to know the change in the holder for each substitute game currency 83.

[0221] In this example, the substitute game currency 83 only needs to have a non-writable area 21 and does not need to have a writable area 22. That is, it is sufficient if at least the chip ID is stored in the substitute game currency 83. Also, the RF control device 54 may be an RF reader that does not have a writing function and only has a reading function.

[0222] The management control device 56 updates the database 57 based on the data (chip ID and area ID) of the substitute game currency 83 received from the RF control device 54. Hereinafter, the method of updating the database 57 will be described.

[0223] Figures 29 to 31 illustrate an example of updating the database 57. As shown in Figure 29, the player places a game substitute currency 831 in the betting area 41b. The management control device 56 receives the chip ID of the betting chip 831 and the area ID of the betting area 41b, which are obtained by reading the RFID tag 2 of the betting chip 831 that the player placed in the betting area 41b.

[0224] At the betting stage, as shown in Figure 29, chip IDs "C00001" to "C00005" are read from the betting area 41b, and chip IDs "C20001" to "C20100" are read from the chip tray 12. The RF control device 54 then outputs to the management control device 56 a pair of the chip IDs read by antennas 511 and 513 and the area IDs corresponding to those antennas 511 and 513. In the example in Figure 29, the RF control device 54 obtains the combination of chip IDs "C00001" to "C00005" and area ID "Area 2", and the combination of chip IDs "C20001" to "C20100" and area ID "Area T" (area ID representing chip tray 12), and outputs these to the management control device 56.

[0225] If this player wins the game, as shown in Figure 30, the dealer dispenses (redeems) the payout chip 832 from the chip tray 12 and places it next to the bet chip 831 in the bet area 41b. Then, the RF control device 54 obtains combinations of chip IDs "C00001" to "C00005" and "C20001" to "C20005" with area ID "Area 2", and combinations of chip IDs "C20006" to "C20100" with area ID "Area T", and these are output to the management control device 56.

[0226] The management control device 56 refers to the database 57 for all read chip IDs to obtain the user ID associated with each chip ID. Then, the management control device 56 refers to the combination of chip ID and area ID obtained from the RF control device 54 and updates the database 57 to make the user IDs the same for multiple chip IDs associated with the same area ID if the user IDs are different.

[0227] Specifically, the management control device 56, when multiple game substitute currency 83 read with the same area ID of the same betting area 41 have both a player's user ID and a casino or dealer's user ID, unifies the user IDs of chip IDs paired with the same area ID by rewriting the casino or dealer's user ID to the player's user ID.

[0228] On the other hand, if a player loses the game, the dealer collects the bet chips 831 into the chip tray 12, as shown in Figure 31. In this case, in addition to "C20001" to "C20100", "C00001" to "C00005" are read from the chip tray 12 as chip IDs. The RF control device 54 obtains a pair of these chip IDs "C20001" to "C20100" and "C00001" to "C00005" and the area ID "Area T" of the chip tray 12, and outputs this to the management control device 56.

[0229] The management control device 56 refers to the database 57 for all read chip IDs to obtain the user ID associated with each chip ID. Then, the management control device 56 refers to the combination of chip ID and area ID obtained from the RF control device 54 and updates the database 57 to make the user IDs the same for multiple chip IDs paired with the same area ID if the user IDs are different.

[0230] Specifically, if the management control device 56 reads multiple game substitute currency 83 from the area ID of the chip tray 12 and there are both a player's user ID and a casino or dealer's user ID, it rewrites the player's user ID to the casino or dealer's user ID, thereby making the user IDs of all chip IDs associated with the area ID of the chip tray 12 the casino or dealer's user ID.

[0231] The above processing by the management control device 56 updates the user IDs stored in the database 57 according to the actual holders. In other words, in this embodiment, for game substitute currency 83 associated with different user IDs in the same area, the database 57 is rewritten to unify them to one of the user IDs depending on the area. Therefore, without using the player identification system described above, and without the management control device 56 knowing the progress of the game (betting stage, game stage, settlement stage), it is possible to trace the changes in holders due to games played at the game table 4004.

[0232] Furthermore, in the above example, the management control device 56 determined that the payout chip 831 was the payout chip 831 based on the fact that it was read in the betting area 41 and that the user ID in the database 57 was "D", and then rewrote its user ID with the player's user ID. However, instead, the chip ID of the payout chip 832 may be identified based on the difference in chip IDs read from the chip tray 12 before and after payout.

[0233] For example, in the examples in Figures 29 and 30, before dispensing, as shown in Figure 29, chip IDs "C20001" to "C20100" are read from the chip tray 12, whereas after dispensing, as shown in Figure 30, chip IDs "C20006" to "C20100" are read from the chip tray 12. Therefore, the management control device 56 can determine from this difference that chip IDs "C20001" to "C20005" have been dispensed.

[0234] (Fourth example) Figure 32 shows the configuration of the management system in the fourth example of the fourth embodiment. The management system 140 includes, in addition to the configuration of the management system 110 of the first example, a player identification system, a database 57, and a card distribution device (electronic shoe) 4003. The game table 4004 is provided with pay areas 42a to 42e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "pay area 42") on the dealer side of the betting area 41 of each play position. Antennas 512a to 512e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "antenna 512") are provided in the pay areas 42a to 42e, corresponding to each area.

[0235] When the dealer pays out (redeems) game currency 83 to a player 82 who has won the game, the dealer takes the game currency 83 from the chip tray 12, places it in the winning player 82's pay area 42, and then places it in the player 82's betting area 41.

[0236] In this example, camera 52 photographs not only the player 82 but also the betting chips 831 placed in the betting area 41. The image recognition device 55 performs image recognition processing not only on the player's face but also on the betting chips 831 in the betting area 41, recognizing which betting target (player, banker, tie, player pair, banker pair, etc.) each betting chip 831 in the betting area 41 is betting on, and outputs the recognition result as the betting details ("Betting" in Figure 32).

[0237] Furthermore, the camera that photographs the player's face 82 and the camera that photographs the bet chip 831 may be separate cameras. Also, the image recognition device that identifies the player based on the image of the player's face and the image recognition device that recognizes the bet based on the image of the bet chip 831 may be separate devices.

[0238] In this example, the card distributing device 4003 determines the game's progress (i.e., whether it is betting, playing, or settling) and outputs the result to the RF control device 54. The card distributing device 4003 determines that the game has started when the first card is drawn, and determines that the game has ended based on the reading results of the drawn card according to the rules of baccarat. The card distributing device 4003 also determines that settlement is complete and betting has started when the game start button is pressed.

[0239] Furthermore, the card dispensing device 4003 reads at least the rank of the drawn cards and determines the game result, such as player win, banker win, tie, player pair, banker pair, etc., according to the rules of the baccarat game.

[0240] The control device 56 determines which play position will receive a payout based on the bet details obtained from the image recognition device 55 and the game results obtained from the card distribution device 4003. The control device 56 also obtains the user ID of each player from the image recognition device 55 and the card reader 53, and uses this information to determine which player will receive a payout.

[0241] When the game progress received from the card distribution device 4003 is in the process of being settled, the RF control device 54 activates the antenna 512 in the pay area 42 to read and write to the RFID tags of the game substitute currency 83.

[0242] The management control device 56 refers to the database 57 and, if the user ID associated with the chip ID of the payout chip 832 read in the pay area 42 is the user ID of the casino or dealer, it overwrites that user ID with the user ID associated with the chip ID of the bet chip 831 placed in the corresponding bet area 41 at that time.

[0243] When the dealer collects the bet chips 831 of the losing player, the antenna 512 in the payout area 42 may read the chip ID of the bet chip 831. In this case, since the chip ID read in the payout area 42 will match the chip ID read in the corresponding bet area 41 immediately before that, it is thus determined that the chip ID was read in the payout area 42 during collection, and in this case, the user ID of the gaming substitute currency 83 read in the payout area 42 is not rewritten.

[0244] In this example, the management system 140 has been described assuming it includes a player identification system, a database 57, and a card dispensing device (electronic shoe) 4003. However, similar to the first example, in a management system that does not include a player identification system, a database 57, and a card dispensing device (electronic shoe) 4003, an antenna 512 corresponding to the payout area 42 may be provided in the same manner as this example to update the user ID.

[0245] In the management system 140 of this example, a payout area 42 is provided, and by differentiating it from the bet area 41 and reading and writing the RFID tag of the gaming substitute currency 83, the reading and writing of the payout chip 832 paid out from the chip tray 12 can be performed at high speed. That is, as in the first to third examples above, if the same antenna 512 as the bet chip 831 is used for reading and writing the payout chip 832, it is necessary to also read and write the bet chip 831 for reading and writing the payout chip 832, which takes time. In the payout area 42, only the payout chip 832 needs to be read and written, so it can be read and written in a relatively short time and will not cause a major obstacle to the operation of the game.

[0246] (The Fifth Example) Figure 33 shows the configuration of the management system in the fifth example of the fourth embodiment. The management system 150 has the same configuration as the management system 140 of the fourth example shown in Figure 32. That is, in addition to the configuration of the management system 110 of the first example, the management system 150 includes a player identification system, a database 57, and a card distribution device (electronic shoe) 4003.

[0247] In this example, camera 52 photographs not only the player 82 but also the betting chips 831 placed in the betting area 41. The image recognition device 55 also performs image recognition processing on the betting chips 831 in the betting area 41, not just the player's face, to recognize which betting target (player, banker, tie, player pair, banker pair, etc.) each betting chip 831 in the betting area 41 is betting on, and outputs the recognition result as the betting details ("Betting" in Figure 32).

[0248] Furthermore, the camera that photographs the player's face 82 and the camera that photographs the bet chip 831 may be separate cameras. Also, the image recognition device that identifies the player based on the image of the player's face and the image recognition device that recognizes the bet based on the image of the bet chip 831 may be separate devices.

[0249] The card dispensing device 4003 determines the game result, including player win, banker win, tie, player pair, and banker pair, according to the rules of baccarat, by reading at least the rank of the cards that are drawn in sequence.

[0250] The control device 56 determines which play position will receive a payout (redemption) based on the betting details obtained from the image recognition device 55 and the game results obtained from the card distribution device 4003. The control device 56 also obtains the user ID of each player from the image recognition device 55 and the card reader 53, and uses this information to determine which player will receive a payout (redemption).

[0251] The management control device 56 receives input from the RF control device 54 for each betting area 41, consisting of the area ID of the betting area 41 and the chip ID of the betting chip 831 read in that betting area 41. As described above, the management control device 56 determines which play position will receive a payout, so it refers to the database 57 to obtain the user ID associated with the chip ID read by the play position receiving the payout, and updates the user ID associated with the chip ID of the payout chip 832 using the obtained user ID.

[0252] Furthermore, the management control device 56 recognizes the chip ID that is no longer read from the chip tray 12 before and after dispensing as the chip ID of the payout chip 832. Also, if there are multiple players receiving payouts, the dealer dispenses them sequentially in a predetermined direction from one end (for example, dispensing sequentially from the dealer's right-hand end to the left-hand end). This makes it possible to determine which play position or player each payout chip 832 removed from the chip tray 12 is intended for, even when there are multiple players receiving payouts.

[0253] Furthermore, since the management control device 56 can determine the playing position of a losing player, it updates the database 57 so that the user ID associated with the chip ID read from the betting area 41 of that playing position is set to "D," which represents the casino or dealer.

[0254] As described above, in this example, the management control device 56 can determine which player or play position's bet chips 831 are paid out for and which player or play position's bet chips 831 are collected by understanding the bet details and game results. It can also identify the chip IDs of those bet chips 831 and payout chips 832, allowing it to change the user ID associated with each chip ID in the database 57 and determine which user ID should be changed. This enables tracing of the holders of the game currency 83.

[0255] (Example 6) Figure 34 shows the configuration of the management system in the sixth example of the fourth embodiment. The management system 160 has the same configuration as in the second example. In baccarat, as described above, multiple play positions are provided on the game table 4004, and a betting area 41 is provided at the position corresponding to each play position on the game table 4004. In principle, one player plays at each play position.

[0256] However, if all play positions are occupied, a player (back bet player) may appear behind a player (sitting player) and place a bet in the betting area 41 assigned to that sitting player, and such bets may be permitted depending on the casino or game table 4004. Back bets result in multiple game currency 83 with different user IDs being placed in the same betting area. The management system 160 in this example makes it possible to trace the holder of the game currency 83 even in such cases.

[0257] In the management system 160 of this example, similar to the second example, the user ID of the substitute currency 83 for gaming is stored in the rewritable area 22 of the RFID tag 2 of the substitute currency 83, and a database is not used. However, a player identification system is provided to identify players.

[0258] In the example shown in Figure 35, bet chips 831a belonging to user ID "P1" and bet chips 831b belonging to user ID "P2" are placed in the same betting area 41b. At this time, "P1" and "P2" are read from betting area 41b as user IDs for the game substitute currency 83.

[0259] Figures 36-38 illustrate an example of payouts when both players win the game. First, as shown in Figure 35, a payout is made to player 82a with user ID "P1". At this time, the management system 160 cannot distinguish whether the payout was made to player 82a with user ID "P1" or to player 82b with user ID "P2", and it cannot write different information to multiple game substitute currencies 83 within a single betting area 41. Therefore, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the user ID of all game substitute currencies 83 in the betting area 41b to selective information, "P1 or P2".

[0260] When player 82a, who has received the payout, takes their bet chips 831a and payout chips 832a from the betting area 41b, as shown in Figure 37, bet chips 831b with user IDs of "P1 or P2" remain in the betting area 41b. The dealer confirms that player 82a has taken the game substitute currency 83 and, as shown in Figure 38, pays out a payout chip 832b with user ID "D" for the bet chip 831b. At this time, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the user IDs of all game substitute currency 83 in the betting area 41 to "P1 or P2".

[0261] As a result, players 82a and 82b who placed bets in the same betting area 41 will both possess a game currency 83 with "P1 or P2" recorded as their user ID.

[0262] If players 82a and 82b were to place another bet in the same betting area 41 using their game substitute currency 83, then both betting chips 831a and 831b would have "P1 or P2" recorded as their user ID. Alternatively, some betting chips might contain game substitute currency 83 with user IDs of "P1" or "P2". In these cases as well, when distributing payouts according to the game results, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to selectively write "P1 or P2" as the user ID for all game substitute currency 83 placed in the betting area 41 at the time of payout.

[0263] Furthermore, if a bet chip 831 with user ID "P1 or P2" is collected into the chip tray 12, the user ID will be "D," which represents the casino or dealer.

[0264] Subsequently, if players 82a and 82b individually place a bet on the betting area 41 using game currency 83, which selectively records the user IDs of multiple users, and the player's user ID identified by the player identification system matches one of the selected user IDs, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the selective user ID of the game currency 83 to the matching user ID.

[0265] For example, if player 82a places a game token 83 with the user ID "P1 or P2" recorded on it in the betting area 41, the RF control device 54 reads the user ID "P1 or P2" from the betting chip 831 in the betting area 41, and the player identification system recognizes that the user ID of the player who placed the bet in the betting area 41 is "P1". In this case, since the user ID "P1" matches, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the user ID of the betting chip 831 in the betting area 41 to "P1".

[0266] On the other hand, when a player who possesses a game currency 83 in which a user ID is selectively recorded places a bet, and another player with a user ID not among the options places a bet in the same betting area 41 and receives a payout according to the game result, the user ID of that player is selectively written to the game currency 83 so as to be included as an option.

[0267] For example, if player 82a bets a substitute game currency 83 with user ID "P1 or P2" recorded in the betting area 41, and another player bets a substitute game currency 83 with user ID "P3" recorded in the same betting area 41, and a payout is to be made according to the game result, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the user IDs of all substitute game currency 83, including the payout chips in the betting area 41, to "P1 or P2 or P3".

[0268] As described above, in this example, by allowing selective recording of user IDs, it is possible to trace the holder even when multiple players place bets in the same betting area. Furthermore, by using a player identification system, it becomes possible to definitively overwrite user IDs that were selectively recorded.

[0269] Furthermore, if multiple players place bets in the same betting area 41, and some players win while others lose, the betting chips of the losing players are collected first. When the collected betting chips are read by the chip tray 12, the user ID "D" is recorded, and the above processing should be performed on the betting chips that receive payout chips 832 and the payout chips that are paid out in return.

[0270] (Example 7) Figure 39 shows the configuration of the management system in the seventh example of the fourth embodiment. The management system 170 has the same configuration as the management system 130 in the third example. In the management system 170 as well, it is possible to trace the holders of the game currency 83 even when multiple players place bets in the same betting area 41.

[0271] Figures 40 to 44 illustrate an example of updating the database 57. When player 82a places a bet chip 831a in bet area 41b, and player 82b places a bet chip 831b in the same bet area 41b, as shown in Figure 40, the RF control device 54 reads the chip IDs "C00001" to "C00005" of bet chip 831a and the chip IDs "C10001" to "C10005" of bet chip 831b from this bet area 41b as user IDs, and outputs them to the management control device 56 as a combination with the area ID "Area 2" of the bet area 41. In addition, chip IDs "C20001" to "C20100" are read from the chip tray 12, and the management control device 56 obtains a combination with the area ID "Area T" of the chip tray 12.

[0272] As shown in Figure 40, at this point in database 57, chip IDs "C00001" to "C00005" are associated with user ID "P1", chip IDs "C10001" to "C10005" are associated with user ID "P2", and chip IDs "C20001" to "C20100" are associated with user ID "D".

[0273] Assuming that both players 82a and 82b win the game, the dealer first pays out to either bet chip 831a or bet chip 831b, as shown in Figure 41. At this time, the chip IDs "C00001" to "C00005" of bet chip 831a and chip IDs "C10001" to "C10005" of bet chip 831b are read from bet area 41b, as well as the chip IDs "C20001" to "C20005" of payout chip 832a. These are then output to the management control device 56 as a combination with the area ID "Area 2" of the bet area 41.

[0274] At this stage, the management control device 56 cannot yet determine whether the payout chip 832a was paid out to bet chips 831a with chip IDs "C00001" to "C00005" or to bet chips 831b with chip IDs "C10001" to "C10005", so it does not update the database 57.

[0275] Next, when player 82a takes the bet chip 831a and the payout chip 832a issued for it from the betting area 41b, as shown in Figure 41, only the chip IDs "C10001" to "C10005" of the remaining bet chip 831b are read from the betting area 41b. Based on this change, the management control device 56 determines that the payout chips 832a with chip IDs "C20001" to "C20005" read in the betting area 41b have been paid out for the betting chips 831a with chip IDs "C00001" to "C00005", and rewrites the user IDs associated with chip IDs "C20001" to "C20005" in the database 57 from "D" to "P1", i.e., the user ID associated with the betting chips 831a that were removed from the betting area 41b along with the payout chips 832a with chip IDs "C20001" to "C20005".

[0276] The dealer confirms that the bet chip 831a and the payout chip 832a issued for it have been removed from the betting area 41b, and then, as shown in Figure 43, issues the payout chip 832b for the bet chip 831b to the same betting area 41b. At this point, the chip IDs "C10001" to "C10005" of the bet chip 831b and the chip IDs "C20006" to "C20010" of the payout chip 832b are read from the betting area 41b and recorded in the management control device 56 in combination with the area ID "Area 2" of the betting area 41.

[0277] Subsequently, when player 82b takes the bet chip 831b and payout chip 832b, as shown in Figure 44, the chip ID is not read from the bet area 41b, and only the chip ID read from the chip tray 12 is input to the management control device 56. Based on this change, the management control device 56 determines that the payout chips 832b with chip IDs "C20006" to "C20010" have been passed to the same player as the players with chip IDs "C10001" to "C10005", and updates the database 57 so that the user IDs associated with chip IDs "C20006" to "C20010" are the same as the user IDs associated with chip IDs "C10001" to "C10005".

[0278] As described above, according to the management system 170 in this example, when a bet chip 831 and a payout chip 832 are removed from the betting area together, the database 57 is updated so that the user ID of the payout chip 832 is the same as the user ID of the bet chip 831. Therefore, even when multiple players' game currency 83 are bet in the same betting area 41, by paying out to those players in order, it is possible to determine which player the payout chip 832 was paid out to, update the database 57, and trace the holder of the game currency.

[0279] (Example 8) Figure 45 shows the configuration of the management system in the eighth example of the fourth embodiment. The management system 180 has the same configuration as the management system 140 of the fourth example. However, in the management system 180, the game table 4004 is provided with a player pair area 44, a tie area 45, and a banker pair area 46 as betting areas. In addition, the game table 4004 is provided with antennas 514, 515, and 516 corresponding to the player pair area 44, the tie area 45, and the banker pair area 46.

[0280] Each of these areas 44-46 is divided into sections for each playing position, and when a player places a bet in these areas 44-46, they place their bet chips in the section corresponding to their playing position within those areas.

[0281] In other words, the player pair area 44, the tie area 45, and the banker pair area 46 are shared betting areas used by multiple players. In the example in Figure 45, players 82a to 82c are participating in the game, and players 82b and 82c have placed bet chips 831b and 831c, respectively, in the tie area 45.

[0282] In this example, the holders of the substitute currency 83 for gaming can be traced in the same manner as in the sixth or seventh example for shared betting areas 44-46. Furthermore, even if the management system 180 does not have a database 57, the holders of the substitute currency 83 for gaming can be traced in the same manner as in the sixth example, and even if the management system 180 does not have a player identification system, the holders of the substitute currency 83 for gaming can be traced in the same manner as in the seventh example for shared betting areas.

[0283] (Example 9) Figure 46 shows the configuration of the management system in the ninth example of the fourth embodiment. The management system 190 includes a player identification system. In this example, the game substitute currency 83 is traced without using the database 57. The game table 4004 is provided with pay areas 42a to 42e and corresponding antennas 512a to 512e. The fixed information 3 of the RFID tag 2 of the game substitute currency 83 stores information indicating the amount (value) of the game substitute currency 83, and the variable information 4 stores the user ID of the holder.

[0284] In this example, database 57 may also be used. In that case, the game substitute currency 83 has a chip ID stored in it, and the amount (value) of the game substitute currency 83 and the user ID of the holder are stored in database 57 in association with the chip ID.

[0285] As shown in Figure 47, when player 82a places bet chips 831a (five chips with a value of "100") and player 82b places bet chips 831b (two chips with a value of "1000") in the bet area 41b, five game substitute currency 83 with a value of "100" and user ID "P1" are read from the bet area 41b, and two game substitute currency 83 with a value of "1000" and user ID "P2" are read. These are output to the management control device 56 along with the area ID of the bet area 41, "Area 2".

[0286] The control device 56 detects the bet amount for each player by calculating the total amount of bet chips for each player in each betting area 41. In the case of Figure 47, the control device 56 detects that the bet amount for user ID "P1" is "500" and the bet amount for user ID "P2" is "2000".

[0287] If, as a result of the game, both players 82a and 82b win, the dealer will pay out (redeem) the bet chips 831a and 831b in order. As shown in Figure 48, first, when paying out a payout chip 832a for bet chip 831a, the dealer places the payout chip 832a in the pay area 42b.

[0288] At this time, the RF control device 54 reads the game substitute currency 83 in the pay area 42b, reads that there are five game substitute currency 83 with a value of "100", and outputs this to the management control device 56. The management control device 56 detects the payout amount by calculating the sum of the amounts of the payout chips 832a read in the pay area 42b.

[0289] The control device 56 compares the payout amount of the payout chip 832a with the bet amount of each player in the betting area 41b to identify the player whose bet amount matches the payout amount. In the case of Figure 48, five payout chips 832a with a value of "100" are read from the paying area 42b, and the payout amount is detected as "500". The control device 56 determines that this payout amount "500" matches the bet amount "500" of the bet chip 831a of user ID "P1", and rewrites the user ID of the payout chip 832a to "P1".

[0290] Subsequently, when player 82a takes the payout chip 832a and the bet chip 831a, as shown in Figure 49, player 82b's bet chip 831b remains in the bet area 41b. When the dealer places the payout chip 832b to be paid out for this bet chip 831b in the pay area 42b, the management control device 56 detects the payout amount of the payout chip 832b by calculating the total amount of this payout chip 832b.

[0291] The control device 56 compares the payout amount of the payout chip 832b with the bet amount of each player in the betting area 41b to identify the player whose bet amount matches the payout amount. In the case of Figure 49, two payout chips 832b with a value of "1000" are read from the paying area 42b, and the payout amount is detected as "2000". The control device 56 determines that this payout amount "2000" matches the bet amount "2000" of the bet chip 831b of user ID "P2", and rewrites the user ID of the payout chip 832b to "P2".

[0292] As described above, in the management control system 190 of this example, even when multiple players place bets in the same betting area 41, if their bet amounts are different, the system determines which player the payout chips were paid to based on the bet amounts and the payout amounts of the payout chips.

[0293] (Example 10) In the first to ninth examples above, if player 82 is a non-member who is not registered as a member, such a non-member is not assigned a user ID, and therefore player 82 cannot be identified by the player identification system. Also, as mentioned above, for the substitute currency 83 for games owned by a non-member, it is not possible to store a valid user ID in the RFID tag 2 or the database 57, so "Unknown" is recorded as the user ID.

[0294] When the management system pays out payout chip 832 to a non-member player, it sets the user ID of the payout chip 832 to "Unknown," and when it collects bet chip 831 from a non-member player, it sets the user ID of the bet chip 831 to "D."

[0295] When a member player and a non-member player place bets in the same betting area 41, and both players win the game, the dealer may always pay out to the non-member player, or pay out to the member player under a rule that payouts are always made to the member player.

[0296] For example, if a rule is in place that payouts are always made to non-members first, the management system will rewrite the user ID of the first payout chip 832 to "Unknown," and then, using the example above, rewrite the user ID of any subsequent payout chips 832 to that of a member player.

[0297] Furthermore, if, for example, a rule is in place that payouts are always made to members first, the management system will rewrite the user ID of the first payout chip 832 to the user ID identified from the bet chip 831, and rewrite the user ID of any payout chips 832 that are paid out later to "Unknown".

[0298] When a dealer identifies a player using a card authentication system, they scan the membership card 81 themselves and can therefore know which player is a member. However, when a player is identified using a facial recognition system, the dealer cannot determine which player is a member. Therefore, as a result of the facial recognition system, visual information indicating the play position or betting area where the user ID was recognized may be displayed to the dealer on a monitor or the like.

[0299] (Example 11) Figure 50 shows an example of a betting area in the 11th example of the fourth embodiment. In this example, the betting area 41 of each play position is divided into a betting area 411 for members and a betting area 412 for non-members, and the antennas are also divided into an antenna 5111 for members and an antenna 5112 for non-members.

[0300] The management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the user ID of the game substitute currency 83 for betting chips 831 placed in the member betting area 411, as in the first to ninth examples above, and to rewrite all user IDs of the payout chips 832 dispensed for betting chips 831 placed in the non-member betting area 412 to "Unknown".

[0301] In this example, game substitute currency 83 whose assigned user ID is stored either by itself or in database 57 and game substitute currency 83 whose assigned user ID is not stored either by itself or in database 57 (i.e., the user ID is "Unknow") are not read together, and the game substitute currency 83 whose assigned user ID is stored either by itself or in database 57 can be traced effectively.

[0302] In this example, instead of antennas 5111 and 5112, a single antenna may be provided spanning both the member betting area 411 and the non-member betting area 412. In this case, when game substitute currency 83 is placed in both the member betting area 411 and the non-member betting area 412, the dealer can recognize which betting chips 831 belong to members and which belong to non-members.

[0303] Furthermore, when making payouts for any of the bet chips 831, the dealer may make the payouts under the operational rule that payouts to the member's bet chips 831 first. In this case, the management system can determine that the payout chips 832 that were paid out first were paid to the member. Alternatively, the dealer may make the payouts under the operational rule that payouts to the non-member's bet chips 831 first. In this case, the management system can determine that the payout chips 832 that were paid out first were paid to the non-member.

[0304] Figures 51A and 51B show other examples of betting areas in the 11th example of the fourth embodiment. In this example, the betting area 41 for each play position is selectively set to either a betting area 41 for members, as shown in Figure 51A, or a betting area 41 for non-members, as shown in Figure 51B.

[0305] Near each betting area 41, there is a display unit 413 that variably indicates whether the betting area 41 is set for members or for non-members. This display unit 413 is installed under the felt of the gaming table 4004, and the displayed information is visible to the player through the felt.

[0306] Furthermore, the means of visually indicating whether each betting area 41 is set for members or non-members is not limited to the display unit 413 embedded under the felt of the gaming table 4004. For example, a monitor installed on the gaming table 4004 so that it is visible to the player may display whether each betting area 41 is set for members or non-members.

[0307] The management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 so that if the betting area 41 is set up for members, it rewrites the user ID of the game substitute currency 83 for the betting chips 831 placed there, as in the first to ninth examples above, and if the betting area 41 is set up for non-members, it rewrites all the user IDs of the payout chips 832 dispensed for the betting chips 831 placed there to "Unknown".

[0308] In this example, game substitute currency 83 whose assigned user ID is stored either by itself or in database 57 and game substitute currency 83 whose assigned user ID is not stored either by itself or in database 57 (i.e., the user ID is "Unknow") are not read together, and the tracing of game substitute currency 83 whose assigned user ID is stored either by itself or in database 57 can be effectively performed.

[0309] (Example 12) In the first to ninth examples above, even when the exchange of game currency 83 takes place between the dealer and the player at the game table 4003, it is possible to trace the holder of the game currency 83. In this case, the management system includes a progress determination means for determining the progress of the game (i.e., whether betting is in progress, the game is in progress, or settlement is in progress). The card distribution device 4003 can be used as such a progress determination means, but any other means may be used.

[0310] In the management system of this example, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 during a bet to cause each antenna to periodically read at predetermined time intervals. The management control device 56 determines that a game substitute currency 83 exchange is taking place during a bet if a game substitute currency 83 with user ID "D" is read in any bet area 41 or any pay area 42 (hereinafter referred to as the "reading area of ​​the game table 4004"), and if a game substitute currency 83 with user ID assigned to a member is read in the chip tray 12.

[0311] This is because, in the operation of baccarat, during betting, the substitute currency 83 for gameplay cannot be moved from the chip tray 12 to the game table 4003 except for exchange, and the substitute currency 83 of the players on the game table 4003 cannot be moved to the chip tray 12. Furthermore, if the game is in progress, such movement of the substitute currency 83 constitutes fraudulent activity, and therefore the control device 56 may output an alarm when it detects such movement of the substitute currency 83 during gameplay.

[0312] If, during betting, a substitute game currency 83 whose user ID is either a user ID assigned to a member or "Unknown" is read by the chip tray 12, the management control device 56 determines that the substitute game currency 83 is a substitute game currency 83 (a chip before exchange) that was brought to the game table 4004 by the player for exchange between chips.

[0313] Specifically, the management control device 56 determines that an exchange has occurred when, if the user ID is stored in the game currency 83 itself, the user ID assigned to the member or "Unknown" is read from the chip tray 12 during betting. If the user ID is stored in the database 57, the management control device 56 determines that an exchange has occurred when the number of game currency 83 read from the chip tray 12 decreases during betting. Alternatively, if the user ID is stored in the database 57, the management control device 56 may determine that an exchange has occurred when the number of game currency 83 read from the chip tray increases during betting.

[0314] Furthermore, if, during betting, a substitute game currency 83 whose user ID is "D," indicating that it is held by the casino or dealer, is read in the reading area of ​​the game table 4004, the management control device 56 determines that the substitute game currency 83 is the substitute game currency 83 (exchanged chip) that will be given to the player in correspondence with the chips before exchange.

[0315] Specifically, if a user ID is stored in the substitute currency 83 used for games, the management control device 56 determines that an exchange has occurred when user ID "D" is read from the reading area of ​​the game table 4004 during a bet. If the user ID is stored in the database 57, the management control device 56 periodically reads the reading area of ​​the game table 4004 during a bet and refers to the database 57 with each read to determine that a substitute currency 83 with user ID "D" has been read from the reading area of ​​the game table 4004.

[0316] The management control device 56 rewrites the user ID of the chip before exchange to "D" which represents the casino or dealer, and rewrites the user ID of the chip after exchange to the user ID of the chip before exchange. Specifically, if the user ID is stored in the RFID tag 2 of the substitute currency 83 for gaming, the management control device 56 controls the RF control device 54 to rewrite the user ID stored in the corresponding chip before and after exchange. If the user ID is associated with the chip ID and stored in the database 57, the management control device 56 rewrites the user ID associated with the corresponding chip ID in the database 57.

[0317] Furthermore, the management control device 56 may, after identifying the chips before and after exchange, control the RF control device 54 to exchange their user IDs (if the user IDs are stored in the game substitute currency 83), or update the database 57 (if the user IDs are stored in the database 57).

[0318] In the above embodiment, the membership card 81 was a magnetic card, and the card reader 53 was a magnetic card reader that read information from the magnetic stripe of the membership card 81. However, instead, an RFID tag may be embedded in the membership card 81, and the user ID may be recorded on the RFID tag. In this case, an RFID reader consisting of an antenna and an RF control device 54 is used as the card reader 53. Alternatively, such antennas may be provided at each play position. In this case, the player has their membership card 81 read at each play position without handing it to the dealer. Each antenna transmits information identifying the play position, along with the user ID read from the membership card 81, to the RF control device 54. Furthermore, an antenna 511 and an RF control device 54 provided in the betting area 41 may be used as an RFID reader for reading the membership card 81. In this case, the player can have the antenna 511 read the user ID by placing the membership card 81 in the betting area 41 at their play position.

[0319] The following technologies are disclosed by the first to eleventh examples of the fourth embodiment described above: (A1) A management system for managing substitute currency for games, When the aforementioned substitute currency for gaming is used, a holder identification means identifies the holder of the substitute currency by referring to a storage means that stores the holder of the substitute currency for gaming, When the aforementioned substitute currency for gaming is used, a player identification means is provided to identify the player who used the substitute currency for gaming, The control means is a management system that, with respect to the substitute currency used for the game, stores the player identified by the player identification means as the holder in the storage means if the holder identified by the holder identification means does not match the player identified by the player identification means.

[0320] (A2) The control means, in the case where the holder identified by the holder identification means and the player identified by the player identification means do not match with respect to the substitute currency used for the game, stores in the storage means that there was a mismatch. (A1)

[0321] (A3) The player identification means is the management system of (A1), which identifies the player who used the substitute currency for the game by facial recognition or reading an ID card.

[0322] (A4) The storage means is a database or a management system for (A1) which is an RFID tag embedded in the substitute currency for the game.

[0323] (A5) A management system for managing substitute currency for games, A memory means that stores the names of the owners of the aforementioned substitute currency for games, A means for identifying a player who is to receive the redemption of the substitute currency for the game, With respect to the substitute currency for the game to be redeemed, the control means causes the storage means to store the player as the holder, A management system equipped with [specific features / features].

[0324] (A6) The identifying means further identifies the betting area assigned to the player, The control device determines which player the game substitute currency to be redeemed is to by identifying which betting area it is to be redeemed in, as described in (A5).

[0325] (A7) When the control device has placed bets in the betting area on the substitute game currency in which the player identified by the identifying means is stored as the holder, and on the substitute game currency in which the player identified by the identifying means is not stored as the holder, A5) Management system for the substitute game currency to be redeemed for the substitute game currency in which the player identified by the identifying means is stored as the holder of the substitute game currency.

[0326] (A8) Further comprising a detection device for detecting the amount of the substitute currency for the game to be redeemed, The control device, when the betting area has been bet on the substitute currency for games in which the player identified by the identifying means is stored as the holder, and the substitute currency for games in which the player identified by the identifying means is not stored as the holder, A5) Management system for the substitute game currency redeemed in the betting area after the detection device detects an amount equivalent to the redemption of the substitute game currency for which the player identified by the identification means is not stored as the holder of the substitute game currency.

[0327] (A9) Further comprising a detection device for detecting the amount of the substitute currency for the game to be redeemed, The control device, when the betting area has been bet on the substitute currency for games in which the player identified by the identifying means is stored as the holder, and the substitute currency for games in which the player identified by the identifying means is not stored as the holder, A5) Management system that, with respect to the substitute currency for gaming initially detected by the detection device in the betting area, stores the player identified by the identification means as the owner of the substitute currency for gaming.

[0328] (A10) A management system according to any of (A6) to (A9), wherein the betting area comprises an area for betting the game substitute currency that a player identified by the identifying means is stored as the holder of, and an area for betting the game substitute currency that a player identified by the identifying means is not stored as the holder of.

[0329] (A11) Any management system of (A6) to (A10), further comprising output means for outputting visual information to distinguish between a betting area where the substitute currency for games, which is stored as the holder of a player identified by the identifying means, is bet, and a betting area where the substitute currency for games, which is not stored as the holder of a player identified by the identifying means, is bet.

[0330] (A12) A management system for managing substitute currency for games, A memory means that stores the names of the owners of the aforementioned substitute currency for games, A player identification means for identifying multiple candidate players who may receive the stack of the paid-out substitute currency for games, For each of the game substitute coins constituting the stack to be paid out, a control means is provided to cause the storage means to store the plurality of candidate players as the holders, A management system equipped with [specific features / features].

[0331] (A13) The player identification means identifies multiple players who receive the payout as a result of betting in the same betting area as the multiple candidate players, the management system of (A12).

[0332] (A14) The player identification means identifies the betting player who bets the substitute currency for the game, The management system further comprises holder identification means for identifying the plurality of candidate players stored in the storage means as holders of the bet substitute currency for the game, The control means, when the betting player identified by the player identification means matches any of the plurality of candidate players identified by the holder identification means, determines the matching candidate player as the holder and stores it in the storage means, the management system of (A12).

[0333] (B1) A management system for managing chips that store identification information, used in games at gaming tables, A first identification device that reads the identification information stored in the betting chips placed in the betting area on the gaming table, A second identification device that acquires the identification information stored in the payout chips that are dispensed for the aforementioned betting chips, A storage device that stores the aforementioned identification information in association with the owner of the chip that stores the said identification information, A management system comprising: a control device that stores in the storage device the holder associated with the identification information read by the first identification device from the betting chip as the holder associated with the identification information of the payout chip acquired by the second identification device.

[0334] (B2) The management system of (B1), wherein the second identification device is the first identification device, and acquires the identification information stored in the payout chip placed in the bet area by reading the identification information stored in the payout chip.

[0335] (B3) The second identification device is a device that reads the identification information stored in a plurality of chips in the dealer's chip tray, and obtains the identification information stored in the dispensing chip from the difference between the plurality of identification information read before the dispensing of the dispensing chip and the plurality of identification information read after the dispensing of the dispensing chip, the management system of (B1).

[0336] (B4) The management system of (B1), wherein the second identification device acquires the identification information stored in the payout chip by reading the identification information stored in the payout chip which is placed in a payout area different from the betting area on the game table.

[0337] (B5) The first identification device periodically reads the identification information, The control device, when the first identification device stops reading the identification information that the first identification device has read from the betting chip, stores in the storage device the holder associated with the identification information that the second identification device has stopped reading as the holder associated with the identification information of the payout chip acquired by the second identification device, the management system of (B1).

[0338] (B6) The second identification device acquires the identification information by periodically reading the identification information stored in the dispensing chip, The control device, when the second identification device stops reading the identification information read by the second identification device from the payout chip, stores in the storage device the holder associated with the identification information read by the first identification device from the betting chip as the holder associated with the identification information that is no longer being read, as described in (B1).

[0339] (B7) A management system for managing chips that store identification information, used in games at a gaming table, A first identification device that acquires the identification information stored in the chips to be exchanged that have been placed on the game table by the player for the purpose of exchanging chips, A second identification device that acquires the identification information stored in the post-exchange chip given to the player in correspondence with the pre-exchange chip, A storage device that stores the aforementioned identification information in association with the owner of the chip that stores the said identification information, A control device that stores in the storage device the holder associated with the identification information of the pre-exchange chip acquired by the first identification device as the holder associated with the identification information of the post-exchange chip acquired by the second identification device, A management system equipped with [specific features / features].

[0340] (B8) The control device further stores in the storage device the holder associated with the identification information of the pre-exchange chip acquired by the second identification device as the holder associated with the identification information of the post-exchange chip acquired by the first identification device, the management system of (B7).

[0341] (B9) The management system of (B7), wherein the first identification device is a reader that reads the identification information of a plurality of chips in the dealer's chip tray, and acquires the increased identification information as the identification information stored in the pre-exchange chip.

[0342] (B10) The management system of (B7), wherein the second identification device is a reader that reads the identification information of a plurality of chips in the dealer's chip tray, and acquires the reduced identification information as the identification information stored in the post-change chip.

[0343] (B11) A management system for managing the exchange of chips that store identification information and are used in games at gaming tables, A reading device for reading the identification information stored in the chip placed in the reading area on the game table for the purpose of currency exchange, A storage device that stores the aforementioned identification information in association with the owner of the chip that stores the said identification information, A control device that, when the owner associated with the identification information stored in the first chip read by the reader is different from the owner associated with the identification information stored in the second chip, which is different from the first chip read by the reader, stores the owner associated with the identification information stored in the first chip as the owner associated with the identification information stored in the second chip in the storage device, A management system equipped with [specific features / features].

[0344] (Sixth embodiment) The following describes a game table reading system that reads RIFD tags on a game table. In the following embodiment, the example is given of a baccarat table used for playing baccarat, but the present invention is not limited to baccarat tables and can be applied to any game table.

[0345] Figure 53 shows a game table according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The game table (hereinafter simply referred to as "table") 6004 has an approximately elliptical or semicircular shape. One side of the table 6004 is the dealer position where the dealer is located (the position facing the chip tray 51, which will be described later), and the other side is provided with a plurality of play positions where players are located when playing the game. In the example of Figure 53, five play positions are provided on the underside of the table 6004.

[0346] The dealer position is provided with a chip tray 51 embedded in the table 6004 for storing the substitute game currency 83 held by the dealer. The chip tray 51 is two-tiered, and the upper tier can be removed to replenish or remove the substitute game currency 83 in the lower tier.

[0347] The substitute currency 83 for gaming has an RFID tag 831 embedded in it (see Figure 56). The RFID tag 831 stores at least chip identification information (hereinafter also referred to as "chip ID") that uniquely identifies the substitute currency for gaming. The RFID tag 831 may also store information that represents the value of the substitute currency for gaming.

[0348] Each play position is provided with betting areas 41a to 41e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "betting area 41") where the player playing at that position places bets by placing game substitute currency 83 on the betting targets. The betting areas 41 are drawn on the top surface of the table 6004. Adjacent betting areas 41 are separated by one or two lines. The distance between adjacent betting areas 41 is relatively close, with the closest distance being 0 to 15 cm, which is smaller than, for example, the diameter of game substitute currency 83.

[0349] Although not shown in the diagram, the betting areas 41a to 41e for each play position are arranged in close proximity to each other, without overlapping, and consist of a player pair area for betting on a pair in the player's hand, a banker pair area for betting on a pair in the banker's hand, a tie area for betting on a tie between the player's hand and the banker's hand, a player area for betting on the player's hand winning, and a banker area for betting on the banker's hand winning. Hereafter, these player pair area, banker pair area, tie area, player area, and banker area will be referred to as "betting target areas." Adjacent betting target areas are separated by one or two lines. Alternatively, instead of lines separating adjacent betting target areas, each betting target area may be demarcated by coloring adjacent betting target areas with different colors, or by coloring the betting target area with a color different from the background. The distance between adjacent betting areas is relatively close, with the closest distance being 0-10 cm, which is smaller than, for example, the diameter of the game's substitute currency 83.

[0350] Each play position is provided with pay areas 42a to 42e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "pay areas 42") for reading payout chips when the dealer dispenses substitute currency 83 for play to the player. The pay areas 42 are drawn on the top surface of the table 6004. Adjacent pay areas 42 are separated by one or two lines. Alternatively, no lines may be provided between adjacent pay areas 42, and each pay area 42 may be demarcated by painting adjacent pay areas 42 in different colors, or by painting each pay area 42 in a color different from the background. Adjacent pay areas 42 and betting areas 41 are separated by one or two lines. Alternatively, no lines may be provided between adjacent pay areas 42 and betting areas 41, and each pay area 42 and betting area 41 may be demarcated by painting adjacent pay areas 42 and betting areas 41 in different colors, or by painting the pay areas 42 and betting areas 41 in a color different from the background between them. The distance between adjacent pay areas 42 is relatively close, at the closest point being 0-10 cm, which is smaller than, for example, the diameter of a game substitute coin 83. Also, the distance between the pay area 42 and the betting area 41 at each play position is relatively close, at the closest point being 0-15 cm, which is smaller than, for example, the diameter of a game substitute coin 83.

[0351] Each betting area 41a to 41e is provided with reading antennas 511a to 511e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "reading antenna 511") for reading RFID tags 831 embedded in the substitute game currency 83 placed in each betting area 41a to 41e. Each pay area 42a to 42e is provided with reading antennas 521a to 521e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "reading antenna 521") for reading RFID tags 831 embedded in the substitute game currency 83 placed in each pay area 42a to 42e. The chip tray 51 is provided with a reading antenna 531 for reading RFID tags 831 embedded in the substitute game currency 83 contained in the chip tray 51. As mentioned above, the chip tray 51 is a two-tiered type, but the reading antenna 531 may be provided, for example, on the back of the upper tray.

[0352] Furthermore, betting areas 41a to 41e are provided with read restriction antennas 512a to 512e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "read restriction antennas 512") to restrict or prevent the RFID tags 831 embedded in the game currency 83 placed in betting areas 41a to 41e from being read by reading antennas in other areas, pay areas 42a to 42e are provided with read restriction antennas 522a to 522e (hereinafter collectively referred to as "read restriction antennas 522") to restrict or prevent the RFID tags 831 embedded in the game currency 83 placed in pay areas 42a to 42e from being read by reading antennas in other areas, and the chip tray 51 is provided with a read restriction antenna 532 to restrict or prevent the RFID tags 831 embedded in the game currency 83 contained in the chip tray 51 from being read by reading antennas in other areas.

[0353] In this embodiment, the reading antenna 511 and reading restriction antenna 512 of the bed area 41 are shaped to follow the outer edge of the bed area 41, the reading antenna 521 and reading restriction antenna 522 of the pay area 42 are shaped to follow the outer edge of the pay area 42, and the reading antenna 531 and reading restriction antenna 532 of the chip tray 51 are shaped to follow the outer edge of the chip tray 51, but the shape of the antennas is not limited to these. Also, in the example of Figure 53, the reading restriction antenna is provided inside the reading antenna, but the positional relationship between the reading antenna and the reading restriction antenna is not limited to this, and the reading restriction antenna may be provided outside the reading antenna, or the reading restriction antenna and the reading antenna may intersect in a plan view. Furthermore, multiple reading restriction antennas may be provided for one reading antenna, and conversely, one reading restriction antenna may be provided for multiple reading antennas.

[0354] A card dispensing device 58 is placed on table 6004. The card dispensing device 58 holds cards from multiple decks. The dealer 91 can draw cards one at a time from the card dispensing device 58. The card dispensing device 58 has the function of reading the suit and rank of the drawn cards. Based on at least the rank of the drawn cards, the card dispensing device 58 determines the game result according to the rules of baccarat. The card dispensing device 58 displays the determined game result using lights or the like, and also outputs data indicating the game result to an external source. In this way, the card dispensing device 58 also functions as a game result determination device.

[0355] The table 6004 is further equipped with a camera 52 and a card reader 53. The camera 52 photographs the face of the player 82 playing at the play position and the substitute game currency 83 on the table 6004. Alternatively, separate cameras may be provided for photographing the player's face and the substitute game currency 83 on the table 6004.

[0356] The card reader 53 reads the information stored on the membership card 81 by scanning the membership card 81 held by the registered player (member). The membership card 81 has a built-in RFID tag, which stores at least the user ID assigned to the player. The card reader 53 has an operation unit (not shown) for the dealer 91 to specify the play position. The dealer 91 specifies the play position when scanning the membership card 81 with the card reader 53. As a result, the card reader 53 outputs a combination of the play position and the user ID. The card reader 53 also has a cancellation operation unit (not shown). When the player 82 leaves the table, the dealer 91 specifies the play position and operates the cancellation operation unit. As a result, the card reader 53 outputs the play position and a cancellation instruction.

[0357] In the table 6004 described above, when player 81 plays baccarat, player 82 first sits in one of the playing positions on the table 6004 and hands his membership card 81 to the dealer 91. The dealer 91 scans the membership card 81 using the card reader 53. Player 81 places a bet by placing the substitute currency 83 in one of the betting areas of the betting area 41 located at his playing position: the player area, banker area, tie area, player pair area, or banker pair area.

[0358] Once all players 82 have placed their bets, the dealer 91 closes the betting and draws cards one by one from the card dispenser 58. In baccarat, four cards are drawn first in the order of player's hand, banker's hand, player's hand, and banker's hand. If no player pair is formed at this point, the bets placed on player pairs are collected by the dealer 91 into the chip tray 51. Similarly, if no banker pair is formed at this point, the bets placed on banker pairs are also collected by the dealer 91 into the chip tray 51.

[0359] Dealer 91 draws the fifth and subsequent cards as needed, according to the rules of baccarat. When the final game result is determined, Dealer 91 collects the losing players' bet chips 83 into the chip tray 51, and then pays out game substitute currency 83 from the chip tray 51 to the winning players' bet chips 83. During this payout, Dealer 91 first places the game substitute currency 83 in the pay area 42 of the play position where the bet chips 83 to be paid out were placed, and then places the game substitute currency 83 to be paid out next to the bet chips 83. The winning player receives the game substitute currency (payout chips) placed next to the bet chips 83 in this way, along with their bet chips. When starting the next game (i.e., when starting to bet on the next game), Dealer 91 presses the game start button on the card distributing device 58.

[0360] Figure 54 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a game table reading system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The game table reading system 100 includes a card distribution device 58, a player identification system 55, a reading control device 561, a reading restriction control device 562, a management control device 56, a database 57, reading antennas 511, 521, 531, and reading restriction antennas 512, 522, 532.

[0361] The player identification system 55 includes a camera 52, a card reader 53, and a face recognition device 502. The face recognition device 502 authenticates the player based on an image of the player's face captured by the camera 52. The face recognition device 502 may perform face recognition using machine learning techniques. The face recognition device 502 also identifies the position of the authenticated player, i.e., the authenticated player's playing position, based on the position of the player's face. In this embodiment, the player can be identified by the face recognition system including the camera 52 and the face recognition device 502, as well as by reading the membership card 81 using the card reader 53. However, the player may be identified by either of these means.

[0362] The card distributing device 58 outputs the game progress (i.e., during dealing, between the end of one game and the next, during betting, etc.) to the management control device 56 based on button operations and the rank of the cards it reads, as well as the game result (player's hand wins, banker's hand wins, tie, player's hand has a pair, banker's hand has a pair, etc.) to the management control device 56.

[0363] The reading control device 561 reads RFID tags 831 in the reading area corresponding to the reading antenna by controlling the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531. The reading restriction control device 562 prevents RFID tags in the reading area corresponding to the reading restriction antenna from being read by reading antennas corresponding to other reading areas by controlling the reading restriction antennas 521, 522, and 523.

[0364] The management control device 56 controls the reading control device 561 and the reading restriction control device 562 to read RFID tags in multiple reading areas sequentially, by referring to information stored in the database 57 as needed, according to the progress of the game from the card distribution device 58. The management control device 56 updates the database 57 by storing the information read from the RFID tags by the reading antennas in the database 57 in association with the players identified by the player identification system 555. Each reading antenna 511, 521, and 531 is assigned antenna identification information (antenna ID) to uniquely identify that reading antenna.

[0365] The reading control device 561 transmits to the management control device 56 a set containing the information read by the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531, along with the antenna ID of the respective reading antenna. Note that a reading control device 561 may be provided for each reading antenna; in this case, each reading control device 561 may transmit reader identification information (reader ID) to the management control device 56 instead of the antenna ID, in order to uniquely identify the reading control device 561.

[0366] As shown in Figure 54, the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 are loop-shaped with a portion open in the corresponding reading area, and both ends of the open portion are connected to the reading control device 561. The reading control device 561 reads the RFID tag by passing current through the reading antenna to form an electromagnetic field in the reading area.

[0367] One end and the other end of the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 are connected to the reading control device 561 via switches (not shown). The reading control device 561 controls the opening and closing of these switches. Specifically, the reading control device 561 opens the switches for the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 in reading areas where reading is not performed, thereby opening the loop of the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 and preventing induced current from flowing in the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 that are not performing reading due to the electromagnetic field generated by the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 in adjacent reading areas.

[0368] The read restriction antennas 512, 522, and 532 have a loop shape that surrounds the corresponding reading area and have switches 521s, 522s, and 532s that close or open the loop. The read restriction control device 562 opens and closes the switches 521s, 522s, and 532s. The read restriction antennas 512, 522, and 532 perform a reading restriction function when the switches 521s, 522s, and 532s are closed and a closed loop is formed (short-circuited), and do not restrict reading when the switches 521s, 522s, and 532s are opened and the loop is released.

[0369] Figure 55 shows cross-sections of the reading areas, bed area 41b and bed area 41c. Below the surface 6004a of the table 6004, a substrate 401 for mounting reading antennas 511 and 521 and a substrate 402 for mounting read-limiting antennas 512 and 522 are stacked. In this embodiment, substrate 401 is provided below substrate 402, but the installation order can be changed as appropriate. The vertical distance between the reading antennas 511 and 521 and the read-limiting antennas 521 and 522 is appropriately set based on the strength of the electromagnetic waves, the shapes of the reading antennas 511 and 521 and the read-limiting antennas 521 and 522, etc. Furthermore, the reading antennas 511 and 521 and the read-limiting antennas 512 and 522 may be provided on the same substrate.

[0370] When reading is being performed in reading area 41b, the switch 512s of the reading restriction antenna 512c closes in the reading area 41c adjacent to reading area 41b, forming a closed loop. The reading restriction antenna 512c forms a limiting (interfering) electromagnetic field due to the induced electromotive force from the electromagnetic field formed by the reading antenna 511b of the adjacent reading area 41b. This limiting electromagnetic field shapes the electromagnetic field of the reading antenna 511b, limiting (interfering with) the reading of the game substitute currency 83c placed in the adjacent reading area 41c by the reading antenna 511b. The game substitute currency 83b placed in the reading area 41b corresponding to the energized reading antenna 41b is read by the reading antenna 41b.

[0371] Figure 55 shows the intensity distribution 5111b of the electromagnetic field for reading the bed area 41b generated by the reading antenna 511b, and the intensity distribution 5111c of the electromagnetic field generated by the reading limiting antenna 511c when reading the bed area 41b. Also in Figure 55, the intensity distribution 5112b when the electromagnetic field generated by the reading antenna 511b is weakened by the electromagnetic field generated by the reading limiting antenna 512c of the adjacent bed area 41c, and the intensity distribution 5112c when the electromagnetic field generated by the reading antenna 511c is weakened by the electromagnetic field generated by the reading limiting antenna 512b of the adjacent bed area 41c.

[0372] As shown in Figure 55, even when the reading antenna 511b generates an electromagnetic field with an intensity distribution 5111b for reading the RFID tag 831 of the game currency 83b in the betting area 41b, closing the switch of the reading restriction antenna 512c in the adjacent betting area 41c induces a current to flow in the reading restriction antenna 512, thereby generating an electromagnetic field for reading interference. As a result, the electromagnetic field with intensity distribution 5111b generated by the reading antenna 511b is shaped to be sufficiently small and flat within the adjacent betting area 41c, similar to the electromagnetic field with intensity distribution 5112b. This prevents the RFID tag 831 of the game currency 83c in the betting area 41c from being read by the reading antenna 511b.

[0373] Furthermore, aluminum tapes 513b and 513c are attached to the substrate 402 as shielding members or shielding means for blocking electromagnetic waves from adjacent reading areas. The shielding member may take a form other than tape, for example, a plate, film, sheet, coating, foil, etc. Also, the material of the shielding member may be other than aluminum, for example, silver, gold, copper, nickel, etc., or it may contain aluminum, silver, gold, copper, or nickel. In addition, the shielding member may be in a mesh shape. In addition to the reading limiting antennas 512b and 512c, this shielding member can also limit reading by the reading antennas of adjacent reading areas.

[0374] In the example shown in Figure 55, the shielding member was provided on the substrate 402 for mounting the read-limiting antennas 513 and 512c, but the shielding member may also be provided on 401 for mounting the reading antennas 511 and 521. Alternatively, the shielding member may be provided on the substrate 402 on the opposite side from the read-limiting antennas 512b and 512c, or on the substrate 401 on the opposite side from the reading antennas 511b and 511c. Or, the shielding member may be provided on a plane different from substrates 401 and 402.

[0375] The game table reading system 100 of this embodiment manages the substitute currency 83 for games using a database 57. The database 57 stores information from RFID tags embedded in the substitute currency 83 in association with predetermined related information. The management control device 56 updates the database 57 based on the relationship between the RFID tag information read by the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 and the reading areas where the RFID tags were read, namely the bet area 41, bet area 42, and chip tray 51. In this way, the management control device 56 updates the database 57 for managing the substitute currency 83 based on the RFID tag information of the substitute currency 83 read by each reading area of ​​the game table 6004.

[0376] The following describes the management of the game currency 83 by the database 57. Figure 56 shows the data structure of the game currency 83 and the database 57. As mentioned above, the game currency 83 has an RFID tag 831 embedded in it. The RFID tag 831 stores the chip ID 573. The database 57 has two types of tables, including a chip management table 571 for managing the game currency 83 and a user management table 572 for managing users.

[0377] In the chip management table 571, for each substitute currency 83 used for gambling, the following information is associated with the chip ID 573 of that substitute currency 83: price information 574 of that substitute currency 83, user identification information (user ID) 575 that uniquely identifies the user who possesses that substitute currency, and location information 576 that indicates the location of that substitute currency 83. Note that the price information 574 does not change for a given chip ID 573, but the user ID 575 and location information 576 associated with the chip ID 573 change as the substitute currency 83 is used in the casino. Therefore, the database 57 may store certain past user IDs and location information in addition to the latest user ID and location information for each chip ID 573, or it may store only the latest user ID and location information.

[0378] In the user management table 572, for each user, the following related information is associated with the user ID 575: value information 574 of the substitute currency for games owned by the user, betting information 577 showing the history of bets the user has made in games, and location information 576 showing the user's location. The value information 574, betting information 577, and location information 576 associated with user ID 575 change as the substitute currency 83 for games is used in the casino. Therefore, the database 57 may store certain past value information, betting information, and location information in addition to the latest value information, betting information, and location information for user ID 575, or it may store only the latest value information, betting information, and location information.

[0379] The game table reading system 100 manages the substitute currency 83 for games by updating the chip management table 571 and the user management table 572 in the database 57 based on the information of the RFID tag 831 read by the reading antenna. Any of the methods described in the above embodiment can be used for the specific method of managing the substitute currency 83 for games using the database 57. Below, the management of the substitute currency 83 for games in this embodiment will be described, including explanations that overlap with the above description.

[0380] In the following description, the management control device 56 updates the database 57. The management control device 56 updates the database according to the information of the RFID tags 831 read by each reading antenna and the game status at the time of reading. In this embodiment, the management control device 56 understands the game status (in progress, betting, settlement in progress, paused, etc.) by obtaining information on the game status from the card distribution device 58.

[0381] First, the management control device 56 updates the chip management table 571 in the database 57 so that the user ID of the winning user is associated with the chip ID of the substitute game currency 83 that is paid out to the winning user. The management control device 56 also updates the chip management table 571 in the database 57 so that the user ID assigned to the dealer is associated with the chip ID of the substitute game currency 83 bet by the losing user. This ensures that even if the ownership of the substitute game currency 83 changes due to its use in a game, the database 57 can be used to identify the substitute game currency held by each user.

[0382] Furthermore, the management control device 56 updates the database 57 to associate the chip ID of the substitute currency 83 for gameplay read in the pay area 42 with the user ID of the user playing at the play position corresponding to the pay area 42. The user ID of the user playing at each play position can be identified by the player identification system 55 according to the embodiment described above.

[0383] Specifically, the management control device 56 records the user ID of the user in the play position in the pay area 42 for each record of the chip ID of the substitute currency 83 read in the pay area 42 in the chip management table 571 of the database 57. By updating the database 57 in this way, the change in ownership from the dealer to the user due to payout can be reflected in the database 57.

[0384] Furthermore, the management control device 56 updates the user management table 572 in the database 57 so that the value of the game currency 83 paid out to a user who wins a game is added to the value information 574 associated with the user ID 575 of the winning user, and the value of the game currency 83 that is taken back by a user who loses a game is subtracted from the value information 574 associated with the user ID 575 of the losing user. By updating the database 57 in this way, the value of the game currency 83 held by each user, i.e., the amount of money held, can be managed in the database 57.

[0385] Furthermore, when the chip ID of the dispensing substitute currency 83 is read in the pay area 42, the management control device 56 updates the database 57 so that the user ID associated with the substitute currency 83 bet in the bet area 41 corresponding to the pay area 42 is associated with the chip ID of the dispensing substitute currency 83.

[0386] Alternatively, when the chip ID of the dispensing substitute currency 83 is read in the betting area 41, the management control device 56 updates the database 57 so that the chip ID of the dispensing substitute currency 83 is associated with the user ID associated with the substitute currency 83 bet in the betting area 41. This allows the database 57 to be updated so that the holder of the bet substitute currency 83 and the substitute currency 83 dispensed for that bet are the same person.

[0387] Furthermore, if all play positions are occupied and there are players making back bets, that is, if multiple players are betting on the same play position, the management control device 56 manages the substitute currency 83 for gameplay as follows: Specifically, if the player identification system 55 can identify the user IDs of both users who are simultaneously located in the same play position, the management control device 56 manages the substitute currency 83 for each user in the same manner as described above. However, if the player identification system 55 can identify the user ID of one of the two users playing simultaneously in the same play position but cannot identify the user identification information of the other user, the dealer makes a payout according to the operational rule that payouts are made first to the player whose user ID has been identified. The management control device 56 updates the database 57 so associating the chip ID of the substitute currency 83 to be paid out first to that play position with the user ID identified by the player identification system 55. The management control device 56 associates "unknown" as the user ID with the chip ID of the substitute currency 83 to be paid out later.

[0388] A reading antenna and a reading control device 561 for reading the RFID tag 831 embedded in the substitute currency 83 for gaming may be installed in various locations within the casino facility. In this case, the reading control device 561 may be installed in various locations within the casino facility, and the management control device 56 may be able to communicate with these multiple reading control devices 561. As described above, the reading control device 561 transmits to the management control device 56 the antenna ID of the reading antenna or the reader ID of the reading control device 561 along with the information of the RFID tag 831 read by the reading antenna. The management control device 56 has a table in which each antenna ID or each reader ID is associated with information about the location of the corresponding reading antenna (location information, for example, cage number, table number, chip tray number, gate number, etc. for identifying cages, tables, chip trays, gates, etc.).

[0389] When the management control device 56 receives the antenna ID (or reader ID) along with the read chip ID from the read control device 561, it updates the location information 474 associated with that chip ID in the chip management table 571 of the database 57 accordingly. The management control device 56 also updates the location information 576 associated with that chip ID in the user management table 572 in the same manner.

[0390] This allows us to know where each game currency 83 is located and where each user is located by referring to the database 57. In addition, by storing past location information in the chip management table 571 and user management table 572, we can know the history of the movement of game currency 83 and users.

[0391] Furthermore, the control device 56 obtains information on the user ID of the user playing at each play position from the player identification system 55, and when a bet is made by placing game substitute currency 83 in the betting area 41 during betting, it obtains the chip ID, which is the information of the RIFD tag, from the reading antenna 511 at each play position. The control device 56 uses this user ID and chip ID to update the user management table 572 in the database 57. Specifically, the control device 56 refers to the chip management table 571 to obtain the value information 574 of the obtained chip ID 573, and adds the value of that value information 574 to the betting information of the obtained user ID in the user management table 572.

[0392] In this way, the control device 56 updates the database 57 so that the value of the game currency 83 read by the reading antenna 511 in the betting area 41 is added to the betting information 577 associated with the user ID 575 of the user identified for the play position corresponding to the reading antenna 511. By updating the database 57 in this way, the value of the game currency 83 bet, i.e., the bet amount, can be managed in the database 57 for each user. The bet amount may also be managed as corresponding incentive points.

[0393] The information stored in the RFID tag 831 of the substitute currency 83, i.e., the chip ID 573, is also used to determine the authenticity of the substitute currency 83. When the reading antenna reads the information from the RFID tag 831, the management control device 56 checks the information against the database 57. If the information is not in the database 57, i.e., the check is unsuccessful, the management control device 56 determines that the substitute currency 83 is defective or fraudulent. If the management control device 56 determines that the substitute currency 83 is defective or fraudulent, it outputs a warning. This allows the warning to be output if a fraudulent substitute currency 83 is used at the game table 6004. The output warning may be displayed in a visually or audibly perceptible format in real time (i.e., at the time of determination of defect or fraud), or it may be recorded in a recording device along with information about the circumstances at the time of the fraud or defect (table number, date and time, etc.).

[0394] Figure 57 shows another example of reading antennas and reading restriction antennas. In this example, a reading antenna is provided for each player position and for each bet, i.e., for each side bet such as player, banker, tie, pair, etc. As shown in Figure 57, each betting area 41 has multiple betting area areas, including a player area 411, a banker area 412, a tie area 413 as a side bet area, a player pair area 414, and a banker pair area 415, all located close together for each play position.

[0395] Each betting area, which is a reading area, is equipped with a reading antenna and a reading restriction antenna, which allows for the reading of each betting area. Specifically, the player area 411 is equipped with a reading antenna 5111 and a reading restriction antenna 5112, the banker area 412 is equipped with a reading antenna 5121 and a reading restriction antenna 5122, the tie area 413 is equipped with a reading antenna 5131 and a reading restriction antenna 5132, the player pair area 414 is equipped with a reading antenna 5141 and a reading restriction antenna 5142, and the banker pair area 415 is equipped with a reading antenna 5151 and a reading restriction antenna 5152.

[0396] In this way, by treating each betting area at each play position as a separate reading area and providing a reading antenna for each, it is possible to determine which betting target a player has bet on with the game currency 83 at each play position. Thus, in this example, even if multiple reading areas are densely packed together as shown in Figure 57, the game table reading system 100 can read the RFDI tags 831 separately for each of those reading areas. The management control device 56 can determine which player at which play position won the game, that is, which play position should receive the payout, based on the game result information from the card distribution device 58 and the betting target information obtained from each play position. The management control device 56 can also detect if this determination result does not match the actual payout and output a warning.

[0397] Figure 58 shows another example of a read-limiting antenna. In Figure 58, only the bet areas 41b, 41c, and 41d and their corresponding pay areas 42b, 42c, and 42d are shown. In this example, multiple read-limiting antennas are provided in one read area, the bet area. These multiple read-limiting antennas each shape the electromagnetic fields generated by the read antennas of several other adjacent read areas.

[0398] Specifically, for example, in the betting area 41c, which is a reading area, in addition to the reading antenna 511c that reads the entire betting area 41c, there are three reading restriction antennas 512c1, 512c2, and 512c3. Reading restriction antenna 512c1 prevents the RFID tag 831 of the substitute currency 83 placed in the betting area 41c from being read by the reading antenna 511d of the betting area 41d adjacent to the right. Reading restriction antenna 512c2 prevents the RFID tag 831 of the substitute currency 83 placed in the betting area 41c from being read by the reading antenna 511b of the betting area 41b adjacent to the left. Reading restriction antenna 512c3 prevents the RFID tag 831 of the substitute currency 83 placed in the betting area 41c from being read by the reading antenna 521c of the pay area 42c adjacent to the top.

[0399] When the reading control device 561 controls the reading antenna 511d to read the bed area 41d, the reading restriction control device 562 closes the switch of the reading restriction antenna 512c1 in the bed area 41c, causing the reading restriction antenna 512c1 to generate electromagnetic waves to interfere with the reading antenna 511d reading the RFID tag 831 in the bed area 41c. When the reading control device 561 controls the reading antenna 511b to read the bed area 41b, the reading restriction control device 562 closes the switch of the reading restriction antenna 512c2 in the bed area 41c, causing the reading restriction antenna 512c2 to generate electromagnetic waves to interfere with the reading antenna 511b reading the RFID tag 831 in the bed area 41c. Furthermore, when the reading control device 561 controls the reading antenna 521c to read the pay area 42c, the reading restriction control device 562 closes the switch of the reading restriction antenna 512c3 in the bed area 41c, causing the reading restriction antenna 512c3 to generate electromagnetic waves to interfere with the reading antenna 521c reading the RFID tag 831 in the bed area 41c.

[0400] In this manner, the read restriction control device 562, in synchronization with the read restriction control device 561 sequentially driving the read antennas to perform readings, closes the switch of the corresponding read restriction antenna, thereby generating interfering electromagnetic waves.

[0401] As described above, according to the game table reading system 100 of this embodiment, when multiple reading areas are set on the game table 6004 at relatively close intervals from each other, it is possible to distinguish which reading area each RFID tag 831 is located in. Specifically, even when multiple betting areas are set at close distances from each other, by providing a reading antenna in each betting area 41, it is possible to prevent the reading antenna from reading the RFID tags 831 of an adjacent betting area 41 or pay area 42. Furthermore, even when a pay area 42 is provided corresponding to each of the multiple betting areas 41 and a reading antenna is provided in each of them, it is possible to prevent the reading of the RFID tags 831 of an adjacent pay area 42 or betting area 41.

[0402] In the sixth embodiment described above, the read-limiting antennas 512, 522, and 532 generated an electromagnetic field to interfere with reading in the corresponding reading area by induced currents from the electromagnetic fields generated by the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 in adjacent reading areas. However, instead, the electromagnetic field for interference may be generated by supplying current from the read-limiting control device 562. In this case as well, the read-limiting antennas 512, 522, and 532 may be provided with switches to interrupt their loops, and controlled to open the switches and release the loops when the reading antennas 511, 521, and 531 installed in the same reading area perform readings. [Explanation of symbols]

[0403] 41 Bed Area 42 Pay Areas 51 Tip Tray 52 Cameras 53 Card Reader 56 Management control device 57 Databases 58 Card distribution device 81 Members Card 82 players 83 Substitute coins for games 91 Dealer 100 Game Table Reading System 511, 521, 531 Reading Antennas 512, 522, 532 Read-limiting antenna 561 Reading control device 562 Read restriction control device 831 RFID tags 6004 Game Table

Claims

1. A management system for managing the exchange of substitute currency for games, including RFID tags, at a game table, The game table comprises a chip tray configured to hold the dealer's substitute currency for gameplay, a first area for placing substitute currency handed over by the player for exchange, and a second area for placing substitute currency removed from the chip tray by the dealer for exchange. The aforementioned management system is In the first area, a first reader device reads the RFID tags of the substitute currency for games that is placed in the first area for the purpose of currency exchange, In the second area, a second reader device reads the RFID tags of the substitute currency for games that is placed in the second area for the purpose of currency exchange, A game progress determination device that determines the game stage, A management system comprising: a control device that determines that the currency exchange is taking place based on the game stage determined by at least the game progress determination device.

2. The control device further determines that the currency exchange has been performed based on the reading result of the first reader and / or the reading result of the second reader, according to claim 1.

3. The third reading device further comprises reading the RFID tag of the game substitute currency stored in the chip tray, The control device further determines that the currency exchange has been performed based on the reading result of the third reading device, according to claim 1.

4. The RFID tag stores identification information for the substitute currency used for the game. The aforementioned management system is A storage device that stores the identification information in association with the information of the holder of the substitute currency used for the game, A control device that overwrites the holder information associated with the identification information of the substitute currency for games read by the second reader, which is stored in the storage device, with the holder information associated with the identification information of the substitute currency for games read by the first reader, The management system according to claim 1, comprising:

5. The RFID tag stores identification information for the substitute currency used for the game. The aforementioned management system is A storage device that stores the identification information in association with the information of the holder of the substitute currency used for games, A control device that rewrites the holder information associated with the identification information of the substitute currency for games read by the first reader, which is stored in the storage device, with holder information representing a casino or dealer. The management system according to claim 1, comprising:

Images