System for machine reading and processing information from gaming chips
View Patent ↗A fully automatic table game player tracking system for Blackjack and other casino games wherein players have individual betting positions on the table is disclosed. An individual B&W CCD chip reading turret is placed inches in front of each player's betting position to scan wagered chips using ambient casino lighting. The turret also has a “comp” light to indicate to the player at the beginning of every hand that his bet was read credited for his complimentaries (meals, room, entertainment, etc.), thus delivering to the player extra gaming satisfaction every hand. Patterns of repeated coding around the playing chips' peripheral surface represent with light and dark contrasting colors the dollar value and particular casino issuer of the chips. The aesthetically pleasing chip identifying coding patterns are comprised of unique referenceless error controlled self-clocking (n,k) code words, which are repeated around the chip's periphery without space therebetween, for improved efficiency and accuracy no matter the orientation of the wagered chip placed on the table.
1. A system used to indicate at a gaming table whether betting information of a player has been associated with the player at least for player comping purposes based on information including the betting information received from a gaming table which includes a plurality of player betting positions on the table within which one or more chips to be bet can be placed, the system comprising:
a computer which receives the betting information from each betting position relating to a chip or chips at a respective betting position on the gaming table;
an indicator device associated with each betting position on the gaming table viewable from a player side of the table, each indicator device having a plurality of indicating conditions;
the respective indicator device associated with each of the respective betting positions being controlled by the computer based on information received by the computer comprising (a) information indicating that another hand is being played at the table, (b) player identity information associated with a respective betting position or positions and (c) the betting information received by the computer from a respective betting position or positions;
the computer being configured to cause the indicator device associated with a respective betting position to change one of the plurality of indicating conditions thereof to a different one of the plurality of indicating conditions thereof after receiving the information that another hand is being played if the betting information received by the computer from the respective betting position has been associated with a respective player identity at least for player comping purposes.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective indicator device associated with a respective betting position comprises an optical device.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective indicator device associated with a respective betting position comprises an audio device.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the respective indicator device associated with a respective betting position comprises a display device.
5. The system of claim 1 comprising an input device by which player identity representing a known player or an unknown player can be input to the system for receipt by the computer.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the input device comprises a magnetic stripe reader.
7. The system of claim 5 wherein the input device comprises a keypad.
8. The system of claim 5 comprising a sensor positioned to detect action occurring at the table indicating that another hand is being played and coupled to provide information relating thereto to the system for receipt by the computer.
9. A method used to indicate at a gaming table whether betting information of a player has been associated with the player at least for player comping purposes identity in an electronic system including a computer, the gaming table which includes a plurality of player betting positions on the table within which one or more chips to be bet can be placed and an indicator device, which has a plurality of indicating conditions, associated with each of the betting positions on the gaming table viewable from a player side of the table, the method comprising:
the computer receiving (a) information indicating that another hand is being played at the table, (b) player identity information associated with a respective betting position or positions and (c) the betting information from a betting position or positions relating to a chip or chips at a respective betting position on the gaming table; and
the computer being configured to cause the indicator device associated with a respective betting position to change one of the plurality of indicating conditions thereof to a different one of the plurality of indicating conditions thereof after receiving the information that another hand is being played if the betting information received by the computer from the betting position has been associated with a respective player identity at least for player comping purposes.