System and method for casino table operation

1. A system comprising:

a table including a tabletop covered by a fabric;

at least one light sensor positioned in proximity to a position at the table, the at least one light sensor being positioned beneath the fabric to detect light intensity through the fabric;

an electronic system communicably coupled to the at least one light sensor, the electronic system that detects changes in light intensity at the at least one light sensor; and

a computer communicably coupled to the electronic system, wherein the computer:

receives information related to a change in light intensity at the at least one light sensor;

determines, based on the received information related to the change in light intensity at the at least one light sensor, whether the position is vacant; and

responsive to a determination that the position is vacant, registers an occupant at the position.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer:

identifies the position as idle; and

checks out the registered occupant from the table.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the identification of the position as idle comprises a determination that no changes in light intensity at the at least one light sensor have been reported for a predetermined period of time.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light sensor comprises a plurality of light sensors positioned in proximity to a plurality of positions at the table.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic system detects placement of an object over the at least one sensor.

6. The system of claim 1 , the system comprising a keypad communicably coupled to the computer, the keypad positioned on the tabletop in proximity to a particular position at the table.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the keypad receives check-in information and transmit the check-in information to the computer.

8. The system of claim 6 , wherein the computer transmits information related to the registration to the keypad for display.

9. The system of claim 6 , wherein the keypad:

receives information related to a move of a first occupant from a first position at the table to a second position at the table;

transmits the information related to the move to the computer;

receives confirmation from the computer that the move has been recorded; and

updates a display on the keypad responsive to the received confirmation.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the keypad:

receives information related to an additional position at the table that will be occupied by an existing occupant at at least one existing position at the table;

transmits the information related to the additional position to the computer;

receives confirmation from the computer that a copy has been recorded; and

updates a display on the keypad responsive to the received confirmation.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fabric is felt.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one light sensor is substantially flush with a top surface of the tabletop.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the occupant comprises at least one of a guest and a player.

14. A method comprising:

detecting a change in light intensity in proximity to a position at a table, wherein the detection is performed via at least one light sensor positioned beneath a fabric layer on the table, the detecting comprising detecting the change in light intensity through the fabric layer; and

receiving, by a computer system, information related to a change in light intensity at the at least one light sensor;

the computer system determining, based on the received information related to the change in light intensity at the at least one light sensor, whether the position is vacant; and

responsive to a determination that the position is vacant, the computer system registering an occupant at the position.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising:

identify the position as idle; and

checking out the registered occupant from the table.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the identifying of the position as idle comprises determining that no changes in light intensity at the at least one light sensor have been reported for a predetermined period of time.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined period of time is configurable.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the at least one light sensor comprises a plurality of light sensors positioned in proximity to a plurality of positions at the table.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fabric layer comprises felt.

20. A computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:

detecting a change in light intensity in proximity to a position at a table, wherein the detection is performed via a light sensor positioned beneath a fabric layer on the table, the detecting comprising detecting the change in light intensity through the fabric layer; and

receiving information related to a change in light intensity at the at least one light sensor;

determining, based on the received information related to the change in light intensity at the at least one light sensor, whether the position is vacant; and

responsive to a determination that the position is vacant, registering an occupant at the position.