Chip racks including a rack for holding chips and a card reader and related devices
Chip racks include a rack for holding chips and a card reader. Gaming devices may include such chip racks.
1. A chip rack comprising:
a rack defining chip receiving slots configured to support casino chips;
a substantially planar wall extending outward from the chip receiving slots at a location of the chip rack, the substantially planar wall configured to be positioned away from a dealer when the chip rack is installed in a gaming table with the chip receiving slots configured to be positioned between the dealer and the substantially planar wall, the substantially planar wall defining a card receiving area configured to enable sliding of cards between a card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving area; and
a card reader positioned at the substantially planar wall adjacent the rack in the card receiving area, the card reader configured to enable the dealer to determine at least one characteristic of a portion of at least one face-down card of the cards that is facing the card playing surface of the gaming table.
2. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the card reader comprises a reflective surface configured to be positioned in an upward direction toward the dealer.
3. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the substantially planar wall extends outward from the chip receiving slots in a direction away from an intended position of the dealer.
4. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the substantially planar wall laterally surrounds the chip receiving slots.
5. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the card receiving area extends around at least a portion of the card reader.
6. The chip rack of claim 5 , wherein the card receiving area of the substantially planar wall comprises a lowered portion having an upper surface that is configured to be positioned relatively closer to the card playing surface of the gaming table than an adjacent portion of the card receiving area.
7. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the card receiving area is configured to extend from the card reader to the card playing surface of the gaming table.
8. The chip rack of claim 7 , wherein the card receiving area comprises a beveled leading edge configured to define a transition between the card playing surface of the gaming table and the substantially planar wall.
9. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the card reader comprises a cover extending over a portion of a reflective surface of the card reader.
10. The chip rack of claim 9 , wherein the card reader is configured to receive a portion the at least one face-down card between the cover and the reflective surface of the card reader.
11. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the card reader comprises a protrusion adapted to retain and align at least a corner of the face-down card when the face-down playing card is inserted into the card reader.
12. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the card reader comprises an optical sensor configured to automatically sense the at least one characteristic of the portion of the at least one face-down card.
13. The chip rack of claim 1 , wherein the card reader is configured to sense the at least one characteristic of the portion of the at least one face-down card comprising a marker indicating a value of the at least one face-down card.
14. A chip rack comprising:
recesses in the chip rack for receiving casino wagering chips;
a flange portion extending outward from the recesses at a location of the chip rack that is configured to be positioned on a side opposing a dealer when the chip rack is installed in a gaming table, the flange portion defining a card receiving area configured to enable sliding of cards between a card playing surface of the gaming table and the card receiving area; and
a card reader positioned at the card receiving area, the card reader configured to enable the dealer to determine a value of at least one face-down card of the cards that is facing the card playing surface of the gaming table.
15. The chip rack of claim 14 , wherein the card reader is positioned at a central position of the chip rack at a front portion of the chip rack.
16. A gaming device comprising:
a card playing surface; and
a chip rack positioned at least partially within the card playing surface, the chip rack comprising:
recesses in the chip rack for receiving casino wagering chips;
a flange portion extending outward from the recesses on a side opposing an intended dealer position of the gaming device, the flange portion defining a card receiving area configured to enable sliding of cards between a card playing surface and the card receiving area; and
a card reader positioned at the card receiving area, the card reader configured to enable the dealer to determine a value of at least one face-down card of the cards that is facing the card playing surface.
17. The gaming device of claim 16 , wherein the card receiving area of the flange portion comprises a recessed portion on at least one side of the card reader.
18. The gaming device of claim 17 , wherein the card reader is positioned proximate a middle portion of the card playing surface of the gaming device.
19. The gaming device of claim 16 , wherein the flange portion surrounds the recesses.
20. The gaming device of claim 19 , wherein the chip rack is received within a cutout in the gaming device with the flange portion supporting the chip rack by contacting the playing surface.