Arrangement for data acquisition in gambling games

The invention relates to a device for recording the average stake of individual participants in a game of chance, such as blackjack, poker, or the like. per game round, where the stake is represented by tokens, comprising a central token depository for taking up the stock of tokens at the table and at least one token depositing field per player for taking up his / her stake per game round, the token depositing field in each case for recording the stake has at least one sensor which is connected to a data processing system

Chips are game pieces that have a certain monetary value. In American casinos, tokens are called chips. Coins such as silver dollars, half or quarter dollar coins (halves and quaters) or the like can also be used as tokens. In this application, the term token refers to all the game pieces commonly used in casinos.

In American casinos in particular, it is important for the operator to know how much each of his guests wagers, wins or loses during a game day. It is customary, depending on how much the casino earns theoretically or actually through him, to give the player benefits such as free food, free travel to the casino and home or the like.

So far, the approximate determination of the turnover of the individual players has been made by so-called pit bosses. These are employees of the casino who try to estimate the average stake of each player as well as the number of games per hour and thus the turnover, profit or loss of the individual casino visitors by continuously monitoring the course of the game. Disadvantages of this method are the resulting high personnel costs and the inaccuracy of the determination of sales.

In order to avoid the disadvantages mentioned, essentially two different systems are known.

The first consists of a video camera system that looks flat into the gaming table, records the token columns used by the individual players and feeds them to a processing unit, which then uses a corresponding recognition algorithm to determine the value of the token columns used.

DE-C1-44 39 502 describes such a system with which the processes of a card game, in particular the game of blackjack, can be monitored. It comprises a card slide provided with a card value recognition device as well as token storage fields provided with detectors and assigned to each participant. Said detectors can be used to determine whether there are tokens in the corresponding storage area. In order to determine the total value of a number of tokens located on a storage field (= stake height), an optical recording is made of these (using a camera or scanner). This image is fed to an evaluation unit, which recognizes the value of each token shown on the basis of its dimensions and color and can thus calculate the total token value. Card value reading device, storage area sensors and image evaluation unit are connected to a central EDP system, which can link the data received from said functional units and thus evaluate the game master and participants.

The difficulty of the practical implementation of this method is given by the optical recognition of the tokens, especially in the case of staggered stacks, several stacks of stacks (split) or other irregular stakes. Their use changes their optical properties, such as the reflection factor of the surface, color and appearance in general. However, it is precisely on the basis of these features that the token type is recognized, so that permanent, reliable function is not possible. can only be achieved with a correspondingly large amount of effort. Furthermore, it can happen that the recordings of the camera system are influenced by unpredictable events, such as covering the lenses, changes in the brightness on the gaming table or the like, and the measurement result is thereby falsified.

The second option is to provide each individual game token with an electronically recognizable, contact-free marking assigned to the token value, such as a radio-frequency identity code, and for each player under the token storage area on which the respective round stake is placed is placed to provide a corresponding sensor. With the help of this sensor, the value of the stack of tokens used per round can be determined.

AT 408 841 B

The disadvantage of this system lies in the fact that written tokens are complex to manufacture and are therefore relatively expensive.

DE-A1-34 03 018 describes a game of roulette in which the individual ball-receiving compartments of the roulette bowl are provided with sensors. The fields usually recorded on a table, each representing a ball receiving compartment and used to deposit the inserts, are provided here with coin slots. A certain ball receiving compartment is placed by inserting a coin into the corresponding slot, which is registered by sensors. It can thus be determined whether an insertion slot is occupied and whether or not an insert has been made on the corresponding receptacle. An important basic principle of the game disclosed here is the fact that the stake per field of activity is always consistently high (see page 6, lines 17/18).

Thus, the problem of determining the stake of each participant in DE-A1-34 03 018 does not arise at all, consequently no corresponding solution is offered.

SU 1140-137 A relates to an electronic reading device for identification tags. The presence of an identification tag in a slot provided for it is detected by a sensor. The only teaching of this document that comes within the scope of the present invention lies in the fact of the detection of the presence of an object. However, this document does not provide any information on the options for designing devices for determining the total value of a number of tokens.

The publications DE-A1-39 39 450, DE-A1-35 15 890, DE-C1-43 28 792, DE-A1-31 28 094, EP-A1-310 761, DE-A1-34 36 287, DE -A1-31 37 484 and EP-A2-416 751 each show devices for measuring material or liquid levels in vessels, but do not contain any information on possibilities for recording the average stake of individual participants in a game of chance.

It is the object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known systems discussed above for recording the average stake of individual participants in a game of chance and to specify a device of the type mentioned with which the determination of the average stake of individual participants in a game of chance is reliable is possible.

According to the invention this is achieved in that the central token depository has a device for detecting its current token content, which is connected to the data processing device, and that in the device a game status sensor connected to an input of the data processing device for detecting the status of a Game round is planned, The determination of the gaming turnover of each participant takes place after the stake is removed from its storage area and deposited directly in the central token storage or if at least one gaming turnover is taken directly from the central token storage and placed in an insert storage area as a game win.

Such a device does not disturb the course of the game or the game participants, it is relatively simple, works reliably and permanently.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that a storage field sensor is connected to a further input of the data processing device.

Another feature of the invention can be that a desk keyboard connected to the data processing device is provided.

This allows the dealer to enter corrections, basic settings, changes to the token storage content or similar information that are not caused by the course of the game.

A preferred embodiment of the invention can consist in that the outputs of all sensors are connected to the inputs of the data processing system via a first distributor and a second interface distributor and that the desk keyboard is connected to the data processing system via the second interface distributor .

By using such interface distributors, on the one hand, the wiring effort can be reduced and, on the other hand, the data processing system can be supported in operating the peripheral units (sensors, keyboard, token storage), which increases the speed of the calculation processes.

AT 408 841 B

Furthermore, it can be provided that the sensors are formed by force transducers, inductive or capacitive buttons, transmitter-receiver pairs, such as infrared, ultrasonic, laser transmitter / receiver or video pattern recognition systems or the like.

Such sensors function particularly reliably in this context, since they are not influenced by usage-related changes to the token, such as appearance, reflective properties of the token surface or the like.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings. It shows:

1 shows a device according to the invention installed on a gaming table, schematically in elevation and

2 shows a token storage field arrangement in elevation.

The explanation is based on the game of Black Jack. The aim of this card game is to build a hand of cards from any number of cards, whereby the sum of the individual card values ​​should be as close as possible to just under 21 or exactly 21. The course of the game is such that at the beginning of each round all participants determine their round stake by placing it in front of them in the form of a stack of game chips. Then the dealer (a casino employee who runs the game) gives each participant and himself two cards. If desired, the participants and the dealer can each request additional cards. If the total card value exceeds 21 by adding a new card, the player concerned must reveal his entire hand, has lost his stake and is eliminated from the game for the current round. If all participants remaining in the game have enough cards, the dealer must take cards according to the rules of the game and place them openly, i.e. visible to all participants. Then the cards of all participants are revealed by the dealer. Those participants whose card total is greater than the dealer's win; those participants whose card value is less than that of the dealer lose their stake.

The determination of the turnover, profit or loss of each participant of this game is carried out with a device which, according to the invention, essentially consists of a central token storage 102, which has a device for determining its current content, and of at least one token storage field 200, 300 per participant consists. The storage fields 200, 300 each have at least one sensor 201, 301, with the aid of which it can be determined whether there are tokens on the storage field 200, 300. At least one storage field 200 is provided for the storage of the insert chips.

Both the device for determining the current token storage content and the sensors 201, 301 are connected with their outputs to the inputs of a data processing system 104.

The device for determining the current token storage content supplies this in a way that can be further processed electronically, ie in the form of an electrical signal. Such a signal can be generated, for example, by electrical force transducers, electronic scanning devices, such as transmitter-receiver pairs (infrared transmitter / receiver or the like), switches or the like that can be operated by the tokens.

At the beginning of a game round, all participants now place their stakes on their stake deposit fields 200.If a participant exceeds their card value (i.e. if they have more than 21), the dealer removes their stakes from the deposit field 200 and places it in the token deposit 102 a. The data processing system 104 can clearly determine the amount of the participation of the participant due to the sensor relief and the excess inventory that occurs immediately afterwards in the token storage 102.

Towards the end of the game round, the stakes of all losing participants are removed and the corresponding sensors 201 are relieved. In the case of the winners, the stake remains on the storage area 200, the corresponding sensors 201 are not relieved. As a result, the data processing system 104 can clearly determine which of the participants wins and who loses. The exact profit or The loss amount is not known, however, since the dealer generally first collects the stakes of all losers, pays out the winners and places the remaining difference in the token depository 102 or removes it from it. However, since it can be assumed that every player always makes an essentially constant round stake, this average can be used as the basis for the calculation.

AT 408 841 B

This average is determined by averaging the precisely determinable stakes in those game rounds in which the participant overshoots

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawing, at least one storage field 300 is provided for each participant, which is used to store the winning chips. At the end of the game, the dealer places the stack of chips won by the respective participant on this winning storage field 300. In this way, regardless of the switching state of the use sensor 201, the individual participants can now be clearly classified as winners or losers.

However, a miscalculation could result from the fact that the winning deposit field 300 of a participant is incorrectly debited during the game (participant drops one of his cards on it, touches the deposit field with his hand, token accidentally falls on it). As a result of such an event, the data processing system 104 would incorrectly book a profit for the corresponding participant.

A so-called game status sensor 401 is provided to determine the number of games per unit of time. In the case of blackjack, this essentially provides a blocking signal as long as cards are being dealt, which is used to determine the game status, that is, game in progress or at the end of the game. Furthermore, the data processing system 104 is prompted to evaluate only insert storage field relief with subsequent token storage content increase (one participant has exceeded), but to ignore all other sensor actuations, so that the above-mentioned false conclusions are also avoided. At the end of a game round, all remaining participants in the game have enough cards, the winnings or winnings are paid out. When the stakes are drawn in, the game status sensor 401 sends a release signal to the data processing system 104, so that loads on the winning field sensors 301 and loads on the betting field sensors 201 are also evaluated without a subsequent increase in the content of the token storage area.

When observing a blackjack game table, it is particularly advantageous to arrange this sensor 401 below a dealer card storage field 400, since the dealer cards are placed exactly in accordance with the game states described above. During the deal, they are placed on their storage area 400; when the dealer takes cards they also cover the card sensor and only release it when all cards have been removed from the storage area 400.

Up to now, a winning 300 or stake deposit field 200 has always been spoken of, but within the meaning of the invention it is of course possible to provide several, as shown in particular in FIG. It makes sense to proceed according to FIG. 2 and to combine the token storage fields 200, 300 of each participant into a participant unit 105.

Furthermore, a desk keyboard 100 connected to the data processing system can be provided.

This is used to record non-game-related changes in the level of the token depository 102. Such changes are, for example, drops (dealer sells tokens to a participant), markers (dealer, pit boss or inspector give credit in the form of chips to a participant), fills or credits (transferring of tokens from the token depository 102 to the casino token box or from the casino token box to the token depository 102) or the like.

The table keyboard 100 can replace the game status sensor 401 described, in that the dealer notifies the data processing system 104 of the beginning of a new game round by entering his card value total.

As the device according to the invention has been described so far, it is only possible to determine the entry result of the individual subscriber unit 105. If this entry result is now to be assigned to the individual guests, it is necessary to inform the data processing system 104 which guest played on which participant unit 105 during which period.

This mapping can be done in several ways. For example, every casino guest can have an electronically readable identity card, which he gives to the dealer, who inserts it into a reader built into the desk keyboard 100 and the data processing system 104 thereby the identity of the new participant and the token value he has bought by manual input announces. The position of the subscriber unit 105 used by the new subscriber is also entered manually.

AT 408 841 B

If a casino is not equipped with the identity cards mentioned, the participant's identity can also be entered manually.

At the same time, the time of the start of the game for the new participant is determined by the above-mentioned entries; the end of a player's game is reported to the data processing system 104 by manual input.

If all the tables in the casino are equipped with such monitoring devices and are connected to a central data processing system, the result of each guest can be calculated relatively precisely.

The assignment of the guests to the subscriber units 105 used can be improved in that each guest receives an electronically readable identity card and a reader 107 is arranged for each subscriber unit 105. If a guest begins to play at any participant unit 105, he logs on there using his identity card. The data processing system 104 thus evaluates the game on the previously used participant unit 105 as ended and the game on the new unit 105 as just started.

In the case of casino games, it is usually also provided that guests do not have to take part directly in the course of the game themselves, but can observe a game participant and support them with their additional stakes. A separate reader does not have to be provided for such players, they are recorded by manual input just like guests who do not have an identity card.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the outputs of all sensors 201, 301, 401 are connected via a first distributor 106 and a second interface distributor 101 to the inputs of the data processing system 104 and the desk keyboard 100 via the second interface distributor 101 the data processing system 104 is connected.

A so-called communication processor 103 is arranged between the second interface distributor 101 and the inputs of the data processing system 104, which serves to adapt the signal form supplied by the interface distributor 101 to the signal form that can be processed by the data processing system 104. However, this can also be omitted if the output signals of the interface distributor 101 can be read directly by the data processing system 104.

The sensors 102, 201, 301, 401 mentioned are formed by any devices that can detect objects. These devices only need to recognize whether an object is present, so their output signal is of a binary nature (object present or no object present). Some examples of this are force transducers, inductive or capacitive buttons, transmitter-receiver pairings, such as Infrared, ultrasonic, laser transmitter / receiver, video pattern recognition systems or the like.

The invention was described on the basis of the game of blackjack, which is in no way to be regarded as a restriction, since the device according to the invention can also be used to determine the participant profit of other casino table games To place 102, 201, 301, 401 differently or to make additional entries via the desktop keyboard, however, the basic idea of ​​determining the average stake of each participant remains the same.