U.S. patent number RE46,505 [Application Number 13/450,353] was granted by the patent office on 2017-08-08 for system including card game dispensing shoe and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Bally Gaming, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Otho D. Hill. Invention is credited to Otho D. Hill.
United States Patent |
RE46,505 |
Hill |
August 8, 2017 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
System including card game dispensing shoe and method
Abstract
A system and method including card game dispensing shoe includes
a scanner that discerns the value and suit of each card dispensed,
and includes a CPU and a memory storing data such as rules for
dealing cards, data representing player strategy criteria and card
inventory data. The CPU, with the scanner data and wagering data
can determine player proficiency in regards to player strategies,
can determine whether the card inventory is in favor of the player,
determine player first card advantage and can, on a floating basis,
determine permitted deck penetration. The system and method can be
incorporated into games to be broadcast over a communications
network such as the Internet.
Inventors: |
Hill; Otho D. (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hill; Otho D. |
Las Vegas |
NV |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Bally Gaming, Inc. (Las Vegas,
NV)
|
Family
ID: |
59411490 |
Appl.
No.: |
13/450,353 |
Filed: |
April 18, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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09905478 |
Jul 31, 2001 |
6582301 |
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09528577 |
Mar 20, 2000 |
6299536 |
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09031321 |
Feb 26, 1998 |
6039650 |
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08543908 |
Oct 17, 1995 |
5722893 |
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Reissue of: |
10439789 |
May 16, 2003 |
7699694 |
Apr 20, 2010 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F
1/14 (20130101); G07F 17/3202 (20130101); A63F
1/18 (20130101); A63F 1/18 (20130101); G07F
17/3293 (20130101); G07F 17/32 (20130101); A63F
3/00157 (20130101); A63F 1/14 (20130101); A63F
2001/003 (20130101); A63F 2009/2425 (20130101); A63F
2250/58 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A63F
13/00 (20140101); A63F 1/18 (20060101); A63F
1/14 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;463/11,13,14,46,47
;273/149R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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3807127 |
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Sep 1989 |
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DE |
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WO92/21413 |
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Dec 1992 |
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WO |
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WO96/07153 |
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May 1995 |
|
WO |
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96/07153 |
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Mar 1996 |
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WO |
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WO99/43404 |
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Feb 1999 |
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WO |
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99/43404 |
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Sep 1999 |
|
WO |
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WO02/05914 |
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Jan 2002 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Laneau; Ronald
Assistant Examiner: Williams; Ross
Attorney, Agent or Firm: TraskBritt
Parent Case Text
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
09/905,478, filed on Jul. 13, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,301,
which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/528,577
filed on Mar. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,536, which is a
continuation of application Ser. No. 09/031,321, filed on Feb. 26,
1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,650, which is a continuation-in-part
of application Ser. No. 08/543,908, filed on Oct. 17, 1995, now
U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,893.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A game monitoring system for a Blackjack card game including a
dealer hand at least one player hand of cards where a player makes
a wager and exercises options with respect to the player's hand
according to the rules of the game, the system comprising: a shoe
including a housing having an outlet slot, said housing sized to
store a plurality of playing cards defining a card inventory and
configured for a dealer to dispense said cards one at a time
through said outlet slot to complete said hands according to the
rules of the game; a scanner to scan said playing cards and
generate a set of scanner signals determinative of the identity of
cards dispensed from the shoe to each hand; .[.means.]. .Iadd.an
input device .Iaddend.for acquiring data representing the wager(s)
made by the player; a memory storing data representing at least one
predetermined Blackjack game play criteria in relation to at least
one of the player's wager or the cards dealt to at least one of
said hands and data representing the constituency of the card
inventory; and a computer processor to receive said scanner signals
and said wager data, said processor configured to compare said
acquired data to said at least one predetermined game play criteria
to determine adherence by the player to said at least one
predetermined game play criteria, and further configured to select
the number of cards to remain in the inventory and not dealt from
the shoe for reconstitution and reshuffling of the inventory, said
processor processing the scanner .[.data.]. .Iadd.signals
.Iaddend.to determine depletion of cards from the inventory by
dealing, and to leave said selected number of cards undealt and in
response thereto, sending a signal to command reconstitution and
re-shuffling of the inventory.
2. The system of claim 1 comprising said processor configured to
alter said selected number of cards to remain in said inventory in
response to said processor determining adherence by any player to
said at least one predetermined game play criteria.
3. The system of claim 2 comprising a moveable barrier at said shoe
outlet and said processor configured to control said barrier upon
(i) determination of depletion of cards from the inventory by
dealing to said selected number and (ii) completion of the current
hand of play, to block further dealing of cards from said shoe.
4. The system of claim 3 comprising increasing said selected number
of cards in said inventory to remain undealt in response to said
processor determining adherence by any player to said at least one
predetermined game play criteria.
5. The system of claim 1 comprising said game play criteria
comprising a card count system and said processor configured to,
from said scanner signals determine a card count system advantage
for said inventory according to said card count system.
6. The system of claim 1 comprising a communication network in
communication with at least one terminal located remotely from said
game, a display for each terminal, means at each terminal for a
remote player to input a wager according to the rules of the game,
said processor configured to issue signals over said network to
control the terminal display to display representations of the
scanned cards dealt to each hand and determine whether the remote
player has won or lost their wager.
7. The system of claim 1 comprising a communication network in
communication with at least one terminal located remotely from said
game, a display for each terminal, means at each terminal for a
remote player to input game play strategy decisions according to
the rules of the game, said processor configured to issue signals
over said network to control the terminal display to display
representations of the scanned cards dealt to each hand and
determine whether the remote player has won or lost their
wager.
8. The system of claim 7 comprising a communication network in
communication with at least one terminal located remotely from said
game, a display for each terminal, means at each terminal for a
remote player to input game play strategy decisions according to
the rules of the game, said processor configured to issue signals
over said network to control the terminal display to display
representations of the scanned cards dealt to each hand and
determine whether the remote player has won or lost their
wager.
9. A game monitoring method for a Blackjack card game which
includes a dealer hand at least one player hand of cards where a
player makes a wager and exercises options with respect to the
player's hand according to the rules of the game, the method
comprising: .[.dealing cards according to the rules of the game to
the hands from.]. .Iadd.providing .Iaddend.a shoe which includes a
housing having an outlet slot .Iadd.configured for dealing cards
according to the rules of the game to the hands.Iaddend., said
housing sized to store a plurality of playing cards defining a card
inventory; scanning said playing cards and generating a set of
scanner signals determinative of the identity of cards dealt from
the shoe to each hand; acquiring data representing the wager made
by the player; storing data in a memory representing at least one
predetermined Blackjack game play criteria in relation to at least
one of the player's wager or the cards dealt to at least one of
said hands and data representing the constituency of the card
inventory; a computer processor receiving said scanner signals and
said wager data, said processor comparing said acquired data to
said at least one predetermined game play criteria to determine
adherence by the player to said at least one predetermined game
play criteria; selecting the number of cards to remain in the
inventory and not dealt from the shoe before reconstitution and
reshuffling of the inventory; and said processor processing the
scanner .[.data.]. .Iadd.signals .Iaddend.to determine depletion of
cards from the inventory by dealing, and to leave said selected
number of cards undealt and in response thereto sending a signal to
command reconstitution and re-shuffling of the inventory.
10. The method of claim 9 comprising said processor altering said
selected number of cards to remain in said inventory in response to
said processor determining adherence by any player to said at least
one predetermined game play criteria.
11. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing a moveable
barrier at said shoe outlet and said processor controlling said
barrier upon (i) determination of depletion of cards from the
inventory by dealing to said selected number and (ii) completion of
the current hand of play, to block further dealing of cards from
the shoe.
12. The method of claim 10 comprising increasing said selected
number of cards in said inventory to remain undealt in response to
said processor determining adherence by any player to said at least
one predetermined game play criteria.
13. The system of claim 9 comprising storing said criteria data as
data representing a card count system and said processor
determining a card count system advantage for said inventory
according to said card count system.
14. The system of claim 9 comprising establishing a communication
link between said processor and at least one player terminal
located remotely from said game, the player at the remote terminal
inputting a wager according to the rules of the game, said
processor issuing signals over said link controlling a display at
the terminal to display said scanned cards dealt to each hand
according to the rules of the game and determine whether the remote
player has won or lost their wager.
.Iadd.15. The system of claim 1, wherein the input device comprises
at least one of a user interface and a bet sensor..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a moveable
barrier positioned proximate the outlet slot for blocking further
cards from being removed from shoe through the outlet
slot..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration of the
processor for sending the signal for reconstitution and
re-shuffling of the inventory comprises the processor being
configured to provide a signal to the dealer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor being
configured to provide the signal to the dealer comprises at least
one of raising a movable barrier or providing one of an audio or
visual alert to the dealer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.19. A game monitoring system for a Blackjack card game
including a dealer hand and at least one player hand of cards where
a player makes a wager and exercises options with respect to the
player's hand according to the rules of the game, the system
comprising: a shoe including a housing having an outlet slot, the
housing sized to store a plurality of playing cards defining a card
inventory and configured for a dealer to dispense the cards one at
a time through the outlet slot to complete the hands according to
the rules of the game; a scanner to scan the playing cards and
generate a set of scanner signals determinative of the identity of
cards dispensed from the shoe to each hand; an input device for
acquiring data representing the wager made by the player; a memory
storing data representing at least one predetermined Blackjack game
play criteria in relation to at least one of the player's wager or
the cards dealt to at least one of the hands and data representing
the constituency of the card inventory; and a computer processor to
receive the scanner signals and the wager data, the processor
configured to compare the acquired data to the at least one
predetermined game play criteria to determine adherence by the
player to the at least one predetermined game play criteria, and
further configured to select the number of cards to remain in the
inventory and not dealt from the shoe for reconstitution and
reshuffling of the inventory, the processor processing the scanner
signals to determine depletion of cards from the inventory by
dealing, and to leave the selected number of cards undealt and in
response thereto, sending a signal for reconstitution and
re-shuffling of the inventory..Iaddend.
.Iadd.20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a moveable
barrier positioned proximate the shoe outlet for blocking further
cards from being removed from shoe..Iaddend.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to card game monitoring and display devices
and systems, and more particularly to a system which provides for
the acquisition of data representing the identification of cards
distributed to players (and dealer's) hands during the course of a
live table card game and which provides for utilization of the the
data to derive one or more parameters regarding the game and play
and for real time or post-game analysis. In certain embodiments the
derived data may be utilized in real time to control devices to
display desired information or to prevent the dispensing of cards
from the shoe or to command that the game dealer perform an
operation such as re-shuffling and re-loading the shoe from which
cards are dispensed or to determine adherence by one or more
players to certain predetermined play strategies.
The system may further include one or more data input or
acquisition devices to input other information such as player wager
amounts and the number and positions of players.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Card dispensing shoes for dealing or delivering cards in casino
card games are known in the art. Without limitation, such card
games of chance include 21 or Blackjack, Baccarat, Carribean Stud,
Let It Ride, and Poker. The shoe is placed near a dealer's station
on a card game table, and at least one deck of cards is placed in
an opening at the shoe top during the play of a particular card
game. Cards are placed face down in the shoe, and only the back
side of the top card in the deck is observable while the cards are
in the shoe. The dealer feeds cards for delivery to players at the
table by manually engaging and forcing the top card of the deck
through a card outlet at the front of the shoe. The dealer pulls
the top card from the deck and it is delivered or dealt to a game
player or game hand. A series of cards is thus delivered,
one-by-one, to the players at the card game table until each player
or game hand has the requisite number of cards for playing the
game. The shoe remains in view of the dealer and game players, and,
absent cheating, neither dealer nor any player is aware of any of
the cards value.
Cards for Carribean Stud and Let it Ride are normally dealt from an
automatic shuffler or card dispenser (a electronic/mechanical
device that physically resembles standard type manual card
dispensing shoes). The cards are dealt one-by-one until the
requisite number of cards for a game hand are dealt into a tray or
receptacle adjacent the mouth of the automatic shuffler or card
dispenser. The dealer then removes each game hand from the
receptacle and delivers cards in a sequence per game rules to game
player(s) and to the dealer, as the player's or the dealer's game
hand for the current game round.
Card dispensing shoes for Baccarat differ somewhat from card
dispensing shoes for Blackjack in that all Baccarat shoes
traditionally have a removable fitted cover; and Blackjack shoes do
not. The cover protects cards in the card chute from access by the
game player(s), or by the game-designated banker, presently in
possession of the shoe. Such shoes contain and secure the game deck
before and during removal and delivery of cards comprising the
player hand and bank hand, for each game round dealt.
Baccarat is vulnerable to cheating in that many people may come in
contact with the playing cards. When playing Baccarat at a
Mini-Baccarat table, the dealer acts as Banker and players normally
do not touch the cards. But in traditional Baccarat, played at a
standard sized Baccarat table, the game player dealing the Player
and Bank hands from the shoe for a game round is designated as the
Banker. During the game, other game players and the dealer(s) also
handle the cards comprising the dealt Player and Bank hands, and
thus the game is vulnerable to various forms of cheating by players
and unscrupulous casino employees. Prior art shoes do not, for
example, provide a mechanical barrier to preclude removing cards
from a shoe during times that the rules of the game being played do
not allow card removal. A skillful person in possession of the shoe
may be able to slightly slide the top card out of the shoe
sufficiently to determine suit or value, and then quickly return
the card into the shoe, without being observed by others at the
game table. A player's a priori knowledge of what the top card (not
yet dealt) will be can provide a statistical advantage in placing a
large bet on the winning hand for the upcoming game round.
The high betting limits associated with Baccarat games attracts
professional card cheats and can tempt unscrupulous players and
employees to cheat. Casinos lose tens of millions of dollars
annually due to individual cheaters or teams of co-conspirators
playing the game of Baccarat. Known methods of cheating in Baccarat
include the Banker inadvertently or surreptitiously exposing the
top card of the deck to be dealt the Player hand as the first of
two cards that will comprise the original Player hand before final
wagers have been made by the game players for an upcoming game
round. This advance knowledge will permit a player to wager
relatively confidently since the value of the top card is illicitly
known. Cheat methods also include the Banker and/or game players
switching cards dealt from the shoe designated, per game rules, for
delivery to the Player hand, or cards designated for delivery to
the Bank hand, and visa versa. Cheat methods also include switching
cards derived from a source other than the shoe for cards
designated for delivery to the Player and/or Bank hands. These
illicit activities can allow the Banker and/or confederates to
place very high wagers, based upon their prior knowledge of the
value of the cards switched or the cards to be dealt to the Player
and/or Bank hands from the shoe.
Yet other cheating methods include the Banker covertly altering the
delivery sequence of the cards dealt from the shoe. For example,
the first card dealt from the shoe, contrary to game rules, is
"misdealt" to the Banker instead of the Player hand. This action
allows players with knowledge of the "misdeal" to make extremely
high wagers without risk of actual loss. This is because casino
Baccarat games are routinely video tape recorded and stored for
typically at least five days. Thus, a player, with knowledge of
"misdeal" whose bets have generated a negative return will
challenge the dealer for a misdeal, and will demand that the video
tapes be consulted to resolve the issue. Once the video tapes
confirm the misdeal, the subsequent bets would be set aside. If
necessary, a losing player can ask the Nevada Gaming Control Board
to investigate and after confirming the misdeal, order
reimbursement of all losses. Of course had the bets turned out
favorably, the player(s) would never challenged the "misdeal".
Yet another Baccarat cheating scheme involves illicitly gaining
prior knowledge of the top card of the deck to be dealt to the
Player, or of the value of yet unexposed card(s) comprising the
Player or Bank hands. Should opportunity or distraction (perhaps
created by a cohort) permit, a cheating player may stealthily
change or move his/her wager from Player to Bank, or vice versa. In
other cheating schemes, unscrupulous employees cooperate with
players and steal new and unopened decks of cards from a casino's
card inventory, open and illicitly mark the backs of the stolen
decks of cards, and then reseal the marked decks, which are
returned to the casino's Baccarat card inventory. When eventually
the marked cards are brought into play, the employee notifies the
co-conspirators who enter into the game play, with a secret ability
to read the values on the marked cards, including an ability to
read what the first card to be dealt to the Player hand will
be.
Using a randomly shuffled Baccarat deck that comprises eight
standard fifty-two-card decks of playing cards, a Baccarat player
theoretically is expected to win 44.62% of wagers bet on the Player
Hands, 45.85% of wagers bet on the Bank Hands, and 9.53% of wagers
bet on the Tie Hands. The Player hand has an advantage when the
first card dealt to it has a card value of 6, 7, 8, or 9. When the
first card dealt to the Player hand has a game card value of 1 (the
Ace), 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10, (Jacks, Queens and Kings each have a game
card value of 10), the Bank hand has an advantage. In each game
round there is an overall probability of approximately 9.50% that
the Player and Bank hands will Tie. The probability of a Tie hand
is greatest when the first card dealt to the Player hand is a 7,
and a Tie hand is least probable when the first card dealt to the
Player hand is a 10 valued card, etc.
It will be thus appreciated that if a Baccarat game player somehow
gains knowledge of the value of the first game card to be dealt
from the shoe before that card is removed from the shoe and
delivered to the Player hand, that player can have a significant
game advantage. For example, if it is known the first card will be
a 6, 7, 8, or 9, a high bet would be placed for the Player hand. If
it is known the first card will be an ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10-valued
card, a high bet would be placed for the Bank hand. If it is known
the first card will be a 7, a high bet would be placed on the
Player hand and/or a Tie bet may be made. Since very substantial
wagering often occurs in Baccarat, secret knowledge of the first
game card to be dealt to the Player hand is a powerful tool
indeed.
Thus, there is a need to provide a host casino with a shoe system
that can provide a realtime mechanism for identifying and
recording, preferably with 100% accuracy, the card value, card
rank, card suit, and sequence in which each card removed from the
shoe was delivered to the Player or Bank hands. Further, such shoe
system should provide a mechanism to track the wager type (Tie,
Player, and/or Bank), and amount per wager made by each Baccarat
player. Such shoe system would enable the casino to identify in
real time most cheating methods, and to calculate the probability
that a Baccarat game player has prior knowledge of the top card of
the deck before that card was removed from the shoe. In addition,
such shoe system could reduce dealer errors and resultant game
disruptions and casino income loss, and could also provide the
casino with a software routine that would automatically calculate
and display with a high degree of accuracy, commissions payable to
the casino on all winning Bank wagers, and could also provide more
accurate rating information for Baccarat game players. Such
information would allow a casino to more precisely calculate its
Earning Potential and Complimentary Equivalency for each game
player, and to further speed up the progress of the game, which in
the long run will increase casino profits.
There is a need for a shoe that can mechanically bar removal of
cards during periods when the rules of the game being played
prohibit card removal. Such a shoe could more securely protect the
host casino against dealer error and card cheats, while speeding up
game play. In Baccarat, such a shoe would guard against errors and
cheating with respect to the first card dealt to a player hand, and
with respect to the first card advantage associated with that
game.
Prior art shoes, automatic card shuffler(s), and card dispensing
devices can adequately deliver cards one-by-one to the game players
and/or the game dealer, or to a tray or receptacle, but there is
room for improvement, especially in a high stake game such as
Baccarat. Such shoes do little or nothing to guard against
cheating, including recognizing illicit markings on the game cards
that can enable identification of the value of the top card(s) in
the deck to be dealt from the shoe before placing a wager on the
outcome of upcoming game round(s). A player somehow able to read or
decipher the value of a card that has been illicitly marked, or who
somehow knows what card is next in the shoe and is about to be
dispensed can gain valuable statistical knowledge. Using this
advance information, such player will know when to wager a large
bet on the Player or on the Bank hand, depending upon the player's
unique and illicit knowledge of the first card about to be dealt
from the shoe and delivered to the Player hand. (The terms "Bank"
and "House" may on occasion be referred to interchangeably
herein.)
Card dispensing shoes with a scanning unit should preferably
monitor and identify the value, rank, suit, and delivery sequence
for each card dealt to a game seat, a game player, or a game hand
that may include a game dealer, to guard against introduction of a
card into a game from a source other than the deck contained in the
shoe. Such shoes should ensure that cards have not been illicitly
removed from the shoe and/or diverted to an unauthorized game hand
by the Banker or the game Caller. Such shoes should further ensure
that the cards comprising the Bank hands and Player hands, when
tossed to the Caller by the Banker and/or a player have not been
switched by the Banker, the Player or the Caller before the
respective game hands are faced-up on the game table top layout and
the game hand scores are called by the Caller. Further, such shoes
should ensure that Player hand cards delivered by the Banker to the
Caller are not switched by the Caller before delivery to a player
designated to play the Player hand. Such shoes should ensure that
the player designated to play the Player hand cannot switch Player
hand cards before giving the hand back to the Caller. Thus, shoes
should identify changes to the value of the game hand and to the
outcome of the game round, in the event any of the original cards
dealt from the shoe, regardless of whether the Banker, the Caller,
or the designated game player attempts to make the switch without
being detected.
There is a need for a shoe that can prevent a person in possession
of the shoe from inadvertently or intentionally removing a card
from the shoe, and/or surreptitiously exposing the value of the top
card to a game player(s) who may then wager on the Player or Bank
hand, before commencement of the game round, based on the secret
knowledge of what the top card will be. Such shoe should preclude
fraudulent activities by players and/or the game dealer(s), as such
activities can affect the game outcome and thus the profit margin
of the casino or other gaming location hosting the game. In
practice, if exposure of a game card becomes know to the gaming
casino management, the card is removed from play (burned) or placed
in the discard rack, thus altering the sequence of cards comprising
game hands for subsequent game rounds dealt from deck(s) contained
in the shoe. Such removal of a game card from play can bring
concern and anguish among game players and management alike,
because of the high bets that may be wagered on the outcome of the
game round now affected due to the removal of the exposed card. A
player who feels victimized by the circumstances surrounding the
exposed card may leave the game, never to return to the host
casino.
Thus, there is a need to determine and reduce dealing errors by
mechanically blocking the removal of a top card from a shoe during
times that rules for the card game being played do not call for the
removal or exposure of a card contained in the shoe. Such a
mechanical block would preclude cheating by persons skilled in
rapidly sliding the top card out of the shoe sufficiently to
quickly turn up a corner of the card to learn the card suite or
value or both.
Further, there is need for improved display mechanisms for use
during the game of Baccarat, especially if it is desired to
electronically record individual and cumulative wager types, e.g.,
Tie, Player or Bank, and/or individual and cumulative bet amounts.
Prior art mechanisms are relatively primitive, labor intensive and
inaccurate with respect to maintaining a record of each
player'bets, wins, losses, for each game round for the duration of
each customer's play. There is a need for a mechanism to implement
such record keeping and to display results, especially for the
dealer's and management's use. Such mechanism could enhance
accuracy and speed of posting of commissions collected or owed on
winning Bank hands, preferably while increasing the security of the
game without forfeiting the number of rounds-dealt-per-hour.
Further, there is a need for such mechanism to also record and
track pertinent data relevant to rating a customer's play for
purposes that include rapidly and accurately determining a casino's
earning potential and complimentary equivalency for each game
player during real time.
Because of the high betting limits, Baccarat game players tend to
receive a relatively high percentage of all complimentary
expenditures extended by host casinos. But as noted, it is
difficult in the prior art to always guard against cheating in
Baccarat. Therefore, a need exists to provide casinos, during real
time, with an improved means of recording player rating
information, and a real time means to identify most methods of
cheating or defrauding the casino card game of Baccarat. Further,
there is a need to provide tables on which card games of chance are
played with data input mechanisms to permit a dealer to input data
relative to the play of the game and the game players, and for
display mechanisms to allow the dealer to see game statistics on a
per hand and per player basis, and to permit the dealer and
management to observe trends suggesting on-going cheating during
the play of the game. Further, there is a need to provide remote
display mechanisms to allow game supervisors to see game statistics
on a per hand and per player and per dealer, and per game table
basis, and to permit the game supervisor to observe trends in the
play of the game suggesting that one or more game players may be
engaged in activities that threaten the assets of the game, and
individual player rating information for each game player.
As noted, improved shoe systems can make card games of chance less
prone to cheating and to error, and more efficient to play,
especially from the casino's standpoint. But there is a need for a
mechanism that allows more than a handful of spectators to wager on
the outcome of such card games. More specifically, there is also a
need for a mechanism by which card games of chance played with
improved card shoes and card shoe systems can be broadcast widely
over a distribution medium such as the internet such that
spectators can view and wager upon the game in real time, precisely
as though they were in the casino standing or seated near the
actual player participants. Such medium-wide play can further
enhance the casino's revenues and can be implemented to provide
substantially real time payoffs, be it to the remote viewer bettor,
or to the casino.
The present invention provides such improved game shoes, game shoe
systems, game play tables,.and a system permitting
internet-transmittable transmission of card games of chance played
with such shoes and shoe systems, to enable remote viewers to see
the game and the scanner output image of each card dealt from the
shoe, and to wage bets remotely.
In regards to the Game of Blackjack, it has been known for player's
to play according to certain predetermined strategies, each
purported to reduce the "edge" the casino has in the game. These
strategies are known or are ascertainable inasmuch as many are
published. One such technique is known as a card count system where
players adhering to the system keep count of one or more values of
cards which have been dealt and by simply math can then determine
if the remaining inventory of cards left to be dealt from the shoe
are such as to give the player a Count System Advantage, i.e. the
inventory has been depleted such that the player has a higher
probability of being dealt a winning hand (the shoe turns
"positive" for the player). In such cases the player would increase
their wager to take advantage of the "positive" card inventory and
will adhere to certain play strategies such as surrendering,
insuring, standing, hitting doubling, or splitting their hand based
upon the value of the dealer's face up card, the total of the cards
comprising the player's hand; and the true count of the deck
remaining in the shoe.
Cheating can also occur by means of an accomplice dealer exposing
or otherwise conveying the dealer's face down card to one or more
accomplices.
The adherence of a player to a known play strategy can reduce the
casino's profit (or expected profit) based upon this player's play.
This information or suspicion of a player employing a play strategy
heretofore was ascertained by an experienced dealer or game
supervisor observing the player's play over a period or time. It
would be advantageous to provide a system and method which could
provide for an automated analysis of play of one or more players
and to provide a signal or alarm when a strategy is suspected. Play
according to a strategy may be used to rate the player since such
play theoretically may affect the theoretical win from this player
and hence could be used in determining the "comps" which should be
provided to the player.
To frustrate possible strategy players, if such activity is
suspected it is known to command reconstitution and reshuffling of
the card inventory. For example, when the dealer first shuffles and
loads the shoe, they typically place a marker card in the inventory
about one deck from the last card. Cards are dealt from the shoe
until the marker card is dealt at which time the current hand is
completed. The dealer then gathers all of the cards to reconstitute
the inventory to, for example six decks, and re-shuffles to
randomize the inventory. The stack of shuffled cards is placed in
front of a player who places the marker card in the stack and the
stack is cut at the marker card and thereafter is re-loaded back
into the shoe. The marker card is placed in the stack about two
decks (104 cards) from the last card of the shoe.
As stated above, if there is a suspicion that a player is playing
proficiently according to some system or criteria, the pit boss may
command more frequent shuffling. Frequent shuffling results in an
economic loss to the casino since the time the dealer is
reconstituting and re-shuffling interrupts play (and the placement
and loss of wagers) and may cause impatient players to leave the
table. There is needed a system and method which can assess the
strategy and betting proficiency of each of the game players
relative to a predetermined Count System Advantage when the system
identifies a player as playing at a specific playing strategy
and/or betting proficiency commands reconstitution and re-shuffling
of the deck when a specific control inventory ("deck") penetration
is achieved. That is, if there are no proficient players playing at
the game table, the inventory may be penetrated or depleted, for
example, to leave 26 cards remaining in the deck carried by the
shoe before reconstitution and re-shuffling the deck thereby
maximizing the number of hands dealt-per-shoe without jeopardizing
the house or game advantage to any highly skilled card count system
player; and whereas if the system detects that one or more highly
proficient players are present at the game table the system will
search the systems Count System Advantage database and select and
automatically reset the house deck penetration rule for the,
reconstitution and re-shuffling of the deck that conforms to a deck
penetration rule at which the system knows that any game advantage
that a player may gain over the house when playing a card count
system at a specific proficiency when playing against a specific
set of game rules and house deck penetration rule; and when the
selected deck penetration is achieved the system, card barriers
will raise upon the completion of the current game round forcing
the game dealer to remove the deck for the reconstitution and
re-shuffling of the deck; and/or an audible or visual alert may be
activated to command the dealer to remove the cards remaining in
the shoe and re-shuffle more frequently.
In this regard, in Blackjack there may what are referred to as
"back counters" who are bystanders (not engaged in the play of the
game) counting cards until the deck turns positive and they, the
"back counters" then seat themselves and place a wager for the
upcoming game round. To prevent the losses that can be inflicted on
a game by the. "back counters", some casinos prevent all players
from entering a game mid-shoe. New players must wait until the shoe
is being reconstituted and-re-shuffled before entering the game. As
can be appreciated, mid-shoe entry is most disadvantageous for the
house, and advantageous for the players, when the deck carried by
the shoe is positive. In other circumstances a blanket ban on
mid-shoe entry may result in a loss of game revenue by turning away
players who do not want to wait. There is a need for a system and
method which can determine when the shoe is positive (favorable to
the player) to signal that new players (possible back counters)
cannot now enter the game. Otherwise mid-shoe entry would be
permitted.
In still another aspect, it is known to broadcast both live and
virtual games over the Internet for live play by remote players at
their computer terminals. For particularly live games or virtual
games where a virtual inventory of cards, e.g. a simulated shoe of
one or more decks is depleted through virtual dealing of cards,
there is a risk that the remote player would play a Blackjack card
counting system with or without the aid of a computer on which is
installed a card counting software program. It would be
advantageous in situations where particularly live gaming is being
broadcast to be able to determine the likelihood of such activity
to either control that player's participation or to command
reconstitution and re-shuffling the shoe to prevent the players
from obtaining an advantage over the casino.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is, therefore, set forth according to the present invention a
system and method which can determine player proficiency in regards
to the play of a game, circumstances suggesting cheating, permit
greater penetration of the deck carried by the shoe and thereby the
dealing of more hands per hour at the table, controlling mid-shoe
entry conditions as well as providing the same in connection with
games broadcast over the Internet medium.
According there is set forth a game monitoring system and method
for a card game including at least two competing hands of cards and
where a player wagers on at least one of said hands The system
includes a shoe having a housing with an outlet slot, the housing
sized to store a plurality of playing cards defining a card
inventory. For example, for a game such a Baccarat, the shoe may be
configured to hold eight decks and for Blackjack six decks of
playing cards. The shoe is configured for a dealer to dispense said
cards one at a time through said outlet slot to complete said hands
according to the rules of the game.
To determine the cards dealt to each hand there is provided a
scanner which scans the playing cards and generates a set of
scanner signals determinative of the identify of cards dealt to
each game hand. There is also provided means for acquiring data
representing the wagers made by the player. These means may be
automatic or may be input by the dealer for each round of play.
A memory stores data representing at least one predetermined player
game play criteria in relation to at least one of the player's
wager or the cards dealt to at least one of said hands. For example
the criteria may be, in Baccarat, wagers by the player versus the
value of the first card dealt to the Player hand to suggest a
priori knowledge of the first card, in Blackjack, card counting
data or, for example, the player's wagers, game play actions
(standing/hitting) versus the count of the inventory, the dealer's
face up card, the value or score of each hand and the like. A
computer processor is provided to receive said scanner signals and
said wager data, the processor being configured to compare said
acquired data to said at least one predetermined game play criteria
to determine adherence by the player to said at least one
predetermined game play criteria.
In other embodiments each of the cards are scanned before they are
burned, or dealt to a game, player, or dealer hand.
In further embodiments the shoe includes the scanner disposed at
said outlet slot to scan each card as it is dispensed by the dealer
to the hands of play.
In yet another embodiment where the card game is Baccarat, the
memory stores data representing the sequence of cards to be dealt
to each hand according to the rules of Baccarat and the processor
configured to compare the sequence of cards dispensed to said game
rule sequence data stored in said memory and to, if desired, issue
a signal to the dealer of a mis-deal.
In further embodiments the memory stores data representing game
play criteria of wagering patterns of the player over a series of
game rounds suggestive of the player having a priori knowledge of
the first card to be dispensed from the shoe to the Player
hand.
Where the game is Blackjack, the method and system of one
embodiment include the processor accepting the scanner signals to
determine the characteristics of the card inventory according to
any one or more card counting systems as well as any other criteria
pertinent to the game. Based upon a determination matrix, the
processor may command more frequent shuffling of the cards, permit
or bar mid-shoe entry into a game and/or determine player
proficiency according to Blackjack play strategies.
Still further the systems and methods of the present invention may
be employed to monitor Internet play, particularly of live
Blackjack or Baccarat games, to detect adherence by a player to a
play strategies suggesting the use of a card counting computer.
Still further the systems and methods of the present invention may
be employed to monitor Internet play of virtual Blackjack or
Baccarat games offered by online casinos to remote players to
detect adherence by a player to one or more play or betting
strategies suggesting the use of a card counting computer to
analyze the composition of the deck.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features and advantages will become better
understood with reference to the description, claims and drawings
wherein:
FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a card dispensing shoe with
scanner, according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a close-up enlarged view of a portion of the shoe and
scanner shown in FIG. 1, according to the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a card dispensing shoe with scanner,
according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of the shoe of FIG. 3, showing
card delivery from under the shoe, according to the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a front vertical section of the shoe of FIG. 3, taken
along line 5-5, according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is system block diagram for an embodiment of electronics for
a card dispensing shoe with scanner, according to the present
invention;
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a three-layer feed forward
multi-layer perception neural network useful with a card dispensing
shoe with scanner, according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram for an exemplary feed forward neural
network used to identify suit for a card dispensed from a card
dispensing shoe with scanner, according to the present
invention;
FIG. 9 is a schematic for an exemplary feed forward neural network
used to identify value of a card dispensed from a card dispensing
shoe with scanner, according to the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a side, perspective view of a second embodiment of a
card dispensing shoe with scanner showing alternative data input
keyboards and displays, according to the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a rear elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
10, according to the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a top view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, according
to the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a top view of an keyboard with embedded game and data
entry mechanisms, displays, and indicators, according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a top view of an exemplary mini-Baccarat game table
embedded game and data entry mechanisms, displays, and indicators,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the alternative embodiment
of FIG. 10, according to the present invention;
FIG. 16 is a rear view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 15,
according to the present invention;
FIG. 17 is a top view of the card chute cover for the embodiment of
FIG. 15, according to the present invention;
FIG. 18 is a top view of a card chute cover for the embodiment of
FIG. 15, according to the present invention;
FIG. 19 is a top view of a conventional Baccarat game table
depicting data entry and display mechanisms, according to the
present invention;
FIG. 20 is a cut-away top view of a Baccarat game table top showing
light sensors and indicators, according to the present
invention;
FIG. 21 is a top view of an exemplary keyboard with data entry
mechanisms, displays, and indicators, embedded in the Baccarat game
table top of FIG. 19, according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 22 is a cutaway front view of an embodiment of a shoe equipped
with movable mechanical barriers carried within the embodiments of
FIGS. 10, 12, 15 and 17, according to the present invention;
FIG. 23A is a block diagram depicting a system enabling remote
viewers to wage bets in real time on an actual card game of chance
played using a shoe and scanner, according to the present
invention; and
FIG. 23B depicts an exemplary display of video information as seen
by a remote viewer who may wish to wage bets via the system of FIG.
23A, according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION
A. Card Dispensing Shoe with Scanner, a First Embodiment:
A first embodiment of a card delivery or dispensing shoe with
scanner and a system and method for using the shoe and scanner will
be described with reference to FIGS. 1-5, in which FIG. 1 is a
vertical section taken along line 1-1 of FIG. 3.
As best seen in FIG. 3, shoe 10 includes a container or housing 12
whose lower surface 14, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, is designed to
rest and be supported on a flat surface such as a gaming table,
typically in a host casino in which card games of chance are being
played. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, shoe 10 is sized to retain or
support at least one deck 16 and up to eight decks of playing cards
in a chute 16a.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, shoe 10 includes an optical sensor
or scanner 41 (sometimes referred to herein as OCR) that is adapted
and positioned to scan and determine at least the value or value
and suit for each card in deck 16 as the card is slid down and out
chute 16A and out through slot 22 at the front of shoe 10. A lamp
or other light source 42 preferably provides illumination for
optical sensor 41, which sensor may be a charge mode 128.times.1
TSL 215 integrated opto-sensor made by Texas Instruments. An image
of each playing card in deck 16 is scanned by optical sensor 41,
and the scanner image data is preferably coupled to a computer
system implementing neural network or other software mechanism for
card identification. A neural network, such as depicted in FIGS. 7,
8, and 9 preferably is trained to recognize and identify the value
or value and suit for each card from deck 16 that is scanned by
optical sensor 41.
Of course other scanners for recognizing and identifying each card
could instead be used. For example, the cards of the inventory of
the shuffled decks(s) could be scanned with an optical reader or
scanner prior to loading into the shoe to acquire the data
representing each card value (and suit where desired) and the
sequence of the inventory. A back-up or secondary scanner 41 could
be disposed as described above to confirm identity and sequence as
delivered. Other means may be used to confirm identity and sequence
such as the dealer inputting data from time-to-time of the card
delivered so that the proper sequence can be confirmed or an error
detected and so the cards delivered to each hand of play can be
identified and scanner data signals generated.
As shown in FIG. 1, shoe 10 can be sized to hold more than one deck
16 of playing cards, with between one and eight being a typical
number of card decks retained within the shoe. As best seen in
FIGS. 17 and 18, a removable cover 93 preferably can be attached to
the top of the shoe 10 so as to cover the top of card chute 16A
(FIGS. 10, 15, 17) to guard against any unauthorized insertion,
exposure, or removal of any card(s) positioned in card chute 16. In
a preferred embodiment, each card deck is placed face down into the
open top of the shoe 10, for example on a 450 card chute 16 that
slopes forward. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 15, a hollow wedge-shaped
block housing 3 attached to a heavy stainless steel roller (not
shown) spans the full width of chute 16 is placed behind the card
decks to force the cards forward down card chute 16 and flush
against a retainer wall 26. Thus, when a card deck is placed into
forward slanting card chute 16, wedged housing 3 is placed at the
rear of the deck to force the deck of cards forward against
retaining wall 26, as the cards are removed one-by-one through card
outlet 22 formed in the retaining wall. See FIGS. 3, 4, 10, 12, 15,
and 17. The card deck 4 (FIG. 10) is placed in chute 16 on edge
with the card backs facing the mouth of the shoe. Wedged housing 3
forces the top card of the deck 4 flush against the retaining wall
26 positioned at the front of the shoe 10.
The top card in the card decks placed in chute 16 is held flush
against retainer 26 with a portion of its back exposed at the slot
22 in the shoe 10. Slot 22 may, but need not be, covered by a door
or brush (not shown) located in the slot. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2,
and 4, a start frame sensor 65 is shown disposed above and to the
far right of optical sensor 41. As best seen in FIG. 4, a stop
frame sensor 40 is disposed in slot 22, below and to the far right
of the optical sensor 41. Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, shoe 10
also includes a game-round, start button 63, and a deck 4 load
switch 32. Preferably located adjacent to the game-round, start
button 63 is a deck penetration alert indicator 47 (e.g., an LED or
light), as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
As further shown in FIG. 1, shoe 10 preferably includes a magnetic
card reader 50 with a slot 52, see also FIGS. 1, 3, 11, 12, 16, and
17, for use with a player-tracking-card 51 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 11, 12,
16, and 17). A main power cable 56 brings operating voltage to shoe
10, and a Local Area Network (LAN) port 45 can expand connectivity
with the shoe, see FIG. 6.
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 12, and 13, shoe 10 preferably includes a
display 62, for example a liquid crystal display (LCD) and includes
at least one alpha-numeric input device, such as a keyboard 60.
FIG. 13 depicts exemplary details of the layout for keyboard 60 and
LCD display 62, although other layout configurations may instead be
used.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 10, 15, and 17, the front portion of
shoe 10 includes an LCD 6 and a display 21, e.g., a segmented LED,
(Light-Emitting Diode) display 21, see also FIG. 12. Exemplary
layout details for segmented LED display 21 are shown in FIGS. 10,
12, 15 and 17. A display 11, e.g., a segmented LED may also be
disposed elsewhere on shoe 10, for example on a rear portion as
shown in FIGS. 11, 12, 15, and 17. Details of an exemplary layout
for display 11 are shown in FIG. 11. An additional LCD 2 may also
be disposed on shoe 10, for example on the left side as shown in
FIGS. 10, 11, 15, 16 and 17.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, a central processing unit (CPU) system
34 is contained within shoe 10, for example within a region beneath
the card chute near the shoe base of the shoe 10. If desired,
bottom portion 14 of shoe 10 may be transparent to allow visual
inspection of internal components, see FIGS. 1 and 4. Referring to
FIG. 6, CPU system 34 preferably is coupled to and interacts with
optical sensor 41 via an analog/digital A/D converter 76, with
start frame sensor 65, with stop frame sensor 40, with game-round,
start button 63, with load switch 32, with deck penetration light
47, with magnetic card reader 50, with LCD display) keyboard
display 62, and with alpha-numeric keyboard 60.
Additionally, CPU 34 can also be coupled to a host computer 74,
e.g., via LAN port 45. The term "host computer" is used in a
generic sense, and may include a single computer coupled to CPU
system 34 via standard LAN technology, or a computer network
comprising several network servers. For example in the embodiment
of FIG. 23A, a server system 147 can enable CPU system 34 to
communicate over various media including the internet with many
remotely located persons and systems.
CPU 34 processes input/output data to and from the keyboards, LCD
displays and other components with the hardware associated with the
present invention. CPU 34 operation can be controlled and monitored
by software including custom designed software. CPU 34 may call the
software from an attached storage unit, perhaps a hard drive (not
shown), or if coupled to a LAN system may call the software from
the LAN servers or host computer 74.
Shoe 10 with associated components including scanner 41
collectively retain at least one deck of cards, from which cards
are dispensed one-at-a-time such that each card's value, rank,
suit, and the sequence of dispensing is noted (e.g., using scanner
41) and can be recorded (e.g., in memory associated with CPU system
34). Further the game player recipient or seat number for each
dispensed card can also be noted and recorded. Displays associated
with shoe 10 (or mounted on or in the game table) can show each
hand score, in real time, and can be used to show a running history
of each player's bets and bet outcomes, hand-by-hand. Capturing
such information, which can also be coupled to remote displays, can
enable the game dealer(s) and host casino to better guard against
human error and/or cheating, especially if the electronically
displayed information does not match the game hands scores of the
real cards spread face-up on the game table. If desired, such
displays could also be used to promote the casino, e.g., to show
advertisements, advertise special events, provide restaurant menus,
room rates, and the like.
It will be appreciated that one advantage of the present invention
is that game dealers and casino floor supervisors can rely upon the
shoe to help combat human error and cheating, and can divert some
of their attention to other matters. For example, dealers and
supervisors can now more readily monitor game wagers, and can
better input game and game player information into the host
casino's database system, and can provide better customer service,
all while speeding up progress of the card game and thus enhancing
revenue to the host casino. The barrier locking embodiment of a
shoe is especially useful in thus helping the game dealers and
floor supervisors. Further, the many displays generated by the shoe
and/or game table, according to the present invention, permits
dealers and supervisors to cross-check between physical cards and
wagering chips on the game table, and status on the various
displays. A discrepancy between what the electronic system displays
report and the physical cards and chips on the game table can
rapidly be identified and investigated. The use of light sensors,
magnetic sensors, metal sensors embedded within the top of the game
table, according to the present invention, advantageously can sense
the occurrence of and the type of wager (Player, Bank, Tie) made by
which player for each game round played. The sensing of a bet
within a betting box, e.g., betting boxes 86, 87, 88 as shown in
FIGS. 14-19 is coupled from the sensor(s) to the CPU, e.g., CPU
system 34, which can activate the relevant indicator light(s)
embedded in the game table top and associated with and adjacent to
the appropriate Player, Bank, Tie betting box assigned to each seat
designation imprinted on the game table top layout. Similarly, when
a wager is removed from a betting box, prior to the delivery of the
first card for the current game round from the shoe a sensor
embedded in the table top will sense the removal and the CPU system
will accordingly extinguish the associated bet-type indicator
light. In the event a wager is removed from a betting box after the
delivery of the first card, for the current game round, from the
shoe a sensor embedded in the table top will remain illuminated to
alert the game dealer prior to and during the settlement of the
game round that a bet has been illicitly removed from play.
In one embodiment, when the first card of the current game round is
removed from the shoe, and passes over the OCR scanner, light
sensors for all active seats will freeze to prevent any additional
types of bets from being recorded. By "freeze" it is meant that all
illuminated indicators will remain lit, and all indicators for
seats having no wagers will remain dark until after the settlement
for the current game round is completed. When the settlement is
completed, the game dealer will reset the bet type sensors and the
bet-type indicator lights using one or more keyboards carried by
the shoe and/or embedded in the game table top.
The action of the bet type sensors and indicator lights will
identify the type(s) of wager(s) placed in one or more of each game
player's designated betting boxes 86, 87, 88 (see FIGS. 14-19) for
an upcoming game round. As noted, security of the game is enhanced
by enabling game dealers to visually confirm from the status of the
various displays and/or indicator lights that game players have
not, intentionally or otherwise, cheated. Confirmation can be made
that a wager have not been removed, or relocated to a different
type of betting box (perhaps Player to Bank) after delivery of the
first card from the shoe for the current game round, in an attempt
to alter the settlement of a specific wager for the current game
round.
The status of the bet-type sensors and indicator lights can also
identify wager types paced in one or more of each game player's
designated betting boxes, for an upcoming game round. The status
information is preferably combined with information from scanner 41
as to the top card value, whereupon CPU system 34 (or external CPU)
can calculate each game players game advantage or disadvantage. A
calculation is also made as to probability that the player had
prior knowledge of the top card of the deck before it was removed
from the shoe, e.g., for delivery as the first of the original two
cards that would comprise the Player hand for each game round
played. A player whose probability is sufficiently high to create a
suspicion of cheating will be monitored very closely, or will be
invited to leave the game. The game advantage or disadvantage
information for each player is used to calculate the casino's
Earning Potential from the player, and each player's Complimentary
Equivalency, or the amount of complimentary expenditures the casino
is willing to spend on the customer. Such information can be
recorded by the dealer without diminishing loss of
rounds-dealt-per-hour, and thus revenue per hour, as the enhanced
security provided by the present invention relieves dealers from
many tasks related to providing game security.
As noted, casinos commonly monitor and record game play using
closed-circuit TV (CCTV) and video recordings. (Camera 135 in FIG.
23A could in fact include such a TV camera.) Such video observation
can also be used to record the status of the various indicator
lights and displays embedded in the game table during play. A video
record will show the actual status, whereas a record of the CPU
command signals to the various displays and indicators will show
the intended status, e.g., perhaps an indicator light was
defective. The defect (e.g., an indicator that should have been
active but was not) would be visible in the video record.
Baccarat game players traditionally make a personal record, or keep
score, of which hand won each game round, and which game rounds
ended with Tie hands, in the order in which the game rounds are
played. The players typically use a score card and pencil provided
by the casino. It will be appreciated that the present invention
electronically gathers the same (and more) information and can
generate a score card common to all players, or the present
invention can create a score card display (not shown), embedded in
the game table top at each player's seat or position, that is
unique to each individual player, showing the results for each
Baccarat shoe dealt in that casino; and a running display of the
results for each wager made by each individual player during the
play of the current baccarat shoe. The electronic score card(s)
further speeds up the game, thus enhancing casino revenues.
In one embodiment, the present invention uses the keyboards and
displays preferably embedded in the game table top to allow the
game dealer to enter and retrieve the value and sum of each
denomination of gaming chips contained in the game table chip tray
83, see FIGS. 14 and 19. Embedded sensors allow all game table
debit and credit transactions, and the total of gaming chips
comprising the starting and ending bankroll for the game table at
the beginning and ending of each play and/or casino shift to be
tracked in real time.
In one embodiment, the present invention is used with the
Big-Baccarat table and the Mini-Baccarat table. The electronics
associated with the Big-Baccarat game table includes a keyboard
enabling the Caller to identify the Shuffle and Burn cards for the
system, a Display key to illuminate the graphic card display, or
LCD, preferably embedded in the game table top, and a Deal key to
release the barrier locking device carried by the shoe when the
Caller sees that there are to be no more bets for the upcoming game
round, and a color coded please claim: Game Round Results indicator
light 25 (FIGS. 10, 12, 14, 16, 17 & 19). Preferably when the
game round ends in a Tie the Game Round Results indicator light
will illuminate with the color Rose; and when the game round is won
by the Player hand the Game Round Results indicator light will
illuminate with the color Gold; and when the game round is won by
the Bank hand the Game Round Results indicator light will
illuminate with the color Blue. The overall system further includes
two base dealer keyboards that can perform all functions or actions
of the Caller's keyboard and that enable the Base dealers to enter
all types of player rating and game information into the system,
and includes type bet sensors such as light sensors, type bet
indicator lights, and a preferably LCD display to display all
commissions owed by all game players, and an individual LCD display
(not shown) to display the commissions owed by a specific seat or
game player, as well as an electronic score board common to all
game players. The electronic system for the Mini-Baccarat game
table will include type bet sensors, type bet indicator lights and
a color coded game round results indicator (tricolored light
emitting diode) light, an individual LCD display (not shown) to
display the commissions owed by a specific seat or game player, and
an electronic score board common to all game players. Commissions
are automatically calculated by the present invention at the end of
each game round. Should a game player terminate his/her play
without the dealer collecting any commissions due, such adverse
information can be added to this player's permanent file in the
casino's database. A record of all such lost commissions is thus
also available to the casino for tax write-off purposes.
If desired, two types of card dispensing shoes according to the
present invention may be used. A shoe used to deal a Big-Baccarat
game will preferably include the scanner, the magnetic card reader,
the locking barrier mechanisms, a message or advertisement display
board, and an optional game round results display to show card
value, card suit, card rank, sequence dealt, numeric score for
Player and Bank, and a color coded game round results indicator
light 25. This shoe and the game table 79 (FIGS. 14) and 101 (FIG.
19) to which the shoe may be coupled would also preferably include
a color coded Game Round Results indicator light 25 (FIGS. 10, 12,
14, 15, 17, & 19), but it need not include a keyboard.
Preferably the Big-Baccarat shoe is battery powered and includes a
wireless communications mechanism to communicate with the rest of
the system. A wireless shoe can more readily be passed among the
game players, without being restricted to use in one location. A
Mini-Baccarat shoe may be hardwired or wireless, and preferably
will include the OCR, the magnetic stripe reader, the locking
barrier mechanism, a message or advertisement display board, a
segmented display for the game round results (card value, card
suit, card rank, sequence dealt, numeric score for Player and
Bank), a color coded winning hand display, an optional rear
segmented display, and at least one keypad.
As noted, the game of Baccarat is characterized by very high
stakes, and the game players are given wide latitude in handling
game cards and in revealing game cards to other players and to the
dealer(s). Often game players engage in theatrics when handling a
game hand, which conduct is part of the allure for Big-Baccarat
games. But unfortunately, opportunity for human error and/or
cheating during such theatrics and card handling exists.
Optical scanner 41 and CPU system 34 software associated with shoe
10 immediately know the card value, card rank, card suit, the
sequence in which each of the cards was removed from the shoe, and
the hand or seat to which it was designated for delivery, and the
score of the hands comprising the game round. The present invention
provides the option of immediately displaying such information.
When playing at a standard Baccarat game table it is preferable to
delay the display of the game card values and the resulting Player
and Bank hand scores until the game players have exposed the Player
and Bank hands, or they have been turned face-up, on the game table
top, by the Caller or game dealer(s). This delay tends to maintain
the mystique and suspense of the game, much to the exhibitionists
delight.
When playing at a Midi Baccarat game table, a Midi Baccarat game
table is similar to Mini Baccarat game tables, however the Midi
Baccarat game players often handle the game cards and the table
limits are normally higher than table limits on Mini-Baccarat
games. Therefore, it is preferable to delay the display of the game
card values and the resulting Player and Bank hand scores until the
game players have exposed the Player and Bank hands, or they have
been turned face-up, on the game table top, by the Caller or game
dealer(s).
When playing at a Mini Baccarat game table, usually only the game
dealer handles the cards during the course of the play of the game.
The game hands are turned face-up by the dealer(s) without any
fanfare. When playing Mini-Baccarat. it is preferable to display
the game card values and the resulting Player and Bank hand scores
immediately on the removal of the fourth card from the shoe, which
is delivered to the Bank hand. The value of any third cards dealt
to a hand will also be displayed immediately on their removal from
the shoe.
B. Card Dispensing Shoe with Scanner: Alternate Embodiment
Another embodiment a card dispensing shoe with scanner and related
systems, according to the present invention, is shown as element 1
in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12. Referring to FIG. 10, in this embodiment a
CPU (such as CPU 34 in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6) may be internal or
external to shoe 1. An external CPU may be custom designed or an
off-the-shelf CPU, and can be coupled to the shoe via an
Input/Output Port (I/O Port) 6, as shown in FIG. 11. This port in
turn can couple the external CPU to components of the shoe as
sub-systems or function blocks, as previously described. Also
similar to what has been described regarding other embodiments,
this embodiment may also have a CPU (internal or external) coupled
to a LAN and/or WAN network and/or server system. As noted,
remotely located devices such as keyboards and monitors may also be
coupled to the system, for example to allow remotely located
supervisors to monitor and enter information pertaining to a game
in play.
In the embodiment under discussion, keyboard 60 and keyboard LCD
display 62 shown at the rear of shoe 10 in FIGS. 1 and 3 in the
first embodiment have been removed and replaced with expanded
function keyboards and LCD displays as will now be described. These
expanded keyboards and LCD displays enable more diverse functions
to be performed with the present invention.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the expanded function keyboards and
LCD displays include keyboard 11 and rear segmented LCD display 2,
LCD display 3 of shoe 1, front segmented display 22 of shoe 1, and
LCD display 24 of shoe 1. As noted, the additional keyboards and
LCD displays are coupled to either an internal or an external CPU
(not shown).
As noted, a player-tracking-card 51 may be inserted into the
magnetic card reader 50. In the present configuration, the
game-round start button 63 is repositioned as the deal button 7
(FIGS. 10, 12, 19 and 21), and is part of keyboard 102 as shown in
FIG. 21 as the Deal key 7. Also shown in game table top 104 in FIG.
20 are light sensors 91 for Player, Bank, and Tie bets, in which
106 denotes bets positioned over these light sensors. A cut-out 107
is preferably includes to receive a chip tray. Also shown in FIG.
20 are bet-type light sensors 86, 87 and 88 for bet type
identification. In a preferred configuration, penetration light 47
from the configuration of FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 is replaced with the
first indicator light 9 (see FIGS. 10, 12, 15 and 17) and with the
second indicator light 8 at the forward end of a side of shoe 1,
see FIGS. 10, 12, 15, and 17. If desired, a generic 101-key
keyboard may be coupled to the internal or external CPU used with
shoe 1, and can be used with keyboard 60 (see FIGS. 1, 3, 6, 12,
and 13). As described elsewhere herein, the CPU can be operatively
coupled to work with software available on other computers,
including LAN and/or WAN servers, and host computer(s).
C. Operation
1. Overview
A card dispensing shoe with scanner, baccarat game table apparatus,
system and method according to the present invention includes a
software program designed to evaluate the betting skills of casino
Baccarat game players, to calculate each player's game betting
advantage or disadvantage, to calculate the probability that each
game player may have (illicit) prior knowledge of the value of
top-card-of-the-deck before that card is removed and dealt as the
first card of the Player, side, or hand. Further calculations
include the amount of commissions owed by each game player having
placed a winning wager on the Bank side or hand, each game player's
earning potential and complimentary equivalency based, in addition
to a casino's traditional Theoretical Win or projected advantage
over the game players, each individual Baccarat game player's game
betting advantage or disadvantage over the house or casino when
playing against a specific number of decks and a specific set of
rules. In addition, the present invention can enter and retrieve
all types of player rating and game table bankroll information
relevant to each game player and each game table. Further, the
present invention can automatically generate, record, store, and
allow the retrieval of statistical information relative to the game
dealer(s). In several embodiments, information relating to what
bets have been made by what players is visually displayed such that
the casino dealer can rapidly compare the displayed information
with physical cards and chips on the table to cross-check for any
discrepancies, due perhaps to cheating or error by player(s).
During the play of the game the game dealer(s) using one or more
keyboards coupled to the card dispensing shoe and/or baccarat game
table to enter the amount of wager made by each game player for all
types of game wagers. Bet sensors could also be employed.
A betting matrix is preprogrammed into the software used by the
present invention to identify the game betting advantage or
disadvantage criteria a Baccarat game player has when every type of
wager(s) made by a Baccarat game player conforms to the value of
the first card dealt from the shoe to the Player hand during
each-game-round. In the event one or more game player's have prior
knowledge of the first card to be dealt from the shoe to the Player
hand for each game round, and the game players use this information
to determine the type of wager (that will have the statistical
first card advantage) to make for the upcoming game round to obtain
a game betting advantage for the game round played the systems
software program will calculate each game player's real time game
betting advantage or disadvantage. Each game Player's type wagers
information can also be used by the CPU to calculate the
probability that a player has prior knowledge of the top card of
the deck(s) carried by the shoe before that card is dealt as the
first of the two cards that will comprise the Player hand for all
upcoming game rounds played. The computer is programmed to compare
the real time wagers made by each of the game players on one or
more types of wagers offered to Baccarat game players at the
beginning of each game round to determine each of the game players
real time betting advantage or disadvantage for each and all game
rounds played.
Each game Player's type wager(s) information can also be used by
the CPU to calculate the probability that a player has prior
knowledge of the top card of the deck(s) carried by the shoe before
that card is dealt as the first of the two cards that will comprise
the Player hand for all upcoming game rounds played.
When a Baccarat game round has ended the computer program knows the
factors required to determine each game players game betting
advantage or disadvantage, i.e. the value of the
top-card-of-the-deck that is designated to be delivered as the
first card of the Player side or hands original two card hand, the
type and the amount of the wager(s) made by each game player. Using
this information, the CPU and software will calculate and display
each game player's real time game betting advantage or disadvantage
for all game rounds played, and the statistical probability that
any one of the game players has a prior knowledge of the
top-card-of-the-deck before it is removed from the shoe and
delivered as the first of two cards to be delivered to the Player
hand for the upcoming game round.
D. Card Dispensing Shoe with Scanner, Baccarat Game Table
Apparatus, System and Method:
1. Basic Embodiment Operation
Operation of a Card Dispensing Shoe with Scanner, Baccarat Game
Table Apparatus, System and Method (FIGS. 1-6) Basic Embodiment
operation will now be described. The dealer operates shoe 10 (e.g.,
FIG. 10) in the typical fashion of shoes used in card games.
Referring to FIG. 12, preferably keyboard 60 is attached to the
shoe 10 by means of a hinge 31 (FIG. 10). To place a desired number
of decks in shoe 10, keyboard 60 is raised by the game dealer from
its seated position over the card chute 16 and swung up and back,
toward the outside wall of the shoe housing. As noted, typically
between one and eight decks of cards will be placed in shoe 10,
each deck being placed edge down into open chute 16. Chute 16
preferably slopes forward at approximately 45.degree., and a hollow
wedge-shaped block housing 3 mounted on a heavy stainless steel
roller (not shown) provides the force required to push the cards
forward down the chute 16. As shown in FIG. 10, the cards are held
there flush against retainer 26, ready to be pushed through the
card outlet 22 of shoe 10 by the dealer.
When the deck(s) of playing cards 4 (FIGS. 10, 12, 15 and 17) have
been placed in the card chute 16, and the hollow wedge-shaped block
housing 3 is placed behind the deck, the dealer lowers the raised
keyboard 60 over the card chute 16 where the keyboard 60 is
supported by hinge 31 to the shoe housing, see FIG. 12.
To deal the cards, the dealer will manually remove a single card
from the shoe 10 by pushing a door (not shown) covering the card
outlet 22 out of the way, or by reaching through a brush (not
shown) that prevents players from viewing the back of the next
playing card and possibly seeing any identifying marks on the
playing cards. Then the dealer pushes the next card down and out of
the opening of the card outlet 22 by pressing downwardly on the top
card of the deck in the shoe. This forces the top card through the
card outlet 22 and onto a playing surface of a game table such as
shown in FIGS. 14 and 19. In this manner, cards are dealt to the
players in the card game.
Imprinted on the game table layout 50 (FIGS. 14 and 19) at each
player position is a number 92 (FIGS. 14 & 15) designating a
seat number for that position at the game table. The area
immediately surrounding the seat number 92 is used by the player to
place his/her chips not in play or other personal items.
Shoe 10 also includes a deal button 7 that is pressed to record the
start of a particular game round of cards to be dealt from the
deck, and to release the card barriers 116 and 119 in the locking
embodiment of FIG. 22. In the event the deal button 7 is pressed
after the game round has commenced (i.e. a medical emergency or
distraction occurs jeopardizing the security of the game) the card
barriers 116 and 119 will raise to a blocking position preventing
any additional card from being removed from the deck. When the
threatening situation is resolved the game dealer will again press
the deal button 7 to lower the card barriers 116 and 119 to allow
dispensing of the game hands to resume. Referring to FIGS. 10, 12,
15, and 17, shoe 10 also includes a next to last round indicator
light 9 that preferably is yellow when. illuminated, and is turned
on by the software operating the CPU. The illumination will notify
the dealer that the number of cards remaining in the shoe will
allow only two more game rounds to be dealt before shuffling the
playing cards and reloading the shoe. As shown in FIGS. 10, 12, 15
and 17, a last round indicator light 8, carried by shoe 10, is
preferably red when illuminated and is turned on by the software
operating the CPU (not shown) to notify the dealer that the number
of cards remaining in the shoe will allow only one more game round
to be dealt from the shoe 10 before shuffling the playing cards and
reloading the shoe.
At the end of each game round, the software installed on the CPU
(not shown) will identify, according to the game rules, when the
last card of the game round has been dealt to the Player or Bank
hand. The software will then automatically raise and lock card
barrier mechanisms 116 and 119 (see FIG. 22) to prevent exposure or
removal of any additional game cards from the shoe. Locking will
continue until the game dealer presses deal button 7 to unlock and
lower the card barriers. When the deal button 7 is pressed all
active seats identified as having no bets placed for the upcoming
game round will be automatically designated by the system as Sit
Out seats. (the game player remaining at the game table but
choosing to sit out and not make a wager for the upcoming game
round) As an alternative the card barriers may be lowered by the
system software automatically when the system bet-type sensors
signal that a bet has been placed for all active seats or game
players.
Referring to FIGS. 14, 19 and 20, when a bet is placed over the
bet-type sensors 86, 87 & 88 embedded in the game table top
beneath the imprinted layout 50 (FIGS. 14 and 19) when the first
card of a game round is removed from the shoe 10 for delivery to
the Player hand the bet-type sensors 86, 87 & 88, having
illuminated the respective bet-type indicator lights 91, will
freeze. When the settlement for the most recent game round has been
completed, the dealer will press the reset key 20 (FIG. 21) to
unfreeze the bet-type sensors 86, 87 & 88 and to darken the
bet-type indicator lights 91. So doing will allow the bet-type bet
indicator lights 91 to respond, illuminate or go dark, to the
placement or removal of a bet from over the bet-type sensors 86,
87, 88 positioned beneath the game table top layout 50 directly
beneath each of the imprinted areas designated to receive Player,
Bank or Tie wagers, when one or bet sensors 86, 87 and 89 have
detected that at least one type of wager 106 has been made by a
designated seat or game player for the upcoming game round.
When the game dealer presses the deal button 7 to release card
barriers 116 and 119 of the locking device to signal the start of
the upcoming game round, game cards can be dealt from shoe 10. When
the first card dealt from the shoe for the upcoming game round
passes over optical sensor 41, preferably all bet-type sensors and
illuminated type bet indicator lights 91 will freeze. When the
illuminated bet type indicator lights are frozen, any removal from
or placement of a bet-type over one or more light sensors 86, 87,
and 89 will be ignored by the light sensors 86, 87 and 89. The
object here is to provide the game dealer with a visual way to
identify the type of bets the system has identified each seat or
game player as having made before the passing of the first card of
the current game round over the shoe's optical sensor 41.
Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, as each playing card is pushed down
the chute 16 and out the opening of the card slot outlet 22, each
card will come into physical contact with a start frame sensor 65,
which results in the activation of the shoe 10 optical sensor 41.
The face of each card is illuminated with a bulb 42 to allow
scanning by optical sensor 41. As noted with respect to FIGS. 7, 8,
and 9, optical sensor 41 is preferably coupled to a neural network
that has been trained to recognize the images printed on the face
of the cards as they pass from the chute 16 through slot 22, and
over or past optical sensor 41.
It should be noted that scanning need nit be done via card
recognition using a neural network approach. While using a neural
network system is preferred so that standard decks of cards may be
used, it should be noted that the cards may carry marks or embedded
devices or structures or "indica" so that the value, and if
required, value and suit of each card can be scanned and the
requisite data acquired by the scanner.
As the card slides down the front surface of the shoe, the start
frame sensor 65 detects the leading edge of the playing card and
generates a frame-read interrupt to CPU 34. The interrupt will
start sending the serial data from the optical sensor 41 via a
serial data port to RAM memory located on the CPU 34 system. Prior
to the data reaching the serial data port, the serial output data
of the analog optical sensor 41 is preferably thresholded or
transformed to a binary value by an analog-to-digital converter 75,
see FIG. 6. In a preferred embodiment, while the frame-read
interrupt line remains at a logic high, the serial image bit stream
will continue to be written into the memory of the CPU system 34.
Software running on CPU 34 creates a two-dimensional bit-mapped
image of the card suit and value of the particular card being
scanned from the serial image bit stream input into the CPU 34 from
the scanner or sensor 41.
Shoe 10 further includes a frame-stop sensor 40 that senses the
leading edge of the playing card being fed through the slot 22.
When the frame-stop sensor 40 senses the leading edge of a playing
card, it will cause the frame-read to go to a logic low and stop
the writing of the serial-bit stream. At this point, the entire
bit-mapped card image will be stored in the RAM memory of CPU
system 34. In a preferred embodiment, this bit-mapped image will be
used as an input vector for a feed forward neural network executed
by CPU system 34. In the exemplary network of FIGS. 7, 8, and 9,
the neural network has been trained using error back-propagation to
recognize all the values of the cards possible suits passing
through shoe 10.
Shoe 10 accommodates the use of a magnetic stripe reader 52 (FIGS.
1, 3, 11,12, 16 and 17) and player-tracking-card(s) 15 (FIG. 3) 3,
or 51, see FIGS. 11, 12, 16 and 17, for a particular player or
players, and preferably shoe 10 includes a magnetic card reader 50
(FIG. 6) with slot 52, see FIGS. 1 and 3. While he or she plays the
game, the player's account information recorded in the magnetic
stripe of the player-tracking-card 15 or 51 is read by reader 50
and can cause the player's customer data file 72 stored on host
computer 74 to be transferred to memory associated with CPU 34
system, see FIGS. 1 and 6). As the player continues to play, the
customer data file of the player will be updated by the CPU system
34. When a player quits the game, casino personnel will log the
player out of the game, e.g., using the alpha-numeric keyboard 60,
and the customer data file will be updated, transferred to the host
computer 74 and closed. Of course the file can be re-opened by the
insertion of the specific player-tracking-card 15 or 51 into a
magnetic stripe reader 50 within the casino's system, or manually,
e.g., using keyboard 60 to enter the customer's file number to open
the customer's file.
As noted, in a basic embodiment, magnetic stripe reader 50 is built
into shoe 10 (FIG. 1). Host computer 74 may be connected or coupled
to CPU system 34 in shoe 10 in a variety of methods well known in
the art, including coupling via a LAN connection 45. When a
customer's player-tracking-card 15 or 51 embedded with, or
containing the customer account number, is inserted into magnetic
card reader 50, the customer's data file stored on the host
computer 74 will be called. Customer account information such as
name and account number embedded in the magnetic stripe of the
player-tracking-card 15 can be displayed on the LCD display 6, and
keyboard display 62, and on keyboard and LCD display 09. Casino
personnel can then verify the customers'identification using
specific keyboard key functions to sequentially access specific
fields within the customer's data file and to enter information to
or retrieve information from the customer's data file as deemed
necessary or desirable. Such typical information may include Name,
Address, Date of Birth, Social Security Number, Credit line, Cash
on deposit, Year-To-Date-Win, Year-To-Date-Loss, Minimum
Bet/Maximum Bet/Average Bet/Total Amount Bet, Start Time, Stop
Time, Total Time Played, Cash Transaction Reporting, Debit and
Credit Transactions, Chips-To-Table, and
Chips-Removed-From-Table.
After transfer of the customer data file from the host computer 74
to CPU system 34, the keyboard 60 (see FIGS. 6, 12 and 13) can be
used by the dealer or casino personnel to then log in that customer
as playing in a specific seat at the game table 79 (see FIG. 14).
In FIG. 14, the depicted configuration includes an imprinted game
table layout 50 an LED score display 80, a card discard rack 81, a
drop box slot 82, a chip tray 83, an imprinted commission owed seat
designation 84, an imprinted commission box 85, an imprinted Player
hand bet box 86, an imprinted Bank hand bet box 87, an imprinted
Tie hand bet box 88, an imprinted Player for faced-up Player hand's
game cards 89, an imprinted Bank for faced-up bank hand's game
cards 90, embedded Player, Bank, and Game Round Results indicator
light 25, three bet-type indicator lights 91, one each for a bet on
the Player hand, the Bank hand, and the Tie hands bet, an imprinted
seat designation 92. In FIG. 19, the depicted configuration
includes a game table 101, a Deal 7 button that acts as a toggle
switch to manually activate the software to raise or lower the card
barriers 116 & 119, a Burn 43 button to record those cards that
have been removed from the deck, and removed from the play of the
game, and placed in the card discard can 96, a Shuffle 46 button to
signal the software that a freshly shuffled deck has been placed in
the shoe 10 and reset all settings for the current deck to zero, an
imprinted game table layout 50, a dealer tip can 95, a drop box
slot 82, a chip tray 83, an accumulated commissions owed LED
display 99, an last commission owed LED display 100, imprinted
commission owed seat designation 84, an imprinted Player hand bet
box 89, an imprinted Bank hand bet box 90, an imprinted Tie hand
bet box 88, an imprinted Player for faced-up Player hand's game
cards 89, an imprinted Bank for faced-up bank hand's game cards 90,
embedded Player, Bank, a color coded Game Round Results indicator
light 25, a Display 94 button that the dealer, the "Caller",
presses to cause the system to display a computer generated graphic
image of each card dealt, including its card value, card rank, suit
and the sequence in which each card comprising the Player and Bank
hands were delivered from the shoe, as identified by the system as
being designated for delivery to the Player and Bank hands, are
displayed on the Bank LCD display 97 and the Player LCD display 96
when the game hands have been scanned by the system scanner before
the cards are delivered to the Player or Bank hands; and whereas
the graphic display is preferably activated by the "caller" after
both the Player and Bank hands have been completed and the hands
are faced up before the dealer, "caller"; and at least one "Base"
dealer keyboard and LCD display for the "Base" dealer to enter,
retrieve and display player, game and table information generated
and recorded by the shoe system, and three bet-type indicator
lights 91, one each to represent the presence or non-presence of a
bet on the Player hand, the Bank hand, and the Tie hands bet, and
an imprinted numeric seat designation 92 for each player position
available at the game table.
Once the customer is logged to a specific seat at the game table
79, the player-tracking-card 51 is removed from the magnetic card
reader slot 52, the seat number 92 (see FIGS. 14 and 19) being
played by the customer, when entered by the casino personnel, will
light-up on the keyboard 60 (see FIG. 13). Referring to FIGS. 13
and 21, the seat number will remain lit until such time the seat's
Active seat designation is terminated using keyboard 60 or seat
mode key 35 on keyboard 103, and then entering seat number 48 for
the seat that is to be terminated.
When a player-tracking-card 51 assigned to a specific casino
customer is used to log that customer in at a particular gaming
table, preferably any information stored on the customer's CPU file
maintained by the casino can be accessed, retrieved, and displayed
using any or all of display 6, display, 62, and display 109. Casino
personnel can then use this information to provide better service
to the customer.
Referring to FIGS. 10, 12, 13, 16, and 17 keyboard(s) 60 and 102
and displays 6, 62, and/or 109 are used respectively to input and
display information to and from CPU system 34 and/or host computer
74. These keyboards and displays can also be used to log-in dealers
and casino pit personnel associated with the games.
It is noted that preferably some form of encryption will be
installed in CPU system 34 to preserve and protect confidentiality
of the data being stored and transferred, and to prevent its
unauthorized interception. Operating power can be supplied by cable
56 to CPU system 34 and to all associated components.
Alternatively, a self-contained battery within shoe 10 could
provide operating power, and contribute to a more mobile shoe.
E. Feed Forward Neural Network Operation
The use and operation of a feed forward neural network with the
present invention will now be described with respect to
identification of identifying playing card suit and values using
data output from scanner system 41. Referring to FIG. 6, high
resolution array information stored in memory associated with CPU
system 34 is reduced to a coarse image, preferably of array size 6
columns by 7 rows. This can be carried out by sectioning the larger
high resolution array into, for example, a 6 by 7 grid and
assigning the coarse array a gray scale value based on the number
of black pixels in each grid. Thus, if all pixels in a grid are
black, the gray scale will be 100% (black), if all pixels are
white, the gray scale will be 0% (white), and if half the pixels
are black, the gray scale will be 50% (gray). The 6.times.7 coarse
array stored in memory is preferably converted into two 42 word
vectors, a vector for the playing card value input, and a vector
for the playing card suit. These vectors are used as inputs to the
neural network's input layer.
Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, a feed forward multi-layer
perceptron (MLP) that is trained for image recognition using
back-propagation is preferably used in the present invention,
although other recognition techniques could instead be used. The
neural network consists of neurons and weighted connections between
the neurons. The following equations are used to describe the
operation of the basic three-layer feed forward multi-layer
perceptron shown in the figures: for I=m+1 to N+1
<.times. ##EQU00001## X.sub.i=logsigmoid (net.sub.I)
Y.sub.i=X.sub.I+N(X.sub.0=1) The neural network preferably used
with the present invention for card suit identification as shown in
FIG. 8 will map a 42 pixel image to one of four card suits, and
requires 42 inputs to represent the image grid, and 4 neurons in
its output layer. FIG. 9 depicts the preferred neural network used
with the present invention to recognize card value. This neural
network will map a 42 pixel image to one of 13 card values, and
requires 42 inputs to represent the image grid, and 13 neurons in
its output layer. The two neural networks above described have a
hidden layer to improve their function approximation
capabilities.
In the present invention, the neural network is trained to identify
card suits and values using back-propagation. The back-propagation
technique adjusts the weights (W.sub.ij) of each neuron connection
until the output vector is correct for the input vector sets that
would represent a given card value or suit. After training, the
values of the weights will be fixed and the network will be able to
identify card suit and value for any card presented to the neural
network.
The networks are trained to output a 1 in the correct position of
the output vector and fill the rest of the output vector with 0's.
For example, if the neural network identified an "ace" input vector
1, then the first position of the output vector would be 1 and all
other positions would be 0.
As stated above other scanners (optical or non-optical) can be used
with complementary configured cards to acquire the card data.
However, a system which can scan and read standard card decks is
preferred so that specially configured cards are not required.
F. Card Dispensing Shoe with Scanner Apparatus, System and Method:
Alternate Embodiment Operation
Reference is made to FIGS. 10, 12, 15 and 17, with respect to the
following description of an alternative embodiment of a card
dispensing shoe with scanner (shoe 10 hereafter). The description
will highlight differences from the previously described
embodiments.
In this embodiment, CPU system 34 (see FIGS. 1, 5 and 6) may be
disposed internal to shoe 10, or may be an external CPU (not shown)
coupled to shoe 10 via an I/O port 56 (see FIGS. 11, 12, 16 and
17), and coupled in turn to the optical scanner 41 and to other
components of the present invention, including keyboards and LCD
displays. As noted, the external CPU can function as an independent
CPU, may be coupled to and function with or as part of a LAN,
server network, or mainframe system.
Referring to FIG. 13, an enhanced keyboard 60 on top of shoe 10,
and LCD display 6 at the front of the shoe (see FIGS. 10, 15 and
17), and keyboard(s) 102 embedded in Baccarat game table 101 (see
FIGS. 19 and 21) according to the present invention may be used in
different combinations and can replace the keyboards and displays
in the previously described embodiments of the present
invention.
Preferably all keyboards and LCD displays attached to the shoe 10
can function independently of each other, or can interact with the
other keyboards and LCD displays. Preferably all keyboard and LCD
displays are coupled to an internal CPU (not shown) or to an
external CPU that may be a custom CPU or an off-the-shelf portable
or desktop personal computer coupled to the shoe via I/O port 56,
see FIGS. 11, 12, 16 and 17.
In contrast to the first embodiment, the alternative embodiment of
shoe 10 now under discussion does not include load switch 32 (see
FIGS. 1 and 6), but includes as a replacement shuffle key 46, as
shown in FIGS. 13, 19 and 21. Referring to FIGS. 10, 15, and 17,
when the playing cards are removed from chute 16 to be shuffled by
the dealer, or when shuffled and are replaced in card chute 16,
Shuffle key 46 is pressed or otherwise activated to provide a
signal that a fresh deck has been shuffled and placed in chute 16,
and a new deal is about to begin. Shuffle key 46 preferably is
located on keyboard 60 (FIG. 13) or keyboard 102 (FIGS. 19 and 21),
or embedded in game table top 101 (FIG. 19). Note that the deck
count, card value, card rank, and card suit counts are always zero
or reset to zero at the beginning of a new deal.
At the beginning of a new deal, before any cards are dealt to the
game players, at least one card is removed from the deck in the
chute 16 in shoe 10, and is "burned", i.e., discarded. To record
the burn card(s), the dealer will press the Burn key 43 located on
either keyboard 60 or keyboard 102, or the Burn key 43 embedded in
the game table top 101 (see FIGS. 13, 19, and 21). When the dealer
has removed the last burn card from shoe 10, the dealer will press
the Deal key 7 on shoe 10, or Deal key 7 on keyboard 102, or the
Deal key 7 embedded in the game table top 101 (see FIGS. 19 and
21). The game card value, card rank, card suit and the number of
game cards burned will be considered by the software when
calculating the number of cards remaining in shoe 10, and the
number of card values, and card ranks for each card suit remaining
in the card chute 16.
At this juncture, the software can begin calculations for the game
cards dealt to the game players for the newly shuffled deck
contained within the chute 16. As shown in FIGS. 10, 12, 15, and
17, when the last round indicator 8 lights, the dealer will
announce that one more game round will be dealt from the cards
remaining in the shoe 10 before shuffling. When the last round has
been dealt from shoe 10, the remainder of the deck is to be removed
from the shoe to be shuffled with the cards previously dealt from
the shoe and placed in the game table card discard rack 81 (see
FIG. 14), or in the card discard can slot 95 (see FIG. 19). Shuffle
key 46 of keyboard 60 (see FIG. 13) or keyboard 102 (see FIGS. 19
and 21), or the Baccarat game table 101 (see FIG. 19) is pressed to
end the software's calculations for the deck of playing cards most
recently dealt from shoe 10.
As noted, it is understood that optical scanner 41 and other
components of the earlier described embodiments of the present
invention are included within this embodiment unless otherwise
noted, and will function as previously described.
A standard computer keyboard is coupled to the card dispensing shoe
and Baccarat game table apparatus can be used to open and close one
or more software programs that have been installed in the CPU 79,
or that reside on the host computer network (not shown), to access
specific screens of the software programs on call, and to enter the
SetUp game information for the baccarat game evaluation and player
rating software.
A function of keyboard 60 and keyboard 102 (see FIGS. 13 and 21) is
to signal at least one computer program whether a designated game
table seat, i. e. numbered one through fifteen in FIG. 21 is
active/inactive, and/or is/is not being played by a player playing
the game in progress that is to be evaluated by the present
invention's software program. It is noted that typical
mini-Baccarat and midi-Baccarat game tables have from one to nine
seats, and a standard size Baccarat game table normally has
fourteen seats. Preferably keyboards and LCD displays carried by or
attached to shoe 10 have a mechanism to signal at least one
computer program that a designated game table seat is active/not
active and/or is/is not being played by any customer playing the
game in progress.
The various keys and displays shown in FIGS. 13 and 21 (and
elsewhere) include a deal key 7, a sit-out key 11, a tie key 13, a
rate mode key 15, a clear key 17, a player key 18,.a bank key 19, a
reset key 20, an enter key 33, a seat mode key 35, a C-paid mode
key 36, a credit slip number mode key 37, a win mode key 38, a
commission mode key 39, a loss mode key 44, a display mode key 47,
seat designation keys 48, cash buy-in key 53, cash out key 54,
player credit paid (credit) key 57, casino chips-brought to table
(buy in) key 58, casino chips removed from table (cash-out) key 59,
foreign chips to table (buy-in) key 61, delete key (terminates
active seat for cursor position) 63, $1,000 denomination/enter key
64 (pressing one or more numeric key(s), in sequence, i.e. 2 then
five; and then the $1,000 denomination/enter key once would enter a
wager or bankroll amount of $25,000 dollars for a player or game
table), $100 denomination/enter key 66 (pressing one or more
numeric key(s) in sequence, i.e. 4 then five; and then the $100
denomination/enter key once would enter a wager or bankroll amount
of $4,500 dollars), $1 denomination/enter key 67, (pressing one or
more numeric key(s) in sequence, i.e. 2 then 1; and then the $1
denomination/enter key once would enter a wager or bankroll amount
of $21 dollars)$5 denomination/mode/enter key 68, unit bet value
key 70, units bet value key 71, true bet value key 72, sum bet keys
73, player tracking card/dealer account number key 76, and left and
right arrow navigation keys 77 and 78,
Referring to FIGS. 13 and 21, when the seat designation keys 48 of
keyboard 60 or 102 are used to designate a game table seat as being
occupied by a participating game player during a current game
round, the corresponding seat designation key 48 of keyboard 60 or
keyboard 102 is activated, and preferably lights with a green
color. When the seat designation keys 48 of keyboard 60 or 102 are
used to designate a game table seat as not being occupied by a
participating game player during a current game round, the
corresponding seat designation key 48 is activated and preferably
lights with a yellow color. Referring to FIGS. 11, 12, 15, and 17,
if a customer tracking card is inserted into slot 52 of the
magnetic stripe reader 50, the activated seat will be assigned to
the customer identified by the player-tracking-card 51 and the
corresponding customer data file for the current software
application in use will be opened. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 21, if
any keyboard's designated seat key is illuminated green, and the
seat mode key 35 is held down and the illuminated key is pressed,
the active seat designation will be terminated and the illuminated
key's color will be yellow. If the terminated seat was assigned to
a customer using a player-tracking-card 51, the data entered to the
card holders customer data file will be saved and the card holder's
customer data file for the current software application in use will
be closed and transferred to the host computer (not shown).
Referring to FIGS. 11, 13, and 21, assume that the data entry
operator (DEO) selects Rotate from the Operator Data Entry Options
screen during set-up of the Baccarat evaluation software. Each
segment of the segmented LCD display 30 (FIGS. 11, & 12) one
segment each being assigned to display selected game data for the
numeric seat designation keys 48 immediately above for the
evaluation in progress, will alternate the segmented data display
for all active seats at the end and the beginning of each round
when the Deal key 7 is pressed, see FIGS. 10, 12, 19 and 21. The
segmented display will rotate in the following order: (a) the total
number of game rounds played by each active seat for the current
deck or Baccarat shoe; (b) the betting proficiency of each Active
seat for the current deck or Baccarat shoe; .COPYRGT.) the betting
proficiency of each Active seat for all game rounds played during
the game customer's current playing session; (d) the statistical
probability for each Active seat relative to the game customer
having knowledge of the card value of the top card of the deck
before it is removed from the shoe and dealt as the first card of
the Player hand for each, upcoming game round played for the
current deck or baccarat shoe; (e) the statistical probability for
each Active seat relative to the game customer having knowledge of
the card value of the top card of the deck before it is removed
from the shoe and dealt as the first card of the Player hand for
each upcoming game round for all game rounds played during the game
customer's current playing session; (f) the amount won or loss by
each Active game seat for the current deck or baccarat shoe; and
(g) the amount won or loss by each Active game seat for all game
rounds played during the game customer's current playing
session.
With reference to FIG. 11, any of the above display options can be
individually selected by the data entry operator from the Operator
Data Entry Options screen for permanent display on the display
segments of LCD display 30 for all designated active seats during
the course of an evaluation. Alternatively, a Blank segmented
display option may be selected by the DEO. All of the above display
options can be displayed simultaneously for each game round for one
selected Active seat. An individual LED display 29 imprinted with a
seat number is illuminated to indicate that seat as being activated
for the current game round.
Referring to FIGS. 13, 14, 19, and 21, primary functions of
alpha/numeric keyboard 60 and keyboard(s) 102 are to designate the
Active and Inactive seats at the game tables, to record the type of
wagers made by each game player occupying the Active seats, to
record the bet amount for all types of wagers made by the game
players during the play of the game, to record all types of debit
and credit transactions for each of the game players that is
relevant to calculating each customer's Earning Potential and
Complimentary Equivalency, or value, to the casino, and to record
all types of debit and credit transactions relevant to maintain an
accurate and running real time count of the game table's bankroll
or win or loss.
Preferably any data or information that can be entered, or
retrieved from the software or data files using keyboard 60 and LCD
display 62 (see FIG. 13) can be retrieved using keyboard 102 and
LCD display 109 (see FIG. 21). Conversely, any data entered into or
retrieved from the software or data files using keyboard 102 and
LCD display 109 (see FIG. 21) can preferably also be entered or
retrieved using keyboard 60 and LCD display 62 (see FIGS. 13).
An additional keyboard and display can be used in the alternate
embodiment, e.g., by using a standard 101-key keyboard and a
standard computer monitor coupled to the CPU, which is to say to
the internal CPU 34 of shoe 10 or to external CPU 79. Such
additional keyboard and monitor can enter and display all
information or data that could otherwise be handled by the
previously described keyboards and displays. Furthermore, the
additional 101-key keyboard may be used to enter additional
information acceptable by the software. Such information may
include new customers names, account numbers. The keyboard can be
used to edit the date/time data files of unknown customers who have
been previously evaluated, and who have subsequently been
identified by casino personnel.
Preferably, primary software functions include identifying and
recording the card values, card ranks, cards suits for the cards
comprising the game deck, and further recording the sequence in
which each of the game cards is removed from the deck to be burned
or delivered to the Player or Bank game hands for each game round
played. The software also activates the barrier locking mechanisms
(see FIG. 22) during the process of burning the requisite number of
game cards preparatory to dealing the first game round from the
deck contained in the card chute in shoe. The software also
activates the barrier locking mechanism when, per game rules, the
last card for the current game round has been removed from the shoe
for delivery to the Player or Bank hand. The software also compares
the type of wager made by each game player for each game round
played to the value of the first game card dealt to the Player hand
each game round and uses such information to calculate each game
player's betting proficiency, game advantage, and/or statistical
probability of each game player having a prior knowledge of the
game card value of the first card dealt to the Player hand before
that card is removed from the shoe or before each player makes
his/her wager for the upcoming game round. Further, the software
also provides a real time graphic display of the card value, card
rank, card suit and the sequence in which each game card was dealt
to the Player and Bank hands for each game round played, and in
general to identify all traditional forms of cheating the game of
baccarat during real time.
In yet another function, the CPU 79 includes a memory which stores
data representing the correct sequence of cards to be dealt
according to the rules of the game. By scanning the cards the CPU
79 compares the cards dealt to the data of the memory to confirm
that the cards have been correctly dealt according to the rules of
the game. In the event of a detected misdeal, the CPU 79 can
generate a signal to the dealer and control the barriers to close
and prevent further dealing of cards until the misdeal has been
resolved.
In regards to a misdeal it should be understood that the shoe
according to the present invention can also be used as a tutorial
device to train dealers in the proper sequence for the dealing of
cards to players. By means of the tutorial device a totally novice
dealer can deal the game without making an error in the delivery of
the game cards to the game hands.
Still further, the CPU 79, receiving data as to the cards dealt and
having stored in memory the Baccarat third card draw rules, can be
programmed to issue signals (at a color coded display carried by
the shoe and/or embedded in the game table top, voice or otherwise)
to signal the dealer which hand(s) if any are entitled to a third
card.
G. Operation of the Software
A description as to use of software associated with CPU system 34
in real time evaluation of the betting skills of all players seated
and playing the game of casino Baccarat will now be given. As each
card image is scanned by optical sensor 41 in shoe 10, software,
preferably but not necessarily, a neural network recognizes the
images printed on the face of each card, and processes the
resultant vector. The CPU and software combination will:
(1) Assign a specific numeric value to each card value, card rank
and card suit for the cards comprising the deck, a card value, card
rank and card suit and a card count value to each card passed over
and identified by the optical scanner;
(2) Keep track of the number of cards played from and remaining in
the deck and the number of the card values, card ranks, and card
played and remaining in each suit of the deck;
(3) Calculate and display on at least one preferably LCD display
attached to the shoe the seat number and the total of the game
cards comprising the hand(s) dealt to the Player and Bank hands,
and the sequence in which each of the game cards is dealt from the
shoe for delivery to the Player or Bank hands and whether third
cards are to be dealt;
(4) Calculate and display on at least one such display each
player's betting proficiency relative to the type of bet made and
the value of the first card dealt to the Player hand for each game
round played;
(5) Calculate and display on at least one such display and/or at
least one remote monitor during real time each player's game
advantage betting relative to the type of bet made and the value of
the first card dealt to the Player hand for each game round
played;
(6) Calculate and display on at least one such display and/or at
least one remote monitor during real time the statistical
probability of each game player having knowledge of the card value
of top card of the deck or the game card value of the first card
dealt to the Player hand for each game round played;
(7) Identify the active seats and the betting opportunities for
each game player position during the course of the play of the game
to signal the CPU software program to which hand (Player's or the
Banker's) each card dealt from the shoe is assigned; and
(8) Identify the betting opportunities for each active seat and
signal the CPU software program which betting opportunities were
exercised by each active seat during the play of each game
round.
Referring to FIGS. 10, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 19, as noted shoe 10 is
coupled to an internal CPU system 34 and/or to an external CPU (not
shown) that can be coupled to a LAN or WAN server CPU or mainframe
computer system. By way of example, assume an embodiment including
additional keyboards and displays, e.g., a standard 101-key
keyboard and computer monitor coupled to the CPU 79 and present at
the game tables 79 or 101, see FIGS. 14 and 19. A CPU (not shown)
for use in a typical installation at a game table 79 or 101 may be
positioned on a moveable platform or drawer attached to the
underside of the game tables. (The CPU may be located at a remote
location and be coupled to shoe 10 and game tables 79 or 101 via
hard-wiring or wirelessly.) When the CPU, monitor, and keyboard are
needed, the dealer will pull the drawer from beneath the game table
to access the monitor and keyboard. It is noted that a modern
notebook style computer can be incorporated into a game table 79,
101, according to the present invention.
In this example, it is assumed that when the Baccarat evaluation
software was originally installed on the casino's CPU. (not shown),
set-up menus such as Operator Data Entry Options, Casino Staff
Program Users, Game Entry Options, Game Set Up, Comps Default
Options, Tables, Rules, Password, and Comps were called. It is also
assumed that data relevant to the casino's staff and the parameters
of the baccarat game offered by the casino to its baccarat
customers were entered. In this example, Rotate has been selected
from the Operator Data Entry Options as the display mode for the
shoe's segmented LCD display 30, as shown in FIG. 11, and/or as the
game data display of the Baccarat evaluation software data entry
screen. Selection of Rotate display mode can result in the current
evaluation's game data for each active seat or player, during and
at the end of each game round dealt from the shoe. Such data
includes rounds played, betting proficiency, game advantage,
probability of player having prior knowledge of the value of the
first card dealt to the Player hand each game round played, and win
or loss for the current playing session.
H. Player and Bank Hand Advantages When Baccarat Card Game
Players Have Prior Knowledge of the Value of the First Card to be
Received by the Player Hand
More than one method may be used to calculate a Baccarat player's
betting proficiency when for each hand played during each round of
the game, the sum of the player's bets vary in direct relationship
to a selected card count system's true count at the beginning of
the round to be dealt. An exemplary method to calculate a player's
betting proficiency is given herein.
I. Software Features when Utilizing a LAN Network System
Software associated with the present invention is also useful in
interfacing with a casino LAN network system coupling the game
tables.
Information obtained by a shoe according to the present invention
can be coupled to the LAN to enable additional casino personnel to
monitor and oversee game play at any selected game table. Network
functions include, without limitation, calculating and displaying
simultaneously on at least one remote monitor during real time
total of the game cards comprising Player and Bank hands at a
particular game table, card value and rank and suit and sequence in
which each game card was dealt from the shoe.
Thus, on a real time basis, all pertinent game data for a game
table under evaluation can be displayed and recorded remotely,
without knowledge of the game players at the table, whose game
skills may be under observation. Such information may be merged
with existing casino video and VCR game and security facilities to
provide a comprehensive system to better enable the casino to
identify individual(s) suspected of cheating or other undesired
game activities. The casino may then choose to take the appropriate
action to protect themselves from such players to prevent unwanted
table losses, thus saving the casino substantial amounts of
money.
As described later herein with respect to FIGS. 23A and 23B, the
shoe software may also be interfaced with a server system that can
communicate with remotely located bettors over various
communications media, including the internet. Such individuals can
see video of the game table top including OCR scanned views of each
card dispensed from the shoe, and can bet over the media. Bets can
be resolved by a server system coupled to the shoe. Winning bettors
can have their accounts with the casino incremented in real time,
and losing bettors will have their accounts debited in real
time.
J. Card Dispensing Shoe with Scanner Apparatus, System and Method:
Alternate Embodiment Operation:
FIG. 22 depicts the front card outlet 22 of a shoe 10 whose housing
12 contains a left movable barrier 116 operatively coupled to a
moving mechanism 117, and that contains a right movable barrier 119
operatively coupled to a moving mechanism 118. Barriers 116 and 119
function to prevent any person from removing a card from housing 12
before the rules of a game in play permit. As such, barriers 116,
119 are movable between a blocking or barring position (raised in
FIG. 22) in which no card can be removed from shoe 10, and a
non-barring or non-blocking position (downward or lowered in FIG.
22) in which a card can be pushed out of shoe 10 in a normal
fashion through-the card outlet 22.
In the embodiment described, software associated with CPU system 34
is pre-programmed with game rules for the card game currently being
played at game table 79, the cards for which will be dispensed from
shoe 34. An output signal from CPU system 34 can command moving
mechanisms 117 and 118 to move their respective barriers into the
barring or non-barring position, according to the rules of the
game. Without limitation, mechanisms. 117, 118 may be small
solenoids or electromagnets that mechanically or
electro-magnetically move barriers 116, 119 into the position
commanded by CPU 34.
For example, assume that shoe 10 is used to secure and monitor a
game of Baccarat to be played at table 79. Software associated with
CPU system 34 will include the rules for Baccarat. System 34
preferably is coupled to receive output from scanner 41, and thus
knows when the final card for a game round has been dealt from shoe
10, and will command moving mechanisms 117, 118 to move barriers
116, 119 into a raised position to block removal of any additional
cards from shoe 10. The game dealer can now settle wages on the
completed game round, without having to scrutinize the shoe. The
various players will now make their bets for the upcoming game
round before removal and delivery of the top card from the deck
within shoe 10. Since game rules preclude removing a card from the
shoe during this phase, barriers 116, 119 remain in a card blocking
position. Once bets have been made, the dealer will record the
amounts and bet types (e.g., Player, Bank, Tie) for each player (or
the system itself can be used to so record), and will then press an
input device such as a keyboard key carried by the shoe, or
embedded in the game table top 79, 101. The input device will
signal CPU system 34 (e.g., via wires, or wirelessly), whereupon
moving mechanisms 117, 118 will move barriers 116, 119 in a lowered
position (in this example) to allow removal of game cards from shoe
10 for delivery during the current game round.
CPU system 34, by executing associated software will know when card
access via card slot outlet 22 in shoe 10 is against the Baccarat
game rules. Importantly, when game rules so require, CPU system 34
will command moving mechanisms 117, 118 to move barriers 116, 119
into the blocking position, to prevent anyone from removing the top
card or even attempting to turn up a corner of that card to get a
glimpse at what the suit or value might be. As noted elsewhere
here, in Baccarat, prior (illicit) knowledge of what the top card
that is about to be dealt will be can enable individuals with such
knowledge to make large bets with a substantially high statistical
probability of success as to game outcome of each game round.
Barriers 116, 119 are hidden from view of the dealer and players,
as the barriers preferably are internal to housing 12. However
while the barriers are in the blocking position, any person
attempting to move a card out of slot 22 will be unsuccessful
because the barriers physically obstruct preferably at least 0.75''
at each end of the card when an attempt is made to remove the card
from shoe 10 via outlet 22. (A standard playing card is 3.5'' high
and 2.5'' wide, and a deck of cards is laid on its side when placed
in shoe 10.) Indeed, in the blocking position, the outermost corner
edges of the card are protected by the barriers. Thus, neither a
card nor a card portion, can be (illegally) pushed out of the shoe
by any person for a sneak peek as to what the suit or value of the
first card to be removed from the shoe for delivery to the Player
hand will be.
Once all bets have been made, as signaled automatically into CPU
system 34 by electronic placing of the bets themselves, or as
signaled into CPU system 34, e.g., by game table bet sensors 86, 87
and 88, or by the casino dealer using input mechanism 60, the rules
of the game permit access to the top card in deck 16. Accordingly,
the software executed by CPU system 34 will result in the CPU
commanding barriers 116, 119 to be moved into the unblocking
position by their respective moving mechanisms. At this juncture,
with the barriers in the unblocking or unbarring position, a card
may be withdrawn from shoe 10.
Note that confidence in the integrity of the play of the game is
enhanced by virtue of the blocking shoe mechanism shown in FIG. 22.
Even if the dealer was somehow unaware of the game rules, was
fatigued or otherwise inadvertent or perhaps even dishonest, no one
can gain access to the top card of the deck within the shoe until
all active player seats have made a bet for the upcoming game
round. As such, experienced and inexperienced players alike can
have more confidence in the integrity of the game, playing the game
of Baccarat. Further, other individuals who may wish to bet on the
game outcome can similarly have enhanced confidence in the
integrity of the game, including bettors who are far remote from
the casino game table where play of the subject game is being
monitored by 10.
Further in reference to FIG. 22 a color coded game round results
indicator light 25 may be housed within the shoe 10 in front of the
card outlet 22. CPU 34 is programmed with the game rules and
calculates the score for the game rounds played. When the system
identifies that the game hands have tied the game round results
indicator light 25 will illuminate preferably with the color Rose,
when the Player hand wins the game round the game round indicator
light 25 will illuminate preferably with the color Gold, and when
the Bank hand wins the game round indicator light 25 will
illuminate preferably with the color Blue. A color coded 3.sup.rd
Card Rule tutorial light 19 for the Player hand, and a color coded
3.sup.rd Card Rule tutorial light 21 for the Bank is housed by the
shoe 10 in front of the card outlet 22. When the original two cards
that comprise the Player and Bank hands have been dealt from the
shoe, if the rules of the game require the Player hand to draw a
3.sup.rd Card, the 3.sup.rd Card Rule tutorial light 19 for the
Player will illuminate preferably Green, prompting the game dealer
to call and draw, or call for the designated player Banker to draw,
a 3.sup.rd Card for delivery to the Player hand; and if the rules
of the game require the Player hand to stand on the original two
cards that comprise the Player hand the 3.sup.rd Card Rule tutorial
light 19 for the Player hand will illuminate preferably Red
indicating that no more cards are to be dealt to the Player hand
for the current game round. When the Player hand has been completed
the 3.sup.rd Card Rule tutorial light 21 for the Bank hand will
illuminate preferably Green prompting the game dealer to call and
draw, or ask the designated player Banker to draw, a 3.sup.rd Card
for delivery to the Bank hand if the game rules require the Bank
hand to take a third card; and if the rules of the game require the
Bank hand to stand on the original two cards that comprise the Bank
hand the 3.sup.rd Card Rule tutorial light 21 for the Bank hand
will illuminate preferably Red indicating that no more cards are to
be dealt to the Bank hand for the current game round. When the Bank
hand has been completed the game round is over and the system
software will automatically raise and lock the card barriers 116
and 119 to prevent the game dealer from removing any additional
cards, or from having any access to the face of the top card in the
shoe until all wagers for the upcoming game round have been made by
the game players.
A tricolored light emitting diode 44 (LED) is contained within each
of the 3.sup.rd Card tutorial lights 19 & 21, and within the
game round results indicator light 25.
K. Use of Card Dispensing Shoe with Scanner Apparatus System With
Remote Bettors
From a casino's standpoint, one problem with Baccarat is that for
substantial periods of time there are no customers playing at an
open Baccarat game table, yet the overhead and labor costs
associated with keeping a Baccarat game open, with or without
wagering customers, is high. It would indeed be productive if the
casino could process bets on each of its open Baccarat tables,
essentially twenty-four hours a day, every day of the year.
The rules for the game of Baccarat are fixed, and the individual or
customer receiving the game cards designated for the Player or Bank
hands can make no arbitrary decisions on the received hand, the
outcome of each Baccarat game round (or game play) is essentially
pure luck, absent cheating. Thus it matters little whether actual
players played the game wagered on the outcome of each game round,
or whether casino employees (shills) played the game, and outsiders
(local to the game casino game tables, or remotely located) made
bets on the outcome of each game.
Use of the various embodiments of the present invention, including
the security enhancing shoe described with respect to FIG. 22, can
expedite the play of the game. Further, the present invention can
prevent and identify errors made by the dealer or acting "Banker"
when delivering cards to the Player and Bank hands during each game
round, and can identify any game rounds in which one or more cards
dealt from shoe 10 may have been substituted or switched, and
thereby instill and maintain player and bettor confidence in the
integrity of the game. Collectively these functions can assure
players and bettors (including remotely located bettors) that the
game is above board and that the outcome of a game round will not
be reversed due to a challenged dealer error, or due to
substitution or switching of a game round card, if in fact shoe 10
can preclude dealer error and can identify when a card dealt to the
Player or Bank hand has been illegally substituted or switched by a
dishonest dealer or player.
FIG. 23A depicts a casino game table 79 (or 101) at which a dealer
and a number of players equal to N are physically present. Assume
that the game to be played is Baccarat and that a shoe 10 as
described herein in its various embodiments is used to dispense
game cards from deck 16 to the Player and Bank hands. A video
camera 135 focuses upon the game table 79 (or 101) and shows shoe
10, and the various cards as they are dealt from the shoe, but
preferably does not show the players' faces unless in fact each
player wishes to be shown. (In practice, a sign posted on each game
table will inform the game players that a video image of the game
and players may be broadcast, for example over the internet.)
A circuit 133 can combine the scanner 41 information that can be
processed by CPU system 34 with video information from video camera
135, for example, to enable video signals from camera 135 to show
not only what is on table 79 but to also include a computer
generated image of each card (excluding burn cards) that passes
over the scanner 41 housed within shoe 10 as each card is removed
from the shoe for delivery to game players, or to the Player and
Bank hands for each game round. The computer generated image can be
generated from scan image data, or can be independently generated.
An interface system 137 then promulgates the combined video
information and other data via at least one medium, e.g., medium 1
and/or medium 2 and/or medium 3 in FIG. 23 for receipt by at least
one remote bettor. By "remote" it is understood the bettor in
question could be hundreds of feet from the actual gaming table or
could be many thousands of miles distant.
Without limitation, a medium may include the internet, wireless
transmission, optical cables, telephone lines, etc. The remote
bettors can place bets on the outcome of each game round being
played on table 79 (or 101) by players, some of whom may in fact be
casino employees (shills) if there are no of independent players
actively playing the game. Bet information from a remote bettor
need not be communicated back to interface system 137 by precisely
the same medium used to send information to the bettor. Thus,
remote bettor 2 might received video information via medium 1, the
internet perhaps, but might send bet information via medium 2, the
telephone system perhaps, back to interface 137.
FIG. 23B depicts a typical video information display 141 as seen by
each remote bettor, perhaps on a computer monitor or a TV screen.
The display will include an actual image 143 of the game, showing
table 79 (or 101), shoe 10, and each card 147 dealt from the shoe.
Preferably the display will also include the scanned image 145 of
each card dealt, such that a remote bettor need not sit close to
display 141 to actually see each card dealt. Using a home computer
or telephone or other system (not shown), the remote bettor can
place a bet via a medium back to system 137. The remote bettors
have incentive to bet on the game play in that they know it will
occur rapidly and securely, due to the use of a shoe 10, according
to the present invention. After each game round, bets can be
resolved rapidly, preferably by a server-type computer system 147
coupled to the remainder of the system, as indicated by FIG. 23A.
It is anticipated that resolving settlement of literally thousands
of bets from remote bettors could occur within less than
thirty-seconds. The presence of shoe 10 thus enables and encourages
remote betting, to the economic advantage of the host casino.
Further the ability of remote bettors to access, view and wager on
a live casino card game can serve to tutor the timid player in the
play of the game before the player's potential visit to a real
casino. Thus, bettor and the casino can each benefit from the
remote bettor's experience with wagering over the internet or other
medium.
L. Use of the System and Method in Connection with Blackjack
Where the shoe 1 is to be used in connection with the game of
Blackjack, the CPU 79 has stored in its memory data representing
various known player Blackjack play criteria which are intended to
give the player and advantage or to minimize the casino edge for
the game. This criteria may relate to a count system where players
count the values of one or more cards to determine the constituency
of the inventory of the cards remaining in the shoe. Depending upon
the constituency of the inventory, the inventory may be "positive"
in favor of the player. In such circumstances the player may (1)
increase their wager to take advantage of the "positive" inventory
and/or (2) make decisions as to standing or hitting his hand to try
to win the game.
Still further, the CPU 79 can compare the player's play, including
his wager and player hand decisions, to data stored in memory to
determine the proficiency of the player in adherence with one or
more player Blackjack strategies.
To frustrate possible strategy players, including card counters,
the system and method includes a floating deck (inventory)
penetration feature. According to prior art Blackjack dealt from
multiple decks or multiple deck shoes, it has been known to command
reconstitution and reshuffling of the card inventory. For example,
when the dealer first shuffles and loads a shoe, he typically
places a marker card in the inventory about one deck from the last
card. Cards are dealt from the shoe until the marker card is dealt
at which time the current hand is completed. The dealer then
gathers all of the played, burned and cards remaining in the shoe
to reconstitute the inventory to, for example its original six
decks, and re-shuffles to randomize the inventory. The stack of
shuffled decks of cards is placed in front of a player who places
the marker card in the stack and the stack is cut at the marker
card and thereafter is re-loaded back into the shoe. The marker
card is placed in the stack about one deck (52 cards) from the last
card of the shoe to signal the dealer when to re-shuffle.
If there is a suspicion that a player is playing proficiently
according to some system or criteria, the pit boss may command more
frequent shuffling. Frequent shuffling results in an economic loss
to the casino since the time the dealer is reconstituting and
re-shuffling interrupts play (and the placement and loss of wagers)
and may cause impatient players to leave the table. For example, it
is believed that if shoe penetration (dealing from the inventory)
can be to a level of 92% (26 cards left in inventory before
re-shuffling) versus 85% (where 52 cards remain in inventory), that
where the average bet is $20 and there are and average of 3.8
player's per table and assuming a round dealt every 38 seconds, the
savings in less frequent re-shuffling would amount to approximately
$30,000.00 per table per-eight hour shift. With some casinos having
many tables, the annual savings of permitting penetration from 85%
to 92% is significant. It is believed that 92% penetration versus a
more shallow penetration, e.g. 75%, can produce even greater
savings
The CPU 79 according to the present invention can be configured to
determine inventory penetration before re-shuffling based upon the
strategy and/or betting proficiencies of the players. For example,
when the shoe is loaded with the six decks of shuffled cards before
the first hand, the memory for the system can include data
representing the number of cards, i.e. 52.times.6=312 cards as well
as the constituency of the inventory (at least values of cards
according to the valuation of cards according to the rules of
Blackjack). As cards are "burned" and dealt the scanned data of the
cards is processed to determine one or more of the following (1)
the cards dealt to each player hand and the dealer hand, (2) the
number of cards left in inventory, (3) the count of the inventory
according to any one of known card counting systems (4) the
player's proficiency in accordance with player play criteria or (5)
the dealer's cards. By providing for changing deck penetration
versus player proficiency, the aforesaid savings can be realized.
For example, the CPU 79 may be configured to have a default
penetration to a point where there are 26 cards left in inventory.
When the 26 cards in inventory is reached, the present hand is
completed before reconstitution and re-shuffling is commanded. The
CPU 79 may generate a perceptible signal (visual or audible or
both) to indicate re-shuffling is required or may control the
barriers to close the shoe 1 outlet after completion of the hand to
prevent the dealing of any additional cards before re-shuffling. If
there is detected a player having a high proficiency with respect
to a player play strategy or if the shoe is positive, the CPU 79 is
configured to command re-shuffling with a lesser penetration, e.g.
with 52 or 78 cards remaining in inventory. Thus where there is low
proficiency, penetration can be made to the highest permitted, e.g.
until 26 or less cards remain, whereas with one or more proficient
players and/or where the inventory is positive in favor of the
player, re-shuffling will be commanded at a lesser penetration.
Further, in regards to "back counters" referred to above, the CPU
79 may control the activation of seats previously unoccupied during
previous rounds based on the composition of the deck, relative to
one or more card count systems, and/or the positive or negative
composition of the deck, where a positive deck represents a deck
being favorable to the game players, and where a negative deck is
unfavorable to the game players; or whereas the deck may in
combination be positive and Ace rich. The system software would be
programmed to prevent the dealer from activating a seat that was
inactive the previous round when the decks true count for the
upcoming game round is a positive true count greater than a
predetermined value "X"; and whereas the system would allow the
dealer to activate a seat that was inactive the previous game round
when the decks true count for the upcoming game round is a negative
true count, or a positive true count less than X. In this fashion,
players may be permitted to begin play at any time since a
previously non-playing card counter, aka back counter, would be
prevented from gaining an unfair advantage by not being allowed to
enter the game mid-shoe.
In still another aspect, it is known to broadcast both live and
virtual games over the Internet for live play by remote players at
their computer terminals. For particularly live games, there is a
risk that the remote player would play a Blackjack card counting
system with or without the aid of a computer card counting
software. It would be advantageous in situations where particularly
live gaming is being broadcast to be able to determine the
likelihood of such activity to either control that player's
participation or to command reconstitution and re-shuffling the
real or virtual shoe to prevent players employing a card count
system from obtaining an advantage over the casino.
Although the invention has been particularly shown and described
with reference to various preferred embodiments, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and
detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
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