GB2345862A

GB2345862A - Gaming table surveillance.

Info

Publication number: GB2345862A
Application number: GB9901382A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Neild Donegan; Jimmy Sarikas
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-01-23
Filing date: 1999-01-23
Publication date: 2000-07-26
Anticipated expiration: 2019-01-23
Also published as: GB2345862B; GB9901382D0

Abstract

A gaming table comprises a camera 70 capable of communicating with a recording device and a screen 80 on which recorded images can be played back. The gaming table may further comprise a computer and the recording device may be the hard disk of the computer. A keyboard 90 may also be associated with the computer. Alternatively or in addition the camera and screen may be connected to a centrally located recording device. The system is used in particular to prevent late bets being made.

Description

GAMING TABLE Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming table, particulariy a roulette table, which incorporates security features.

Background to the Invention Gaming tables for use in casinos are well known. Typically, the tables comprise a number of different and distinct areas. There is firstly a playing area where, for example cards are dealt or, in the case of a roulette table, where the roulette wheel sits. Secondly, there is a betting area which typically displays various betting options which may be selected by a player. Thirdly, there is a management area which for example, includes a cash and/or chip management system.

Gaming tables are arranged to allow the dealer to have access to and good vision of the playing, betting and management areas. The tables are further arranged to enable good player access to the betting area, good player vision of the playing area and to prevent player access to the management area. it is well known that some piayers will try to cheat the system. Common acts of fraud indue the placing of iate bets or the removavafteration of bets once the gaming outcome is known. Casino mangers make signifiant investment to prevent such fraud. Common measures include training dealers to be vigilant and to be aware of common player tricks, the use of supervisors who monitor table activity and the use of video surveillance.

Current video surveillance systems typically comprise video cameras strategically position at fixed points on the ceiling of the casino and arranged such as to transmit video images back to a central monitoring station. The video footage is usually recorded on a continual basis.

A problem arises with such video surveillance systems if it is desired to move the gaming tables within the fioor area of the casino. Either the cameras must also be moved and repositioned separately or the cameras are left as they are and a compromised surveillance view accepted.

A further problem with such video surveillance systems is that they do not allow for instant replay of the recorded action by the dealer. The dealer is thus, to an extent reliant on colleagues in the central monitoring station with whom he may not have a direct communication link. This can make it more difficult for the dealer to quickly resolve player disputes.

The Applicants have now found that the above-described problems may be overcome if the surveillance system is made an integral part of the gaming table and an instant playback facility is provided. The instant playback facility may be configure to allow for automatic recording of a gaming event and for instant playback after the outcome of the gaming event is known. Generally, the integral surveillance system is configured to electronically store (e. g. in the hard-disk of a computer at the table) a recording of the most recent one to two gaming events.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming table comprising a playing area; a betting area; and a management area. The table further comprises a digital camera capable of communicating with a recorder for recording digital images and a screen for playback of digitally recorded images.

An audio microphone may also be provided to the gaming table, wherein the microphone communicates with an audio recorder for recording audio signals. The table is thus, also provided with speakers for audio playback. In a preferred aspect, the microphone is integral with the digital camera and the recorder is capable of recording both digital images and audio signals.

In one aspect, the recorder is physically connected to the digital camera, for example by a cable connection. In a preferred aspect, the gaming table comprises both the recorder and camera wherein preferably, the recorder comprises the harddisk of a computer located at the table.

The computer can also be programmed to allow for management of the camera record features (e. g. start record time) by the dealer. For example, the dealer may input instructions to the computer by way of a keyboard connected to the computer.

In another aspect, the recorder is remote from the digital camera. For example, the recorder may be in a central recording station and the camera and recorder communicate by some sort of remote link (e. g. a satellite link).

Preferably, the camera is set up to both continually communicate with a first recorder located at a central recording station and to communicate with a second recorder located at the table. The second recorder is arranged to provide instant playback of digitally recorded images.

Preferably, the digital camera is arranged to record a view of the playing area and the betting area. The camera is thus, able to record all possible player actions and potential frauds.

In one aspect, the gaming table further comprises a start record trigger for triggering start of recording and an end record trigger for triggering end of recording. The term trigger is used in a general sense and would include mechanical triggers and any triggers responsive to suitable sensors such as optical, movement and heat sensors.

Preferably, the start record trigger and end record trigger are responsive to first and second pre-set actions in the playing area. The term actions is used in a general sense and may for example, include any movements of playing apparatus in the playing area or movements (e. g. hand movements) of the dealer in the playing area.

Preferably, the gaming table is a roulette table and the playing area comprises a roulette wheel. The wheel is shaped for receipt of a ball. The start record trigger is responsive to the movement of said wheel and the end record trigger is responsive to receipt of the ball by a numbered position on the wheel.

Preferably, the gaming table further comprises a start playback trigger for triggering start of playback of digitally recorded images. More preferably, the triggering of said start playback trigger is coupled to the triggering of the end record trigger, thereby providing for instant playback of digitally recorded images.

There is also provided a system for monitoring a gaming table comprising a playing area; a betting area; and a management area, said system comprising (i) integral with said table, a digital camera; (ii) in communication with said digital camera, a recorder for recording digital images ; and (iii) in communication with said recorder, a screen for playback of digitally recorded images.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a plan view of a gaming table in accordance with the invention.

Detailed description of the drawings Figure 1 shows a roulette table in accord with the present invention. In the playing area, the table has a spinnable roulette wheel 10 of the type commonly known in the art. In the betting area of the table there is provided a betting grid 20 providing various betting options (such as individual numbers, red or biack etc.). Each player sits or stands at a playing station 30 and places bets by positioning gaming chips (not shown) at selected positions on the betting grid 20. A protective wall 40 is provided around the betting area. In the management area of the table there is provided a system 50 for the sorting of gaming chips and a chip racking system 52.

The dealer will sit or stand in a position which gives ease of access to the management area, betting area and playing area.

Adjacent to the roulette wheel 10 there is provided housing 60 and therein a digital camera 70 and a LCD monitor screen 80. The digital camera 70 communicates with a remotely positioned recorder (not shown) for recording digital images. The screen 80 also communicates with the recorder to enable the playback of digital recorded images to the dealer and piayers. There is also provided a keyboard 90 by means of which the dealer may call up other information to the playback screen 80.

In a typical gaming sequence, the dealer will spin the roulette wheel 10, introduce the ball and ask for the placement of bets. The screen 80 may also be set up to display a message to'place your bets please'. The spinning of the wheel 10 triggers the operation of the digital camera 70 which records the spin and all visible actions of the players. As the wheel 10 spins the players place bets by positioning gaming chips on the betting grid 20. A sensor (not shown) on the wheel 10 detects the speed of rotation thereof. Once a slow speed threshold has been reached a second message is sent to the screen 80 requesting'no more bets please'. The dealer verbally repeats this request.

As the wheel 10 slows the ball falls into one of the numbered and coloured ball receipt positions which corresponds to the winning number and colour. The winning number and colour are called out by the dealer and displayed on the screen 80. The receipt of the ball by the winning position also activates a second sensor (not shown) which triggers the end of the digital recording operation and instant playback of the spin and player actions during the spin on the screen 80.

It will be appreciated that further features may be incorporated in the gaming table herein. In particular, all elements of the table may be monitor by a management information system which collects information about the events occurring at the table. The system may for example, be arranged to request the dealer at regular intervals to input information (e. g. the remaining cash chip float) into the system.

In a casino with many tables, all the information gathered about each particular table might be fed into a networked casino information management system thereby enabling a picture of the casino performance as a whole to be built up. The comparative performance of each table and/or player may in this way also be monitored and any unusual, possibly fraudulent, performance patterns identified.

For added security, a coded swipe card system may be employed such that a dealer must swipe in and out on commencement and cessation of their time of duty at the table. The time spent at the table and various information collecte during the gaming events may be used to monitor dealer performance and table performance.

A bet calculator may be incorporated in the table to assist the dealer in the calculation of bets. The key calculation details may be displayed on the screen and details of all wins stored in the management information system.

The table may be arranged to enable the carrying out of foreign currency cash exchange and/or chip purchase transaction. This saves the player having to go to a separate currency exchange or chip purchase counter.

Claims

Claims 1. A gaming table comprising a playing area; a betting area; and a management area wherein said table further comprises a digital camera capable of communicating with a recorder for recording digital images; and a screen for playback of digitally recorded images.
2. A gaming table according to claim 1, wherein said recorder is physically connected to said digital camera.
3. A gaming table according to claim 2, wherein said gaming table further comprises a computer and the recorder comprises the hard-disk of said computer.
4. A gaming table according to claim 1, wherein said recorder is remote from the digital camera.
5. A gaming table according to claim 1, wherein the camera communicates with a first recorder located at a central recording station and a second recorder located at the table.
6. A gaming table according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the digital camera is arranged to record a view of said playing area and said betting area.
7. A gaming table according to any of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a start record trigger for triggering start of recording and an end record trigger for triggering end of recording.
8. A gaming table according to any of claim 7, wherein said start record trigger and end record trigger are responsive to first and second pre-set actions in the playing area.
9. A gaming table according to claim 8, wherein the playing area comprises a roulette wheel for receipt of a ball and wherein the start record trigger is responsive to the movement of said wheel and the end record trigger is responsive to receipt of the ball by a numbered position on the wheel.
10. A gaming table according to any of claims 7 to 9, further comprising a start playback trigger for triggering start of playback of digitally recorded images.
11. A gaming table according to claim 10, wherein the triggering of said start playback trigger is coupled to the triggering of the end record trigger, thereby providing for instant playback of digitally recorded images.
12. A gaming table essentially as described in the accompanying text and drawings.
13. A system for monitoring a gaming table comprising a playing area; a betting area ; and a management area, said system comprising (i) integral with said table, a digital camera; (ii) in communication with said digital camera, a recorder for recording digital images; and (iii) in communication with said recorder, a screen for playback of digitally recorded images.
14. Use of the system of claim 13, for monitoring a gaming table.