Intelligent baccarat shoe

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/915,914 filed Aug. 10, 2004 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,264,241, which is in turn a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/622,321, filed Jul. 17, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,029,009. This application is also a continuation-in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/880,408, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/880,410, both filed Jun. 28, 2004.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of gaming, the field of casino table card gaming, the play of baccarat at a casino card table, and the use of equipment with processing capability in the play of baccarat.

[0004] 2. Background of the Art

[0005] Cards are ordinarily provided to players in casino table card games either directly from a deck held in the dealer's hands or with cards removed by the dealer from a dealing shoe or a continuous shuffler with an integrally formed shoe. The original dealing shoes were little more than trays that supported the deck(s) of cards in a tray and allowed the dealer to remove the front card (with its back facing the table to hide the rank of the card) and deliver it to a player. Over the years, both stylistic and functional changes have been made to dealing shoes, which have been used for blackjack, poker, baccarat and other casino table card games.

[0006] U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,585,586; 6,582,302; and 6,293,864 (ROMERO) describe a gaming assembly to play a variation of the game baccarat, the gaming assembly including a computer processor assembly, a display assembly and at least one user actuatable selector assembly. The computer processor assembly is structured to generate a player's hand and a banker's hand in accordance with rules of baccarat, one of those hands being designated the user's hand. Further, the computer processor assembly is structured to determine a winning hand in accordance with the rules of baccarat, designating the user as a winner if the user's hand is also the winning hand. Additionally, the computer processor assembly is structured to monitor consecutive ones of the user's hands and to indicate a bonus payout to the user in the event that consecutive ones of the user's hands have a final number count equal to a natural nine.

[0007] The Romero patents describe the use of computers to determine at least bonus results and to record continuing results. The specification specifically states: “Additionally, in yet another embodiment of the present invention, an automated gaming assembly is provided so as to make the game of baccarat and preferably the above-recited variant, more accessible to the gaming public. To this end, the baccarat gaming assembly may include a computer processor assembly, a display assembly, and user actuatable selector assembly. In particular, the display assembly allows the user to readily see the progress of the game in a manner simulating a conventional game, while the actuatable selector assembly allows the user to make any necessary decisions.”

[0008] “Looking to the computer processor assembly, it is structured to generate a player's hand and a banker's hand in accordance with rules of baccarat. Moreover, the computer processor assembly is also preferably structured to permit the user to elect whether their user hand is the player's hand or the banker's hand. As a result, the user may play hunches and the like to decide which hand to play. Once the hands have been designated accordingly, the computer processor assembly is further structured to add cards to the player hand and the banker hand in accordance with the conventional rules of the card game baccarat, ultimately identifying one of the hands as a winning hand. Naturally, if the winning hand is the user hand, the user is designated a winner and a corresponding payout is made. So as to further enhance the playing experience, however, the computer processor assembly is further preferably structured to keep track of consecutive ones of the user's hands, and to indicate a bonus payout to be paid to the user if a predetermined number count of nine occurs in at least two consecutive ones of the user's hands.” Sensors are present above the table (not in a reading shoe) to determine the value of cards and hands.”

[0009] “The camera assembly 32 and the display assembly 38 are electrically interconnected to one another as well as to an optical scanner 52 as schematically represented in FIG. 4. As set forth above, the optical scanner 52 is connected to both the camera assembly 32 and the display assembly 38 and is specifically structured and/or programmed, with the provision of a processor 54, to optically scan and/or electronically read the number count of at least one but preferably the total number count of the number of cards located in the card positioning section 26 of the specific player area 14 determined as being the banker. The electronic reading or optical scanning by the optical scanner 52 occurs by virtue of its connection to the one or more cameras of the cameras assembly 32 viewing the cards located at the card positioning section 26. Once the optical scanner 52 determines that the total number count of at least one or preferably two consecutive banker's hand is equal to a predetermined number count, the display portion 42 will begin to continuously register and display the number of consecutive hands. Once the consecutive number of hands is discontinued, the optical scanner will immediately determine such discontinuance, and the designated number 48 will revert back to zero or will go blank, as programmed, after indicating a plus payout is to be made.”

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,959 (PFEIFFER) describes a card handling apparatus having a card hopper adapted to hold from one to at least 104 cards, a card carousel having slots for holding cards, an injector for sequentially loading cards from the hopper into the carousel, output ports, ejectors for delivering cards from the carousel to any one of the output ports, and a control board and sensors, all housed in a housing. The apparatus is capable of communicating with selectors that are adjustable for making card selections. The injector has three rollers driven by a motor via a worm gear. A spring loaded lever keeps cards in the hopper pressed against the first roller. The ejectors are pivotally mounted to the base of the housing beneath the carousel and comprise a roller driven by a motor via gears and a centripetal clutch. A control board keeps track of the identity of cards in each slot, card selections, and the carousel position. Cards may be ordinary playing cards or other cards with bar codes added for card identification by the apparatus.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,743 (NICOLETTI) describes the use of a mechanical card dispensing means to advance cards at least part way out of the shoe. The described invention is for a dispenser for playing cards comprising: a shoe adapted to contain a plurality of stacked playing cards, the playing cards including a leading card and a trailing card; the shoe including a back wall, first and second side walls, a front wall, a base, and an inclined floor extending from the back wall to proximate the front wall and adapted to support the playing cards; the floor being inclined downwardly from the back wall to the front wall; the front wall having an opening and otherwise being adapted to conceal the leading card; and the front wall, side walls, base and floor enclosing a slot positioned adjacent the floor, the slot being sized to permit a playing card to pass through the slot; card advances means contacting the trailing card and adapted to urge the stacked cards down the inclined floor; card dispensing means positioned proximate the front wall and adapted to dispense a single card at a time, the card dispensing means including leading card contact means adapted for rotation about an axis parallel to the leading card, whereby rotation of the leading card contact means displaces the leading card relative to the card stack and into a predetermined position extending out of the shoe from the slot; and an endless belt located in the opening in the front wall for rotating the leading card contact means, the endless belt having an exterior surface securely engaging the leading card contact means and being adapted to be displaced by an operator.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,039 (MILLER) describes a device for speeding the pace of a game of blackjack. The device is comprised of a housing having a top surface. A card reader for reading at least a portion of a playing card is located within the housing. An indicator cooperating with the card reader is provided to inform the dealer if his down card is of a desired value. There is also disclosed herein a method for increasing the speed of play in an organized game of blackjack. This device is little more than a table mounted “no peek” system enabling reading of single cards to determine if a blackjack occurs to a dealer during a game of Twenty-One. It indicates the presence of an ace or ten as the hole card in the dealers Blackjack hand.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,779,546 (MEISSNER) describes a method and apparatus to enable a game to be played based upon a plurality of cards. An automated dealing shoe dispenses each of the cards and recognizes each of the cards as each of the cards is dispensed. Player stations are also included. Each player station enables a player to enter a bet, request that a card be dispensed or not dispensed, and to convert each bet into a win or a loss based upon the cards that are dispensed by the automated dealing shoe. This patent discloses card readers for the play of Blackjack. No mention is made of baccarat or specifically how read data of card rank is used in determining Wins/Losses.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,122 (ROBLEJO) relates to an apparatus for randomizing and verifying sets of playing cards. Also, the invention relates to a process of providing such an apparatus; feeding to the apparatus one or more cards either after they have been played in a game or from an unrandomized or unverified set of cards; and manually retrieving a verified true set of cards from the apparatus. Also, the invention relates to a process of playing in a casino setting or simulated casino setting, a card game comprising providing such an apparatus, feeding unverified sets of playing cards to the apparatus, and recovering verified true sets of cards from the apparatus.

[0015] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,605,334; 6,093,103 and 6,117,012 (McCREA) disclose apparatus for use in a security system for card games. There is some disclosure relevant to smart delivery elements in shuffling equipment. There is a description, for example of a secure game table system for monitoring each hand in a progressive live card game, said progressive live card game having at least one deck, said at least one deck having a predetermined number of cards, said secure game table system having players at a plurality of player positions and a dealer at a dealer position, said secure game table system comprising: a shoe for holding each card from said at least one deck before being dealt by said dealer in said hand, said shoe having a detector for reading at least the value and the suit of said each card, said detector issuing a signal corresponding at least to said value and suit for said each card, game bet sensor located near each of said plurality of player positions for sensing the presence of a game bet, when the presence of said game bet is sensed, said game bet sensor issuing a signal corresponding to said presence, a progressive bet sensor located near each of said plurality of player positions for sensing the presence of a progressive bet, when said progressive bet is sensed, said progressive bet sensor issuing a signal corresponding to said presence, a card sensor located near each of said plurality of player positions and said dealer position, said card sensor issuing a signal when a card in said hand is received at said card sensor, a game control, said game control having a memory, said game control receptive of said game bet signals from said game bet sensor at each of said plurality of player positions for storing in memory which player positions have in place a game bet, said game control receptive of said value and suit signals from said detector in said shoe for storing in said memory at least the value and suit of each card dealt from said shoe in said hand, said game control receptive of said card received signals from said card sensor at each of said plurality of player positions and said dealer position for correlating in said memory each card dealt from said shoe in game sequence to each card received at a player position having a game bet sensed, said game control receptive of said progressive bet signals from said progressive bet sensor at each of said player positions for storing in said memory which player positions have in place a progressive bet.

[0016] The patents disclose the use of the read card sensors for purposes such as “a card sensor located near each player position and the dealer position issues a signal for each card received. The game control receives these signals and correlates those player positions having placed a game and/or progressive bet with the received cards. The game control at each table has stored in memory the winning combinations necessary to win the progressive jackpots. Since the game control accurately stores the suit and value of each card received at a particular player position, the game control can automatically detect a winning progressive combination and issue an award signal for that player position.”

[0017] U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,632 (ALBRECHT) describes an apparatus and method for sorting cards into a predetermined sequence. One embodiment provides a deck holding area in which cards are held for presenting a card to a reading head for reading the characters on the face of the card. The apparatus also has a tray having a sequence of slots and a card moving mechanism for moving the presented card from the deck holding area into one of the slots. The tray is connected to a tray positioning mechanism for selectively positioning the tray to receive a card in one of the slots from the card moving mechanism. A controller is connected to the read head, the card moving mechanism, and the tray positioning mechanism. The controller controls the reading of each of the cards by the read head and identifies the value of each card read, and also controls the card moving mechanism to move each of the cards to a slot of the tray positioned by the tray positioning mechanism according to the predetermined sequence of values. The method for sorting includes the step of providing a tray having a sequence of slots, determining a predetermined sequence of values for the cards, and reading the face of a card to determine the value of the card. The method further includes moving the read card into one of the slots of the tray. The position of the slot into which the read card is moved corresponds to the position of the value in the predetermined sequence.

[0018] U.S. Pat. No. 6,267,648 (JOHNSON) describes a collation and/or sorting apparatus for playing cards. The apparatus comprises a sensor (15) to identify articles for collation and/or sorting, feeding means to feed cards from a stack (11) past the sensor (15) to a delivery means (14) adapted to deliver cards individually to a preselected one of a storing means (24) in an indexable magazine (20). A microprocessor (16) coupled to the feed means (14), delivery means (18), sensor (15) and magazine (20) determines according to a preprogrammed routine whether cards identified by sensor (15) are collated in the magazine (20) as an ordered deck of cards or a randomly ordered or “shuffled” deck.

[0019] U.S. Pat. No. 6,403,908 (STARDUST) describes an automated method and apparatus for sequencing and/or inspecting decks of playing cards. The method and apparatus utilizes pattern recognition technology or other image comparison technology to compare one or more images of a card with memory containing known good images of a complete deck of playing cards to identify each card as it passes through the apparatus. Once the card is identified, it is temporarily stored in a location corresponding to or identified according to its position in a properly sequenced deck of playing cards. Once a full set of cards has been stored, the cards are released in proper sequence to a completed deck hopper. The method and apparatus also includes an operator interface capable of displaying a magnified version of potential defects or problem areas contained on a card which may then be viewed by the operator on a monitor or screen and either accepted or rejected via operator input. The present invention is also capable of providing an overall wear rating for each deck of playing cards.

[0020] U.S. Pat. No. 6, 217,447 (LOFINK) describes a method and system for generating displays related to the play of Baccarat. Cards dealt to each of the Banker's and Player's hands are identified as by scanning and data signals are generated. The card identification data signals are processed to determine the outcome of the hand. Displays in various formats to be used by bettors are created from the processed identification signals including the cards of the hand played, historical records of outcomes and the like. The display can also show bettors expected outcomes and historical bests. Bettors can refer to the display in making betting decisions.

[0021] “Disposed between the shoe 22 and areas 24, 26 is means for identifying the cards dealt to the Player and Banker hands. These means are embodied as any suitable card scanner 32. Scanner 32 optically scans each card 10 as it is dealt from the shoe 22 and swiped across the scanner 32, face down. When the cards 10 include a bar code (not shown) on their face that designates suit and denomination, the scanner 32 may be a laser scanner adapted to generate signals corresponding to the bar code. Preferably, to avoid the necessity of bar coding cards, the scanner 32 is of the type that optically scans the card face and generates data signals corresponding to the optical characteristics of the face of the card. As but an example, digital camera means can be used to generate data signals, broken in picture elements, i.e. pixels, the signal strength at the locations of the individual pixels collectively corresponding to the actual appearance of the face.”

[0022] U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,819 (GARCZYNSKI) describes a “no peek” module for announcing when a Dealer has blackjack without exposing the face of the Dealer's down-card is disclosed. The module scans a character from the Dealer's face-down standard playing card, compares the result of the scan with a set of references, and identifies the down-card. The module also receives input from the Dealer as to the identity of the Dealer's up-card, and announces whether the Dealer has blackjack or the hand continues. The module is designed to be mounted to a blackjack table such that the surface of the module on which the standard playing card rests while being scanned is in the plane of the surface of the blackjack table, allowing the Dealer to slide the down-card across the table and onto the scanner without lifting, and potentially exposing, the card's face. The module also filters out the noise generated by a casino's heat, dust, cigarette and cigar ashes, and lint from the felt of the blackjack table, during the scanning process. The module further optimizes the scan of the character on the standard playing card by controlling the light intensity emitted by the components of the module used to illuminate the character.

[0023] U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,505 (GARCZYNSKI) describes a dual card scanning module that announces when the symbols of a face-up standard playing card and a face-down standard playing card achieve a desired combination (a blackjack). The module has a scanner system that illuminates and scans at least a portion of a symbol of the face-up standard playing card and at least a portion of a symbol of the face-down standard playing card and stores the results thereof in a first and second array device, respectively. The module also has a guide to assist in receiving and positioning the cards such that the face-up standard playing card is above and aligned with the face-down standard playing card. When in this position, the symbol portions of the face-up and the face-down standard playing cards can be scanned by the array devices to generate respective scanning results. The module compares the scanning results with a memory storing a plurality of references representing respective symbols of the standard playing cards to determine if the cards have achieved the desired combination.

[0024] U.S. Pat. No. 6,582,301; 6,039,650; and 5,722,893 (HILL) describes a dealing shoe that has a card scanner that scans indicia on a playing card as the card moves along and out of a chute by manual direction by the dealer in the normal fashion. The scanner can be one of several different types of devices that will sense each card as it is moved downwardly and out of the shoe. A feed forward neural-network is trained, using error back-propagation to recognize all possible card suits and card values sensed by the scanner. Such a neural-network becomes a part of a scanning system which provides a proper reading of the cards to determine the progress of the play of the game including how the game might suffer if the game players are allowed to count cards using a card count system and perform other acts which would limit the profit margin of the casino. The shoe of the present invention is also provided with additional devices that make it simple and easy to record data relevant to the play of the game. For instance, the shoe has means for accommodating a “customer-tracking-card” or preferred customer card that reads the personal information of a card holder from a magnetic strip on the card and this information travels with the preferred customer from game to game, throughout a casino, which the customer likes to play. An LCD display can also be part of the shoe and this display can be used to enter and retrieve vital player information as deemed necessary or desirable to the customer file opened when the magnetic strip reader reads the preferred customer card with the customer name and account number embedded within the cards magnetic strip. Scanned information is fed to a computer for extensive analysis.

[0025] U.S. Pat. No. 6,126,166 (LORSON) describes a system for monitoring play of a card game between a dealer and one or more players at a playing table, comprising: (a) a card-dispensing shoe comprising one or more active card-recognition sensors positioned to generate signals corresponding to transitions between substantially light background and dark pip areas as standard playing cards are dispensed from the card-dispensing shoe, without generating a bit-mapped image of each dispensed standard playing card; and (b) a signal processing subsystem. The subsystem may be adapted to: receive the transition signals generated by the active card-recognition sensors; determine, in real time and based on the transition signals, playing-card values for the dispensed standard playing cards; and determine, in real time, a current table statistical advantage/disadvantage relative to the players for playing cards remaining in the card-dispensing shoe. The system gathers information on the distribution of cards in the discard shoe from knowledge of the sequence of cards dealt during game play. When signaled, the system determines appropriate sequence, number, and positions of the pre-shuffle plug locations of the cards in the discard shoe. The system transmits the pre-shuffle card plug information to an output device driver assembly that actuates the desired output devices. In one implementation, the system output devices are light-emitting diodes, but any number of electric, acoustic, or mechanical devices could be utilized. The dealer plugs the card segments as directed by the system output devices and signals completion by operating the control switch. The process is repeated until the card segments are properly positioned and then the system transmits an output signal to direct the dealer to shuffle the cards. This pre-shuffle mixing technique significantly reduces the post-shuffle statistical deck variations and improves current pre-shuffle mixing practices which are performed arbitrarily by the dealer and do not ensure adequate and consistent distribution of the card values following the shuffle. During play, the system monitors the cards received by the dealer and actuates an output device any time the dealer's first two cards consist of an ace and any ten-valued card. When the first card received by the dealer is an ace, the passive table mounted sensor delays actuation of the output device until all players have had the opportunity to place an optional blackjack game wager commonly referred to as insurance.

[0026] U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,769 (ORDER) describes a device for professional use in table games of chance with playing cards and gaming chips (jettons), in particular the game of “Black Jack”. An automatically working apparatus is provided which will register and evaluate all phases of the run of the game automatically. This is achieved by a card shoe with an integrated device for recognition of the value of the drawn cards (3′) (optical recognition device and mirroring into a CCD-image converter); photodiodes (52) arranged under the table cloth (51) in order to register separately the casino light passing through each area (53, 54) for placing the gaming chips (41) and areas (55, 56) for placing the playing cards (3) in dependence of the arrangement or movement of the jettons and playing cards on the mentioned areas; a device for automatic recognition of each bet (scanner to register the color of the jettons, or a RFID-system comprising a S/R station and jettons with integrated transponder); an EDP program created in accordance with the gaming rules to evaluate and store all data transmitted from the functional devices to the computer; and a monitor to display the run of the game and players' wins.

[0027] U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,536 (HILL)—Smart Shoes, Inc. describes an optical scanner coupled to the CPU that reads the value of each card dealt to each player's hand(s) and the dealer's hand as each card is dealt to a specific hand, seat or position and converts the game card value of each card dealt from the shoe to the players and the dealer of the game to a card count system value for one or more card count systems programmed into the evaluation software. The CPU records each players decision(s) to hit a hand, and the dealer's decision to hit or take another card when required by the rules of the game, as the hit card is removed from the shoe. The dealer uses one or more of the keyboards and LCD displays carried by the shoe to record each player's decisions(s) to Insure, Surrender, Stand, Double Down, or Split a hand. When the dealer has an Ace or a Ten as an up-card, he/she may use one or more of the keyboards to prompt the computer system's software, since the dealer's second card, or hole-card, which is dealt face down, has been scanned and the game card value thereof has been imported into the computer systems software, to instantly inform the dealer, by means of one or more of the shoes LCDs, if his/her game cards, or hand total, constitutes a two-card “21” or “Blackjack”.

[0028] U.S. Pat. No. 6,460,848 (SOLTYS)—MindPlay LLC U.S. Patent describes a system is described that automatically monitors playing and wagering of a game, including the gaming habits of players and the performance of employees. A card deck reader automatically reads a symbol from each card in a deck of cards before a first one of the cards is removed. The symbol identifies a respective rank and suit of the card. A chip tray reader automatically images the contents of a chip tray, to periodically determine the number and value of chips in the chip tray, and to compare the change in contents of the chip tray to the outcome of game play for verifying that the proper amounts have been paid out and collected. A table monitor automatically images the activity occurring at a gaming table. Periodic comparison of the images identify wagering, as well as the appearance, removal and position of cards and other game objects on the gaming table. A drop box automatically verifies an amount and authenticity of a deposit and reconciles the deposit with a change in the contents of the chip tray. The drop box employs a variety of lighting and resolutions to image selected portions of the deposited item. The system detects prohibited playing and wagering patterns, and determines the win/loss percentage of the players and the dealer, as well as a number of other statistically relevant measures. The measurements provide automated security and real-time accounting. The measurements also provide a basis for automatically allocating complimentary player benefits. There are numerous other MindPlay LLC, including at this time U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,712,696; 6,688,979; 6,685,568; 6,663,490; 6,652,379; 6,638,161; 6,595,857; 6,579,181; 6,579,180; 6,533,662; 6,533,276; 6,530,837; 6,530,836; 6,527,271; 6,520,857; 6,517,436; and 6,517,435.

[0029] WO 00/51076 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,629,894 (DOLPHIN ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES PTY. LTD.) disclose a card inspection device that includes a first loading area adapted to receive one or more decks of playing cards. A drive roller is located adjacent the loading area and positioned to impinge on a card if a card were present in the loading area. The loading area has an exit through which cards are urged, one at a time, by a feed roller. A transport path extends from the loading area exit to a card accumulation area. The transport path is further defined by two pairs of transport rollers, one roller of each pair above the transport path and one roller of each pair below the transport path. A camera is located between the two pairs of transport rollers, and a processor governs the operation of a digital camera and the rollers. A printer produces a record of the device's operation based on an output of the processor, and a portion of the transport path is illuminated by one or more blue LEDs.

[0030] Each of the references identified in the Background of the Art and the remainder of the specification, including the Related Application Data are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety as part of the enabling disclosure for such elements as apparatus, methods, hardware and software.

[0031] The present invention is a casino table card game playing system for the game of Baccarat, that includes a card-reading delivery shoe, a processor and at least one display screen. The structure of the dealing shoe is unique in that it includes: a) an area for receiving a first set of playing cards useful in the play of the casino table card game of baccarat; b) first card mover that moves playing cards from the first set to a playing card staging area wherein at least one playing card is staged in an order by which playing cards are removed from the first set of and moved to the playing card staging area; c) second playing card mover that moves playing cards from the playing card staging area to a delivery area wherein playing cards removed from the staging area to the delivery shoe are moved in the same order by which playing cards were removed from the first set of playing cards and moved to the playing card staging area; and d) playing card reading sensors that read at least one playing card value of each playing card separately after each playing card has been removed from the area for receiving the first set of playing cards and before removal from the playing card delivery area; wherein there is a communication link between the playing card reading sensors and a processor, which processor analyzes said data according to rules of play of the game of baccarat and determines results of play for a round of play of baccarat based upon said data, the processor being communicatively linked to the display. The display preferably is viewable by players, and provides a visual indication of game outcomes, historical records of player vs. banker wins, and other information of interest to the players.

[0036] Baccarat is one of the many live table games played in casinos or gaming establishments. Baccarat uses a standard deck of 52 playing cards and is usually dealt from a shoe having multiple decks that have been shuffled together prior to the beginning of play.

[0037] The object of the game of Baccarat is for the bettor to successfully wager on whether the Banker hand or the Player hand is going to win, e.g. have a hand count, modulo ten, closest to the target count of 9. The bettor receives even money for his wager if he selects the winning hand and loses his wager if he selects the losing hand. Because of the rules of play of Baccarat and more particularly the pre-established draw rules, the Banker hand has a slightly higher chance of winning than does the Player's hand. Therefore, if the bettor wagers on the Banker hand and the Banker hand wins, the bettor must pay to the gaming establishment a commission (typically, 5%) of the amount the bettor wins. No commission is paid if the bettor successfully wagers on the Player hand.

[0038] As used in this specification, the term “Conventional Manner of Play of Baccarat” is as follows:

[0039] A multiple number of decks of standard playing cards, 52 in number, are used; typically eight decks are shuffled together and placed in a shoe from which the cards are dealt during the play of the game.

[0040] Each bettor makes a wager on whether the Bank's hand or the Player's hand will win. After all wagers are made, two cards are dealt from the shoe to the Bank position and two cards are dealt from the shoe to the Player position on the table layout. The cards are turned face up and the values of the Bank hand and the Player hand are determined, modulo ten.

[0041] Aces count one; Kings, Queens, Jacks and Tens count zero and the other cards count their respective face value. The suits (Spades, Hearts, Diamonds and Clubs) have no meaning in Baccarat.

[0042] The highest hand value in Baccarat is nine. All hand values range from a low of zero to a high of nine. If when the cards are added together, the total of the hand exceeds nine, then the hand value is determined modulo ten. For example, a seven and an eight total fifteen, but the hand value is five. An Ace and a nine total ten, but the hand value is zero.

[0043] A two card total of eight or nine is called a “natural”; a two card total of zero is called a “baccarat.” As will be explained below, in certain situations in the play of the game, a third card will be dealt. The value of this third card is added to the total of the first two cards and a new hand value is established. Again, if the new hand total exceeds nine, the hand value is determined by subtracting ten from the total of the hand.

[0044] Prior to the deal, each bettor can make one of three wagers: 1) that the Bank hand will win; 2) that the Player hand will win; or 3) that the Bank hand and the Player hand will tie. Wagering locations are provided on the Baccarat table layout. Whichever of the Bank hand or the Player hand is closest to a total on nine is the winner.

[0045] All winning Bank hand wagers are paid off at odds of one-to-one and the house charges a five percent (5%) commission on the amount won by the bettor. For example, if a bettor wagers $100 on the Bank hand and the Bank hand wins, the bettor wins $100 and is charged a $5 commission on the amount that the bettor won. The bettor is not charged any commission on the amount of his wager.

[0046] All winning Player hand wagers are paid off at odds of one-to-one and the bettor is not charged any commission on the amount of his winnings or his wager because the house Banker hand, by virtue of the third card draw rules, has a statistical advantage over the Player hand. Winning wagers on the Tie hand bet are paid off at odds of nine-to-one or eight-to-one (depending on the gaming establishment) and the bettor is not charged any commission on the amount of his winnings or his wager since there is already a statistical advantage in favor of the house on tie wagers. If a Tie hand occurs, all wagers on the Bank hand and all wagers on the Player hand are “pushes” and the amount wagered is returned to the bettor.

[0047] Depending on the point total of the Player's hand and the Banker's hand, one more card may be dealt to the Player's hand, the Banker's hand or both. The rules for determining whether a third card is dealt are fixed rules; there is no discretion for either the Player's hand or the Banker's hand on whether a third card is dealt.

[0048] If either the Player hand or the Banker hand has a point total of eight or nine on the first two cards, no third card is dealt to either hand and the hand with the highest point total is the winner (or the hand is a Tie, as the case may be). If neither the Player hand nor the Banker hand has a point total of eight or nine, then there is a possibility of a third card draw.

[0049] The third card draw rules are as follows:

[0050] Rule #1: If the initial two card Player hand has a point total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, the Player hand draws a third card. If the initial two card Player hand has a point total of 6 or 7, the Player hand stands and does not receive a third card.

[0051] Rule #2: If the Player hand stands and does not draw a third card, then the Bank hand follows Rule #1. In other words, if the Player hand has a point total of 6 or 7, the Bank hand draws a third card on a point total of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 and the Bank hand stands on a point total of 6 or 7.

[0052] Rule #3: If the Player hand draws a third card, the Bank hand must draw or stand as follows:

[0053]

	Bank hand DRAWS	Bank hand STANDS
Bank hand	when the Player's	when the Player's
two card	point total hand third card is:	hand third card is:
0, 1 or 2	Bank always draws
3	0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8
4	2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7	0, 1, 8 or 9
5	4, 5, 6 or 7	0, 1, 2, 3, 8 or 9
6	6 or 7	0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 or 9
7	Bank always stands

[0054] The draw rules for Conventional baccarat are summarized below.

[0055]

BACCARAT
- - - RULES - - -
(Note: 10s the same as 0)
PLAYER
	HAVING TWO
	CARD TOTAL OF
	1-2-3-4-5-10	DRAWS A CARD
	6-7	STANDS
	8-9	TURNS CARDS OVER
	BANKER
	DOES NOT
HAVING	DRAW WHEN	DRAW WHEN
TWO CARD	PLAYER'S THIRD	PLAYER'S THIRD
TOTAL OF	CARD DRAW IS AN	CARD DRAW IS AN
0, 1, 2	ALWAYS DRAWS
3	1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-10, none	8
4	2-3-4-5-6-7, none	1-8-9-10
5	4-5-6-7, none	1-2-3-8-9-10
6	6-7	1-2-3-4-5-8-9-10, none
7		STANDS
8-9		TURNS CARDS OVER

[0056] At the end of each hand, winning wagers are paid and losing wagers are collected by the house. Any commission due to the house is marked in commission boxes in the center of the table. Gaming chips are used to represent the amount of money owed by each bettor to the house for the commissions. In order not to slow down the game, the commission is not actually collected from each bettor until the end of the round determined by all of the cards in the shoe being dealt down to the plastic cut card, usually approximately eighty hands.

[0057] The present dealing shoe is implemented specifically for use in the play of Baccarat provides additional functions without greatly increasing the space on the casino table top used by the dealing shoe. The shoe provides cards securely to a delivery area and reads the cards before they are actually nested in the card delivery area. The card reading information is either stored or transferred to a central computer for storage and/or evaluation. The cards are mechanically transferred from a point of entry into the dealing shoe to the card delivery area, with a buffer area in the path where at least some cards are actually held for a period of time. The cards are preferably read before they are delivered into the card delivery area.

[0058] Reference to the Figures will help in an appreciation of the nature and structure of one embodiment of the card delivery shoe of the invention that is within the generic practice of the claims and enables practice of the claims in this application. FIG. 1 shows a card delivery shoe 2 according to the present invention. The card delivery shoe 2 has a card infeed or card input area 4 that is between a belt driving motor 6 and the rear panel 12 of the card delivery shoe 2. The belt driving motor 6 drives a belt 8 that engages pick off rollers 10. These pick off rollers 10 pick off and move individual cards from within the card infeed area 4. A belt driving motor 6 is shown but other motor types such as gear drives, axel drives, magnetic drives and the like may be alternatively used. The pick off rollers 10 drive individual playing cards (not shown) into gap 14 having a deflector plate 15 to direct cards individually through the gap 14 to engage brake rollers 16. The brake rollers 16 control the movement of individual cards past the rear panel 12 and into the card staging area 34.

[0059] The braking rollers 16 are capable of becoming free-turning rollers during a card jam recovery process so that little or no tension is placed on a card as it is being moved by the system or manually to free a jam. A simple gear release or clutch release can effect this function. Speed up rollers 17 apply tension to a card to move it more deeply into the card staging area 34. The speed up rollers can and may turn faster then the braking rollers 16, and the speed up rollers 17 may be driven by a separate motor 19 and belt drive 21. A card path and direction of movement A is shown through the card storage area 34. As individual cards are passed along the card path A through the card storage area 34, there are card presence sensors 18, 20, and 22 located at various intervals and positions to detect the presence of cards to assure passage of cards and/or to detect stalled or jammed cards. The path A through the card storage area 34 is in part defined by speed-up rollers 17 or rear guide rollers 24 and forward guide rollers 26 which follow the brake rollers 16 and the speed up rollers 17. One form of a buffer area 48 is established by the storing of cards along card path A. As cards are withdrawn from the delivery end 36 of the delivery shoe 2, additional cards are fed from the buffer area 48 into the card feed chute 46 into the delivery end 36.

[0060] It is always possible for cards to jam, misalign or stick during internal movement of cards through the dealing shoe. There are a number of mechanisms that can be used to effect jam recovery. The jam recovery may be based upon an identified (sensed) position of jam or may be an automated sequence of events. Where a card jam recovery is specifically identified by the sensed position of a jammed card in the device (and even the number of cards jammed may be estimated by the dimensions of the sensed image), a jam recovery procedure may be initiated at that specific location. A specific location in FIG. 1 within the dealing shoe (e.g., between and inclusive of rollers 16 and 17 will be discussed from an exemplary perspective, but the discussion relates to all other positions within the device.

[0061] If a card is sensed (e.g., by sensors 18 and/or 20) as jammed between rollers 16 and 17 (e.g., a jam occurs when cards will not move out of the position between the rollers and cards refuse to be fed into that area), one of a various number of procedures may be initiated to recover or remove the jam.

[0062] Among the various procedures that are discussed by way of non-limiting examples include at least the following. The rear-most set of rollers (16 and 16a) may reverse direction (e.g., 16 begins to turn clockwise and 16a begins to turn counterclockwise) to remove the jammed card from between the rollers (16 and 16a) and have the card extend backwards into the space 14, without attempting to reinsert a card into the stacking area 4. The reversed rotation may be limited to assure that the card remains in contact with the rollers 16 and 16a, so that the card can be moved back into progression through the dealing shoe. An optional part of this reversal can include allowing rollers 17 and 17a to become free rolling to release contact and tension on the card during the reversal. The reversed rotation may be smoothly run or episodic, attempting to jerk a jammed card from its jam position. If that procedure does not work or as an alternative procedure, both sets of rollers 16 and 17 may reverse at the same time or in either sequence (e.g., 16 first or 17 first) to attempt to free the jam of a card.

[0063] When one set of rollers only is turning, it is likely to be desirable to have the other set of rollers in the area of the jam to become free rolling. It is also possible to have the rollers automatically spaced further apart (e.g., by separating roller pairs to increase the gap in the potential nip between rollers) to relieve tension on a card and to facilitate its recovery from a jam. The adjacent pairs of rollers (e.g., 16, 16a and 17, 17a) can act in coordination, in sequence, in tandem, in order, independently or in any predefined manner. For example, referring to the roller sets as 16 and 17, the recovery process may have the rollers act as a) (16-17) at the same time in the same direction), b) (16-17) at the same time in the opposite directions to assist in straightening out cards, c) (16 then 17) to have the rollers work sequentially, d) (17 then 16) to have the rollers work in a different sequence, e) 16 only for an extended time, and then 17 operating alone or together with 16, f) 17 only for an extended time or extended number of individual attempts and then 16 for a prescribed time, etc. As noted earlier, a non-active roller (one that is not attempting to drive or align cards) may become free-rolling during operation of another roller.

[0064] These various programs may be performed at a single jam location in series or only a single program for jam recovery may be effected. In addition, as the card may have been read at the point of the jam or before the jam, the rank and value of the card jammed may be identified and this can be displayed on the display panel on the dealing shoe, on the central computer or on a shuffler connected to the dealing shoe, and the dealer or pit boss may examine that specific card to make certain that no markings or damage has occurred on that card which could either cause further problems with the dealing shoe or shuffler or could enable the card to be identified when it is in the dealing position in the shoe at a later time. The pit crew can then correct any problem by replacement of that specific card, which would minimize down time at the card table. Also, if a jam cannot be recovered, the delivery shoe would indicate a jam recovery failure (e.g., by a special light or alphanumeric display) and the pit crew would open the device and remove the jam manually.

[0065] Electronic Cut Card—This is a feature provided by software in the programming of the system. This is not a physical card that is in the shoe. Instead, the software program generates an “electronic cut card position” that acts like a real cut card when delivering cards. After the cut card is performed electronically and the position of the card cut determined in the real card deck, the playing cards are dealt until the card cut position (a positioned determined as after a card, between cards, before cards, or at a specific card acting as the cut card) is reached. When that electronic card cut position is reached, the shoe will provide either a visual indication or an audible signal to tell the dealer to finish delivering cards to the round and then stop dealing. The position of the cut can be generated randomly by a random number generator, with parameters selected (such as greater than 0.5 of all cards present and fewer than 0.75 of all cards present) or at a fixed value, for example, of about 2 cards for each 52 card deck present in the shoe. The system of the present invention can also verify a deck of cards. Once the cut card has come up, the dealer can remove the remaining cards individually, allowing each card to be scanned. The processor can perform a card check function where all cards removed from the shoe are scanned in the usual way and the rank and suit are compared to stored values and any deviations from the reference values are reported in the form of a report. The report can be displayed or printed.

[0066] Stop Card Delivery state—This is also an optional feature. It can be disabled during initial configuration. The Baccarat Shoe stops delivering whenever certain security comprising events occur in the use of the shoe. By way of non-limiting example, events such as when the back door of the shoe is open, an inaccurate card count occurs, excess cards are found, a deficiency of cards is found, or there is a misdeal can initiate a Stop Card Delivery State automatically in the Baccarat Shoe. During this delay, a sound alert and/or visual alert may triggered. The dealer or user must either press the continue button or swipe an authorization card or do both to continue or to restart the baccarat shoe.

[0067] In the case of door opening: There may be a security device such as a small magnetically sensitive electric sensor on the shoe located proximal to or near the door that senses when the door is open. Other security systems like a programmable key may also be used to access the door. This sensor is communicatively connected to the microprocessor that is inside of the shoe and sends a “door open” signal (e.g., a status signal) to an external processor, such as a game table processor, pit processor, central processor or an external Mini PC. When the processor (such as the external Mini PC) receives this signal, it commands the shoe to stop delivering cards until it receives a “continue” command.

[0068] In the case of a misdeal: The system is able to detect misdeals from a number of different events that are sensed, measured or detected in the operation of Baccarat Shoe. When the processor, such as the Mini PC, receives the “misdeal” signal, the processor commands the shoe to stop dealing, or if the Shoe responds to a status signal, upon receipt of this status signal, the Shoe will self-initiate a Stop Deal event. The Baccarat Shoe may require the same restart method as described above for the door opening event to continue dealing. When the Baccarat Shoe stops dealing cards for any of these reasons, all of the data that has been generated at that time will remain in the memory. The Stop Deal event is not a “reset” type of event, but rather is an “interrupt” or delay event, where all information and status remains current and collective.

[0069] Supervisor Swipe Card—This is an optional feature that can be disabled or enabled during initial configuration. When the shoe is in the “stop card delivery routine” or stop deal routine, a special card is required to swipe through the system in order to continue delivering cards. This card contains information that is needed to trigger the processor such as the Mini PC to send a “continue to deal” signal to the shoe, and it may be similar apparatus to that used by a dealer ID module that is used in intelligent table systems, and provide information by magnetic, optical, bar code, or other readable information fed into the module, scanner or reader. The information is sent to the processor, such as the external Mini PC, which processor provides a signal or command that triggers the shoe to continue dealing. Usually, only casino supervisors have access to the swipe card for security purposes.

[0070] A light indication feature—Previously, there were three colors that had been used by Applicants to indicate the game results. Those colors were yellow, green and red. Because the color red is considered to be unlucky in some cultures, the present invention provides a choice of colors of the lights. This option allows users (casinos) to select different colors on site (when configuring the shoe for local casinos) to indicate Banker Win, Player Win and Tie. The available colors are at least red, blue, green, yellow and orange. In general, the shoe is configurable so that it is easy to add different features to fit different specifications, which offer more flexibility to customers.

[0071] Individual playing cards (not shown) may be read at one or more various locations within the card delivery shoe 2. The ability to provide multiple read locations assures performance of the shoe, while other card delivery trays with read capability usually had a single reading position at the point where and when cards were removed from the shoe for delivery to players. For example, in the construction shown in FIG. 1, the card presence sensors 18, 20 and 22 may also have card reading capabilities, and other card reading sensors may be present as elements 32, 40 and 42. Element 38 may be optionally present as another sensing element or a card value (and possibly suit) reading element without the presence of sensor 22 or in combination with sensor 22. When the sensor 38 functions as a card reading element, it should read the cards as they are positioned into the car pre-delivery area or card buffer area 37, rather then as the cards are removed from the card delivery end 36. Information may be read by the card reading sensor 38 by either continuous reading of all image data in the card pre-delivery area or by triggered on-off imaging of data in a specific region of cards 39 as a card 41 is within the pre-delivery area 37. For example, card presence sensor 22 may activate sensor 38. This sensor is preferably a camera, but could be any radiation sensing device such as a photocopy machine scanner. A light source (not shown) may be provided to enhance the signal to the sensor 38. That specific region of cards is preferably a corner of the card 41 wherein complete value information (and possibly suit information) is readable on the card, such as a corner with value and suit ranging symbols on the card. That region could also be the entire face of the card, or at least ½ of the card (lengthwise divided). By increasing the area of the region read more processing and memory is required, but accuracy is also increased. Accuracy could also be increased, by reading the upper right hand corner of the card and lower left hand corner, since both of those locations contain the rank and suit of the card. By reading two locations on the card, defects or dirt on the card can be circumvented. By using on-off or single shot imaging of each card 41, the data flow from the sensor/card reading element 38 is reduced and the need for larger memory and data transmission capability is reduced in the system.

[0072] Information may be transferred from the card reading elements (e.g., 32) from a communication port or wire 44 shown for sensor/reading element 32. Cards may be buffered or staged at various points within the dealing shoe 2, such as where restrained by rollers 26 so that cards partially extend towards the chute 46 past the rollers 28 on plate 43, or staged between rollers 24 and 26, between rollers 17 and 24, between rollers 16 and 17 and the like. Cards may partially overlap in buffering as long as two or more cards are not present between a single set of nip rollers (e.g., 26 and 27) where nip forces may drive both cards forward at the same time.

[0073] Other variations are available and within the skill of the artisan. For example, rear panel 12 may have a display panel thereon for displaying information or data, particularly to the dealer (which information would be shielded from players as the rear panel 12 would primarily face the dealer and be shielded from players' view. A more ergonomic and aesthetic rear surface 50 is shown having a display 52 that is capable of providing alphanumerics (letters and numbers) or analog or digital images of shapes and figures in black-and-white or in color. For example, the display may give messages as to the state of the shoe, time to number of cards dealt, the number of deals left before a cut card or virtual cut card is reached (e.g., the dealing shoe identifies that eight decks are present, makes a virtual cut at 250 cards, and based on data input of the number of players at the table, identifies when the next deal will be the last deal with the cards in the shoe), identify any problems with the shoe (e.g., low power, card jam, where a card is jammed, misalignment of cards by rollers, and failed element such as a sensor), player hands, card rank/suit dispensed, and the like. Also on the rear surface 50 are two lights 54 and 56, which are used to show that the shoe is ready for dealing (e.g., 54 is a green light) or that there is a problem with the dealing capability of the shoe (e.g., 56 is a red light). The memory board 58 for the card reading sensor 38 is shown with its information outlet 44 shown.

[0074] The display panel may be any panel that can conveniently provide alphanumeric data on it, and the screen display can be configured or tailored by the user with software that is provided in the processor. By way of a non-limiting example, the reader board of the present invention is presently provided as a 19 or 21 inch (diagonally measured) plasma screen (although CRT, LED, semiconductor, Liquid Crystal or other display would be satisfactory) that is connected to the external Mini PC of the smart shoe via an analog or digital video port. It is placed next to the game table where players can easily see the history of the game, or alternately may be positioned for view by management only. The technology of the Smart Baccarat Shoe disclosed herein and in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/915,914, filed Aug. 10, 2004, uses an external PC. The system has the capability of determining hand composition and the outcome of each round as or even before the hand is played. The card-reading Baccarat Shoe generates a log or record that contains critical information such as player's hand, banker's hand, and the game outcomes (player, banker and tie hands), and the history of such records. This information may be sent out from the Mini PC and been displayed on the plasma screen. Even though it is possible to display the game result in real time (as soon as the cards are removed from the shoe, it is often desirable to allow the players to sweat the hands (looking for the values slowly) to keep the mysterious atmosphere of the game, and the information may then be displayed with a time delay. The amount of the delay time is variable upon user's requests that can be input into the processor. A control screen with touch screen, mouse, panel, keyboard or other input can be provided to set the amount of delay, and whether or not there will be a delay. The control panel (which can be displayed on the display screen to enhance user friendliness) can accept input for stylizing the display, adjusting the content of the information (e.g., show card suits or display card values only), provide instructions to the dealer on required or disallowed activity, show a record of the hand activity (e.g., percentages of Player Hand Wins, Banker Hand Wins, Ties, ongoing streaks of hand wins, specific time history of hand round history, etc.)

[0075] The display panel may also provide dealer action or player action signals with an option for highlighting the actions on the display screen. For example, because the rules of play of baccarat are so rigid and there is not optional play in the delivery of the cards, the rules can be programmed into the processor with certainty based upon the cards provided to the player and the banker and the corresponding information received by the processor. When the initial two banker cards and initial two player cards have been dealt and the revealed upon the display screen, the processor program will identify the next steps to be taken in the game. If the player is to receive a card according to the rules, the player's hand may be highlighted on the screen (e.g., flashing numbers, specific coloration of the words “PLAYER” or “PLAYER'S HAND,” audio information such as “Deal to Player!” or other audible or visible indications on the screen and any associated speakers) or the banker's hand highlighted on the screen. There may be a small delay on changes in the screen to allow the players to assess events, such as when the Player's hand is revealed and either a hit is required, no hit is allowed (because of a player's or banker's natural hand), and/or the banker must take a hit. The delays are added to provide a period of appreciation for the play of the game rather than processing hands so rapidly the system would operate as does a video gaming device during tournament play, with rapid turnover of the games, but no individual game appreciation.

[0076] Written (alphanumeric) descriptions of events may also be provided on the screen. For example, the words “PLAYER NATURAL,” “BANKER NATURAL” or just “NATURAL” with the winning or fixed hand may be provided on the display screen “TIE” or “DRAW” can be displayed, or the winner “PLAYER WIN” or “BANKER WIN” or “TIE” displayed.

[0077] FIG. 4 shows a sample of a simple display screen format. On the left of the screen is shown the recent game tracking of P (player wins), B (banker wins) and T (ties), and their recent sequence and an ongoing percentage analysis. Longer intervals of play may be displayed, and the ongoing history of percentage analysis may be provided for the period of the display or longer (e.g., dealer history, shift history, day history, week history, etc.). The display may be format static during play, or the dealer may easily change the display (semi-permanently or temporarily) at the request of the players at the table. This can provide increased player entertainment and discussion at the table, while enabling the casino to better chart events at the table. It can also provide information that can encourage wagering by providing information which players could believe provide them with a better judge of future events.

[0078] The display may show the hands played and the count of the hands (both the final count and a count during play). The suits may or may not be displayed, as suits are immaterial to normal baccarat play. The system may also be programmed for displays that are compatible with or enhance bonus events, jackpot events, or alternative baccarat rules and features in baccarat-type or baccarat derivative games (such as a Three Card Poker® on the first three displayed cards in the game, a Four Card Poker™ game wager on the dealer's and player's initial four cards, up to a Four Card Poker™ game hand for a total count of up to 6 cards in the play of the game of baccarat (three player cards and three dealer cards). All of the desired information, including poker hand determination and payouts can be displayed on the display screen at the appropriate times. The display or an additional display may be provided that is accessible only to management. This house display could be used to display historical information from the table, player betting history, and the like.

[0079] A lower panel or segment of the panel on a player display screen can provide streaming video for informational or advertising purposes (where FIG. 4 shows “Ticker Display for Advertising.”). Various formats and types of information can be provided, including but not limited to advertising (especially for casino events and facilities), specific player announcements (e.g., Mr. Dunn, “Dinner Reservation at La Maison in 10 Minutes”), sports scores, desk service call to patron, and the like.

[0080] In one embodiment, an extra button is located on the device that acts like a signal control. The game information will not be displayed until the button is been pressed, therefore, the dealer can decide when is the best time to display game result.

[0081] There are significant technical and ergonomic advantages to the present structure of the Baccarat Shoe that is used in conjunction with the display screen and program for information display. By having the card infeed area 4 provide the cards in at least a relatively vertical stack (e.g., with less then a 60° slope of the edges of the cards away from horizontal), length of the delivery shoe 2 is reduced to enable the motor driven delivery and reading capability of the shoe in a moderate space. No other card delivery shoes are known to combine vertical card infeed, horizontal (or approximately horizontal ±40° slope or ±30° slope away from horizontal) card movement from the infeed area to the delivery area, with mechanized delivery between infeed and delivery. The motor drive feed from the vertical infeed also reduces the need for dealers to have to jiggle the card tray to keep cards from jamming, slipping to undesirable angles on the chutes, and otherwise having to manually adjust the infeed cards, which can lead to card spillage or exposure as well as delaying the game.

[0082] FIG. 2 shows an alternate embodiment for internal card buffering and card moving elements of the card delivery tray 100. A card infeed area 102 is provided for cards 104 that sit between walls 111 and 112 on elevator or stationary plate 106 which moves vertically along path B. A pick-off roller 108 drives cards one-at-a-time from the bottom of the stack of cards 104 through opening 110 that is spaced to allow only one card at a time to pass through the hole 110. The individual cards are fed into the nip area 114 of the first speed control or guide rollers 116 and then into the second set of speed control or guide rollers 118. The cards (one-at-a-time) passing through rollers 118 are shown to deflect against plate 120 so that cards deflect upwardly as they pass into opening 122 and will overlay any cards (not shown) in card buffer area 124. A second pick-off roller is shown within the buffer area 124 to drive cards one-at-a-time through opening 128. The individual cards are again deflected by a plate 130 to pass into guide rollers 132 that propels the cards into the delivery area (not shown) similar to the delivery area 36 in FIG. 1. Card reading elements may be positioned at any convenient point within the card delivery element 100 shown in FIG. 2, with card reading elements 134, 136 and 140 shown as exemplary convenient locations.

[0083] FIG. 3 shows a top cutaway view of the dealing shoe 200 of an embodiment of the present invention. A flip up door 202 allows cards to be manually inserted into the card input area 204. The sets of pick-off rollers 208 and 210 are shown in the card input area 204. The position of the sensors 218a and 218b and 220a and 220b are shown outwardly from the sets of five brake rollers 216 and five speed up rollers 217. The sensors are shown in sets of two sensors, which is an optional construction and single sensors may be used. The dual set of sensors (as in 220a and 220b) are provided with the outermost sensor 220b providing simply sensing card presence ability and the inner innermost sensor 220a reads the presence of card to trigger the operation of the camera card reading sensor 238 that reads at least value, and optionally rank, and suit of cards. The sensor 220a alternatively may be a single sensor used as a trigger to time the image sensing or card reading performed by camera 238 as well as sensing the presence of a card. An LED light panel 243 or other light providing system is shown present as a clearly optional feature. A sensor 246 at the card removal end 236 of the shoe 200 is provided. The finger slot 260 is shown at the card delivery area 236 of the shoe 200. The lowest portion 262 of the finger slot 260 is narrower then the top portion 264 of the finger slot. The walls 266 may also be sloped inwardly to the shoe and outwardly towards the opening 260 to provide an ergonomic feature to the finger slot 260.

[0084] The term camera is intended to have its broadest meaning to include any component that accepts radiation (including visible radiation, infrared, ultraviolet, etc.) and provides a signal based on variations of the radiation received. This can be a digital camera or an analog camera with a decoder such as a digitizer, or receiver that converts the received radiation into signals that can be analyzed with respect to image content. The signals may reflect either color or black-and-white information or merely measure shifts in color density and pattern. Area detectors, semiconductor converters, optical fiber transmitters to sensors or the like may be used. Any convenient software may be used that can convert to radiation signals to information that can identify the suit/rank of a card from the received signal. The term camera is not intended to be limited in the underlying nature of its function. Lenses may or may not be needed to focus light, mirrors may or may not be needed to direct light and additional radiation emitters (lights, bulbs, etc.) may or may not be needed to assure sufficient radiation intensity for imaging by the camera.

[0085] There are a number of independent and/or alternative characteristics of the delivery shoe that are believed to be unique in a device that does not shuffle, sort, order or randomize playing cards. 1) Shuffled cards are inserted into the shoe for dealing and are mechanically moved through the shoe but not necessarily mechanically removed from the shoe. 2) The shoe may mechanically feed the cards (one at a time) to a buffer area where one, two or more cards may be stored after removal from a card input area (before or after reading of the cards) and before delivery to a dealer accessible opening from which cards may be manually removed. 3) An intermediate number of cards are positioned in a buffer zone between the input area and the removal area to increase the overall speed of card feeding with rank and/or suit reading and/or scanning to the dealer. 4) Sensors indicate when the dealer accessible card delivery area is empty and cards are automatically fed from the buffer zone (and read then or earlier) one-at-a-time. 5) Cards are fed into the dealer shoe as a vertical stack of face-down cards, mechanically transmitted approximately horizontally, read, and driven into a delivery area where cards can be manually removed. 6) Sensors detect when a card has been moved into a card reading area. Signal sensors can be used to activate the card reading components (e.g., the camera and even associated lights) so that the normal symbols on the card can be accurately read.

[0086] With regard to triggering of the camera, a triggering mechanism can be used to set of the camera shot at an appropriate time when the card face is expected to be in the camera focal area. Such triggers can include one or more of the following, such as optical position sensors within an initial card set receiving area, an optical sensor, a nip pressure sensor (not specifically shown, but which could be within either nip roller (e.g., 16 or 17) and the like. When one of these triggers is activated, the camera is instructed to time its shot to the time when the symbol-containing corner of the card is expected to be positioned within the camera focal area. The card may be moving at this time and does not have to be stopped. The underlying function is to have some triggering in the device that will indicate with a sufficient degree of certainty when the symbol portion of a moving or moved card will be with the camera focal area. A light associated with the camera may also be triggered in tandem with the camera so as to extend the life of the light and reduce energy expenditure in the system.

[0087] Casinos wish to understand the play and wagering traits of their customers. Some casinos have employees visually observe customer's game play, manually tracking the gaming and wagering habits of the particular customers. The information allows the casinos to select the number of different games that the casino will provide and to adequately staff those games. The information also allows the casinos to select certain customers to receive complimentary benefits (“comps”) and to determine the amount of comps a particular customer is to receive. The act of giving comps to a customer produces a large amount of goodwill with the customers, encouraging customer loyalty and further wagering. Some casinos have attempted to partially automate the tracking process, reading a customer “comp” card to identify the customer. The actual gaming and wagering patterns of the customers are visually observed by casino personnel and manually entered into a computer to create a digitized copy of the customer's gaming habits.

[0088] Similarly, casinos wish to track the efficiency of the casino and the casino's employees, as well as track betting and winning tendencies of individual players to avoid card counters or other play strategies that casinos consider to be undesirable. Such information allows the casino to make changes to identified situations and to increase the overall efficiency of the casino and of the employees, benefiting both the casino and customers. A typical method of tracking employee efficiency is to manually count the number of hands of blackjack dealt by a dealer over some time period. A change in an amount in a bank at the gaming table can also be manually or automatically determined and combined with the count of the number of hands to determine a won/loss percentage for the dealer. The casino can use the information to take appropriate action, such as rewarding an efficient dealer, or providing additional training to an inefficient dealer.

[0089] The fast pace and large sums of money make casinos regular targets for fraud, cheating and stealing. Casinos employ a variety of security measures to discourage cheating or stealing by both customers and employees. For example, surveillance cameras covering a gaming area or particular gaming table provide a live or taped video signal that security personnel can closely examine. Additionally, or alternatively, “pit managers” can visually monitor the live play of a game at the gaming table. The ability to track cards, track card play, track cards between a shuffling step (where the order of cards is identified by the shuffler through a reading function) and the dealing step (by reading cards in the dealing shoe) adds a further level of security to the casino and provides a clear basis of data for analysis by a central computer.

[0090] While some aspects of a casino's security system should be plainly visible as a deterrent, other aspects of the security should be transparent to the players to avoid detracting from the players' enjoyment of the game and to prevent cheaters and thieves from avoiding detection. The ability of a dealing shoe to read cards outside the view of players is a benefit to the secure environment without increasing the negative effects of players repeatedly seeing security devices.

[0091] The delivery shoe, it methods and apparatus may be generally defined as card delivery shoe having a storage end and a delivery end. The shoe stores a first set of cards in the storage end and allows manual removal of cards from the delivery end. There may be at least one first sensor in the delivery end that senses when a card is absent from the delivery end. The sensor provides a signal (to some intelligence or signal receiving function) and a signal or power is provided to a motor so that a card is delivered to the delivery end. A motor mechanically delivers a card to the delivery end of the shoe as a result of the initial sensing of the absence of any card from the delivery end, especially where the card may be manually removed from the delivery end. The card delivery shoe of card may also have at least one sensor reads card values in the card delivery shoe before a card that is read is stationery in the card delivery end.

[0092] An alternative way of describe other embodiments of the invention include a description as a playing card delivery shoe from which cards may be dealt comprising: a) an area for receiving a first set of cards; b) first card mover that moves cards from the first set to a card staging area wherein at least one card is staged in an order by which cards are removed from the first set of and moved to the card staging area; c) second card mover that moves cards from the card staging area to a delivery area wherein cards removed from the staging area to the delivery shoe are moved in the same order by which cards were removed from the first set of cards and moved to the card staging area; and d) card reading sensors that read at least one element of information of card rank, card suit or card value of each card separately after each card has been removed from the area for receiving the first set of cards and before removal from the card delivery area.

[0093] The shoe may optionally have a maximum capacity of at least one card but less then an entire deck of cards present in the staging (buffer) area. Preferably from 1 to 2 cards are present in the staging area, most preferably only one card is present. After completion of card reading of at least one card in step d), a system of comparison may be present to compare the cumulative rank of the player and banker hands. In addition to providing an analysis of cards leaving the shoe, the processor is capable of keeping track of the composition of cards remaining in the shoe by comparing the values of the dealt cards to a set of fixed values stored in memory. The composition of the shoe might be of some value to the house, and statistical information regarding the composition may be displayed on the house display. The expected card information may be present in a memory storage component in the shoe or external computer for each shuffled set of cards inserted in the area for receiving a shuffled set of cards. The memory storage area may also be in a central computer and read information from the shoe is relayed to the central computer for comparison. The system of comparison may be present to compare the suit and rank of the cards read in step d) with the expected card information for each shuffled set of cards inserted in the area for receiving a shuffled set of cards. The at least one information is read by the device before the card is being removed from the storage device. Preferably, the first set of cards comprises a shuffled set of cards.

[0094] Certain aspects of the invention may alternatively be described as a card storage shoe comprising a card infeed area where an approximately vertical set of cards can be seated. The shoe could have a card moving element that moves one card at-a-time from the approximately vertical set of cards. There could be an automatic mechanical transporting system for horizontally transporting individual ones of cards moved from the vertical set of cards, past a buffer zone into a card delivery area. There is preferably (but optionally) a card reading system that reads at least one of suit, rank and value of cards before read cards become stationary in the card delivery area. In one embodiment, a buffer area is present between the card infeed area and the card delivery area and at least some cards remain stationary for a time in the buffer area before being delivered to the card delivery area. Cards may be read, for example, entering or while stationery in the buffer area. It is one embodiment to have only one card present in the card buffer area at any time. It is one aspect of an embodiment of the invention for cards to be read in the shoe after they leave the card buffer area but before they are completely stationary in the card delivery area. They may be read when stationery in the card buffer area, but not in the card delivery area. There may be more than one sensor present along a path between the card infeed area and the card delivery area to detect the presence of cards at specific locations.

[0095] There may be design and function reasons in certain embodiments to have a sensor-reader (e.g., a camera or any other form of image detector) read cards discontinuously when the sensor-reader is triggered by a card detection sensor in the shoe.

[0096] A method is available for providing a card to a dealer for manual delivery of the cards by a dealer, the method comprising: placing a set of cards within a card infeed area; mechanically moving cards from the set of cards from the card infeed area to a card delivery area where at least some cards become stationary; reading individual cards for at least one of rank, suit or value after the cards are removed from the card infeed area and before the cards become stationary in the card delivery area; transmitting read information to a processor, wherein the processor generates an output, and displaying the output on a display device.

[0097] The method may include having the set of cards placed in an approximately vertical stack in the card feed area. At least one card from the set of cards may be moved to a buffer area between the infeed area and the card delivery area, and at least one card may remain stationary within the buffer area until the card delivery area is sensed to be empty of cards. The at least one card that remains stationary in a buffer area may remain in the buffer area until a signal generated from the shoe indicates that at least one card is to be moved from the buffer area to the card delivery area. The method may be generated by a sensor in the card delivery area indicating that an additional card is desired in the card delivery area. The signal may be generated by a sensor in the card delivery area indicating that no cards are present in the card delivery area.

[0098] The above structures, materials and physical arrangements are exemplary and are not intended to be limiting. Angles and positions in the displayed designs and figures may be varied according to the design and skill of the artisan. Travel paths of the cards need not be precisely horizontal from the card input area to the delivery area of the shoe, but may be slightly angled upwardly, downwardly or varied across the path from the card input area to the card delivery area. The cards may be sensed and/or read within the shoe while they are moving or when they are still at a particular location within the shoe.

[0099] Among the features that describe some fundamental apparatus that may be included within designs enabled in the present descriptions, in conjunction with the Baccarat functionality described in greater detail above, may be at least the following elements:

• • [0100] 1) A distinct dealer shoe that has no shuffling capability.
  • [0101] 2) Shuffled cards are inserted into the shoe for dealing.
  • [0102] 3) The shoe mechanically feeds the cards to the dealer accessible opening.
  • [0103] 4) An intermediate number of cards are positioned between the input area and the removal area to increase the overall speed of card feed with reading to the dealer.
  • [0104] 5) Sensors indicate when the dealer accessible area is empty and cards are fed from the buffer zone and read, one-at-a-time.
  • [0105] 6) The separate reading shoe is provided as present reading systems are too large to easily fit into existing shuffler structures.
    One set of individual and/or collective primary purposes of the Baccarat content of the dealing shoe is to enable:
  • [0106] 1) The shoe to read the cards, either as being dealt (as they leave the shoe) and/or as they are fed into the dealing chamber of the shoe.
  • [0107] 2) Based on fixed rules of Baccarat, which are simple and readily treated by algorithms and mathematical formulae, Wins/Losses and other useful information on each round of play can be determined.
  • [0108] 3) The information (rank) relating to the cards read by the Baccarat dealing shoe are provided to a processor and the value of each hand is determined.
  • [0109] 4) The Win/Loss information can be used to display the winning results on a display board and to determine Wins/Losses.
  • [0110] 5) The data from the baccarat dealing shoe is date stamped and processed in real time.

[0111] The shoe for use with the baccarat game may be integrated with other components, subcomponents and systems that exist on casino tables for use with casino table games and card games. Such elements as bet sensors, progressive jackpot meters, play analysis systems, wagering analysis systems, player comping systems, player movement analysis systems, security systems, and the like may be provided in combination with the baccarat shoe and system described herein. Newer formats for providing the electronics and components may be combined with the baccarat system. For example, new electronic systems used on tables that provide localized intelligence to enable local components to function without absolute command by a central computer are desirable.

[0112] A concept of operative control among processing units should be appreciated to appreciate the performance of the present invention as well as to comprehend differences between the practice of the present invention and conventional processing apparatus used in the gaming industry. The most important concept is that all existing systems perform by a single main processor sending commands to peripherals (i.e.-individual information gathering devices) to perform specific functions. For purposes of discussion, the initial main emphasis of the description will be directed towards the performance of a casino table card game gaming apparatus. This emphasis is not intended to narrow the scope of the invention, but is rather intended to simplify the description.

[0113] The control systems in live gaming table systems tend to be structured in a similar manner to the slave master-formats of slot machine devices, with systems described as comprising a main computer, central computer or the like, and various peripherals such as card readers, chip readers, cameras, lighting elements, shufflers, bet sensors, movement sensors, motion sensors, jackpot incrementers/decrementers, game status indicators (e.g., jackpot registers, blackjack indicators, symbol indicators and the like) and any other elements of the table game.

[0114] Even where there is some processing intelligence distributed around a gaming table, the underlying operation of the prior art systems remain a command and response structure, which both requires high component costs and limits the operation of the system. A gaming system with different architectural structure would be desirable if it could reduce costs and add flexibility to the system and enable ease of component replacement.

[0115] According to the present invention, the G-Mod's of multiple intelligent data collection modules act as a finite state machines and are each communicatively interconnected to a sensing device to collect data, date stamp the data and send it to a central data repository via a network. The processing unit, referred to in this application as a “G-Mod” in one example of the invention is a microprocessor with associated memory that is capable of being programmed. In another form, the G-Mod is a hard wired as a FPGA (field programmable gated array). The G-Mod performs data acquisition, date stamps and sends sensed data via a network such as an Ethernet to an external computer that contains a database. In contrast to systems that provide an exclusive main computer to command all or most individual sensors and peripherals, in the presently described technology, the G-Mod's detect activity in the sensors and peripherals. The G-Mod's date stamp and broadcast the information over an Ethernet to a central database. One preferred mode of communication is UDP but others such as TCP and TCP/IP are alternate communication protocols. In a preferred form of the invention, the G-Mod's broadcast information over a network but do not issue commands to other G-Mod's. A change in state of one G-Mod could provide a signal for another G-Mod to change state, however. Less powerful techniques (as compared to typical main processor systems used in gaming apparatus) may be distributed to monitor each peripheral. The use of these separate intelligences for each peripheral eliminates the need to reprogram old modules as new modules are added, and allows the manufacturer to offer customized hardware and software packages capable of collecting only the information that the casino operator wants to collect.

[0116] Casino table card games can be provided with a wide variety of sensors. One such sensor can be an intelligent baccarat shoe discussed above. In addition to all of the functions previously discussed, the device can also function as a sensor or sensors. By providing a G-Mod in communication with an output of the internal processor, and output of the card reading device or both, the G-Mod can sense when a card is dealt and the identity of the card. With the help of a round sensing device (described below), the card dispensing information can be used to sense when card removal begins and ends for a round. This information can be date stamped, formatted and sent via a network communication method to a distal database for analysis. The control structure therefore permits data acquisition at the table and data analysis in a separate computer system. An alternative embodiment would include an intelligent baccarat shoe with an internal processor that is configured to perform the functions of a G-Mod, eliminating the need for an additional system processor.

[0117] Another such sensor is for detection of an indicator initiated by a dealer to indicate approximate beginning of or final completion of a round of play of a casino table card game. The sensor is read by the distributed intelligence table subcomponent (a G-Mod) that has a time/dating capability. The signal is time/date stamped (referred to herein as “Date Stamping” or “date stamping” for simplicity. The date stamped data is then transmitted generally through a communication line to an external computer that contains database management software and a database interface. The data can be accessed by programs used to analyze the data, if needed. The database interface allows casino management to extract the data in a usable form. The collected data retains its date stamping at least through storage, analysis, data entry or other treatment of the data after transmission away from the table, and the date stamping is typically provided by the separate intelligence, although in some cases may or may not be provided by the sensor itself.

[0118] The components of a casino table gaming apparatus might include a coin acceptor, bill validator, a drop box capable of sensing the input of currency, ticket in/ticket out sensing/reading, lighting, video displays, card reading sensors, chip counters, wager sensors, security sensing, dealer input controls, player input controls, dealer identification card scanning, player tracking, round counting, hand counting, shuffle counting and the like. In the present technology described herein, a round counting system is also described, wherein the number of rounds of plays are determined (one round at a time) by a determination of when a dealer's play has been completed, as by complete removal of cards from the dealer's position.

[0119] In the practice of the present invention, communication by G-Mod's to a data collection system with at least some peripherals is performed by general broadcast communication of game status (which may also be referred to as generated information or data) over a table or multiple table-specific network, from more than one distributed intelligence source within the system, each of which is associated with at least one peripheral. In some instances, it might be desirable to assign multiple similar peripherals to a single G-Mod. Each distributed intelligence (a local processor) sends its own the game status communication over the network, but does not send commands to other G-Mod's. Each local processor (hereinafter G-Mod)) is capable of sending date stamped information to a database where the information is stored and can be accessed by the same computer that holds the database or by another external computer. (In another form of the invention, the G-Mod's are not network communication enabled and serve the sole function of date stamping and sending data to a distal database.) This is a significant element in the practice of the invention, that information may be generally sent (essentially at the same time as a single, generally dispersed signal) over a network from multiple distributed intelligences.

[0120] In one form of the invention, the state of each G-Mod is broadcast over a network (such as an Ethernet) that contains all of the sensors and G-Mod's associated with one gaming table. As the state of each G-Mod changes, the signals being broadcasted to all of the G-Mod's is changed, and each G-Mod reacts and independently transmits information when appropriate to the central data collection point.

[0121] One conceptual way of visualizing or understanding a method of implementing an intelligence system for the operation of a gaming system according to the present invention is to decompose the tasks of previous constrained (central processor commanded) systems into orthogonal or unrelated sensing events running on independent processors. The term “orthogonal” for purposes of this disclosure means no commonality in function. The provision of orthogonal or independent intelligence functionality and individual performance capability allows the various system components to operate independently, and timely transfer the date stamped data to a database for further processing. Such a system functions more efficiently because there is no central processor prioritizing the execution of functions. Efficiencies are also gained in programming. The control functions of each G-Mod are independent of the other G-Mod's and the addition or elimination of G-Mod's from a control system does not require reprogramming of the control software. However, it would probably require reprogramming of the database interface software.

[0122] As noted above, there are many different elements of the gaming system that can be considered as peripherals. Some more important examples of table-game related peripherals include: bet presence, bet recognition, bet separation, card identification, card tracking, player tracking and employee tracking. Other components might include (in addition to those described above) multimedia processing, stepper motor control, random number generation, I/O detection and response, audio signals, video signals, currency handling, coin acceptors, bill acceptors, paperless transactions, ticket-in and ticket-out crediting, security systems, player accounting functions, door locks, signal lighting (change/assistance), player input (e.g., button controls, joy sticks, touch screens, etc.), cards read going into the game, cards read leaving the game, hand counting, dealer identification, round counting and any other functions that my be provided on the gaming apparatus.

[0123] The units (which may be elsewhere referred to herein as gaming modules or G-Mod's) are operated substantially independently of each other, although some interdependencies could exist. In the event of interdependencies, they are not subject to the classic control model but operate by finite state machine changes that are broadcast and then react with intelligence. For purposes of this disclosure, the term “finite state machine” is a theoretical device used to describe the evolution of an object's condition based on its current state (or condition) and outside influences. The present state of an object, its history, and the forces acting upon it can be analyzed to determine the future state of an object. Each state then may have a “behavior” associated with it. An FSM is a very efficient way to model sequencing circuits. Ultimately the game is nothing more than a complex sequencing unit, branched as appropriate for the game function. All finite state machines can be implemented as hardware, software running on a processor or combinations of the two.

[0124] By assigning specific data collection controls to local architecture, the design of the system places system tasks into lower computing power manageable units. The manageable units (e.g., the peripherals) can then be each handled (or small groups handled) by dedicated control modules. Some design care should be taken to combine control of peripherals under a single intelligence to assure that such accumulating demands for processing power are not being required as to merely reconstruct a main processor in a different physical location with the system. In the distributed intelligence structure, the G-Modules or individual intelligences have enough intelligence on board to handle the details of how the G-Mod itself handles the details of operation of the peripheral device.

[0125] Although the control system has been described largely in terms of a single round-counting module that sends date-stamped information to a central database and a baccarat shoe data acquisition module, it is to be understood that multiple modules could be present in one system to send collected data to a data repository. In a preferred form of the invention, the data stamped data is broadcasted over an Ethernet specific to the table game, and that the data in this format is collected and recorded by the central data repository.

[0126] In another example, a baccarat gaming table that is equipped with a round counting sensor and G-Mod may also be equipped with a sensor at the output of a typical standard dealing shoe for counting cards dispensed from the shoe. This information can be used in combination with the round counting information to deduce the number of cards dealt in a given round of play. If there are bet present sensors (and associated G-Mod(s)) for the bet sensors, the number of hands played per round of play can be determined. The modules may communicate with one-another to send date stamped bundles of information to the database, or may allow one module to influence the operation of another module.

[0127] Each G-mod is collecting, date stamping and transmitting data as the data is collected from the table to a central database, but the G-Mod's are not sending commands to other G-Mod's. However, since they broadcast state signals, they are capable of influencing the operation of other G-Mod's. The database does not issue commands to the G-Mod's, except to reset, reboot and send and receive configuration information. In effect, each G-Mod is a freestanding microprocessor that runs independently of the any other intelligence, except that it receives limited operational information from the database computer.

[0128] A card swipe module could be added to the table system, with an associated G-Mod. This G-Mod could not only transmit time-stamped data to the data repository, but could also transmit player I.D. information to the player tracking system residing in the casino computer system.

[0129] One or more sensors could sense information transmitted through an output data port of a shuffler, for example, or a keypad control used to issue commands to a shuffler. The shuffler would have it's own G-Mod and is capable of transmitting date stamped information such as number of cards per hand, number of hands per hour, number of cards dispensed per unit time, number of cards re-fed into a continuous shuffler per unit of time, number of promotional cards dispensed per unit of time, etc. At the same time, another indicator attached to a G-Mod could transmit data stamped data about bonus awards granted at a certain time, and the like. This information could be collected in a central database.

[0130] A bet interface module could also be provided. Known collection techniques for wagering data include optical and metal detection type bet present sensors for fixed bets, and camera imaging, radio frequency/identification technology, bar code scanning, scene digitizing, laser scanning, magnetic strip reading and the like for measuring the amount of the bet, as well as the presence of the bet. Outputs from these measurement devices are fed through a dedicated G-Mod and the data is date stamped and delivered to the central data depository.

[0131] Another possible G-Mod controls a card reading camera or other sensing device with similar functionality (reading rank and suit of a card, or just rank) located in the card shuffler, the dealing shoe, the discard tray, above the table or combinations of the above. Information about the specific cards dealt to each player could be obtained from the database by first feeding date-stamped information about cards dealt and returned into the database via the Ethernet.

[0132] Another G-Mod is in communication with an I.D. system for tracking the movement of employees in and out of the pit, or more preferably when the dealers arrive at and leave the table. This information is collected and reported by the dealer G-Mod into the database, and then reports can be generated that combine this information with rounds of play per hour to determine which dealers deal the most hands in a given period of time.

[0133] The central database merely organizes the data in a manner that allows for easy access by external computers or another application program residing on the same computer as the database. In this respect, the G-Mod's are self-executing and do not require central intelligence to perform their individual functions. The data may be analyzed and used to make decisions about whether there is cheating and or dealer collusion, awarding redeemable points and free rooms to players, etc., scheduling pit labor, promoting pit personnel, closing and opening tables, determining optimal betting limits for given periods of time and other important managerial functions.

[0134] Each G-Mod may be in data communication with an interface device such as one or more specialized circuit boards to allow the data from multiple G-Mod's to be fed into a standard port of the computer that serves as the data repository. Also, multiple sensing modules may be fed into a single G-Mod if the particular G-Mod has the capacity to process the extra information. For example, the decentralized control system could direct all wager sensors to send all signals to the same G-Mod.

[0135] A software interface can be provided to directly access data in the data repository and to manipulate and organize the data so that it can be outputted onto a display, written report or formed into a data stream so that the data can be further manipulated. In other examples, it might transmit data back to the pit for display on the table. In one example of a software interface program, the operator can obtain reports of rounds of play per hour per actual table, per pit, or per property, as determined by the user.

[0136] Because all of the G-Mod's work independently, the casino operator can choose the modules and resulting data that is most important to them for a given environment, and only purchase those modules. For example, one casino might want to reconstruct individual hands, track betting and associate the information with a particular player on a high stakes table, while tracking only rounds and the identification of the employees on low-stakes games.

[0137] By using a modular approach to intelligent data collection, only the equipment and reports that are wanted can be provided at the lowest possible cost. Since none of the G-Mod's are issuing direct commands to one-another, it is not necessary to rewrite any code when additional modules are added.

[0138] Applicants have discovered that there are potential inaccuracies in data that is transmitted prior to date/time stamping in a prior art command and control structure system. When signals are stamped in by the main computer, this is merely indicative of when the signal arrived. Also by providing the stamping function at the receipt site (such as the main processor, or central gaming location), the information is more easily subject to manipulation or change by an operator. Also, when there is a line breakdown (e.g., some casinos may still use telephone line connections which can be busy or interrupted, or the communication system to the main computer breaks down), the accuracy of the stamping is adversely affected. The value of the data decreases in some necessary transactions and casino oversight if the time data is inaccurate. A gaming system with different architectural structure and informational structure would be desirable if it could reduce these issues.

[0139] As noted earlier, round counting is one service or data component that can be important to a table. For example, round completion can be important for evaluating rates of play at tables, player rate performance, dealer rate performance, and even disputes over time of completion of hands at different tables or different casinos where priority might be an issue (as in competitive events or qualifying events).

[0140] Round counting requires some form of signal generation at a table that is indicative of approximate completion of a round and preferably absolute completion of a round. This can be done in a number of ways for signal generation. For example, video cameras can be placed to observe the dealer's hand. When the motions of a dealer or the dealer's cards indicate that the dealer's cards have been removed from the playing area, a signal is sent “round completed” or “dealer's hand removed” or some functional equivalent. A sensor can be placed on the table over which the dealer's cards are placed. A sensing system with a relatively flat or slightly indented or slightly raised surface is more desirable. The system could comprise a transparent or translucent panel approximately flush with the table surface that allows light (e.g., ambient light or specially directed wavelengths of light for which a sensor is particularly sensitive) to pass to a sensor. The absence of light in the sensor for a predetermined period of time and/or intervals of time can be the original signals themselves, which are interpreted by an intermediary intelligence on the table that has the time sensing capability for evaluating the signal. The original signals are then time stamped before being forwarded to the central database and can be analyzed by accessing the collected data.

[0141] Particularly in games where batch shuffling is used, such as poker or even single deck blackjack, the signal could also be originated by cards being placed in a shuffler and a shuffling process initiated, the shuffler sending a start-shuffling signal to the date stamping component on the table. Or, the dealer could activate a button provided on the shuffler to unload cards and this signal could alternately be used to count a round.

[0142] These latter systems, unless they are completely electronic without any physical implementation (such as physical playing cards, dice, spinning wheel, drop ball, etc.) will need sensing and/or reading equipment (e.g., card reading for suits and/or rank, bet reading sensors, ball position sensors, dice reading sensors, player card readers, dealer input sensors, player input systems, and the like. These are just some examples of the many peripherals that can exist in live table game systems. Also, newer capabilities are enabled such as moisture detection (e.g., for spilled drinks), smoke detection, infrared ink detection (to avoid card marking), shuffler operation, dealer shoe operation, discard rack operation, jackpot meters, side bet detectors, and the like.