Patent ID: 11928924
Assignee: WALKER DIGITAL TABLE SYSTEMS, LLC
Field: Control (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 16:
17. A controller for verifying an identity of a player participating in a qualifying activity at a gaming establishment, the controller being operable to communicate with at least one electronic table system operable to facilitate a wagering game comprising a card game,
wherein the at least one electronic table system comprises (i) at least one game area corresponding to a detecting component operable to detect data relating to a casino chip placed within the respective player area and (ii) at least one camera operable to capture an image of a player participating in the qualifying activity at one of the game areas;
the controller comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing a program for directing the processor, the processor being operable with the memory to:
(a) receive an indication of a qualifying activity occurring at the at least one electronic table system, wherein the indication includes a unique casino chip identifier of at least one casino chip associated with the qualifying activity, the casino chip identifier having been detected by the detecting component of the at least one electronic table system;
(b) determine a location identifier associated with the casino chip, the location identifier indicating a location at which the qualifying activity is occurring;
(c) identify the at least one camera operable to obtain images of players at the location;
(d) direct the at least one camera to obtain at least one live image;
(e) retrieve, from a memory, a unique player identifier of a player associated with the casino chip;
(f) identify a previously stored image of a player associated with the player identifier, wherein the previously stored image corresponds to an official government-issued identification document that the player had presented to a gaming establishment in order to verify identity;
(g) receive, from the at least one camera of the at least one electronic table system, the at least one live image of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
(h) compare, using facial recognition software, the at least one live image to the stored image to determine whether the player in the stored image is the player in the live image;
(i) only if it is determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image: (i) determine that the player participating in the qualifying activity is the player corresponding to the unique player identifier, thereby verifying an identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity and (ii) authorize the qualifying activity; and
(j) if it is not determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image, perform a remedial action.