Patron and croupier assessment in roulette

A method for determining the total amount bet by individual players participating in multiple spins of a roulette game at a gaming table that has a chipper machine and an intelligent table terminal. The method involves interfacing the chipper sorting machine with the table terminal, allocating a chip to a patron at the terminal, counting the number of color chips sorted by the chipper machine per color, and associating the number of color chips sorted by the machine per color with the patron. The total amount bet by that patron is then determined by mathematically linking the chip value of the color chip of the patron with the number of chips of the individual color sorted by the chipper machine in the time period in which the color chip is associated with that patron.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 In the past, an approximate determination of the individual patrons
 participating in a game of roulette has been effected by the pit
 supervisors/floor persons. These are employees of the casino who attempt
 to estimate the average bet of each patron, the number of games per hour
 and also the time each patron plays at the table, and thus the turnover,
 profit or loss of the individual casino visitors, through the observation
 of the progress of the gaming. Disadvantages of this method are the high
 costs of personnel and the inaccuracy of the determination of the
 turnover, profit or loss of patrons, the possibility of floor persons
 favoring one or more patrons but paying no attention to other patrons.
 OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
 It is the object of the invention to avoid the disadvantages of the known
 systems and to set forth a method and an apparatus with which the
 determination of the turnover of individual patrons is possible in a
 reliable manner.
 It is a further object of the invention to determine the win or loss of
 individual patrons.
 It is a further object of the invention to enable the croupier performance
 to be assessed.
 It is a yet further object of the invention to acquire the data required
 for assessing the patrons turnover and the croupier performance in a
 relatively simple and reliable manner which does not place an extreme
 burden on the croupier, but rather helps the croupier with complex win
 calculations.
 Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following
 description.
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 Patron Bet and Number of Games
 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
 method of estimating the total amount bet and the number of games played
 by an individual patron participating in a game of roulette and playing
 with chips of a specific nature, for example of a specific coloring or
 size or shape or pattern, comprising the step of counting the number of
 chips of that specific nature, which pass through a chipper machine
 associated with the game of roulette while the patron is playing.
 In a preferred method of this kind for determining the total amount bet by
 the individual patrons participating in a plurality of spins of a roulette
 game at a gaming table fitted with a chipper machine and an intelligent
 table terminal capable of interpreting data from the chipper machine, from
 an electronic chip tray and from a roulette number reader, the method
 comprises the steps of
 interfacing the chipper machine to the table terminal
 allocating a patron a chip color at the table terminal
 counting the number of color chips sorted by the chipper machine per color
 associating the number of color chips sorted by the chipper machine per
 color with the patron
 and determining the total amount bet by that patron by mathematically
 linking the chip value of the color chip of the patron with the number of
 chips of the individual color sorted by the chipper machine in the time
 period in which the color chip is associated with that patron
 The invention is based on the realization that the number of chips of any
 particular color sorted by the chipper machine, although not actually a
 precise measurement of the total amount bet by the patron using that
 color, is nevertheless closely related to the total amount bet and can
 thus be used as a reliable indication of the total amount bet. The
 inaccuracy results from the practice of breaking stacks of chips when
 paying patrons their winnings, with the non-used chips being returned to
 the chipper machine. Since the number of chips returned in this way is
 statistically related to the roulette game, as will be explained later in
 more detail, it is readily possible to make a statistical correction to
 the total number of chips of any one color passing through the chipper
 machine in order to arrive at a total value which is a close approximation
 to the total amount bet by the individual patron playing with that color
 of chip.
 Since it is possible to assess the total amount bet by each patron playing
 at the gaming table in this way, it is also possible to sum the total
 amounts bet by all patrons playing at the gaming table during the period
 in which a particular croupier is working at the gaming table, and thus it
 is possible to assess the total turnover achieved by the croupier during
 each working period.
 Patron Win/Loss
 According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a
 method of estimating the win and loss of an individual patron during his
 playing period on a gaming table. The concept for the win and loss capture
 is to capture all value movements between the patron and the table. Every
 buy in (drop) with bank bills or markers at the table is entered by the
 croupier at the table terminal and allocated to the playing position. The
 same applies to a partial or total pay back of a marker by a patron. The
 movement of value chips can be estimated by the concept of distinguishing
 between "play chips" and "pay chips" at the gaming-table. At roulette
 tables play chips are normally color chips, value chips are used as pay
 chips.
 Whenever value chips are used as play chips for placing bets, the croupier
 will not handle these chips in and out of the chip tray but rather store
 them in stacks of twenty like he does with color chips and will handle
 them the same way as color chips so that they do not hit the chip tray
 with every spin, i.e. do not change the value of the chips in the chip
 tray.
 Whenever a pay (value-) chip movement is detected by the chip tray, which
 is equipped with a system for detecting the instantaneous value of the
 chips on the chip tray, and thus also the change in value of the chip tray
 for any pay in or pay out, the table terminal prompts a screen asking to
 croupier to enter the playing position to which the pay chip movement
 belongs. The monitoring of movements of pay chips into and out of the chip
 tray together with the capture of all buy ins (drops) and the repayment of
 markers thus allows the capture of the win/loss per patron. The win loss
 is the patrons net buy in (drop minus repayment of markers) plus the
 balance of the pay chips spent and received.
 Croupier Assessment
 According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
 method of estimating the performance of a croupier at a roulette table,
 comprising the steps of summing, for each period the croupier is working
 at the roulette table, the various figures captured during each working
 period.
 The performance figures per virtue are combined into a croupier score with
 a breakdown of individual scores per segment. Data are captured from every
 dealer work period of in average 45 minutes a dealer works at a table
 between breaks.
 Croupier financial result--win/loss, turnover, win percentage, drop
 Croupier working speed--number of spins corrected for active player
 positions and chips placed by patrons
 Croupier attracting patrons--number of positions active: average,
 increasing/decreasing during work period
 Croupier encouraging play--average bet (relative to table minimum):
 average, increasing/decreasing during work period
 In order to compensate for the influence of the time of the day the
 performance indicators "croupier attracting patrons" and "croupier
 encouraging play" are relative to all other croupiers on tables at the
 same time.
 The financial result is derived from the total amount bet by each of the
 patrons participating in the game of roulette during each working period,
 or during a fraction of that period, wherein the individual patrons play
 using chips having different colors, the respective colors being
 associated with each said individual patron, and wherein a chipper machine
 is provided for receiving chips collected by a croupier during the game of
 roulette and for arranging the chips according to their color in
 respective columns, from which the croupier can take stacks of a
 predetermined number of chips of a respective color, each chip of a
 particular color having an associated monetary value, the method
 comprising the steps of counting the total number of chips of each color
 passing through the chipper machine during the period each individual
 patron is present at said gaming table, and establishing the total
 monetary value of the chips of each color passing through the chipper
 machine.
 The above information is of great interest to a casino. For example
 "Frequent Player Programs" are based on the theoretical casino advantage
 derived from the patron's bet. Alternatively, if a patron has suffered a
 significant loss, then the casino is interested in retaining the patron as
 a customer and may choose to give him a gratuity in some form as a
 consolation prize.
 On the hand, should a patron consistently make substantial wins at a
 roulette table, then there is always the suspicion that the patron is
 participating in an unfair practice and the casino is alerted to observe a
 particular patron carefully.
 The casino is also interested in monitoring the performance of the
 croupier. For example, the number of spins of the roulette wheel per
 working period and/or the total numbers of chips sorted by the chipper
 machine during each working period of a croupier is one useful indication
 of a croupier's performance.
 The ability to determine the amount of win or loss achieved by a croupier
 in each working period is of significant importance to a casino to
 determine if the croupier is within the statistical pay-out percentage
 limits over a period of time.
 It is known from a statistical analysis of the game of roulette, that there
 is a built-in house advantage which amounts to 2.7% in the case of French
 roulette, or 5.4% in the case of American roulette. That is to say, the
 average win of the casino is 2.7% of the total turnover in the case of
 French roulette and 5.4% in the case of American roulette. Thus a good
 croupier can be expected to achieve a net profit for the casino close to
 2.7% for French roulette, or close to 5.4% for American roulette. If a
 croupier consistently achieves a lower return for the casino then there is
 always the suspicion that he is either not up to the job or is involved in
 some unfair practice, such as paying incorrect amounts to the patrons when
 the patrons have won, or so-called section spinning in which the croupier
 is able to preferentially place the roulette ball in a certain segment of
 numbers and pockets and thus to benefit patrons to whose attention he has
 directed this possibility.
 The present invention provides the key to monitoring both the total
 turnover of the croupier and also the win or loss of the croupier and
 thus, the average percentage win achieved by the croupier.
 However, it is not a simple matter to determine precisely the win or loss
 achieved by the croupier. While this might theoretically be possible by
 observing every spin of the wheel correctly and by full assessment of
 every move on the gaming table, the complications that arise would in
 practice at least slow down the game to such an extent that it would be
 less profitable, and probably also less interesting for the players. By
 way of example it is usual for croupiers to work for a working period of
 45 minutes and to then take a 15 minute break. Whenever a croupier goes
 for a break another croupier will take over the running of the table. It
 would be highly unlikely that the amount of money on the table, i.e. the
 chips held by the individual patrons, is the same when the croupier starts
 work as at the end of his working period. Thus, the number of chips held
 by the patrons represents an imponderable value which prevents an accurate
 assessment of the win or loss achieved by the croupier during each working
 period. Nevertheless, the present invention recognizes that a good
 approximation to the total win or loss achieved by a croupier in each
 working period can be achieved by forming the sum of the total pay-ins by
 the patrons during that working period and by the change in value of the
 chip tray. By observing this win or loss over a fair number of working
 periods, for example a month, it is possible to obtain a statistically
 reliable assessment of the average win or loss achieved by the croupier as
 will later be explained in more detail.
 As mentioned above, one unfair practice sometimes encountered is for a
 croupier to be practicing section spinning. The present invention also
 makes it possible to determine whether a croupier is practicing section
 spinning by measuring, for a plurality of spins of a roulette wheel, one
 or more of the following parameters and finding out if these parameters
 have the normal variance of the average croupier or if this croupier is
 spinning the wheel and ball in an over consistent pattern:
 the initial speed of the ball in the rim of the roulette wheel,
 the speed of rotation of the moving roulette wheel when the ball is
 initially launched into it, and
 the relative position of the roulette wheel to the ball and to the segment
 of the casing in which the ball falls and by mathematically determining
 whether the estimation of values of the measured parameter corresponds to
 an expected statistical distinction or shows that a suspicious correlation
 exists between these values.
 Furthermore, the casino management is also able, from the statistics made
 available by use of the present invention, to determine whether, during a
 period of high correlation of the said values with one croupier, one or
 more patrons at the gaming table enjoys with that croupier wins which are
 significantly higher statistically than the casino advantage for the
 roulette game being played.
 Accordingly, it can be seen from the foregoing that the present invention
 provides the casino management with a variety of tools for assessing the
 performance of a croupier and the progress of the game of roulette at a
 gaming table despite the inability to precisely measure each of the
 factors of interest.
 Further advantages and benefits of the invention will be apparent from the
 further claims. Moreover, the apparatus claims describe preferred
 apparatus for carrying out the methods described above.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
 FIG. 1 shows a roulette table 10 equipped with a variety of electronic
 modules for the collection and assessment of data concerning the patrons
 and the croupier.
 The roulette table 10 is equipped in the usual way with a roulette wheel
 generally indicated at 12, a chip sorting machine 14 for sorting color
 chips (and value chips with newer chipping machine versions), hereinafter
 referred to as a chipper machine, a chip tray 16 for storing so-called
 value chips, and a bet placement field 18 where patrons can place their
 individual bets. In this example the bet placement field is configured for
 American roulette in as much as it has two zeros (identified in FIG. 1 as
 0 and 00, in contrast to French and English roulette which has only a
 single 0. The roulette wheel 12 is also configured in this case for
 American roulette which means that the number ring will have the numbers 0
 and 00 in addition to the numbers 1 through 36 as shown.
 During the game of roulette, the croupier will normally occupy the position
 identified by 20 and the patrons or players will be arranged around the
 table as indicated by the reference numerals 22.
 In order to practice the present invention in all its ramifications the
 roulette table is equipped with further items, namely a table terminal 24,
 a roulette number display 26, an automatic number detection system 28, a
 chip value and payout display 30, a drop slot 32, and optionally player
 stations 34. The automatic number detection system 28 can be designed in
 the manner described in international patent application PCT/EP95/00933 as
 published in the international patent publication no. WO 95/28996.
 The automatic number detection system makes it possible to detect which
 pocket the roulette ball has dropped into and this is displayed on the
 roulette number display 26. The automatic number detection system 28 also
 has other functions which will be explained later in further detail.
 The chip tray 16 is designed in the same way as the chip tray described in
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,755,618 and is thus designed to provide an electronic
 output of the total value of chips stored in the chip tray and to
 automatically register any changes in the value of the chip tray. In
 addition the chip tray 16 is coupled to the chip value and payout display
 30 via the table terminal 24 which will be described later in further
 detail with reference to FIG. 7, particularly since this is an optional
 unit.
 The table terminal 24 is configured in the preferred embodiment as a
 graphical screen with touch-sensitive data entry at the screen. Such
 screens are known per se, for example in connection with automatic cash
 dispensing machines. Associated with the table terminal is a card swipe
 36, which permits the croupier 20 to draw or swipe an identification card
 of a player through the card swipe. This enables information on the card,
 for example relating to the identity of the player, to be entered into the
 central data processing unit (computer) 64 associated with the gaming
 table, as will later be explained with reference to FIG. 2. Should the
 table be equipped with the optional player stations 34 comprising a patron
 card reader, a display and some optional entry buttons, then these can
 also be used for the player to enter a card and register himself at the
 table. That is to say, the player stations 34, if provided, are also
 coupled to the computer 64 via the table terminal 24.
 Finally, FIG. 1 shows a plurality of stacks 38 of color chips arrayed in
 front of the croupier 20 around part of the periphery of the roulette
 wheel 12.
 Although well known to those skilled in the art, a brief description will
 now be given of the usual method of playing the game of roulette, in order
 to facilitate an understanding of the present invention.
 For the sake of simplicity, we assume the casino has just opened for play,
 the croupier 20 is present at his position, and various players 22 have
 arranged themselves around the roulette table. It is usual for each player
 to play the game of roulette with a different color chip uniquely
 associated with him, so that winning and losing bets can easily be
 identified.
 It is also usual for a minimum bet to be associated with a roulette table,
 i.e. the minimum amount which can be bet, which may, for example, start
 with $5 or more. That is to say, the minimum value which each chip can
 have is, say, $5. However, certain players may wish to play with higher
 stakes. Provision is thus made for higher values to be associated with the
 color chips of those players 22 wishing to play for higher stakes. In
 order to make sure that all players are aware of the value of each chip on
 the table, a sample chip of each color is normally hung on a rack, with
 the monetary value of the chip being associated with a value indicator in
 the rack.
 When the game first starts, it is first necessary for each player 22 to
 acquire a supply of chips for use during the progress of the game. There
 are several ways that this can be done. First of all, it is possible for
 the player to pass money to the croupier, who then places the money in the
 drop slot 32 and passes the corresponding number of color chips to the
 player. For this purpose the croupier would normally take a number of
 stacks from those arrayed in front of him, in each case in the color
 associated with the respective player. It is a convention that each of the
 stacks 38 contain 20 chips.
 Another possibility is for the individual players 22 to approach the table
 with value chips, normally of higher denominations. These are chips issued
 by the casino, which can be used at a variety of gaming tables in the
 casino and are handed to the player, for example in exchange for smaller
 denomination value chips he has accumulated at a table. Such value chips
 are placed by the croupier in the chip tray. Again the player will be
 given color chips to the value of the value chips passed by him to the
 croupier, or he will be given value chips of the denomination of his
 choice.
 Another possibility is for the player to request a so-called marker at the
 table. A marker is effectively a casino check for a certain sum of money.
 Again, the marker will be entered at the table terminal and the croupier
 will give the player chips to the value of the marker.
 Another possibility is for the player to play with value chips. In times of
 heavy play, some casinos allow multiple players to use the same
 denominations, in which case the identification of the player by the type
 of value chip, is lost which can lead to disputes.
 Finally, some jurisdictions such as Nevada permit players to play with
 normal money--money play. A patron may place a bet by placing bank
 bill(s). The dealer will indicate this fact to the supervisor by saying
 "money play". In case the patron wins the dealer will place the win in the
 form of value chips and the patron will take the bills and the value chips
 or he will leave part of the chips at the table as the next bet, if the
 bet is lost the dealer will drop the money and enter the amount as "money
 play drop" into the table terminal and should the patron have signed onto
 a box already the amount will be assigned to that position.
 Once all the players have acquired a supply of chips, the game may start.
 As is well known, the conventional roulette wheel 12 comprises an annular
 casing 40 containing a static, inwardly sloping rim 42, within which there
 is mounted a rotatable cylinder 44. This cylinder 44 has an outer ring of
 numbers 46 corresponding to the numbers of the bet placement area 18, and
 an inner ring of pockets 48, which, in the same way as the outer numbers
 ring, is arranged concentrically to the cylinder. Each of the individual
 pockets 48 is associated with one of the numbers on the numbers ring and
 is isolated from its neighboring pockets by vertically and radially
 disposed separators 50. Inside the ring of pockets 48, there is a central
 dome area 52.
 In use, the cylinder 44 is spun in the one or other direction and then a
 ball is projected by the croupier to run around the rim inside the annular
 casing 40. The croupier will spin the ball in the opposite direction of
 rotation of the cylinder, The ball will gradually slow down. The
 centrifugal force keeping it within the rim 42 of the wheel 12 will reduce
 in magnitude, so that the ball gradually falls down the rim and passes
 over the numbers ring 46, where it may bounce off one or more of the
 separators 50 or off the dome before eventually landing in one of the
 pockets 48, which is the winning pocket, i.e. the winning number.
 The players 22 are able to place their bets on the bet placement area 18
 until the ball spinning in the rim 42 has slowed down so that it leaves
 the rim 42. For those not familiar with the game of roulette, it should be
 noted that it is usual for a player to use several chips, and indeed to
 make several bets for each spin of the roulette wheel.
 If a single chip is placed on a single number, then the chance of that
 number becoming a winning number is 1:38. This follows from the fact that
 in American roulette, there are a total of 38 numbers on the number ring,
 namely the numbers zero and double zero and the numbers 1 to 36, and 38
 pockets associated with them (one pocket for each number).
 If a player places a single chip on a single number and loses, then the
 chip is scooped by the croupier into a chute 54 associated with the
 chipper machine. If, however, the number selected by the player comes up,
 then he is given 35 chips by the croupier in addition to recovering the
 one chip stake he originally played.
 If the player places, say, 4 chips on the single number and the number
 wins, then he will be given 4.times.35=140, chips by the croupier.
 Another possibility is for the player to place a chip so that it straddles
 two numbers. In this case the chance of winning is 1:17. If the player
 wins, on either of these numbers, he is given 17 chips by the croupier for
 each chip placed by him.
 It is also possible for a player to place a chip so that it lies on four
 numbers. In this case his chance of winning is increased, but the returns
 if he does win are also reduced, and in fact for each chip placed in such
 a way he will receive eight further chips from the croupier and will also
 have his stake returned to him.
 It is also possible for a player to place a bet on five numbers, for
 example on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. In this case his chances of
 winning are again increased. However, if he does win, the number of chips
 he receives from the croupier is reduced to six for each chip he has bet
 in this way.
 Another possibility is for the player to place a chip on three numbers. In
 this case he receives 11 chips from the croupier for each chip bet. A
 further possibility is for him to place a bet on six numbers. In this case
 he receives five chips from the croupier for every one he has bet. Yet
 another possibility is for the player to bet on columns of twelve numbers.
 In this case the chance of him winning is much higher, but if he does win,
 his win is reduced to two chips for each chip bet in this way.
 It is also possible for a bet to be placed on twelve numbers chosen other
 than in columns, for example on the top three by four array of the numbers
 1 to 12, on the middle three by four array of the numbers 13 to 24, or on
 the bottom three by four array of the numbers 25 to 36. Again, the chance
 of winning is high, but the returns for a win are low; the croupier will
 only pay the player two chips for every one bet.
 Another form of bet is possible referred to as a "chance simple", and
 involves a bet placed on any one of the number of so-called "chances",
 referred to as "rouge", "noir", "pair", "impair", "manque", "passe". For
 example "rouge" signifies that the player bets simply on the color red. In
 this case the chance of winning is high, but if the player wins, he only
 receives one chip from the croupier, in addition to the chip he originally
 bet.
 Every bet which is not a winning bet is collected by the croupier, the
 color and/or value chips are placed in the entrance to the chute leading
 to the chipper machine 14. The chips are then sorted by the chipper
 machine according to their color and/or value arranged in stacks within
 the chipper machine, from which the croupier can take stacks of twenty
 chips each to replace those on the table that he has used up. At this
 stage it should be noted that when paying a player for a winning bet, the
 croupier will take a whole number of stacks present on the table, will
 break one of the stacks and will put the chips not owed to the player back
 into the chute of the chipper machine.
 For example, if the player has bet two chips on a single number and won,
 then the croupier must pay him 70 chips of the same color. To do this, he
 will take four stacks of 20 chips each, totaling 80 chips, will pass three
 full stacks to the player and will break the fourth stack so that the
 player receives 10 chips. The remaining ten chips are placed in the chute
 associated with the chipper machine.
 Further examples of this will be given later.
 Having described the usual way of playing the game of roulette, a
 description will now be given of how the various items of equipment
 present at the roulette table are linked together in accordance with the
 present invention and what significance this has to the assessment of
 data.
 Referring now to FIG. 2, there can be seen the same items of equipment that
 are shown in FIG. 1, but also the way they are interconnected
 electronically. The same numbers will be used in FIG. 2 to identify the
 same items, as are identified by them in FIG. 1.
 FIG. 2 shows in addition the table communication bus 60, to which all the
 items of FIG. 1 having an electronic interface are connected. Thus, the
 interface 62 links the chipper machine 14 to the table communication bus
 60. The card reader 36 is associated with the table terminal 24, which is
 connected to the table communication bus 60. Equally, the roulette number
 display 26, the electronic chip tray 16, the automatic number detection
 system 28, the chip value and payout display 30 and the player stations 34
 are connected to the table communication bus 60 via suitable interfaces
 (not shown). A central data processing unit 64 is coupled to the table
 terminal and to the table communication bus via one or a plurality of
 Ethernet hubs or switches 66, which distribute the Ethernet network from
 the central data processing unit 64 to the table terminals 24 of a
 plurality of gaming tables in the casino.
 FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 show sample screens, which appear on the table terminal
 24 in the preferred embodiment when this table terminal is realized, in
 the preferred embodiment, as a graphical screen with touch sensitive data
 entry.
 As indicated above, when a player first comes to the table, he will give
 the croupier either cash or value chips or request a marker and will tell
 the croupier of the value with which he wishes to play. He will also give
 the croupier his player identification card, which the croupier will draw
 or swipe through the card reader 36 at the table terminal 24. This action
 will lead to the drawing of FIG. 3 appearing on the screen of the table
 terminal. The croupier will select a color chip 70, or possibly a value
 chip 72, if color chips are not available or if the player wishes to play
 with value chips. If a color chip is selected, then the table terminal
 will next show the screen drawing of FIG. 5, which enables the croupier to
 touch the screen, so that the desired value is associated with the color
 chip. It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the third color chip of the top row
 has been selected. In practice this is shown by the selected color chip
 lighting up brightly; in the drawing the selected color chip is indicated
 by representing the value of the chip as an outline rather than as a solid
 number. It can be seen from the drawing of FIG. 5 that color chips at this
 table can have the value $5, $10, $20, or $50, as indicated in field 82,
 with the table minimum being $5, as indicated in field 84, and with the
 actual chip value selected in the case under discussion being $10, as
 indicated in field 86. The field 88 indicates the chip color as selected
 on the screen of FIG. 3. Once the chip color and the chip value have been
 fixed, the screen drawing of FIG. 4 appears, and the croupier can type in
 the amount of the drop by the respective player, for example the screen
 has a three by three matrix of fields 90 providing for drops of 10, 20,
 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 or 5000 dollars, and the precise amount of
 the drop by the individual player can be recorded by touching the screen
 at the appropriate field. In the present example, the player has made a
 drop of $400, and this is achieved by pressing the field 200 twice, so
 that the drop amount of $400 appears in the field 92. Beneath the three by
 three matrix 90, there are two further fields, namely 94 and 96
 respectively labeled "cancel" and "enter". Once the croupier has dealt in
 the drop amount of 400 and it has appeared in the field 92, he can then
 press the "enter" area of the screen to enter this value of the drop into
 the computer system. Should he have made a mistake, then he can press the
 "cancel" area 94. This then cancels the sum appearing in the drop field 92
 and enables the croupier to type in the new value as appropriate in the
 three by three matrix field 90.
 If, during the course of a game, a player or patron wishes to buy further
 chips, then the croupier will either select the screen drawing of FIG. 3,
 which can, for example, be done by pressing the corresponding color chip
 field 70 or value chip field 72 relating to the specific color/value
 appropriate for that player. Alternatively, he can once again swipe the
 player's player card through the card reader, so that the screen drawing
 of FIG. 4 appears. He can then enter the drop amount there as previously
 described. It will be noted that the first time the player's card is
 swiped through the card reader, the screen of FIG. 3 appears. The next
 time the same card is swiped through the card reader, the screen of FIG. 4
 will appear. This will also occur for any subsequent drops by the patron
 during the same gaming period, i.e. until the patron leaves the table and
 is signed off by the croupier.
 Through these various actions, the computer system learns the identity of
 the player, from the player identity card, is able to associate the color
 and the value of the chip associated with the player by the entries made
 by the croupier using the screens of the FIGS. 3 and 5, and is able to
 record the amount of any drop by the player. It should be noted that the
 method of making the drop, be it by cash, money play or by marker, as
 selected by the fields 93, 95 or 97 is irrelevant. In each case the
 croupier simply enters the relevant amount using the screen drawing of
 FIG. 4.
 In the case of value chips, it is possible for the croupier to add these
 directly to the chip tray. The change in value in the chip tray is then
 associated with the drop by the player through the time association of the
 input of the player's identity card and the change in value of the chip
 tray 16. In this case the table terminal will indicate the inventory
 change of the chip tray as default drop to the croupier. Otherwise the
 input is then made manually by the croupier as explained above.
 Turning now to FIG. 7, there can be seen the details of a chip value and
 payout display 30. Arranged along the top of the display are sample color
 chips 101 in each of the different colors available at the table. Beneath
 each chip there is a rectangular field 102 containing a number which is
 the amount in dollars associated with the chip immediately above the
 respective field. Beneath the left-hand field 102 there are three further
 fields 104, 106, 108, which show the denominations of value chips that are
 used for betting. In the present case, only one value chip is being played
 and has the value of $10. The table minimum bet is shown in the field 110
 and the row of fields 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 show the payment
 indicators for winning combinations of a particular patron. Moreover, the
 black dot shown in each of the fields 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 indicates
 where a chip must be placed by a patron in order to achieve a particular
 win. Thus, the field 112 shows the case of one chip on a single number,
 for which the croupier must pay the patron 35 chips. The field 114 shows a
 winning chip bridging two fields, for which the croupier has to pay the
 patron 17 chips. In similar fashion, the fields 116, 118 and 120 show
 other usual payouts which have to be made by the croupier.
 The row of fields 122, 124, 126, 128, 130 positioned above the row of
 fields 112, 114, 116, 118 and 120 show the number of chips bet by the
 particular patron for each of the possibilities shown in the respectively
 associated field 112 to 120 or beneath it. The bottom row of fields 132,
 134, 136, 138, 140 show the total number of chips won by the patron. Thus,
 the particular play shown in the diagram of FIG. 7 is a play of ten chips
 (box 122) on a single number (box 112) which is won, thus the croupier has
 to pay 10.times.35=350 chips (box 132) to the particular patron for this
 part of his total bet. In addition, the patron has placed one chip (box
 124) on two numbers resulting in a win of 17 chips. The player has made no
 bets (boxes 126, 128) of the kinds shown in boxes 116 and 118.
 Accordingly, he has won no chips, as shown in boxes 136 and 138. However,
 the patron has bet five chips (box 130) in the manner shown in box 120,
 and thus wins a total of 5.times.5=25 chips (box 140) for this bet. The
 patron to whom this bet relates is the patron associated with the fourth
 color chip 101 from the left in FIG. 7, with a value of $10 per chip. This
 is emphasized on the display of FIG. 7 by a brighter lighting of the
 respective field 102.
 Thus, the player associated with this chip has won a total of 392 chips, as
 indicated in the "total" box 142, and the chip display now makes a
 proposal to the croupier for the manner of payment of the player. In this
 case the suggestion is that the player should receive 192 chips (box 144)
 and a cash amount of $2000 (box 146), which may, of course, be paid by
 value chips or by the return of a marker or a reduction of the marker
 amount.
 The reason for paying a win in this way is simply that there are only a
 limited number of color chips which can be accommodated conveniently on a
 roulette table, typically between 300 and 400 chips of each color.
 It should be noted that the payment display of FIG. 7 is an optional
 feature which can readily be realized using the present invention, and
 which is intended to facilitate the work of the croupier in calculating
 the wins from complicated bets, such as those shown above. If the win is
 more straightforward, for example 1:2 or 1:1, then the croupier will
 invariably be able to handle such a bet without the aid of the "win
 computer" embodied in the chip value and payout display 30.
 The values shown on the chip value and payout display 30 must, of course,
 first be entered at the table terminal. This will typically be done by the
 croupier calling up a win calculator screen on the table terminal 24 and
 typing in the corresponding values by touching the screen the appropriate
 number of times.
 For this purpose it is most convenient if the table terminal has a
 touch-type graphic screen which can be called up by pressing the
 corresponding color chip field 70 or value chip field 72 relating to the
 specific color/vlue appropriate for that player, which will bring up a
 pop-down menu from which the croupier can select the win calculator and
 which corresponds to the layout of the chip value and payout display 30.
 FIG. 6 shows a preferred screen layout of the win calculator on the table
 terminal. The display makes it easy for the players to check that the
 croupier is behaving fairly and also enhances the atmosphere at the
 roulette table associated with a good win.
 The chipper machine, which is known per se, for example from U.S. Pat. No.
 4,157,139, has the function of sorting chips of a particular color into
 particular columns. For this it is provided with sensors for recognizing
 the different types of chip. The output signals from the sensors are used
 to steer gates, through which the chips are fed into the individual
 columns, usually using solenoid operated plungers to push the chips into
 the respective columns. Modern chipper machines are also able to sort
 value chips and, in order to avoid too many columns, will sort several
 denominations into one column but will still individually count the chips
 per denomination. Modern chipper machines provide a communication port via
 which the interface 62 can interrogate the internal meters of the chipper
 machine for the number of sorted chips. For older machines, the interface
 62 requires tapping of the solenoids driving the plungers and a clock
 signal active for every chip sorted. The information is then sent to the
 computer system 64.
 On first using the chipper machine, the sequence of the chips in the
 chipper machine is first specified in the programming/learn mode of the
 chipper machine. This normally takes place by throwing the chips into the
 chipper machine in the desired sequence, in which the chips are to be
 output in the columns of the chip sorting machine. This would normally be
 the same sequence as is shown in the display of FIG. 7.
 The interface 62 (FIG. 2) transmits the sum of the sorted chips as
 n-position values in blocks of numbers in the sequence in which the chips
 are pushed out into the columns of the chipper machine. At the table
 terminal 24, the chips are also shown, in the diagram of FIG. 3, in the
 order in which they are fed into the chipper machine. In this way the
 action of the chipper machine, the display of the table terminal of FIG. 3
 and the output display of FIG. 7 are coordinated with one another, i.e.
 the sequence of the color chips is the same in all of them.
 Having described the various items of hardware and electronic equipment at
 the table, a description will now be given of the various assessments that
 can be made with this equipment.
 A description will now be given of the various pieces of information which
 the apparatus and method of the invention can deliver.
 a) Patron Win/Loss
 As indicated above, roulette is played with color chips, with each patron
 receiving chips in his individually allotted color. Some casinos allow
 additionally the use of value chips, in which case only one patron per
 chip value is allowed in order for it to be possible to associate each
 value chip uniquely with an individual patron. Casinos do allow more than
 one patron per value chip denomination in which case patron can only be
 rated by the floor person by the classic manual method. It is mandatory
 for each table to have differently patterned color chips in order to avoid
 different values of the same color chip in a casino. Actually, the word
 "color" is misleading, since the chips usually have different surface
 decorations and a plurality of different colors in order to make it
 possible to distinguish readily between them.
 Also as indicated above, when a patron arrives at a table, he buys color
 chips at the table minimum or higher value in exchange for cash, value
 chips or markers. Markers are casino cheques by which the patron can draw
 from his credit or cash deposit account with the casino. Markers are
 generally issued by pit clerks and signed by the patron.
 Also as explained previously, the patron is identified by swiping his
 player identification card through a card reader. Then the screen display
 of FIG. 3 appears, which enables the croupier to associate a particular
 color chip or a particular value chip with that player with a minimum of
 effort. It should be noted here that the player need not necessarily have
 an identity card in which case an anonymous player identity is created and
 linked to the player position. Provision is made for the floor person to
 enter/retrieve information concerning the identity of the player at a pit
 terminal (not shown in the drawings) associated with the computer system
 64. It should also be noted that the identity of the patron may be his
 full name and address, but may also simply be a piece of information
 uniquely identifying him, such as his position at the gaming table, or his
 room number if he is staying in a hotel associated with the casino.
 Following the entry of the identity of the player, and the selection of a
 chip using the touch screen display of FIG. 3, the touch screen diagram of
 FIG. 5 appears. The croupier can enter the value of the chip which is
 associated with the player in question. In the example of FIG. 5 the table
 minimum is $5 per chip and the player has elected to play with the chip
 value of $10 per chip. After this entry, the computer knows that player X
 is playing with chips of a particular color and that each chip has a value
 of $10. After allotting the chip value of $10, the screen drawing of FIG.
 4 automatically appears. The croupier can use the touch screen to enter
 the drop amount by the player X--in the example of FIG. 4, $400. Thus, the
 computer now knows the player's identity, the color of chip he is playing
 with, the value associated with each color chip and the amount he has
 initially paid in.
 Once this has been completed, the croupier passes color chips of the
 selected color to the player X to the value of $400, i.e. 40 chips. He
 does this by taking two of the stacks 38 on the roulette table 10. The
 same procedure is followed for all other players at the table. Thereafter,
 the game commences. Each time the player loses, the color chips he has
 placed on the table are scooped into the inlet chute of the chipper
 machine 14 and are automatically sorted by the chipper machine 14. Each
 time he wins, he is given chips by the croupier.
 Each patron may need to buy further chips in the course of the game if he
 wishes to continue playing at the table. If this occurs, the croupier
 either selects the screen drawing of FIG. 3, and then the chip of the
 patron on the screen, or he once again swipes the player's card through
 the card reader. In both cases the screen drawing of FIG. 4 automatically
 appears for him to enter the new drop amount. The total of the drop
 amounts made by a patron during a period at the gaming table is summed by
 the computer 64 and stored in a memory associated with the computer 64.
 If the player wins, then his wins would normally be paid in color chips,
 provided sufficient color chips are still available on the table. If this
 is not the case, then the balance of a win can be paid to the player in
 value chips. When the patron wants to leave at this stage, the croupier
 will pay the win in value chips, should he use the win calculator or the
 table terminal he will set the amount of color chips on the screen FIG. 6
 to zero so that the win can be paid in value chips and preferably done
 using the facility of the payout display of FIG. 7. The screen FIG. 6
 allows the entry of play chips the patron may hand to the croupier at this
 time. If the croupier does not use the win calculator the change in the
 chip tray inventory will trigger the table terminal to present a screen
 asking for the player position the amount of value chips was paid to.
 When the patron leaves the table, various situations are possible. The
 patron may have lost all his chips and is simply walking away. In this
 case, the croupier will log off the patron at the table terminal, or at
 the table terminal, if provided, thus freeing the color chip for another
 patron.
 The patron may have had a superb win and will indicated that he wants all
 his win paid in value chips. In this case the number of value chips
 required is taken from the chip tray and passed to the player in the same
 manner that occurs when the player has to be paid with value chips during
 the course of a game, and thus this payment to the player, a win by the
 player, is recorded by the computer in the way described previously. If
 necessary, the win calculator function can be used to determine the amount
 to be paid in value chips. The patron may hand his remaining color chips
 to the croupier, in which case the croupier will enter the number of color
 chips at the table terminal as a "walk" amount.
 The patron may just want to leave without a high win after a particular
 spin of the roulette wheel. In this case the croupier will enter the
 number of color chips received. Should the croupier, however, just take
 the value chips from the chip tray and hand them to the patron, the system
 will automatically determine a decrease of the chip tray inventory, will
 flip up the payout screen to enter the walk amount of value chips at the
 table terminal and alert the croupier by light and/or sound to enter
 information concerning the patron, and/or his position at the table,
 and/or color of color chip.
 b) Total Amount Bet by a Patron
 It will be appreciated that the total amount paid in by the patron is not
 the same thing as the total amount bet. During the play at the roulette
 table, the patron will sometimes lose and sometimes win. Thus, the number
 of chips he has purchased will pass to and fro between him and the
 croupier. The total amount bet by the player will increase accordingly.
 In accordance with the present teaching, this total amount bet is detected
 by detecting the number of chips of the particular color sorted by the
 chipper machine.
 As explained previously, when a player wins, the croupier will take a
 number of stacks of chips, pass the patron a certain number of whole
 stacks and a broken stack and will return the extra chips from the broken
 stack into the chipper machine. This actually means that the chipper
 machine sorts rather more chips than the player has actually bet.
 In order to make this clearer, two different examples will now be given.
 These examples allow an estimation of the discrepancy or error in assuming
 that the total number of chips sorted by the chipper machine corresponds
 to the total amount bet by the player. The two examples will reflect
 different house rules of the casino.
 Each of the two examples lists the most frequent winning combinations
 encountered when playing the game of roulette, which are also the most
 frequent combinations selected by the players.
 EXAMPLE 1

Win in No. of chip-
 number of stacks (20 Chips cut
 chips chips each) into chipper
 Winning chips paid to player stacks chips machine
 1 on single number 35 2 40 5
 2 on single number 70 4 80 10
 3 on single number 105 6 120 15
 4 on single number 140 7 140 0
 1 on split 17 17 1 20 3
 2 on split 34 34 2 40 6
 3 on split 51 51 3 60 9
 4 on split 68 68 4 80 12
 1 number + 1 split 52 3 60 8
 2 number + 1 split 87 5 100 13
 3 number + 1 split 122 7 140 18
 1 number + 2 split 69 4 80 11
 2 number + 2 split 104 6 120 16
 3 number + 2 split 139 7 140 1
 1 number + 3 split 86 5 100 14
 2 number + 3 split 121 7 140 19
 3 number + 3 split 156 8 160 4
 1456 1620 164
 Thus, in example 1 the player may place one chip on a single number. If
 this number wins, he will receive 35 chips from the croupier. This means
 the croupier will take two stacks of 20 chips each, thus totaling 40
 chips, will break one of the stacks and will return five chips into the
 chipper machine. If the patron has played two chips on a single number,
 then his win is 70 chips. For this, the croupier will take four full
 stacks totaling 80 chips and will return 10 chips into the chipper
 machine. Similarly, if the player plays three chips on a single number and
 wins, then the croupier has to give him 105 chips. For this the croupier
 will take six chip stacks, will break one of them and return 15 chips to
 the chipper machine. Should the patron have played 4 chips on a single
 number, then his total win would be 140 chips, equal to 7 full stacks.
 The other possible combinations can be understood in the same sense. Of
 interest for this example is the case when the player places three chips
 on a number and one chip on a split (which will also involve the same
 number). In this case the three chips on the one number means a win of 105
 chips, and the one chip on the split means a win of 17 chips, and the sum
 total 105+17=122 chips.
 It would be possible for the croupier to take seven stacks and return 18 to
 the chipper machine. However, in the case of example 1, the house rules of
 the casino tell the croupier that with a number such as this, he should
 only take six full stacks, totaling 120 chips, and extract two further
 chips from the chipper machine.
 Another example, where the croupier, operating in accordance with the house
 rules of a particular casino, takes an extra chip from the chipper
 machine, is shown in the penultimate entry of example 1. Here the patron
 has bet two chips on a single number and three chips on a split, which
 will also involve the single number. For the two chips on the single
 number he will have won a total of 70 chips, and for the three chips on a
 split, he will have won 3.times.17=51 chips. The total of 121 chips
 (70+51=121) is paid to the patron by the croupier by taking six full
 stacks and one extra chip from the chipper machine.
 Clearly, whenever the player loses, his chips are placed by the croupier in
 the chipper machine. Since full stacks are formed by the croupier from
 chips taken from the individual columns of the chipper machine, all the
 chips paid to the patron have been through the chipper machine and thus
 counted by the system.
 Thus, if the wins are distributed equally, the total number of chips in the
 chip stacks summed over all these examples is 1580, of which 1456 have
 been paid to the patron, and 130 have been returned to the chipper
 machine. Since three extra chips were taken from the chipper machine, in
 fact a total of 127 were returned to the chipper machine. 127 represents
 8.52% of 1580. Accordingly, for this particular casino, the total number
 of chips having passed through particular patrons through the chipper
 machine should be reduced by 8.52% to arrive at a value which, while still
 not 100% accurate, nevertheless represents a good estimate of the total
 amount bet by the patron sufficient for subsequent analysis.
 In example 2, different house rules apply. In this case no extra chips are
 taken from the chipper machine, but rather a whole number of stacks is
 always broken, with chips being returned to the chipper machine. Thus,
 whereas for three chips placed on a number and one chip placed on a split,
 two extra chips were taken from the chipper machine in example 1. Example
 2 provides for the croupier to take seven whole stacks and to break one
 stack and return 19 chips to the chipper machine rather than taking one
 extra chip from the chipper machine as in example 1.
 The result in the present case is that a total of 1620 chips have been
 through the chipper machine, 1456 have been returned to the player and the
 number of chips counted by the chipper machine is higher by 164 than the
 total amount bet by the player. Thus, in this case, a correction factor of
 11.26% can be considered as appropriate. Again, it must be noted that this
 is not an absolutely accurate calculation of a total amount bet by the
 patron, but is a statistically reasonable approach to assessing the total
 amount bet by the patron, based on an observation of a patron's playing
 behavior over a long period of time.
 The assessment of the player's total turnover in this way is important for
 several reasons. First of all, the turnover is the win potential for the
 casino from this patron and the base for "Frequent Player Programs", it
 enables the casino to see whether the patron is an important patron of the
 casino and whether special attention should be paid to him to encourage
 him to continue using the casino. Secondly, for such an important patron,
 it would be possible to build up a data base over a longer period of time
 showing whether the total amounts won or loss in relation to turnover are
 reasonable having regard to the house advantage or whether there is some
 element of the patron's play which is suspicious. Thirdly, the assessment
 of the total amount bet by each patron is the key to assessing the
 turnover of the croupier and to monitoring the performance of the
 croupier.
 c) Total Turnover of the Croupier
 As mentioned above, it is conventional for croupiers to work for periods of
 about 45 minutes and to then take a break. By requiring the croupier to
 sign on and sign off at the table, which can be done by drawing his card
 through the card reader, it is possible for the computer 64 to recognize
 which croupier is present at the table and for the play during the period
 in which a particular croupier is working at the table to be associated
 uniquely with that croupier.
 It is not necessary for the croupier to both sign on and sign off. The
 signing on of one croupier can automatically be used to sign off the
 previous one. This is preferred because it reduces the burden on the
 croupier.
 Through the signing on and off of the croupiers, the computer system is put
 in the position of being able to associate activities at the table with a
 particular croupier. This is necessary to detect the croupier's
 performance.
 The total turnover achieved by a croupier in any one working period is
 simply the sum of the total amounts bet by the individual patrons during
 this period.
 It was already explained above in detail under section b) how the turnover
 of individual patrons is assessed. By knowing the time at which a croupier
 arrives at the table and subsequently leaves it, it is possible to deduce
 from the data relating to the total amount bet by a patron, as stored by
 the central processing unit 64 and based on information from the chipper
 machine, the amount the particular patron bet during a particular working
 period of the croupier concerned. This also makes it possible to take
 account of people arriving at or leaving the table during such a working
 period. It will be appreciated that the computer 64 when recording pieces
 of information, such as the sorting of a number of color chips by the
 chipper machine 14, or a payout from the chip tray 16, will record a time
 against each such piece of data and that the different time entries can be
 used to associate the total amount bet by a patron within the working
 period, with the croupier controlling the gaming at the table during that
 working period.
 d) Win or Loss of the Croupier
 To determine the win and loss achieved by the croupier the financial status
 of the table at the beginning and the end of a working period is captured.
 The financial table status of a table is determined by the cash and marker
 drop and the chip tray inventory relative to the opening inventory when
 the table opened or the shift started. Non gaming influences on the chip
 tray such as chip fills and credits from and to the chip bank have to be
 accounted for by the computer system 64. Again, the signing on and off of
 the croupier results in time signals, which enable drops made by the
 individual patrons and the taking of winnings during the working period to
 be associated by the central processing unit 64 with a particular
 croupier. The win and loss determined in this way is not strictly speaking
 accurate because it does not take account of the influence of the
 different quantity of color chips which are in the patron's possession at
 the start and end of the play. However, if the croupier's performance is
 measured over a sufficient number of working periods, the influence of the
 color chips held by the patrons balances out over an adequately long
 period, so that a high level of confidence can be achieved that the
 assessment of the croupier's performance is correct.
 This possibility of summing the total amount won or lost by a croupier over
 a longer period of time and simultaneously knowing the total turnover
 achieved by the croupier in that period of time provides a very powerful
 tool for analyzing the croupier's performance. As already mentioned, there
 is a known house advantage for the casino, so that statistically speaking
 over a longer period of time the casino should have made a win of 2.7% of
 the total turnover for French roulette, with a single zero, or 5.28% for
 American roulette with a double zero. Thus, a good croupier is one who
 achieves a high turnover and the house advantage based on that turnover.
 On the other hand, when the turnover is high, but the net win by the
 croupier falls significantly short of the house advantage, this is
 suspicious and requires further investigation. It is natural, in a game of
 chance, for the croupier to have some days in which his net win is low, or
 in which he even makes a loss. However, on average he should be achieving
 the house advantage. Should statistical observation, however, show that
 the croupier's overall performance is significantly below the house
 advantage, and that the periods in which his performance is poorest
 correspond to a particular patron participating in the game of roulette
 and making a significant win, then this suggests that there may be some
 collusion between the croupier and the patron, for example that the
 croupier is indulging in so-called sector spinning and has given the
 patron the tip that he should place his bets on particular numbers in
 order to have an increased chance of winning.
 As further confirmation of such a suspicion, it will be possible to analyze
 the statistical information from the detector 28 to see if this also
 correlates with particular wins by a particular patron.
 This statistical assessment of a croupier's performance can, for example,
 take place on the following basis:
 For French roulette (single zero) the mean win for a randomly placed bet of
 one chip is .mu.=0.0270 chips, with a standard deviation of .sigma.=4.113
 chips. For American roulette (double zero), it is .mu.=0.0528 and
 .sigma.=4.068 chips.
 As a rough assessment, it can be assumed that for each spin of the roulette
 wheel there are 60 stakes (individual bets) placed on the table, that the
 croupier performs 40 spins each shift and does 40 shifts a week. Based on
 this assumption, the following Table I reveals the number of weeks a
 croupier has to be observed to retrieve relevant assessment data.
 TABLE I
 Confidence Levels in Croupier Assessment
 Confidence Number of
 Pockets Coefficient Deviation bets Weeks
 37% 90% 33% 342 000 3.6
 50% 152 000 1.6
 100% 38 000 0.4
 95% 33% 564 000 5.9
 50% 250 000 2.6
 100% 63 000 0.7
 99% 33% 1 130 000 11.8
 50% 501 000 5.2
 100% 125 000 1.3
 38 90% 33% 88 000 0.9
 50% 39 000 0.4
 100% 9 800 0.1
 95% 33% 145 000 1.5
 50% 64 000 0.7
 100% 16 000 0.2
 99% 33% 290 000 3.0
 50% 129 000 1.3
 100% 32 000 0.3
 Furthermore, the table shows only negative deviations from the expected win
 (one sided test), as a higher win than the expected win could never harm a
 casino.
 Referring now to FIG. 7, the shaded columns in the diagram show the win a
 certain croupier produces for the casino. Having observed a croupier for
 at least 25 days, average win data is relevant. So if the win for this
 croupier falls under the dotted line after more than 25 days of
 observation, one can be sure to 90% that this croupier produces an average
 win which is 33% less than the average casino win.
 Another factor of uncertainty in croupier rating for American Roulette is
 the fact that wheel checks (value chips) in player's hands cannot be
 registered by the electronic chip tray and thus might cause inaccuracies
 in chip tray measurement. Studies have shown that uncertain wheel check
 positions increase the observation period by only 5.5%. This corresponds
 to two further days maximum, if the results derived should be within a
 confidence level of 95%.
 As further background to the present invention some statistical details
 will now be given with respect to the statistical background of roulette:
 Win, Mean and Standard Deviation
 The means of the casino's win for the single zero and the double zero
 roulette and their standard deviations can approximately be calculated
 from the following Tables II and III:
 TABLE II
 Means and standard deviations for different bets, assuming a
 one chip stake, at the game of roulette with 37 numbers (single zero).
 Numbers Possible Possible Win
 Standard
 in Bet Possibilities Loss Win Probability Mean Variance
 Deviation
 1 37 = 23.57% 35 1 0.0270 0.0270 34.080 5.838
 2 60 = 38.22% 17 1 0.0541 0.0270 16.567 4.070
 3 14 = 8.92% 11 1 0.0811 0.0270 10.729 3.276
 4 23 = 14.65% 8 1 0.1081 0.0270 7.810 2.795
 6 11 = 7.01% 5 1 0.1622 0.0270 4.891 2.212
 12 6 = 3.82% 2 1 0.3243 0.0270 1.972 1.404
 18 6 = 3.82% 1 1 0.4865 0.0270 0.999 1.000
 TABLE II
 Means and standard deviations for different bets, assuming a
 one chip stake, at the game of roulette with 37 numbers (single zero).
 Numbers Possible Possible Win
 Standard
 in Bet Possibilities Loss Win Probability Mean Variance
 Deviation
 1 37 = 23.57% 35 1 0.0270 0.0270 34.080 5.838
 2 60 = 38.22% 17 1 0.0541 0.0270 16.567 4.070
 3 14 = 8.92% 11 1 0.0811 0.0270 10.729 3.276
 4 23 = 14.65% 8 1 0.1081 0.0270 7.810 2.795
 6 11 = 7.01% 5 1 0.1622 0.0270 4.891 2.212
 12 6 = 3.82% 2 1 0.3243 0.0270 1.972 1.404
 18 6 = 3.82% 1 1 0.4865 0.0270 0.999 1.000
 To obtain overall estimations for the mean and the standard deviation, one
 would have to know the average frequencies for each bet. As a first
 approach, one can take the number of possibilities for each bet given in
 Table II and Table III, and calculate averages for mean and variance. This
 leads to:
 TABLE IV
 Overall means and
 standard deviations for the single
 zero and the double zero roulette
 Roulette Std.
 Type Mean (.mu.) Variance (.sigma..sup.2) Deviation (.sigma.)
 Single 0.0270 16.920 4.113
 Zero
 Double 0.0528 16.549 4.068
 Zero
 Minimum Sample Size Estimation
 As well known in statistics, the mean X of a sample of size N can be
 compared against the mean .mu. of the whole distribution by calculating
 ##EQU1##
 and comparing the result z, which is the normalized deviation of the sample
 mean X of the corresponding overall distribution mean .mu., with a table
 of the quantiles of the Gaussian distribution. Of course, this depends on
 the assumption that the sample has been taken from a normally distributed
 entity, but from the LINDEBERG-LEVY theorem we know that the distribution
 of a sample's mean is asymptotically normal, as long as both a mean and a
 variance exists for the distribution the sample is taken from. This means
 that Formula 1 can be taken as a good approximation as long as N is not
 too small.
 From Formula 1, one can easily derive
 ##EQU2##
 which is an estimate for the sample size needed to detect a given deviation
 from the distribution's mean.
 As an example for the single zero roulette, if one wants to detect a 33%
 deviation from the mean with a confidence coefficient of 90%, N has to be
 approximately 342 000. This means that the croupier has to be observed for
 about three and a half weeks to get the desired result.
 The mean for the double zero roulette is about double the one for the
 double zero roulette. Therefore, the sample size necessary is much less;
 it has to be approximately N=88 000. Using the assumptions above, we find
 the time period necessary to detect the mentioned deviation to be less
 than one week.
 Recalculating the sample sizes necessary to detect a 50% deviation at a
 confidence level of 95%, one obtains N=250 000, corresponding to about two
 and a half weeks (single zero) and N=64 000, corresponding to about five
 days (double zero).
 As mentioned above, wheel checks (value chips held by patrons at the table)
 can cause problems.
 Problem Description
 The variance of the win, as shown in Tab II, Tab. III and Tab. IV, has to
 be increased due to the uncertainty caused by the unknown amount of wheel
 checks possessed by the players at the table at the time of shift change.
 To obtain an estimate for this influence, some assumptions must again be
 made, which--on an average--are fulfilled in practice:
 At each time, there are five players at the table;
 The croupier performs 40 spins each shift;
 At each spin there are 60 stakes placed on the table;
 Each stake contains 2 chips;
 The amount of wheel checks lies between 0 and 100 (both included) and is
 evenly distributed.
 Mean and Variance (Wheel Checks)
 In general, mean and variance of an evenly distributed, discrete random
 variable with consecutive integer values from the interval [a,b] can be
 computed as follows
 ##EQU3##
 In the present case (a=0, b=100) the results are .mu.=50 and 2.sigma..sup.2
 =850.
 From the assumptions made in the section "Problem Description", it is
 obvious that the distribution of the wheel checks held by all players at
 shift change is the sum of five independent distributions, thus having a
 mean of .mu.=5.times.50=250 and a variance .sigma..sup.2 =5.times.850=4
 250. Therefore, mean and variance for the difference between begin and end
 of a croupier's shift are .mu.=250-250=0 and .sigma..sup.2 =4250+4250=8
 500.
 Mean and Variance (Croupier's Win)
 Following the assumptions above, a croupier has to handle 2 400 stakes with
 a total of 4 800 chips in one shift. The mean and standard deviation for
 his win can be calculated, based on the results given in Table IV. From
 there, .mu. has to be multiplied by 2 (average number of chips per stake)
 and by 2 400 (number of stakes), while .sigma..sup.2 has to multiplied by
 22 and by 2 400. The results are summarized in Table V:
 TABLE V
 Means and standard deviations for a
 croupier's win during one shift, not including the
 uncertainty caused by wheel checks.
 Roulette Std. Deviation
 Type Mean (.mu.) Variance (.sigma..sup.2) (.sigma.)
 Single Zero 129.73 162 432.79 403.03
 Double 253.42 158 865.91 398.58
 Zero
 How Wheel Checks Effect Sample Size
 The above discussion shows how the variance of the croupier's win within
 one shift increases by approximately 5.5% for both types of roulette, due
 to the uncertainty caused by the wheel checks. From Formula 2, it can be
 seen that the sample size depends linearly on the variance of the entity
 the sample is taken from, and therefore increases by the same ratio.
 e) Working speed of the Croupier
 One factor of interest to a casino is how quickly the croupier works. The
 quicker he works, the more turnover is achieved within a particular period
 of time and the greater is the profit to the casino. One simple measure
 for the working speed of a croupier is to count, for example, the number
 of spins of the roulette wheel he achieves per hour, or an equivalent
 value such as the average duration of a spin of the roulette wheel 12.
 This information can readily be obtained by the central processing unit 64
 either from the detector 28 or by analyzing the periods of activity of,
 for example, the chipper machine 14. The activity of the chipper machine
 will typically be at an increased level at the end of each spin of the
 roulette wheel when the croupier collects the losing bets.
 Another useful measure of the croupier's performance is the total number of
 chips sorted by the chipper machine in a particular period. Clearly, if
 more players are present at the table, the duration of each spin of the
 roulette wheel, the collection of lost bets and the payment of winnings
 will take rather longer than if only one or two patrons are playing at the
 table.
 f) Section Spinning Indication
 The detector 28, which can be designed in accordance with the PCT
 application with the publication number WO95/28996 provides information on
 the speed of the ball in the upper rim of the roulette wheel, the speed
 and direction of the cylinder of the roulette wheel, and the relative
 position of the cylinder to the ball and to the segment into which the
 ball falls. This information may be used to detect the position of the
 ball in the moving roulette wheel and illuminate the display to indicate
 the winning number to the patrons and to collect information for
 statistical processing. It is stated that the latter enables the casino to
 check that the wheel and its croupier are operating fairly and without
 bias. However, no particulars of how this check is made are given.
 The present teaching recognizes that the data achieved from the detector
 can be used to see if it is statistically significant. For example, the
 frequency with which a particular number occurs should be randomly
 distributed. Equally, a check can be made to see whether the set of
 parameters such as the speed of and the phase between the cylinder and the
 ball are randomly scattered out as with other croupiers or if the
 parameters indicate a rhythmic spinning by this croupier which again
 suggests that section spinning could be practiced.
 Finally, it should be noted that not all of the electronic items recited in
 connection with FIG. 2 are necessary for each of the assessments mentioned
 above. All the comments made below assume that a central processing unit
 64 or at least a computer associated with the particular gaming table or a
 group of gaming tables is present for data storage and analysis.
 Thus, for assessing the patrons, so-called patron rating (total amount
 bet), it will be sufficient to provide only a chipper machine 14 with an
 interface 62 and a table terminal 24, into which the croupier would be
 expected to type in all other relevant data. However, to make the system
 more comfortable for the croupier to use, it is preferable to provide a
 chip value and payout display 30 in accordance with FIG. 7.
 To determine the patron win or loss, it is necessary to have the table
 terminal 24 and the electronic chip tray 16 and it will help the croupier
 a lot to have the chip value and payout display 30.
 To perform the croupier assessments, it is necessary to have the chipper
 machine 14 with the interface 62 and the table terminal 24. In order to
 determine the number of spins per unit time, it is necessary to either
 derive this information from the activity of the chipper machine or to
 provide the detector 28. To obtain information concerning the net win or
 loss by the croupier, it is necessary to have as a minimum the table
 terminal 24 and the electronic chip tray 16. In order to determine
 possible section spinning, the minimum requirement is the table terminal
 24 and the automatic number detection system 28.
 The roulette number display 30 and the automatic number detection system 28
 are useful for providing customer information.
 It will, of course, be appreciated that the realization of the table
 terminal with various graphic touch screens and the precise layouts of
 these touch screens and the information contained on them are matters
 which can be varied significantly without departing from the present
 teaching. The versions given here represent the best embodiment known to
 the inventor.