Game token tray, table game management system, game token tray system, and game token management method

A game token tray system includes a game token tray having a dual tray structure in which a game token is stored. The game token tray system includes a double tray including a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on the lower tray to store a game token provided with an RF tag in which tag information is stored, a camera that acquires tray image data by imaging the game token stored in the upper tray, an RIFD reading device that reads the tag information from the RF tag of the game token stored in the lower tray, and a game recording device that records the tray image data and/or an image analysis result of the tray image data about the game token stored in the upper tray and records the tag information read by the RFID reading device about the game token stored in the upper tray.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/JP2018/004746 filed Feb. 9, 2018, which claims the benefit of JP Application No. 2017-024424 filed Feb. 13, 2017, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a game token tray that stores a game token.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, in game arcades such as a casino, a cashable game token is used, and a bet and a refund of a game are performed by the game token. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,735,742, an automatic settlement system that automatically monitors all transactions of the game token in a casino is used. In the automatic settlement system, an RF tag is embedded in the game token, and an electronic system including an antenna embedded in a game table is used to read the RF tag embedded in the game token. The antenna is also provided under the game token tray, and the RF tags of a plurality of game tokens in the game token tray are also collectively read in a contactless manner.

However, in reading the RF tag, because the plurality of RF tags are collectively read by one antenna, where the plurality of game tokens including the plurality of read RF tags are in a reading area (for example, a game token tray) is not understood. For this reason, for example, when a forged fraud game token is mixed in the game token tray in an settlement process of the game, although it can be recognized that the fraud game token exist in the game token tray, it cannot be determined where the fraud game token comes from, and it is not possible to specify a person who uses the forged game token.

In the game token tray having a double tray structure in which the upper tray and the lower tray are overlapped, when the RF tags are collectively read with respect to a plurality of game tokens stored in the upper tray and a plurality of game tokens stored in the lower tray, the RF tag of the game token stored in the upper tray cannot be distinguished from the RF tag of the game token stored for the lower tray in the plurality of read RF tags. That is, the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray cannot be grasped.

In the procedure for collectively reading the RF tags of the plurality of game tokens, even if the plurality of game tokens include the game token having the RF tag that is out of order or the game token that does not have the RF tag, the game token having the RF tag that is out of order or the game token that does not have the RF tag cannot be detected.

In the procedure for reading the RF tag, an error is generated in reading the RF tag depending on an angle and an orientation of the game token. In particular, the RF tag is hardly read depending on the angle for the game token stored in an inclined manner in the game token tray.

In the procedure for reading the RF tag, because the RF signal is read in a noncontact manner by outputting a radio wave from an antenna, a dealer or a player will be exposed to the radio wave for a long time, and an influence of the radio wave on a human body is concerned.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a novel game token tray system including a game token tray having a double tray structure in which the game token is stored.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, a game token tray provided on a game table and holding a game token, includes: an upper tray used to take in and out the game token during settlement of a game; and a lower tray disposed below the upper tray and storing the game token for replenishment to the upper tray. The game token includes a plastic layer, a specific color capable of specifying a type of the game token is at least partially provided in the game token, a printing layer representing the type of the game token is provided in upper and lower surfaces of the game token, an individually identifiable side code is given to a side surface of the game token, the game token has a structure in which an RF tag is fixed to the plastic layer, and a configuration in which the type of the game token can be specified by the specific color, an upper portion of the upper tray is open such that the game token placed on the upper tray can be imaged by a camera, and the RF tag of each game token placed on the lower tray can be read by an RFID reading device, the upper tray and the lower tray can take two modes of a state in which the upper tray and the lower tray are overlapped and an open state in which the game token on the lower tray can be taken in and out, and the RFID reading device does not read the RF tag of the game token placed on the upper tray while the upper tray and the lower tray are overlapped.

After the game is over, the dealer pays out the game token to the player from the upper tray, and stores the game token collected from the player in the upper tray. Thus, a fluctuation (increase and decrease) of the game token stored for each game is generated in the upper tray. Thus, whether the increase or decrease of the game token stored in the upper tray is correctly performed is desirably grasped for each game. With the above configuration, the fluctuation of the game token in the upper tray frequently generated in this way can be grasped based on tray image data.

The dealer moves the plurality of (for example, units of 100 pieces of) game tokens from the upper tray to the lower tray in timing the game tokens increase and cannot be stored in the upper tray, and conversely he dealer moves the plurality of (for example, units of 100 pieces of) game tokens from the lower tray to the upper tray in timing the game tokens in the upper tray are exhausted. As described above, in the lower tray, the fluctuation (increase or decrease) of the game token is not generated as frequent as the upper tray (for example, several times in casino business hours per day). Thus, whether the game token scheduled for the lower tray exists continuously is desirably checked for the lower tray. With the above configuration, the existence of the game token, which is accommodated in the lower tray and cannot visually be recognized from the outside, can be grasped by reading tag information from the RF tag.

With the above configuration, for the upper tray used to take in and out the game token during the settlement of the game, the position and movement of the game token can be recognized to detect the fraud by performing the imaging with the camera. For the lower tray in which the game token for replenishment is stored, the RF tag can be read even if the upper tray is stacked, and the RF tag is not read for the game token of the upper tray. Thus, the game token stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the RF tag. As described above, because the game token of the upper tray and the game token of the lower tray can be grasped, the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be grasped, and the fraud can be detected in the movement of the game token. As to the upper tray, the game token in which the RF tag is broken or the game token that does not include the RF tag can also be detected.

In the game token tray, a position of the side code of each game token in the upper tray may be specifiable by specifying the side code.

With this configuration, which game token is located at which position of the upper tray can be specified.

In the game token tray, the side code of the game token may be printed using ink that is invisible by visible light.

With this configuration, forgery becomes difficult to further enhance security, and a freedom degree of design of the side surface (visible by visible light) of the game token can be secured.

In the game token tray, the side code may be printed by ink absorbing infrared light.

With this configuration, the forgery becomes difficult to further enhance the security, the freedom degree of the design of the side surface (visible by visible light) of the game token can be secured, and the side code can be imaged with an infrared camera.

In the game token tray, the side code may be provided in a plurality of lines on the side surface.

With this configuration, the visibility of the side code by the camera can be improved, and a circumferential length per side code can be shortened, or a more complicated code can be created within the same circumferential length.

The game token tray may further include a database in which the side code in each of the plurality of game tokens is associated with tag information stored in the RF tag.

With this configuration, whether the side code of the game token corresponds to the tag information about the RF tag can be determined by referring to the database.

In the game token tray, the game token may have a configuration in which light color layers are provided on both sides of the specific color layer.

With this configuration, the specific color layer is sandwiched between the light color layers, the plurality of game tokens are stacked, and the specific color layers of adjacent game tokens are not continuous when observed from the side surface, so that the number of game tokens can accurately be grasped.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a management system for a table game that uses a game table, includes: a game token including a plastic layer, a specific color capable of specifying a type of the game token being at least partially provided in the game token, a printing layer representing the type of the game token being provided in upper and lower surfaces of the game token, a side surface to which an individually identifiable side code is given, the game token having a structure in which an RF tag is fixed to the plastic layer, and a configuration in which the type of the game token being able to be specified by the specific color; a game token tray provided on the game table and holding the game token; a camera that images and records the game token placed on the game token tray; an RFID reading device that reads the RF tag of each game token placed on the game token tray; and a management control device that specifies and stores the type and a number of the game token on the game token tray using an imaging result of the camera and a reading result of the RFID reading device. The game token tray includes an upper tray used to take in and out the game token during settlement of a game and a lower tray disposed below the upper tray and storing the game token for replenishment to the upper tray, the upper tray and the lower tray can take two modes of a state in which the upper tray and the lower tray are overlapped and an open state in which the game token on the lower tray can be taken in and out, and an upper portion of the upper tray is open such that the game token placed on the upper tray can be imaged by the camera, and the RF tag of each game token placed on the lower tray can be read by the RFID reading device.

With this configuration, for the upper tray used to take in and out the game token during the settlement of the game, the position and movement of the game token can be recognized to detect the fraud by performing the imaging with the camera. For the lower tray in which the game token for replenishment is stored, the RF tag can be read even if the upper tray is stacked. Thus, the game token stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the RF tag. As to the upper tray, the game token in which the RF tag is broken or the game token that does not include the RF tag can also be detected.

In the management system, the management control device may specify a position of the side code of each game token in the upper tray by specifying the side code.

With this configuration, which game token is located at which position of the upper tray can be specified.

In the management system, the RFID reading device may not read the RF tag of the game token placed on the upper tray while the upper tray and the lower tray are overlapped.

With this configuration, because the RF tag is not read for the game token of the upper tray, the game token of the upper tray and the game token of the lower tray can be grasped, and the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be grasped.

The management system may further include a database in which the side code in each of the plurality of game tokens and the RFID are associated with each other.

With this configuration, whether the side code of the game token corresponds to the tag information about the RF tag can be determined by referring to the database.

In the management system, the side code may be printed by ink that is invisible by visible light.

With this configuration, forgery becomes difficult to further enhance security, and a freedom degree of design of the side surface (visible by visible light) of the game token can be secured.

In the management system, the side code may be printed by ink absorbing infrared light.

With this configuration, the forgery becomes difficult to further enhance the security, the freedom degree of the design of the side surface (visible by visible light) of the game token can be secured, and the side code can be imaged with an infrared camera.

In the management system, the side code may be provided in a plurality of lines on the side surface.

With this configuration, the visibility of the side code can be improved, and a circumferential length per side code can be shortened, or a more complicated code can be created within the same circumferential length.

In the management system, the game token may have a configuration in which light color layers are provided on both sides of the specific color layer.

With this configuration, the visibility of the side code by the camera can be improved.

In the management system, the management control device may determine a fraud game token when the side code is different from a previously-registered side code.

With this configuration, the fraud game token that does not have the correct side code can be detected.

In the management system, the management control device may output a determination result when determining the fraud game token in the upper tray collected by a game table dealer, and reproduce imaging recording of the fraud game token using a camera.

With this configuration, the imaging record of the fraud game token can be reproduced to analyze a fraud action.

In the management system, the management control device may use the camera to determine a location, from which the game token collected by the game table dealer and placed on the upper tray comes, on the game table, and reproduce the imaging recording of movement of the game token using the camera.

With this configuration, a person who uses the fraud game token or the position of the person can be specified.

In the management system, the camera may also image a bill exchanged for the game token, and the management control device can specify the type and the number of the game token on the upper tray to be decreased by the exchange between the game token on the game token tray and the bill using an imaging result of the bill, and perform comparison and measurement with an actual total amount of the game tokens on the game token tray.

With this configuration, whether the exchange between the bill and the game token is correctly performed can be determined.

In the management system, the management control device may compare and determine whether a total amount of the game token grasped in the game token tray corresponds to an increase or decrease according to an amount paid of the game token corresponding to the exchanged bill after the exchange between the bill and the game token and an increase or decrease of the game token calculated from an amount of the game token betted by all players and a victory or defeat result of the game.

With this configuration, when the exchange between the bill and the game token is performed, whether the settlement of the game is correctly performed can be determined.

In the management system, the management control device may be an artificial intelligence utilizing type or a deep learning structure that can obtain information about the type and the number of the game token even if a part or a whole is hidden due to a blind angle of the camera in measuring and determining the type and the number of the game token.

With this configuration, the number and the type of the game token randomly placed on the game table can be recognized based on the image of the camera.

In the management system, the side code may be attached to at least three points spaced apart in a rotational direction in the light color layer of the side surface of the game token, the type and manufacturing information of the game token may be specified by reading the side code using the camera, and the specified information and a predetermined database may be collated and managed.

With this configuration, the fraud game token can be detected by collating contents of the side code indicating the type and the manufacturing information with the database.

The management system may further include a camera that images and records the game token on the game table. The camera may be configured to image the game token using a single camera or a plurality of cameras having different heights arranged at predetermined positions.

With this configuration, the game token at various positions on the game table can be imaged at various angles.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a game token tray provided on a game table and holding a game token, includes: an upper tray used to take in and out the game token during settlement of a game; and a lower tray disposed below the upper tray and storing the game token for replenishment to the upper tray. The game token includes a plastic layer, a specific color capable of specifying a type of the game token is at least partially provided in the game token, a printing layer representing the type of the game token is provided in upper and lower surfaces of the game token, the game token has a structure in which an RF tag representing a value can be fixed to the plastic layer, the value being able to be individually specified by the specific color, an upper portion of the upper tray is open such that the game token placed on the upper tray can be imaged by a camera, and the RF tag of each game token placed on the lower tray can be read by an RFID reading device, the upper tray and the lower tray can take two modes of a state in which the upper tray and the lower tray are overlapped and an open state in which the game token on the lower tray can be taken in and out, and the RFID reading device does not read the RFID of the game token placed on the upper tray while the upper tray and the lower tray are overlapped.

With the above configuration, for the upper tray used to take in and out the game token during the settlement of the game, the position and movement of the game token can be recognized to detect the fraud by performing the imaging with the camera. For the lower tray in which the game token for replenishment is stored, the RF tag can be read even if the upper tray is stacked, and the RF tag is not read for the game token of the upper tray. Thus, the game token stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the RF tag. As described above, because the game token of the upper tray and the game token of the lower tray can be grasped, the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be grasped, and the fraud can be detected in the movement of the game token. As to the upper tray, the game token in which the RF tag is broken or the game token that does not include the RF tag can also be detected.

In the game token tray, a number of the game tokens at each position in the upper tray may be specified by specifying the value of the game token.

With this configuration, the number of game tokens located in the upper tray, a value of the game tokens, and a location of the game tokens can be specified.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a management system for a table game that uses a game table, includes: a game token including a plastic layer, a specific color capable of specifying a type of the game token being at least partially provided in the game token, a printing layer representing the type of the game token being provided in upper and lower surfaces of the game token, a value of the game token capable to being individually specified by the specific color, an RF tag representing the type being fixed to the plastic layer; a game token tray provided on the game table and holding the game token; a camera that images the game token placed on the game token tray; an RFID reading device that reads the RF tag of each game token placed on the game token tray; and a management control device that specifies and stores the value and a number of the game token on the game token tray using an imaging result of the camera and a reading result of the RFID reading device. The game token tray includes an upper tray used to take in and out the game token during settlement of a game and a lower tray disposed below the upper tray and storing the game token for replenishment to the upper tray, the upper tray and the lower tray can take two modes of a state in which the upper tray and the lower tray are overlapped and an open state in which the game token on the lower tray can be taken in and out, and an upper portion of the upper tray is open such that the game token placed on the upper tray can be imaged by the camera, and an RFID of each game token placed on the lower tray can be read by the RFID reading device.

With this configuration, for the upper tray used to take in and out the game token during the settlement of the game, the position and movement of the game token can be recognized to detect the fraud by performing the imaging with the camera. For the lower tray in which the game token for replenishment is stored, the RF tag can be read even if the upper tray is stacked. Thus, the game token stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the RF tag. As to the upper tray, the game token in which the RF tag is broken or the game token that does not include the RF tag can also be detected.

In the management system, the management control device may specify the value and a position of each game token in the upper tray using the camera.

With this configuration, a value of game tokens located in the upper tray, and a location of the game tokens can be specified.

In the management system, the management control device may determine whether the game token in the upper tray is a predetermined game token using the camera.

With this configuration, the fraud game token can be determined.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a game token tray system includes: a double tray including a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on the lower tray to store a game token provided with an RF tag in which tag information is stored; image acquisition means for acquiring tray image data by imaging the game token stored in the upper tray; RIFD reading means for reading the tag information from the RF tag of the game token stored in the lower tray; and recording means for recording the tray image data and/or an image analysis result of the tray image data about the game token stored in the upper tray, and recording the tag information read by the RFID reading means about the game token stored in the lower tray.

With this configuration, as to the upper tray, the position and the movement of the game token can be recognized to detect the fraud by acquiring the tray image data, and as to the lower tray, even if the upper tray is overlapped, the stored game token can be grasped by reading the RF tag. As to the upper tray, the game token in which the RF tag is broken or the game token that does not include the RF tag can also be detected.

In the game token tray system, the image acquisition means may be configured not to image the game token stored in the lower tray is not imaged by the image acquisition means, the PFID reading means may be configured not to read the tag information about the game token stored in the upper tray, and the recording means may not record the tag information about the game token stored in the upper tray, and may not record either the tray image data of the game token stored in the lower tray or the image analysis result of the tray image data.

With this configuration, because the RF tag is not read for the game token of the upper tray, the game token of the upper tray and the game token of the lower tray can be grasped, and the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be grasped.

In the game token tray system, the lower tray may be installed at a position where the game token stored in the lower tray is not imaged by the image acquisition means, the RFID reading means is configured not to read the tag information about the game token stored in the upper tray, and the recording means may not record the tag information about the game token stored in the upper tray, and may not record either the tray image data of the game token stored in the lower tray or the image analysis result of the tray image data.

With this configuration, because the RF tag is not read for the game token of the upper tray, the game token of the upper tray and the game token of the lower tray can be grasped, and the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be grasped.

The game token tray system may further include image analysis means for specifying the position of the game token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data. The recording means may record information about the position of the game token as the image analysis result.

With this configuration, the position of the game token in the upper tray can be specified and recorded.

The game token tray system may further include image analysis means for specifying a value indicated by a color of the side surface of the game token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data. The color indicating the value of the game token may be given to the side surface of the game token, and the recording means may record information about the value specified by the image analysis means as the image analysis result.

With this configuration, a value of the game token located in the upper tray can be specified and recorded by the color of the side surface of the game token.

The game token tray system may further include image analysis means for specifying identification information about the game token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data. The identification information about the game token may be written in the side surface of the game token, and the recording means may record the identification information specified by the image analysis means as the image analysis result.

With this configuration, which game token is located in the upper tray can be identified and recorded by the identification information written in the side surface of the game token.

The game token tray system may further include a database in which the identification information is recorded.

With this configuration, the fraud game token can be detected by collating the identification information written in the side surface with the database.

In the game token tray system, the image analysis means may perform image recognition based on machine learning on the tray image data.

With this configuration, the analysis of the tray image data can accurately be performed.

The game token tray system may further include fraud detecting means for detecting fraud based on the image analysis result.

With this configuration, the fraud can be detected based on the image analysis result.

The game token tray system may further include fraud detecting means for detecting fraud based on the image analysis result and the tag information read from the RF tag.

With this configuration, the fraud can be detected based on the image analysis result and the read tag information.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a game token tray system includes: a double tray including a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on the lower tray to store a game token provided with an RF tag in which tag information is stored; image acquisition means for acquiring tray image data by imaging the game token stored in the upper tray; RFID reading means for reading the tag information from the RF tag of the game token stored in the lower tray; and fraud detecting means for detecting fraud about the upper tray based on the tray image data, and detecting fraud about the lower tray based on tag information read by the RFID reading means.

With this configuration, as to the upper tray, the fraud can be detected based on the tray image data, and as to the lower tray, the RF tag can be read even if the upper tray is overlapped, so that the game token stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the tag information. As to the upper tray, the game token in which the RF tag is broken or the game token that does not include the RF tag can also be detected.

The game token tray system may further include image analysis means for specifying a value indicated by a color of the side surface of the game token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data. The color indicating the value of the game token may be given to the side surface of the game token, information indicating the value of the game token may be stored as the tag information in the RF tag, and the fraud detecting means may detect the fraud by determining whether the value increased or decreased in the upper tray corresponds to the value increased or decreased in the lower tray based on the value specified by the image analysis means and the value read by the RFID reading means when the game token is moved between the upper tray and the lower tray.

With this configuration, whether the game token is correctly moved between the upper tray and the lower tray can be determined.

The game token tray system may further include image analysis means for specifying a value indicated by a color of the side surface of the game token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data. The color indicating the value of the game token may be given to the side surface of the game token, and the fraud detecting means may detect the fraud by determining whether an adjusted amount corresponds to the value increased or decreased in the upper tray before and after settlement based on the value specified by the image analysis means and the adjusted amount based on a game result and a bet amount of a player.

With this configuration, whether the settlement after the game is correctly performed can be determined.

The game token tray system may further include image analysis means for specifying identification information about the game token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data. Identification information about the game token may be stored as the tag information in the RF tag of the game token, the identification information about the game token may be written in the side surface of the game token, and the fraud detecting means may detect the fraud by determining whether the identification information read by the RFID reading means corresponds to the identification information specified based on the tray image data when the game token is moved between the upper tray and the lower tray.

With this configuration, using the identification information, the fraud can be detected during the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray.

The game token tray system may further include: image analysis means for specifying identification information about the game token stored in the upper tray based on the tray image data; and a database in which a plurality of pieces of the identification information are stored. The identification information about the game token may be written in the side surface of the game token, and the fraud detecting means may detect the fraud by determining whether the identification information specified by the image analysis means is stored in the database.

With this configuration, the game token in which the identification information stored in the database is not written can be detected as the fraud game token.

In the game token tray system, the fraud detecting means may specify a position of the fraud game token in which the identification information specified by the image analysis means is not stored in the database.

With this configuration, the position of the fraud game token can be specified.

In the game token tray system, the double tray may be installed on a game table, the image acquisition means further acquires a table image data by imaging a table surface of the game table, and the fraud detecting means may specify a location, from which the fraud game token is collected, on the table surface based on the position of the fraud game token and the table image data.

With this configuration, a location from which (the player or the position of the player) the fraud game token comes can be specified.

In the game token tray system, the double tray may be installed on a game table, information indicating the value of the game token may be written in the side surface of the game token, the image acquisition means may acquire table image data by imaging a table surface of the game table, the game token tray system may further include image analysis means for specifying an amount of a bill exchanged for the game token based on the table image data, and specifying a value based on an image of the side surface of the game token stored in the upper tray, and the fraud detecting means may determine whether the amount of the bill specified by the table image analysis means corresponds to the value of the game token exchanged for the bill.

According to this configuration, whether the exchange is correctly and equivalently performed can be determined when the bill and the game token are exchanged on the game table.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a game token tray system includes: a double tray including a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on the lower tray to store a game token provided with an RF tag in which tag information is stored; tray image acquisition means for acquiring tray image data by imaging the game token stored in the upper tray; and RFID reading means for reading the tag information from the RF tag of the game token stored in the lower tray, and not reading the tag information from the RF tag of the game token stored in the upper tray.

With this configuration, the tray image data can be acquired for the game token in the upper tray, the RF tag is read for the game token in the lower tray, and the RF tag is not read for the game token in the upper tray, so that the game token stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the RF tag.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a game token tray system comprising: a double tray including a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on the lower tray to store a game token provided with an RF tag in which tag information is stored; RFID reading means for reading the tag information from the RF tag of the game token stored in the lower tray, and not reading the tag information from the RF tag of the game token stored in the upper tray; and fraud detecting means for detecting fraud movement of the game token based on the tag information read by the RFID reading means when the game token is moved between the upper tray and the lower tray.

With this configuration, the tray image data can be acquired for the game token of the upper tray, and the RF tag is read for the game token of the lower tray, so that the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray can be grasped, and the fraud such as pilfering of the game token in the movement can be detected.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a game token management method in a double tray including a lower tray and an upper tray stacked on the lower tray to store a game token provided with an RF tag in which tag information is stored, includes: a tray image acquisition step of acquiring tray image data by imaging the game token stored in the upper tray; an image analysis step of analyzing the game token stored in the upper tray by performing image analysis on the tray image data; a reading step of reading the tag information from the RF tag of the game token stored in the lower tray; and a fraud movement detecting step of detecting fraud movement of the game token by determining whether an increase or decrease of the game token in the upper tray based on the tray image data corresponds to an increase or decrease of the game token in the lower tray based on the tag information read in the reading step.

With this configuration, the tray image data can be acquired for the game token of the upper tray, and the RF tag is read for the game token of the lower tray, so that the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray can be grasped, and the fraud such as pilfering of the game token in the movement can be detected.

In the game token management method, the value of the game token may be written in the side surface of the game token, and in the image analysis step, image analysis may be performed on the tray image data to specify the value of the game token stored in the upper tray, the game token management method may further include: an adjusted amount calculation step of calculating an adjusted amount of the game token based on a game result and a bet amount of a player; and a fraud settlement detecting step of detecting fraud settlement by determining whether the adjusted amount calculated in the adjusted amount calculation step corresponds to a value increased or decreased in the upper tray.

With this configuration, whether the settlement is correctly performed can be determined.

In the game token management method, the image analysis may be the tray image analysis step is image recognition based on machine learning.

With this configuration, accuracy of the fraud detection can be improved.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the present invention, for the upper tray used to take in and out the game token during the settlement of the game, the position and movement of the game token can be recognized to detect the fraud by performing the imaging with the camera. For the lower tray in which the game token for replenishment is stored, the RF tag can be read even if the upper tray is stacked, and the RF tag is not read for the game token of the upper tray. Thus, the game token stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the RF tag. As described above, because the game token of the upper tray and the game token of the lower tray can be grasped, the movement of the game token between the upper tray and the lower tray can also be grasped, and the fraud can be detected in the movement of the game token. As to the upper tray, the game token in which the RF tag is broken or the game token that does not include the RF tag can also be detected.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiment illustrates an example in the case of implementing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the specific configuration described below. In the implementation of the present invention, a specific configuration according to the embodiment may appropriately be adopted.

A game token tray system and a table game management system in a game arcade including a plurality of game tables according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The management system of the embodiment includes a game table and a game token tray system, and the game token system of the embodiment includes a game token, a game token tray, a camera, an RFID reader, and a management control device.

The game token used in the management system or the game token tray system of the embodiment will be described first.FIG. 1is a side view of the game token of the embodiment, andFIG. 2is a sectional view of the game token of the embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 1, a game token120is formed by laminating a plurality of plastic layers having different colors. The game token120has a layer of a specific color (specific color layer)121at least in the middle and has a multi-layer structure in which a layer of a light color (light color layer)122is laminated on both sides of the specific color121in the middle. The color of the light color layer122may be lighter than the specific color (when lightness is high), and includes white.

In manufacturing the game token120, a plurality of plastic plate members are laminated and thermocompression-bonded, and punching is performed to obtain a plurality of game tokens120. Specifically, a light color plastic plate constituting the lower light color layer122, a specific color plastic plate constituting the specific color layer122, and a plastic plate constituting the upper light color layer122are laminated in this order to form a laminated structure constructed with a plurality of plastic layers. At this point, an RF tag (also referred to as an RF chip or a noncontact tag)125that is a wireless tag is embedded in a substantial center of each punching for obtaining a plurality of game tokens120. Specifically, the RF tag125is placed between the specific color layer121and the upper light color layer122.

A pattern corresponding to each game token120is printed on a top surface and a bottom surface of the laminated structure, and a transparent layer124is further provided on the pattern. The laminated structure and the transparent layer124are heated and pressed to heat-weld each layer, thereby preparing a taken original plate. At this point, in a portion overlapping the RF tag125, the plastic plate is deformed according to the RF tag125by heat (although the RF tag125is drawn thicker than the actual RF tag125inFIG. 2, the actual RF tag125is thinner than the RF tag125drawn inFIG. 2), so that the top and bottom surfaces of the game token120after each device is thermocompression-bonded are formed flat without being raised by the RF tag125.

The game token original plate made in this way is punched out using a die to obtain a plurality of game tokens120having a predetermined shape. In the punching, upper and lower corners of the outer side of the game token120are rounded using a die.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, a striped pattern in which the specific color layer121is sandwiched between the light color layers122in the laminating direction of the side surface is formed by making the game token120having a multilayer structure in which the specific color layer121and the light color layer122are laminated. At this point, the specific color may be a color different for each type of the game token120(that is, value: 10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, and the like). For example, 10 points may be set to red, 20 points may be set to green, 100 points may be set to yellow, and 1000 points may be set to blue. The color of the light color layer122is commonly used for each type of the game token120. That is, the color of the light color layer122is identical in any type of the game token120.

Thus, the game token120has the specific color layer121and the light color layer122at least in appearance so as to form a stripe pattern in an axial direction (thickness direction) on the side surface, and the type of the game token120can be specified by the color of the specific color layer121. Thus, even if the plurality of game tokens120are stacked, the type of the game token120can be determined by the color of the specific color layer121sandwiched between the light color layers122by observing the side surface of the game token120.

At least identification information uniquely specifying the game token120, a type (value) of the game token120, a date of manufacture, and the like are stored as tag information in the RF tag125. In the regular game token120, the type (value) stored in the RF tag125as the tag information is matched with the type (value) represented by the specific color layer121of the side surface.

FIGS. 3 to 5are sectional views illustrating another example of the game token. InFIG. 3, the specific color layer121is constructed with three layers. A hole B is made in a middle layer of the specific color layer121in order to store the RF tag125in a central portion of the middle layer, and a cavity is formed in order to the RF tag125by sandwiching the hole B between the upper layer and the lower layer of the specific color layer121.

FIG. 4illustrates an example in which the specific color portion121and the white portion122are formed by injection molding. Specifically, the specific color portion121and the light color portion122are formed by what is called two-color molding in which the specific color portion121is molded first using a specific color resin in a molding die (not illustrated), and then the light color portion122is molded using a light color resin.

FIG. 5illustrates an example in which a specific color layer sandwiched between light color layers is constructed by printing the specific color in the center of the side surface after forming the game token120using a light color resin or a plastic material. In this case, the RF tag125is embedded between two light plastic plates, the transparent layer124is overlapped after printing on the top surface and the bottom surface, thereby forming the laminate. After thermocompression bonding and punching, the side surface of the game token120may be colored in a specific color.

The game token tray will be described below.FIG. 6is a plan view of the game token tray, andFIG. 7is a side view of the game token tray. The game token tray17of the embodiment has a double tray structure including an upper tray171and a lower tray172. The game token tray17holds the game token120in each of the upper tray171and the lower tray172. As illustrated inFIG. 7, the upper tray171is used while stacked on the lower tray172.

The lower tray172is disposed below the upper tray171, and stores the game token120for replenishing the upper tray171. The lower tray172is also used to store the game token120that is no longer stored in the upper tray171. During the game, the upper tray171is stacked on the lower tray172, and is used to put in and out the game token120when the game is adjusted. For this purpose, the upper tray171is open at the top surface. The top surface of the lower tray172is also opened by removing the upper tray171from above, and the game token120can be taken in and out.

As illustrated inFIG. 6, the upper tray171includes a plurality of rows of vertical orientation storage units173and a row of sideways storage unit174on the plurality of vertical orientation storage units173. During the settlement, the game token120is paid out from the vertical orientation storage unit173to the player, and the game token120collected from the player is temporarily stored in the sideways storage unit174. The lower tray172includes a plurality of rows of vertical orientation storage units175.

An antenna176is installed below the lower tray172in order to read the RF tag125of the game token120stored in the lower tray172. The antenna176is connected to a reader177, and the antenna176and the reader177constitute an RFID reading device170. The antenna176is controlled by the reader177to generate a radio wave. The RF tag125of the game token120stored in the lower tray172receives the radio wave, generates power by rectification, and transmits information (tag information) stored in the RF tag125on the radio wave. The antenna176receives the radio wave, and the reader177reads the tag information about the RF tag125stored in the RF tag125from the radio wave.

At this point, the RFID reading device170including the antenna176and the reader177is configured such that the radio wave can reach only the RF tag125of the game token120in the lower tray172, and therefore the tag information is read from the RF tag125of the game token120stored in the lower tray172, but the tag information is not read from the RF tag125of the game token120stored in the upper tray171. This configuration can be achieved by adjusting a frequency and intensity of the radio wave transmitted from the antenna176, a material for the lower tray172and the upper tray171, and a position of the antenna176. The RFID reading device170may read the tag information about the RF tag125by electromagnetic induction.

FIG. 8is a plan view illustrating a state (open state) in which the upper tray171is removed. When the upper tray171is removed, the top surface of the lower tray172is exposed, and the game token120can be taken in and out from the lower tray172. The upper tray171and the lower tray172are connected to each other by a chain178. Thus, the game token tray17constructed with the upper tray171and the lower tray172takes two modes of a state in which the upper tray171and the lower tray172are overlapped and an open state in which the game token120on the lower tray172can be taken in and out.

FIGS. 9 and 10are side views illustrating another example of the game token tray17. Even in the example ofFIGS. 9 and 10, the game token tray17is configured as a double tray constructed with the upper tray171and the lower tray172. However, in the example ofFIGS. 9 and 10, the upper tray171and the lower tray172are connected to each other by links179a,179bhaving an equal length, and the upper tray171can be lifted obliquely upward while maintained in parallel to the lower tray172as illustrated inFIG. 10.

When the game token120is taken in and out from the lower tray172, the upper tray171is moved by the links179a,179band put in the state ofFIG. 10. With this configuration, the top surface of the lower tray172can be opened while the game token120stored in the upper tray171is not spilled from the upper tray171. In the state ofFIG. 9, the upper tray171can be imaged with the camera2.

A management system for the game table including the game token120and the game token tray17will be described below.FIG. 11is a view illustrating an outline of the whole management system of the embodiment. A management system100manages a table game at each game table in a game arcade having the plurality of game tables4using a management control device15. The management system100is configured in each game table. Although the game table4and the management control device15are illustrated inFIG. 11, the management control device15may be shared by a plurality of game tables4in the game arcade.

One side (an upper side inFIG. 11) of the game table4has a linear shape, and an opposite side (a lower side inFIG. 11) is curved. A dealer5located at the straight side faces a plurality of players located at the curved side. A bet area8divided in each player is provided in front of each player of the game table4, and the game token tray17is installed in front of the dealer5. The game token tray17is embedded in the game table4such that the upper tray171is exposed to a table surface of the game table4.

The management system100mainly includes a plurality of cameras2that image the table surface of the game table4(and the game token, hands, and the like on the table surface). Although the two cameras2are illustrated inFIG. 11, an example of the actual disposition of the cameras2is not limited toFIG. 11.

FIG. 12is a view illustrating an example of the disposition of the plurality of cameras2in the management system100. In the example ofFIG. 12, the management system100includes a camera2L that installed in the upper left of the game table4to mainly image a bet area on the right side of the game table4, a camera2R that is installed in the upper right of the game table4to mainly image the bet area on the left side of the game table4, a camera2C that mainly images the game token tray17from above, and a camera2P that mainly images the game token tray17from obliquely above as the camera2.

With this disposition, the plurality of cameras2image a progress state of the game played on the game table4, and generate image data (video data or still image data). The plurality of cameras2also image operation of a player6or the dealer5on the card C or the game token120. The plurality of cameras2correspond to the image acquisition means of the present invention.

Both the cameras2C,2P that image the game token tray17are installed to image the game token120stored in the upper tray171. When the upper tray171is overlapped on the lower tray172, the cameras2C,2P cannot image the lower tray172. The camera2P images the upper tray171obliquely from above, and the lower tray172is embedded in the game table4. For this reason, the camera2P cannot image the lower tray172even when the upper tray171is removed from the lower tray172to expose the top surface of the lower tray172.

With reference toFIG. 11, a card distributing device3is placed on the game table4. The card distributing device3has a configuration in which cards C used in the game can be stocked and drawn one by one as a card shoe. The card distributing device3is what is called an electronic shoe already used by those skilled in the art, and has a function of determining and displaying a victory or defeat result of each game.

That is, a game rule is previously programmed in the card distributing device3. The card distributing device3reads the information about the distributed card C, and determines victory or defeat according to the game rule. For example, in a baccarat game, a banker's win, a player's win, and a tie (draw) are basically decided by a rank of 2 to 3 cards. The determination result (the victory or defeat result) is displayed on a result display lamp31of the card distributing device3. The card distributing device3having this function constitutes a victory or defeat result determination device.

The game token tray17is embedded in the game table4while the upper tray171and the lower tray172are overlapped. The game token tray17is embedded in the center of the linear side of the game table4such that the upper tray171is exposed from the top surface of the game table4, and is used by the dealer5.

The management system100includes a management control device15as a device that controls management of the table game. The management control device15includes a game recording device11, an image analysis device12, and a fraud detecting device13. The reader177, the card distributing device3, and the plurality of cameras2are connected to the management control device15. The reader177may be incorporated in the management control device15.

A general-purpose computer including a CPU, a memory, a storage device, various interfaces, and the like executes a management control program to implement the management control device15. In the example ofFIG. 11, the game recording device11, the image analysis device12, and the fraud detecting device13are integrated to constitute the management control device15. Alternatively, a part or all of the game recording device11, the image analysis device12, and the fraud detecting device13may be distributed and disposed to constitute the management control system.

The game recording device11records image data imaged and generated by the plurality of cameras2. The image data includes tray image data obtained by imaging the game token120stored in the upper tray171of the game token tray17with the cameras2C,2P and table image data obtained by imaging the bet area of the game table4with the cameras2L,2R. The game recording device11further records the tag information read by the reader177and the victory or defeat result determined by the card distributing device3.

The image analysis device12performs image analysis on the image data recorded in the game recording device11. Specifically, the image analysis device12detects the game token120from the image data by image recognition of machine learning. A convolutional neural network can be adopted as the machine learning, and in particular, detection accuracy can be improved by learning by the deep learning. Examples of detection targets of the image analysis device12include various types of the game tokens120, various types of the cards C, various types of bills (bank notes), hands of the dealer5and the player6. An image recognition engine in which learning is performed to recognize the detection targets is installed in the image analysis device12.

The image analysis device12can perform image recognition that is robust against shielding, dirt, and deformation by performing matching using a local feature amount in the image recognition. Specifically, even if the game tokens120are randomly placed on the table so as to overlap with each other and a part of the game tokens120is shielded, the game tokens120can be recognized.

FIG. 13is a view illustrating the image analysis in the image analysis device12. The image analysis device12analyzes movement of dealer's hands, and analyzes which player whose game token120is collected with respect to the game token120collected from the player and stored in the sideways storage unit174of the upper tray171. In the example ofFIG. 13, a game token120-ais collected from a player6La, a game token120-bis collected from a player6Lb, and a game token120-cis collected from a player6Lc.

As a result of the image analysis, the image analysis device12outputs information about which player whose game token120is collected and the type and the position of the game tokens120in the upper tray171to the fraud detecting device13, and records the information in the game recording device11.

The fraud detecting device13detects the fraud using the analysis result of the image analysis device12, the victory and defeat result of the game of the card distributing device3, and the tag information about the RF tag125read by the RFID reading device170(the antenna176and the reader177) and recorded in the game recording device11. The fraud detecting device13may immediately perform the fraud detection when the analysis result, the victory and defeat result of the game, and the tag information are obtained. Alternatively, the tag information is temporarily recorded in the game recording device11, and the fraud may be detected at subsequent predetermined timing or timing a user issues an instruction. The fraud detection will be described in detail below.

On the game table4, the settlement is performed each time the game is over. That is, when the game is over, according to the victory and defeat result of the game, the dealer5collects the betted game token120from a player6L who loses the game, and pays out the game token120corresponding to the bet amount to a player6W who wins the game. The plurality of cameras2acquire the movement of the game token during the settlement, namely, the table image data and the tray image data before and after the settlement.

The image analysis device12performs the image recognition on the table image data in each game to grasp which position of a bet area8(for each player, one of player, banker, and pair) is betted the game token120by each player6, the type (the game token120is assigned a value of a different amount for each color) of the game token120and the number of game tokens. The image analysis device12grasps the position, the type, and the number of the game token120stored in the upper tray171by performing the image recognition on the tray image data.

FIG. 14is a perspective view of the plurality of game tokens stacked on the game table4. In the table image data, as illustrated inFIG. 14, the game token120is laminated, and a stripe pattern in a laminating direction is clearly formed in the side surface, so that the image analysis device12can easily grasp the type and the number of the game token120. The image can correctly be analyzed and determined using an artificial intelligence utilizing type computer or control system and deep learning (structural) technique. Because the artificial intelligence utilizing type computer or control system and the deep learning (structural) technique are already known and available to those skilled in the art, the detailed description will be omitted.

FIG. 15is a perspective explanatory photograph illustrating a state in which different types of game tokens120are stacked. The cameras2L,2R image the game token120placed on the game table4by the player6, and the image analysis device12determines the placed area types (banker, player, pair, tie), and determines the number and the color of the specific color layer121of the game token120stacked in each area. The image analysis device12makes the above determination when the first card is drawn from the card distributing device3, before and after the first card is drawn, or after the dealer5gives a bet end sign.

The fraud detecting device13calculates the settlement (collection payment) of the player6based on the game result (player, banker, tie) obtained from the card distributing device3, the bet object (player, banker, pair) of each player6obtained by analyzing the table image data, and the bet amount. For this purpose, the fraud detecting device13grasps which position (player, banker, pair) of the bet area8is betted the game token120and the type (the game token120is assigned a value of a different amount for each color) and the number of the game token120from the image analysis result of the image analysis device12, and determines whether the collection (indicated by an arrow L) of the game token of each player6who loses the game and the payment (120W) of the game token of the player6W who wins the game are properly performed according to the victory and defeat result of the game determined by the card distributing device3in each game.

When the calculated adjusted amount is different from the actual adjusted amount grasped by the image analysis, the fraud detecting device13stores the image data in the game recording device11. The stored image data can be verified later. As a result of the verification, when the intelligence type fraud detecting device13makes a mistake, the analysis image can be used as sample data of teacher learning in the deep learning technique, and used to improve the accuracy of the intelligence type fraud detecting device13.

The fraud detecting device13obtains an increase or decrease amount of the game token120in the game token tray17before and after the settlement based on the analysis result of the tray image data in the image analysis device12, and obtains an increase or decrease amount of the game token120in a vicinity of each bet area of the game table4before and after the settlement based on the analysis result of the table image data in the image analysis device12. In the game token tray17, in particular, as described above, the game token120collected from the game table4is stored in the sideways storage unit174of the upper tray171, and the game token120is paid out from the vertical orientation storage unit173of the upper tray171to each player.

The fraud detecting device13compares the calculated adjusted amount to the increase or decrease amount in the game token tray17before and after the settlement, compares the calculated adjusted amount of each player to the increase or decrease amount in the bet area of each player on the game table4, and determines whether the calculated adjusted amount is matched with the increase or decrease amount in the game token tray17and whether the calculated adjusted amount of each player is matched with the increase or decrease amount in the bet area of each player on the game table4. That is, the fraud detecting device13determines whether the game token120of the calculated payment amount is paid to the player6W whom the game token120should be paid (who wins the game), and determines whether the game token120of the calculated collection amount is collected from the player6L whom the game token120should be collected (who loses the game). When the calculated adjusted amount (payment amount, collection amount) is matched with the increase or decrease amount of the game token120analyzed by the image analysis device12, the fraud detecting device13determines that the settlement is normally performed (the fraud is not performed).

When the calculated adjusted amount (payout amount, collection amount) is not matched with the increase or decrease amount of the game token120analyzed by the image analysis device12, the fraud detecting device13determines that the fraud settlement is performed.

The image analysis device12can specify the types of all the game tokens120stored in the upper tray171of the game token tray17of the game table4by analyzing the tray image data. The fraud detecting device13calculates the total amount of all the game tokens120stored in the upper tray171based on the analysis result. After the game is ended to perform the settlement according to the victory and defeat result of the game, the fraud detecting device13calculates how much the total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171should be increased or decreased according to the collection of a game token120L of the player6L who loses the game and the amount of a game token120W to be paid to the player6W who wins the game.

Although the total amount of the game token120in the upper tray17fluctuates in each game and is always grasped by the tray image data, the fraud detecting device13determines whether the increase or decrease amount is correct based on the analysis result of the table image data by the image analysis device12, the victory and defeat result of the game by the card distributing device3, and the analysis result of the tray image data by the image analysis device12. The artificial intelligence utilizing type or the deep learning structure is also used for this function of the fraud detecting device13.

The fraud detecting device13detects the fraud or the mistake based on the victory and defeat result of the game, information about what type of and how many game token120is betted on which position (player, banker, pair) in the bet area8, and the increase or decrease amount of the game token120in the upper tray171after the collection of the game token120from the player who loses the game and the payment of the game token120to the player who wins the game, so that the fraud or the mistake can be detected without grasping the movement of the game token120after the game, namely, whether the betted game token120is moved to the player side or the dealer side.

At this point, for example, for baccarat, the victory or defeat result of the game can be determined according to a baccarat rule by reading the rank of the card C delivered in the game in the card distributing device3. The victory or defeat result of the game can also be determined by imaging the game table4with the camera2, analyzing the image with the image analysis device12, and collating the analysis result with the game rule with the fraud detecting device13. In this case, the camera2, the image analysis device12, and the fraud detecting device13constitute a victory or defeat result determination device. The information about the player of each play position7and what type of and how many game token120is betted on which position (player, banker, pair) in the bet area8is obtained by imaging the game token120placed in the bet area8with the camera2to analyze the table image data in each play position7with the image analysis device12.

The increase or decrease amount of the game token120in the upper tray171before and after the collection of the game token120of the player6L who loses the game and the payout of the game token120to the player6W who loses the game can be calculated by comparing the total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171before the settlement (that is, the collection and the payment) to the total amount of game token120in the upper tray171after the settlement. The total amount of game token120in the upper tray171before the settlement and the total amount of game token120in the upper tray171after the settlement can be detected by imaging the upper tray171storing the game token120with the camera2to analyze the tray image data with the image analysis device12.

For example, it is assumed that Bb is the total amount of game token120of the upper tray171before the start of the game, and that Ba is the total amount of the game token120of the game token tray17after the game is completed to perform the settlement. In the game, it is assumed that bp is the total amount of all the play positions7of game token120betted in the player area8, that bb is the total amount of all the play positions7of the game token120betted in the banker area, and that bt is the total amount of all the play positions7of the game token120betted on the tie area. For example, when the victory and defeat result of the game is the win of the banker, Ba−Bb=bp−bb+bt holds. Alternatively, the total amount Ba of the game token120of the game token tray17after the game should be (Bb+bp−bb+bt). When (Ba−Bb=bp−bb+bt) or (Bb+bp−bb+bt) does not hold, it can be determined that the fraud or the mistake is generated in the settlement of the game token120after the game.

The image analysis device12grasps the position, the type, and the number of the game token120L bet by the player6L who loses the game, and the fraud detecting device13calculates the increase amount of the game token120L in the game (the expected amount of the game token120in the game token tray171). The image analysis device12grasps the actual total amount of game token120in the game token tray171after the collection, and the fraud detecting device13determines whether the expected total amount is matched with the actual total amount.

In the payment of the game token120W to the player6W who wins the game, a sufficient time the image analysis device12and the fraud detecting device13grasp the actual total amount of the game token120in the sideways storage unit174after the collection can be secured using the game token120in the vertical orientation storage unit173of the upper tray171.

When determining that the fraud settlement is performed, the fraud detecting device13records the time in the game recording device11. At this point, the fraud detecting device13may record that the fraud is performed in association with the image data that becomes a basis for determining that the fraud settlement is performed. Consequently, the image in which the fraud is performed can be reproduced when the image is verified later.

When determining that the fraud settlement is performed, the fraud detecting device13may immediately output an alarm such that at least the dealer5can perceive the fraud settlement. As a result, the dealer5can prevent the further fraud by, for example, canceling the subsequent game. In this case, it is not necessary to record the image data, the tag information, the result of the image analysis, and the like in the game recording device11.

As described above, the fraud detecting device13determines that the fraud is generated when the calculated adjusted amount is not matched with the increase or decrease of the actual game token120. For this reason, the fraud detecting device13also detects a mismatch due to not the intentional fraud but an error as the “fraud”. That is, the “fraud” in the embodiment includes those due to an unintentional mistake.

In the process of progressing the game, a predetermined number (for example, 100) of game tokens120is moved from the upper tray171to the upper tray172when the game token120is no longer stored in the upper tray171, and conversely, a predetermined number (for example, 100) of game tokens120is moved (replenished) from the lower tray172to the upper tray171when the game token120runs short in the upper tray171. The fraud detecting device13determines whether the fraud such as pilfering of the game token120is performed in the movement of the game token120between the upper tray171and the lower tray172.

The fraud detecting device13determines whether the game token120is correctly moved between the upper tray171and the lower tray172based on the information about the type and the number of the game token120stored in the upper tray171, the information being obtained by analyzing the tray image data of the upper tray171by the image analysis device12, and the information about the type and the number of the game token120in the tag information read by the RFID reading device170. That is, the fraud detecting device13determines that the movement is normal (the fraud is not performed) when the increase or decrease amount of the game token120in the upper tray171corresponds to the increase or decrease amount of the game token120in the lower tray172before and after the movement, and the fraud detecting device13determines that the fraud is performed when the increase or decrease amount of the game token120in the upper tray171does not correspond to the increase or decrease amount of the game token120in the lower tray172before and after the movement.

When determining that the fraud movement is performed, the fraud detecting device13records the time in the game recording device11. At this point, the fraud detecting device13may record that the fraud is performed in association with the image data as the basis for determining that the fraud movement is performed and the read data of the RF tag125. Consequently, the image in which the fraud is performed can be reproduced when the image is verified later.

When determining that the fraud movement is performed, the fraud detecting device13may immediately output the alarm instead of or in addition to the recording in the game recording device11. Consequently, a manager of the game arcade can prevent the further fraud by, for example, canceling the subsequent game. As described above, the fraud detecting device13determines that the fraud is performed when the amount of the game token120increased or decreased in the upper tray171is not matched with the amount of game token120increased or decreased in the lower tray172. For this reason, the fraud detecting device13also detects a mismatch due to not the intentional fraud but an error as the “fraud”. That is, the “fraud” in the embodiment includes those due to an unintentional mistake.

The fraud detecting device13always monitors the reading result of the RFID reading device170at a constant cycle (for example, one second cycle), and determined whether the fluctuation corresponds to the increase or decrease amount of the game token120in the upper tray171when the reading result fluctuates. Thus, the fraud can be detected when the number or the total amount of the game token in the lower tray172fluctuates (in this case, the increase or decrease corresponding to the fluctuation in the lower tray172is not generated in the upper tray171) while the upper tray171is not removed (while the game token120is not moved between the upper tray171and the lower tray172).

As described above, in the management system100for the table game of the embodiment, using the game token tray17having the double tray structure including the upper tray171and the lower tray172, the game token120stored in the upper tray171is grasped by analyzing the image data, and the game token120stored in the lower tray172is grasped by reading the tag information from the RF tag125.

At this point, because the RFID reading device170that reads the RF tag125of the game token120stored in the lower tray172does not read the RF tag125of the game token120stored in the upper tray171, whether the tag information read by the RFID reading device170is derived from the game token120stored in the upper tray171or the game token120stored in the lower tray172is clear.

As described above, by the combination of the image data and the RF tag information, not only all the game tokens120stored in the game token trays17including upper and lower trays can be grasped, but also the movement between the upper tray171and the lower tray172can be grasped, and the fraud can be detected. What type of the game token120stored at which position of the upper tray171can be grasped using the image data for the upper tray171in which the delivery of the game token120with the player (the bet area8of the game table4) is generated in each game.

The fraud detecting device13calculates a balance of the game token120from the amount of game token120bet on the game table4in each game and the victory and defeat result of the game, and verifies the increase or decrease of the game token120in the game token tray17after the game. When the miscalculation is detected in the verification, the fraud detecting device13generates the alarm, or adds the recording of the miscalculation to the recording of the video imaged with the camera2. A casino operator can investigate a cause of the miscalculation by checking the video.

The fraud detecting device13of the embodiment adds or adds and subtracts the increase or decrease amount of the game token in the game calculated from the position, the type, and the number of the game token120betted by all the players6in the game to or from the total amount of the game token120in the game token tray17before the settlement of each game, compares the expected total amount of the game token120in the game token tray17after the settlement at the end of the game to the actual total amount of the game token120in the game token tray17at the end of the game obtained through the image analysis device12, and determines whether the miscalculation is generated between the expected total amount and the actual total amount.

The fraud detecting device13grasps the position, the type, and the number of the game token120betted by each player through the image analysis device12, grasps the actual total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171when the collection of all the game tokens120bet by the player who loses the game is ended, compares the expected total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171in which the increase amount of the upper tray171in the game calculated from the position, the type, and the number of the game token120betted by the player who loses the game is added to the total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171before the settlement of each game to the actual total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171, and determines whether the miscalculation is generated between the expected total amount and the actual total amount.

As described above, the sideways storage unit174that collects and temporarily stores the game token120bet by the player who loses the game is provided in the upper tray171, and the fraud detecting device13compares the expected total amount of the game token120in the sideways storage unit174in which the increase amount of the game token120to the game calculated from the position, the type, and the number of the game token120L betted by the player who loses the game is added to the actual total amount of the game token120in the sideways storage unit174, and determines whether the miscalculation is generated between the expected total amount and the actual total amount.

When the fraud detecting device13determines the miscalculation in which the grasped actual total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171of the dealer5of the game table4does not correspond to the increase or decrease amount of the game token120calculated from the total amount of the game tokens120bet by all the players and the victory and defeat result of the game, the game recording device11can give an index or time to the obtained video or specify and reproduce a collection scene or a payment scene of the game token120so as to be able to analyze the recording of the game in which the miscalculation is generated.

As described above, the fraud detecting device13obtains the total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171after the settlement at the end of the game through the image analysis device12, and the determination after the settlement in this case is made when one of 1) to 4) is generated:

1) When the payment to the player who wins the game is ended,

2) When the card C used in the game is collected and discarded in a discard area or discard slot (not illustrated) of the game table4,

3) When a predetermined button (a start button of the next game, an approval button of a victory and defeat result, and the like) attached to the victory and defeat result determination device (card distributing device3) is pressed, and

4) When a marker indicating the victory and defeat is restored.

The fraud detecting device13has the artificial intelligence type or deep learning structure that can grasp the position (player, banker, pair) and the amount (the type and the number) of the game token120betted at each play position7of the game table4, compare a victory and defeat history of each player6obtained by the victory and defeat result of each game and the obtained amount (winning amount) of the game token120to statistical data (big data) of a large number of past games, and extract the victory and defeat history of each player6and the obtained amount (winning amount) of the game token120as an abnormal situation (set by the casino) that is suspicious of the fraud.

Typically, the management system100for the table game includes the fraud detecting device13has the artificial intelligence type or deep learning structure that can compare the generation of the winning amount greater than or equal to a certain amount (one million dollar) or a situation in which the state in which the amount of the game token120bet when the game is lost is small while the amount of the game token120bet when the game is won is large is continued for several games at the play position7of a certain game table4to the statistical data (big data) of a large number of past games, and extract the situation as the abnormal situation.

The management control device15including the fraud detecting device13and the image analysis device12of the management system100specifies the individual player6at the play position7extracted as the abnormal situation and the individual player6at the play position7where the player6wins the game for the predetermined amount or more. The specification of the player6can be performed by performing the image recognition on the image of a face of each player using feature point extraction in the image analysis device12. When the player6is specified, the fraud detecting device13gives an identity number (ID or the like) and records information about the specified player6. When the specified player6leaves the seat and arrives at another game table4, the fraud detecting device13has a warning function of notifying a user of the existence of the player6on another game table4. Specifically, a pit manager who manages each game table4and a person in charge of each table (or a dealer) may be notified to further prevent an abnormal phenomenon.

The fraud detecting device13further includes a database that leaves a history of exchange between a bill K and the game token120, refers to the database in units of a fixed time or one day, and compares and determines whether the amount of the grasped game token120in the game token tray17of the dealer5of the game table4is increased or decreased according to the payment amount of the game token120corresponding to the exchanged bill K, or the payment total amount of the bill K corresponding to the exchanged game token120.

In the above example, the victory and defeat history of each play position7and the obtained amount (winning amount) of the game token120may be monitored without specifying the individual player6. In this case, although the player6cannot be tracked when each player6leaves the seat, the abnormal situation in which the state in which the amount of the game token120bet when the game is lost is small while the amount of the game token120bet when the game is won is large is continued for several games at the specific play position7of one game table4can be detected. When such the play position7is detected, there is a suspicion that the fraud or the mistake is performed at the play position7. The fraud or the mistake can be found out by verifying the video in which the play position7is imaged.

Specifically, the camera2is installed so as to image at least the game token120placed in the bet area8of the game table4. The image analysis device12analyzes the image imaged by the camera2, detects which one of the player, banker, and tie positions in the bet area8the game token is placed in each user position7, and detects the amount of the placed game token. The card distributing device3also functions as a victory and defeat result determination device, and determines the victory and defeat result of the game.

The fraud detecting device13records (monitors) the victory and defeat history of each play position7and the amount of the obtained game token (the amount of the acquired game token) in the game recording device11based on the position (player, banker, or pair) in the bet area8where the game token120is placed. Only one of the victory and defeat history and the amount of the acquired game token may be recorded. When the victory and defeat history and/or the amount of the acquired game token is the abnormal situation (set by casino) by comparing the victory and defeat history and/or the amount of the acquired game token to the statistical data (big data) of a large number of past game, the fraud detecting device13specifies the player position7as the play position that is suspicious of fraud action.

When a certain player position7is suspicious of the fraud action, the management control system100may generate the alarm (light, sound, or vibration) such that at least the dealer5can perceive the fraud action at that time. Consequently, the continuation of the fraud action can be prevented by immediately interrupting the subsequent game. The information indicating that the fraud action is suspected may be added to the video imaged and recorded by the camera2. Consequently, the cause of the suspicion of fraud action can be investigated by checking the video.

The management control system100of the embodiment in the game arcade including the game table4further has a function of performing an inspection during the exchange between the bill and the game token that is frequently performed on the game table4. In the game arcade such as the casino, before the game, the player6exchanges the bills (cash or the like) for the game token at a predetermined game token exchange. However, when the player6runs out the game token, the player6can exchange the cash (bills) for the game token120on the game table (the baccarat table and the like) to continue the game without leaving the game table4. However, at this point, there is an opportunity in which the fraud to be performed between the dealer5and the player6.

On the game table (the baccarat table and the like), it is necessary to exchange the cash (bill) for the game tokens120when the game is not in progress. The card distributing device3can detect the start of dealing of the card and the end of dealing (decision time of the victory and defeat) in order to decide the victory and defeat of the game. For this reason, the card distributing device3detects the situation except for the distribution (dealing) of the card, and the fraud detecting device13detects the exchange of the bill for the game token120on the game table4in the situation except for the dealing of the card. During the dealing of the card (or other situations) can be detected based on information obtained from the action of the card distributing device3or the dealer5.

The image analysis device12can analyze the image of the surface of the bill K to recognize the number and the amount of the bill. On the game table4, whether the bill K exchanged for the game token120is authentic is determined by irradiating the bill with black light to detect an authentic mark of the bill. The image analysis device12has an artificial intelligence type or deep learning structure that can perform verification by the image analysis of the authentic mark, recognize the total amount of the game token evens if the plurality of game token are hidden at the blind spot of the camera2, compare the total amount of the bills K presented onto the game table4by the player to the total amount of game tokens120presented from the dealer5, and determine whether the total amount of the bills K presented onto the game table4by the player is matched with the total amount of game tokens120presented from the dealer5.

The fraud detecting device13has an artificial intelligence type or deep learning structure that can compare and calculate whether the total amount of the game token120in the upper tray17of the game table4is increased or decreased according to the payment amount of the game token120corresponding to the exchanged bill after the bill is exchanged for the game token120to perform the settlement. The total amount of the game token120in the upper tray171of the dealer5can be detected by imaging the upper tray171storing the game token120with the camera2to analyze the image of the upper tray171with the image analysis device12.

The fraud detecting device13verifies whether the increases or decrease of the amount of the game token120in the game token tray17before and after the exchange of the bill and the game token is matched with the exchange amount of the game token of the image analysis result on the game table4. The amount of the paid bill may be input to the management control device15by key input or the like by the dealer5, or the camera2images the game table4on which the bill is paid, and the image analysis device12may analyze the image to specify the amount of the paid bill.

As described above, the fraud detecting device13, determine whether the decrease amount of the game token120from the game token tray17due to the exchange of the bill and the game token is matched with the amount of the bill paid from the player6to the dealer5. The fraud detecting device13may be an intelligent control device and have an artificial intelligence type or deep learning structure that can compare and calculate whether a deposit amount by the dealer5(usually by key input or the like) is matched with a calculation amount of the bill of the image analysis result by the image analysis device12.

The fraud detecting device13has an artificial intelligence type or deep learning structure that can compare and calculate whether the total amount of the bill input by the dealer on the game table4taken charge of by the dealer is matched with the total amount of the bill by the image analysis result of the image analysis device12.

The fraud detecting device13compare and determine whether the amount of the grasped game token120in the game token tray17of the dealer5of the game table4is increased or decreased according to the payment amount of the game token120corresponding to the exchanged bill or the payment amount of the bill corresponding to the exchanged game token120after the bill and the game token120are exchanged.

The fraud detecting device13is a control device having an artificial intelligence type or deep learning structure that can obtain the information about the type and the number of the game token120even if a part or a whole of the game token is hidden in measuring and determining the type and the number of the game token120.

FIG. 16is a side view illustrating a modification of the game token120. A plurality of plate-shaped plastic devices having different colors are laminated, integrated by means such as thermocompression bonding, and punched into a circular shape or a quadrilateral shape, thereby forming the game token120. The game token120manufactured in this way has the specific color layer121at least in the middle and a multi-layer structure in which the light color layer122is laminated on both sides (up and down inFIG. 16) of the specific color layer1121in the middle.

In the multi-layer structure in which the specific color layer121is provided and the light color layer122is laminated on both sides of the specific color layer121in the middle, the stripe pattern is formed in the laminating direction when viewed from the side surface as illustrated inFIG. 16, and the type of the game token120can be specified by changing the color (red, green, yellow, blue, and the like) of the specific color layer121in each type (10 points, 20 points, 100 points, 1000 points, and the like) of the game token120.

As illustrated inFIG. 16, in the game token120, a side code126representing the type of the game token120is provided on the side surface of the light color layer122. The transparent layer124is provided in the outermost layer, and each layer is thermocompression-bonded to form at least a five-layer structure. A state (five-layer structure or the like) in which the respective layers (at least the specific color layer121and the light color layer122) are thermocompression-bonded to be in close contact with each other is formed using elongated plastic materials, and punched into a circular or rectangular shape by pressing or the like, thereby forming the game token120.

When punching with a press, sizes of a mold, a die, and a punch are designed for punching by pressing, and an end of the outermost layer124is rounded. The transparent layer124may be a painted layer made of varnish. The side code126is attached to at least three points in the side surface of the game token120. The side cord126is attached by ink jet printing using an ink that is visible by visible light.

In particular, in the modification, the side code126is configured by the presence or absence of marks M in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. As illustrated inFIG. 16, the marks M in the plurality of rows and the plurality of columns, the upper and lower marks M are paired to constitute a code. In the example ofFIG. 16, a 10-digit code is configured.

FIG. 17is a view illustrating codes (four types) represented by a pair of upper and lower marks M. A letter “Y” next to the mark M is an identification mark identifying the upper side and the lower side of the mark. The code constructed with the marks M is configured such that a predetermined combination of the marks M can be specified. As a result, when ten lines of four types are printed as the combination of the marks M in the upper and lower lines in the example illustrated inFIG. 17, the codes of the tenth power of four types can be expressed. There are four types of 10-digit codes, and the codes of types of the tenth power of four is given, so that the again ID126of the game token120can sufficiently be given.

The game token120has the multi-layer structure in which the plurality of plastic layers having the different colors are laminated, at least one specific color layer121is provided, and the light color layer122is laminated outside the specific color layer121, whereby the stripe pattern in the laminating direction is formed in the side surface, and the type of the game token120can be specified by the specific color layer121. The side cord126is provided in at least three points (preferably six points) spaced apart in a circumferential direction in the side surface of the light color layer122, and six side cords126are provided at a pitch of 60 degrees in the circumferential direction in the example ofFIGS. 16 and 17.

The six side codes126indicate the same information. The separately identifiable (different one by one, uniquely identifiable) side code126is attached to the game token120, and the side code126is provided at a pitch of 60 degrees in a rotational direction (circumferential direction) so as to be able to be always seen from the side. The side code126includes identification information capable of individually identifying the game token120(different one by one, uniquely identifiable), information indicating the type of the game token120, and manufacturing information (manufacturing structure, manufacturing date, and the like).

The side code126attached to the game token120is read by the image analysis device12. The management control device15includes a database (not illustrated), and the identification information, the types, and the manufacturing information of all the manufactured game tokens120(at least a possibility of being used in the game arcade) are stored in the database while association with one another.

The image analysis device12reads the side code126from the image data (the table image data and the tray image data). The fraud detecting device13specifies the identification information, the type, the manufacturing information, and the like of the game token120included in the image data based on the reading result of the image analysis device12, and compares the combination of the identification information, the type, the manufacturing information, and the like to the information stored in the database.

When the game token120in which the information about the side code126read by the image analysis device12is not matched with the information stored in the database exists, the fraud detecting device13determines that the game token120is the fraud (forged or damaged) game token120. When detecting the fraud in this manner, the fraud detecting device13records positional information about the fraud game token120and the time in the game recording device11.

At this point, the fraud detecting device13may record positional information about the fraud game token120and the time while associating positional information about the fraud game token120and the time with the image data (the table image data or the tray image data) that is the basis for the determination of the fraud game token120. Consequently, the image in which the fraud is performed can be reproduced when the image is verified later.

In the modification, the side code126is attached by inkjet printing using an ink that is visible by visible light. The side code126may be printed by an ink which is invisible by visible light (for example, an ink absorbing ultraviolet light), at least an ink that is visible by visible light (including ink that is very small and hardly visible), or a combination thereof. The side code126may be printed by combining a plurality of these types of inks.

The management system100includes a plurality of cameras corresponding to the ink by which the side code126is printed as the camera2(that is, a visible light camera when the ink is a visible ink, an infrared camera when the ink is an infrared reaction ink, and an ultraviolet camera (a UV irradiator and a visible light camera) when the ink is a UV ink) or a camera that can switch a plurality of functions of a camera corresponding to the ink (the visible light camera, the infrared camera, the ultraviolet camera (the UV irradiator and the visible light camera), and the like).

FIG. 18is a side view illustrating another example of the side cord. In a game token120-1, the side code126is printed by an invisible ink (for example, ink absorbing infrared light). In a game token120-2, the marks M in the plurality of lines and the plurality of columns are printed by ink that is seen in black by visible light. In a game token120-3, in addition to the mark M of the game token120-2, the mark M is printed by ink that is seen in black by visible light between the side codes126, and the side code126is adapted to the design to become inconspicuous. In a game token money120-4, the start and end points of the plurality of side codes126repeatedly attached are indicated by a mark Cf indicating the end.

When the game tokens120-1to120-4are seen with the infrared camera, the ink absorbing the infrared light absorbs the infrared light and is seen in black, so that the same side code126appears from either side surface. That is, an image of a game token120-5is obtained with the infrared camera. The upper and lower sides of the side code126are indicated by a mark CL indicating the upper and lower sides. The vertical relationship of the mark is as illustrated inFIG. 16. The side code126may be printed by the combination of the ink that is seen by visible light and the infrared absorbing ink.

The side code126attached to the game token120is read by the image analysis device12. The image analysis device12can read the side code126of the game token120stored in the upper tray171of the game token tray17and the side code126of the game token120placed on the game table4.

FIG. 19is a view illustrating the tray image data of the game token120stored in the upper tray171of the game token tray17. In the tray image data, the game tokens120are laminated horizontally (laterally). The image analysis device12can also read the side code126from the tray image data. The image analysis device12can also read the side code126of the game token120on the game table4appearing in the table image data.

FIG. 20is a perspective view illustrating the plurality of game tokens stacked on the game table4. In the game token120, a face code FC made of a UV ink or ink (carbon black ink) absorbing the ultraviolet light is provided in a surface X of the light color layer122. The face code FC represents the authenticity of the game token120. When the face code FC is irradiated with the ultraviolet (or infrared) light, the face code FC becomes visible, and the authenticity of the game token120is represented by the combination of the shapes and the numbers of the face code FC.

The transparent layer (printed layer)124is thermocompression-bonded or coated (coated) to the outermost layer of the surface so as to cover a printing123(10 points or the like) specifying the game arcade and the face code FC. The transparent layer124is subjected to embossing or varnishing to prevent the game tokens120from adhering to each other and to improve slipping. In the game token120, a circular depression127is provided in the centers of the top and bottom surfaces. In the game token120, the depression127prevents the game tokens120from adhering to each other, and the slipping of the game token120is improved by increasing a diameter of the depression127.

The end of the outermost transparent layer (printed layer)124to which the printing123(such as 100 points) is performed is subjected to R processing (R), and the surface of the light color layer122is prevented from being deformed and appearing on the side in the process of punching the game token120. The commercial end of the game token120is prevented from damaging a receiver or other game tokens120.

The specific color layer121may be formed by at least one colored layers. Metal or ceramic may be provided in the specific color layer121in order to increase the weight of the layer. Specifically, for example, the material for the layer in the layer of the specific color layer121may contain metal powders (for example, one of zinc oxide and titanium oxide or a plurality of metal oxides) for the purpose of the increase in weight. A hollow is provided in a part of the specific color layer121, or a space is provided between the specific color layer121and the light color layer122and the RF tag125is incorporated in the space. The information in partially or wholly common with the information indicated by the side code126is stored as the tag information in the RF tag125.

The fraud detecting device13detects a fraud game token120by collating the side code126read from the image data (the table image data and the tray image data) by the image analysis device12with the information stored in the database. Specifically, the fraud detecting device13determines that the fraud game token120exists:

1) when the side code126that does not exist in the database exists, and

2) when at least two same side codes exist.

As described above, the player6can exchange the cash for the game token in the cashier, and also exchange the cash for the game token120on the game table4. The cameras2L,2R image the bill placed on the game table4in order to exchange the bill for the game token120. That is, the plurality of cameras2L,2R that image the game token120on the game table4are disposed at different positions.

The fraud detecting device13specifies the type and the number of game token that should be paid from the upper tray171during the exchange of the game token120and the bill based on the recognition result of the bill by the image analysis device12. The fraud detecting device13compares the actual total amount of the game token120stored in the upper tray171before the payment to the actual total amount of the game token120stored in the upper tray171after the payment, and determines whether the difference corresponds to the type and the number of the specified game token120that should be paid.

That is, the fraud detecting device13compares and determines whether the total amount of the grasped game token120in the upper tray171corresponds to the increase or decrease according to the payment amount of the game token120corresponding to the exchanged bill after the exchange of the bill and the game token120. When the collection and the payment are simultaneously performed according to the victory and defeat result of the game, the fraud detecting device13compares and determines whether the amount of the game tokens120betted by all the players6corresponds to the increase or decrease of the game token120calculated from the victory and defeat result of the game.

The fraud detecting device13is the control device having the artificial intelligence type or deep learning structure that can obtain the information about the type and the number of the game token120even if a part or a whole of the game token120is hidden in determining the type and the number of the game token120.

As described above, in the game token120, the side cord126is attached to at least three points spaced apart in the rotational direction (circumferential direction) in the light color layer122of the side surface. The type and the manufacturing information of the game token120can be specified by reading the side code126with the image analysis device12. The information specified in this way is collated with the database.

FIG. 21is a side view illustrating still another example of the game token. In the example ofFIG. 21, the light color layer122is provided in the center of the side surface of the game token120, and the specific color layer121is provided above and below the light color layer122. In the light color layer122sandwiched between the specific color layers121, a 7-digit numerals are printed as the mark of the side code126, and the numerals constitute the side code126. The combinations of the numerals are ways of the seventh power of ten, so that the side codes126of ways of the seventh power of ten can be attached. The image analysis device12recognizes a 10-digit numeral by performing the image recognition based on the machine learning.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In the configuration of the present invention, the position and movement of the game token can be recognized to detect the fraud by performing the imaging with the camera for the upper tray used to take in and out the game token during the settlement of the game, and the RF tag can be read even if the upper tray is stacked and the RF tag is not read for the game token of the upper tray for the lower tray in which the game token for replenishment is stored, so that the effect that the game token stored in the lower tray can be grasped by reading the RF tag, and the present invention is useful as the game token.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST