The present invention relates to a game table and a payout sum correctness notification method for a game table.
In recent years, game tables using chips on which identification information is electronically recorded have been developed. See Japanese Patent Publication No. JP 2017-211971 A (Patent Document 1), for example. In this game table, for the purpose of fraud prevention, the credit of a user is stored for each user in association with unique identification information, and when a sum indicated by the chip information of a chip located in a predetermined area does not match a sum to be added to or subtracted from the credit stored in association with the identification information, an error is output.
In Patent Document 1, however, whether chips of the correct sum have been paid to the user by a dealer is checked using a card of the user, and therefore the card of the user or other identification means is required.
An inexperienced dealer may make a mistake about the payout sum. Moreover, it is necessary to notify the user of the outcome of the game in an easily understandable manner.
Hence, an object of the present invention is to provide a game table and a payout sum correctness notification method for a game table that overcomes these and other limitations of the prior art.
The present application describes a game table and a payout sum correctness notification method for a game table, with which it is possible to recognize intuitively whether or not a payout sum is correct and so on.
A game table according to an aspect of the present invention is a game table having a plurality of betting areas in which to place chips, the game table including a reading device for reading a placement sum from information on the chips placed in the betting areas, a notification unit provided in each of the betting areas, and a computer device for managing the progress of a game, wherein the computer device is caused to execute a function for managing the progress of the game, a function for calculating a payout sum corresponding to the outcome of the game, and a function for executing notification control on the notification unit in accordance with the result of a comparison between the payout sum and the placement sum.
A payout sum correctness notification method for a game table according to an aspect of the present invention is a payout sum correctness notification method for a game table having a plurality of betting areas in which to place chips, the method including the steps of reading a placement amount from information on the chips placed in the betting areas, calculating a payout sum corresponding to the outcome of a game, and executing notification control on a notification unit provided in each of the betting areas in accordance with the result of a comparison between the payout sum and the placement sum.
Advantageous effects of invention may include a notification such as controlling light emission by a light emitting unit provided in each of the betting areas in accordance with the result of comparison between the payout sum and the placement sum issued after chips are placed in the betting areas, thus making it possible to recognize intuitively whether or not the payout sum is correct.
The features, nature, and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference characters identify like elements correspondingly throughout the specification and drawings.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached figures. In the figures, identical reference symbols have been allocated to identical or similar configurations.
Description of terms: In this specification, terms are defined as follows.
First, referring to
Management system configuration:
Game table:
Referring back to
The light emitting unit 40 is provided in the betting area 30. The light emitting unit 40 is preferably provided in the shape of a frame surrounding each area, namely the banker pair area 31, the player pair area 32, the banker area 33, the player area 34, and the tie area 35. The light emitting unit 40 according to this embodiment is provided in the shape of a frame surrounding each betting area 30, but the light emitting unit 40 may be provided in the vicinity of each betting area 30, and the shape and position of the light emitting unit 40 are not limited. To prevent fraud committed jointly by the user and the dealer, the light emitting unit 40 is preferably installed in a position that can be seen by observers as well as the user and the dealer.
The reading device 50 has a function for electromagnetically reading the identification information of the chips 2 and the area identification information of each betting area 30 in which the chip 2 is placed (see
Referring back to
Management device: Referring to
The management DB 561 is a database server for storing and managing chip owning information (holding information) about the chips owned by the user, the credit information of the user, progress information about various games being played in the gaming hall, and so on. The management device 550, the management DB 561, and the chip DB 560 can each be realized as a computer device (an information processing device).
The previously mentioned computer device may include a control unit (including a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory), a hard disk drive (HDD), and a network interface. Regarding each part of the computer device, the functions of the respective parts of the management device 550 are realized by having the control unit temporarily read a program stored in the HDD to the memory and having the CPU execute the program read to the memory. Further, at least some of the respective parts of the management device 550 may be realized by a plurality of computer devices connected to each other by various types of networks. Furthermore, at least some of the respective parts of the management device 550 may be realized by distributed processing executed by a plurality of computer devices. Moreover, the management device 550 and the management DB 561 are illustrated as separate configurations but may be provided in a single device.
In this embodiment, the single game table 10 is provided in relation to the single management device 550. However, a plurality of game tables 10 may be provided in relation to the single management device 550.
The acquisition unit 551 acquires a result of the processing executed by the management device 550 and information required for the processing. For example, the acquisition unit 551 acquires the position information of the chip 2, which is output from the betting area 30, and the identification information of the chip 2. Further, the acquisition unit 551 is capable of acquiring information such as information indicating the progress of the game being played on the game table 10, information indicating the result of the game, and information indicating the bet placed by the user through the game table 10, the management DB 561, or the like by any desired method.
The specification unit 552 specifies various information calculated on the basis of the information acquired by the acquisition unit 551. For example, the specification unit 552 can specify the position within the betting area 30 in which the chip 2 is placed on the basis of the position information acquired by the acquisition unit 551. The specification unit 552 can specify a position (a betting destination) indicating a section of the betting area 30 on the basis of the area identification information of the betting area 30 and the identification information of the chip 2. Further, the specification unit 552 can specify an allocated sum corresponding to the chip 2 on the basis of the identification information of the chip 2, acquired by the acquisition unit 551. Furthermore, the specification unit 552 can specify the user who owns the chip 2 on the basis of the identification information of the chip 2 by referring the management DB 561.
Using the position information of the chip 2, which is read from the betting area 30, and the identification information of the chip 2 in this manner, the specification unit 552 can specify the user who owns the chip 2, the betting destination of the chip 2, and the betting sum of the chip 2. When a plurality of chips 2 are placed, the betting sum is the sum total thereof. Further, the specification unit 552 can specify a betting period in accordance with the progress of the game. The specification unit 552 has a function for specifying the betting area 30 in which the largest placement sum has been placed within the betting period and a function for causing the light emitting unit 40 of the specified betting area 30 to emit light via the light emission control unit 554. The specification unit 552 also has a function for specifying the result of the game and a payout sum corresponding to the outcome of the game.
The notification unit 553 issues an error notification when the position of the chip 2 cannot be specified by the specification unit 552. Various methods may be used to issue the error notification. For example, the error may take the form of an error message displayed on the display unit 36 provided on the game table 10. The display unit 36 may be provided on the user side, as in this embodiment, or on the dealer side, or so that both the player and the dealer can check the display unit 36. The error display may also take the form of a message indicating that the position of the chip 2 cannot be specified, that a bet has been placed in an invalid position, or the like, for example. Alternatively, a warning lamp, not shown in the figures, provided on the game table 10 may be illuminated, or a voice, a sound effect, or the like may be output from a speaker, not shown in the figures. Alternatively, the table or the chair in which the user is sitting may be caused to vibrate.
In this embodiment, issuing an error notification is useful. When a bet is placed in an ambiguous location, the bet destination intended by the user may differ from the information updated by the management device 550 and the management DB 561. Therefore, by issuing an error notification when the position cannot be specified by the specification unit 552, bets placed in ambiguous locations can be prevented.
The light emission control unit 554 is a control unit for transmitting a control signal (a light emission signal) to the light emitting unit 40 in order to control light emission. The light emission control unit 554 has a function for controlling light emission by the light emitting unit 40 in accordance with the result of a comparison between the payout sum specified by the specification unit 552 and a placement sum placed by the dealer. For example, in a case where the user wins the game, the light emission control unit 554 has a function for causing the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in a first color and a function for causing the light emitting unit 40 to flash when there has been an error in the comparison. Further, in a case where the user wins the game, the light emission control unit 554 has a function for causing the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in the first color and a function for causing the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in a second color when the comparison has been completed successfully. Furthermore, in a case where the user loses the game, the light emission control unit 554 has a function for causing the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in a third color and a function for extinguishing the light emitting unit 40 once the placed chips 2 have been collected. Moreover, in a case where the game ends in a tie, the light emission control unit 554 has a function for causing the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in a fourth color, and a function for extinguishing the light emitting unit 40 once the placed chips 2 have been collected. The light emission control executed on the light emitting unit 40 in accordance with the control signal transmitted by the light emission control unit 554 will be described in detail below.
Further, the chip 2 is provided with a charging function, and a supply unit 511 is provided on the table surface 510 of the game table 10 so that power can be supplied (by wireless power supply, for example) to the chips 2 placed on the table surface 510 from the supply unit 511.
Chip, first database, and second database: Chip identification information is assigned to the chip 2. A correspondence relationship between the chip identification information and the sum allocated to the chip 2 is defined in a first database (the chip DB) 560. The management device 550 has a function for determining the placement sum of the paid-out chips 2 on the basis of the chip identification information of the chips 2 and the sums allocated thereto, which are read by the reading device 50, by referring to the chip DB 560. Further, as described above, area identification information is assigned to the betting area 30. A second database (the management DB) 561 defines a correspondence relationship between the chip identification information assigned to the chips 2 and the area identification information. The management device 550 has a function for determining the validity of the chips 2 placed in the betting area 30 by referring to the management DB 561.
The management device 550 and the game table 10 are connected either wirelessly or by a wire so as to be capable of exchanging information. Note that a relay device such as a router may be provided between the management device 550 and the game table 10. Further, the management device 550 may be provided in the gaming hall or externally. Furthermore, the game table 10 and the management device 550 may be connected by an Internet connection.
Light emission control: Next, referring to
As shown in
Actions of game table and payout sum correctness notification method for game table according to first embodiment: Next, referring to
A specific description of an image display method will be provided below. Note that here, processing performed in a case where a bet is placed in the banker area 33 or the player area 34 will be described.
Next, the dealer takes the cards out of the card shoe 25 and places two cards side by side in each of the player area 21 and the banker area 22 of the playing area 20 (see
The management device 550 determines whether or not the betting period has elapsed (S120). When the betting period has elapsed (S120/YES), the dealer and the management device 550 start game processing (S130). When the betting period has not elapsed (S120/NO), the dealer and the management device 550 wait until the betting period has elapsed before starting the game processing. As shown in
Next, the light emission control unit 554 of the management device 550 executes light emission control on the light emitting unit 40 in accordance with the game result (S140). The management device 550 determines whether or not the user has won the game (S150). When the user has won the game (S150/YES), the light emission control unit 554 executes illumination processing to cause the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in the first color (S160). Further, when the user has lost the game (S150/NO), the light emission control unit 554 executes illumination processing to cause the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in the third color (S170). When the game has ended in a tie (S150/EVEN), the light emission control unit 554 executes illumination processing to cause the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in the fourth color (S180). When the user has placed a bet in the “losing” area or the “tie” area, illumination processing is executed in the third color or the fourth color (S170, S180), whereupon the chips 2 are collected (S220).
When the user has won the game, the payout sum of the “winning” area, calculated by the specification unit 552 of the management device 550, is compared with the placement sum read by the reading device 50 to determine whether or not the payout is correct (S190). More specifically, the management device 550 compares the payout sum, which is calculated from the payout rate of the “winning” area, with the placement sum of the chips 2 placed by the dealer to determine whether or not the payout is correct.
When the payout from the winning area is correct (S190/YES), the light emission control unit 554 executes illumination processing so that the light emitting unit 40 emits light in the second color (S200). When the payout from the winning area is incorrect (S190/NO), the light emission control unit 554 executes flashing processing to cause the light emitting unit 40 to flash in the first color (S210), whereupon the processing returns to S190.
After the light emission control unit 554 executes processing to illuminate the light emitting unit 40 in the second color (S200), the management device 550 determines via the reading device 50 whether or not the chips 2 in the “losing” area have been collected (S220). When the user has not placed a bet in the tie area 35, the determination as to whether or not the chips 2 have been collected (S220) is made even in the event of a “tie”. When the chips 2 in the “losing” and “tie” areas have been collected correctly (S220/YES), the light emission control unit 554 executes processing to extinguish the light emitting unit 40 (S230), whereupon the game is terminated. Until the chips 2 in the “losing” and “tie” areas are collected correctly (S220/NO), the light emission control unit 554 continues to execute the processing to illuminate the light emitting unit 40 in the second color (S200).
As described above, the game table 10 according to the first embodiment includes the reading device 50 for determining the placement sum of the chips 2 placed in the betting area 30, the light emitting unit 40 provided in the betting area 30, and the management device 550 for managing the progress of the game. The management device 550 is a computer device that is caused to execute a function for managing the progress of the game, a function for calculating the payout sum corresponding to the outcome of the game, and a function for controlling light emission by the light emitting unit in accordance with the result of a comparison between the payout sum and the placement sum. Hence, with the game table 10 and the payout sum correctness notification method therefor according to the first embodiment, after the chips 2 are placed in the betting area 30, light emission by the light emitting unit 40 provided on the periphery of the betting area 30 is controlled in accordance with the result of a comparison between the payout sum and the placement sum, and therefore the correctness of the placement sum can be recognized intuitively. Moreover, even in the case of a complicated payout calculation, payout errors and fraud by the dealer can be prevented. Furthermore, likewise for the user, the correctness of the payout of the game is easy to understand, and therefore the user can relax. Note that in a case where a bet is placed in the banker pair area 31, the player pair area 32, or the tie area 35, ties do not occur, but since similar processing to the processing described using
The game table 10 according to the first embodiment also includes a function for causing the light emitting unit 40 to emit light in the first color when the game is won, and a function for causing the light emitting unit to flash when the comparison result is incorrect. Therefore, the fact that the game has been won can be reported in an intuitive manner using the first color, and the fact that an error has occurred in the placement sum of the chips placed as the payout can be reported in an intuitive manner by flashing.
The embodiment described above is used to facilitate understanding of the present invention and is not to be interpreted as limiting the present invention. The respective elements of the embodiment, as well as the arrangements, materials, conditions, shapes, sizes, and so on thereof, are not limited to those described in the embodiment and may be modified as appropriate. Further, configurations illustrated in different embodiments may be partially replaced or combined. For example, the game table 10 according to the first to third embodiments was described using baccarat, which is a traditional card game, as an example, but the present invention may also be applied to a game table for playing other types of games, such as blackjack and roulette.
Further, the monetary value of the bet and the monetary value of the payout may be displayed on the display unit 36, for example. Furthermore, the area in which to place the monetary value of the payout may be provided separately to the betting area 30. In a game such as roulette, in which the betting area is finely divided, the area in which to place the monetary value of the payout is preferably provided separately to the betting area 30.
Further, regarding the display modes of the light emitting unit, display may be performed in various colors and by a combination of extinguishing and flashing processing. Moreover, as well as indicating the state using colors, notifications may be issued using alphabetical character displays, voice, and so on.
The present application is a national stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International (PCT) Application No. PCT/JP2019/031513, filed Aug. 8, 2019, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2019/031513 | 8/8/2019 | WO | 00 |