Systems and methods for verifying player identity at a table game

A method for determining the identity of a player participating in a qualifying activity at a gaming establishment, the method comprising:

• (a) receiving an indication of a qualifying activity occurring at a table operable to facilitate a wagering game, wherein the indication includes a unique casino chip identifier of at least one casino chip associated with the qualifying activity, and
• wherein the qualifying activity comprises at least one of (i) an initiation by the player of a new wagering session;
• and (ii) an initiation by the player of a new wager on the card game of the electronic table system;
• (b) retrieving, from a memory, a unique player identifier of a player associated with the casino chip;
• (c) identifying a previously stored image of a player associated with the player identifier;
• (d) receiving at least one live image of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• (e) comparing, using facial recognition software, the at least one live image to the stored image to determine whether the player in the stored image is the player in the live image;
• and
• (f) only if it is determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image:
• (i) determining that the player participating in the qualifying activity is the player corresponding to the unique player identifier, thereby identifying an identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• and (ii) authorizing the qualifying activity;
• and
• (g) if it is not determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image, performing a remedial action.

A controller for determining the identity of a player participating in a qualifying activity at a gaming establishment, the controller being operable to communicate with at least one electronic table system operable to facilitate a wagering game comprising a card game,

• wherein the at least one electronic table system comprises a plurality of game areas, each of the game areas corresponding to (i) a detecting component operable to detect data relating to a casino chip placed within the respective player area and (ii) at least one camera operable to capture an image of a player participating in the qualifying activity at one of the game areas;
• the controller comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing a program for directing the processor, the processor being operable with the memory to perform a method, the method comprising:
• receiving an indication of a qualifying activity occurring at one of the plurality of electronic table systems, wherein the indication includes a unique casino chip identifier of at least one casino chip associated with the qualifying activity, the casino chip identifier having been detected by the detecting component of the electronic table system;
• determining a location identifier associated with the at least one casino chip, the location identifier indicating a location at which the qualifying activity is occurring;
• identifying the at least one camera operable to obtain images of players at the location;
• directing the at least one camera to obtain live images;
• retrieving, from a memory, a unique player identifier of a player associated with the at least one casino chip;
• identifying a previously stored image of a player associated with the player identifier;
• receiving, from the at least one camera, at least one live image of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• comparing, using facial recognition software, the at least one live image to the stored image to determine whether the player in the stored image is the player in the live image;
• and
• only if it is determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image:
• (i) determining that the player participating in the qualifying activity is the player corresponding to the unique player identifier, thereby identifying an identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity and (ii) authorizing the qualifying activity;
• and
• if it is not determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image, performing a remedial action.

A controller for determining the identity of a player participating in a qualifying activity at a gaming establishment, the controller being operable to communicate with at least one electronic table system operable to facilitate a wagering game comprising a card game,

• wherein the at least one electronic table system comprises a plurality of game areas, each of the game areas corresponding to (i) a detecting component operable to detect data relating to a casino chip placed within the respective player area and (ii) at least one camera operable to capture an image of a player participating in the qualifying activity at one of the game areas;
• the controller comprising:
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing a program for directing the processor, the processor being operable with the memory to perform a method, the method comprising:
• (a) receiving an indication of a qualifying activity occurring at one of the plurality of electronic table systems, wherein the indication includes a unique casino chip identifier of at least one casino chip associated with the qualifying activity, the casino chip identifier having been detected by the detecting component of the electronic table system;
• (b) retrieving, from a memory, a unique player identifier of a player associated with the casino chip;
• (c) identifying a previously stored image of a player associated with the player identifier;
• (d) receiving, from the at least one camera of the electronic table system, at least one live image of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• (e) comparing, using facial recognition software, the at least one live image to the stored image to determine whether the player in the stored image is the player in the live image;
• and
• (f) only if it is determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image:
• (i) determining that the player participating in the qualifying activity is the player corresponding to the unique player identifier, thereby identifying an identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity and (ii) authorizing the qualifying activity;
• and
• (g) if it is not determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image, performing a remedial action comprising transmitting a signal to a dealer of the electronic table system, directing the dealer to verify the identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity.

A method for determining the identity of a player participating in a qualifying activity at a gaming establishment, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication of a qualifying activity occurring at a table operable to facilitate a wagering game, wherein the indication includes a unique casino chip identifier of at least one casino chip associated with the qualifying activity;
• determining a location identifier associated with the at least one casino chip, the location identifier indicating a location at which the qualifying activity is occurring;
• identifying the at least one camera operable to obtain images of players at the location;
• directing the at least one camera to obtain live images;
• retrieving, from a memory, a unique player identifier of a player associated with the at least one casino chip;
• identifying a previously stored image of a player associated with the player identifier;
• receiving at least one live image of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• comparing, using facial recognition software, the at least one live image to the stored image to determine whether the player in the stored image is the player in the live image;
• and
• only if it is determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image:
• (i) determining that the player participating in the qualifying activity is the player corresponding to the unique player identifier, thereby identifying an identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• and (ii) authorizing the qualifying activity;
• and
• if it is not determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image, performing a remedial action.

A method for determining the identity of a player participating in a qualifying activity at a gaming establishment, the method comprising:

• receiving an indication of a qualifying activity occurring at a table operable to facilitate a wagering game, wherein the indication includes a unique casino chip identifier of at least one casino chip associated with the qualifying activity;
• determining a location identifier associated with the at least one casino chip, the location identifier indicating a location at which the qualifying activity is occurring;
• identifying the at least one camera operable to obtain images of players at the location;
• directing the at least one camera to obtain live images;
• retrieving, from a memory, a unique player identifier of a player associated with the at least one casino chip;
• identifying a previously stored image of a player associated with the player identifier;
• receiving at least one live image of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• comparing, using facial recognition software, the at least one live image to the stored image to determine whether the player in the stored image is the player in the live image;
• and
• only if it is determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image:
• (i) determining that the player participating in the qualifying activity is the player corresponding to the unique player identifier, thereby identifying an identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity;
• and (ii) authorizing the qualifying activity;
• and
• if it is not determined that the player in the stored image is the player in the live image, performing a remedial action, wherein the remedial action comprises transmitting a signal to a dealer of the table, directing the dealer to verify the identity of the player participating in the qualifying activity.