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US 7,351,145 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for accumulating betting data in games of chance
AssigneeMAO, Inc.
InventorsMarvin A. Ornstein, Richard B. Hanbicki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gaming method and apparatus enabling a casino to track the average amount that a player bets at a gaming table, the total amount of player bets at a gaming table (handle) and the players win/loss experience, by measuring and recording into an electronic file each players bet at each betting station of each table a player frequents. The exact amount of each players bet will be measured by the total chip weight of the relevant bet via assigning a specific weight to each chip denomination wherein no two groups of chips in which a total number chips are different from one another have the same total weight, even though their monetary value may be the same.
Claims61
A betting system for use in the play of a game employing a game playing surface having a plurality of player locations, said system comprising:
- an area provided at each player location for receiving betting chips;
- said area having weighing means for determining a total weight of chips placed thereon;
- said betting chips employed in said system comprising a predetermined number of different denominations, each denomination having a weight which is different from every other denomination and being selected so that no combination of betting chips have a total weight range which equals the weight of any one betting chip whereby a weight determined by said weighing means accurately indicates a total monetary value of the chips on said weighing means.
A method of incorporating one of a conventional bet, consecutive win side bet and a progressive bet into a game of chance utilizing betting chips of different denominations, each chip of a denomination being of a different weight from every other chip denomination, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) at least one player wagering at least one chip to participate in the game of chance;
- b) said at least one player further wagering one chip on a consecutive wins or losses bet;
- c) determining the weight of the step (b) wager;
- d) converting the weight at step (c) to a monetary value which correctly indicates a total monetary value even when the chips being weighed are of different denominations and hence different weights;
- e) presenting a display of a payoff amount according to pre-programmed payoff odds which correspond to different values of the prospective consecutive wins or losses of step (b);
- and
- f) providing a winning indication when number of consecutive wins or losses originally selected in step (b) is equaled.
4 more elements
A method of playing a game of chance utilizing four (4) betting chips of different denominations, a weight of each different chip denomination being different from a weight of every other chip denomination, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) at least one player wagering a chip necessary to play the game;
- b) determining the weight of the chip wagered at step (a);
- c) converting the weight at step (b) to a monetary value which correctly indicates a total monetary value even when the chips being weighed are of different denominations and hence different weights;
- and
- d) storing the monetary value for subsequent analysis.
2 more elements
Betting apparatus, comprising:
- a predetermined number of betting chips each representing different monetary values, the weight of each chip of a given monetary value being different from the weight of every other chip of different monetary value;
- a chip receptacle;
- means for detecting a presence and a weight of a chip placed in said receptacle;
- means responsive to said weight detecting means for determining a monetary value associated with said weight;
- display means and means for operating said display means to select a given number of consecutive wins from a permissible range of numbers;
- controller means responsive to said means for operating and a denomination of a chip in said chip receptacle for generating a payoff amount;
- display means for displaying a number of consecutive games won and payoff amount;
- and
- means responsive to initiation of a game of chance associated with the betting apparatus for preventing the number of consecutive wins, the amount of the bet and payoff being changed until either a game is lost before the selected number of consecutive wins is attained or the number of games won equals the number of consecutive wins selected.
6 more elements
In combination, chips representing monetary values and weighing apparatus for receiving one or more chips to determine their total monetary values, comprising:
- said chips each having a weight representing a given monetary value, a weight of chips of a given monetary value being different from a weight of chips of a different monetary value;
- and
- wherein a total weight of chips of a given monetary value which equals the monetary value of a higher monetary value chip is different from a weight of a single chip of said higher monetary values;
- a device for receiving at least one chip;
- means for detecting a presence and a weight of at least one chip placed upon said detecting and weighing means;
- means responsive to said weight detecting means for determining a monetary value associated with said weight;
- and
- means for storing the monetary value for subsequent analysis.
5 more elements
A betting unit comprising:
- a chip receptacle;
- a transparent cover moveable between a first position above said chip receptacle and second position displaced from said chip receptacle;
- a housing for said chip receptacle having an opening above said chip receptacle and a surrounding marginal lip extending inwardly from said opening;
- elevator means for movably supporting said chip receptacle between an upper and a lower position respectively closer to and further away from said housing opening;
- drive means;
- first means responsive to operation of said drive means for moving said cover between said first and second positions;
- second means responsive to operation of said drive means for moving said elevator means between said upper and lower positions, said first and second means being so interrelated as to lower said chip receptacle when said cover is being moved to said first position, raise said elevator when said cover reaches said first position, to press a marginal notch in said cover into engagement with the marginal lip of the housing and lower the elevator to provide clearance for said cover when being moved from said first position to said second position;
- and
- said chip receptacle including a weighing sensor for determining a weight of one or more betting chips placed thereon, said weighing sensor comprising means for accurately determining the weight of said betting chips employed in said system when said chips comprise a predetermined number of different denominations, each denomination having a weight which is different from every other denomination and being selected so that no combination of betting chips have a total weight range which equals the weight of any one betting chip whereby a weight determined by said weighing means accurately indicates a total monetary value of the chips on said weighting means and wherein the range of weights of the betting chips are further selected so that a first group of chips whose denominations total a given monetary value has a total weight which is less than a total weight of a second group of betting chips whose total monetary value is equal to said given monetary value and wherein said second group comprises a greater number of betting chips than said first group.
6 more elements
A chip receptacle for use in a betting apparatus for proving a bet in a game of chance, comprising:
- a housing having an opening;
- a chip receptacle mounted in said housing and beneath said opening;
- elevator means for raising and lowering said chip receptacle;
- a carrier frame moveable between a fist position between said chip receptacle and said opening and a second position displaced therefrom, the path of movement of said carrier being substantially perpendicular to the path of movement of said elevator means;
- a transparent cover supported by and moveable with said carrier;
- a drive source;
- first means responsive to said drive source for moving said carrier between said first and second positions;
- second means moveable by said drive source for raising and lowering said elevator means, whereby said elevator means is lowered when said carrier moves from said second position towards said first position and is thereafter raised to lift said cover from said carrier and urge a central portion of said carrier into said opening when said carrier has reached said second position;
- and
- said chip receptacle having a weighing sensor for determining a weight of one or more betting chips placed thereon, said weighing sensor comprising means for accurately determining the weight of said betting chips employed in said system when said chips comprise a predetermined number of different denominations, each denomination having a weight which is different from every other denomination and being selected so that no combination of betting chips have a total weight range which equals the weight of any one betting chip whereby a weight determined by said weighing means accurately indicates a total monetary value of the chips on said weighing means and wherein the range of weights of the betting chips are further selected so that a first group of chips whose denominations total a given monetary value has a total weight which is less than a total weight of a second group of betting chips whose total monetary value is equal to said given monetary value and wherein said second group comprises a greater number of betting chips than said first group.
7 more elements
A method of incorporating one of a consecutive win (or loss) side bet into a game of chance utilizing betting chips of different denominations, a weight of each different chip denomination being different from weight of every other chip denomination, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) at least one player wagering at least one chip to participate in the game of chance;
- (b) said player making the wager of step (a) further wagering at least one chip or said side bet;
- (c) determining the weight of the chip wagered at step (b);
- (d) converting the weight determined in step (c) to a monetary value;
- (e) presenting a payoff amount according to a number of consecutive wins (or losses) achieved by the player making the bet and based on pre-programmed payoff odds which correspond to number of consecutive wins (or losses);
- and
- (f) paying the player when the player has achieved a number of consecutive wins (or losses) regardless of whether the player has selected a specific number of consecutive wins at a predetermined payoff amount or is attempting to win without pre-selecting a given number of wins for a payoff determined by the number of consecutive wins rather than having any relationship to a predetermined number of wins selected by the player;
- and
- (g) associating a marker with the side bet made by the player each time the player making he side bet at step (b) achieves another consecutive win (or loss) to identify the current number of wins (or losses);
- wherein the weight of said chips in step (a) and (b) are determined by a weighing sensor comprising means for accurately determining the weight of said betting chips employed in said system when said chips comprise a predetermined number of different denominations, each denomination having a weight which is different from every other denomination and being selected so that no combination of betting chips have a total weight range which equals the weight of any one betting chip whereby a weight determined by said weighing means accurately indicates a total monetary value of the chips on said weighing means and wherein the range of weights of the betting chips are further selected so that a first group of chips whose denominations total a given monetary value has a total weight which is less than a total weight of a second group of betting chips whose total monetary value is equal to said given monetary value and wherein said second group comprises a greater number of betting chips than said first group.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.