Photoelectric gaming token sensing apparatus with flush mounted gaming token supporter

An apparatus for playing a multi-tiered game, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of gaming tables, each table having a plurality of play positions;
• (b) wagering areas on the table, with at least one wagering area corresponding to each of the plurality of player positions;
• (c) a gaming token supporter flush mounted to the gaming surface to form a wagering area;
• (d) sensor means mounted to the plurality of gaming tables, wherein each sensor means comprises a photoelectric sensor providing modulated light emissions and sensing modulated light, and each photoelectric sensor being mounted to the gaming structure such that at least one sensor is aligned with and in sensing proximity to a gaming token supporter;
• (e) dealer control means at each table, connected to the sensor means, for determining whether a gaming token is present in each of the plurality of wagering areas, accumulating the betting information from each plurality of sensor means, and entering data on winning outcomes in the multi-tiered game, wherein the dealer control means includes means for entering a security code prior to entering data on winning outcomes, a plurality of inputs, each input designating one of a plurality of winning outcomes and one of the plurality of player positions at a gaming table of the multi-tiered game;
• and
• (f) computer means operably connected to each dealer control means for continuously accumulating the betting information and winning outcome data for the multi-tiered game, calculating a prize amount for the multi-tiered game, and controlling a display means operably connected to the computer means for displaying the prize amount for the multi tiered game.