Casino table gaming system with round counting system

Abstract

Casino table card games are provided with sensors for detection of an indicator initiated by a dealer to indicate approximate beginning of or final completion of a round of play of a casino table card game. The signal is read by a table subcomponent that has a time or time/dating capability. The signal is time/date stamped (referred to herein as “Date Stamping” or “date stamping” for simplicity. The date stamped signal is then transmitted from the subcomponent to a processor (e.g., gaming table processor or pit processor or main casino processor and/or central processor for multiple casinos). The data retains its date stamping at least through storage, analysis, data entry or other treatment of the data after transmission away from the table, and the date stamping may or may not be provided by the sensor itself. The system also allows for the date stamping or other status information to be sent to a data bank or repository of information (e.g., security bank or security room) for storage of the information, without necessarily any game-play related function. The data may be processed in real time at this bank or repository, or may me reviewed and analyzed at a later time.

1 . A casino table card gaming system in which a message is communicated from a sensor without date stamping to a first component that date stamps the signal and forwards the date stamped signal to a memory component that stores the date stamped signal, the system comprising a casino table, a sensor that sends an undated signal, and the first component.  
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is a light sensor.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first component comprises a chipboard.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first component does not store signals or data contained in the signals after date stamping and forwarding the signals.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the first component does not store signals.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the first component does not store signals.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the sensor detects ambient light.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein date stamped signals are received by a central computer that creates data relating to counting of rounds and a rate of rounds for at least one of a table and a dealer.  
     
     
         9 . A method of counting rounds of cards played at a casino wagering table comprising automatically providing an original signal indicative of an end of a round or beginning of the round, sending that signal without date stamping thereon to a first component on the table, the component date stamping the signal and then forwarding a date stamped signal to a memory component.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the memory component provides stored signal information to a processor that interprets received date stamped signals to compute a number of rounds played over a period of time, the time being based upon use of the date stamping received.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the original signal contains no indication of date or time thereon.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the original signal is provided by an ambient light detector indicating relative amounts of light detected.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the relative amount of light relates to light blockage or light availability to the detector.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the processor determines end of round events based at least in part upon evaluation of a time component in date stamped data it receives.  
     
     
         15 . A hardware component on a casino card able that receives signals without time stamped information thereon, adds time stamped information to the signals, and forwards the time stamped signal to a memory storage component.  
     
     
         16 . The hardware component of  claim 15  wherein the hardware component is constructed so that it cannot store time stamped signals after forwarding the time stamped signals.