Management system of gaming chips and storage box

Abstract

A system that manages a package of shuffled playing cards and gaming chips includes a storage box and a control apparatus. The storage box is provided in association with a game table and stores a plurality of shuffled playing cards and a plurality of chip cases and also includes a card reader that reads playing card ID codes of the shuffled playing cards and a chip reader that reads case ID codes of the chip cases. The control apparatus outputs total numbers of the shuffled playing cards and the chip cases stored in the storage box and the playing card ID codes and case ID codes stored in the storage box by monitoring read playing card ID codes and case ID codes.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A management system, comprising:
 a gaming table on which a game is playable using gaming chips assigned chip IDs and playing cards;   a chip float (a) provided on the gaming table, (b) into which the gaming chips can be collected by a dealer during the game, and (c) from which the gaming chips can be paid out by the dealer during the game;   a storing area provided separately from the chip float and in which the gaming chips can be stored;   a first reader, wherein the first reader is configured to read the chip IDs of the gaming chips while the gaming chips are accommodated in the chip float;   a second reader, wherein the second reader is configured to read the chip IDs of the gaming chips while the gaming chips are stored in the storing area; and   a controller, wherein:
 the controller is configured to recognize, based on the reading of the chip IDs by the first reader, the chip IDs and/or a total number and/or total value of the gaming chips that are in the chip float; and 
 the controller is configured to recognize, based on the reading of the chip IDs by the second reader, the chip IDs and/or a total number and/or total value of the gaming chips that are in the storing area. 
   
     
     
         31 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein the controller is configured to recognize a total number and/or total value of a combination of the gaming chips stored in the chip float and in the storing area. 
     
     
         32 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein the controller is configured to output whether a change in amount or value of the gaming chips stored in the chip float correlates with a change in an amount or value of the gaming chips stored in the storing area. 
     
     
         33 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein the storing area has a box shape. 
     
     
         34 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein the first and second readers are radio frequency identification (RFID) readers that are configured to read RFID tags embedded in the gaming chips and including the chip IDs. 
     
     
         35 . The management system according to  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a lock, wherein the lock is usable to prevent the gaming chips from being taken out from the storing area.   
     
     
         36 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein the gaming chips are storable in the storing area in a manner by which the game chips can be independently inserted in the storing area and independently removed from the storing area. 
     
     
         37 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein the storing area is configured to transition from a closed state to an open state to enable removal of the gaming chips from the storing area. 
     
     
         38 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein the controller is configured to compare a total amount of the gaming chips determined to be present in the chip float based on a reading by the first reader prior to a collection and/or redemption to a total amount of the gaming chips determined to be present in the chip float based on a reading by the first reader after the collection and/or redemption. 
     
     
         39 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein, when the gaming chips of the chip float are insufficient, the chip float can be replenished by a dealer with gaming chips transferred from the storing area into the chip float. 
     
     
         40 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein:
 the chip float is removably embedded in the gaming table;   gaming chips bet by losing players of the game are collectable by a dealer and insertable into the chip float; and   game chips in the chip float are payable by the dealer and from the chip float to winning players of the game.   
     
     
         41 . The management system according to  claim 30 , wherein the storing area is arranged under a dealer position of the gaming table. 
     
     
         42 . A gaming chip assigned a chip ID and used in a management system, the management system comprising:
 a gaming table on which a game is playable using the gaming chip and other gaming chips that are also assigned chip IDs and playing cards;   a chip float (a) provided on the gaming table, (b) into which the gaming chips can be collected by a dealer during the game, and (c) from which the gaming chips can be paid out by the dealer during the game;   a storing area provided separately from the chip float and in which the gaming chips can be stored;   a first reader, wherein the first reader is configured to read the chip IDs of the gaming chips while the gaming chips are accommodated in the chip float;   a second reader, wherein the second reader is configured to read the chip IDs of the gaming chips while the gaming chips are stored in the storing area; and   a controller, wherein:
 the controller is configured to recognize, based on the reading of the chip IDs by the first reader, the chip IDs and/or a total number and/or total value of the gaming chips that are in the chip float; and 
 the controller is configured to recognize, based on the reading of the chip IDs by the second reader, the chip IDs and/or a total number and/or total value of the gaming chips that are in the storing area.