Card game system with automatic bet recognition

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the invention includes a bet recognition system for use with a card game. A table is provided for playing a card game including a bet location for each player. An image capture device is positioned in proximity to the bet location and configured to capture an image of a player's bet. An image processor is coupled to the image capture device and configured to process the image by locating at least one chip and creating a signal representing the chip, comparing the signal to a plurality of stored signatures, and when a match occurs, generating a signal representing the bet. In one aspect, the image processor is configured to generate an error signal when unable to match a candidate signature with at least one of the stored signatures.

1 . A card delivery and bet recognition system comprising: 
 a housing configured to store a plurality of playing cards and configured for dispensing cards to a number of players;    a scanner configured to selectively scan the cards in the housing and to generate a scanner signal representative of the identity of each scanned card;    at least one camera positioned to view the bet location for each player and generate a bet signal representative of the bet for each player; and    a processor coupled to the scanner and each camera, and configured to process the scanner signal to identify each of the cards dispensed to each of the players playing the card game, and to process the image by locating at least one chip and creating a signal representing the chip, comparing the signal to a plurality of stored signatures, when a match occurs, generating a signal representing the bet.    
   
   
       2 . The card delivery and bet recognition system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the player's bet includes a plurality of chips having at least two different denominations; and    the image processor is configured to identify edges of the chips, segment the image into a plurality of individual candidate chips, generate a signature for each of the candidate chips, identify each of the candidate chips by comparing the signature of each candidate chip to a plurality of stored signatures representing valid chips and associated denominations, and add denominations associated with each of the valid chips to determine the wager.    
   
   
       3 . The card delivery and bet recognition system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a switch coupled to the processor for the dealer to indicate the start of a new game; and    wherein the processor is configured to periodically store images from each camera and to compare the images to one another, and when a change occurs during play of the game to generate an alarm signal.    
   
   
       4 . The card delivery and bet recognition system of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a switch coupled to the processor for the dealer to indicate the start of a new game; and    wherein the processor is configured to periodically store images from each camera and to compare the images to one another, and when a change occurs during play of the game to generate an alarm signal.    
   
   
       5 . The card delivery and bet recognition system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a central processor coupled to the processor, and configured to receive information regarding at least one player and calculate a theoretical win of the casino; and    wherein the central processor is configured to generate a worth signal representative of the player's true worth.    
   
   
       6 . The card delivery and bet recognition system of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a central processor coupled to the processor, and configured to receive information regarding at least one player and calculate a theoretical win of the casino; and    wherein the central processor is configured to generate a worth signal representative of the player's true worth.    
   
   
       7 . The card delivery and player evaluation system of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the central processor is configured to generate a worth signal representative of the player's true worth, and generate a comp value for the player.    
   
   
       8 . The card delivery and player evaluation system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a reader coupled to the processor and configured to read player tracking cards issued by a casino having information regarding the players.    
   
   
       9 . The card delivery and player evaluation system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a keyboard coupled to the processor for the player to enter game-related information.    
   
   
       10 . The card delivery and player evaluation system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a chip tray image capture device positioned in proximity to a chip tray and configured to capture an image of the contents of the chip tray; and    an image processor coupled to the chip tray image capture device and configured to process the image by locating at least one chip and creating a signal representing the chip, comparing the signal to a plurality of stored signatures, when a match occurs, generating a signal representing the contents of the chip tray.    
   
   
       11 . The card delivery and player evaluation system of  claim 10 , further comprising: 
 a reader coupled to the processor and configured to read dealer tracking cards issued by a casino having information regarding the dealers.