Multi-purpose casino chips

Abstract

This application describes, among other things, a plurality of casino games located in a gaming establishment wherein at least some of the games include a reader component that detects a RFID tag in proximity to the reader component and produces detection information indicative at least in part of the detection of a particular one of a RFID tag carried by an individual in the gaming establishment. An information system includes software operable on the system to record information concerning the movement and activities of an individual in a gaming establishment as determined from reading individual RFID tags by the reader components. According to an alternate embodiment, games include RFID tags that can be detected by other games using the RF reader component. Accordingly, the information system can determine the location and movement of an individual through a gaming establishment, as well as determine which games are in proximity to each other where such games are outfitted with a RFID tag. In another embodiment, a plurality of betting articles with RFID tags take the form of chips used to place bets at a table game such as a poker or blackjack table, or at a gaming machine such as a video poker game or slot machine, wherein RFID reading devices read identification tags associated with the articles and the chips can be used in either type game.

1 . A method comprising: 
 accepting at least one betting article from a player at a table game wherein the betting article is used to place a bet and wherein the betting article includes a radio frequency identification tag device associated therewith;    reading information about the betting article from the tag device while the betting article is located at the table game; and    accepting at a later time the at least one betting article in a gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine reads information about the at least one betting article from the associated tag device, and the gaming machine crediting the player with an amount determined at least in part using the information read from the tag device.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  further including dispensing the one or more betting articles from a gaming machine.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus comprising an acceptor mechanism capable of accepting a betting article adapted for use at least both as a betting article used at a table game and as a token for placing a bet at a gaming device.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a gaming machine including an acceptor capable of accepting an article used as a betting article in a casino; and    the article including a radio frequency identification tag.    
   
   
       5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4  further wherein the gaming machine includes a dispensing mechanism that dispenses the article used as a betting article.  
   
   
       6 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a plurality of articles each including a radio frequency identification tag, the identification tag including one or more items of data capable of uniquely identifying the article;    a computing system adapted to track data pertaining to the articles, wherein the data pertaining to the articles is at least in part determined using the one or more items of data associated with an identification tag;    a reading device positioned at a table game, wherein the reading device can read at least one of the identification tags associated with the articles; and    a reading device positioned at a gaming machine, wherein the reading device can read at least one of the identification tags associated with the articles.    
   
   
       7 . Apparatus according to  claim 6  further wherein the gaming machine includes a dispensing mechanism that dispenses at least one of the plurality of articles.  
   
   
       8 . Apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the plurality of articles are located on the premise of a first gaming establishment.  
   
   
       9 . Apparatus according to  claim 6  wherein the plurality of articles are located on at least two different gaming establishments.  
   
   
       10 . A system comprising: 
 a plurality of casino games located in a gaming establishment wherein at least some of the games include a reader component adapted to detect a RFID tag in proximity to the reader component and read data from the RFID tag, wherein the RFID tag is carried by one or more betting articles used in the gaming establishment, wherein at least some of the games that include the reader component are table games and other of the games that include the reader component are gaming machines; and    an information system including software operable on the system to record information concerning the betting articles used in the gaming establishment.    
   
   
       11 . A system according to  claim 10  further including a data transmission system connecting the reader component to the information system and wherein the transmission system comprises physical connectors connecting the information system to the reader components.  
   
   
       12 . A system according to  claim 10  further including a data transmission system connecting the reader component to the information system and wherein the transmission system comprises RF transmission components passing data between the reader components and the information system using radio frequency transmissions.  
   
   
       13 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein the reader component is an antenna.  
   
   
       14 . A system according to  claim 13  further wherein the reader component includes a reader unit receiving input from the antenna.  
   
   
       15 . A system according to  claim 14  further wherein the reader unit is located in the casino game.  
   
   
       16 . A system according to  claim 15  further wherein the reader unit is located outside of the casino game.  
   
   
       17 . A system according to  claim 16  further including a reader unit receiving input from a plurality of antennas wherein the antennas are located in two or more different casino games.  
   
   
       18 . A method comprising: 
 providing a RFID tag on a betting article used in a gaming establishment;    the individual carrying the betting article as they move about or play games in the gaming establishment; and    using a RFID tag reader component situated in or near a casino game to receive information from the RFID tag, wherein at least one of the casino games is a table game and another one of the casino games is a gaming machine.    
   
   
       19 . A method according to  claim 18  further including altering game play for an individual in response to detecting a betting article at a game based on detecting a RFID tag.  
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19  further wherein the casino game is at least in part an electronically controlled game.