Identifying components of a casino game

Abstract

This application describes, among other things, a casino game for use in a gaming establishment wherein at least some of the components of the game include an attached radio frequency-responsive element, such as an RFID tag. In one example, the radio frequency-responsive element contains information regarding the corresponding attached components. In another example, the casino game contains a plurality of selected components having RFID tags. When the tags are interrogated, information provided by the tags can be used to determine whether components of the game have been replaced, are missing, or the like. Also, a method of identifying components in the game is disclosed. In one example, the method includes interrogating radio frequency-responsive elements attached to selected components of the casino game, receiving a response code signal from the interrogated radio frequency-responsive elements, and generating an output based on the received signals.

1 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a casino game having one or more subcomponents wherein at least one of the subcomponents includes a radio frequency-responsive element that can be used to identify the component.    
   
   
       2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  further wherein the radio frequency-responsive element includes an antenna and an integrated circuit, the radio frequency-responsive element having information storage and transmission capabilities adapted to enable an interrogation system to obtain information from the radio frequency-responsive element.  
   
   
       3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the information stored in the radio frequency-responsive element is related to identification of the component of the casino game.  
   
   
       4 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the radio frequency-responsive element is physically attached to the component.  
   
   
       5 . Apparatus comprising: 
 a casino game including a plurality of components wherein at least one of the selected components includes a radio frequency-responsive element including an antenna and an integrated circuit, the radio frequency-responsive element having information storage and transmission capabilities adapted to enable an interrogation system to obtain information from the radio frequency-responsive element; wherein the information stored in each of the radio frequency-responsive elements is related to the attached component.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the information provided from the radio frequency-responsive elements is interpreted to determine the identity of the at least one component.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the information provided from the radio frequency-responsive elements is interpreted to determine whether the component is the component expected to be present in the game.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 5  and further comprising a removable panel adapted to permit interrogation of all of the selected components in the casino game.  
   
   
       9 . A method comprising: 
 interrogating radio frequency-responsive elements associated with one or more components of a casino game;    receiving a signal from the interrogated radio frequency-responsive elements; and    recording information about the components based on the received signals.    
   
   
       10 . A method according to  claim 9 , and further comprising: 
 creating reference data related to the casino game;    comparing information from the received signals to the reference data; and    generating results of the comparison.    
   
   
       11 . A method according to  claim 9  further including interrogating the components while they are in an assembled casino game.  
   
   
       12 . A method comprising: 
 assembling a casino game;    interrogating radio frequency-responsive elements associated with one or more components of the casino game while the components are in the assembled game;    receiving a signal from the interrogated radio frequency-responsive elements; and    recording information about the components based on the received signals.    
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , and further including creating reference data related to the casino game, comparing information from the received signals to the reference data, and generating results of the comparison.  
   
   
       14 . A method comprising: 
 obtaining a component to be assembled in a casino game;    positioning a radio-frequency responsive element with the casino game component; and    assembling the component into a casino game.    
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claim 14  further including interrogating the component after it has been assembled in the casino game.  
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claim 14  further including creating a reference database indicating components known to be present in the casino game based on the interrogation.  
   
   
       17 . A method comprising affixing the radio-frequency responsive element to the game component using one or more of the following: adhesives, mechanical fasteners, integrated molding.  
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 17  further including making the affixed component one or more of the following: tamper-evident, tamper resistant or tamper proof.  
   
   
       19 . A method comprising: 
 obtaining a casino game component;    using a radio-frequency responsive element to tag the component; and    detecting the casino game component in a manufacturing facility by interrogating the radio-frequency responsive element.    
   
   
       20 . A machine-readable medium having machine executable instructions for causing a casino game to perform operations comprising: 
 interrogating radio frequency-responsive elements associated with one or more components of the casino game;    receiving a signal from the interrogated radio frequency-responsive elements; and    recording information about the components based on the received signals.