System and Method for Processing Casino Table Games Yield Management Data

Abstract

A system is provided for processing yield management and casino table data. The system provides a graphical presentation of each games table spread, and where the game is overspread or under spread, and by how much. The table spread opportunities can also be aggregated to determine whether what is observed is a trend so that the operator can act on that trend to remedy it. An interactive graphical representation of this data combined with an ability to drill down to the underlying data to verify trends makes it possible to find opportunities to close games, open games and add or remove tables to the gaming floor so as to improve profitability. Displaying graphically how pricing of tables could be changed is particularly useful so that managers can know where opportunities exist to change pricing in order to improve profitability. An ability to drill down to a floor view makes it possible for the manager to verify the casino floor and visually see how the players are seated on tables. Displaying graphically the time periods when an opportunity to price a game differently than the current pricing to improve profitability also helps the manager understand when this happens, how long it lasts and at which price points. Displaying graphically the time periods when an unmet demand exists also helps the manager understand when this happens, how long it lasts and for which price points.

1 . A method, in a casino table game yield management data processing system, of providing table spread data for a casino environment, the method comprising:
 determining an actual number of open tables associated with a first game type for each of a plurality of time intervals;   determining an ideal number of open tables at each of the time intervals;   displaying a timeline comprising the time intervals, the timeline comprising, in association with each time interval, a first visual element indicative of the actual number of open tables during that time interval, and a second visual element indicative of whether the ideal number of open tables is above or below the actual number of open tables; and   enabling further detail corresponding to a desired time interval to be displayed upon detecting selection of a corresponding portion of the timeline.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the actual number of open tables and the ideal number of open tables are each aggregated over a plurality of time periods, wherein each time period comprises the plurality of time intervals. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising enabling the timeline to correspond to either a single time period or the aggregate of the plurality of time periods. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising enabling selection or de-selection of at least one time period to be included in the aggregation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the actual number of open tables and the ideal number of open tables are each aggregated to correspond to any one of an average, median, mean, weighted average, and percentile. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a third visual element in association with at least one of the time intervals indicative of how pricing at particular open tables could be changed. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the third visual element quantifies an opportunity to improve profitability during the respective time interval. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising displaying a third visual element in association with at least one of the time intervals indicative of unmet customer demand at a particular price point. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ideal number of open tables is determined using a different optimal occupancy target for any one or more of different price points and different game types. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the further detail is displayed using a third visual element in association with the desired time interval, the further detail comprising any one or more of player occupancy, number of players, number of seats occupied, number of open tables, and table occupancy. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein upon detecting selection of the corresponding portion of the timeline, the further detail is displayed using a third visual element providing a floor view comprising data associated with at least one open table in an area of the gaming environment. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the floor view displays any one or more of a visual depiction of each open table, players, and bets placed by the players. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first visual element provides a data point on a line graph at a respective time interval. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second visual element is varied to be indicative of the ideal number of open tables being either above the actual number of open tables or below the actual number of open tables. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a threshold with respect to the ideal number of open tables is used to trigger variation of the second visual element. 
     
     
         16 . A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a casino table game yield management data processing system, perform operations comprising:
 determining an actual number of open tables associated with a first game type for each of a plurality of time intervals;   determining an ideal number of open tables at each of the time intervals;   displaying a timeline comprising the time intervals, the timeline comprising, in association with each time interval, a first visual element indicative of the actual number of open tables during that time interval, and a second visual element indicative of whether the ideal number of open tables is above or below the actual number of open tables; and   enabling further detail corresponding to a desired time interval to be displayed upon detecting selection of a corresponding portion of the timeline.   
     
     
         17 . A casino table game yield management data processing system comprising the computer readable medium of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         18 . A method, in a casino table game yield management data processing system, of providing table spread data for a casino environment, the method comprising:
 determining an actual number of open tables associated with a game type for each of a plurality of time intervals;   determining an ideal number of open tables for the game type at each of the time intervals; and   displaying a plurality of visual elements in a grid comparing the game type against the plurality of time intervals, each visual element being indicative of whether the ideal number of tables is above or below the actual number of tables.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the ideal number of open tables is determined using a different optimal occupancy target for any one or more of different price points and different game types. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the game type is arranged in the grid grouped by at least one time period, wherein the time period comprises the plurality of time intervals. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the game type is arranged in the grid displayed in multiple instances, each instance being associated with one of a plurality of time periods, wherein the time period comprises the plurality of time intervals. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the visual elements are varied in at least one characteristic to indicate whether the ideal number of open tables is above or below the actual number of open tables. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the characteristic comprises any one or more of a numeric value, a colour, a shade, and a shape. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising, upon detecting selection of one of the plurality of visual elements, displaying a timeline comprising the time intervals, the timeline comprising, in association with each time interval, a first visual element indicative of the actual number of open tables during that time interval, and a second visual element indicative of whether the ideal number of open tables is above or below the actual number of open tables. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the actual number of open tables and the ideal number of open tables are each aggregated over a plurality of time periods, wherein each time period comprises the plurality of time intervals. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising enabling selection or de-selection of at least one time period to be included in the aggregation. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the visual elements depict any one or more of the actual number open tables, the ideal number of open tables, and the actual number of open tables being above or below the ideal number of open tables. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the visual elements depict a duration or frequency that the actual number of open tables is above or below the ideal number of open tables. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the visual elements depict a numerical currency value that represents any one or more of an improvement in profitability if the ideal number of tables had been opened for each time interval, and a total currency amount of the improvement in profitability if the ideal number of tables had been opened for a plurality of time intervals. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising enabling further detail corresponding to a desired time interval to be displayed upon detecting selection of a corresponding portion of the grid. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the further detail is displayed using a second visual element in association with the desired time interval, the further detail comprising any one or more of player occupancy, number of players, number of open tables, and table occupancy. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 30 , wherein upon detecting selection of the corresponding portion of the grid, the further detail is displayed using a second visual element providing a floor view comprising data associated with at least one open table in an area of the gaming environment. 
     
     
         33 . A computer readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that when executed by a casino table game yield management data processing system, perform operations comprising:
 determining an actual number of open tables associated with a game type for each of a plurality of time intervals;   determining an ideal number of open tables for the game type at each of the time intervals; and   displaying a plurality of visual elements in a grid comparing the game type against the plurality of time intervals, each visual element being indicative of whether the ideal number of tables is above or below the actual number of tables.   
     
     
         34 . A casino table game yield management data processing system comprising the computer readable medium of  claims 33 . 
     
     
         35 - 50 . (canceled)