Abstract: Systems and methods for combined or hybrid online and in-casino wagering game tournaments are provided. Combined online and in-casino tournaments may permit both online and in-casino players at non-dedicated machines to participate in the same tournament asynchronously. Hybrid online and in-casino tournaments may permit a single player to utilize both online and in-casino gaming sessions conducted at non-dedicated machines to participate in the same tournament asynchronously.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a physical game element such as a wagering chip or a playing card may be utilized to implement a promotion scheme on an electronic game table (e.g., using RFID or optical imaging technology). During a game it may be determined whether the element is associated with special functionality (e.g., entitles the player to a payout multiplier, special payout table, bonus prize or other benefit). The special functionality may have been previously associated with the element or associated with the element during the game (e.g., dynamically and/or randomly). In accordance with some embodiments a player is not able to readily discern the special functionality by a physical inspection of the physical game element and is only notified of the special functionality once the physical game element is used in a qualifying action (e.g., during a wager at an electronic game table).

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, an RFID-enabled table game system provides for determining whether there is a variance between an expected balance of inventory and an actual balance of inventory in a game element container. If a variance is detected, the RFID-enabled game system may identify at least one characteristic associated with an RFID-enabled game element that is determined to be a source of the variance (e.g., a player position at which the RFID-enabled game element had last been detected, a denomination or value of the game element, and/or an identifier associated with the game element). In some embodiments, an alert may be output to game provider personnel (e.g., a dealer of a card game) at the end of a game play when such a variance is detected, thus allowing the variance to be corrected in an efficient and timely manner.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a game table such an electronic baccarat table may be equipped with one or more detecting components (e.g., an RFID antenna, an NFC antenna or an optical reader) to identify gaming elements placed in a certain area of the game table and determine the status of each such gaming element. A specific type of transaction may be automatically inferred by the game table, without a dealer specifically requesting an initiation of a mode or process for the type of transaction, based on statuses of the gaming elements detected within the area and a current phase or stage of a game event. For example, a Change Transaction may be inferred upon the game table determining that both inventory and non-inventory game elements are present within the area of the table at the same time.

Abstract: Systems, processes and articles of manufacture provide for a player identity verification system that allows a gaming establishment (e.g., a casino) to determine or verify a player's identity upon certain qualifying activities being determined (e.g., when a player is initiating a wagering session at a table game or placing a wager). In accordance with one embodiment, a live image of a player participating in a qualifying activity (e.g., placement of a wager) is compared to a stored image of a player that is associated with one or more casino chips being used as the wager; a verification of the identity of the player placing the wager is performed by matching the live image to the stored image.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a game table such as a smart baccarat table may be equipped with one or more detecting components (e.g., an RFID antenna, an NFC antenna or an optical reader) to identify gaming elements placed in a certain area of the smart table that a dealer of the table places gaming elements into when conducting a transaction. A specific type of transaction may be automatically inferred by the game table, without a dealer specifically requesting an initiation of a mode or process for the type of transaction, based on statuses of the gaming elements detected within the area. For example, a Change Transaction may be inferred upon the game table determining that both inventory and non-inventory game elements are present within the area of the table at the same time.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a physical game element such as a wagering chip or a playing card may be utilized to implement a promotion scheme on an electronic card table (e.g., using RFID or optical imaging technology). During a game it may be determined whether the element is associated with special functionality (e.g., entitles the player to a payout multiplier, special payout table, bonus prize or other benefit). The special functionality may have been previously associated with the element or associated with the element during the game (e.g., dynamically and/or randomly). In accordance with some embodiments a player is not able to readily discern the special functionality by a physical inspection of the physical game element and is only notified of the special functionality once the physical game element is used in a qualifying action (e.g., during a wager at an electronic card table).

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments there is provided an electronic gaming table system (e.g., a smart table operable to facilitate a card game, such as baccarat, blackjack or poker) which includes (i) at least one detecting mechanism for detecting a plurality of game elements (e.g., wagering chips) placed on, or removed from, a particular physical position of a physical table of the gaming table system to represent at least one wager for a particular game event; and (ii) a game controller operable to identify, based at least on data received from the at least one detecting mechanism, whether the plurality of game elements represent a single wager or multiple distinct wagers placed on the particular physical position and for the particular game event. In some embodiments, the detecting mechanism is an RFID antenna.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, an RFID-enabled table game system provides for determining whether there is a variance between an expected balance of inventory and an actual balance of inventory in a game element container. If a variance is detected, the RFID-enabled game system may identify at least one characteristic associated with an RFID-enabled game element that is determined to be a source of the variance (e.g., a player position at which the RFID-enabled game element had last been detected, a denomination or value of the game element, and/or an identifier associated with the game element). In some embodiments, an alert may be output to game provider personnel (e.g., a dealer of a card game) at the end of a game play when such a variance is detected, thus allowing the variance to be corrected in an efficient and timely manner.

Abstract: Systems and methods for facilitating a card game on a table apparatus that comprises components (e.g., RFID antennas) for sensing wagering chips placed on the table provide for determining, based upon data from such components: (i) all losses to be collected by a dealer; (ii) all wins to be paid out by the dealer; and (iii) all commissions to be collected by the dealer. The systems and methods also facilitate outputting, on a dealer display device, an indication of one or more of the following for each player participating in the card game and based on the foregoing determinations: (i) a commission to be collected, if any; (ii) a losing wager to be collected, if any; and (iii) a win amount to be paid out, if any.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a physical game element such as a wagering chip or a playing card may be utilized to implement a promotion scheme on an electronic card table (e.g., using RFID or optical imaging technology). During a game it may be determined whether the element is associated with special functionality (e.g., entitles the player to a payout multiplier, special payout table, bonus prize or other benefit). The special functionality may have been previously associated with the element or associated with the element during the game (e.g., dynamically and/or randomly). In accordance with some embodiments a player is not able to readily discern the special functionality by a physical inspection of the physical game element and is only notified of the special functionality once the physical game element is used in a qualifying action (e.g., during a wager at an electronic card table).

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, an RFID-enabled table game system provides for determining whether there is a variance between an expected balance of inventory and an actual balance of inventory in a game element container. If a variance is detected, the RFID-enabled game system may identify at least one characteristic associated with an RFID-enabled game element that is determined to be a source of the variance (e.g., a player position at which the RFID-enabled game element had last been detected, a denomination or value of the game element, and/or an identifier associated with the game element). In some embodiments, an alert may be output to game provider personnel (e.g., a dealer of a card game) at the end of a game play when such a variance is detected, thus allowing the variance to be corrected in an efficient and timely manner.

Abstract: Systems, processes and articles of manufacture provide for a player identity verification system that allows a gaming establishment (e.g., a casino) to determine or verify a player's identity upon certain qualifying activities being determined (e.g., when a player is initiating a wagering session at a table game or placing a wager). In accordance with one embodiment, a live image of a player participating in a qualifying activity (e.g., placement of a wager) is compared to a stored image of a player that is associated with one or more casino chips being used as the wager; a verification of the identity of the player placing the wager is performed by matching the live image to the stored image.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a game table such as a smart baccarat table may be equipped with one or more detecting components (e.g., an RFID antenna, an NFC antenna or an optical reader) to identify gaming elements placed in a certain area of the smart table that a dealer of the table places gaming elements into when conducting a transaction. A specific type of transaction may be automatically inferred by the game table, without a dealer specifically requesting an initiation of a mode or process for the type of transaction, based on statuses of the gaming elements detected within the area. For example, a Change Transaction may be inferred upon the game table determining that both inventory and non-inventory game elements are present within the area of the table at the same time.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a system for facilitating a card game is equipped with RFID antennas or interrogators operable to detect initial wagers placed by players on a table surface of the system. The system is further equipped with an electronic shoe which deals cards for the game and a processor with is operable to receive data both from the RFID antennas and the electronic shoe. Upon receiving data from an RFID antenna that a player has placed an initial wager based on initial odds and receiving data identifying some (but not all) cards dealt for a hand, the processor is operable to calculate adjusted odds for a re-characterization wager that would replace the initial wager, and output on a display of the system an offer for the re-characterization wager that corresponds to adjusted odds.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, provided herein is a table system for facilitating a card game (e.g., a baccarat or blackjack card game) that includes LED or other lighting components under the felt covering of the table, which lighting components are used to communicate information to players of the game. In some embodiments, different lighting effects are used to communicate different information (e.g., a first lighting effect is used to indicate a bet spot with that has the highest wager or that qualifies for a special benefit). In some embodiments, the table system also includes RFID components. Various processes and system designs are provided herein to minimize or eliminate interference (e.g., magnetic field interference) between the lighting components and the RFID components.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments there is provided an electronic gaming table system (e.g., a smart table operable to facilitate a card game, such as baccarat, blackjack or poker) which includes (i) at least one detecting mechanism for detecting a plurality of game elements (e.g., wagering chips) placed on, or removed from, a particular physical position of a physical table of the gaming table system to represent at least one wager for a particular game event; and (ii) a game controller operable to identify, based at least on data received from the at least one detecting mechanism, whether the plurality of game elements represent a single wager or multiple distinct wagers placed on the particular physical position and for the particular game event. In some embodiments, the detecting mechanism is an RFID antenna.

Abstract: A gaming table provides for use of RFID technology to track chip movement on a table game and to infer an association between a wager and a player position based on a chip identifier of a chip placed on a particular position of the table. In some embodiments, previous position history of the chip is also taken into account in determining a player position associated with a wager.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a system which includes a plurality of baccarat tables on which a baccarat game may be played by a plurality of players and a plurality of electronic player devices each playable by an individual player provides for selecting a plurality of outcomes which were dealt on at least one of the baccarat tables, determining whether a trend or pattern has developed in the plurality of outcomes (e.g., a pattern of at least a predetermined length) and, if a pattern has developed, activating a wagering opportunity on one of the electronic player devices, the wagering opportunity allowing a player to bet for or against the trend. In one embodiment, each outcome of the plurality of selected outcomes comprises an outcome originally dealt on the same baccarat table.

Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, an RFID-enabled table game system provides for determining whether there is a variance between an expected balance of inventory and an actual balance of inventory in a game element container. If a variance is detected, the RFID-enabled game system may identify at least one characteristic associated with an RFID-enabled game element that is determined to be a source of the variance (e.g., a player position at which the RFID-enabled game element had last been detected, a denomination or value of the game element, and/or an identifier associated with the game element). In some embodiments, an alert may be output to game provider personnel (e.g., a dealer of a card game) at the end of a game play when such a variance is detected, thus allowing the variance to be corrected in an efficient and timely manner.