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Method and system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishmentRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Credit/debit Monitoring Or Manipulation (e.g., Game Entry, Betting, Prize Level, Etc.)Method and system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070225064, Method and system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of wagering games. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a method and a system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Many gambling establishments, such as for example casinos, do not accept directly paper money for wagering at wagering stations. Instead, intended users of the gambling establishment exchange paper money for gaming chips that are then used at wagering stations. However, this creates a problem of managing the distribution of the gaming chips within the gambling establishment. [0003] Indeed, since the intended users exchange their money for gaming chips and then spend the gaming chips at wagering stations, it often occurs that chips having some monetary values accumulate at some wagering stations, while chips of other monetary values need to be continuously brought to the same or to other wagering stations. While this disadvantage seems relatively minor, each time gaming chips are brought to a wagering station, the wagering must stop at least for a few moments at that station. Since gambling establishments may be considered as selling wagering time, these interruptions may cumulatively lead to loss of money for the gambling establishment as it reduces the availability of the wagering stations for wagering. [0004] In addition, there is a need to move the gaming chips between stations and a central location, usually referred to as a cage. Since gaming chips are basically cash equivalent, there is a need to provide appropriate security during these movements so that there is no loss of gaming chips either by accident or by users trying to steal the gaming chips. Therefore, personnel must be hired specifically to move the gaming chips within the gambling establishment, which leads to increased operational costs for the gambling establishment. [0005] Another problem that may occur with existing gaming chips distribution systems is that the chips are typically distributed according to a predetermined algorithm that is independent from the environment in which the gaming chips are distributed. However, it often occurs that wagering stations in a gambling establishment are distributed so that wagering stations requiring a minimal wager at a certain wager level are grouped together. Therefore, if the gaming chip distributors distribute chips according to a predetermined algorithm, it may occur that the intended users need to exchange chips having a certain monetary value for chips having another monetary value in order to participate in the wagering. Once more, these gaming chips exchanges may cause the available wagering time to be reduced at some of the wagering stations. [0006] Against this background, there exists a need in the industry to provide novel methods and systems for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. [0007] An object of the present invention is therefore to provide improved methods and systems for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In a first broad aspect, the invention provides a method for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. Each gaming chip is of a specific gaming chip type selected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types, each predetermined gaming chip type having a respective predetermined monetary value. The gambling establishment includes a plurality of wagering stations each implementing at least one wagering game and a plurality of gaming chip distributors. The method includes: [0009] at one of the gaming chip distributors, receiving a payment from an intended user, the payment defining a payment monetary value; and [0010] at the one of the gaming chip distributors, issuing to the intended user a plurality of gaming chips, the gaming chips being issued in numbers such that the sum of the monetary values represented by the issued gaming chips is equal to the monetary value of the received payment; [0011] wherein the number of gaming chips of each predetermined gaming chip type issued depends, at least in part, on an operational parameter of either [0012] a set of wagering stations from the plurality of wagering stations at which the distributed gaming chips are likely to be used by the intended user; [0013] the gaming chip distributor; or [0014] a combination of the set of wagering stations and the gaming chip distributor. [0015] The operational parameter is indicative of the circulation of gaming chips within the gambling establishment. Therefore, the claimed method distributes gaming chips as a function of the environment of the gaming chip distributor, as a function of the status of the gaming chip distributor, or both. This is to be contrasted to existing gaming chips distributor wherein the number of gaming chips of each type issued is fixed as a function of the total monetary value of the distributed gaming chips, or is controlled by the user requesting the gaming chips. In the claimed invention, the number of gaming chip of each type distributed is selected so that the circulation of gaming chips in the gambling establishment is improved. [0016] Advantageously, the system and method reduce the need to move gaming chips within the gambling establishment. In turn, this reduces a number of employees required to operate the gambling establishment. Also, the number of interruptions of the wagering that occurs at wagering stations to manage the gaming chips is reduced. [0017] Also, the system and method are relatively inexpensive to implement and relatively easy to use. [0018] In some embodiments of the invention, the system and method reduce the need to exchange gaming chips for gaming chips having different monetary values at wagering stations. Therefore, there is less interruption in the wagering that occurs at the wagering stations, which is more enjoyable for the intended users of the system and more profitable for the gambling establishment. [0019] In another broad aspect, the invention provides a gaming chip distributor. [0020] In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides a system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. [0021] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0022] In the appended drawings: [0023] FIG. 1, in a schematic view, illustrates a system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Continue reading about Method and system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment... Full patent description for Method and system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method and system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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