WO2007062892A1 - Method and systems for detecting fraud in live casino - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and systems for detecting fraud in live casino card games is disclosed. According to the invention each playing card is electronically marked when being introduced in the live casino game so that it is possible to check the cards when they are put on the game table to avoid the introduction of new cards. Likewise, chips are marked when given to customers and checked before being exchanged.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING FRAUD IN LIVE CASINO

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to live casino games and more specifically to a method and systems for detecting fraud.

Background of the Invention

According to most of casino games, players are manipulating cards and chips, also referred to as tokens. For example, the goal of each player of Blackjack game mainly consists in having a hand value that is closer to 21 than that of the dealer, without going over 21. Other players at the table are of no concern. Each player's hand is strictly played out against the hand of the dealer. The rules of play for the dealer are strictly dictated, leaving no decisions up to the dealer. Once all the bets are made using chips, the dealer deals the cards to the players. He makes two passes around the table. Then, the most common decision a player must make during the game is whether to draw another card to the hand ("hit"), or stop at the current total ("stand") .

As disclosed in Patent Application WO 2004/112923, the profitability of a casino is directly dependent on three critical factors: Customer Service, Operations Efficiency and Security. This application discloses system that automatically monitors playing of a game and gathers data in real time. An overhead imaging system automatically images the game table and provides an overhead view of the game table and/or the dealer's chip tray. A lateral imaging system images the gaming area, especially the wagering regions, to provide a lateral view of the chips on the table. An automatic card shoe system dispenses cards and automatically images at least one card immediately prior to its withdrawal from the shoe. A positioning module processes images from the overhead imaging system to automatically track the position of gaming objects such as for example playing cards, chips, currency bills on the gaming table. An identity module processes images from the overhead imaging system to automatically track the identity of gaming objects on the gaming table. A chip identity module processes overhead images of the chip tray and lateral images of the gaming region to automatically determine, the identity and position of gaming chips. A game tracking software receives input from all other modules and interprets input to track actual game events in real time. An analysis and reporting software module provides end user functionality to casino employees and management such as player profiling, procedure violation alerts, card counter alerts, fraud alerts, employee efficiency reports and other operational statistics .

Likewise, Patent Application WO 2005/025696 discloses a system and method for monitoring playing cards in a live casino game by reading card attributes stored in each playing card at a player position with a radio frequency reading system. Each card has a radio frequency identification tag containing at least value and suit attributes. The tracking of the dealt cards to each player position occurs in sequence and based upon wagers placed monitors play of the live card game according to rules of the live card game. However, even if such systems improve game monitoring, they do not check the validity of the cards nor of the chips. As a consequence, there is a need for a method and systems for detecting fraud in live casino by determining the validity of the playing cards and chips.

Summary of the Invention

Thus, it is a broad object of the invention to remedy the shortcomings of the prior art as described here above.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and systems for marking playing cards and/or chips.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and systems for marking playing cards and/or chips when they are introduced in the live casino games.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a method and systems for checking playing cards and/or chips used in the live casino games.

The accomplishment of these and other related objects is achieved by a method for marking a playing card or a chip, comprising a read and write radio frequency tag, when said playing card or chip is introduced within a live casino game played on a game table, comprising the steps of,

- selecting a set of attributes;

- detecting the moment at which said playing card or chip is introduced within a live casino game; and, - writing said set of attributes in said read and write radio frequency tag of said playing card or chip, by a method for checking the validity of playing cards in a live casino game played on a game table, said playing cards comprising read and write radio frequency tag storing a set of attributes, the method comprising the steps of, - detecting the presence of said playing cards put on a game field of said game table;

- counting the number of said playing cards put on said game field;

- checking the validity of said playing cards put on said game field;

- displaying an indication on the validity of said playing cards put on said game field, and said number of said playing cards put on said game field,

and by a method for checking the validity of a chip in a live casino, said chip comprising read and write radio frequency tag storing a set of attributes, the method comprising the steps of,

- detecting the presence of said chip;

- reading said set of attributes from said chip; - if not any attribute is read from said set of attributes from said chip, classifying set chip as not valid;

- else if said set of attributes is read from said chip, checking the validity of said chips.

Further embodiments of the invention are provided in the appended dependent claims.

Further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to the ones skilled in the art upon examination of the drawings and detailed description. It is intended that any additional advantages be incorporated herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 depicts an example of the architecture of a passive RFID tag.

Figure 2 comprises figures 2a and 2b. Figure 2a shows an RFID system with a reader having an antenna and an RFID tag having a dipole antenna. Figure 2b illustrates the signal emitted by the antenna of the reader and the modulated signal reflected by the RFID tag.

Figure 3 comprising figures 3a, 3b, and 3c, depicts a playing card and a cross section view of this playing card, showing the embedded RFID tag.

Figure 4, comprising figures 4a and 4b, depicts a chip and a cross section view of this chip, showing the embedded RFID tag.

Figure 5 illustrates a cross section view of a card shoe system comprising an RFID writer for marking the card according to the invention.

Figure 6 shows a top view of a live casino gaming table comprising the system for checking the validity of the playing cards when users put one's cards on the table in front of them, or on a dedicated area, depending upon the live casino game.

Figure 7 shows an example of the algorithm used for checking the validity of the playing cards according to the system of figure 6.

Figure 8 illustrates an apparatus for marking the chips to be given to customers and for checking the chips given by the customers.

Figure 9, comprising figures 9a and 9b, shows the apparatus of figure 8 in two different states.

Figure 10 shows an example of the algorithm used in conjunction with the apparatus of figure 8 for checking the chip read data and analyzing this data with a predetermined set of rules to determine whether or not the chip is valid.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

According to the invention, a Radio Frequency IDenti- fier (RFID) tag is embedded within each playing card and chip of the live casino games, the playing card and chip identifiers being preferably set when the card and chip are introduced in the games. RFID systems

The core of any RFID system is the 'Tag' or 'Transponder', which can be attached to or embedded within objects, wherein data can be stored. An RFID reader, generi- cally referred to as reader in the following description, sends out a radio frequency signal to the RFID tag that broadcasts back its stored data to the reader. The system works basically as two separate antennas, one on the RFID tag and the other on the reader. The read data can either be transmitted directly to another system like a host computer through standard interfaces, or it can be stored in a portable reader and later uploaded to the computer for data processing. An RFID tag system works effectively in environments with excessive dirt, dust, moisture, and/or poor visibility. It generally overcomes the limitations of other automatic identification approaches.

Several kinds of RFID, such as piezoelectric RFID and electronic RFID, are currently available. For example, passive RFID tags do not require battery for transmission since generally, they are powered by the reader using an induction mechanism (an electromagnetic field is emitted by the reader antenna and received by an antenna localized on the RFID tag) . This power is used by the RFID tag to transmit a signal back to the reader, carrying the data stored in the RFID tag. Active RFID tags comprise a battery to transmit a signal to a reader. A signal is emitted at a predefined interval or transmit only when addressed by a reader.

When a passive High Frequency (HF) RFID tag is to be read, the reader sends out a power pulse e.g., a 134.2KHz power pulse, to the RFID antenna. The magnetic field generated is 'collected' by the antenna in the RFID tag that is tuned to the same frequency. This received energy is rectified and stored on a small capacitor within the RFID tag. When the power pulse has finished, the RFID tag immedi- ately transmits back its data, using the energy stored within its capacitor as its power source. Generally, 128 bits, including error detection information, are transmitted over a period of 20ms. This data is picked up by the receiving antenna and decoded by the reader. Once all the data has been transmitted, the storage capacitor is discharged, resetting the RFID tag to make it ready for the next read cycle. The period between transmission pulses is known as the 'sync time' and lasts between 20ms and 50ms depending on the system setup. The transmission technique used between the RFID tag and the reader is Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) with transmissions generally comprised between 124.2kHz and 134.2kHz. This approach has comparatively good resistance to noise while also being very cost effective to implement.

RFID tags can be read-only, write-once, or read-write. A read-only RFID tag comprises a read-only memory that is loaded during manufacturing process. Its content can not be modified. The write-once RFID tags differ from the readonly RFID tags in that they can be programmed by the end-user, with the required data e.g., part number or serial number. The read-write RFID tags allow for full read-write capability, allowing a user to update information stored in a tag as often as possible in the limit of the memory technology. Generally, the number of write cycles is limited to about 500,000 while the number of read cycles is not limited. A detailed technical analysis of RFID tag is disclosed e.g., in RFID (McGraw-Hill Networking Professional) by Steven Shepard, edition Hardcover. Figure 1 depicts an example of the architecture of a passive HF or Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID tag 100. As shown, the dipole antenna comprising two parts 105-1 and 105-2 is connected to a power generating circuit 110 that provides current from received signal to the logic and memory circuit 115, to the demodulator 120, and to the modulator 125. The input of demodulator 120 is connected to the antenna (105-1 and 105-2) for receiving the signal and for transmitting the received signal to the logic and memory circuit 115, after having demodulated the received signal. The input of modulator 125 is connected to the logic and memory circuit 115 for receiving the signal to be transmitted. The output of modulator 125 is connected to the antenna (105-1 and 105-2) for transmitting the signal after it has been modulated in modulator 125.

The architecture of a semi-passive RFID tag is similar to the one represented on figure 1, the main difference being the presence of a power supply that allows it to function with much lower signal power levels, resulting in greater reading distances. Semi-passive tags do not have an integrated transmitter contrarily to active tags that comprise a battery and an active transmitter allowing them to generate high frequency energy and to apply it to the antenna .

As disclosed in "A basic introduction to RFID technology and its use in the supply chain", White Paper, Laran RFID, when the propagating wave from the reader collides with tag antenna in the form of a dipole, part of the energy is absorbed to power the tag and a small part is reflected back to the reader in a technique known as back-scatter. Theory dictates that for the optimal energy transfer, the length of the dipole must be equal to half the wave length, or λ/2. Generally, the dipole is made up of two λ/4 lengths. Communication from tag to reader is achieved by altering the antenna input impedance in time with the data stream to be transmitted. This results in the power reflected back to the reader being changed in time with the data i.e., it is modulated.

Figure 2, comprising figures 2a and 2b, shows an RFID system 200. As depicted on figure 2a, RFID system 200 comprises a reader 205 having an antenna 210. The antenna 210 emits a signal 215 that is received by an RFID tag 220. Signal 215 is reflected in RFID tag 220 and re-emitted as illustrated with dotted lines referred to as 225. Figure 2b illustrates the signal 215 emitted by the antenna 210 of the reader 205 and the signal 225 reflected by the RFID tag 220. As shown on figure 2b, the reflected signal 225 is modulated.

The use of low power memory e.g., low power Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) , allows the read and write mode on the passive RFID tags. For example, in "A contactless read write transponder using low power EEPROM techniques", Buesser et al disclose a passive read and write RFID tag. According to this circuit, the write password and write word are the write commands avail- able. The write mode modifies the contents of the EEPROM word by word. After reception of the write command, address and data, the circuit makes some checks on parity, the protection status and also checks to see if there is adequate power from the RF field. If all the conditions are satisfied, an acknowledge is issued and then the EEPROM is written to. Playing cards and chips embedding RFID tags

As mentioned above, a RFID tag is embedded within each playing card and each chip of the live casino games, preferably a passive read and write RFID tag. Figure 3 depicts an example of such a playing card 300. As illustrated on figure 3a and 3b, the playing card 300 comprises a first side 305 representing the card value and suit attribute i.e., the ace of diamonds on the given example, and a second side 310 having a neutral pattern, advertising or any kind of drawings that does not depend upon the card value and suit attribute so that it is not possible to identify the playing card. Figure 3c represents the internal layer of the card 300 i.e., a cross section view, showing the embedded RFID tag comprising an electronic device 315 and the attached antenna 320.

Similarly, figure 4, comprising figures 4a and 4b, depicts a chip 400 and a cross section view of this chip, showing the embedded RFID tag comprising an electronic device 405 and the attached antenna 310.

Card shoe system of the invention

The card shoe system is sealed and comprises an RFID writer so that each playing card dealt from this system can be identified as such. For example, the data memorized in each playing card comprises the live casino identifier, the card shoe system identifier, and the date and time. This data may also comprise a card identifier. In a further embodiment, non-erasable portion of the RFID tag memory contains the value and suit attribute of the card allowing a monitoring system to check the game rules and to determine scores and/or gains.

Figure 5 illustrates a cross section view of a card shoe system comprising an RFID writer for marking the card. The card shoe system, also referred to as playing card dispenser, comprises a main body 500 with a steep plan 505 on which a cart 510 can move along the slope direction. An aperture 515 is done on top of the body 500 for introducing playing cards (not represented for sake of clarity) in the body. In operation, playing cards are pushed by the cart 510. A belt 520 surrounding at least two rolls 525 and 530 can be moved by the dealer for activating a roll 535 that extracts a single card from the playing card deck. The body 500 further encloses the electronic devices of the RFID writer e.g., a printed circuit board 540, to which is connected the RFID writer's antenna 545. In the illustrated embodiment, the RFID writer's antenna 545 is approximately located at the position where playing cards leave the card shoe system so that each card is marked when it is intro- duced in the live casino game. Still in a preferred embodiment, the body 500 comprises a connector 550 connected to the electronic devices of the RFID writer allowing control, programming, and/or data exchange between the electronic devices of the RFID writer and a computer.

It should be noticed that electronic devices of the RFID writer can be located outside the card shoe system if the antenna is close enough to the playing cards.

Depending upon the antenna sensibility and position, the cards can be marked once they are placed in the card shoe system, in such case all the cards are marked at the same time, or the cards can be marked when they are dealt, one by one. In a preferred embodiment, the card are marked when they are dealt, as illustrated on figure 5. The writing function is activated by detecting the movement of the belt 520. According to the live casino needs and requirements, the RFID memory can be totally erased or partially erased before writing data, so that not erased identifiers should not be re-written.

The data that can be written in the playing card RFID can comprise,

- live casino identifier;

- card shoe system identifier;

- date and time; and,

- playing card identifier.

Obviously, none of these parameters are specifically requested and other parameters can be used.

This data is preferably encoded according to a predetermined format that can be either of fixed width format i.e., each field is encoded according to predetermined word length, or delimited with separator. For example, if the live casino identifier is 305, the card shoe system identifier is 23, the date and time is November, 11, 2005, 23:45, and the playing card identifier is 542951, the encoded data can be,

003050231111200523450000542951

if the live casino identifier is encoded on 5 digits, the card shoe system identifier is encoded on 3 digits, the date is encoded on 8 digits, the time is encoded on 4 digits, and the playing card identifier is encoded on 10 digits; or,

305,23,11,11,2005,23,45,542951

if fields are separated with a comma.

Obviously, any other kinds of format can be used.

Card fraud detection system

According to the system of the invention, the validity of the playing cards is checked when users put one's cards on the game table.

Figure 6 shows a top view of a game table comprising the system for checking the validity of the playing cards when users put one's cards on the table in front of them, or on a dedicated area, depending upon the live casino game. Game table 600 comprises a central game field 605 wherein users can put one's cards on the game table. An RIFD antenna 610 is located under the central game field 605 e.g., under the game table, vertically aligned to the game field. RIFD antenna 610 is adapted to read the content of the RFIDs embedded within playing cards put on the central game field 605 but can not read the content of the RFIDs embedded within playing cards put elsewhere on the game table 600 or held by the players i.e., the reading range is typically limited to a few centimeters. Game table 600 further comprises a plurality of game fields, generically referred to as 615, positioned in front of each players. For example, game field 615-1 is located in front of a first player, game field 615-2 is located in front of a second player, and so on. An RIFD antenna is located under each game field 615. For example, RFID antenna 620-1 is under game field 615-1, RFID antenna 620-2 is under game field 615-2, and so on. Like RFID antenna 610, RIFD antennas 620 are adapted to read the content of the RFIDs embedded within playing cards put on the corresponding game fields but can not read the content of the RFIDs embedded within playing cards put elsewhere on the game table 600 or held by the players. All the RFID antennas are connected to a computer 630 that is, in turn, connected to a display 625. Computer 630 can be of any type such as handheld device, laptop, or desktop. Computer 630 can also be a network server connected to one or several game tables of the type shown on figure 6.

Depending upon the live casino game played on the game table, the game table may comprise all the game fields described by reference to figure 6, only the central game field, or only the game fields located in front of each player .

Figure 7 illustrates an example of the algorithm to be used in conjunction with the system of figure 6. When activates, the algorithm checks for playing cards being put on a game field (step 700) . If not any playing card is detected, the algorithm loops on itself. Else, if playing cards are detected, the game fields on which playing cards have been detected are selected (step 705) . If more than one game fields are selected, the first one is selected as the current one. If only one game field is detected, it is the current selected one. Then, the number of playing cards put on the current selected game field is determined (step 710) and the validity of these playing cards put on the current selected game field is checked (steps 715 and 720) . Checking the validity of a playing card consists in extracting the data contains within the RFID of the playing card and comparing this data with data stored on the computer on which the algorithm is running, according to a predetermined set of rules. If all the playing cards are valid, the number of playing cards detected on the current game field is displayed with an indication of validity. For example, if all the playing cards are valid, the number of playing cards detected on the current game field is displayed using a first colour (step 725) e.g., green. If at least one playing card is not valid, the number of playing cards detected on the current game field is displayed with an indication of invalidity. For example, if at least one playing card is not valid, the number of playing cards detected on the current game field is displayed using a second colour (step 730) e.g., red. Then, the current game field is deselected (step 735) and a test is done to determine whether or not game field are still selected (step 740) . If at least one game field is selected, the one or the first one is selected as the current game field and the algorithm is branched on step 710. Else, if not any game field is selected, the algorithm loops on itself until playing cards are detected on a game field (step 700) .

Considering the previous example of data encoded within playing cards comprising the live casino identifier, the card shoe system identifier, the date, the time, and the playing card identifier, the following rule can be used: if ID (casino) == data(l), and, if ID (shoe) == data (2), and, if date_time - data (3) (4) < 24h, and,

if data (5) e DB (playing cards) then the card is valid

wherein data(l) corresponds to the first field of the data stored within the checked playing card (i.e., the live casino identifier), data (2) corresponds to the second field of the data stored within the checked playing card (i.e., the card shoe system identifier), data (3) (4) corresponds to the third and fourth fields of the data stored within the checked playing card (i.e., the date and time), and data (5) corresponds to the fifth field of the data stored within the checked playing card (i.e., the playing card identifier);

and wherein ID (casino) is the identifier of the live casino where is the game table comprising the card fraud detection system, ID (shoe) is the identifier of the card shoe system associated to the game table comprising the card fraud detection system, date_time represents the current date and time, and DB (playing cards) is the database containing the references of all the playing cards used in the live casino where is the game table comprising the card fraud detection system.

Bank

Like the card shoe system, the bank that exchanges chips against money, money against chips, and/or chips against similar chips, comprises an RFID writer and reader. When the bank gives chips, identification data are memorized within the chips indicating, for example, the live casino identifier and the date and time at which the chips have been given to customers. This data may also contain a chip identifier. Before the bank exchanges chips against money or against other chips, the bank checks the data memorized within the received chips to control their validity. This mechanism can be used at a central place of the live casino or at the playing tables for allowing secure exchange of chips .

Figure 8 illustrates an apparatus 800 for marking the chips to be given to customers and for checking the chips given by the customers. As depicted, the apparatus 800 comprises a main body 805 having a top aperture 810 sized for chip 815 to be introduced. When introduced, chips are either stored in stack 820 or in removable recipient 825, thank to a gate 830, having at least two possible positions, controlled by device 835 e.g., a motor or a coil. The position of the gate 830 is determined according to the data read from the chips. To that end, the apparatus comprises a chip detection mechanism 840 e.g., a photoelectric led, and an antenna 845 disposed near the top aperture 810 and connected to the RFID reader/writer electronic device 850. Chip detection mechanism is used for classifying chips that do not comprise RFID as invalid i.e., for positioning the gate 830 in its position where chips are oriented toward recipient 825. RFID reader/writer electronic device 850 comprise a logic module for checking the read data and analyzing this data with a predetermined set of rules to determine whether or not the introduced chip is valid. If the introduced chip is considered to be valid, the gate 830 is set in its first position and thus, the chip is stacked in stack 820, as depicted on figure 9a. Else if the chip is considered as not valid, the gate 830 is set in its second position and thus, the chip falls in recipient 825, as depicted on figure 9b. Depending upon reader performance, a second gate can be positioned above the gate 830 for retaining the introduced chip until a decision is taken i.e., until the gate 830 reaches its determined position. For example, this second gate can be disposed in such a way as to retaining the chip in front of the antenna 845.

Apparatus 800 further comprises a drawer 855 having a hole, or blinded hole 860, having approximately the size of a chip, for extracting a chip from the stack 820. Apparatus 800 also comprises a second antenna 865, preferably disposed in such a way that it is close to the chip being extracted from the stack 820, as depicted. Antenna 865 is connected to RFID reader/writer electronic device 850 so that identification data are written in the memory of the a chip being extracted. According to the live casino needs and require- ments, the RFID memory can be totally erased or partially erased before writing data, so that not erased identifiers should not be re-written. Apparatus 800 further comprises a mechanism (not illustrated) for detecting the movement of the drawer 855 that activates the function of writing the data in the chip located in the hole 860 when it is close to antenna 850. The data that can be written in the chip RFID is similar to the one of the playing cards and can comprise,

- live casino identifier;

- chip dispenser identifier; - date and time; and,

- playing card identifier.

Again, none of these parameters are specifically requested and other parameters can be used.

Still in a further embodiment, apparatus 800 comprises a display 870 and a connector 875, both connected to RFID reader/writer electronic device 850. Display 870 is used, in particular, to inform user about the validity of the chips being inserted in the apparatus 800, and the number of valid and not valid introduced chips, while connector 875 allows the control of RFID reader/writer, its programming, and/or data exchange with a computer.

While the apparatus 800 comprises both RFID reader and writer functions, it should be understood that both can be implemented in different apparatuses since there is no direct link between reading and writing operations.

Figure 10 shows an example of the algorithm of the logic module for checking the read data and analyzing this data with a predetermined set of rules to determine whether or not the introduced chip is valid. After having received chip data (step 1000), the received data is parsed according to the predetermined format (used for encoding data) to extract encoded identifiers (step 1005) . According to this example, data encoded within each chip comprises the live casino identifier, the date and time at which the chip has been given to customer, and a chip identifier. Then, a first test is performed to determine whether or not the chip belong to the live casino (step 1010) by comparing the casino identifier of the chip with the live casino identifier. If the casino identifier of the chip is the same as the live casino identifier, a second test is done to compare the date of the chip e.g., the date at which data has been written in the chip, with the current date, depending upon a predetermined range (step 1015). For example, if the chip's date is July, 23, the current date is November, 11, and the authorized range set by the live casino is two months, the chip is not valid since data has been written more than two month ago. If the chip's date is within the range set by the live casino according to the current date, a third test is performed to check the chip's identifier (step 1020). If the chip's identifier belongs to the set of chip's identifiers stored in a chip's identifier database of the live casino, the chip is identified as being valid. Else, the chip is considered not to be valid. Naturally other tests can be done or some of these three test can be avoid, depending upon live casino needs and requirements.

In a further embodiment, the data encoded within the playing cards and the chips are encrypted using standard encryption algorithms.

Naturally, in order to satisfy local and specific requirements, a person skilled in the art may apply to the solution described above many modifications and alterations all of which, however, are included within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims .

Claims

Claims :

1. A method for marking a playing card or a chip, comprising a read and write radio frequency tag, when said playing card or chip is introduced within a live casino game played on a game table, comprising the steps of,

- selecting a set of attributes;

- detecting the moment at which said playing card or chip is introduced within a live casino game; and,

- writing said set of attributes in said read and write radio frequency tag of said playing card or chip.

2. A method for checking the validity of playing cards in a live casino game played on a game table, said playing cards comprising read and write radio frequency tag storing a set of attributes, the method comprising the steps of, - detecting the presence of said playing cards put on a game field of said game table;

- counting the number of said playing cards put on said game field;

- checking the validity of said playing cards put on said game field;

- displaying an indication on the validity of said playing cards put on said game field, and said number of said playing cards put on said game field.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said step of checking the validity of said playing cards put on said game field comprises the steps of, - determining the set of attributes stored in said playing cards put on said game field; and,

- comparing said set of attributes stored in said playing cards put on said game field with predetermined attributes according to a predetermined set of rules.

4. The method of either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said step of displaying an indication on the validity of said playing cards put on said game field, and said number of said playing cards put on said game field, comprises the steps of,

- if all of said playing cards put on said game field are valid, displaying said number of said playing cards put on said game field in a first color; and,

- if at least one of said playing cards put on said game field is not valid, displaying said number of said playing cards put on said game field in a second color.

5. A method for checking the validity of a chip in a live casino, said chip comprising read and write radio frequency tag storing a set of attributes, the method comprising the steps of,

- detecting the presence of said chip;

- reading said set of attributes from said chip;

- if not any attribute is read from said set of attributes from said chip, classifying set chip as not valid; - else if said set of attributes is read from said chip, checking the validity of said chips.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said step of checking the validity of said chips comprises the step of comparing said set of attributes stored in said chip with predetermined attributes according to a predetermined set of rules.

7. The method of anyone of the previous claims wherein said set of attributes comprises at least one of the attribute amongst the live casino identifier, the dispenser identifier, the date and time, and a unique identifier.

8. The method of anyone of the previous claims wherein said read and write radio frequency tag is a passive RFID.

9. An apparatus comprising means adapted for carrying out each step of the method according to any one of the previous claims .

10. A computer-like readable medium comprising instructions for carrying out each step of the method according to any one of the previous claims.