DESCRIPTION:

The present invention relates to a gaming table, in particular a gaming table that can be used simultaneously by a plurality of players participating in a gaming session of a table game.

As is known, one of the aspects that are preferred by table game enthusiasts concerns the (physical and/or social) interactions occurring in the course of a gaming session, such as, for example, holding the cards, using rituals against bad luck before, during and after a gaming session (e.g. always playing with the same croupier and/or sitting near the same person, etc.), and the like. Such activities are not possible during a remote gaming session (the so-called "online gaming") because the players are usually staying in different geographical areas and can only interact with one another telematically.

International patent application WO 2008/047176 A2 by VIDEOB HOLDINGS LIMITED describes a remote gaming system wherein a croupier is captured by a video camera and the video stream is reproduced on a plurality of terminals, each one of which allows a single player to place bets via a keyboard.

As aforementioned, this kind of gaming does not allow a player to have those interactions that he/she would have during a real gaming session, because the player is usually sitting in front of an electronic terminal (e.g. an apparatus dedicated to gaming or a personal computer), with which he/she interacts by means of a mouse and/or a keyboard and/or a touch-sensitive peripheral. This makes it impossible for a player to enjoy the "gaming experience" that would otherwise be ensured when sitting at a gaming table together with other players.

A survey conducted by the Applicants has shown that players like playing at a table much better than using a gaming terminal, because by socializing and interacting with other players they can enjoy longer gaming sessions than in the above-mentioned online gaming.

The length of a gaming session is fundamental for the gambling house manager, since the longer the gaming session the higher the probability that wins will be equally distributed between the different players sitting at the table and the bank. This will increase and maintain at a high level the trust of each player in the other players and in the personnel of the gambling house (e.g. the croupier).

Another factor that affects each player' level of trust in the croupier or in the gambling house is the level of security ensured in the course of the gaming session, wherein the level of security refers to the difficulty that would be encountered by the croupier and/or by a player sitting at the table, during a gaming session, should they want to commit one or more fraudulent actions against another player sitting at the same table (e.g. stealing chips or causing a specific number to come up on the roulette, or the like).

To this end, gaming tables are now equipped with RFID readers capable of detecting the cards and/or chips laid on said table, thus allowing the reconstruction of the current status, and also of the evolution, of a gaming session, so that any errors or actions infringing the game rules will be detected. In this manner, it is ensured that, in the course of a gaming session, players and croupiers will always observe the rules, without taking any fraudulent actions.

The present invention aims at solving these and others problems by providing a gaming table.

The basic idea of the present invention is to configure a gaming table, which can be used simultaneously by a plurality of players, in such a way that it comprises, in addition to detector means configured for detecting table information including the configuration (e.g. the type and/or position and/or orientation) of the gaming means (e.g. playing cards, chips, etc.) on the table, also the following elements:

- actuator means (e.g. a robotic arm, a circuit for turning on/off one or more lights, a magnetic field generator, or the like), adapted to change the configuration of at least one of said gaming means;

- communication means (e.g. an Ethernet, USB, or similar interface), configured for receiving at least one piece of game information (e.g. a game start signal, a sequence of numbers or cards that will have to come up, or the like);

- processing means in signal communication with the communication means, and configured for performing one or more of the following functions:

o acquiring, through the detector means, the table information (e.g.

position and type of chips, cards or the like);

o determining the status of the gaming session on the basis of at least the table information and/or the game information;

o changing, through said actuator means, the configuration of at least one of the gaming means on the basis of at least the status of the gaming session.

The elements of the gaming table according to the invention make it possible to carry out an electronic gaming session, allowing a plurality of players to interact with said table (e.g. while standing near or sitting around it) through gaming means looking much or exactly like traditional ones.

Thus, players who will not normally join electronic gaming sessions will be able to participate by using the same gaming means (i.e. cards and chips) as those typically used in a normal gaming session at a table according to the prior art, thereby solving the problem of increasing the number of players participating in electronic gaming sessions.

Moreover, the electronic gaming session may also take place remotely, i.e. with the players distributed over multiple tables located in geographical areas that may even be very distant from one another.

In this manner, players who cannot go to a gambling house will be allowed to participate in a gaming session carried out in full compliance with the law, since there is also the possibility, via the communication means of the table, to connect to another physical table located in a gambling house, from where professional croupiers will ensure that the game will go on in strict observance of the law, or to a computer platform that will virtually simulate the table and the gaming session, such as, for example, gaming platforms certified by AAMS (Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli) in Italy, thus solving the problem of increasing the number of players participating in electronic gaming sessions.

Finally, a gaming table according to the invention provides a high level of control over the development of a gaming session, thus ensuring a high level of security for the players participating in electronic gaming sessions. This solves the problem of increasing the number of players participating in electronic gaming sessions, because the probability that a player will be the victim of a fraud, and hence will stop playing, will be reduced.

Control over dealers/croupiers will also be improved, in that table management can be entrusted to a computer system that will replace the current drawing/selection systems that can be influenced by the dealer/croupier via (remote) automatic computer systems.

Further advantageous features of the present invention will be set out in the appended claims.

These features as well as further advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof as shown in the annexed drawings, which are supplied by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram that shows the parts comprised in a gaming table according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of a gaming table according to the invention configured for the roulette game, wherein some components lying under the surface of said table are represented by means of dashed lines;

Figs. 3a-3c illustrate the various modes of operation of the table of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 illustrates a first variant of the table of Fig. 2, configured for the card game called Twenty-One (also known as Blackjack), wherein some components lying under the surface of said table are represented by means of dashed lines;

Fig. 5 illustrates a second variant of the table of Fig. 2, configured for the game called Bingo, wherein some components lying under the surface of said table are represented by means of dashed lines;

Fig. 6 illustrates a third variant of the table of Fig. 2, configured for the dice game, wherein some components lying under the surface of said table are represented by means of dashed lines.

Any reference to "an embodiment" in this description will indicate that a particular configuration, structure or feature is comprised in at least one embodiment of the invention. Therefore, the phrase "in an embodiment" and other similar phrases, which may be present in different parts of this description, will not necessarily be all related to the same embodiment. Furthermore, any particular configuration, structure or feature may be combined in one or more embodiments in any way deemed appropriate. The references below are therefore used only for simplicity's sake and do not limit the protection scope or extent of the various embodiments.

With reference to Fig. 1, the following will describe an electronic game management system that comprises a table 1 according to the invention. An embodiment of the table 1 comprises the following components:

- control and processing means 1 1, e.g. one or more CPUs, which control the operation of said table 1, preferably in a programmable manner, via the execution of appropriate instructions;

- memory means 12, preferably a Flash memory or the like, in signal communication with the control and processing means 11, wherein said memory means 12 store at least instructions that can be read by the control and processing means 11 when the table 1 is in an operating condition;

- communication means 13, preferably one or more network interfaces operating in compliance with a standard of the IEEE 802.3 (also known as Ethernet) and/or IEEE 802.1 1 (also known as WiFi) and/or 802.16 (also known as WiMax) families and/or a GSM/GPRS/UMTS/LTE data network interface, configured for receiving at least one piece of game information (e.g. a game start signal, a sequence of numbers or cards that will have to come up, or the like), which will be further described below also with reference to the type of game for which the table 1 is configured. This game information can be transmitted to the table 11 from processing means that may be either internal or external to said table 1, and which will be further described below;

- detector means 14, e.g. RFID wireless readers, optical reading video cameras, magnetic sensors, or the like, configured for detecting table information comprising the configuration (i.e. type and/or position and/or orientation) of the gaming means (e.g. playing cards, chips, or the like) on the table, wherein said gaming means will be further described below;

- actuator means 15, e.g. one or more robotic arms, an automatic card sabot, magnetic field generators, or the like, which are adapted to configure at least one of said gaming means (e.g. by moving one or more cards under the action of a magnetic field and/or by defining, by means of one or more LEDs illuminating a portion of the table, the position where a card or the like must be positioned, whether automatically or by a croupier), and which will be further defined below also on the basis of the type of game for which the table 1 is configured;

- input/output (I/O) means 16, which may be used, for example, for connecting peripherals (e.g. a touchscreen or external mass storage units or an interface for controlling the detector means 14 and/or the actuator means 15) or a programming terminal configured for writing instructions (to be then executed by the control and processing means 11) to said table 1; said input/output means 135 may comprise, for example, a USB, Firewire, RS232, IEEE 1284 adapter, or the like;

- a communication bus 17 allowing information to be exchanged among the control and processing means 11, the memory means 12, the communication means 13, the detector means 14, the actuator means 15 and the input/output means 16.

As an alternative to the communication bus 17, the control and processing means 11, the memory means 12, the communication means 13, the detector means 14, the actuator means 15, and the input/output means 16 may be connected by means of a star architecture.

When the table 1 is in an operating condition, the control and processing means 11 of said table are configured for executing instructions implementing a method of managing an electronic gaming session that comprises the following phases:

a. acquiring, through the detector means 14, table information (e.g. position and type of chips, cards, or the like) allowing the control and processing means 1 1 to know the type, position, orientation (i.e. the so-called configuration) of the gaming means that are present on the surface of said table;

b. determining the status of the gaming session on the basis of at least the table information, acquired in phase a., and/or of the game information received through the communication means 13, so as to allow the control and processing means 1 1 to know how the game is evolving (e.g. the bets, requests and wins of each player, or the like), in particular how the game is evolving for each player sitting at the table 1 ;

c. changing, through said actuator means, the configuration of at least one of said gaming means on the basis of at least the status of the gaming session.

It must be pointed out that these phases may also not be carried out in a strictly sequential manner, i.e. they may be carried out in any order (e.g. phases b. or c. may be carried out at the start of a gaming session). In addition, all or some of these phases may be carried out simultaneously (e.g. the instructions of phases a. and b. may be carried out cyclically, with a period of a few milliseconds, so as to prevent any fraudulent actions, such as, for example, moving chips or turning over cards before due time, or the like). It is therefore possible that, in the course of a gaming session, these phases are carried out in the following exemplary order: phase a., phase b., phase a., phase b., phase c, phase b., phase a., and so on.

Also with reference to Fig. 2, the following will describe an embodiment of the table 1 configured for the roulette game.

In this embodiment, the gaming means preferably comprise a roulette 21, a ball 22, and a plurality of chips 23.

The roulette 21 may be comprised in said table 1; also, said roulette 21 is preferably of the type that can be configured for allowing the ball 22, at the end of a spin, to position itself into a pre-selected numbered pocket. In other words, the actuator means of the table 1 are configured for causing the ball 22 to stop into a pocket of said roulette 21, the value of which is established on the basis of the game information.

For this purpose, the roulette 21 comprises actuator means that preferably comprise magnetic field generators 151 preferably positioned under the numbered pockets and integral with the rotary part of said roulette 21, so that, when one of the generators 151 is activated, the ball will position itself firmly over said generator 151. To do so, the ball 22 must be made at least partially of ferromagnetic material, so that said ball will be attracted into the pocket under which the magnetic field generator 151 has been activated.

As an alternative to or in combination with the above, each pocket of the roulette 21 may also comprise variable display means (e.g. an LCD or the like), which can change the number associated with said pocket on the basis of the game information. In this manner, a certain number can be associated with the pocket where the ball 22 stops on the basis of the game information.

This roulette may be configured for automatic spins or for spins executed with the assistance of a person (who may also be a player). For autonomous operation, the roulette may also comprise motor means adapted to turn the mobile part of said roulette 21, spinning means adapted to spin the ball 22 around the mobile part of said roulette 21, and recovery means adapted to recover the ball 22 and bring it back into a position from where the spinning means will be able to make another spin.

As detector means 14, the table 1 may also comprise readers 141, preferably RFID ones, positioned under that part of the table where bets are placed (to so-called board), and configured for detecting the presence and type of the chips positioned thereon. Thus, the control and processing means 11 can know the table information including the value and position of the chips placed by each player; in addition, these detectors also allow checking that the chips are not moved until the roulette has stopped and/or the ball 22 has firmly positioned itself in a certain pocket, i.e. until it is possible to determine which players have won and lost, and the amount of the each player's wins and losses.

With reference to Figs. 3a-3c, the following will describe the various modes of operation of the table 1 and how the various parts interact with one another when said table 1 is in an operating condition.

It must be pointed out that these modes of operation may also be used by the other embodiments of the table according to the invention, which will be described hereafter.

Fig. 3a shows a first operating scenario, wherein the electronic game management system comprises at least one electronic computer 3 and one table 1 according to the invention, which is configured for operating in a first mode of operation. In this mode of operation, the table 1 is in signal communication, through the communication means 13, with the electronic computer 3, which is configured for controlling the game being played on said table 1.

It must be highlighted right away that the electronic computer 3 may be either external or internal to said table 1. In this latter case, the table 1 can advantageously be used as a training tool simultaneously by a plurality of players 41, since the table can control the progress of the game autonomously, i.e. without needing the presence of a croupier. Due to this, the number of players that can participate in an electronic gaming session (as well as their skill level) will increase, without requiring the use of computer tools such as PCs, smartphones, tablets or the like, which would make the game appear difficult and unnatural to those players who are accustomed to play while sitting at a table, in accordance with the prior art.

The electronic computer 3 is configured for transmitting game information IG to the table, which information may comprise one or more of the following information portions:

- game start information, which, once received by the communication means 13 and interpreted by the control and processing means 11, will cause the game to start, e.g. by starting an audio and/or video message to be reproduced by reproduction means (such as an audio synthesizer and/or a television set) prompting the players to place their bets;

- game execution information, which, together with the table information and the game rules (which in this case is the roulette game), will allow the gaming means (in this case the roulette 21 and the ball 22) to be properly configured and the control and processing means 11 to determine the won and lost amounts and the null bets of each player;

- game end information, which, once received by the communication means 13 and interpreted by the control and processing means 11, will cause the game to end, e.g. by starting an audio and/or video message to be reproduced by reproduction means (such as an audio synthesizer and/or a television set) announcing the outcome of the players' bets, i.e. the won and/or lost amounts and/or the null bets;

The information IG, in particular, the game execution information, may be transmitted at the beginning of the gaming session, so that the evolution of the gaming session will only depend on the players' skill, thus making it possible to create table game tournaments, i.e. gaming sessions wherein the number of wins will only depend on the player's skill, not on the amount of money available to him/her. In fact, in tournaments all players usually start with the same chip value. In this manner, the number of players participating in electronic gaming sessions can be increased, because also people who do not like gambling can now enjoy playing games and, most importantly, gaming can be delocalized from the usual places.

In the roulette game, the game information IG transmitted at the start of the gaming session may comprise one or more numbers of the roulette 21, where the ball 22 will have to stop during a sequence of spins.

As an alternative to or in combination with the above, the game information IG may be transmitted to the table 1 during the gaming session, so as to allow the electronic computer 3 to better control the evolution of the gaming session (e.g. by changing the sequence of numbers that will have to come up, in order to place one or more players at a disadvantage or an advantage). To this end, the control and processing means 11 may also be configured for transmitting to the electronic computer 3 the table information IT and/or the status of the gaming session, so as to allow said computer 3 to know and/or reconstruct the status of this gaming session and also of the previous sessions already completed, in order to have more control over winning probabilities. In this way it is possible to increase the number of players, because in many countries control over winning probabilities is a condition required for electronic gaming sessions outside authorized gambling houses.

In combination with the above, the electronic computer 3 may also be configured for generating the game information IG on the basis of the table information IT, so that the computer will have full control over the players' winning probabilities. In this way the number of players will be increased because the players' average level of satisfaction can be raised (e.g. by letting one or more players win after they have lost relatively high amounts in many bets).

Fig. 3b shows a second operating scenario, wherein the electronic game management system is similar to the first operating scenario but comprises, in addition to the electronic computer 3, a plurality of tables 1, as opposed to just one, each one of which is configured for operating in the first mode of operation already described with reference to the first scenario.

More in detail, it must be highlighted that each table 1 can operate independently of the other tables and of what is happening thereon, so that the configuration of the tables 1 and of the electronic computer 3 in this operating scenario is particularly suitable for tournaments, not only of roulette, but also of other table games, which are not limited to those that will be described below.

Fig. 3c shows a third operating scenario, wherein the electronic game management system comprises a plurality of tables according to the invention, which operate in different modes of operation. In particular, the electronic game management system comprises a main table la configured for operating in a second mode of operation, and a plurality of tables 1 (only two of which are shown in Fig. 3 c for clarity) operating in a mode of operation almost equal to the first mode of operation as described above for the previous scenarios; in fact, the mode of operation of the tables 1 of this scenario differs from those previously described, in that it receives the game information IG from a table la, as opposed to an electronic computer 3, and, optionally, transmits the table information IT and/or the status of the gaming session to said table la. The table la is similar to the table 1, but is configured for being used like a conventional table, i.e. for allowing a croupier 42, preferably staying in a gambling house and working in observance of the law, to perform his/her functions, which in the roulette game comprise spinning the ball and possibly distributing the chips. To this end, in combination with or as an alternative to the magnetic field generators 151, detectors (not shown in the annexed drawings) will also have to be arranged under the roulette 21 to be used as detector means 14 for detecting the number of the pocket into which the ball 22 will stop, i.e. the spin outcome. It must be pointed out that the magnetic field generators 151 may advantageously be configured for operating as detectors as well, e.g. by measuring the impedance of the coils used for generating the magnetic field when they are not being used for generating a magnetic field capable of attracting the ball 22.

It should be highlighted that these are only a few of the possible modes of operation of the table 1 according to the invention. The man skilled in the art may increase the number of tables and/or electronic computers (e.g. in order to raise the fault tolerance level of the whole electronic game management system, or the like) and use different connection networks (e.g. networks of the IEEE 802.15.4 family or of another kind), without however departing from the teachings of the present invention.

The status of the gaming session, determined by the control and processing means 11 of the table 1, comprises game status information that, in the roulette game, indicates that the game is in one of the following statuses:

- open table, wherein the players can position the chips on the table to place their bets;

- closed table, wherein the bets have been placed and positioning other chips on the table or moving the existing ones will not affect the bets already placed. As aforementioned, the control and processing means 1 1 may optionally be configured for signalling that, at this stage of the game, moving chips will result in an irregular gaming situation, wherein said signalling may occur, for example, by means of a voice message issued by audio reproduction means, wherein said message may remind the players that this is a forbidden behaviour and/or that, at this stage of the game, bets cannot be changed, and any changes will not affect the attribution of wins and losses; - spin start, wherein the table 1 starts the roulette 21 and the ball 22 via a servomechanism or with the assistance of a person (e.g. one of the players);

- spin in progress, wherein the table 1 is waiting for receiving the value of the pocket of the roulette 21 of the table lb where the ball 22 will eventually position itself or the value determined by the electronic computer 3;

- spin complete, wherein the table 1 configures itself (e.g. by activating the magnetic field generators 151) for stopping the ball 22 into the pocket of the roulette 21 having the received value.

It must be pointed out that, in this latter status, the table 1 and/or the electronic computer 3 can determine, for each player, the wins, the losses and the null bets, according to the rules of the game (in this case, the roulette), thus providing the balance of each player. In fact, the status of the gaming session also includes player information that, according to the game information, will state for each player sitting at the table one of the following game data:

- bets placed, which, in the open table, closed table, spin start and spin in progress statuses indicates the value of the chips laid by a player on one or more portions of the board, so that single or multiple bets of a player can be encoded (e.g. encoding that player A has bet five currency units on number fourteen and ten currency units on numbers eleven, twelve, fourteen and fifteen);

- win or loss, which, in the spin complete status indicates how much each player has won or lost, so that the wins and losses of each player can be encoded (e.g. encoding that player B has won ten currency units with his/her first bet, has lost seven currency units with his/her second bet, and has not won/lost anything with his/her third bet);

- balance, which in the open table and spin complete statuses indicates the available amount, preferably in currency units, for each player, which should match the value of the chips available to the player.

For brevity, this description will not tackle the rules of the roulette game (and all variants thereof) and of the other games to which the invention can be applied, but such rules will have to be considered to be an integral part of this description.

When the table 1 is in an operating condition, a gaming session preferably proceeds as follows: - the table 1 receives, through the communication means 13, the game information IG comprising the game start information, and the table 1 enters the open table status;

- acquisition, through the readers 141, of the table information IT comprising the game data about the bets placed by the players sitting at the table 1 ;

- verification, through the control and processing means 11, that the bets placed by each player are compatible with his/her balance;

- transmission, through the communication means 13, of the table information to the electronic computer 3 or to the table la, and table 1 entering the closed table status (possibly with an audio and/or video announcement issued by the reproduction means of said table 1);

- spinning, preferably via activation of the motor means, the rotary part of the roulette 21, and table 1 entering the spin start status;

- entry of the ball 22, preferably via the spinning means, into the rotary part of said roulette 21, and table 1 entering the spin in progress status;

- the electronic computer 3 or the table la receives, through the communication means 13, the game information IG comprising the game execution information, and the table 1 enters the spin complete status, wherein the table 1 configures itself for stopping the ball 22 into the pocket of the roulette 21 having the received value; - determining, through the control and processing means 11 and/or the electronic computer 3, the game data comprising the wins or losses and the balance of each player sitting at the table 1 in accordance with the game rules;

- reception, through the communication means 13, of the game information comprising the game end information, and table 1 entering again the open table status.

In addition to the above, the table 1 may also comprise player authentication means allowing the player to be recognized when he/she lays chips or other gaming means on the table 1. To this end, the readers 151 may also be configured for reading the identifier of an RFID tag placed on a player's hand (e.g. in a ring or a bracelet), or for reading the MAC address of an NFC transmitter in a player's smartwatch, so that the players will not need to keep their own stack of chips because, the balance of each player being known and each player placing a bet being identified through the identification means, said table 1 will no longer need to associate each chip with an individual player. In other words, a player wanting to place a bet will be allowed to take one or more chips from a single stack.

Therefore, the authentication means will reduce the risk that a player (who perhaps is not particularly skilled) might make mistakes when positioning or taking chip from the table, thus creating problems also for the other players, who might decide to leave the table. This will increase the number of players participating in an electronic gaming session.

Of course, the example described so far may be subject to many variations.

A first variant is shown in Fig. 4; for simplicity, the following description will only highlight those parts which make this and the next variants different from the above- described main embodiment; for the same reason, wherever possible the same reference numerals, with the addition of one or more apostrophes, will be used for indicating structurally or functionally equivalent elements.

Also with reference to the above-mentioned Fig. 4, the following will describe a table Γ similar to the table 1 just described, wherein said table Γ is however configured for the Blackjack game in its many variants.

It must be pointed out right away that the following description is not only applicable to the Blackjack game, but also to all other card games that are typically played in gambling houses.

In addition to the chips 23, the gaming means in use on the table Γ also comprise playing cards 24, wherein each playing card 24 preferably comprises also an RFID tag that allows identifying each card. For this purpose, the detector means 14 of the table Γ comprise readers 14Γ similar to the readers 141 of the table 1, wherein said readers 14Γ are configured for detecting not only the RFID tags of the chips 23, but also those of the cards 24, so as to allow the control and processing means 11 to recognize each card, and hence to know the value and suit of each card on the table.

Furthermore, the readers 14 Γ are preferably eight (one for each player and one for the bank), and are preferably so arranged that the bet chips 23 and the cards 24 of each player will be read by a specific reader 14Γ, so that the control and processing means 11 will advantageously know exactly what is happening on the table.

In addition, the RFID tags included in each card 24 and/or the readers 14Γ may also be configured for allowing the control and processing means 11 to detect the orientation of the card, i.e. if the card is covered or uncovered (e.g. by positioning an RFID tag on each face, or the like), thus further improving the level of detail of the table information IT collected by the readers 14 .

The actuator means of the table Γ comprise card dealing means and card positioning means, wherein the card dealing means preferably comprise a card dealer 152 (also called "card sabot"), while the card positioning means preferably comprise a magnetic guide 153.

The sabot 152 is configured for dealing cards 24 preferably in compliance with the rules of the Blackjack game, wherein the order of the cards is defined on the basis of the game information (similar to the game information already described with reference to the preceding embodiment of the invention) that has been received, through the communication means 13 of the table 1 1, at the beginning of and/or during the gaming session.

It must be pointed out that the card 24 may be caused to exit the sabot 152 either under the action of a servomechanism or under the action of a person entrusted with dealing the cards.

When cards are dealt by a croupier, the table Γ may possibly operate in a mode similar to that of the table la, i.e. the readers 14 may be used for reading the action exerted on the cards by the croupier and for reproducing such action on one or more of the other tables Γ, so as to allow a gaming session to take place on multiple tables Γ simultaneously.

The detector means of the table Γ may also comprise voice recognition means configured for acquiring the choices made by the players during a gaming session (e.g. a request made to the bank for a new card or keeping the cards 24).

The magnetic guide 153 is positioned under the surface of the table Γ (i.e. it is invisible to the players) and can be used for dealing the cards automatically, i.e. without the intervention of a person (croupier, player, etc.); said magnetic guide can be implemented in two possible ways.

The first embodiment of the magnetic guide 153 uses a plurality of magnetic field generators (e.g. coils, electromagnets, or the like) arranged next to each other along one or more trajectories along which the cards 24 must be dealt; such magnetic field generators are preferably positioned in a manner such that the generated magnetic field will extend outside the table surface, so as to properly interact with the objects laid on the table. To this end, the cards 24 may comprise a portion made of ferromagnetic material, preferably a layer (e.g. positioned between the two faces of the card 24 or on at least one of the two surfaces), which will allow the card 24 to be attracted from the magnetic guide 153 by the magnetic field generators when the latter are active. The control and processing unit will thus execute instructions for sequentially activating said magnetic field generator, so that the card 24, as soon as it comes out of the sabot 152, will reach its final position on the table Γ without needing a person's intervention. In addition, this embodiment of the magnetic guide may also comprise overturning means preferably configured for creating irregularities on the surface of the table Γ, so that the card, while moving under the action of the field generators, will balk and turn over.

The second embodiment of the magnetic guide 153 uses at least one rail and at least one permanent magnet configured for moving along said rail under the action of a step motor. The constant magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet is such as to attract the card 24 just come out of the sabot 152 and cause it to slide up to its final position on the table Γ under the action of the step motor, which moves the permanent magnet and the card along with it.

For overturning the cards 24, these may comprise a portion, preferably a layer, made of magnetic material, replacing the ferromagnetic layer previously described; said layer of magnetic material can generate a constant magnetic field interacting with that generated by the permanent magnet sliding along the rail, thus turning the card in such a way that the force lines of the magnetic field generated by said layer of magnetic material will be aligned with those of the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet. Therefore, the overturning of the card 24 can be attained by turning the permanent magnet, preferably by 180 degrees, by means of turning means that may comprise a servomechanism of a type known to those skilled in the art.

In the Blackjack game, as well as in other card games, the status of the gaming session, determined by the control and processing means 11 of the table Γ, comprises game status information that indicates that the game is in one of the following statuses: - open table, wherein the cards 24 can be initially dealt and the players can place initial bets by positioning the chips 23 on the table;

- closed table, wherein the initial bets have been placed and the players can make their choices (e.g. "calling" a new card, "raising" the value of their initial bets, "splitting" for placing a new bet, etc.) in observance of the game rules.

When the table Γ is in an operating condition, a gaming session preferably proceedss follows:

- the table Γ receives, through the communication means 13, the game information IG comprising the game start information, and the table Γ enters the open table status;

- dealing the cards 24, through the card dealing means 152 and/or the card positioning means 153, to the players and to the bank, preferably in observance of the game rules;

- acquisition, through the readers 14Γ, of the table information IT comprising the game data about the bets placed, by means of the chips 23, by the players sitting at the table Γ, and preferably also about the cards 24 dealt to each player;

- verification, through the control and processing means 11, that the bets placed by each player are compatible with his/her balance;

- transmission, through the communication means 13, of the table information to the electronic computer 3 or to another table Γ, and table Γ entering the closed table status (possibly with an audio and/or video announcement issued by the reproduction means of said table Γ);

- acquisition, preferably through the voice recognition means and/or a croupier controlling the table Γ, of the choices made by each player, and possible new (partial) dealing of cards 24, through the card dealing means 152 and optionally also through the card positioning means 153, to the players and to the bank and/or positioning/moving other chips 23 on said table (e.g. for a raise or the like), preferably in observance of the game rules;

- determining, through the control and processing means 11 and/or the electronic computer 3, the game data comprising the wins or losses and the balance of each player sitting at the table Γ in accordance with the game rules;

- reception, through the communication means 13, of the game information comprising the game end information, and table Γ entering again the open table status.

Also with reference to Fig. 5, the following will describe a table 1" similar to the above-described tables 1,1', wherein said table 1" is configured for the Bingo game in one or more of its many variants (e.g. the Italian Tombola).

The gaming means used on the table 1" comprise numbered tickets 25, wherein each one shows a table containing a plurality of numbers to be "marked off by the player during the gaming session. Each ticket 25 preferably comprises also an RFID tag allowing identification of said ticket 25. To this end, the detector means 14 of the table 1" comprises readers 141" similar to the readers 141, 141' of the table embodiments 1, 1' previously described; such readers 141" are configured for detecting the RFID tags of the tickets 25, so as to allow the control and processing means 11 to know which tickets 25 have been arranged on said table 1", and hence the values of the numbers contained therein.

The gaming means of this table 1" include also a board 26 on which the numbers that may come up during a gaming session are reproduced; such board 26 is configured in a manner such that the numbers represented thereon can be highlighted (e.g. by changing colour, brightness, or the like), so as to allow the players sitting at the table 1" to know the progress of the gaming session without having to use any mobile terminals, computers, tablets, or the like, but simply a tool that can be easily read by any player. This will increase the number of people that can take part in an electronic gaming session.

The actuator means of the table 1" comprise control means (not shown in the annexed drawings), which are in signal communication with the control and processing means 11, and which are configured for changing the configuration of the board 26 on the basis of the game information IG received, through the communication means 13 of the table 1", from the electronic computer 3 or from an electronic pot (not shown in the annexed drawings) configured for transmitting the numbers that are drawn during the gaming session. When the game information is received from the electronic computer 3, said electronic computer 3 is configured for generating a sequence of numbers at the beginning of or during the gaming session.

The table 1" thus configured allows the control and processing means 11 of said table 1" and the electronic computer 3 to know, through the readers 141", which tickets 25 the players are playing with; said electronic computer 3 may then be configured for drawing a sequence of numbers on the basis of the numbers contained in the tickets 25 being used, so as to have a greater level of control over the gaming session (e.g. letting players win who have not yet won, increasing the winning probabilities of one or more players, etc.).

In the Bingo game, the status of the gaming session, determined by the control and processing means 11 of the table 1", comprises game status information that indicates that the game is in one of the following statuses:

- session start, wherein each player can add new tickets 25 to the gaming session; - drawing in progress, wherein it is no longer possible to add any further tickets 25 to the gaming session, and wherein the drawn numbers are received through the communication means 13.

When the table 1" is in an operating condition, a gaming session preferably proceeds as follows:

- the table 1" receives, through the communication means 13, the game information IG comprising the game start information, and the table 1" enters the session start status;

- acquisition, through the readers 141", of the table information IT comprising the game data about the tickets 25 positioned on the table 1", i.e. the tickets 25 that each player wants to use in the gaming session;

- verification, through the control and processing means 11, that the tickets 25 used by each player are compatible with his/her balance;

- transmission, through the communication means 13, of the table information to the electronic computer 3, and table 1" entering the drawing in progress status (possibly with an audio and/or video announcement issued by the reproduction means of said table 1");

- reception, through the communication means 13, of the game information comprising the game execution information that, in this embodiment, comprises the drawn numbers;

- configuration of the board 26, through the control means, on the basis of the game execution information received, i.e. highlighting the drawn numbers;

- determining, through the control and processing means 11, the game data comprising the wins or losses and the balance of each player sitting at the table 1" in accordance with the game rules;

- transmission, through the communication means 13, of the game data comprising the wins or losses and the balance of each player sitting at the table 1" to the processing means 3, so as to allow (as aforementioned) an activity of supervision on wins and/or losses;

- reception, through the communication means 13, of the game information comprising the game end information, and table 1" entering again the session start status.

Also with reference to Fig. 6, the following will describe a table Γ" similar to the tables Ι, ,Γ' described above, wherein said table Γ" is configured for the dice game (also known as 'craps' or 'casino craps' or 'table craps') in one or more of its many variations.

It must be pointed out that, in gambling houses, the dice game may require as many as four people for managing the game (a boxman, who supervises the game, a stickman, who deals with the roll outcomes and collects the dice, and two dealers, who place, receive and pay the players' bets). As will become apparent below, this table Γ" allows playing the craps game even in the absence of such four people.

The gaming means used on the table Γ" comprise a pair of dice 27, each one of which preferably comprises also an RFID tag for identifying the die and detecting its orientation, i.e. which face thereof is facing up. To this end, the detector means 14 of the table 1" comprise readers 141"' similar to the readers 141, 141 ',141" of the table embodiments Ι,Γ,Γ' previously described; such readers 14 " are configured for detecting the chips 23 bet by the players at the table Γ" (preferably in observance of the game rules) and preferably also the RFID tags of the dice 27, so as to allow the control and processing means 11 to know the outcome of the rolls of the dice 27, which rolls, in compliance with the rules of the dice game, can be made in turn by all players participating in the gaming session, who may be at tables remote from one another (e.g. if the gaming session takes place, preferably, in accordance with the third operating scenario shown in Fig. 3c).

In order to make this kind of game possible, the actuator means of the table Γ" comprise dice control means 154 configured for detecting the orientation of the dice 27 (optionally in combination with the above-described readers 14Γ") and/or for controlling the orientation of said dice 27. To this end, the dice control means 154 may preferably comprise a plurality of inductors capable of generating a variable magnetic field with field lines preferably so oriented as to intersect the surface of said table, while each die 27, which is preferably cubical in shape, may comprise a permanent magnet, preferably having an elongated shape, positioned inside said die 27 and preferably oriented obliquely relative to each face of the die 27, more preferably along the diagonal of the die 27, and configured in a manner such that the field lines will cross said magnet throughout its length. In this way, when the dice control means 154 are active and generate a variable magnetic field, the permanent magnet positioned inside the die 27 will generate a couple of forces that will cause the die to rotate on the surface of said table, in such a way that said die 27 will arrange itself sequentially in all of its possible stable orientations (which are preferably six), corresponding to the number of faces of said die 27.

In this manner it is possible to control the dice 27 and have them take the desired orientation, so that the desired numbers comprised in the game information IG, received through the communication means 13, will "come up".

It must be pointed out that the dice 27 can be rolled either by hand or by throwing means (not shown in the annexed drawings) similar to the spinning means of the roulette table 1 of the first embodiment of the invention.

Furthermore, when the variable magnetic field is not activated, the table Γ" can be used for allowing a player to roll the dice in the classic way, using the dice control means 154 and/or the readers 14Γ" for reading the final orientation of the dice 27. To this end, the dice control means 154 may also be configured for detecting the speed of the dice on the table Γ", so as to read the orientation of said dice 154 only when they have reached a stable configuration, i.e. after they have stopped on the surface of said table Γ".

In the dice game, the status of the gaming session, determined by the control and processing means 11 of the table Γ", comprises game status information that indicates that the game is in one of the following statuses:

- open table, wherein the players can position the chips on the table to place their bets; - closed table, wherein the bets have been placed and positioning new chips or moving existing ones on the table would not affect the bets already placed, but would infringe the game rules; in this status each player, in turn, can decide whether to roll the dice or to refuse to do it and let the next player roll them;

- roll start, wherein a player or the throwing means roll the dice 27 on the table Γ", preferably in observance of the game rules;

- roll in progress, wherein the table Γ", if a player at said table Γ" is rolling the dice, will wait for the dice 27 to stop, whereas if the dice are being rolled at another table Γ" or the dice value is generated by an electronic computer 3, it will wait for receiving the game information IG comprising the game execution information;

- roll complete, wherein the table Γ" configures itself (e.g. by activating the dice control means 154 for generating a variable magnetic field) for positioning the dice 27 in such a way that the top faces will show the values received from another table Γ" or from the electronic computer 3.

When the tables Γ" are in an operating condition, a gaming session preferably proceeds as follows:

- the tables Γ" receive, through the communication means 13, the game information IG comprising the game start information, and the tables Γ" enter the open table status;

- acquisition, by means of the readers 14Γ", of the table information IT comprising the game data about the bets placed by the players sitting at the tables Γ";

- verification, through the control and processing means 11, that the bets placed by each player are compatible with his/her balance;

- transmission, through the communication means 13, of the table information to the electronic computer 3 and/or to another table Γ", and tables Γ" entering the closed table status (possibly with an audio and/or video announcement issued by the reproduction means of one or more tables Γ");

- the dice 27 are rolled by a player or by throwing means, and the tables Γ" enter the roll start status;

- transmission of the roll outcome, i.e. the game information IG comprising the game execution information, from the table Γ", whereon the dice 27 have been rolled by a player, to the other tables Γ"; - the tables Γ" whereon the dice have not been rolled by a player receive, through the communication means 13, the game information IG comprising the game execution information, and the tables Γ" enter the roll complete status;

- determining, through the control and processing means 11, the game data comprising the wins or losses and the balance of each player sitting at the tables Γ" in accordance with the game rules;

- transmission, through the communication means 13, of the game data comprising the wins or losses and the balance of each player to the processing means 3 or one or more of the other tables Γ", so as to allow an activity of supervision on wins and/or losses;

- reception, through the communication means 13, of the game information comprising the game end information, and tables Γ" entering again the open table status.

The present description has tackled some of the possible variants, but it will be apparent to the man skilled in the art that other embodiments may also be implemented, wherein some elements may be replaced with other technically equivalent elements. The present invention is not therefore limited to the explanatory examples described herein, but may be subject to many modifications, improvements or replacements of equivalent part and elements without departing from the basic inventive idea, as set out in the following claims.