US20070225064A1

US20070225064A1 - Method and system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment

Info

Publication number: US20070225064A1
Application number: US11/384,310
Authority: US
Inventors: David Gregoire
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-21
Filing date: 2006-03-21
Publication date: 2007-09-27

Abstract

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. 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: at one of the gaming chip distributors, receiving a payment from an intended user, the payment defining a payment monetary value; and 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; wherein the number of gaming chips of each predetermined gaming chip type issued depends, at least in part, on an operational parameter of either 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; the gaming chip distributor; or a combination of the set of wagering stations and the gaming chip distributor.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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

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:
at one of the gaming chip distributors, receiving a payment from an intended user, the payment defining a payment monetary value; and
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;
wherein the number of gaming chips of each predetermined gaming chip type issued depends, at least in part, on an operational parameter of either

- 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;
- the gaming chip distributor; or
- a combination of the set of wagering stations and the gaming chip distributor.

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.
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.
Also, the system and method are relatively inexpensive to implement and relatively easy to use.
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.
In another broad aspect, the invention provides a gaming chip distributor.
In yet another broad aspect, the invention provides a system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment.
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

In the appended drawings:
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
FIG. 2, in a flowchart, illustrates a method for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment implementable with the system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a system 10 for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. The system 10 includes a plurality of wagering stations, designated generally herein by the reference numeral 12. The system 10 further includes a plurality of gaming chip distributors, designated generally herein by the reference numeral 14. In some embodiments of the invention, the system 10 includes a server 16. The wagering stations 12 and the gaming chip distributors 14 are linked to the server 16 to allow the exchange of information between the server 16 and both the wagering station 12 and the gaming chip distributors 14.
The reader skilled in the art will readily appreciate that in some embodiments of the invention, an alternative system does not include the server 16. In these embodiments, the wagering stations 12 and the gaming chip distributors 14 are directly linked to each other, for example, through a network. Also, while the gaming chip distributors 14 and the wagering stations 12 have been shown as being physically linked to the server 16, for example through optical fibers or metallic wires, it is within the scope of the invention to have servers 16 that are linked to wagering stations 12 and gaming chip distributors 14 in any other suitable manner, for example through infrared links, radio frequency links and any other suitable type of communication link.
The system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes 7 wagering stations 12 a, 12 b, 12 c, 12 d, 12 e and 12 f and 12 g. Also, the system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes two gaming chip distributors 14 a and 14 b. However, the system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 is only for illustrative purposes and is within the scope of the invention to have systems having any suitable number of wagering stations and gaming chip distributors. Also, it is within the scope of the invention to have systems 10 that include more than one server.
The system 10 manages the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. Each gaming chip is of a respective gaming chip type selected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types. Each predetermined gaming chip type is representative of a respective predetermined monetary value.
Gaming chips and their use in gambling establishments is well known. For example, gaming chips may be plastic, ceramic or metallic chips per se, but gaming chips may also be pieces of paper onto which inscriptions are printed or chips storing information in an electrical circuit, in a magnetic circuit or in a computer chip, among other possibilities. Also, it is within the scope of the invention to use the system 10 in gambling establishments wherein the gaming chips are money coins or paper bills.
The wagering stations 12 each implement at least one wagering game. For example, the wagering game may be computerized game wherein a player interacts with an electronic machine to wager on the occurrence of random or semi-random events. Also, the wagering stations 12 may be manned wagering stations wherein, for example, a human manages a card or dice game. The exact type of wagering that occurs at each of the wagering stations 12 is typically not critical to the present invention.
The gaming chips distributors 14 a are devices that receive payment from an intended user and, in response to the received payment, distribute gaming chips to the user. In opposition to many currently existing gaming chip distributors, the number and types of gaming chips issued by the gaming chip distributors 14 depend, at least in part, on an operational parameter of a set of wagering stations 12 from the plurality of the wagering stations 12 at which the distributed gaming chips are likely to be used by the intended user, an operational parameter of the gaming chip distributor 14, or a combination of both. The gaming chip distributor 14 issues to the intended user a plurality of gaming chips, the gaming chips being issued in a number such that the sum of the monetary values represented by the issued gaming chips is equal to the monetary value of the received payment.
The payment may be received at the gaming chip distributor 14 in any suitable manner. For example, the payment may be received by the gaming chip distributor 14 by the insertion of paper money into the gaming chip distributor 14. Alternatively, the gaming chip distributor 14 allows the intended user to provide payment through a debit card, a credit card, gaming chips of relatively large values or in any other suitable manner. In another embodiment of the invention, the payment is received by crediting an in-house credit account. In other words, the gambling establishment may loan money, up to a predetermined amount, to an intended user. This money may be loaned automatically by issuing gaming chips a the gaming chip distributors 14.
FIG. 2 illustrates a method 100 for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment. The method starts at step 105. Then, at step 110, one or more operational parameters of the wagering stations 12 are transmitted to one or more of the gaming chip distributors 14. At step 115, payment is received from the intended user at one of the gaming chip distributors 14. Thereafter, at step 120, an operational parameter of the gaming chip distributor 14 is determined. Finally, at step 125, the gaming chips are issued by the gaming chip distributors 14 and the method ends at step 130.
In some embodiments of the invention, at a step 112, there is a step of managing the wagering stations 12 that occurs. For example, step 112 occurs between steps 110 and 115, or at any other suitable moment in the method 100.
In some embodiments of the invention, the wagering stations 12 are capable of automatically measuring operational parameters of the wagering stations 12. Operational parameters are variables that describe the operation of the wagering stations 12. These operational parameters relate to the movements and use of gaming chips in the gambling establishment in which the system 10 is located. Non-limiting examples of such operational parameters are described hereinbelow.
In some embodiments of the invention, the historical data is collected when gaming chips are delivered to the wagering stations. For example, the number of gaming chips of each type delivered to each wagering stations, as well as the date and time of delivery, are stored in a database, for example on the server 16, and used as a source to determine operational parameters of the wagering station 12. This historical data may be acquired for a predetermined period of time to determine “preset” operational parameters. Alternatively, the historical data may be acquired continuously so that the operational parameters may be updated at predetermined discrete time intervals.
In other embodiments of the invention, the wagering stations 12 include “intelligent” drawers that are capable of determining the number of gaming chips of each type present at the wagering station 12. In these embodiments, the wagering station 12 may then transmit to one or more of the gaming chip distributors 14, directly or through the server 16, the number of gaming chips of each type present at the wagering station 12.
In other embodiments of the invention, the wagering stations 12 are capable of acquiring historical data regarding the time evolution of the number of gaming chips of each type present at the wagering station 12. In these embodiments, the historical data may be fitted to a probabilistic model in order to estimate a gaming chip shortage probability from the probabilistic model. This is done by computing the probability that the number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type falls below a predetermined number of gaming chips within a predetermined time interval. This type of probabilistic models is also usable in embodiments of the information wherein the historical data has been acquired and stored into a database in any other suitable manner.
For example, the wagering station 12 a may monitor the number of gaming chips of each type present at the station 12 a at 5 minutes intervals. Then, the derivative of the measured number of chips of each type may be fitted to a gaussian probability model using data acquired during a certain acquisition time interval, for example during the preceding hour.
The gaussian probability model is used to model the rate at which the number of chips of each types increases or decreases at the wagering station 12 a. Using standard statistical techniques, it is therefore possible to determine the probability that the number of gaming chips of a predetermined type will fall below a predetermined level at the wagering station 12 a within a predetermined time interval. This probability is referred to herein as the gaming chip shortage probability. For example, it may be determined that there is a 50% chance that gaming chips having a value of $5 would be present at the wagering station 12 a in a quantity of less than 100 gaming chips within the next 15 minutes.
In this case, the operational parameter that may be transmitted to the gaming chips distributors 14 is this probability of having the number of chips of the predetermined type falling below the predetermined level within the predetermined time interval.
The reader skilled in the art will readily appreciate that a gaussian probabilistic model is only an example of a probability model that may be used with the current invention. Also, it is within the scope of the invention to acquire the historical data at the wagering station 12 and to perform the above-described calculations of probabilities either at the server 16 or at the gaming chip distributors 14.
In other embodiments of the invention, the operational parameter includes a removal ratio that is defined as a number of gaming chips of one gaming chips type removed from the wagering station during a predetermined time interval divided by a number of another type of gaming chips type removed from the wagering station during the predetermined time interval. In these embodiments, a link is performed between the removal rates of chips having one value and the removal rate of chips having another value.
At step 115, payment is received at the gaming chip distributors. Methods and systems for receiving payments and distributing gaming chips are well known in the art and will therefore not be described in further detail. The only details that will be described hereinbelow are the details that are relevant to the distribution of gaming chips according to non-predetermined quantities.
In some embodiments of the invention, at step 120, an operational parameter of the gaming chip distributors 14 is determined. For example, this operational parameter includes a number of gaming chips of each gaming chips type remaining within the gaming chip distributor 14. In another example, the operational parameter includes a number of gaming chip distributed by the gaming chip distributors 14 that may be relatively easily carried in the hands of an intended user.
Subsequently, at step 125, gaming chips are issued by the gaming chip distributor 14. The number of each type of issued gaming chips depends at least in part on an operational parameter of the wagering stations 12, on operational parameters of the gaming chip distributors 14 or on both operational parameters of the wagering stations 12 and the gaming chips distributors 14.
In a first variant, the operational parameters are determined in “real time”. In other words, the operational parameter that influences the number of gaming chips of each type that are issued depends on the measured status of the wagering stations 12, the gaming chips distributors 14, or both. In a second variant, the operational parameters are operational parameters that were determined in the past and that influence the distribution of gaming chips at times that are not simultaneous with the times at which the operational parameters were determined. In other words, the operational parameters allow to adjust parameters in an algorithm for distributing gaming chips such that the circulation of gaming chips within the gambling establishment is improved at times at which no measurement of the number of gaming chips in the wagering stations 12, the gaming chips distributors 14 is performed.
A set of wagering stations 12 that influence the operation of a given gaming chips distributor 14 may be selected according to many criteria. For example, these wagering stations 12 may be distant from the gaming chip distributor by a distance that is less than a predetermined distance. In other embodiments of the invention, another parameter, such as for example, the observed movement of intended users between gaming chip distributors 14 and wagering stations 12, determine which wagering stations 12 provide operational parameters to gaming chip distributors 14. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention to have wagering stations 12 that provide information regarding their operational parameters to more than one of the gaming chip distributors 14.
In some embodiments of the invention, the number of gaming chips of at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributors 14 depends upon the satisfaction of a predetermined gaming chip number condition regarding the number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type present in at least one of the wagering stations 12. This wagering station may, for example, be a wagering station 12 that is closest physically to the gaming chip distributors 14 in the gambling establishment.
In other embodiments of the invention, the predetermined gaming chip number condition depends upon the number of gaming chips of the at least one type present at a set of wagering stations from the wagering stations 12. For example, the gaming chip distributor 14 a may receive information regarding a predetermined gaming chip number condition related to wagering stations 12 a, 12 c and 12 d, while the gaming chip distributors 14 b may receive information regarding a predetermined gaming chip number condition related the wagering stations 12 b, 12 f, 12 g and 12 e.
In some embodiments of the invention, the predetermined gaming chip number condition includes having a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type falling below a predetermined low level gaming chip number. Then, the number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor may be adjusted so that it is increased relatively to a standard number of chips distributed by default.
Also, in cases wherein the predetermined gaming chip number condition includes having a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chips type increasing above a predetermined gaming chip number, the number of gaming chips distributed by the gaming chips distributor 14 may be adjusted so that a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chips distributor 14 is reduced relatively to a predetermined chip distributed by default.
In yet another example, the operational parameter includes a minimal wager accepted by at least one of the wagering stations 12, for example by the wagering stations 12 that are physically closest to the gaming chip distributor 14. The issuance of gaming chips is then influenced by issuing preferably gaming chips representative of this minimal wager. In some embodiments of the invention, the number and type of the issued gaming chips is such that the total number of issued gaming chips is at most a predetermined maximal number of gaming chips for each gaming chip type.
In other embodiments of the invention, a number of gaming chips of at least one type issued by the gaming chips distributor 14 depends upon the satisfaction of the predetermined gaming chips remaining condition regarding the number of remaining gaming chips of at least one type remaining within the gaming chip distributor. For example, if the gaming chips of the at least one type fall below a predetermined low level of gaming chips remaining, a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chips distributor 14 is reduced.
In yet other embodiments of the invention, if a gaming chip shortage probability at one of the wagering stations 12 increases above a predetermined probability, a number of gaming chips issued by the gaming chips distributor 14 for a given type of gaming chip is increased. Accordingly, in these embodiments, a number of gaming chips that will arrive at the wagering stations 12 that face a shortage of gaming chips of the at least one type increases for chips of this certain type. Consequently, this reduces a requirement that these wagering stations 12 be provisioned by a human being in gaming chips of this type. In yet other embodiments, a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor is such that game chips of two game chip types are issued in proportion substantially equal a measured removal ratio.
The exact manner in which the number of gaming chips of each type is increased as a function of the operational parameters of the gaming chip distributors 14 and the wagering stations 12 may vary according to predetermined conditions. Typically, a gaming chips distribution algorithm similar to currently existing chip distribution algorithms is used as a base line for the issuant of the chips. If the operational parameters of the wagering stations 12 or the gaming chip distributors 14 indicate that there is a need to modify the number of gaming chips issued, for example because there is an incoming shortage of chips of a first type at the wagering station 12 closest to the gaming chip distributor 14, then this algorithm is modified so that the gaming chips that are in shortage are issued by the gaming chip distributor 14 in a larger number than would be issued otherwise.
The exact number of gaming chips issued as a function of the detected shortage depends upon parameters that are site-dependant and that may be determined, for example, by operating the gambling establishment and adjusting these parameters as a function of observed gaming chips movements to ensure a substantially optimal distribution of the gaming chips within the gambling establishment. The optimal distribution occurs when there is little or no need for human intervention in the management of gaming chips between the wagering stations and the gaming chip distributors.
In other embodiments of the invention, instead of transmitting periodically or continuously the operational parameters between the wagering stations 12 and the gaming chips distributors 14, each of the wagering stations 12 issues an alarm upon a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type increasing above a predetermined overflow level. Then, the wagering stations 12 may probe at least two gaming chip distributors 14 from the plurality of gaming chip distributors to receive their respective numbers of gaming chips of this at least one type remaining within each of the gaming chip distributors.
Thereafter, the number of chips of the at least one type remaining in the gaming chips distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributors is received. Afterward, a request to move a predetermined quantity of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type to the gaming chips distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributors for which a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type remains is lowest is issued to the casino personel.
In other words, in these embodiments, when a number of gaming chips of a predetermined gaming chips type increases beyond a predetermined number, a request is made so that the chips are removed from the wagering stations 12 and moved to one of the gaming chip distributors 14 that show a lack of gaming chips of this gaming chips type.
In other embodiments of the invention, the wagering station 12 at which the predetermined overflow number is reached issues requests to at least two wagering stations from the plurality of wagering stations to receive their respective numbers of gaming chips of the at least one remaining type within each gaming chip distributor. Then, a predetermined quantity of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type is moved to a gaming chip distributor 14 from the plurality of gaming chip distributors 14 that is closest to the wagering station 12 from the at least two wagering stations 12 or for which the number of gaming chips of the at least one type remaining is smallest.
In yet other embodiments of the invention, instead of transmitting periodically or continuously the operational parameters between the wagering stations 12 and the gaming chips distributors 14, each of the wagering stations 12 issues an alarm upon a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type decreasing below a predetermined underflow level. Then, the wagering stations 12 may probe at least two gaming chip distributors 14 from the plurality of gaming chip distributors to receive their respective numbers of gaming chips of this at least one type remaining within each of the gaming chip distributors.
Thereafter, the number of chips of the at least one type remaining in the gaming chips distributors from the at least two gaming chip distributors is received. Afterward, a request to move a predetermined quantity of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type to the gaming chips distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributors for which a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type remains is highest is issued to the casino personnel.
In other words, in these embodiments, when a number of gaming chips of a predetermined gaming chips type decreases below a predetermined number, a request is made so that the chips are removed from the gaming chip distributors 14 that show a surplus of gaming chips of this gaming chips type to the wagering station 12.
Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment, each gaming chip being 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 including a plurality of wagering stations each implementing at least one wagering game, the gambling establishment further including a plurality of gaming chip distributors, said method comprising:

at one of the gaming chip distributors, receiving a payment from an intended user, the payment defining a payment monetary value; and

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;

wherein the number of each type of issued gaming chips depends, at least in part, on an operational parameter of either

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;

the gaming chip distributor; or

a combination of said set of wagering stations and said gaming chip distributor.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the operational parameter includes a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type present at least one of the wagering stations from the set of wagering stations, said method further comprising:

transmitting a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type present at the wagering stations to the gaming chip distributor; and

adjusting a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor upon the satisfaction of a predetermined gaming chip number condition regarding the number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type present at the wagering stations.

3. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein:

the predetermined gaming chip number condition includes having a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type falling below a predetermined low level gaming chip number; and

adjusting a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor includes increasing a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor.

4. A method as defined in claim 2, wherein:

the predetermined gaming chip number condition includes having a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type increasing above a predetermined high level gaming chip number; and

adjusting a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor includes reducing a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the operational parameter includes a minimal wager accepted by at least one of the wagering stations from the set of wagering stations, said method further comprising issuing preferably gaming chips representative of the minimal wager.

6. A method as defined in claim 5, wherein the numbers and types of the issued gaming chips is such that the total number of issued gaming chips is at most a predetermined maximal number of gaming chips.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein: the operational parameter includes a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type remaining within the gaming chip distributor said method further comprising adjusting a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor upon the satisfaction of a predetermined gaming chip remaining condition regarding the number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type remaining within the gaming chip distributor.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein:

the predetermined gaming chip remaining condition includes having a number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type falling below a predetermined low level gaming chip remaining; and

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the operational parameter includes historical data on the temporal evolution of the number of gaming chip of at least one gaming chip type at least one of the wagering stations from the set of wagering stations, said method further comprising adjusting a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor upon the satisfaction of a predetermined temporal evolution condition.

10. A method as defined in claim 9, wherein:

the predetermined temporal evolution condition includes having a gaming chip shortage probability increasing beyond a predetermined probability, the gaming chip shortage probability representing the probability of a shortage of the at least one gaming chip type at the at least one wagering station; and

said adjusting of a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor includes increasing a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the gaming chip shortage probability is determined by:

acquiring historical data for the at least one gaming chip type at the at least one wagering station;

fitting the historical data to a probabilistic model; and

estimating the gaming chip shortage probability from the probabilistic model by computing the probability that the number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type at the at least one wagering station falls below a predetermined number of gaming chips within a predetermined time interval.

12. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the operational parameter includes historical data on the temporal evolution of the number of gaming chip of at least one other gaming chip type at the at least one of the wagering stations, said method further comprising:

computing a removal ratio equal to a number of gaming chips of the at least one type of gaming chips removed from the wagering station during a predetermined past time interval divided by a number of gaming chips of the at least one other type of gaming chips removed from the wagering station during the predetermined past time interval;

adjusting a number of gaming chips of the at least one type distributed by the gaming chip distributor includes issuing gaming chips of the two gaming chip types in proportions substantially equal to the removal ratio.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the set of wagering stations includes wagering stations that are distanced from the gaming chip distributor by a distance less than a predetermined distance.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

at a wagering station from the plurality of wagering stations, issuing an alarm upon a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type increasing above a predetermined overflow level;

probing at least two gaming chip distributors from the plurality of gaming chip distributors to receive their respective numbers of gaming chips of the at least one type remaining within each gaming chip distributor;

receiving the numbers of gaming chips of the at least one type remaining within each gaming chip distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributors; and

moving a predetermined moved quantity of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type to the gaming chip distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributors for which the number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip types remaining is lowest.

15. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

probing at least two wagering station from the plurality of wagering stations to receive their respective numbers of gaming chips of the at least one type remaining within each gaming chip distributor;

receiving the numbers of gaming chips of the at least one type remaining within each wagering station from the at least two wagering stations; and

moving a predetermined moved quantity of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type to a gaming chip distributor from the plurality of gaming chip distributors that is closest to the wagering station from the at least two wagering stations for which the numbers of gaming chips of the at least one type remaining is smallest.

16. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

at a wagering station from the plurality of wagering stations, issuing an alarm upon a number of gaming chips of at least one gaming chip type decreasing below a predetermined underflow level;

moving a predetermined moved quantity of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip type to the wagering station from the plurality of wagering stations from the gaming chip distributor from the at least two gaming chip distributors for which the number of gaming chips of the at least one gaming chip types remaining is highest.

17. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein receiving a payment from the intended user includes at least one of: receiving cash, crediting a credit card, debiting a debit card, crediting an in-house credit account and receiving gaming chips.

18. A system for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment, each gaming chip being of a respective gaming chip type selected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types, each predetermined gaming chip type being representative of a respective predetermined monetary value, said system comprising:

a plurality of wagering stations each implementing at least one wagering game;

a plurality of gaming chip distributors, said at least one gaming chip distributor being operative for:

receiving a payment from an intended user, the payment defining a payment monetary value; and

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;

wherein the numbers and types of the issued gaming chips depends at least in part on an operational parameter of at least one of: a set of wagering stations from said plurality of wagering stations at which the distributed gaming chips are likely to be used by the intended user and said at least one gaming chip distributor.

19. A gaming chip distributor for managing the circulation of gaming chips in a gambling establishment, each gaming chip being of a respective gaming chip type selected from a plurality of predetermined gaming chip types, each predetermined gaming chip type being representative of a respective predetermined monetary value, the gambling establishment having a plurality of wagering stations each implementing at least one wagering game, said gaming chip distributor being operative for:

wherein the numbers and types of the issued gaming chips depends at least in part on an operational parameter of at least one of: 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 and said gaming chip distributor.