SYSTEM FOR THE TRACKING AND MANAGEMENT OF TRANSACTIONS IN A PIT AREA OF A GAMING ESTABLISHMENT

A system and method automatically tracks player gambling transactions in a casino. The system includes a casino database the stores betting summary records for each of a plurality players, where each betting summary record is associated with a player identification code, and includes the player's betting rating. One or more gaming tables have a plurality of player positions and a plurality of code readers. A code reader initiates a betting session in response to reading a player identification card encoded with a player identification code. A communications network couples the casino database and gaming table to an automatic tracking and management unit (ATMU). The ATMU has a display unit, and is coupled to the code readers at the gaming table to receive a player identification code for a player at the initiation of a betting session. The ATMU retrieves from the casino database the betting summary record of the player, and displays it to pit personnel at the gaming table on the display unit. The ATMU also collects real time data of the player's betting transactions, including the player's identification code, and an average bet by the player during the betting session. The ATMU updates the betting summary record with the collected real time data for the player, and provides the updated betting summary record to the casino database via the communications network.