Title: Method and apparatus for multi player bet auxiliary game
Abstract: A method and system for playing an auxiliary casino game managed by a casino house comprising: selecting at least one player of an underlying casino game on which to place a bet; identifying at least one event related to at least one play of the underlying game for which to place the bet; making a bet that at least one event will occur in association with a player during at least one play of the underlying game; determining an occurrence of the event in the underlying game in association with the player; if the event occurred in association with the at least one player, determining a payout to be paid.
Patent Number: 6,929,264 Issued on 08/16/2005 to Huard, et al.
| Inventors:
|
Huard; Marcel (St-Romuald, CA);
Bérubé ; Réal (St-Jean-Chrysostome, CA);
Gagnon; Martin Benoît (Lévis, CA)
|
| Assignee:
|
DEQ Systemes Corp. (St-Romauld, CA)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
163623 |
| Filed:
|
June 7, 2002 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
273/274; 273/292 |
| Intern'l Class: |
A63F 001/00 |
| Field of Search: |
273/274,292
463/11-13
|
References Cited [Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
| 4861041 | Aug., 1989 | Jones et al.
| |
| 5042810 | Aug., 1991 | Williams.
| |
| 5393067 | Feb., 1995 | Paulsen et al.
| |
| 5570885 | Nov., 1996 | Ornstein.
| |
| 5586766 | Dec., 1996 | Forte et al.
| |
| 5823875 | Oct., 1998 | Tarantino.
| |
| 5829750 | Nov., 1998 | Booker.
| |
| 5868392 | Feb., 1999 | Kraft.
| |
| 5871213 | Feb., 1999 | Chadband et al.
| |
| 6070878 | Jun., 2000 | Jones et al.
| |
| 6113102 | Sep., 2000 | Marks et al.
| |
| 6146270 | Nov., 2000 | Huard et al.
| |
| 6237916 | May., 2001 | Webb.
| |
| 6328306 | Dec., 2001 | Webb.
| |
| 6471210 | Oct., 2002 | Goldman et al.
| |
| 2001/0024015 | Sep., 2001 | Hogan et al.
| |
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| WO 99/1005/7 | Mar., 1999 | WO.
| |
Primary Examiner: Mendiratta; Vishu K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Chabot; Isabelle, Ogilvy Renault, LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority of a provisional patent application filed Jan.
22, 2002 and bearing Ser. No. 60/349,558 and of a provisional patent application
filed Mar. 12, 2002 and bearing Ser. No. 60/363,282.
Claims
1. A method of playing an auxiliary casino game managed by a casino house the
method comprising:
associating at least one event with at least one participating player participating
in an underlying casino game during a play of said underlying casino game;
a betting player selecting at least one of said participating player on which
to place a bet;
said betting player identifying at least one event related to at least one play
of said underlying game for which to place said bet, wherein said event is meaningful
within said underlying game;
said betting player making at least one bet that said at least one event will
occur in association with said at least one participating player during at least
one play of said underlying game;
determining an occurrence of said at least one event in said underlying game
in association with said at least one participating player; and
if said at least one event occurred in association with said at least one participating
player, determining an auxiliary payout to be paid to said betting player for said
auxiliary game;
wherein said betting player is one of said participating player and a player
with whom an event is not associated in the underlying casino game.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one event is receiving
at least one predetermined gaming symbol.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one event is receiving
at least one randomly selected gaming symbol.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
said betting player making a bet in said underlying game;
said betting player playing said underlying game;
if an outcome of said playing is at least one of a tie or a loss in said underlying
game, determining a consolation payout to be paid to said betting player.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one event is selecting
at least one participating player playing in said underlying game.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one event is a status
of said at least one participating player at the end of at least one play of the
underlying game, wherein said status is one of a winning and a losing status.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said participating player is said
betting player.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said participating player is a dealer
of said underlying game.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the underlying game is a card game.
10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one participating
player is randomly selected.
11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one play is three plays.
12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a dealer of said underlying game
determines said occurrence.
13. A system for playing an auxiliary casino game, the system comprising:
an event determiner for associating at least one event least one participating
player participating in an underlying casino game during a play of said underlying
casino game;
a player selection receiver for receiving a player selection from at least one
betting player, said player selection identifying at least one of said participating
player on which to place a bet;
an event receiver for receiving from said at least one betting player, an identification
of at least one event related to at least one play of said underlying game for
which to place said bet, wherein said event is meaningful within said underlying
game;
a bet receiver for receiving a bet from said at least one betting player that
said at least one event will occur in association with said at least one participating
player during at least one play of said underlying game;
auxiliary bet display means for displaying an identification of said at least
one selected participating player of said underlying game and of said at least
one identified event related to said participating player of said underlying game;
an outcome receiver for receiving an outcome indication indicating if said at
least one identified event in said underlying game occurred in association with
said at least one selected participating player of said underlying game during
said at least one play of said underlying game;
a winning player determiner for determining which of said betting players placed
a bet on the outcome which occurred;
wherein said betting player is one of said participating player and a player
with whom an event is not associated in the underlying casino game.
14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said betting player of said auxiliary
casino game is said participating player of said underlying game.
15. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said participating player of said
underlying game is a dealer of said underlying game.
16. The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a random player selector
for randomly selecting at least one participating player of said underlying game
and providing said selection to said player selection receiver.
17. The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a random event selector
for randomly selecting said at least one event identification and providing said
selection to said event receiver.
18. The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising wagering means for
receiving a bet credit amount corresponding to the bet credit amount wagered on
said bet.
19. The system as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a payout determiner
for determining a payout to be paid to said at least one winning betting player
of said auxiliary casino game using said bet received and said event indication.
20. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said payout determiner calculates
said payout as a function of at least one of an importance of the event in the
underlying game, an importance of the event in the auxiliary game, a number of
occurrences, a number of participating players playing in the underlying game,
a number of betting players participating in the auxiliary game and a jackpot fund value.
21. The system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said payout is at least one of
a predetermined fixed amount, a prize amount randomly selected from a set of predetermined
fixed amounts, a predetermined percentage of a jackpot fund value, end a randomly
selected percentage of jackpot fund value.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and system for playing a multi player
bet game. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and system for playing
a multi player bet game allowing a player to make a bet that at least one player,
including the dealer, playing an underlying casino game, will receive a determined
events during a play or a plurality of plays of the underlying casino game.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Casino owners are always interested in enhancing the profitability of their
casino games. More particularly, new and improved casino games allowing for faster-paced
games, an increase in the betting amount per game, and a raise in the player's
interest in the game, present a real appeal to casino house managers.
In recent years, additional betting opportunities, other than the standard bet
or wager, have been introduced in casino games. Typically, such additional betting
options give players further opportunities to win prizes, tend to enhance the assiduity
of players to an underlying game, and enlarge the total amount wagered on a play
of the underlying game. Consequently, the casino game profitability could be enhanced.
More specifically, some card games now offer players the possibility of betting
on the occurrence that they will receive a predetermined hand during a play of
the underlying game. These types of games require that the player who wants to
wager, participate in a play of an underlying game or at least receive one gaming
symbol during a play of the underlying game.
In other card games, the bet made by the player is a bet on a predetermined card
hand received not by the player who made the bet but by the dealer, during the
play of the underlying game. Consequently, for such games, a player who wants to
wager on the occurrence of a combination of gaming symbols within a specified hand
associated with the dealer, may make a wager without participating in a play of
an underlying game.
Allowing these types of bets on gaming symbols received by the dealer during
a play of an underlying game, without requiring a receipt of gaming symbols by
the player during the play of the underlying game, is particularly advantageous
for players who feel unlucky or inexperienced at the underlying game.
Finally, other card games offer players the option of placing a bet on the
occurrence of a predetermined hand associated with either the player making the
bet or the dealer, during the play of the underlying game.
Despite the fact that the above mentioned types of games present a real appeal
to the player and contribute to an increase in casino game profitability, such
methods, enabling a player to bet on a combination of game symbol eventually received
by a dealer present some disadvantages as well.
Offering the possibility of placing a side bet on the occurrence of a combination
of gaming symbols within a specific hand associated with the dealer, increases
the complexity of the dealer task, enhances the probability of mistakes and slows
down the pace of the game. In fact, in addition to playing, determining winners
and calculating payout for the underlying game, the dealer has to determine who
has made such a side bet and resolve wins and losses. Typically, a plurality of
side bet options are offered, in which case, the task of de dealer is more complex,
longer and more prone to mistakes or cheating. Consequently, the pace of both the
underlying game and the side bet game is decreased.
Furthermore, in general, when a side bet option is offered, at least
one additional side bet region on the playing surface is provided at each player
position. Typically, a plurality of side bet betting options on a plurality of
possible dealer events are offered. Then a plurality of side betting areas is provided
at each player station. Consequently, some tokens can be moved-inadvertently or
intentionally-during a play of an underlying game. This high density of betting
chips and of adjacent betting areas can bring confusion and dispute among players
and dealer. These facts favor mistakes, disputes and cheating and contribute to
slow the pace of plays of the underlying game, and may be more annoying than entertaining
for players including the dealer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Extending the spectrum of gaming symbols that can be matched in a side
bet game provides variety, a larger spectrum of odds and thus, a larger flexibility
of prize amount that can be awarded. Consequently, the casino has the opportunity
to modulate its income and the players gain access to a plurality of prizes of
low and high value, with high or low odds of occurrence.
In addition to the house predetermined events, permitting that the gaming symbols
to be matched be randomly selected or predetermined by the player, represents an
advantage. In fact, a partial or complete random events to be matched can avoid
feelings of collusion between the dealer and the players. Also, allowing a player
to select a part or the totality of gaming symbols to be matched, presents an appeal
to players, giving them a feeling of control over the issue of the symbol match
for which they have made a bet.
Furthermore, offering players the possibility to bet alternatively on
their combination of gaming symbols, the dealer's or another player's represents
a advantage. In fact in certain circumstances, some players have the feeling that
during the course of a play, some players seem luckier than others and particularly,
in obtaining certain events.
For example, during the course of a blackjack game, a player might feel that
the dealer or another player is a lucky player, while he feels unlucky. The player
decides to stop his participation in the underlying game but decides to continue
wagering on occurrences of predetermined events in specific hands, associated to
the dealer or to another player during the course of the underlying game. For example,
the player might bet that the dealer and/or another player will receive at least
an Ace of any suit or that the dealer and/or the other player will receive a card
hand of a total amount of a certain suit or also, that the dealer or the player
will receive a standard blackjack hand or a certain card hand value such as 16,
17, 18, 19, 20 or 21, of the same suit.
Offering players the possibility to bet on a event received by another player
in conjunction with or independently of participating in the underlying game, constitutes
an advantage. Indeed, certain players, feeling unlucky or inexperienced at the
game may prefer to bet only on a particular event to be received by at least one
player during the course of the play of the underlying game. This way, they can
participate and have the chance to win, and at the same time, become more knowledgeable
of the game rules and strategies. Players who feel lucky can participate in the
underlying game, and furthermore can take advantage of lucky or unlucky periods
of other players, including the dealer, by making bets that these players will
obtain certain event. For example, a player who feels lucky may want to maximize
his earnings during this lucky period, he will then bet on his own hand but might
also enjoy betting on the other players' hands,
Typically, side bet acceptors have been designed to accept and manage
bets made by a player on the occurrence of a predetermined card hand associated
to the player who made the bet, during the course of the underlying game. Typically,
the side bet acceptors indicate and register the wager amount, signaling to the
dealer which player has decided to make a side bet. Nevertheless, the dealer has
to resolve wins and losses and determine the payout for each player.
A bet controlling and managing system has to be developed for games that allows
betting on the occurrence of a predetermined game symbol combination, within a
specific hand associated with a player, other than the player who makes the bet.
A bet controlling and managing system would be a valuable addition to existing
games that allow players to bet on card hands received by the dealer, in that it
would increase the efficiency of the dealer, by determining wins and losses for
a plurality of betting combinations and their respective payouts.
A bet controlling and managing system would be a valuable addition to existing
games that allow players to bet on card hands received by the dealer, by increasing
the pace of the game and the reliability of bet transactions during the course
of the existing games. Until now, no particular apparatus or system has been designed
that controls and manages bets associated with a predetermined card hand received
by the dealer.
Furthermore, the bet controlling and managing system allows the integration
of the functional features of the present invention, while, at the same time, enhancing
the pace of play of the underlying game and improving reliability of the betting
transactions. Such a bet controlling and managing system will be a source of profitability
for all games allowing bets on at least one gaming symbol received by any player
during the course of play of an underlying game, including existing blackjack games
allowing bets on predetermined hands dealt to a dealer during the play of the underlying game.
Finally, a bet controlling and managing system such as the one of the present
invention constitutes an asset in increasing the profitability of casinos, by allowing
for a wider array of side bet possibilities and a larger amount of bets per play,
by providing a safer and faster bet management and control system and by enhancing
the pace of the games.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method
for wagering on the occurrence of receipt of gaming symbols during a play of an
underlying game by at least one player, the method being flexible and applicable
to a plurality of casino games.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method for wagering on the
occurrence of receipt of gaming symbols during a play of an underlying game by
a player, which player is a different player from the player who makes the wager.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for wagering
on the occurrence of receipt of card symbol combination during a play of an underlying
card game by at least a player participating to the underlying game. The player
who received the event is a different player from the player who makes the wager.
The player who received the card symbols may be a client-player or an employee-player
(i.e. dealer).
It is another object of the invention to provide a method for wagering on the
occurrence of receipt of card gaming symbols by a dealer.
Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide a system that
permits a player to make a wager on the occurrence of receipt of at least one gaming
symbol or at least a events during a play of an underlying game by at least one
player participating in the underlying game.
Furthermore, it is another object of the invention to provide a system
permitting a player, participating or not in the underlying game, to make a wager
on the occurrence of receipt of at least one gaming symbol by at least one player
participating in the underlying game.
Furthermore, it is another object of the invention to provide a system
permitting a player, participating or not in the underlying game, to make a wager
on the occurrence of receipt of at least one gaming symbol by at least one player
participating in the underlying game, the at least one player receiving the gaming
symbols being a different player from the player who makes the wager.
The method and system of the present invention can be applied to a plurality
of standard or new casino games.
According to a first broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a method for playing an auxiliary casino game managed by a casino house comprising:
selecting at least one player of an underlying casino game on which to place a
bet; identifying at least one event related to at least one play of the underlying
game for which to place the bet; making a bet that the at least one event will
occur in association with the at least one player during at least one play of the
underlying game; determining an occurrence of the at least one event in the underlying
game in association with the at least one player; if the at least one event occurred
in association with the at least one player, determining a payout to be paid.
According to a second broad aspect of the present invention, an apparatus
for playing an auxiliary casino game, the system comprising: a player selection
receiver for receiving a player selection from at least one player of an auxiliary
casino game, the player selection identifying at least one player of the underlying
casino game on which to place a bet; an event receiver for receiving from the at
least one player of the auxiliary casino game, an identification of at least one
event related to at least one play of the underlying game for which to place the
bet; a bet receiver for receiving a bet from the at least one player of the auxiliary
casino game that the at least one event will occur in association with the at least
one player of the underlying game during at least one play of the underlying game;
auxiliary bet display means for displaying an identification of the at least one
selected player of the underlying game and of the at least one identified event
related to the player of the underlying game; an outcome receiver for receiving
an outcome indication indicating if the at least one identified event in the underlying
game occurred in association with the at least one selected player of the underlying
game during the at least one play of the underlying game; a winning player determiner
for determining which of the players placed a bet on the outcome which occurred.
For the purpose of the present invention, the term "event" is intended to mean
any event which occurs during the course of a casino game. It can be associated
to a player or not. It can constitute a preliminary, intermediary or end result
of the game. It can comprise a selection or combination of gaming symbols. The
mere occurrence of a gaming symbol during a play of a game can be considered to
be an event. An event can also be the selection of a player in a game. For example,
an event can be a player's hand of cards at the end of a play of a card game. Another
example of an event could be the gaming symbols which make the outcome of a roulette
play. Still another example of an event could be the first card dealt to the dealer
after mixing the cards in a card game. Another example would be the selection of
a particular player at a casino game.
For the purpose of the present invention, the term "gaming symbol" is intended
to mean any symbol used in any casino game. It can be a number, a colors a figure,
a suit, etc. It can also be a specific card in a card game. Selections and combinations
of gaming symbols can be made to represent all possible events which can occur
in a casino game.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become better understood with regard to the following description and accompanying
drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the system according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the game controller according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view and representation of the system according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the system according to a preferred embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a player participation station according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a flowchart representing the main steps of a method of the present
invention; and
FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, when combined, form a flowchart representing
detailed steps of a method according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
While illustrated in the block diagrams as groups of discrete components communicating
with each other via distinct data signal connections, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that the preferred embodiments are provided by a combination
of hardware and software components, with some components being implemented by
a given function or operation of a hardware or software system, and many of the
data paths illustrated being implemented by data communication within a computer
application or operating system. The structure illustrated is thus provided for
efficiency of teaching the present preferred embodiment.
The system of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG.
1 and FIG.
2. The system comprises a plurality of player participation
stations
10, an underlying game interface
14, a table display
16,
a game controller
22 and a wall display
24. Local network
12
and main network
18 ensure communication between the plurality of units
of the system. Of course, the network communication could be wired or wireless.
In the present embodiment, a RS 485 network is used.
The game controller
22 is in communication with one or a plurality of
local networks
12 Each local network
12 communicates with a number
of player participation stations
10, with at least one underlying game interface
14, and at least one table display
16. Each local network
12
is associated to an underlying game. The game controller
22 controls and
manages bet selection data, outcome data, credit data, prize data and information
between the different units of the system.
Preferably, the game controller
22 is in communication with three
random selectors: a random gaming symbol selector
26, a random player selector
28 and a random prize selector
30. A modem
20 is connected
to the game controller
22 permitting to operate the game controller
22
from a remote location or to communicate with other game controllers located in
the same casino or in other casinos.
The random symbol selector
26 includes a random number generator for picking
a gaming symbol from a virtual set of gaming symbols related to the underlying
game
58. The random symbol selector
26 generates a value representing
a set of gaming symbols related to the underlying casino game
56. Of course,
other types of random gaming symbol selectors, such as: manual, mechanical and
electrical random gaming symbol selectors can be used.
The random player selector
28 includes a random value generator for randomly
generating a value representing a player or a group of players, located at a player
position around the table game. Of course, other types of random player selectors,
such as: manual, mechanical and electrical random player selectors can be used.
The random prize selector
30 includes a computer random generator for
randomly generating a value representing a prize. The prize could be tangible,
such as a car, a trip, etc. or be a cash amount. Again, other types of random prize
selectors can be used.
As it can be appreciated and as shown in FIG. 2, game controller
22, random
player selector
28 and random prize selector
30 could be integrated
into a personal computer (PC)
90 provided with a communication interface
40 for communicating with the plurality of units in communication with the
game controller
22. In the preferred embodiment, a RS 485 Network interface
is used.
The personal computer
90 contains programs necessary to run the system
of the present invention. Furthermore, a command input keyboard
32, a mouse
34, a command output monitor
36 and a report printer
38 can
be connected to the personal computer
90.
Referring now to FIG.
1 and FIG. 3, the player participation station
10 allows a player to participate in an auxiliary game, played in conjunction
with an underlying casino game. More specifically, the player participation station
10 allows a player to wager on a number of events which will be associated
with or received by one or a plurality of participating players, during a play
of an underlying game. The player participation stations
10 can be installed
around a casino table
56 as shown in FIG.
3. Nevertheless, it will
be apparent that the player participation station
10 can be installed at
a remote location from the table
56. Such a player station could be placed
at another casino game table, at a bar or besides a slot machine, or again, in
another casino or even, in a hotel room, in an office or inside a private home
wherein the player participation stations
10 are in communication with the
game controller
22 via a local wired or wireless network or/and via the
internet. The game controller
22 is in communication with a modem
20.
The modem
20 can be used as a communication means with another casino game
controller, a hotel server, or with an inter-network server, permitting players
to participate in an auxiliary game, played in conjunction with an underlying game,
from their own intranet and/or internet player participation station terminals.
The system comprises an underlying game interface
14. The underlying game
interface
14 is in communication with a number of player participation stations
10, associated with a same underlying game
58, and with a table display
16 via a local network
12. The underlying game interface
14
is in communication with the game controller
22 via the local network
12
and main network
18. The dealer
44 responsible for the underlying
game
56 inputs, using an underlying game interface
14, the betting
period signal and some outcomes of the play produced by the underlying game. Particularly,
outcome data input by the dealer, concerning the underlying game, typically include
a number of selections of gaming symbols related to the underlying game
56
and a number of indicators identifying a number of players
48 having received
some of the selections of gaming symbols, during the play of the underlying game.
The table display
16 is preferably in communication with the underlying
game interface
14 via a local network
12 and in communication with
the game controller
22 via a main network
18.
A wall display
24 is in communication with the game controller
20
via a main network
18. The wall display
24 may display a plurality
of information such as underlying game outcomes, random selection results, jackpot
value and prizes, winning combinations and winners, some game information and/or
advertising messages. Because of its preferred size and disposition, the wall display
24 can be viewed by a larger group of casino players and clients. Furthermore,
the wall display
24 is appropriate to communicate data for a plurality of
games played in conjunction with a plurality of underlying games.
It will be understood that a game controller
20 could be in communication
with a plurality of underlying game interfaces
14 providing players with
a plurality of games played in conjunction with a plurality of underlying games.
The present invention can be applied successfully to a plurality of casino games,
particularly to casino card games. Players have the possibility of making a bet
that at least one player playing the underlying game will receive a particular
events during a play or a plurality of plays of the underlying casino game. Four
categories of betting options can be distinguished, namely:
a) a unique, predetermined player will receive a unique predetermined event;
b) a unique, predetermined player will receive at least one of a number
of determined events;
c) at least one of a number of players will receive a unique predetermined event;
d) at least one of a number of players will receive at least one of a number
of events.
For each category, different modalities of selection of players and/or of events
can take place. The selection of players can be randomly preformed or predetermined
by a casino house, a player, or a dealer. Similarly, the event can be randomly
performed or predetermined. Combinations are also possible. For example, a category
could have a random player selection with a predetermined event; a random player
selection with a random event; and a predetermined player selection with a random event.
Furthermore, for a same underlying game, a same category and modality
can be maintained all the time or the category and/or modality can be changed from
play to play of an underlying game.
Before playing a game, some parameters must be set in the game controller
22. The parameters concern essentially a selection of game(s), the rules
of operation of the game(s), a selection of betting categories and modalities and
payout determining and calculating processes.
As shown in FIG. 4, a command input means
32 allows to specify the game
parameters. Upon reception of game parameter data, the game controller
22
selects a number of game programs from a game program memory
82. The game
controller
22 selects a payout determining program from a game program memory
82. Consequently, the bet selection data memory
78 and the outcome
data memory
80 are addressed as a function of the game program(s) selected
and payout determining program(s) selected.
The data storage support device can be a portable data storage support device
or a fixed data storage support device. In the present embodiment, the data support
devices are fixed and are integrated into a personal computer
90.
It will be also understood that if just one type of game, category, modality
and
payout are retained or used, the step of game setting is no longer required.
The game controller
22 can be alternatively a stand-alone unit or an integrated
unit with a player participation station
10 or with an underlying game interface
14.
Before or at the beginning of the game, a player inserts a credit value device
into a credit value device reader
60 in communication with a player participation
station controller
76. The credit value device could take on a plurality
of embodiments. For example, a credit value device could be a monetary value device
such as a bill and/or a credit value device such as a token, a magnetic card, a
bar code ticket or a smart card. Consequently, the credit or monetary value device
is read by an appropriate credit value device reader
60.
Once the monetary or credit value device is read, the credit value associated
to the monetary or credit value device is stored into a credit bank memory
63
in communication with the player participation station controller
76. The
credit value stored into the credit bank memory
63 is displayed on a bank
credit value display
62 in communication with the player participation controller
76.
According to the category of the game, a number of player selection key(s)
68 and/or a number of event key(s)
70 are in communication with the
player participation station controller
76. In fact, if the game consists
of betting on a events received only by a same and unique player, predetermined
or randomly selected, for a play of an underlying game and applicable for all players,
the player selection key
68 could be omitted. In a similar manner, if the
game consists of betting on a same and only one event, predetermined or randomly
selected, received by or associated with at least one player, a gaming symbol selection
key
70 could be omitted. In other cases, the player
46 selects his
betting options; namely selection of at least one player
48 with a player
selection key(s)
68 and namely at least one gaming symbol selection with
a gaming symbol selection key(s)
70.
For each betting option selected, i.e. for each combination of at least one player
and at least one event, a bet option is selected and the betting option consists
of betting that the at least one player selected will be associated with the at
least one gaming symbol selected during a play of an underlying game. Furthermore,
once the betting selection is made, a bet credit amount is selected with a bet
credit amount selection key(s)
66. The bet credit amount selected is displayed
on a bet credit amount selection display
64. At the same time the selected
bet credit value is subtracted from the credit bank value memory
63 and
stored into a player bet selection data memory
74 in communication with
the player participation station controller
76. The new credit bank value
is displayed on the credit bank value display
62.
Once a bet selection is completed, the bet selection data are stored into a
player bet selection data memory
74 in communication with the player participation
station controller
76. Examples of player bet selection data are: bet credit
amount data; event data; player selection data, and by default, player station
identification data.
It will be understood, that credit bank memory
63 and the player selection
data memory
74 could be a portable storage device such as a smart card,
or a magnetic card. Furthermore, the credit bank memory
63 and/or player
selection data memory
74 could be in direct communication with the game
controller
22 instead of the player participation station controller
76.
When the player selection and/or event have been performed, player selection
or/and event indicators
72 are activated and indicate player(s) and gaming
symbol(s) of player bet selection.
Of course such indicators can take a plurality of embodiments. For example, the
indicators can be lights associated to each player selection and/or event or can
be display means for representing some symbols and letters.
In a similar manner, bet credit amounts selected are displayed on bet credit
amount
display
64.
Key(s) and/or key functions can be integrated or associated to a same and
unique device Furthermore, the term "key" denotes a plurality of selection means
permitting a player to make a selection. Such key(s) could take on a plurality
of embodiments such as electro-mechanical buttons, digital keys, etc.
For example, if there is a plurality of player selection keys
68, each
key being assigned to a particular player, then a bet credit amount selection function
can be integrated with each player selection key
68. A player selection
key
68, associated to a particular player, could be designed such that in
activating the player selection key
68 for the first time, the activation
causes the selection of the player as a betting data. At the same time, the minimal
betting credit amount, that can be wagered, is associated automatically to a bet
concerning the selected player. Furthermore, each successive activation input of
the same player selection key
68 adds a minimal credit betting amount to
the betting amount associated to the betting option concerning the selected player,
identified by the activated player selection key
68.
As it will be understood by a person skilled in the field, some indicators or
displays can be integrated or associated with a same displaying or indicating device.
At an underlying game table, the dealer
44 invites players to bet on the
occurrence of the receipt of a combination of events by a selection of a number
of players during a play of the underlying game
58. The players make their
bets by selecting the appropriate events, players and credit bet amount with the
help of appropriate keys.
At an appropriate time during the play of the underlying game
58, typically
before events received or associated to players during a play of the underlying
game are revealed and/or known by the players, the dealer
44 activates an
appropriate key on an underlying game interface
14. The activated appropriate
key on the underlying game interface
14 provides a player bet selection
data registration signal to each player participation station
10 for a same
underlying game. Once the player bet selection data registration signal is received
by each player participation station controller
76, the player bet selection
data-such as bet credit amount, event, player selection, and by default, player
station identification-stored into a player bet selection data memory
74,
are sent to the game controller
22. Furthermore, in the case where a plurality
of plays of a plurality of underlying games can be played, a tag identifying the
corresponding play of the underlying game is associated to player bet selection
data sent to the game controller
22.
Upon reception of player bet selection data associated to a play of an underlying
game by the game controller
22, the player bet selection data are stored
into a game controller bet selection data memory
78 in communication with
the game controller
22. Typically, bet selection data stored into a game
controller bet selection data memory cell comprises data such as: bet amount, event,
player selection, player station identification, and optionally, a code (i.e. a
"tag") identifying a play of the underlying game.
During a play of an underlying game, some gaming symbols or events are received
or associated to some players participating in the play of the underlying game.
This is considered to be an event in the underlying game.
For example, during a play of an underlying card game, card hands are received
by players
48. Once some cards received or associated to a player are revealed,
the dealer
44 may input the underlying game outcomes i.e. data corresponding
to the association of a number of event with a number of players during the play
the underlying game using the underlying game interface
14. Once the underlying
game outcomes are registered into the underlying game interface
14, the
underlying game outcome data are sent to the game controller
22. Again,
in the case in which a plurality of plays of a plurality of underlying games can
be played in same time, a code, identifying the play and the underlying game to
which the underlying game outcome data are associated, can be added to the underlying
game outcome data sent to the game controller
22.
Depending on the rules of the principal an/or auxiliary game played in
conjunction with the underlying game, and the underlying game outcomes, none, one
or a plurality of events and none, one or a plurality of player identifications
have to be registered by the underlying game interface
14.
In a preferred embodiment, the dealer
44 has to register a different number
of player identifications and events depending of the category of the game.
When the bet stipulates that a unique predetermined player will receive a unique
predetermined event, the dealer
44 could have to register only whether the
outcome has occurred during a play of the underlying game.
When the bet stipulates that a unique predetermined player will receive at least
one of a number of predetermined events, the dealer
44 could have to register
only the event effectively received by the determined player.
When the bet stipulates that at least one of a number of players will receive
a unique predetermined event, the dealer
44 could have to register player
identifications associated to the players who have received the unique predetermined
event during the play of the underlying game.
When the bet stipulates that at least one of a number of players will receive
at least one of a number of events, the dealer
44 could have to register
a number of combinations of: player identifications and events received by the
identified players.
In an alternative embodiment, the underlying game interface
14 could determine
automatically each event received or associated to each player during a play of
the underlying game. For example, such an alternative embodiment could be a card
reader or a digital card system.
Upon reception of the underlying game outcomes, the game controller
22
stores the underlying game outcome data into a game controller outcome data memory
80 in communication with the game controller
22. Typically, the outcome
data comprises data such as: underlying game play identification and underlying
game play outcomes (i.e. player identification and event associated with the player identified).
Once bet selection data and underlying game outcome data for a same play of
an underlying game have been received, the game controller
22 determines
the degree of match between the bet selection data stored into the game controller
bet selection memory
78 and the underlying outcome data stored into the
game controller outcome data memory
80 corresponding to the same play of
the underlying game.
A plurality of prize amounts can be determined based on bet selection data stored
into the game controller bet selection memory
78, and underlying game outcome
data stored into the game controller outcome memory
80. According to the
game program selected, a number of data are compared and/or accumulated and/or
counted in order to identify a prize upon comparison and/or accumulation of a number
of data.
Preferably, the game controller
22 determines the number of winning
bet selections made by at least one player participating in one or a plurality
of plays of the auxiliary games. For a number of winning bet selections made by
a player, a plurality of prize amounts can be determined. For example, a player
participating to the auxiliary game of the present invention, has selected a number
of players participating in a play of the underlying game, and wagered that the
number of players will receive a number of determined events. Upon comparison of
bet selection data made by this player and underlying game outcome data for the
corresponding play, the game controller
22 identifies the winning bet selections
made by the player. If there is only one winning match between a event and a player
participating in a play of the underlying game selected by the player, a first
prize level is calculated; if there are two winning matches between two events
and two players participating in a play of the selected underlying game, a second
prize level is calculated, and so on. Another example is that a plurality of prizes
could be determined according to the number of match bet selections, winning and/or
losing, for a number of plays of one or more underlying games.
The capacity of the system of the present invention to determine a plurality
of prizes based on bet selection data stored into the game controller bet selection
memory
78 and on underlying game outcome data stored into the game controller
outcome memory
80, provides many advantages, such as, enabling to award
larger prize in consequence of lower odds of such events, determining players to
wager more and enhancing the dedication of players to the game.
According to the corresponding game program stored into a game controller
game program memory
82 in communication with the game controller
22,
and according to the corresponding payout determining program stored into a game
controller payout determining programs memory
82, the game controller
22
determines winning bet selections and calculates prizes to be awarded.
Depending on the game program, prize amounts can be determined as a function
of the event, as a function of the number of players playing at the play of the
underlying game, as a function of the number of players participating to the auxiliary
game, as a function of the jackpot fund. Furthermore, the prize could be a predetermined
fixed amount, a randomly selected prize amount from a set of predetermined fixed
amounts, a predetermined percentage of the jackpot fund or a randomly selected
percentage of the jackpot fund.
Once the winning bets have been determined and the corresponding prize amounts
have been calculated, the jackpot fund amount is deducted from the corresponding
calculated prize amounts, and the new jackpot fund value is stored into the jackpot
fund memory
84 in communication with the game controller
22.
The player credit payout data-i.e. winning bets and corresponding prize amounts-are
communicated from the game controller
22 to the underlying game interface
14 and/or to player participation station controller(s)
76 and/or
to the table display
18 and/or to wall displays
24.
In a preferred embodiment, the player credit payout data are sent first to the
underlying game interface
14. Once the player credit payout data have been
received by the underlying game interface
14 and communicated via indicators
or displays to the dealer
44, the dealer
44 pays prize amounts to
the winning players communicated by the underlying game interface
14. Prize
amounts may be given out manually, as chips or tokens and/or electronically, with
the help of the underlying game interface
14, credit amounts may be transferred
directly into the credit bank value memory
63 associated to the player participation
station
10 corresponding to the winning player(s).
In another preferred embodiment, the player credit payout data are sent directly
from the game controller
22 to the player participation station
10
and winning credit amounts are added automatically to credit bank value memory
63 of the corresponding player participation station
10 associated
with the winning player(s) participating in the auxiliary game played in conjunction
with the underlying game.
In another embodiment, the underlying game outcome data and/or player credit
data
are displayed automatically on table display
18 and/or wall display
24.
In another embodiment, the underlying game interface
14 has to send a signal
to the table display
18 and/or the wall display
24 for displaying
underlying game outcome and/or player credit data on the table display
18
and/or the wall display
24.
As noticed previously, a bet identifies at least one player participating in a
play of the underlying game such that at feast one of a number of determined events
will be associated to the at least one player.
The at least one identified player by a bet could be determined by the casino
house, by a player making the bet or alternatively, may be randomly selected by
a random player selector. In a preferred embodiment, a random player selector
28
is in communication with the game controller
22. In a such embodiment, the
random player selection data are communicated to players
48 via selected
player/gaming symbol indicator(s)
72 and to dealer
44 via the underlying
game interface
14. The random player selection data can be also communicated
to both players
48 and/or dealer
44 via the table display
18.
Similarly, the at least one of a number of determined events could be
determined by the casino house, by a player making the bet or alternatively, may
be randomly selected by a random gaming symbol selector. In a preferred embodiment,
a random gaming symbol selector
26 is in communication with the game controller
22. In a such embodiment, the random gaming symbol data are communicated
to players
48 via selected player/gaming symbol indicator(s)
72 and
to dealer
44 via the underlying game interface
14. The random player
selection data can be also communicated to both players
48 and/or dealer
44 via the table display
18.
As it will be understood by a skilled person in the field, the random player
selector
and/or the random gaming symbol selector can take other embodiments such as manual-,
electrical- or electro-mechanical devices. Furthermore, such as random selection
devices could be independent or in communication with a plurality of units such
as, the table display
18, the plurality of player participation stations
10, the underlying game interface
14 a local network
12 or
a main network
18. In all cases however, the results of random selections
have to be communicated to the game controller
22 in order to manage and
resolve the player bet selections according to the underlying game outcomes. The
random selection data could be performed directly by a communication link to the
game controller
22 or can be entered via a device such as an underlying
game interface
14.
An interesting feature arising from the use of random selection devices is that,
in some preferred embodiments, the players participating in the auxiliary game
can make their betting selections even though the event associated to each player
have been revealed for the underlying game. The main point to respect is that at
least one part d the combination bet data-i.e. either the player selection data
or gaming symbol data-has to be randomly selected after the players participating
in auxiliary game have selected their betting options.
Now referring to FIG.
3 and FIG. 5, the auxiliary game is played in conjunction
with an underlying casino game. Typically, the underlying game
58 is played
by a dealer
44 and at least one player
46 and/or
48 located
at a player position around an underlying game table
56. During the play
of the underlying game, some gaming symbols are received by or associated with
at least one of players
46 and/or
48-including the dealer
44.
For example, in card games, each player
48 participating in a play of
an underlying game receives a number of playing cards. Each playing card or the
number of playing cards received by a player provide a plurality of gaming symbols
such as numbers, colors, figures, and suits which can be associated to the player.
There is preferably provided at each player position, a player participation
station
10. The player participation station
10 comprises two distinct
keys
102 and
104 each associated with a bet credit amount selection
display respectively
108 and
110, a credit bank value display
106
and a credit value device reader, in the present embodiment is a chip acceptor-detector
100.
Each distinct key
102 or
104, integrates into a same key device
a bet amount selection key
66, a play
