A game using cards or virtual cards that are used by players during game play to dynamically create a board representing a territorial expanse. Game play takes place within the context of a narrative or story line for the characters playing the game wherein the narrative develops and unfolds according to explicit choices the player makes at multiple opportunities to choose among several options. The player choices that direct the game play and narrative are intended to ultimately resolve a goal-oriented quest or attain an objective assigned to the player's character. The game play and the assembly of the cards or virtual cards to form the territory arise from the characters' exploration of territory represented by a plurality of numbered cards and by the characters' interaction with other features of the cards and with the features of non-numbered cards.

Gaming table systems include electronic gaming tables, gaming terminals, and a system server. A system or table can be configured to administer a live wager-based table game involving an initial shared hand that is shared by multiple live players. Each player can make different live game decisions regarding discarding physical playing items from the initial shared hand, and game outcomes include final hands that vary by player depending upon the different decisions. The live table game can be draw poker, which can involve dealing five physical cards face up for the initial shared hand and five additional cards face down for a first set of replacement cards before any live game player decisions. A second set of replacement cards can provide a second play from the same initial shared hand. Methods of providing the draw poker game can include preventing further user inputs prior to revealing the face down cards.

A game apparatus includes a housing defining an interior area for electronic components, a top wall of which includes a game board having squares for receiving respective game pieces. A plurality of input buttons are included on each end of the housing by which a player may enter points to be awarded to corresponding moves of game pieces, the point being incremented on respective digital displays. The game board includes a negative containment grid for receiving one or more auxiliary game pieces. Points may be scored as game pieces are moved and opposing game pieces are captured, the game pieces having predetermined high and low values. In addition, the method of use includes a dual point assignment scheme capable of varying the points assigned to the playing pieces.

An authentication method and system includes a computing device, such as a smart phone, which includes a display for presenting a graphical and interactive game board that is used for entering a user's passcode. During the authentication process, the user selects a game board (e.g. chess, checkers, poker, backgammon, etc.) and associated game pieces for presentation on the display. The user then moves one or more game pieces to locations on the game board. Together, the selected game board, selected game pieces, and the movements and/or locations which the game pieces are moved on the game board form an entered passcode. This generated passcode is then compared with a stored passcode to authenticate the user before granting access to the computing device.

An electromagnetic game board includes a configurable grid of electromagnets under a game board to move game pieces on the board. Alternative to electromagnets is acoustic levitation through soundwave. In an oscillating electric field (four sides), a magnet can create excite ultrasound that quickly contract and rebound its original shape to push out pulses of air.

A cooperative board game played by a group of players includes a customizable playhouse, a game board having a plurality of defined areas each defined by a shape on the game board, a plurality of activities including Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 activities, wherein each level corresponds to one of the defined areas, a plurality of decks of dramatic play cards, wherein each of the plurality of decks corresponds to one of the levels, and an online map that can be accessed after completing a final activity in Level 4. Each player in the group of players completes each of the Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 activities in order, wherein the game is complete after each player completes the Level 4 final activity. The unique value propositions include self-discovery, a bird's eye view of the world, flexible and repeatable activities for endless outcomes, and an online community providing hindsight learning and real-world connection with others.

In accordance with some embodiments, an RFID-enabled table game system provides for determining whether there is a variance between an expected balance of inventory and an actual balance of inventory in a game element container. If a variance is detected, the RFID-enabled game system may identify at least one characteristic associated with an RFID-enabled game element that is determined to be a source of the variance (e.g., a player position at which the RFID-enabled game element had last been detected, a denomination or value of the game element, and/or an identifier associated with the game element). In some embodiments, an alert may be output to game provider personnel (e.g., a dealer of a card game) at the end of a game play when such a variance is detected, thus allowing the variance to be corrected in an efficient and timely manner.

Technology for managing a player session at a gaming table is disclosed. A table management system receives identifying information of a player seated at the gaming table transmitted by a mobile device associated with the player. The identifying information includes a seating position of the player at the gaming table, the seating position determined by the mobile device through interaction with a locating device placed at the seating position at the gaming table. The table management system generates the player session for the player for playing a wagering game at the gaming table using the identifying information of the player transmitted by the mobile device.

Disclosed is a gaming unit for a gaming system, the gaming system comprising the gaming unit and a plurality of playing pieces, each playing piece of the plurality of playing pieces comprising a magnet and having an identifier. The gaming unit comprises: a play zone for arranging one or more playing pieces of the plurality of playing pieces on the gaming unit; a control unit; and a first magnetic unit configured to generate or alter a magnetic field for magnetically affecting one or more playing pieces arranged in the play zone. The first magnetic unit being operationally connected to the control unit. The control unit is configured to detect the identifier of a playing piece arranged in the play zone and responsive to the detection of one more particular identifiers generate a control signal controlling the first magnetic unit to generate or alter a magnetic field thereby magnetically affecting one or more playing pieces in the play zone.

An inspection system of a chip includes a reading device and a determining unit. The reading device is configured to count a number of chips stored in a storage case, the chips associated with a table game and including a chip having a radio tag, read the radio tag while the chips are stored in the storage case, and acquire chip information. The determining unit is configured to compare the chip information of the chips in the storage case with a physical number of the chips in the storage case, determine that there is an abnormal chips among the chips stored in the storage case based on a determination that the counted number of the chips does not match a physical number of the chips in the storage case, and output a result associated with an indication of the abnormal chip.