ELECTRONIC GAMING ARRANGEMENT ALLOWING REMOTE PLAYERS TO PARTICIPATE IN A GAME PLAYED AT A GAMING TABLE

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to an electronic gaming arrangement, specifically adapted to capture gaming information at a gaming table, where the gaming information may be distributed to remotely arranged participants or players in turn using electronic devices. The electronic gaming arrangement comprises a display screen, an image capturing device and a control unit that are all integrated in a housing. The present disclosure also relates to a gaming system comprising such an electronic gaming arrangement.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming arrangement to be positioned in relation to a gaming table, the gaming table comprising at least one of an active gaming area and a gaming device adapted to generate an outcome, the electronic gaming arrangement comprising: a display screen adapted to present a graphical user interface (GUI), an image capturing device, a control unit connected to the display screen and the image capturing device, a housing adapted to integrate the display screen, the image capturing device and the control unit, and mounting means for arranging the electronic gaming arrangement in an elevated position in relation to at least one of the active gaming area and the gaming device, wherein the control unit is adapted to: control the image capturing device to capture an image stream of at least one of a portion of the active area and the gaming device, determine an outcome based on the captured image stream, and distribute, using a networked connection, at least a portion of the image stream and the outcome to at least one of a first electronic device operated by a player or a server, the first electronic device and the server arranged remotely from the gaming table.

2. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to capture information indicative of wagering at the active gaming area.

3. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is further adapted to distribute at least a portion of the information indicative of wagering to the first remote electronic device.

4. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further adapted to receive information indicative of wagering from the first remote electronic device.

5. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a top end and a bottom end, and the image capturing device is integrated in a vicinity of the top end of the housing.

6. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is further adapted to determine the outcome of the gaming device based on the image stream.

7. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein an indication of the outcome of the gaming device is generated by sensor means comprised with the gaming table.

8. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the image capturing device comprises a first and a second image sensor, the first image sensor adapted to capture an image stream of the gaming device and the second image sensor is adapted to capture an image stream of the active area.

9. (canceled)

10. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising an audio capturing device adapted to capture an environmental sound at the gaming table, and the control unit is further adapted to distribute at least a portion of the audio stream to the first remote electronic device.

11. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the gaming device is a roulette wheel comprising a roulette ball.

12. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the gaming device is a dice-shaking device.

13. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the gaming device is an electronic card shuffler comprising a plurality of playing cards.

14. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the first remote electronic device comprises a receiver adapted to receive, over the networked communication, the image stream and the outcome to at least one first remote electronic device.

15. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the first remote electronic device further comprises a display screen adapted to present the image stream and the outcome.

16. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to implement server functionality.

17. The electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the remotely arranged server is a cloud server.

18. A gaming system, comprising: a gaming table comprising an active gaming area and a gaming device adapted to generate an outcome, and an electronic gaming arrangement according to claim 1.

19. (canceled)

20. The gaming system according to claim 18, wherein the gaming table comprises a multi-user touch interface.

21. The gaming system according to claim 18, further comprising at least one of a first electronic device and a server, the first electronic device and the server arranged remotely from the gaming table.

22. (canceled)

23. The gaming system according to claim 21, further comprising at least a second remote electronic device, wherein the second electronic device is at least one of a tablet, a mobile phone, or a personal computer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The various aspects of the present disclosure, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a gaming system according to a currently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, and

[0033] FIGS. 2A-2D provides examples of remote electronic devices that may be connected to the gaming system as shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are shown. This present disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

[0035] Referring now to the drawings and to FIG. 1 in particular, there is depicted a gaming system 100. The gaming system 100 comprises a gaming table 102 and a gaming device 102, in the illustrated embodiment in the form of a roulette wheel. The gaming table 102 further comprises an active gaming area 106. In the illustrated embodiment the active area is a classical manually operated roulette betting area.

[0036] The gaming table 102 is occupied by a plurality of local players 108, 110, 112 and an operator/croupier 114. The operator/croupier 114 ensures that the roulette game is performed in accordance to local rules and regulations, and is in charge of receiving bets from the local players 108, 110, 112 as well as distributing payments in case the local players 108, 110, 112 have been successful in their betting.

[0037] The gaming system 100 further comprises an electronic gaming arrangement 120 positioned in relation to the gaming table 102. The electronic gaming arrangement 120 is in the illustrated embodiment provided with a mounting pole 122 ensuring that the electronic gaming arrangement 120 is positioned in the desired elevated position.

[0038] The electronic gaming arrangement 120 further comprises a display screen 124 adapted to present a graphical user interface (GUI). The display 124 may typically present an outcome of the game being played at the gaming table 102, such as a present and historical outcome of the gaming device 104. In the illustrated embodiment where the gaming device 104 is a roulette wheel, the display 124 may show present and historical numbers in regard to where a roulette ball for the roulette wheel “landed”.

[0039] In line with the present disclosure, the electronic gaming arrangement 120 further comprises at least one camera 126 arranged at a top end of a housing 128 of the electronic gaming arrangement 120. The camera 126 is preferably completely integrated with the housing 128, where a lens of the camera 128 is only slightly extending from the housing 128. The camera 128 is in turn arranged to capture an image stream of at least one of a portion of the active area 106 and the gaming device 104.

[0040] In some embodiments the electronic gaming arrangement 120 may comprise more than a single display 124, such as two, three, or four displays. The plurality of displays may for example be facing towards in different directions. As such, two displays may be facing essentially in two opposite directions, three displays may be arranged in a triangular manner facing in three different directions (main direction 120 degrees different), etc.

[0041] The electronic gaming arrangement 120 further comprises at least one control unit 130, integrated within the housing 128. It is desirable that the components of the electronic gaming arrangement 120 are securely embedded with the housing 128 to ensure that e.g. the players etc. are not allowed to intervene with e.g. the camera 126, to thereby compromise image capturing.

[0042] The control unit may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable digital signal processor or another programmable device. The control unit may also, or instead, each include an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array or programmable array logic, a programmable logic device, or a digital signal processor. Where the control unit includes a programmable device such as the microprocessor, microcontroller or programmable digital signal processor mentioned above, the processor may further include computer executable code that controls operation of the programmable device.

[0043] As discussed above, the control unit is adapted to distribute, using a networked connection 132 for example connected to the Internet, at least a portion of the image stream from the camera 126 and the outcome from the gaming device 104, collectively referred to as gaming information. The gaming information is in turned provided to a first remote electronic device operated by a thereto related player and/or a remote server. In FIGS. 2A-2D there are presented different types of first remote electronic device that may be adapted to receive the gaming information from the electronic gaming arrangement 120, using the networked connection, such as the Internet. The networked communication may be provided by wired or wireless communication, where wireless communication may be implemented using e.g. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or similar.

[0044] Specifically, in FIG. 2A there is shown a first example of a first remote electronic device, where the first example of the first remote electronic device is illustrated as a mobile phone 202 operated by a player 204 arranged at a bar arranged at the same location, e.g. a casino, as the gaming table 102. The mobile phone 202, as well as other first remote electronic devices are arranged to comprise a processor and a display unit, where the display unit of e.g. the mobile phone 202 is adapted to present the gaming information from the electronic gaming arrangement 120. The mobile phone 202 may also be provided with a user interface for allowing the player 204 to interact with the game being played at the gaming table 102. Such interaction may for example include allowing the player 204 to place bets on the game being played at the gaming table 102. The bets placed by the player 204 may in some embodiments be visualized at the display 124 comprised with the electronic gaming arrangement 120.

[0045] In FIG. 2B there is illustrating another example of a first remote electronic device, namely another gaming table here in the form of an automated gaming table 206 occupied by a plurality of remote players 208, 210, 212. In the illustrated embodiment as shown in FIG. 2B no operator is present. The automated gaming table 206 comprises an electronic multi-player touch screen. Remote players 208, 210, 212 may as indicated in relation to FIG. 2A participates the game at the gaming table 102, placing bets by pressing at a desired number, card or the like, select his choice of action.

[0046] FIG. 2C presents still another example of a first remote electronic device, namely a remote player 214 operating a tablet 216 while in a home environment, a hotel, etc. FIG. 2D presents a similar type of situation, where the first remote electronic device is illustrated as a laptop 218 operated by a remote player 220.

[0047] In all of FIGS. 2A-2D, the respective display unit of the mobile phone 202, the automated gaming table 206, the tablet 216 and the laptop 220 may be arranged to e.g. show a real time image feed of the gaming device, such as the roulette wheel 104. However, due to regulations it may alternatively be possible to provide a representation of the operation of the roulette wheel 104, for example comprising a combination of live and virtually created video feeds fulfilling the requirements. As an example, in some cases the regulations restrict from providing a live video feed of a roulette wheel outside of the casino environment.

[0048] It should be understood that the listed types of first/second remote electronic device are solely for illustrative purpose. Accordingly, other type and/or a mixture or remote electronic devices are possible and within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0049] In summary, the present invention relates to an electronic gaming arrangement to be positioned in relation to a gaming table, the gaming table comprising at least one of an active gaming area and a gaming device adapted to generate an outcome, the electronic gaming arrangement comprising a display screen adapted to present a graphical user interface (GUI), an image capturing device, a control unit connected to the display screen and the image capturing device, a housing adapted to integrate the display screen, the image capturing device and the control unit, and mounting means for arranging the electronic gaming arrangement in an elevated position in relation to at least one of the active gaming area and the gaming device, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the image capturing device to capture an image stream of at least one of a portion of the active area and the gaming device, capture an outcome of the gaming device, and distribute, using a networked connection, at least a portion of the image stream and the outcome to at least one of a first electronic device operated by a player or a server, the first electronic device and the server arranged remotely from the gaming table.

[0050] By means of the present disclosure, it is possible to allow “remote players” to “participate” in a game at a physical game site, i.e. at the gaming table, at an “adjacent location” (e.g. in the same room or same casino) as the gaming table, or at a different location as compared to the gaming table (e.g. at another casino, at home, etc.). Hereby, the system allows for a large plurality of players to simultaneously participate in a game being played at the gaming table. The electronic gaming arrangement may for example be retrofitted to an already installed gaming table, such as at a casino, with the electronic gaming arrangement, thereby allowing the already installed gaming table to be “visible” online, such as at an online casino.

[0051] In addition, the control functionality of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general-purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

[0052] Although the figures may show a sequence the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps and decision steps. Additionally, even though the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Further, a single unit may perform the functions of several means recited in the claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting to the claim. Furthermore, in the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.

[0053] Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed present disclosure, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The person skilled in the art realizes that the present disclosure is not limited to the preferred embodiments.