Table games and related methods

Abstract

A gaming table in which the outcome of the game is determined manually, and in which players place bets electronically and wins or losses are calculated electronically. The gaming system is applicable to any suitable game including roulette.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising: at least one processor; a random outcome apparatus for a table game configured to initiate a random game outcome; a plurality of player terminals, each player terminal including a player user interface comprising a display to permit a player to select at least one possible result associated with a random game outcome and to receive at least one wager from the player on the at least one selected possible result; a dealer terminal operably coupled to the at least one processor and including a dealer user interface, the dealer user interface configured to enable a dealer to directly credit a player terminal after receipt by the dealer from the player of payment for wagering from a player associated with the respective player terminal; the at least one processor programmed to: provide player terminals of the plurality with a graphical indication of a time remaining in a same time limit for placement of wagers before commencement of game play, the graphical indication comprising a graphically changeable, non-numeric indication of the time remaining until completion of the same time limit and configured for substantially continuous visible representation of changes in the time remaining on the displays of the player terminals; determine winning wagers corresponding to at least one result associated with a random game outcome; credit winning proceeds for display at player terminals associated with the winning wagers; and automatically poll each player terminal for wager details and balances upon the completion of the time limit for placement of wagers, wherein the dealer terminal is configured to enable the dealer to debit a player account so as to pay out by the dealer directly to the player in physical form, upon request by the player, a remaining credit balance associated with a player terminal in use by the player.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a typical layout of a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the layout of FIG. 1, showing how the various elements of the system are connected;

(4) FIG. 3 shows an example of a screen display of a player terminal of the resent invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen display of the System Game Controller of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) As can be seen from FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will include a gaming table 1, around which players will sit and operate respective automatic player terminals 2. The game outcome determinator in this case will be a traditional roulette wheel 3, which is operated in the normal manner by a human operator.

(7) Situated close to the gaming table where the outcome is determined, is Central Controller 4 (CC 4) (not shown in FIG. 1). Central Controller 4 is connected to player terminals 2 as well as to a System Game Controller 5 (SGC 5). The player terminals 2 are used for placement of bets, display of winning bets, cash balances and promotional and other informative data. The screen of player terminal 2 displays an image of a playing surface related to the participating gaming table. Players may place their bets by following the instructions displayed on the screen as will be described in more detail below, with reference to FIG. 2.

(8) The arrangement of the present invention may also include a display tree 6, which is used to display the outcome of the game. Optionally, the display tree 6 may also display the outcome of any number of the preceding games.

(9) The CC 4 acts as an interface between the player terminals 2 and the SGC 5. The CC 4 monitors and processes payment amounts, buy-in amounts, winning results and bet positions.

(10) The SGC 5 communicates with the CC 4 and can also be used to provide data and statistical information to casino databases. The dedicated gambling table dealer operates the SGC 5 to register buy-in amounts and allocates these to individual player terminals and processes winning and losing results. It also maintains transaction records and communicates winning result information to the CC 4, and provides information to the gaming table operator and CC 4 regarding cash out amounts when players finish playing.

(11) A schematic diagram of a typical layout of the invention is shown in FIG. 2, wherein like elements described above in relation to FIG. 1 are labeled accordingly.

(12) Casino management databases 9 are connected to the SGC 5 via dedicated application server software. Furthermore, peripheral elements may include a Note Acceptor 7 that is connected to the SGC 5 via a serial interface and is responsible for processing all local currency. Under control of the croupier, notes fed into the Notes Acceptor will result in a credit being issued to the corresponding player's terminal for use throughout the game.

(13) The Components

(14) SGC

(15) The SGC 5 controls game execution. While the croupier spins the roulette wheel to generate the game outcome, it is the SGC 5 that is responsible for handling buy-in and collect amounts, maintaining transaction history, processing patron ratings and generally administering the game.

(16) Before the commencement of a game, the SGC 5 sends a new game request to the central controller which then confirms that all terminals are synchronized. The SGC 5 then initiates the countdown by sending the CC 4 a Start Game command, with the associated time limit which is then relayed to the player terminal screens and acknowledged.

(17) The countdown time is the time allowed for players to place their bets. At the completion of the countdown period, the player terminals 2 will send respective betting information to the CC 4. If no bet is placed for a particular terminal within this time, the terminal 2 sends a zerobet packet to CC 4.

(18) At the completion of the countdown, the CC 4 sends a message to the SGC 5 that the countdown has expired and polls for the acknowledgement from each terminal. All associated bet details are then passed to the SGC 5 via the CC 4. At this time, bets can no longer be placed, and the amount bet is deducted from the account balances stored on the respective player terminals 2. The croupier then calls No More Bets, and spins the wheel to determine the winning number. The winning number is then confirmed by the croupier, as is discussed in more detail below, and is sent to the CC 4. The SGC 5 then calculates win/loss data for each player terminal 2, and each is then updated accordingly through the CC 4.

(19) The countdown feature is also particularly advantageous to both players and the casino. The countdown allows players to be aware of the remaining time before having to place their bet. In traditional systems, there is no systematic way of knowing when the end-of-bets time is approaching. The croupier may call last bets, but the final time is variable within limits. It is possible that the croupier will call no more bets just before a player decides where and in what amount to place the bet. When this happens, the player misses out on participating in that game and the casino misses out on the opportunity of winning the player's money.

(20) With the countdown feature, this situation is avoided because the player can see that the final time for placing a bet is approaching, and knows exactly how much time remains in which to place the bet. Accordingly, if the player intends to place the bet for that particular game, he or she is more likely to do this before the betting time expires. In this way, the player will not be excluded from the given game for having missed out on placing the bet, and the casino is able to have bets placed in a more consistent manner, contributing to the increased profits provided by the system of the present invention.

(21) CC

(22) The CC is a multi-line user system running several processes needed to coordinate the game. The CC's role includes:

(23) Game handlercalculation of winning amounts, updated player credits and handling of the game state;

(24) Player terminal handlerdetection of newly connected player terminal units, configuration of the player terminal units, upgrade of the player terminal unit software, detection of malfunctioning or disconnected units;

(25) Casino Management system handlertransfer between local database and casino specific database, maintain integrity of data by moving essential data off the gaming floor and onto the area of high security;

(26) Local database handlerprovide a standard interface that game systems according to the present invention can access;

(27) Local databasereliably store gaming data required for the reliable running of the game system, provide access to real time information needed during a game;

(28) Gaming hardware handlertransformation of the signals from third party hardware into a format suitable for the system of the present invention;

(29) Firewallisolates the player terminal units from an external network, promoting a basic level of security, allowing the game system to exist on a single casino network without interference.

(30) Player Terminals

(31) The player terminals are employed as the interface between the player and the system of the present invention. The main components of the player terminal include:

(32) Touch screen monitordisplay of all selectable game features that relate to the dedicated gaming table;

(33) PENTIUM PCinterface between player functions as interpreted by the touchscreen monitor, which is then relayed to the CC in conjunction with,

(34) Interface Boardhoused in a logic cage, handles all security issues and maintains the link ID of the player terminal machines.

(35) Associated peripherals include, but are not limited to, bill acceptor, attendant key, accounting key, door sensors and player terminal specific software.

(36) The operation of the player terminal 2 and screen display will now be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows an example of a display that may be presented to a player on his or her corresponding player terminal. To play a game, the player must begin by pressing a Buy-In button 201 on a player terminal screen 200. The buy-in amount, (i.e., the amount of cash given by the player to the croupier) will be processed by the croupier through the SGC 5 and credited via the CC 4 to the player's terminal.

(37) As described above, before the commencement of a game, the SGC 5 sends a Start Game command to the CC 4, which in turn ensures that all player terminals are synchronized so that each player is given the same time in which to place their bets. During the countdown, bets can be placed by dragging the selected denomination chip (202-207) over the betting layout 208 to the desired location.

(38) Chips can be placed over existing chips on the layout to increase the bet at that location. Once the chip is placed on the layout, the size of the chip will reduce y about 20-30% so as to best fit on the layout area. It will then change to a standard color and the number value in the middle of the chip will display the total bet amount on the layout at that particular location. For example, if two $5 chips, two $2 chips and a $1 chip are placed on a single location on the layout, the image of the chip at that spot will display a value of $15. To remove a bet, the chip is selected and dragged off the layout to reduce the amount of the bet. This dragging may be done via a conventional mouse device, or may be done simply by dragging a finger across the screen of the touch screen terminal.

(39) The display on the terminal will also indicate the time remaining for betting (209), the current balance (210), the current amount bet (211) and the win amount (212). The current balance is updated at the completion of each game cycle and is equal to the previous cash balance plus any wins for that game minus the cash bet in that game.

(40) At the completion of the countdown, the CC 4 will poll all the active player terminals, and then send all of the bet details and balances to the SGC 5. If the amount bet does meet the minimum requirement of the table and is greater than zero, then a message will be displayed on a player terminal status bar 213, and an invalid bet message will be displayed on the player terminal and also sent to the SGC 5.

(41) After the winning number and winning wages information is received from the SGC 5, the CC 4 passes the information to each player terminal, and the player terminal will flash the winning combinations of only those chips on the betting layout that have won. When the gaming cycle begins again, the layout display will be cleared of all bets placed in the previous game.

(42) A number of other options are available and may be controlled by buttons on the display screen:

(43) A RECALL button 214, is used to repeat the betting layout of the last game cycle;

(44) A CASH OUT button 221 is used to inform the dealer that the player wishes to collect his or her cash balance. The croupier will then process this request through the SGC 5. During this processing time, the player terminal 2 is disabled from betting. The cash balance will then be returned to zero balance on the player terminal via the CC 4 and the payment will be completed with the croupier paying to the player the cash equivalent of the balance in the form of gaming chips.

(45) The BUY-IN button 201, as described above, is used to inform the croupier that the player wishes to join the game and/or to deposit funds in the player terminal cash balance. The croupier then processes the buy-in through the SGC 5. During this process, the player terminal is still able to process bets. The buy-in process will add the buy-in amount to the cash balance on the player terminal via the CC 4 and then will be confirmed by the player.

(46) A TIERRE button 215, applies the following bet to the layout: a six-piece wager with one piece each on 5/8 split, 10/11 split, 13/16 split, 23/24 split, 27/30 split and 33/36 split.

(47) An ORPHANS button 216, applies the following bet to the layout; a five-piece wager with one piece each on: 1 straight up, 6/9 split, 14/17 split, 17/20 split and 31/34 split.

(48) A GRAND SERIES button 217 applies the following bet to the layout: a nine-piece wager with one piece each on: 4/7 split, 12/15 split, 18/21 split, 19/22 split, 32/35 split, and two chips each on 25/29 corner and 0/2/3 street.

(49) A NEIGHBOURS button 218 applies the following bet to the layout, a five-piece wager covering the winning number from the previous spin, and the two numbers either side of it on the roulette wheel.

(50) A CLEAR button 219 is used to clear the layout during the bet countdown.

(51) A HELP button 220 is used to display game results, pay-out structures and system definitions.

(52) The TIME LIMIT slider 209 is used to represent the betting countdown clock. It is in a scale of seconds and configurable depending on the time limit set for the game on the SGC 5. Once the slider reaches zero seconds, the player terminal will disallow any transactions by the player on the terminal.

(53) An optional display on the terminal screen might also allow the player to view bets placed by other players. This may take the form of other players' chips being displayed in different colours on the display of the board layout.

(54) The function of the SGC 5 will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen display 500, which may be viewed by the croupier running the game, and represents various options available. Every screen on the SGC has a status bar 501, which displays comments and instructions relevant to the operation of the game, and a game clock 502, that allows the croupier to see the current amount of time remaining for bet allocation on the player terminal 2. The main screen on the SGC 5 allows the croupier to view all player terminal locations with a status, which may be defined by a colour code. In FIG. 4, the various player terminals are represented by squares located along the borders of the SGC 5 screen display and numbered 504 to 514. Various information is displayed on different player terminal squares to represent the current status of particular player terminals. For example, player terminal 503 is indicated as being disabled, while the display of terminal 507 indicates that the player on that terminal has just bought in to the game. Terminals 509 and 510 indicate that the players have selected the cash-out option as described above, and are collecting the balance of the credit allocated to their terminal in the form of gaming chips.

(55) Block 515 will initiate a New Game, which initiates a command to the CC 4 to commence the game clock for setting on all active player terminals. The New Game block 515 will be disabled when game countdown has commenced, or when the game is in pause mode, and will be re-enabled once the winning number is confirmed. A Winning Number box 516 will display the winning number, and will need to be confirmed by the croupier, who views the actual outcome of the game by observing the actual position of the ball on the roulette wheel 3, and verifying that the actual winning number is the same as that displayed in box 516. This confirmation is done by the croupier touching box 516. If the number displayed in box 516 is incorrect, confirmation will be declined, and the SGC 5 will advance the croupier into a winning number input and confirmation screen. This will allow the number to be manually input and confirmed. The Winning Number box 516 will also display a message to direct the croupier to spin the ball on the roulette wheel. This message is displayed once the SGC 5 is informed by the CC 4 that all transactions have been completed.

(56) Alternatively, the system will not read the winning number at all. Rather, the croupier will observe the outcome of the game and enter the winning number into the system. The system then processes the input information as previously described.

(57) Administration box 517 allows the croupier to control a number of specific functions, such as pausing a current game, configuring min/max bets and opening and closing the table.

(58) The system described above accordingly provides many advantages over current table games. In particular, the system improves security in that it is far more difficult for a player to attempt to cheat, and reduces the risks of miscalculations being made by the croupier. Furthermore, the system allows more players to play per table, is more attractive to players who may be otherwise intimidated, provides greater flexibility in betting options and improves the ratio of earnings to outgoings for the casino in terms of croupier salary per number of players.

(59) While the above description has been focused on the game of roulette, it will be understood that the principles of the invention may be equally applied to any suitable gaming table, to provide the above advantages. Such suitable table games include Sic Bo, Big Wheel, Two Up and Mini Baccarat.

(60) It will also be appreciated that the above description has been given in relation to a preferred embodiment only, and is not meant to be limited to the specifics of the disclosure, which may vary in many ways as would be understood by the person skilled in the art, within the scope of the present invention.