Patent Application
20250083027
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. Copyright 2024 LNW Gaming, Inc.
The present invention relates to the field of table gaming, wagering methods and apparatus on gaming tables, and providing security and card replacement during game play.
Casino operators have successfully awarded automobiles, trucks, RVs, motorcycles, and snowmobiles as jackpots for slot players for decades. The ability to manipulate the odds and payouts of slot machines and the symbols required for the jackpot make it easy to change the “value” of the jackpot and substitute the vehicle (or other items like vacations, merchandise, etc.) for the cash value of the top prize awarded by the machine.
Casino operators currently do not have the ability to easily manipulate the odds of table games due to the limitation of just 52 different cards (53 if a wild card is utilized) and the number of cards issued to each player for each game. A solution to this problem is desirable.
Disclosed is the use of a card distribution device to securely deliver a side game for a base card game played on a gaming table. The side game provides odds that allows a larger prize than available in the base card game. Special symbol playing cards are added to each standard 52-card deck to create a special deck of playing cards. The side game allows for an automobile, or other merchandise prize, as a top award, without changing the base game being played at the gaming table. The special symbol cards are used only for side game win evaluation and then replaced with additional standard playing cards to form new hands for continued play of the base game. The various embodiments include various security features for verification of winning hands. Novel ways of forming packets of replacement cards by the card distribution device are also disclosed.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and herein described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any and all”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means “including without limitation.”
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a system and method for providing a first game for a card game that allows casino operators to offer a vehicle or other large prize in lieu of a traditional top cash award are disclosed. The first game adds Special Symbol Cards to each card deck that allow for a car, or other merchandise prize, to be offered as a top award without changing the base game, for example, Three Card Poker, being played at a gaming table. The Special Symbol Cards are added to the deck, but if a player receives any of these cards during the game, they are used only for first game win evaluation and then replaced with additional cards from the deck for continued play of the base, or second, game. Reference to the figures will further assist in an appreciation of the present invention.
Each player position 120 includes wagers areas 125 and a side wager area, which comprises a token sensor assembly 130. The preferred embodiment will allow one token sensor assembly for each player position 120. Systems with parallel connections between token sensors 130 and processors are preferred over serial daisy-chained connections because failure of a single token sensor 130 will not prevent use of the remaining token sensors 130 in operation, however any connection scheme may be used. Information acquired from the token sensors is transmitted to a game manager, a suitable example of which is the GM Atlas system commercially available from Light & Wonder, Inc.
The game controller 170 provides instructions to the token sensors 130, such as signaling a new round of game play, whether to light up indicators such as colored light emitting diodes (LEDs) incorporated into the token sensors 130 or text or graphics to present on a display integrated into or adjacent to each token sensor. Upon receiving these instructions, the token sensor 130 presents any display information and/or determines a presence of any particular wager, especially a progressive wager, a side bet wager, optional or mandatory bonus wager and the like according to the rules of and the state of the game being played.
The table controller 210 is also connected to a table sign 230 via an HDMI cable. The table sign 230 is typically a video display monitor used to graphically display game title, wagering limits, progressive award information, side game displays, animations and the like. The HDMI cable to the table sign 230 may also include audio content playable through audio components, such as an amplifier and speakers, of the table sign 230. The table sign 230 may include minimum and maximum bets allowed at the gaming table, winning hand animations and trends, data related to previous rounds played, for example, trends based on previous outcomes, and a historically based prediction table for games such as baccarat. The display may be rotatable from a portrait to a landscape orientation, depending on the game being played at the gaming table. In some cases, the table sign 230 may include multiple displays so the content displayed on the table sign 230 is simultaneously viewable from multiple directions. A bezel surrounding each display may include one or more “emotive lighting” strips typically populated with programmable color light-emitting diodes (LEDs) suitable for displaying information such as a color-coded minimum bet or anticipation signals advertising the likelihood of an upcoming high-paying outcome. These features help draw players to the gaming table and enhance the excitement of the players already present at the gaming table. Examples of commercially available table signs 230 include the i-Score™ Plus and i-Score™ Ultra table signs from Light & Wonder, Inc.
The table controller 210 is also connected via a first ethernet connection to a remote central game/progressive server, for example, the GM Atlas system mentioned above. A second ethernet connection communicatively couples the table controller 210 to an ethernet switch 240. The ethernet switch 240 serves as a centralized connection point for token sensors 250 and provides a communication link between the table controller 210 and the token sensors 250. The table controller 210, the dealer terminal 220, the table sign 230 and the ethernet switch 240 are typically powered by alternating current power supply units 260. The token sensors are typically powered by 12 VDC supplied by a direct current power distribution hub (not shown) also connected to a power supply unit 260.
While certain functionality may be described as assigned to a particular device in the system, for example, card tracking to the card distribution device, side bet token sensing to the game/progressive server via the table controller 210, and so on, any system configuration and distribution of processing amongst the various processors within the system that provides the functionality ascribed to logic-circuitry herein falls within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Referring to
In the example here, Three Card Poker is played as heads-up between the player's hand and the dealer's hand. After all ante wagers are placed, three cards are dealt to each player and the dealer. Players have a choice to either fold or continue in the game by placing a “play” wager equal to their ante. Hands are then exposed and wagers resolved.
The dealer's hand must be Queen high or better for the dealer hand to play. If the dealer does not play, then there is no action on play wagers and ante wagers are paid 1 to 1. If the dealer does play, the dealer and player hands are compared. If the player hand loses, both the ante and play wagers are lost. If the player hand wins, both the ante and play wagers are paid 1 to 1. If the hands are tied, then there is no action on either wager.
Additional optional bets are offered. The Pair Plus wager is a bet that the player's hand will be a pair or better. The Pair Plus wager wins if the player has at least a pair of twos. The payoff applies regardless of the dealer's hand, as the Pair Plus wager is not in competition against the dealer's hand. Some casinos also offer an Ante Bonus, which is paid on the ante wager for a straight or better. The typical Ante Bonus pay table pays 5 to 1 for a straight flush, 4 to 1 for a three of a kind, and 1 to 1 for a straight. Like the Pair Plus wager, the Ante Bonus pays regardless of whether that hand beats the dealer's hand.
In the embodiments described here, an additional optional bet is offered for a game played with the Special Symbol Cards. If a player is dealt any of the Special Symbol Cards as part of the three cards dealt in the Three Card Poker hand, and the player has made the side wager, they win a prize according to a special pay table. If the player is dealt all three Special Symbol Cards (with a frequency of occurrence of 1 in 26,235) they may, for example, win an automobile. Receiving only one or two Special Symbol Cards awards a smaller prize determined by the pay table, as shown. Once all side bets related to the first game are resolved, any Special Symbol Cards are replaced in the players' hands with additional standard cards from the deck and normal play of the basic game (i.e., Three Card Poker) resumes as usual.
Referring now to
At step 502, the dealer starts a game round.
At step 504, in response to the initiation of the game round, side wagers indicating that one or more players wish to participate in the first game may be placed. Typically, electronic token sensors are placed at each player position for this purpose. If a wager is placed on a sensor, this information is forwarded to a table controller that, in turn, passes the information to a central game server. Once recorded, the first game wagers may be removed by the dealer to keep them out of the way during game play and to avoid having them surreptitiously pulled back by a player once the player has seen one or more cards and realizes no side bet will be won. In accordance with other embodiments, the first game may be played without electronic support such as the token sensors, table controller and central game server described above. In these embodiments, all that is required is a separate wagering spot at each player position.
At step 504, if no first game wagers were placed, the flow continues to step 508. Otherwise, one or more first game wagers were detected and, at step 506, the tokens are collected from the token sensors by the dealer into a chip tray. In embodiments where there are no token sensors, the first game wagers may remain in place in their wagering spots until the first game is resolved. Otherwise, the table controller monitors the token sensors for removal of the tokens and “locks in” the first game wager for each respective table position as its token is removed. The table controller may turn the token sensor LEDs at “locked-in” table positions to a specific color, such as green, and those without a first game wager to another color or to off. The table controller notifies the central server of each locked-in side game wager for the purpose of any win confirmation.
At step 508, the dealer deals the initial cards of the game round, for example, by removing and distributing cards from a card handling device in an original hand to each player position and to the dealer position. In the exemplar Three Card Poker game, cards are typically distributed in packs of three cards to each active position at the table. Ideally, as previously mentioned, the card handling device is a card-tracking shoe or automated shuffler configured to deliver packs of cards for each hand.
At step 510, it is determined whether any Special Symbol Cards were dealt to any of the player positions participating in the first game. If not, no first game wins have occurred. In embodiments where the first wagers remain on the table, the dealer collects the first game wagers. Flow continues to step 518.
Otherwise, if at least one Special Symbol Card was dealt to a player position participating in the first game, at least one first game win has occurred. Original hands containing at least one Special Symbol Card, pending verification, are designated as prospective winning hands. Flow continues at step 512 of
In accordance with one or more embodiments, one method for confirming that a prospective win is an actual win is accomplished by the above-mentioned card handling device, which tracks all cards dealt. If the card handling device determines that it dealt one or more Special Symbol Cards in one or more three-card packets, it can display information about each winning hand on an integrated display, send the data to the table controller 210 for display on the dealer terminal 220, etc.
In other embodiments, a card confirmation device is used to verify that the Special Symbol Cards forming the winning hand are from the deck(s) of cards being distributed from the card handling device. For example, if four Special Symbol Cards are produced for a single-deck game and only three of the Special Symbol Cards are inserted into the deck to be used in the actual play of the game, the dealer may hold the fourth Special Symbol Card in reserve. When a win of sufficient magnitude occurs, for example, a three-card win, security information printed on the Special Symbol Cards in the winning hand may be compared with the same security information printed on the Special Symbol Card held in reserve. The security information may be as simple as a serial number, a barcode, a QR code or the like. In the simplest cases, for example, a serial number, the dealer and/or other casino personnel can visually compare the security information on the cards in the winning hand with the security information on the reference card. In some embodiments, to prevent forgery, the security information is printed in ink invisible to the human eye. In this case, or in the case of encoded information, a device such as a handheld scanner or a special card verification device may be used for verification. An example of such a device may be found in U.S. Patent Publication 2004/002663. In other embodiments, a verification mode may be incorporated into the card handling device, wherein the cards of the winning hand and the verification card are inserted into the card handling device, scanned and verified as belonging to the same group. In cases where multiple decks are used, the above methods are all supported by the use of multiple reference cards, wherein the cards of the winning hand must match one of the reference cards.
Once a win has been confirmed as valid, the corresponding award is paid at step 514 and the side game is completed.
At step 516, all Special Symbol Cards are placed in a discard location and replaced in their respective original hands by additional cards from the card handling device to create newly formed hands. Any additional Special Symbol Cards that may be distributed by the card handling device at this step are also placed in the discard location and, as needed, additional replacement cards are drawn from the card handling device. In some embodiments, the card handling device is an automated shuffler programmed with a special card replacement mode. Since the card handling device knows how many Special Symbol Cards were delivered to the table, it can generate an appropriately sized packet of replacement cards. If the packet of replacement cards contains any Special Symbol Cards, the card handling device may increase the size of the packet to account for these additional Special Symbol Cards. In accordance with some embodiments, the card handling device may selectively reject any Special Symbol Cards before they are placed in the replacement packet. In still other embodiments, the card handling device may generate individual replacement packets with the number of replacement cards required at each position requiring replacement cards.
Once the first game awards have been paid and the Special Symbol Cards have been replaced by regular playing cards, flow returns to step 518 of
At step 522, if at least one player remains at the table, the flow continues to step 502, where the dealer starts another game round as described above. If no players remain at the table, the method concludes at step 524.
While certain functionality may be described as assigned to a particular device in the system, for example, card tracking to the card distribution device, side bet token sensing to the game server via the table controller 210, and so on, any system configuration and distribution of processing amongst the various processors within the system that provides the functionality ascribed to logic-circuitry herein falls within the spirit and scope of the invention.
In this description, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. Although specific ranges, specific compositions, and specific components have been identified to enable preferred practice of the present technology, one skilled in the art, reading the specification and viewing the figures, understands the generic concepts disclosed herein. This understanding enables the use of alternatives and options and design changes within the skill of the ordinary artisan in the electronics and imaging field, without undue experimentation and within the scope of the claims.
The above game concepts can be applied to any game that begins by dealing three or more cards to each player. Non-limiting examples are Big Raise Stud Poker and Ultimate Seven Card Stud.
The actual image on the Special Symbol Cards is only limited to the imagination of the casino operator and/or game designer. The symbols can be letters, logos, brand names, signs of the zodiac, exotic vacation destinations. In accordance with some embodiments, no special printed deck is required. In these embodiments, the two jokers and a standard advertising card commonly found in an off-the-shelf deck of cards may be used as the Special Symbol Cards.
While the example of
This invention is intended to be cross-platform and can be used with electronic tables, digital tables, and other devices offering games in a table game format including online gaming. The Special Symbol Cards are simply added digitally to these games. An example of a suitable electronic table platform is the Table Master Quartz™ available from Light & Wonder, Inc.
When the top award for three Special Symbol Cards is a non-monetary award, for example, an automobile, there are several ways to monetize the above concepts. For example, any one or combination of the following methods could be implemented:
A specific model of automobile is provided to the winner by a contracted manufacturer and/or dealer at a specified price. The difference in the agreed upon price of the vehicle and the amount collected from the wagers made is revenue to the supplier of the game (i.e., the casino), which may be shared with the provider of the game to the casino. The game provider may also charge a monthly fee for the rights to use the game and equipment. The automobile manufacturer and/or dealer may pay the game provider a promotional fee or advertising fee for the exposure of their automobile and services in the casinos. Their message or image may be placed on the playing cards, on casino signage, marquees, on an automobile present in the casino, on game rack cards, the gaming table felt, etc. Further, the casino may be obligated to purchase specialty cards, felts, and signage to implement the above concepts. As mentioned above, a specially outfitted gaming table, including token sensors, displays, special shuffler attachments or other verification equipment, a win celebration system (audio, lights, etc. utilizing the above-mentioned table sign 230) may be included in a package purchased or leased by the casino.
As disclosed above, the Special Symbol Cards are replaced once the side bet is resolved; however, in other embodiments, the Special Symbol Cards may be incorporated into the underlying game. The Special Symbol Cards could be utilized as wild cards, as limited use wild card like the joker in Pai Gow Poker, or as a “blocker”. The Special Symbol Cards could also have no value (like a blank on a slot machine). All of this is up to the imagination of game designers and may lead to many new games. Incorporating the Special Symbol Cards into the base game may allow a game design that does not require a separate side bet to fund a large prize. This can be accomplished, for example, by using a betting structure like that of Ultimate Texas Hold'Em™.
While the above embodiments describe awarding a non-cash prize such as an automobile or other merchandise, the concept of combining the two sets of cards required to play two separate card games into a single special deck, dealing cards from the special deck, playing the first card game based on the initially dealt cards, removing and replacing any cards in the originally dealt cards related to the first card game and then continuing play of the second card game applies equally to first games in which the primary award may include a fixed or progressive monetary award.
In accordance with some embodiments, the first game does not require a side wager. Rather, the first game may be funded by the original second game ante wager. For example, the casino may require a larger than usual ante bet for the second game that simultaneously funds the first game. In still other embodiments, while placement of a side wager is required to play the first game, the side wager may be made mandatory in order to play the first game and the second game.
In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. Note that in this description, references to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” mean that the feature being referred to is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Further, separate references to “one embodiment” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment; however, neither are such embodiments mutually exclusive, unless so stated and except as will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Thus, the present invention can include any variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. Each claim, as may be amended, constitutes an embodiment of the invention, incorporated by reference into the detailed description. Moreover, in this description, the phrase “exemplary embodiment” means that the embodiment being referred to serves as an example or illustration.
Block diagrams illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention. Flow diagrams illustrate operations of the exemplary embodiments of the invention. The operations of the flow diagrams are described with reference to the example embodiments shown in the block diagrams. However, it should be understood that the operations of the flow diagrams could be performed by embodiments of the invention other than those discussed with reference to the block diagrams, and embodiments discussed with references to the block diagrams could perform operations different than those discussed with reference to the flow diagrams. Additionally, some embodiments may not perform all the operations shown in a flow diagram. Moreover, it should be understood that although the flow diagrams depict serial operations, certain embodiments could perform certain of those operations in parallel or in a different sequence.
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of the preceding elements and aspects.
This patent application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/581,836, filed Sep. 11, 2023. The disclosure of the 63/581,836 Application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63581836 | Sep 2023 | US |
