Method for enabling online gamblers to become the "house" and play against other users

• US 20020198051A1
• Filed: 06/20/2001
• Published: 12/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: OpenTV, Inc. (Kudelski SA)
• Original Assignee: BettingCorp (UK) Ltd. (Kudelski SA)
• Inventors: Lobel, Michael, Faingold, Arik
• Application Number:
  US09/883,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198051A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A method for enabling online gamblers to play with or against other gamblers, where a qualifying gambler acts as the “gambling house” for a limited time period, and is given the “house” odds. As an example, Player X (after fulfilling several conditions) may become the “house” or the “casino”, and other users will be able to play against Player X'"'"'s casino rather then against the official “house” (this refers to the site owner, presumably operating with necessary licenses etc. using the casino software). In this way, qualifying players who become the “house” will benefit from “casino house” odds.

Claims

1. A method for enabling at least one online player to become the “

casino house” and

play against at least one other user, comprising the steps of;

i. offering a qualifying player the ability to open and offer for other players a casino table game, such that said player becomes the “

casino house”

;

ii. giving to said qualifying player the “

house”

odds while the said qualifying player is operating as the “

house”

; and

iii. playing as the “

house”

against at least one other player.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said casino table is a slot machine, such that said qualifying player views said slot machine while another user plays with said slot machine against said player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said qualifying player'"'"'s “

house”

betting limits depend on the factors selected from the group of previous playing history of player, current cash position of player and qualifying points of player, such that said factors are calculated and displayed on a real time basis before each round is played.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said qualifying player'"'"'s odds depend on the factors selected from the group of previous playing history of said player, current cash position of said player and qualifying points of said player.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said playing as the “

house”

by each player further comprises;

a. earning credit points for each round played, by each player;

b. qualifying to be the “

house”

;

c. offering the casino to said player;

d. inviting other players to play against said player;

e. playing against the (original) player.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

i. deducting points from the player (house) during play;

ii. disqualifying player as the house; and

iii. relegating player to status of a regular player.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said offering the “

casino house”

to a qualifying player further comprises providing alternative playing options selected from the group comprising placing a stop loss on said players account, requesting to cease being the house after winning or losing a certain amount, requesting to cease being the house after a certain number of rounds have been played, requesting to cease being the house after a certain amount of time has lapsed, customizing appearance of said house, customizing games played in said house, customizing number of players participating in said house and customizing the look and feel of said house.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said games are selected from the group consisting of Black Jack, Caribbean Stud Poker, Progressive Caribbean Poker, Baccarrat, Craps, slot machines, video poker, poker, roulette, pai gow, craps, war, keno, red dog, let it ride, sic bo, and scratch cards.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said playing as the “

house”

further comprises running a common accumulating and reducing jackpot for all of the “

house”

activity.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said playing as the “

house”

further enables a plurality of players to become the “

house”

concurrently, and play against at least one other player simultaneously using the identical gaming software and hardware and administering, operating, maintenance and management system.

11. A method for enabling at least one online gambler to become the “

casino house”

for a limited period of time and play against at least one other user in events selected from the selection of casino table games, machine games and in the entire “

casino”

, such that the gamblers are not required to operate, administer, maintain or manage the event, comprising the steps of;

i. offering a qualifying gambler the ability to open and offer for at least one other gambler a casino table game, such that said player becomes “

house”

, and dealer;

ii. giving to said qualifying player the “

house”

odds while he said qualifying gambler is operating as the “

house”

; and

iii. playing as the “

house”

against at least one other gambler.