Interactive simulated baccarat side bet apparatus and method

• US 20050073102A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Philip S., Snow, Roger M., Yoseloff, Mark L., Dunn, R. Brooke
• Granted Patent: US 7,309,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/001 Bridge or baccarat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A multi-player automated casino table card game platform enables play of casino table baccarat-type games according to rules effected through a processor. Rules may include games similar to Baccarat or Mini Baccarat with an optional side bet on a point spread between the player and bank hands.

Claims

1. A multi-player platform that provides multiple player positions for live players to engage in a baccarat game with a virtual dealer and virtual cards comprising at least two player positions that enable live players to place wagers on an underlying poker-type game, a display system for showing a virtual dealer, a display system for showing the virtual cards used in play of the underlying baccarat game, and a processor that contains the rules of the underlying baccarat game, the processor enabling play for each player on the underlying baccarat game according to the following rules:

a) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a base game bet on the selected hand to participate in a base game;

b) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a bonus game bet on the selected hand to participate in a bonus game;

c) a dealer dealing at least one player hand and the house hand according to a first set of game rules;

c) resolving the base card game according to the first set of game rules;

d) assigning a point value to both the player hand and the dealer hand according to a second set of game rules; and

e) awarding the player a bonus payout when the selected bonus game hand has a point value that exceeds a point value of the other hand by a predetermined amount.

2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first set of game rules is selected from the group consisting of baccarat, mini baccarat, war, three card poker and blackjack.

3. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first set of game rules comprises baccarat.

4. The platform of claim 1, wherein the second set of game rules comprises baccarat.

5. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first set of game rules and the second set of game rules are the same.

6. The platform of claim 1, wherein the base game bet is mandatory.

7. The platform of claim 1, wherein the base game bet is optional.

8. The platform of claim 1, wherein the bonus game bet is mandatory.

9. The platform of claim 1, wherein the bonus game bet is optional.

10. The platform of claim 1, wherein the base and bonus games are resolved according to the rules of baccarat and the predetermined point value is at least 5 points.

11. The platform of claim 1, wherein the base game is mini baccarat, and the bonus payouts are awarded according to the following schedule:

12. The platform of claim 1, wherein the house hand is a banker'"'"'s hand.

13. The platform of claim 1, wherein the house hand is a dealer'"'"'s hand.

14. A multi-player platform that provides multiple player positions for live players to engage in a baccarat game with a virtual dealer and virtual cards comprising at least two player positions that enable live players to place wagers on an underlying baccarat game, a display system for showing a virtual dealer, a display system for showing the virtual cards used in play of the underlying baccarat game, and a processor that contains the rules of the underlying baccarat game, the processor enabling play for each player on the underlying baccarat game according to the following rules with a virtual at least one, typical fifty-two card deck, the cards having standard rank and value, said game comprising the steps of:

a) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a base game bet on the selected hand to participate in a base game;

b) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a bonus game bet on the selected hand to participate in a bonus game;

c) a dealer dealing at least one player hand and the house hand according to a first set of game rules;

c) resolving the base card game according to the first set of game rules;

d) assigning a point value to both the player hand and the dealer hand according to a second set of game rules; and

e) awarding the player a bonus payout when the selected bonus game hand has a point value that exceeds a point value of the other hand by a predetermined amount.

15. The platform of claim 14, wherein the first set of game rules is selected from the group consisting of baccarat, mini baccarat, war, three card poker and blackjack.

16. The platform of claim 14, wherein the first set of game rules comprises baccarat.

17. The platform of claim 14, wherein the second set of game rules comprises baccarat.

18. The platform of claim 14, wherein the first set of game rules and the second set of game rules are the same.

19. The platform of claim 14, wherein the base game bet is mandatory.

20. The platform of claim 14, wherein the base game bet is optional.

21. The platform of claim 14, wherein the bonus game bet is mandatory.

22. The platform of claim 14, wherein the bonus game bet is optional.

23. The platform of claim 14, wherein the base and bonus games are resolved according to the rules of baccarat and the predetermined point value is at least 5 points.

24. The platform of claim 14, wherein the base game is mini baccarat, and the bonus payouts are awarded according to the following schedule:

25. The platform of claim 14, wherein the house hand is a banker'"'"'s hand.

26. The platform of claim 14, wherein the house hand is a dealer'"'"'s hand.

27. An method of playing an automated wagering gaming event on a system, the system comprising:

at least two distinct video displays, a first display for showing a dealer in a card game and at least a second display showing playing cards to multiple players;

at least one processor for enabling play of the wagering gaming event;

multiple player positions to enable multiple players to play the game;

wherein at least one processor can feed at least two different multiple video images and merge the at least two multiple video images to form a composite image of a dealer against a background, wherein the background comprises at least one dynamic image and the system displays images enabling play of a game according to the following rules;

a) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a base game bet on the selected hand to participate in a base game;

b) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a bonus game bet on the selected hand to participate in a bonus game;

c) a dealer dealing at least one player hand and the house hand according to a first set of game rules;

c) resolving the base card game according to the first set of game rules;

d) assigning a point value to both the player hand and the dealer hand according to a second set of game rules; and

e) awarding the player a bonus payout when the selected bonus game hand has a point value that exceeds a point value of the other hand by a predetermined amount.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the first set of game rules is selected from the group consisting of baccarat, mini baccarat, war, three card poker and blackjack.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the first set of game rules comprises baccarat.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the second set of game rules comprises baccarat.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the first set of game rules and the second set of game rules are the same.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the base game bet is mandatory.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the base game bet is optional.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the bonus game bet is mandatory.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the bonus game bet is optional.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the base and bonus games are resolved according to the rules of baccarat and the predetermined point value is at least 5 points.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the base game is mini baccarat, and the bonus payouts are awarded according to the following schedule:

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the house hand is a banker'"'"'s hand.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the house hand is a dealer'"'"'s hand.

40. An automated wagering gaming event system comprising:

at least two distinct video displays, a first dealer display for showing a foreground image of a dealer in a card game, and at least a second display showing playing cards to individual players;

at least one processor for enabling play of the wagering gaming event;

multiple player positions to enable multiple players to play the game;

wherein at least one of the processors can feed at least three different sets of video image data and merge the at least three multiple video images to form a composite image of a dealer against a background, the processor feeding at least one set as a mask layer and at least one set as an auxiliary dynamic background image, the system implementing play of a game according to the rules;

a) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a base game bet on the selected hand to participate in a base game;

b) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a bonus game bet on the selected hand to participate in a bonus game;

c) a dealer dealing at least one player hand and the house hand according to a first set of game rules;

c) resolving the base card game according to the first set of game rules;

d) assigning a point value to both the player hand and the dealer hand according to a second set of game rules; and

e) awarding the player a bonus payout when the selected bonus game hand has a point value that exceeds a point value of the other hand by a predetermined amount.

41. An automated gaming system comprising a gaming table and an upright video display panel comprising:

a table having an upper surface, the upper surface having a video display surface that provides a continuous field of video display for at least two different player positions; and

at least one main game processor in information communication with the upright video display panel and the video display surface, the processor directing video display on both the upright video display panel and the video display surface, and providing game rules for the play of at least one casino table card game without the use of physical cards on the table, the system enabling play of a casino table poker-type card game according to the rules;

a) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a base game bet on the selected hand to participate in a base game;

b) a player selecting one of a player hand and a house hand and placing a bonus game bet on the selected hand to participate in a bonus game;

c) a dealer dealing at least one player hand and the house hand according to a first set of game rules;

c) resolving the base card game according to the first set of game rules;

d) assigning a point value to both the player hand and the dealer hand according to a second set of game rules; and

e) awarding the player a bonus payout when the selected bonus game hand has a point value that exceeds a point value of the other hand by a predetermined amount.