Electronic card table and method

• US 20060068498A1
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Pokertek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pokertek Incorporated
• Inventors: Crawford, James T. III, White, Gehrig Henderson
• Application Number:
  US11/074,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20060068498A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 436/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 436/107497 Preparation composition [e.g., lysing or precipitation, etc.]

Abstract

An electronic card table includes a space table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table top. Each electronic player interaction area provides a player interface for interaction with one of the players. A game computer is coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas to administer the electronic card game using electronic cards and electronic chips and determine an allowed wager limit for each player'"'"'s turn during the at least one betting round.

Claims

1. An electronic card table for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players, comprising:

a table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table top, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of the players;

a game computer coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for administering a hand of the electronic card game using electronic cards and electronic chips, determining a winner of the hand of the electronic card game and awarding the winner a pot, the hand of the electronic card game having at least one betting round, each player having at least one turn in the at least one betting round, the game computer for automatically determining an allowed wager limit for each player'"'"'s turn during the at least one betting round.

2. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 1, the game computer for providing the players an opportunity to make a wager or fold during the betting round, wherein any wager made by any of the players is added to the pot.

3. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the electronic card game is a no-limit card game.

4. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 3, wherein a player'"'"'s wager is limited to limited to a stack value associated with the player.

5. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a player'"'"'s electronic player interaction area, during the player'"'"'s turn in one of the betting rounds, provides the player with opportunity to enter a wager up to their current stack value.

6. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 4, wherein a player'"'"'s electronic player interaction area includes a maximum wager button, the game computer for automatically making a wager for the player in the amount of the player'"'"'s stack value in response to the player'"'"'s actuation of the maximum wager button.

7. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the electronic card game is a pot-limit card game.

8. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 7, wherein a player'"'"'s wager is limited to limited to a current value of the pot.

9. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a player'"'"'s electronic player interaction area, during the player'"'"'s turn in one of the betting rounds, provides the player with an opportunity to enter a wager up to the current value of the pot.

10. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 8, wherein a player'"'"'s electronic player interaction area includes a maximum wager button, the game computer for automatically making a wager for the player in the amount of the current value of the pot in response to the player'"'"'s actuation of the maximum wager button.

11. A method for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players, on an electronic card table having a table top with a playing surface and a plurality of electronic player interaction areas located around a periphery of the table top, each electronic player interaction area providing a player interface for interaction with one of the players and a game computer coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas, comprising:

administering a hand of the electronic card game using electronic cards and electronic chips, the hand of the electronic card game having at least one betting round, each player having at least one turn in the at least one betting round;

automatically determining, by the game computer, an allowed wager limit for each player'"'"'s turn during the at least one betting round;

determining a winner of the hand of the electronic card game; and

,

awarding the winner a pot.

12. A method, as set forth in claim 11, including the steps of providing the players an opportunity to make a wager or fold during the betting round and adding any wagers made by any of the players to the pot.

13. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the electronic card game is a no-limit card game.

14. A method, as set forth in claim 13, including the step of limiting a player'"'"'s wager to a stack value associated with the player.

15. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein a player'"'"'s electronic player interaction area, during the player'"'"'s turn in one of the betting rounds, provides the player with opportunity to enter a wager up to their current stack value.

16. A method, as set forth in claim 14, wherein a player'"'"'s electronic player interaction area includes a maximum wager button, the method including the step of automatically making a wager for the player in the amount of the player'"'"'s stack value in response to the player'"'"'s actuation of the maximum wager button.

17. A method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein the electronic card game is a pot-limit card game.

18. A method, as set forth in claim 17, including the step of limiting a player'"'"'s wager is limited a current value of the pot.

19. A method, as set forth in claim 18, including the step of providing on a player'"'"'s electronic player interaction area, during the player'"'"'s turn in one of the betting rounds, an opportunity to enter a wager up to the current value of the pot.

20. A method, as set forth in claim 18, wherein a player'"'"'s electronic player interaction area includes a maximum wager button, the method including the step of automatically making a wager for the player in the amount of the allowed wager limit for the player in response to the player'"'"'s actuation of the maximum wager button.