System and method for detecting collusion between poker players

• US 20060068871A1
• Filed: 08/09/2005
• Published: 03/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pokertek Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Pokertek Incorporated
• Inventors: Crawford, James T. III, White, Gehrig Henderson
• Granted Patent: US 7,618,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/66 for rendering three dimensional images
• 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

Abstract

An electronic card table and method provides an electronic card game to a plurality of players. The electronic card table includes 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 provides a player interface for interaction with one of the players. A computer administers the electronic card game using electronic cards, determines a winner from among the players and awards a pot to the winner at the end of each hand. The computer further detects possible collusion between two or more of the players.

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;

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 for dealing one or more hands of the electronic card game composed of electronic cards, and administering the electronic card game using electronic cards, and for determining a winner from among the players and awarding a pot to the winner at the end of each hand, the game computer for detecting possible collusion between two or more of the players.

2. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 1, the game computer, in detecting possible collusion, ranking the players in terms of their winning percentages.

3. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 2, the game computer further analyzing the hands played by one or more of the players having the highest winning percentage.

4. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 3, the game computer, in analyzing the hands played by one of the players, establishing another one of the players as a possible partner in collusion.

5. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 4, the game computer, in establishing another one of the players as a possible partner, analyzing the hands played in which the one player and the another one of the players both participated.

6. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 5, the game computer, in analyzing the hands played by both players, comparing the play of both players and determining if one or more collusion triggers are present.

7. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 6, wherein the electronic card game is electronic poker, the one or more collusion triggers including at least one of betting, folding, calling, and/or checking in uncommon situations.

8. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 1, the game computer for generating an alert signal in response to detecting possible collusion.

9. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the alert signal is an email message.

10. An electronic card table, as set forth in claim 9, wherein the alert signal is delivered to a host console.

11. A system for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players, comprising:

a plurality of electronic card tables, each a table having a table top with a playing surface, 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 server computer coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for administering the electronic card game by dealing one or more hands of the electronic card game composed of electronic cards, and for determining a winner from among the players for each hand and awarding a pot to the winner at the end of each hand, the server computer for detecting possible collusion between two or more of the players.

12. A system, as set forth in claim 11, the server computer, in detecting possible collusion, ranking the players in terms of their winning percentages.

13. A system, as set forth in claim 12, the server computer further analyzing the hands played by one or more of the players having the highest winning percentage.

14. A system, as set forth in claim 13, the server computer, in analyzing the hands played by one of the players, establishing another one of the players as a possible partner in collusion.

15. A system, as set forth in claim 14, the server computer, in establishing another one of the players as a possible partner, analyzing the hands played in which the one player and the another one of the players both participated.

16. A system, as set forth in claim 15, the server computer, in analyzing the hands played by both players, comparing the play of both players and determining if one or more collusion triggers are present.

17. A system, as set forth in claim 16, wherein the electronic card game is electronic poker, the one or more collusion triggers including at least one of betting, folding, calling, and/or checking in uncommon situations.

18. A system, as set forth in claim 11, the server computer for generating an alert signal in response to detecting possible collusion.

19. A system, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the alert signal is an email message.

20. A system, as set forth in claim 18, wherein the alert signal is delivered to a host console.

21. A method for providing an electronic card game to a plurality of players, using at least one electronic card table and a computer, the electronic card table having a table top with a playing surface, 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, the computer being coupled to the plurality of electronic player interaction areas for administering the electronic card game, comprising:

dealing one or more hands of the electronic card game composed of electronic cards;

determining a winner from among the players for each hand and awarding a pot to the winner at the end of each hand; and

,

detecting, by the computer, possible collusion between two or more of the players.

22. A method, as set forth in claim 21, including the step of ranking, by the computer, the players in terms of their winning percentages.

23. A method, as set forth in claim 22, including the step of analyzing, by the computer, the hands played by one or more of the players having the highest winning percentage.

24. A method, as set forth in claim 23, including the step of establishing, by the computer, another one of the players as a possible partner in collusion.

25. A method, as set forth in claim 24, including the step of analyzing, by the computer, the hands played in which the one player and the another one of the players both participated.

26. A method, as set forth in claim 25, including the steps of comparing the play of both players, by the computer, and determining if one or more collusion triggers are present.

27. A method, as set forth in claim 26, wherein the electronic card game is electronic poker, the one or more collusion triggers including at least one of betting, folding, calling, and/or checking in uncommon situations.

28. A method, as set forth in claim 21, including the step of generating, by the computer, an alert signal in response to detecting possible collusion.

29. A method, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the alert signal is an email message.

30. A method, as set forth in claim 28, wherein the alert signal is delivered to a host console.