System, method, and article of manufacture for multi-player gaming from an off-site location

• US 20060281538A1
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rite-Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rite-Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Angell, Robert Charles, Lavoie, James Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A system, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed that comprise receiving, from one or more client terminals, two or more purchase requests, wherein each of the purchase requests identifies a wager for one or more multi-player games. A wager result is then determined for each wager at the time of purchase and stored in a database. Once all the wagers for an instance of a game are received, an outcome, such as a set of cards, is determined for each player and, if appropriate, the house (the host of the game). The outcome for each player is based on the previously determined wager result(s) and the type of game played. The outcome(s) are then stored with the wager(s) and wager result(s) in a transaction history file corresponding to each of the game'"'"'s patrons (players) and in a game status file. A patron may then submit a request at a client terminal to reveal the results of the wager(s) and, optionally, the outcome of the game at either the gaming facility where the wagers were placed or at an off-site location.

Claims

1. A gaming method, comprising:

receiving, from one or more client terminals, at least one purchase request, each of said at least one purchase requests identifying a wager for one or more multi-player games; and

determining the results of each of said at least one purchased wagers.

2. The gaming method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing said wager results in a database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an outcome for each player based on at least one of said wager results.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said determining step is executed after all wager results for one of said one or more multi-player games have been received.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an outcome for a house based on at least one of said wager results.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said determining step is executed after all wager results for one of said one or more multi-player games have been received.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving at least one purchase request step includes receiving one or more of the following:

a purchase amount, a denomination value, and a number of wagers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving at least one purchase request step includes receiving a game identifier, wherein said game identifier identifies one or more of the following:

a game type or an instance of a game.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving at least one purchase request step includes receiving a purchase request from a client terminal located at a gaming facility.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a patron identifier identifying a purchaser of at least one of said at least one purchased wagers.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of debiting the account balance of a patron account corresponding to the received patron identifier based on said received purchase request.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing said wager results in a database step comprises storing at least one of said wager results in a transaction history file in a patron account file corresponding to a received patron identifier.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said storing said wager results in a database step comprises storing at least one of said wager results in a game staus file corresponding to an instance of a game.

14. A gaming method, comprising:

receiving a request to reveal at least one wager result in a multi-player game, wherein said wager result was determined at a time of purchase of at least one wager; and

sending said wager result to a client terminal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said wager result is sent via an online network.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of determining an outcome for each player in said multi-player game based on said wager result.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said determining step is executed after all wager results for said multi-player game have been received.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of determining an outcome for a house in said multi-player game based on said wager result.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said determining step is executed after all wager results for said multi-player game have been received.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein said receiving step includes receiving a patron identifier.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein said sending step includes sending a selection menu including an option to purchase at least one wager.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from a client terminal a selection for the option to purchase at least one wager;

requesting information for the purchase of the at least one-wager; and

receiving, from said client terminal, information for the purchase of the at least one wager.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said purchase request includes one or more of the following:

a purchase amount, a denomination value, and a number of wagers.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein said purchase request includes one or more of the following:

a game type or an instance of a game.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein said sending step includes sending one or more outcomes, wherein said one or more outcomes correspond to said wager result.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of using said wager result to purchase additional wagers in a repetitive manner.

27. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of requesting authentication data.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said requesting authentication data step further comprises the step of requesting biometric data.

29. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer to perform a gaming method, which when executed implement the steps of:

receiving, from one or more client terminals, at least one purchase request, each of said at least one purchase requests identifying a wager for one or more multi-player games; and

determining the results of each of said at least one purchased wagers.

30. A gaming system, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

receive, from one or more client terminals, at least one purchase request, each of said at least one purchase requests identifying a wager for one or more multi-player games; and

determine the results of each of said at least one purchased wagers.

31. A server connected to a plurality of client terminals in a gaming system, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

receive, from one or more client terminals, at least one purchase request, each of said at least one purchase requests identifying a wager for one or more multi-player games; and

determine the results of each of said at least one purchased wagers.