Independent data input system for casino play

• US 20070111775A1
• Filed: 11/15/2005
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yoseloff, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/288,054
• Publication Number:
  US 20070111775A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means

Abstract

A casino table card system and method is played on a casino card table having a playing surface. Multiple player positions on the casino card table have at least a first player position and second player position. A processor receives electronic game information comprising wager information relating to casino card games played on the casino card table. At least one player input capability from a passive player has wager input capability for placing wagers on the active player position. The wager information on the active player is electronically transmitted to the processor, which accepts input from the passive player position on an outcome at the active player position. The system resolves wagers from the passive player on events at an active player position.

Claims

1. A casino table card system comprising:

a casino card table having a playing surface;

multiple player positions on the casino card table comprising at least a first active player position and a second active player position;

a processor that receives electronic game information comprising wager information relating to casino card games played on the casino card table;

at least one player input capability from a passive user comprising wager input capability for placing wagers on at least one active player position;

the wager information on the passive player being electronically transmitted to the processor;

the processor accepting input from the active player position on a game outcome; and

the system resolving wagers from the passive player on events at an active player position.

2. The casino table card system of claim 1 wherein the player input capability comprises an electronic device that operates in a slave capacity to the processor, which processor acts in a master capacity.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the player input capability comprises a wireless device.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the player input capability comprises a wireless hand-held device that provides the user with selections among at least table and player position information and which selections may be made by the passive player to enter wagers on at least game outcomes at specific tables and specific active player positions.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the selections are available in at least graphic format.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein input into the hand-held device comprise alphanumeric data entry.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein table selection information is supported by GPS technology.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein wagers by the user are entered and resolved within an account that is specific to the user and supported by a central processor.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein wagers by the user are entered and resolved within an account that is specific to the user and supported by a central processor.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein the player input capability comprises a prepaid account with information or access to the account is enabled through the player input capability.

11. A method of placing a wager on a casino table card game at an active player position at a first casino table card game comprising:

a) a first passive player having a data input device that electronically transmits information that is received by a processor acting to receive and resolve wagers on an account-based wagering system;

b) the passive player, at a location other than the active player position, sending wagering information on a game event at the active player position;

c) concluding the game event at the active player position; and

d) the processor resolving a wagering account of the passive player on the concluded event at the active player position.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the passive player is not seated at a player position on the casino table card game.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein physical cards are used at the casino table card game.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein suit and rank of the physical cards are read by at least one of a shuffler or card delivery system prior to or during dealing of the physical cards to form hands at player positions.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein suit and rank of physical cards are read by at least one of a shuffler or card delivery system prior to or during dealing of the physical cards to form hands at player positions.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the data input device comprises a hand-held wireless data transmitter.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the data input device comprises a hand-held wireless data transmitter.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein wireless data transmission is supported by a mesh network with receivers for the data transmission available at least one additional table adjacent to the first casino table.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the data input device comprises a wagering terminal adjacent the casino card table.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the data transmission from the passive player is for a wager on game events at the active player position that implements a different play strategy than a play strategy performed by the active player.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the processor uses read card information to resolve the wager by the first player.

22. A hand-held wireless transmission device for entering wagers on a casino table card game, that device providing visual information to a first player, the device comprising:

data input capability;

formatted data input displayed on a screen of the device used by a passive player to enter a wager on an active player position; and

the displayed data input displaying prompts of specific data needed to enter data on both location and amount of a wager at the active player position.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein a central processor authorizes wagers on the active player position against an account specific to the device or to the passive player.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the device is obtained from a casino with a prepaid balance amount associated with the device itself in an electronic account.