Distributed Side Wagering Methods and Systems

• US 20090325686A1
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Myers, David, Davis, Dwayne, Rowe, Richard E., Palmer, David, Schneider, Richard J., Khamis, Michael P., Champagne, Christiaan R., Ennis, Damien C., Pleasant, Darryll
• Granted Patent: US 9,292,996 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 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino which includes a casino gaming network. In at least one embodiment, the gaming network includes a plurality of gaming devices, including a first gaming device. A side wager request may be received for placing a first side wager relating to a first target. In at least one embodiment, the first target may be selected from a group of possible targets which, for example, may include, but are not limited to one or more of the following (or combination thereof): casino players, game tables, electronic gaming devices (EGDs), game themes, game denominations, game paytables, etc. An identity of a first player associated with generating the first side wager request may be determined. A first side wager session may be automatically initiated. In at least one embodiment, the initiation of the first side wager session may include automatically placing the first side wager at the casino gaming network, and associating the placed first side wager with the identified first player. In at least one embodiment, the placing of the first side wager includes placing first wager on a game play-related event or activity associated with the second person, wherein an outcome of the game play-related event or activity is influenced by a decision or action of the second person. In one embodiment, the first side wager includes first side wager criteria specifying that an outcome of the first side wager is related to at least one event associated with a different player'"'"'s game play which is associated with the first target.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino, the casino including a gaming network, the gaming network including a plurality of wager-based gaming devices, including a first wager-based gaming device, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in gaming network; and

memory;

the system being operable to;

receive a first side wager request for placing a first side wager relating to a second person'"'"'s game play activities at a gaming system;

determine an identity of a first person associated with generating the first side wager request; and

automatically initiate a first side wager session, wherein the initiation of the first side wager session includes;

automatically place the first side wager at the gaming network, wherein the first side wager includes first side wager criteria; and

associate the placed first side wager with the identified first person;

wherein the placing of the first side wager includes placing first wager on a game play-related event or activity associated with the second person;

wherein an outcome of the game play-related event or activity is influenced by a decision or action of the second person.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first person is different from the second person who is engaged in game play activities at the gaming system at a time when the first side wager was placed.

3. The system of claim 1:

wherein the first side wager relates to game play activities conducted at the first wager-based gaming device; and

wherein the first person corresponds to a non-primary player of the first wager-based gaming device.

4. The system of claim 1:

wherein the first side wager relates to game play activities conducted at the first wager-based gaming device; and

wherein control of game play decisions at the first wager-based gaming device is unavailable to the first person.

5. The system of claim 1:

wherein the first criteria of the first side wager specifies that an outcome of the first side wager is related to at least one event associated with the second person'"'"'s game play activities conducted at the gaming system.

6. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

determine at least one available side wager opportunity using information relating to the identity of the first person.

7. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

determine a current location of the first person within the casino; and

determine at least one available side wager opportunity using information relating to the current location of the first person within the casino.

8. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

detect wagering activity at the first wager-based gaming device that is being conducted by the second person different from the first person;

automatically identify a first wager placed at the first wager-based gaming device by the second person, the first wager including first wager criteria; and

automatically generate the first side wager using the first wager criteria.

9. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

detect that the first wager-based gaming device is currently being used by the second person different from the first person; and

providing side wager opportunity information to the first side wager, the side wager opportunity information including information relating to at least one available opportunity for placing a side wager on game play associated with the first wager-based gaming device.

10. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

receive second side wager request for placing a second side wager relating to the first wager-based gaming device;

determine an identity of the second person associated with generating the second side wager request; and

automatically initiate, concurrently while the first side wager session is active, a second side wager session, wherein the initiation of the second side wager session includes;

automatically place the second side wager at the gaming network, wherein the second side wager includes second side wager criteria; and

associate the placed second side wager with the identified second person;

wherein a second criteria of the second side wager specifies that an outcome of the second side wager is related to at least one event associated with game play at the first wager-based gaming device.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the first side wager relates to a wager on a wager-based game being played at the first wager-based gaming device.

12. The system of claim 1 being further operable to:

identify the first wager-based gaming device as a side wager candidate for which one or more side wagers may be placed;

automatically determine at least one available side wager opportunity for placing a side wager on game play associated with the first wager-based gaming device; and

automatically provide side wager opportunity information to the first side wager, the side wager opportunity information including information relating to the at least one available side wager opportunity.

13. A method for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino, the casino including a gaming network, the gaming network including a plurality of wager-based gaming devices, including a first wager-based gaming device, the method comprising:

receiving first side wager request for placing a first side wager relating to a second person'"'"'s game play activities at a gaming system;

determining an identity of a first person associated with generating the first side wager request; and

automatically initiating a first side wager session, wherein the initiation of the first side wager session includes;

automatically placing the first side wager at the gaming network, wherein the first side wager includes first side wager criteria; and

associating the placed first side wager with the identified first person;

wherein the placing of the first side wager includes placing first wager on a game play-related event or activity associated with the second person;

wherein an outcome of the game play-related event or activity is influenced by a decision or action of the second person.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first person is different from the second person who is engaged in game play activities at the first wager-based gaming device at a time when the first side wager was placed.

15. The method of claim 13:

wherein the first side wager relates to game play activities conducted at the first wager-based gaming device; and

wherein the first person corresponds to a non-primary player of the first wager-based gaming device.

16. The method of claim 13:

wherein the first side wager relates to game play activities conducted at the first wager-based gaming device; and

wherein control of game play decisions at the first wager-based gaming device is unavailable to the first person.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

wherein a first criteria of the first side wager specifies that an outcome of the first side wager is related to at least one event associated with the second person'"'"'s game play activities conducted at the gaming system.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining at least one available side wager opportunity using information relating to the identity of the first person.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining a current location of the first person within the casino; and

determining at least one available side wager opportunity using information relating to the current location of the first person within the casino.

20. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

detecting wagering activity at the first wager-based gaming device that is being conducted by the second person different from the first person;

automatically identifying a first wager placed at the first wager-based gaming device by the second person, the first wager including first wager criteria; and

automatically generating the first side wager using the first wager criteria.

21. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

detecting that the first wager-based gaming device is currently being used by the second person different from the first person; and

providing side wager opportunity information to the first side wager, the side wager opportunity information including information relating to at least one available opportunity for placing a side wager on game play associated with the first wager-based gaming device.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving second side wager request for placing a second side wager relating to the first wager-based gaming device;

determining an identity of the second person associated with generating the second side wager request; and

automatically initiating, concurrently while the first side wager session is active, a second side wager session, wherein the initiation of the second side wager session includes;

automatically placing the second side wager at the gaming network, wherein the second side wager includes second side wager criteria; and

associating the placed second side wager with the identified second person;

wherein a second criteria of the second side wager specifies that an outcome of the second side wager is related to at least one event associated with game play at the first wager-based gaming device.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the first side wager relates to a wager on a wager-based game being played at the first wager-based gaming device.

24. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

identifying the first wager-based gaming device as a side wager candidate for which one or more side wagers may be placed;

determining at least one available side wager opportunity for placing a side wager on game play associated with the first wager-based gaming device; and

providing side wager opportunity information to the first side wager, the side wager opportunity information including information relating to the at least one available side wager opportunity.