AUTOMATED HOUSE WAY INDICATOR AND COMMISSION INDICATOR

• US 20100244382A1
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snow, Roger M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,251,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A system for enabling play of a casino table card game is disclosed. At least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to a game, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. The components of the system include an automatic card shuffler configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. The automatic card shuffler has a processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed. Other components of the system include a gaming table with a gaming surface; and at least one display on or proximate the gaming surface in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards a house way; wherein the monitor displays information on how to set a hand according to programmed house way rules. A method of operating a casino table card game using physical playing cards that are distributed in sets to multiple play positions and set according to automatically generated house way instructions is also disclosed. Processors of the present invention may also cause a display of a house commission amount.

Claims

1. A system for enabling play of a casino table card game in which at least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined, multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to players in the game and to a dealer in the game, and the dealer'"'"'s cards are set by following displayed house way instructions, comprising:

an automatic card shuffler that shuffles playing cards and delivers randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards, wherein the automatic card shuffler has a processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed;

a gaming table with a gaming surface; and

at least one video monitor on or proximate the gaming surface in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards according to a house way;

wherein the monitor displays information on how to set a hand according to programmed house way rules for the dealer'"'"'s hand and for players'"'"' hands, the monitor configured with an information input system to display instruction on players'"'"' hand setting according to the house way.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the casino table card game enabled is Pai Gow poker and the processor is programmed to display a rank, suit or rank and suit of a two card low hand.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a player input enables a player to elect to display information on how to set a hand the processor is programmed to display a rank, suit or rank and suit of at least one of a five card high hand and a two card hand.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein casino table card game enabled is Pai Gow poker and the processor is programmed to receive a dealer input instruction from a touch screen or buttons to display an arrangement of playing cards for a particular player position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor has information on a wager amount from a specific player position and the display provides displayed information on a commission that is taken from the wager amount when a player hand has a winning event.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the shuffler delivers randomized sets of seven cards each and the processor has an input file of decisions made in setting hands in a House Way during a Pai Gow game, and at a time during play of the game, the processor causes an arrangement of a player'"'"'s hand to be displayed according to a compiled file of decisions input into a five card hand and a two card hand from the randomized seven cards in the player'"'"'s hand.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the video monitor is flush mounted into the gaming surface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the video monitor is pole mounted proximate the gaming surface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the composition of each set of cards is stored in memory.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor programmed with house way rules is the same processor that controls the card shuffler.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the compiled file is compiled using a separate utility program.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further programmed with game rules for determining game outcome.

13. The system of claim 1, and further comprising a dealer input that allows the dealer to request a display of instructions for setting a particular hand of cards at the table in the house way.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the house way instructions are displayed in response to a user input.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user input is a dealer input.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the user input is a player input.

14. A system for enabling play of a casino table card game in which at least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined, a commission is taken by a house, multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to players in the game and to a dealer in the game, and the dealer'"'"'s cards are set by following house way instructions, the system comprising:

an automatic card shuffler that shuffles playing cards and delivers randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards, wherein the automatic card shuffler has a processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed;

a gaming table with a gaming surface; and

at least one video monitor on or proximate the gaming surface in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards according to a house way;

wherein the monitor displays information on how to set a hand according to programmed house way rules for the dealer'"'"'s hand and for players'"'"' hands, the monitor configured with an information input system to display instruction on players'"'"' hand setting; and

wherein input to the processor provides information on an amount of a player'"'"'s wager on the game, and the processor is configured to cause the monitor to display an amount for the commission on the amount of the player'"'"'s wager.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising a dealer input that allows the dealer to request a display of instructions for setting a particular hand of cards at the table in the house way and display of the amount for the commission is shown either before resolution of the wager, at the same time as resolution of the wager or after resolution of the wager for the player.

19. A method of operating a casino table card game using physical playing cards that are distributed in sets to multiple play positions, comprising:

providing a complete set of playing cards for use in the casino table card game;

at least one player making a game wager on the casino table card game;

delivering a randomized set of cards to each player and to the dealer from the complete set;

reading rank and suit of playing cards in each set of cards with a reader to provide rank and suit information for each set;

communicating the rank and suit information to a processor;

dealing the sets of read playing cards to each player position;

the processor identifying each individual card in each individual set dealt to each play position;

the processor programmed with house way rules and determining a house way to set hands with cards from the set at each play position;

either automatically or upon user request, the processor sending data to be displayed as information on a monitor of the house way to set the hands; and

the player or dealer distributing cards from the set into the hands according to the displayed information;

wherein house way rules are initially determined according to a decision tree and a file of all decisions made in the decision tree are compiled and saved in memory and the memory of the file is saved in the memory of the processor and used in displaying the information on the monitor.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the casino table card game is Pai Gow poker, and a formed set of seven physical cards is provided to each player and the dealer and the house way includes arrangements into a two card low hand and a five card high hand, and the monitor also displays information from the processor on an amount of commission to be taken out of a winning player'"'"'s resolution based on amount of the player'"'"'s wager.