METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING BLACKJACK FLAT RATE PLAY SESSIONS

• US 20110014963A1
• Filed: 09/24/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US12/889,633
• Publication Number:
  US 20110014963A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/12
• 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 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a video roulette flat rate play session is facilitated. The flat rate play session may be associated with at least one of a wagering restriction applied to one or more bets during the flat rate play session and a net maximum payout per spin applicable to one or more bets during the flat rate play session. In one embodiment, a player is provided with a plurality of wagering units at the beginning of the session. A monetary value of the plurality of wagering units may be greater than a monetary value of a flat rate price paid for the flat rate play session.

Claims

1. A gaming table comprising:

a support structure;

at least one input device support by the support structure;

at least one display device supported by the support structure;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to;

(a) receive a payment for a plurality of distinct plays of a blackjack wagering game in association with a flat rate play session, the payment being received prior to any play of any of the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game;

(b) enable a player to place at least one wager on each of the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game, such that a sum of the wagers placed on each of the plays of the blackjack wagering game at least equals the payment received for the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game; and

(c) for each of the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game;

(i) randomly generate a blackjack game outcome,

(ii) display the generated blackjack game outcome,

(iii) determine any award associated with the generated blackjack game outcome, and

(iv) display any determined award.

2. The gaming table of claim 1, wherein the sum of the wagers placed on each of the plays of the blackjack wagering game exceeds the received flat rate play session payment.

3. The gaming table of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game.

4. The gaming table of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of wagers placed on the plays of the blackjack wagering game.

5. The gaming table of claim 1, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of generated blackjack game outcomes that are each associated with an award having a value greater than zero.

6. The gaming table of claim 1, wherein the flat rate play session includes a predetermined duration of time to place wagers on the plays of the blackjack wagering game.

7. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a gaming table including;

(a) a support structure,

(b) a table top supported by the support structure, said table top configured such that upon a receipt of a flat rate play session payment for a plurality of distinct plays of a blackjack wagering game, each of the distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game can be played on the table top, wherein;

(i) the flat rate play session payment is received prior to any play of any of the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game,

(ii) each of the distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a placement of at least one wager, such that a sum of the wagers placed on each of the plays of the blackjack wagering game at least equals the flat rate play session payment received for the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game, and

(ii) each of the distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes;

(A) a random generation of a blackjack game outcome,

(B) a revealing of the blackjack game outcome, and

(C) a revealing of any award associated with the generated blackjack game outcome, and

(c) at least one display device supported by the support structure, said processor and said at least one display device configured to operate to display data associated with the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the sum of the wagers placed on each of the plays of the blackjack wagering game exceeds the received flat rate play session payment.

9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the displayed data represents the predetermined quantity of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game.

11. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of wagers placed on the plays of the blackjack wagering game.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the displayed data represents the predetermined quantity of wagers placed on the plays of the blackjack wagering game.

13. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of generated blackjack game outcomes that are each associated with an award having a value greater than zero.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the displayed data represents the predetermined quantity of generated blackjack game outcomes that are each associated with an award having a value greater than zero.

15. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the flat rate play session includes a predetermined duration of time to place wagers on the plays of the blackjack wagering game.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the displayed data represents the predetermined duration of time to place wagers on the plays of the blackjack wagering game.

17. A method of playing a blackjack wagering game at a gaming table, said method comprising:

(a) for a flat rate play session, receiving a payment for a plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game, the payment being received prior to any play of any of the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game;

(b) enabling a player to place at least one wager on each of the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game, such that a sum of the wagers placed on each of the plays of the blackjack wagering game at least equals the payment received for the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game; and

(c) for each of the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game;

(i) randomly generating a blackjack game outcome,

(ii) displaying the generated blackjack game outcome,

(iii) determining any award associated with the generated blackjack game outcome, and

(iv) displaying any determined award.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the sum of the wagers placed on each of the plays of the blackjack wagering game exceeds the received flat rate play session payment.

19. The method of claim 17, which includes displaying the generated blackjack game outcome on a table top supported by a support structure.

20. The method of claim 17, which includes causing at least one display device to display the generated blackjack game outcome.

21. The method of claim 17, which includes displaying any determined award on a table top supported by a support structure.

22. The method of claim 17, which includes causing at least one display device to display any determined award.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of wagers placed on the plays of the blackjack wagering game.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of distinct plays of the blackjack wagering game includes a predetermined quantity of generated blackjack game outcomes that are each associated with an award having a value greater than zero.

26. The method of claim 17, wherein the flat rate play session includes a predetermined duration of time to place wagers on the plays of the blackjack wagering game.

27. A method of playing a blackjack wagering game at a gaming table, said method comprising:

(a) establishing a blackjack session contract with a player, said blackjack session contract including at least two distinct plays of a blackjack game and said blackjack session contract being associated with a price;

(b) before any generation any blackjack game outcomes associated with the blackjack session contract, determining that the player paid the price associated with the blackjack session contract; and

(c) after determining that the player paid the price associated with the blackjack session contract, enabling the player to play each of said at least two plays of the blackjack game, wherein each of the plays of the blackjack game is associated with at least one wager placed by the player such that a total wager placed by the player in association with the at least two plays of the blackjack game at least equals the player paid price associated with the blackjack session contract and each of the plays of the blackjack game includes;

(i) randomly generating a blackjack game outcome,

(ii) displaying the generated blackjack game outcome,

(iii) determining any award associated with the generated blackjack game outcome, and

(iv) displaying any determined award.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the total wager placed by the player in association with the at least two plays of the blackjack game exceeds the player paid price associated with the session contract.

29. The method of claim 27, which includes displaying the generated blackjack game outcome on a table top supported by a support structure.

30. The method of claim 27, which includes causing at least one display device to display the generated blackjack game outcome.

31. The method of claim 27, which includes displaying any determined award on a table top supported by a support structure.

32. The method of claim 27, which includes causing at least one display device to display any determined award.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the blackjack session contract is associated with a predetermined quantity of distinct plays of the blackjack game.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the blackjack session contract is associated with a predetermined quantity of wagers placed on the plays of the blackjack game.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the blackjack session contract is associated with a predetermined quantity of generated and displayed blackjack game outcomes that are each associated with an award having a value greater than zero.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the blackjack session contract is associated with a predetermined duration of time to place wagers on the plays of the blackjack game.