CASHLESS COMPUTERIZED VIDEO GAME SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20130005433A1
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Niels C. Holch
• Original Assignee: Niels C. Holch
• Inventors: HOLCH, Niels C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/22
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A system and method for operating one or more games for a plurality of players including identifying at least two players participating in a selected one of the games at the expiration of a predetermined time period, and establishing a wager pool corresponding to a total of wager amounts from each of the identified players. The wager pool is reduced by a takeout amount. One or more random numbers are generated, and one or more winners of the selected game are determined based on the one or more random numbers. Funds are distributed from the wager pool to the determined one or more winners of the selected game.

Claims

1. A method of operating one or more games for a plurality of players, comprising:

identifying at least two players participating in a selected one of the games at the expiration of a predetermined time period;

establishing a wager pool corresponding to a total of wager amounts from each of the identified players;

reducing the wager pool by a takeout amount;

generating one or more random numbers;

determining one or more winners of the selected game based on the one or more random numbers;

distributing funds from the wager pool to the determined one or more winners of the selected game.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the distributing includes allocating funds from the wager pool in accordance with a non-fixed payout schedule.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the distributing includes allocating funds from the wager pool based on a pari-mutuel format in proportion to the wager amount of each determined winner and in accordance with rules of the selected one of the games.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing account information for each player, the account information including an amount of available funds for each player; and

crediting the amount of available funds in the account information of each player determined to be a winner of the selected game.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the account information for each player further includes player identification information and identification verification information, and

wherein the identifying includes:

receiving player identification information and identification verification information from a player;

identifying the account information for the player from the received player identification information; and

verifying that the player can participate in the selected game based on the identified account information of the player and the received identification verification information.

6. A method according to claim 4, further comprising deducting the amount of available funds in the account information of each of the identified players by the wager amount of each respective player.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the deduction is made prior to the game being played.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a list of each of the one or more games in which a player may participate; and

receiving a selection of which game a particular player desires to play.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the displayed list of games includes at least two of poker, keno, bingo, pulltabs and blackjack.

10. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the takeout amount as a predetermined percentage of the wager pool.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein a player is dependent on the participation of other players in the same game for the purpose of determining the amount of winnings a player receives if determined to be a winner of the selected game.

12. A method according to claim 1, further comprising converting the one or more random numbers into one or more numbers, colors, symbols or cards in accordance with the selected game.

13. A method of operating one or more games for a plurality of players, comprising:

selecting which one of the games in which to participate at the expiration of a predetermined time period;

entering a wager amount, which is placed in a pool corresponding to a total of wager amounts from each player participating in the selected game;

receiving one or more random numbers;

converting the one or more random numbers into one or more numbers, colors, symbols or cards in accordance with the selected game;

receiving an indication of whether the player has won the selected game; and

receiving at least a portion of the funds from the wager pool if the player is a winner of the selected game.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the amount of the funds received from the wager pool is determined in accordance with a non-fixed payout schedule.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the amount of the funds received from the wager pool is based on a pari-mutuel format in proportion to the wager amount of the player and in accordance with rules of the selected game.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

submitting account information for the player, the account information including an amount of available funds for the player, wherein the amount of the funds received from the wager pool is credited to the amount of available funds in the account information of the player if the player is determined to be a winner of the selected game.

17. A method according to claim 16, wherein the amount of available funds in the account information of the player is deducted by the wager amount of the player.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein the deduction is made prior to the game being played.

19. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

displaying a list of each of the one or more games in which a player may participate.

20. A method according to claim 19, wherein the displayed list of games includes at least two of poker, keno, bingo, pulltabs and blackjack.

21. A method according to claim 13, wherein the player is dependent on the participation of other players in the same game for the purpose of determining the amount of the funds received from the wager pool if the player is a winner of the selected game.

22. A method according to claim 13, further comprising converting the one or more random numbers into one or more numbers, colors, symbols or cards in accordance with the selected game.

23. A game system for operating one or more games for a plurality of players, the game system comprising:

accounting logic configured to identify at least two players participating in a selected one of the games at the expiration of a predetermined time period;

central processing logic configured to establish a wager pool corresponding to a total of wager amounts from each of the identified players and reduce the wager pool by a takeout amount; and

game logic configured to generate one or more random numbers,

wherein the accounting logic is further configured to determine one or more winners of the selected game based on the one or more random numbers and to distribute funds from the wager pool to the determined one or more winners of the selected game.

24. A game system according to claim 23, wherein the accounting logic is further configured to allocate funds from the wager pool in accordance with a non-fixed payout schedule.

25. A game system according to claim 23, wherein the accounting logic is further configured to allocate funds from the wager pool based on a pari-mutuel format in proportion to the wager amount of each determined winner and in accordance with rules of the selected one of the games.

26. A game system according to claim 23, wherein the accounting logic is further configured to store account information for each player, the account information including an amount of available funds for each player, and to credit the amount of available funds in the account information of each player determined to be a winner of the selected game.

27. A game system according to claim 26, wherein the account information for each player further includes player identification information and identification verification information, and

wherein the accounting logic is further configured to receive player identification information and identification verification information from a player, to identify the account information for the player from the received player identification information, and to verify that the player can participate in the selected game based on the identified account information of the player and the received identification verification information.

28. A game system according to claim 27, wherein the accounting logic is further configured to deduct the amount of available funds in the account information of each of the identified players by the wager amount of each respective player.

29. A game system according to claim 28, wherein the deduction is made prior to the game being played.

30. A game system according to claim 23, wherein the displayed list of games includes at least two of poker, keno, bingo, pulltabs and blackjack.

31. A game system according to claim 23, wherein the central processing logic is further configured to determine the takeout amount as a predetermined percentage of the wager pool.

32. A game system according to claim 23, wherein a player is dependent on the participation of other players in the same game for the purpose of determining the amount of winnings a player receives if determined to be a winner of the selected game.

33. A game system according to claim 23, wherein the game logic is further configured to convert the one or more random numbers into one or more numbers, colors, symbols or cards in accordance with the selected game.

34. A player terminal for playing one or more games with a plurality of players, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, comprising a plurality of instructions executed by the process, the plurality of instructions configured to;

select which one of the games in which to participate at the expiration of a predetermined time period;

enter a wager amount, which is placed in a pool corresponding to a total of wager amounts from each player participating in the selected game;

receive one or more random numbers;

convert the one or more random numbers into one or more numbers, colors, symbols or cards in accordance with the selected game;

receive an indication of whether the player has won the selected game; and

receive at least a portion of the funds from the wager pool if the player is a winner of the selected game.

35. A player terminal according to claim 34, wherein the amount of the funds received from the wager pool is determined in accordance with a non-fixed payout schedule.

36. A player terminal according to claim 34, wherein the amount of the funds received from the wager pool is based on a pari-mutuel format in proportion to the wager amount of the player and in accordance with rules of the selected game.

37. A player terminal according to claim 34, the memory further comprising instructions configured to:

submit account information for the player, the account information including an amount of available funds for the player, wherein the amount of the funds received from the wager pool is credited to the amount of available funds in the account information of the player if the player is determined to be a winner of the selected game.

38. A player terminal according to claim 37, wherein the amount of available funds in the account information of the player is deducted by the wager amount of the player.

39. A player terminal according to claim 38, wherein the deduction is made prior to the game being played.

40. A player terminal according to claim 34, the memory further comprising an instruction configured to:

display a list of each of the one or more games in which a player may participate.

41. A player terminal according to claim 40, wherein the displayed list of games includes at least two of poker, keno, bingo, pulltabs and blackjack.

42. A player terminal according to claim 34, wherein the player is dependent on the participation of other players in the same game for the purpose of determining the amount of the funds received from the wager pool if the player is a winner of the selected game.

43. A player terminal according to claim 34, the memory further comprising an instruction configured to convert the one or more random numbers into one or more numbers, colors, symbols or cards in accordance with the selected game.