WIDE AREA TABLE GAMING SYSTEM

• US 20140274253A1
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Novel Tech International Limited
• Inventors: Chun, Jay
• Granted Patent: US 9,230,398 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/11
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00164 Casino tables
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

An electronic gaming table adapted to host table games involving wagers includes a physical surface adapted for the play of live table games that include live players and the use of a live dealer and physical game components, multiple player terminals having separate processors, a master table controller in communication with each of the player terminal processors and adapted to control a plurality of electronic gaming table functions, and at least one interface in communication with the master table controller and one or more additional electronic gaming tables remotely located from the electronic gaming table. Each player terminal allows for a live player stationed thereat to participate in a first live table game directly at the electronic gaming table and also a second live table game remotely at a remotely located table. The first and second live table games can be different games, and can be played simultaneously.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming table adapted to host table games involving wagers, table games based on the wagers, and monetary awards based on the result of the table games, the electronic gaming table comprising:

a physical surface adapted for the play of live table games that include the use of a live dealer and physical game components;

a dealer station situated proximate said physical surface and adapted to provide for the presence of a live dealer at the electronic gaming table, wherein the live dealer facilitates the play of said live table games;

a master table controller adapted to control a plurality of electronic gaming table functions; and

at least one interface in communication with said master table controller and adapted for communication with a plurality of separate player terminals remotely located from said electronic gaming table, wherein at least one of said plurality of player terminals is adapted to allow a live player stationed thereat to participate simultaneously in a first live table game at the electronic gaming table and also a second live table game at a different remotely located electronic gaming tables, and wherein said at least one player terminal is not located at any gaming table.

2. The electronic gaming table of claim 1, wherein said at least one player terminal is a mobile telephone.

3. The electronic gaming table of claim 1, wherein said at least one player terminal includes a player interface adapted to switch between the first live table game and the second live table game.

4. The electronic gaming table of claim 1, wherein said at least one player terminal includes a player interface adapted to present both the first live table game and the second live table game simultaneously.

5. The electronic gaming table of claim 1, wherein said at least one player terminal is not constrained to play at said electronic gaming table.

6. The electronic gaming table of claim 1, wherein the first live table game is different than the second live table game.

7. The electronic gaming table of claim 1, further including:

an electronic shoe in communication with said master table controller and adapted to hold playing cards for the play of a live table game, wherein said electronic shoe is further adapted to read the playing cards and communicate information therefor to said master table controller.

8. The electronic gaming table of claim 1, wherein the physical game components include one or more playing cards.

9. The electronic gaming table of claim 1, wherein said at least one player terminal is adapted to conduct financial transactions between the live player and one or more remotely located network devices.

10. An electronic gaming table system, comprising:

a plurality of electronic gaming tables adapted to host table games involving wagers, table games based on the wagers, and monetary awards based on the result of the table games, wherein at least two of said plurality of electronic gaming tables are located remotely from each other and each includes;

a physical surface adapted for the play of live table games that include the use of a live dealer and physical game components,

a dealer station situated proximate said physical surface and adapted to provide for the presence of a live dealer at the electronic gaming table, wherein the live dealer facilitates the play of said live table games,

a master table controller adapted to control a plurality of electronic gaming table functions, and

at least one interface in communication with said master table controller and adapted for communication with a plurality of separate player terminals located remotely from all gaming tables, wherein at least one of said plurality of player terminals is adapted to allow a live player stationed thereat to participate simultaneously in a live table game at the electronic gaming table and also another live table game at one of the remaining electronic gaming tables; and

an electronic gaming table host server located remotely from and in communication with said at least two electronic gaming tables, said electronic gaming table host server being adapted to facilitate communications between said at least two electronic gaming tables.

11. The electronic gaming table system of claim 10, wherein said at least one player terminal is a mobile telephone.

12. The electronic gaming table system of claim 10, wherein said at least one player terminal includes a player interface adapted to switch between the live table game and the other live table game.

13. The electronic gaming table system of claim 10, wherein the live table game is different than the other live table game.

14. The electronic gaming table system of claim 10, further including:

at least one electronic shoe in communication with a respective master table controller and adapted to hold playing cards for the play of a live table game, wherein said electronic shoe is further adapted to read the playing cards and communicate information therefor to the master table controller.

15. The electronic gaming table system of claim 10, wherein the physical game components include one or more playing cards.

16. The electronic gaming table of claim 10, wherein said at least one player terminal is adapted to conduct financial transactions between the live player and one or more remotely located network devices.

17. A method of providing live table games, comprising:

providing a first electronic gaming table and a second electronic gaming table, wherein both electronic gaming tables are adapted to host table games involving wagers, table games based on the wagers, and monetary awards based on the results of the table games;

establishing a communication connection between the first electronic gaming table and a remotely located player terminal that is not located at any gaming table;

establishing a communication connection between the second electronic gaming table and the remotely located player terminal;

presenting a first live table game involving a live dealer and physical game components at the first electronic gaming table, wherein a live player located at the remotely located player terminal participates in the first live table game;

presenting a second live table game involving a live dealer and physical game components at the second electronic gaming table, wherein the live player located at the remotely located player terminal also participates in the second live table game simultaneously with the first live table game;

displaying a live feed of at least a portion of the second live table game at the remotely located player terminal; and

awarding a prize or monetary payout to the live player based on the outcome of the first live table game, the second live table game, or both.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first live table game and the second live table game are played simultaneously.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the first live table game is a different type of game from the second live table game.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the remotely located player terminal is a smart phone.