Method of participating in a live casino game from a remote location

• US 5,800,268 A
• Filed: 10/20/1995
• Issued: 09/01/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: I2Corp.Com Co., Home Gambling Network Incorporated (PCG Media, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Home Gambling Network Incorporated (PCG Media, Inc.)
• Inventors: Molnick, Melvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): ONEILL, MICHAEL W
• Application Number:
  US08/546,355
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 463/16, 463/12, 273/138 A, 364/412, 902/23
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2435 using a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A method by which a player may participate in a live casino game from a location remote from the casino is disclosed. A player establishes an information link with a casino from an interface station including a video monitor and keypad. In response to the player'"'"'s entry of financial account information, the casino establishes an information line with the player'"'"'s financial institution. The casino assigns the player to a gaming table at which a "live" game is occurring, transmitting all images of game play and instructions to the player. The player transmits bet and game play information to the casino. Because of the open line between the casino and player'"'"'s financial institution, bets are checked, winnings paid, and losses debited, instantaneously.

Claims

1. A method for a player to remotely participating in a live casino game comprising:

(i) establishing a first information line between a player at an interface station located remotely from the casino for the transmission of live television signals and data signals to a player interface station located remote from the casino, said interface station including a player display to display a live television image of a live game to the player;

(ii) from said interface station, the player transmitting over said first information line to the casino account information related to an account maintained by the player at a third party financial institution;

(iii) the casino opening a second information line with the third party financial institution in response to receipt of said account information;

(iv) maintaining said second information line open with the first information line;

(v) the casino transmitting over the first information line data indicative that the player can make a bet;

(vi) the player from their interface station transmitting over the first information line to the casino bet information indicating a bet being made by the player on the live game;

(vii) in response to the transmitted bet, the casino over the second information line verifying the status of the player'"'"'s account, the casino accepting the bet if the player'"'"'s account has sufficient funds and otherwise denying the bet;

(viii) the casino transmitting data over the first information line data indicative that no more bets can be made, said data displayed at the display with the television signal;

(ix) the player over the first information line interacting with the casino to control the play of the game until an outcome is obtained;

(x) determining from the outcome whether the player'"'"'s bet is won or lost, said player viewing the live play of the game at the display to confirm the outcome;

(xi) in the event of interruption of said first information line, said casino completing the play of the game to determine the outcome pertaining to the player'"'"'s wager; and

(xii) the casino issuing instructions over the second information line to credit the player'"'"'s account if the player has won the bet in the amount of the bet and the player'"'"'s winnings and to debit the player'"'"'s account if the player'"'"'s bet is lost.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the game is a live action table game, the method further including assigning the player to a position at the table.

3. The method of claim 1 further including a casino dealer dealing the game using a data input device to issue data signals over the first information line to the interface station, said interface station in response to said data displaying information simultaneously with said live television signals to control the players play of the game.

4. The method of claim 3 including the dealer inputting data to cause the display to display information (i) to indicate that the player can now make a bet and (ii) to indicate that the player cannot now make a bet.

5. The method of claim 3 including the dealer using the input device to issue signals to indicate the final result of the game, the interface station in response to the data signals displaying information to the player that the player has won or lost.

6. The method of claim 5 including the dealer inputting data causing the display to display information that (i) the player has won, (ii) the player has lost or (iii) the game has resulted in an outcome that is neither a win or a loss.

7. The method of claim 6 including causing the display to display with the television signal where applicable (i) "player win", (ii) "house win" or (iii) "tie".

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the game is a live game of Blackjack, the dealer inputting data causing the display to display information to control the play of the hand.

9. The method of claim 8 including causing the display to display information prompting whether the player wishes to take insurance.

10. The method of claim 1 further including providing a casino display associated with each player, said casino display displaying information transmitted by the player over the first information line to the casino.

11. The method of claim 10 including providing the casino screen for each player in a position whereby the display of each player is televised to the other players in said television image.

12. The method of claim 11 including displaying at the casino display information indicating the amount of the player'"'"'s bet.

13. The method of claim 1 further including recording the television signals of the play of the game.

14. A method for a player to remotely participating in a live casino game operated by a dealer at a table having thereat a plurality of player positions comprising:

(i) establishing a first information line between each player at an interface station located remotely from the casino for the transmission of live television signals and data signals to each player interface station located remote from the casino, said interface station including a player display to display a live television image of a live game to the player;

(ii) from said interface station, the player transmitting over said first information line to the casino account information related to an account maintained by the player at a third party financial institution;

(iii) the casino opening a second information line with the third party financial institution in response to receipt of said account information and verifying the existence of the player'"'"'s account;

(iv) maintaining said second information line open with the first information line;

(v) assigning each player having opened the first information line and had whose account has been verified to a discrete position at the table;

(vi) the casino transmitting over the first information line data signals causing each player display to display with the live television image of the game information that each player can now make a bet;

(vii) each player from their interface station transmitting over the first information line to the casino bet information indicating a bet being made by the player on the live game;

(viii) in response to the transmitted bet, the casino over the second information line verifying the status of the player'"'"'s account, the casino accepting the bet if the player'"'"'s account has sufficient funds and otherwise denying the bet;

(ix) the casino transmitting data over the first information line data signals causing each player display to display information with the live television signal indicative that no more bets can be made;

(x) the player over the first information line interacting with the casino to control the play of the game until an outcome is obtained;

(xi) determining from the outcome whether each player'"'"'s bet is won or lost, each player viewing the play of the game at the display to confirm the outcome;

(xii) in the event of interruption of said first information line, said casino completing the play of the game to determine the outcome pertaining to the player'"'"'s wager and maintaining the second information line in an open condition for resolution of the player'"'"'s wager; and

(xiii) the casino issuing instructions over the second information line to credit the player'"'"'s account if the player has won the bet in the amount of the bet and the player'"'"'s winnings and to debit the player'"'"'s account if the player'"'"'s bet is lost.

15. The method of claim 14 further including providing a casino display at each player station, said player'"'"'s bets transmitted over the first information line operating each player'"'"'s display to display the amount of the bet.

16. The method of claim 15 further including positioning said casino displays to be within the televised image of the game for the players to see the bets by other players.

17. The method of claim 14 further including the dealer using a data input device to issue data signals over the first information line to the interface station, said interface station in response to said data displaying information to control the players play of the game.

18. The method of claim 14 including recording the television signals of the play of the game.

19. A method for a player to remotely participating in a live casino game operated by a dealer at a table having thereat a plurality of player positions comprising:

(i) establishing a first information line between each player at an interface station located remotely from the casino for the transmission of live television signals and data signals to each player interface station located remote from the casino, said interface station including a player display to display a live television image of a live game to the player;

(ii) from said interface station, the player transmitting over said first information line to the casino account information related to an account maintained by the player at a third party financial institution;

(iii) the casino opening a second information line with the third party financial institution in response to receipt of said account information and verifying the existence of the player'"'"'s account;

(iv) maintaining said second information line open as long as the first information line is open;

(v) assigning each player having opened the first information line and had whose account has been verified to a discrete position at the table;

(vi) the casino transmitting over the first information line data signals causing each player display to display with the live television image of the game information that each player can now make a bet;

(vii) each player from their interface station transmitting over the first information line to the casino bet information indicating a bet being made by the player on the live game;

(viii) in response to the transmitted bet, the casino over the second information line verifying the status of the player'"'"'s account, the casino accepting the bet if the player'"'"'s account has sufficient funds and otherwise denying the bet;

(ix) providing a casino display for each player position to display the amount of the bet being made by each player, said display positioned for the dealer and other players to see;

(x) the casino transmitting data over the first information line data signals causing each player display to display information with the live television signal indicative that no more bets can be made;

(xi) the player over the first information line transmitting information to the casino to control the play of the game to obtain an outcome;

(xii) determining from the outcome whether each player'"'"'s bet is won or lost, each player viewing the play of the game at the display to confirm the outcome;

(xiii) in the event of interruption of said first information line, said casino completing the play of the game to determine the outcome pertaining to the player'"'"'s wager and maintaining the second information line in an open condition for resolution of the player'"'"'s wager;

(xiv) recording the television signals for verification of the play of the game; and

(xv) the casino issuing instructions over the second information line to credit the player'"'"'s account if the player has won the bet in the amount of the bet and the player'"'"'s winnings and to debit the player'"'"'s account if the player'"'"'s bet is lost.

20. A method for a player to remotely participating in a live casino game of Blackjack dealt by a dealer at a table having thereat a plurality of player positions comprising:

(i) establishing a first information line between each player at an interface station located remotely from the casino for the transmission of live television signals and data signals to each player interface station located remote from the casino, said interface station including a player display to display a live television image of a live game to the player;

(ii) from said interface station, the player transmitting over said first information line to the casino account information related to an account maintained by the player at a third party financial institution;

(iii) the casino opening a second information line with the third party financial institution in response to receipt of said account information and confirming the existence of the player'"'"'s account;

(iv) maintaining said second information line open as long as the first information line is open;

(v) assigning each player having opened the first information line and whose account has been confirmed to an individual position at the table;

(vi) the casino transmitting over the first information line data signals causing each player display to display, with the live television image of the game, information that each player can now make a bet;

(vii) each player from their interface station transmitting over the first information line to the casino bet information indicating a bet being made by the player on the live game;

(viii) in response to the transmitted bet, the casino over the second information line verifying the status of the player'"'"'s account, the casino accepting the bet if the player'"'"'s account has sufficient funds and otherwise denying the bet;

(ix) providing a casino display for each player position to display the amount of the bet being made by each player, said display positioned for the dealer and other players to see;

(x) the casino transmitting data over the first information line data signals causing each player display to display information with the live television signal indicative that no more bets can be made;

(xi) determining during play of the live game whether each player'"'"'s bet is won or lost, each player viewing the play of the game at the display to confirm the outcome;

(xii) in the event of interruption of said first information line, said dealer completing the play of the game to determine the outcome pertaining to the player'"'"'s wager, the casino maintaining the second information line in an open condition for resolution of the player'"'"'s wager; and

(xiii) the casino issuing instructions over the second information line to credit the player'"'"'s account if the player has won the bet in the amount of the bet and the player'"'"'s winnings and to debit the player'"'"'s account if the player'"'"'s bet is lost.

21. The method of claim 20 further including the dealer using a data input device to issue data signals over the first information line to the interface station, said interface station in response to said data displaying information to control the players play of the game.

22. The method of claim 21 including the dealer inputting data to cause the display to display information (i) to indicate that the player can now make a bet and (ii) to indicate that the player cannot now make a bet.

23. The method of claim 22 including the dealer using the input device to issue signals to indicate the final result of the game, the interface station in response to the data signals displaying information to the player that the player has won or lost.

24. The method of claim 21 including the dealer inputting data causing the display to display information that (i) the player has won, (ii) the player has lost or (iii) the game has resulted in a tie.

25. The method of claim 23 including causing the display to display with the television signal where applicable (i) "player win", (ii) "house win" or (iii) "tie".

26. The method of claim 21 including causing the display to display information prompting whether the player wishes to take insurance or double down.

27. The method of claim 20 further including recording the television signals for future reference.