Automated system for playing live casino table games having tabletop changeable playing card displays and play monitoring security features

• US 6,651,985 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inven Corporation
• Original Assignee: Digideal Corporation (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kuhn, Michael J., Sines, Randy D., Gregory, Randy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/730,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20010000118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/20, 273/292, 273/309
• US Class Current: 273/309
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00164 Casino tables
• 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 17/3211 Display means

Abstract

Systems and methods for playing live casino-type card games, in particular blackjack. The systems include a presentation unit which has video displays which portray virtual playing cards and other information at gaming tables attended by live participants. Shuffling, cutting, dealing and return of playing cards are accomplished using data processing functions within an electronic game processor or processors which enable these functions to be performed quickly and without manual manipulation of playing cards. The invention allows casinos to speed play and reduce the risk of cheating while maintaining the attractive ambiance of a live table game. The processor can also associate one or more slot symbols with the virtual playing cards so that jackpots can be awarded on the basis of winning slot symbols or combinations of symbols.

Claims

1. A system for playing a live card game involving a plurality of live participants, said live participants including at least one player and at least one dealer, said participants personally attending the card game about the system at a gaming table, comprising:

at least one participant video display providing a plurality of changeable participant display images;

virtual playing cards having playing card images which indicate the virtual playing cards dealt or otherwise assigned to the live participants;

slot symbols which are associated with virtual playing cards in a manner which varies during play of the card game, said slot symbols being presented to participant so as to provide participant slot groups which vary between winning slot groups and losing slot groups when virtual playing cards and associated slot symbols are assigned to the live participants during play of the card game;

at least one game processor for processing data to perform at least the following functions;

providing game rules which at least partially administer play of the card game;

defining a stack of virtual playing cards having one or more decks of virtual playing cards included therein for use in playing the card game;

shuffling the stack of virtual playing cards to determine the order of virtual playing cards dealt or otherwise assigned to the participants;

selecting slot symbols from a total set of slot symbols which are available for selection;

associating slot symbols to virtual playing cards;

dealing virtual playing cards to participants from the stack according to the game rules;

instructing the participant video displays to display at least playing card images indicating the virtual playing cards assigned to a participant, said virtual playing cards being assigned to a participant to form the participant'"'"'s card hand;

displaying any participant slot symbols assigned to the participants during play of the card game;

at least one dealer control which includes at least one dealer control sensor which is activated by the dealer to control action of the card game including at least dealing of virtual playing cards to the participants;

whereby a participant may receive a jackpot in response to receiving a winning slot group, or may receive a payoff in response to a winning card hand defined by the virtual playing cards dealt to the participant.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a pay line display for performing said displaying any participant slot symbols.

3. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a pay line display for performing said displaying any participant slot symbols, said pay line display being a part, of said at least one participant video display.

4. A system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one pay line display for performing said displaying any participant slot symbols, said at least one pay line display including a secondary pay line display which is separate from said at least one participant video display.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one game processor additionally performs the function of recording game action for the card game being played to enable subsequent analysis or replay.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one dealer control includes a plurality of dealer control sensors.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one dealer control includes a plurality of dealer control sensors, said dealer control sensors including at least one touch sensor controlling one or more of the following functions:

indicating a player has chosen to receive a hit card;

indicating a player has chosen to stand;

indicating a player has chosen to split the participant'"'"'s card hand;

or,

indicating a player has chosen to double down.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one dealer control includes a plurality of dealer control sensors which are provided in a simulated dealing shoe which has a stack display which displays a stack image which simulates the stack.

9. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one chip sensor for detecting betting chips placed by said at least one player, said at least one chip sensor including optical detectors.

10. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising:

at least one chip sensor for detecting betting chips placed by said at least one player, said at least one chip sensor including an optical detector;

at least one background optical detector for sensing ambient light.

11. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one ante sensor for detecting when a player has placed an ante bet which optionally qualifies the player to play for a winning slot group.

12. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one chip sensor for detecting betting chips placed by said at least one player, said at least one chip sensor being capable of reading the value of the betting chips.

13. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one chip sensor for detecting betting chips placed by said at least one player, said at least one chip sensor being capable of reading the value of the betting chips as a result of the betting chips including an electronically programmed identification circuit.

14. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one participant video display provides participant display images which include a player hand count number.

15. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one participant video display provides participant display images which include a player hand count number and a dealer hand count number.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one participant video display provides participant display images which include a border portion of the display which indicates outcome of the player'"'"'s hand.

17. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system includes a presentation unit which is a retrofit unit supported upon an upper surface of the gaming table.

18. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one participant identification reader for reading identification of at least one participant.

19. A system according to claim 1 and further comprising at least one participant identification reader for reading identification of at least one participant using a sensor which detects biological information detected from a body of the participant.

20. A system according to claim 1 wherein said at least one game processor is capable of performing said shuffling function using a plurality of different shuffling processes.