Casino poker game table that implements play of a casino table poker game

• US 6,955,599 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bourbour, Feraidoon, Nelson, Troy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin H.
• Application Number:
  US10/436,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20040029629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13, 463/25, 463/46, 463/29, 273/292, 273/309, 273/149.R, 273/274, 273/149.P, 273/138, 273/138.2, 273/138.1
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00164 Casino tables
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

An apparatus and a method of play in the practice of the present invention that are described below. An apparatus supporting the play of a casino table card game according to the present invention may comprise: A playing surface; A card-delivery device; A microprocessor operatively connected to the card-delivery device; Player controlled election identifiers that provide a visible signal of an election; At least two areas for display of at least partial card hands from which only one card hand may be elected for a wagering game by a player; The card-delivery device having at least one sensor thereon for sensing the presence of cards in a delivery area of the card-delivery device from which cards may be removed; The at least one sensor on the card-delivery device providing a signal to the microprocessor that a sensed set of cards has been removed from the delivery area; and in response to the signal, the microprocessor preventing players from entering a new election. The apparatus delivery device is preferably a card-shuffling device. The card-shuffling device may both shuffle cards and create sets of predetermined, preselected numbers of cards to be used in play of a card game. The card-shuffling device may be capable of being programmed to provide sets of cards of different numbers of cards to be used in the play of a card game. The apparatus signal to the microprocessor could comprise a signal that a sensed set of cards has been removed from the delivery area is in response to removal of either a) at least a portion of a player'"'"'s hand or b) at least a portion of common cards. The signal to the microprocessor that a sensed set of cards has been removed from the delivery area may be in response to removal of at least a portion or all of common cards to be used in play of a game. A method of using this apparatus also constitutes a practice of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus supporting the play of a casino table card game comprising:

a. a playing surface;

b. a card-delivery device;

c. a microprocessor operatively connected to the card-delivery device and player controls that control player controlled election identifiers;

d. the players controlled election identifiers that provide a visible signal of an election made in play of the casino table card game;

e. at least two areas for display of at least partial card hands;

f. the card-delivery device having at least one sensor thereon for sensing the presence of cards in a delivery area of the card-delivery device from which cards may be removed;

g. the at least one sensor on the card-delivery device providing a signal to the microprocessor that a sensed set of cards has been removed from the delivery area; and

h. in response to the signal, the microprocessor preventing players from entering an election.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the card-delivery device is a card-shuffling device.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the card-shuffling device both shuffles cards and creates sets of cards to be used in play of a card game.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the card-shuffling device can be programmed to provide sets of cards of different numbers of cards to be used in the play of a card game.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the signal to the microprocessor that a sensed set of cards has been removed from the delivery area is in response to removal or addition to of either a) at least a portion of a player'"'"'s hand or b) at least a portion of common cards.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the signal to the microprocessor that a sensed set of cards has been removed from or added to the delivery area is in response to removal of at least a portion of common cards to be used in play of a game.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the signal to the microprocessor that a sensed set of cards has been removed from or added to the delivery area is in response to removal of all available common cards to be used in play of a game.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the player controlled election identifiers that provide a visible signal of an election comprise a light emitting or light-transmitting system that can be turned on or off by a player'"'"'s action.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein pressure-activated contacts comprise the player controlled election identifiers.

10. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the player controlled election identifiers that provide a visible signal of an election comprise a light emitting or light-transmitting system that can be turned on or off by a player'"'"'s action.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein pressure-activated contacts comprise the player controlled election identifiers.

12. A method of playing a casino table card game comprising:

dealing at least three hands each consisting of a first predetermined number of cards including at least one face-up card;

requiring one or more players, after viewing said hands, to each select one of said hands by signaling a processor;

removing a second predetermined number of at least one communal card from a mechanical card-delivery system and turning face-up at least one of the second predetermined number of at least one communal card;

the card-delivery system signaling the processor and signaling an indicator that the selection of one hand by activating a mechanical or electrical indicator may not be altered;

comparing each of said hands, in conjunction with said at least one communal card, using poker rank as the criterion for comparison to determine a winning hand; and

designating as a winner each player who selected said winning hand.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the card-delivery system signals the mechanical indicator in response to removal of a predetermined set of cards from the card-delivery system.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the mechanical indicator responds to the signals by altering light-emitting characteristics.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the at least three hands each consisting of two face-up cards and the at least one communal card comprises at least three cards.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein three hands are dealt, each hand consisting of two face-up cards and the at least one communal card comprises five cards.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein the predetermined set of cards comprises at least a portion of the at least one communal card.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined set of cards comprises a set of communal cards.