Automated house way indicator and commission indicator

• US 8,251,802 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2010
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Snow, Roger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US12/759,416
• Publication Number:
  US 20100244382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/22, 463/47, 273/149.R
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A system for enabling play of a casino table card game is disclosed. At least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined. Multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to a game, and are set by following automatically generated house way instructions. The components of the system include an automatic card shuffler configured to deliver randomized sets of physical cards, the shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system that reads at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards. The automatic card shuffler has a processor that receives the read card information from the playing card reading system and determines a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed. Other components of the system include a gaming table with a gaming surface; and at least one display on or proximate the gaming surface in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards a house way; wherein the monitor displays information on how to set a hand according to programmed house way rules. A method of operating a casino table card game using physical playing cards that are distributed in sets to multiple play positions and set according to automatically generated house way instructions is also disclosed. Processors of the present invention may also cause a display of a house commission amount.

Claims

1. A system for enabling play of a casino table card game in which at least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined, multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to players in the game and to a dealer in the game, and the dealer'"'"'s cards are set by following displayed house way instructions, the system comprising:

an automatic card shuffler configured to shuffle playing cards and deliver randomized sets of physical playing cards, the automatic card shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system for reading at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards, wherein the automatic card shuffler is operably coupled to a processor to receive the read card information from the playing card reading system and programmed to determine a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed;

a gaming table with a gaming surface; and

at least one video monitor on or proximate the gaming surface in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards according to a house way;

wherein the at least one video monitor is operable to display information on how to set a hand according to the programmed house way rules for the dealer'"'"'s hand and for players'"'"' hands, the at least one video monitor configured with an information input system to display instructions on players'"'"' hand settings according to the house way.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the casino table card game enabled is Pai Gow Poker and the processor is programmed to display a rank, suit or rank and suit of a two-card low hand.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein a player input enables a player to elect to display information on how to set a hand and the processor is programmed to display a rank, suit or rank and suit of at least one of a five-card high hand and a two-card hand.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the casino table card game enabled is Pai Gow Poker and the processor is programmed to receive a dealer input instruction from a touch screen or buttons to display an arrangement of playing cards for a particular player position.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to access information on a wager amount from a specific player position and to cause the at least one video monitor to display information on a commission that is taken from the wager amount when a player hand has a winning event.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the automatic card shuffler is configured to deliver randomized sets of seven cards each and the processor has access to an input file of decisions made in setting hands in a house way during a Pai Gow game, and at a time during play of the game, the processor is programmed to cause an arrangement of a player'"'"'s hand to be displayed according to a compiled file of decisions input into a five-card hand and a two-card hand from the randomized sets of seven cards in each player'"'"'s hand.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the compiled file is compiled using a separate utility program.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the video monitor is flush mounted into the gaming surface.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the video monitor is pole mounted proximate the gaming surface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the composition of each set of cards is stored in memory.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor programmed with house way rules is the processor of the automatic card shuffler.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further programmed with game rules for determining game outcome.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dealer input that allows the dealer to request a display of instructions for setting a particular hand of cards at the table in the house way.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the house way instructions are displayed in response to a user input.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the user input is a dealer input.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user input is a player input.

17. A system for enabling play of a casino table card game in which at least one of a rank and suit of a set of playing cards is automatically determined, a commission is taken by a house, multiple randomized sets of playing cards of known composition are formed and delivered to players in the game and to a dealer in the game, and the dealer'"'"'s cards are set by following house way instructions, the system comprising:

an automatic card shuffler configured to shuffle playing cards and deliver randomized sets of physical playing cards, the automatic card shuffler equipped with a playing card reading system for reading at least one of a rank and suit of markings on each of the playing cards, wherein the automatic card shuffler is in communication with a processor to receive the read card information from the playing card reading system and programmed to determine a composition of each individual set of playing cards dispensed;

a gaming table with a gaming surface; and

at least one video monitor on or proximate the gaming surface in communication with a processor programmed with house way rules for displaying instructions on how to set hands from a distributed set of cards according to a house way;

wherein the at least one video monitor is operable to display information on how to set a hand according to programmed house way rules for the dealer'"'"'s hand and for players'"'"' hands, the monitor configured with an information input system to display instructions on players'"'"' hand settings; and

wherein input to the processor provides information on an amount of a player'"'"'s wager on the game, and the processor is configured to cause the monitor to display an amount for the commission on the amount of the player'"'"'s wager.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising a dealer input that allows the dealer to request a display of instructions for setting a particular hand of cards at the table in the house way and a display of the amount for the commission is enabled to be shown either before resolution of the wager, at the same time as resolution of the wager or after resolution of the wager for the player.

19. A method of operating a casino table card game using physical playing cards that are distributed in sets to multiple game positions, comprising:

providing a complete set of playing cards for use in the casino table card game;

receiving a wager on the casino table card game from at least one game position;

forming a randomized set of cards for the at least one gane positon from the complete set;

reading a rank and suit of playing cards in each set of cards with a reader to provide the rank and suit information for each randomized set;

communicating the rank and suit information to a processor;

dealing the sets of read playing cards to the at least one game position;

the processor identifying each individual card in the randomized set dealt to the at least one game position;

the processor programmed with house way rules and for determining a house way to set hands with cards from the set at teh at least one game position;

either automatically or upon user request, the processor sending data to be displayed as information on at least one monitor of the house way to set the hands; and

causing cards from each randomized set to be arranged into a hand according to the displayed information; and

wherein house way rules are initially determined according to a decision tree and a file of all decisions made in the decision tree is compiled and saved in memory accessible to the processor and used in displaying the information on the at least one monitor.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the casino table card game is Pai Gow Poker, and a formed set of seven physical cards is provided to each game position and the house way includes arrangements into a two-card low hand and a five-card high hand, and the monitor also displays information from the processor on an amount of commission to be taken out of a winning player'"'"'s resolution based on an amount of the player'"'"'s wager.