System, method, and article of manufacture for multi-player gaming from an off-site location

• US 8,317,616 B2
• Filed: 05/26/2005
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rite-Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rite-Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Angell, Robert Charles, Lavoie, James Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US11/138,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20060281538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,742 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39, 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 43
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A system, method, and article of manufacture are disclosed that comprise receiving, from one or more client terminals, two or more purchase requests, wherein each of the purchase requests identifies a wager for one or more multi-player games. A wager result is then determined for each wager at the time of purchase and stored in a database. Once all the wagers for an instance of a game are received, an outcome, such as a set of cards, is determined for each player and, if appropriate, the house (the host of the game). The outcome for each player is based on the previously determined wager result(s) and the type of game played. The outcome(s) are then stored with the wager(s) and wager result(s) in a transaction history file corresponding to each of the game'"'"'s patrons (players) and in a game status file. A patron may then submit a request at a client terminal to reveal the results of the wager(s) and, optionally, the outcome of the game at either the gaming facility where the wagers were placed or at an off-site location.

Claims

1. A gaming method, comprising:

receiving, at a server, from one or more first client terminals before a game play has begun, at least one purchase request, said at least one purchase request identifying a wager for a player of one or more multi-player games, wherein said one or more multi-player games are games in which two or more players participate;

determining, at said server, a game result of said wager for each player in said multi-player game before a game play has begun for any of said players in said multi-player game;

storing, at the server, the game result of said wager for said player in a database before the game play has begun;

receiving, at the server, from a second client terminal during the game play, a request to reveal the game result of said wager for said player; and

sending, from the server, the game result of said wager for said player to the second client terminal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining step is executed after all wager game results for one of said one or more multi-player games have been received.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an outcome for a house based on said game result.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said step of determining said outcome for said house is executed after all game results for one of said one or more multi-player games have been received.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said received at least one purchase request comprises one or more of the following:

a purchase amount, a denomination value, and a number of wagers.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said received at least one purchase request comprises a game identifier, wherein said game identifier identifies one or more of the following:

a game type or an instance of a game.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said received at least one purchase request comprises a purchase request from a client terminal located at a gaming facility.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of receiving a patron identifier identifying a purchaser of said wager.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of debiting an account balance of a patron account corresponding to the received patron identifier based on said received purchase request.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said game result is stored in a transaction history file in a patron account file corresponding to a received patron identifier.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said game result is stored in a game status file corresponding to an instance of a game.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said wager game result is sent via an online network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining an outcome for each player in said multi-player game.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining said outcome step is executed after all wager game results for said multi-player game have been received.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said sending step includes sending a selection menu including an option to purchase at least one wager.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

receiving from said first client terminal a selection for the option to purchase at least one wager;

requesting information for the purchase of the at least one-wager; and

receiving, from said first client terminal, said information for the purchase of the at least one wager.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said purchase request includes one or more of the following:

a purchase amount, a denomination value, and a number of wagers.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said purchase request includes one or more of the following:

a game type or an instance of a game.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using said wager game result to purchase additional wagers in a repetitive manner.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of requesting authentication data.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said requesting authentication data step further comprises the step of requesting biometric data.

22. The method claim 1, wherein said determining step is performed substantially at a time of said purchase request.

23. The method claim 1, wherein said determination is performed substantially at a time of said purchase request.

24. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for causing a computer to perform a gaming method, which when executed implement the steps of:

receiving, at a server, from one or more first client terminals before a game play has begun, at least one purchase request, said at least one purchase request identifying a wager for a player of one or more multi-player games, wherein said one or more multi-player games are games in which two or more players participate;

determining, at said server, a game result of said wager for each player in said multi-player game before a game play has begun for any of said players in said multi-player game;

storing, at the server, the result of said game wager for said player in a database before the game play has begun;

receiving, at the server, from a second client terminal during the game play, a request to reveal the game result of said wager for said player; and

sending, from the server, the game result of said wager for said player to the second client terminal.

25. A gaming system, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

receive, at a server, from one or more first client terminals before a game play has begun, at least one purchase request, said at least one purchase request identifying a wager for a player of one or more multi-player games, wherein said one or more multi-player games are games in which two or more players participate;

determine, at said server, a game result of said wager for each player in said multi-player game before a game play has begun for any of said players in said multi-player game;

store, at the server, the game result of said wager for said player in a database before the game play has begun;

receive, at the server, from a second client terminal during the game play, a request to reveal the game result of said wager for said player; and

send, from the server, the game result of said wager for said player to the second client terminal.

26. A server connected to a plurality of client terminals in a gaming system, comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

receive, at a server, from one or more first client terminals before a game play has begun, at least one purchase request, said at least one purchase request identifying a wager for a player of one or more multi-player games, wherein said one or more multi-player games are games in which two or more players participate;

determine, at said server, a game result of said wager for each player in said multi-player game before a game play has begun for any of said players in said multi-player game;

store, at the server, the game result of said wager for said player in a database before the game play has begun;

receive, at the server, from a second client terminal during the game play, a request to reveal the game result of said wager for said player; and

send, from the server, the game result of said wager for said player to the second client terminal.