Remote play of a table game through a mobile device

• US 8,323,102 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2006
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: CFPH LLC (Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P.)
• Inventors: Lutnick, Howard W., Alderucci, Dean P., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Burman, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US11/539,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20080085769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,251 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players

Abstract

In various embodiments, a player may participate in a game at a nearby gaming table via a mobile device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one non-transitory medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that when at least a part are executed by one or more computing devices cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to perform a method comprising;

determining a first position of a mobile gaming device;

determining a second position of a first gaming table;

determining a first distance between the first position and the second position;

transmitting, based on the first distance, an offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the first gaming table;

receiving from the mobile gaming device an indication of a desire to commence play;

receiving from the mobile gaming device at least one indication of at least one bet amount;

receiving from the first gaming table an indication of a final outcome of a game;

in response to receiving the indication of the desire, at least one indication of the at least one bet amount, and the indication of the final outcome, transmitting the indication of the final outcome of the game to the mobile gaming device;

determining a payout amount based on the at least one bet amount and the final outcome of the game; and

modifying a credit balance associated with the mobile gaming device based on the at least one bet amount and based on the payout amount.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the method further comprises transmitting to the first gaming table the indication of the desire to commence play.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the method further comprises:

receiving from the first gaming table an indication of an intermediate outcome of the game;

transmitting to the mobile gaming device the indication of the intermediate outcome of the game;

receiving from the mobile gaming device an indication of a game decision; and

transmitting the game decision to the first gaming table, in which the final outcome is based on the intermediate outcome and the game decision.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, in which the method further comprises indicating the game decision to a dealer at the first gaming table.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the method further comprises:

determining a third position of a second gaming table; and

determining a second distance between the first position and the third position,

in which transmitting an offer includes transmitting, if the first distance is less than the second distance, an offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the first gaming table.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which the method further comprises determining that the second distance is less than the first distance and transmitting, based on the second distance, an offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the second gaming table.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, in which transmitting, based on the first distance, the offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the first gaming table includes transmitting the offer only if the first distance is less than a first threshold.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the one or more computing devices includes a processor of a casino server and the mobile gaming device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the final outcome includes a number that has been rolled on a physical die.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, in which the final outcome includes a set of physical cards that have been dealt.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the final outcome includes a set of physical cards that have been dealt.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, in which commencing play includes commencing play as a primary player, in which a primary player includes a participant in the game.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, in which transmitting, based on the first distance, the offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the first gaming table includes transmitting the offer only if the first distance is less than a first threshold;

in which the at least one computing devices include a processor of a casino server and the mobile gaming device;

in which receiving an indication that the gaming table is proximate includes detecting a signal from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the first gaming table;

in which receiving an indication that the first gaming table is proximate includes;

receiving an indication of a current position; and

correlating the current position with a known position of the first gaming table;

in which the method further comprises;

displaying the offer to commence play at the first gaming table by the mobile gaming device;

receiving an indication of acceptance of the offer by the mobile gaming device; and

receiving an indication of the at least one bet amount by the mobile gaming device;

in which the method further comprises;

transmitting to the first gaming table the indication of the desire to commence play;

receiving from the first gaming table an indication of an intermediate outcome of the game;

transmitting to the mobile gaming device the indication of the intermediate outcome of the game;

receiving from the mobile gaming device an indication of a game decision;

transmitting the game decision to the first gaming table,

in which the final outcome is based on the intermediate outcome and the game decision;

determining a third position of a second gaming table;

determining a second distance between the first position and the third position,

in which transmitting an offer includes transmitting, if the first distance is less than the second distance, an offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the first gaming table;

in which the method further comprises determining that the second distance is less than the first distance and transmitting, based on the second distance, an offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the second gaming table;

in which the final outcome includes a number that has been rolled on a physical die; and

in which the final outcome includes a set of physical cards that have been dealt.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, in which commencing play includes commencing play as a secondary player, in which a secondary player includes a player that is not a participant in the game, in which the at least one bet amount includes at least one amount bet on at least one outcome of a primary player in the game, and in which a primary play includes a participant in the game;

in which the method further comprises;

receiving from the mobile gaming device an indication of a desire to commence play in a second game; and

receiving from the mobile gaming device at least one indication of at least one second bet amount in the second game;

in which commencing play in the second game includes commencing play as a primary player, in which the method comprises receiving an indication that a plurality of respective bets should be placed at each second game games played at the first gaming table on behalf of a player associated with the mobile gaming device without further input from the player; and

in which the method further comprises receiving a selection of a strategy of play to be used to play the plurality of games on behalf of the player.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, in which the mobile gaming device is caused to perform:

the receiving the indication that the first gaming table is proximate;

the displaying the unmodified credit balance;

the transmitting the indication of the at least one bet amount;

the receiving the indication of the final outcome;

the displaying the second indication of the final outcome;

the displaying the modified credit balance;

the displaying the offer to commence play at the first gaming table;

the receiving the indication of acceptance of the offer; and

the receiving the indication of the at least one bet amount.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the at least one indication of the at least one bet amount includes a plurality of respective indications on a plurality of respective bet amounts related to a plurality of respective games.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, in which the method includes:

receiving an indication of an action to take in at least one second game and transmitting an indication of the action to a dealer at least one second gaming table;

displaying the action on a monitor associated with the at least one second gaming table;

receiving an indication of a tip for a dealer in the at least one second game and in response, modifying the credit balance to subtract the tip and facilitating a provision of the tip to the dealer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, in which the method includes receiving an indication of a game type, determining that the first gaming table includes a gaming table at which the game type is played, and in which transmitting the offer includes transmitting the offer in response to determining that the first table includes the gaming table at which the game type is played.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, in which commencing play includes commencing play as a secondary player, in which a secondary player includes a player that is not a participant in the game, in which the at least one bet amount includes an amount bet on an outcome of a primary player in the game, and in which a primary player includes a participant in the game.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, in which commencing play includes commencing play as a secondary player, in which a secondary player includes a player that is not a participant in the game, in which the at least one bet amount includes an amount bet on an outcome of a primary player in the game, and in which a primary player includes a participant in the game;

in which the method further comprises;

receiving from the mobile gaming device an indication of a desire to commence play in at least one second game;

receiving from the mobile gaming device a at least one indication of at least one second bet amount in the at least one second game;

in which commencing play in the at least one second game includes commencing play as a primary player.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, in which the at least one second game includes a plurality of second games, and in which the method comprises receiving an indication that a plurality of respective bets should be placed at each second game on behalf of a player associated with the mobile gaming device without further input from the player.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, in which the method further comprises receiving a selection of a strategy of play to be used to play the plurality of second games on behalf of the player.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, in which the method comprises:

receiving an indication of an action to take in at least one second game and transmitting an indication of the action to a dealer at least one second gaming table.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, in which the method includes displaying the action on a monitor associated with the at least one second gaming table.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, in which the method further comprises:

receiving an indication of a tip for a dealer in the at least one second game and in response, modifying the credit balance to subtract the tip and facilitating a provision of the tip to the dealer.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, in which the method includes:

receiving an indication of an action to take in at least one second game and transmitting an indication of the action to a dealer at least one second gaming table;

displaying the action on a monitor associated with the at least one second gaming table;

receiving an indication of a tip for a dealer in the at least one second game and in response, modifying the credit balance to subtract the tip and facilitating a provision of the tip to the dealer.

27. The apparatus of claim 1,

in which the method includes:

receiving an indication that the first gaming table is proximate;

displaying the unmodified credit balance;

transmitting the indication of the at least one bet amount;

receiving an indication of the final outcome;

displaying a second indication of the final outcome; and

displaying the modified credit balance;

in which transmitting, based on the first distance, the offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the first gaming table includes transmitting the offer only if the first distance is less than a first threshold;

in which the one or more computing devices include a processor of a casino server and the mobile gaming device;

in which receiving an indication that the gaming table is proximate includes detecting a signal from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the first gaming table;

in which receiving an indication that the first gaming table is proximate includes;

receiving an indication of a current position; and

correlating the current position with a known position of the first gaming table;

in which the method further comprises;

displaying the offer to commence play at the first gaming table;

receiving an indication of acceptance of the offer; and

receiving an indication of the bet amount;

in which the method further comprises;

transmitting to the first gaming table the indication of the desire to commence play;

receiving from the first gaming table an indication of an intermediate outcome of the game;

transmitting to the mobile gaming device the indication of the intermediate outcome of the game;

receiving from the mobile gaming device an indication of a game decision;

transmitting the game decision to the first gaming table,

in which the final outcome is based on the intermediate outcome and the game decision;

determining a third position of a second gaming table;

determining a second distance between the first position and the third position,

in which transmitting an offer includes transmitting, if the first distance is less than the second distance, an offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the first gaming table;

in which the method further comprises determining that the second distance is less than the first distance and transmitting, based on the second distance, an offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the second gaming table;

in which the final outcome includes a number that has been rolled on a physical die; and

in which the final outcome includes a set of physical cards that have been dealt.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, in which commencing play includes commencing play as a secondary player, in which a secondary player includes a player that is not a participant in the game, in which the at least one bet amount includes at least one amount bet on at least one outcome of a primary player in the game, and in which a primary play includes a participant in the game;

in which the method further comprises;

receiving from the mobile gaming device an indication of a desire to commence play in a second game; and

receiving from the mobile gaming device at least one indication of at least one second bet amount in the second game;

in which commencing play in the second game includes commencing play as a primary player;

in which the method comprises receiving an indication that a plurality of respective bets should be placed at each second games played at the first gaming table on behalf of a player associated with the mobile gaming device without further input from the player; and

in which the method further comprises receiving a selection of a strategy of play to be used to play the plurality of games on behalf of the player.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, in which the at least one indication of the at least one bet amount includes a plurality of respective indications on a plurality of respective bet amounts related to a plurality of respective games.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the plurality of instructions include at least a second part that when executed by the one or more computing causes the mobile gaming device to:

receive an indication that the first gaming table is proximate;

display the unmodified credit balance;

transmit the indication of the bet amount;

receive an indication of the final outcome;

display a second indication of the final outcome; and

display the modified credit balance.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, in which the one or more computing devices include a processor of a casino server and the mobile gaming device.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, in which receiving an indication that the gaming table is proximate includes detecting a signal from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the first gaming table.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, in which the when the second part is executed by the one or more computing devices, the mobile gaming device is caused to:

display the offer to commence play at the first gaming table;

receive an indication of acceptance of the offer; and

receive an indication of the at least one bet amount.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, in which receiving an indication that the gaming table is proximate includes detecting a signal from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the first gaming table.

35. The apparatus of claim 30, in which receiving an indication that the first gaming table is proximate includes:

receiving an indication of a current position; and

correlating the current position with a known position of the first gaming table.

36. The apparatus of claim 30, in which the one or more computing devices include a processor of a casino server and the mobile gaming device;

in which receiving an indication that the gaming table is proximate includes detecting a signal from a radio frequency identification tag associated with the first gaming table;

in which receiving an indication that the first gaming table is proximate includes;

receiving an indication of a current position; and

correlating the current position with a known position of the first gaming table; and

in which when the second part is executed by the one or more computing devices, the mobile gaming device is caused to;

display the offer to commence play at the first gaming table;

receive an indication of acceptance of the offer; and

receive an indication of the at least one bet amount.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, in which when the second part is executed by the one or more computing devices, the mobile gaming device is caused to:

display a graphical recreation of the game played at the first gaming table.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the at least one indication of the at least one bet amount includes a plurality of respective indications on a plurality of respective bet amounts related to a plurality of respective games.

39. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the method includes receiving an indication of a game type, determining that the first gaming table includes a gaming table at which the game type is played, and in which transmitting the offer includes transmitting the offer in response to determining that the first table includes the gaming table at which the game type is played.

40. The apparatus of claim 1, in which the method further comprises:

receiving an indication of a tip for a dealer at the first gaming table and in response, modifying the credit balance to subtract the tip and facilitating a provision of the tip to the dealer.

41. An apparatus comprising:

at least one non-transitory medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions that when at least a part are executed by one or more computing devices cause at least one of the one or more computing devices to perform a method comprising;

determining a first position of a mobile gaming device;

determining a second position of a first gaming table;

determining a first distance between the first position and the second position;

transmitting, based on the first distance, an offer to the mobile gaming device to commence play at the first gaming table;

receiving from the mobile gaming device an indication of a desire to commence play;

receiving from the mobile gaming device at least one indication of at least one bet amount;

receiving from the first gaming table an indication of a final outcome of a game;

in response to receiving the indication of the desire, the at least one indication of the at least one bet amount, and the indication of the final outcome, transmitting the indication of the final outcome of the game to the mobile gaming device;

determining a payout amount based on the at least one bet amount and the final outcome of the game;

modifying a credit balance associated with the mobile gaming device based on the bet amount and based on the payout amount;

receiving an indication that the first gaming table is proximate;

displaying the unmodified credit balance;

transmitting the indication of the at least one bet amount;

receiving an indication of the final outcome;

displaying a second indication of the final outcome; and

displaying the modified credit balance.