Casino games

• US 8,998,694 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2014
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alphard SPRL
• Original Assignee: Think Tek Incorporated
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US14/339,405
• Publication Number:
  US 20140335927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 258 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2457 Display screens, e.g. monitors, video displays
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

Apparatus and methods related to multi-player casino games are described. An electronic gaming device is provided that allows a live player to compete against a virtual player in a multi-player wager-based game using playing cards derived from the insertion of a physical denomination of currency. The electronic gaming device can be configured to simulate the decision making of a virtual player and associated behaviors of the virtual player during game play. In some instances, the simulated behaviors of the virtual player output at the electronic gaming device can be learned by a live player so that the live player can make better or more advantageous game play decisions. The simulated behaviors of the virtual player can be conveyed to the live player via visual images, such as simulated facial expressions of the virtual player.

Claims

1. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a security system, coupled to the cabinet, configured to monitor access to the cabinet;

a main video display, coupled to the cabinet, configured to display a presentation of a game;

a touch screen coupled to the main video display;

a bill/ticket acceptor, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive currency or printed ticket vouchers which are converted into credits used to make wagers on the game;

a printer, coupled to the cabinet, configured to print and output ticket vouchers to cash out the credits stored on the electronic gaming machine;

interface buttons, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive inputs from a live player which plays the game;

a game controller, disposed within the cabinet, including a processor, a memory, communicatively coupled to the security system, the main video display, the bill/ticket acceptor, the printer, the touch screen and the interface buttons, the game controller configured to

     1) receive, via the interface buttons or the touch screen, an indication of a wager on the game using the credits wherein the game is played between at least the live player and a virtual player;

     2) receive, via the interface buttons or the touch screen , first decision information associated with the live player'"'"'s play of the play of the game;

     3) determine second decision information associated with the virtual player'"'"'s play of the game;

     4) advance the game from a first position to a second position based upon the first decision information, the second decision information or combinations thereof;

     5) generate a visual presentation of the first position and a visual presentation of the second position;

     6) determine behavioral information associated with the virtual player;

     7) select one or more still images or a video clip stored in the memory which include an actual person conveying the determined behavioral information;

     8) generate a visual presentation of the behavioral information including the one or more still images or the video clip;

     9) control output of the visual presentation of the first position, the visual presentation of the second position and the visual presentation of the behavioral information to the main video display wherein the behavioral information when correctly interpreted by the live player increases a chance of the live player winning the game played against the virtual player;

     10) determine a winner of the game from among at least the virtual player and the live player;

     11) receive security information from the security system; and

     12) control the printer to cash out the credits.

2. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the behavioral information is selected to reveal information related to one of a current game position of the virtual player, a decision made by the virtual player, a decision to be made by the virtual player, a game strategy of the virtual player or combinations thereof.

3. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to determine an event has occurred and in response trigger an output of the behavioral information to the main video display.

4. The electronic gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the event is associated with one or more of a current game position of the virtual player, a past game position of the virtual player, a winning streak of the virtual player, a losing streak of the virtual player, a game state of the game which requires the virtual player to make a decision, a decision made by the live player, a random factor or combinations thereof.

5. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game is a poker game.

6. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first decision information, the second decision information or combinations thereof is associated with the wager.

7. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller is further configured to determine an award associated with winning the game that is added to the credits.

8. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller further includes a random number generator and wherein a random number generated using the random number generator is used to determine the behavioral information associated with the virtual player.

9. The electronic gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the game controller further includes a random number generator and wherein a random number generated using the random number generator is used to determine second decision information associated with the virtual player'"'"'s play of the game.

10. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a security system, coupled to the cabinet, configured to monitor access to the cabinet;

a main video display, coupled to the cabinet, configured to display a presentation of a poker game;

a touch screen coupled to the main video display;

a bill/ticket acceptor, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive currency or printed ticket vouchers which are converted into credits used to make wagers on the poker game;

a printer, coupled to the cabinet, configured to print and output ticket vouchers to cash out the credits stored on the electronic gaming machine;

interface buttons, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive inputs from a live player which plays the poker game;

a game controller, disposed within the cabinet, including a processor, a memory, communicatively coupled to the security system, the main video display, the bill/ticket acceptor, the printer, the touch screen and the interface buttons, the game controller configured to

     1) receive, via the interface buttons or the touch screen, an indication of a wager on the poker game using the credits wherein the poker game is played between at least the live player and a virtual player;

     2) receive, via the interface buttons or the touch screen , first decision information associated with the live player'"'"'s play of the play of the game;

     3) determine second decision information associated with the virtual player'"'"'s play of the game;

     4) advance the game from a first position to a second position based upon the first decision information, the second decision information or combinations thereof;

     5) generate a visual presentation of the first position and a visual presentation of the second position;

     6) determine behavioral information associated with the virtual player wherein the behavioral information includes the virtual player bluffing;

     7) generate a visual presentation of the behavioral information wherein the behavioral information includes the virtual player bluffing;

     8) to control output of the visual presentation of the first position, the visual presentation of the second position and the visual presentation of the behavioral information including the virtual player bluffing to a display wherein the behavioral information when correctly interpreted by the live player increases a chance of the live player winning the game played against the virtual player;

     9) determine a winner of the poker game from among at least the virtual player and the live player;

     10) receive security information from the security system; and

     11) control the printer to cash out the credits.

11. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the behavioral information is selected to reveal information related to one of a current game position of the virtual player, a decision made by the virtual player, a decision to be made by the virtual player, a game strategy of the virtual player or combinations thereof.

12. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the game controller is further configured to determine that an event triggers an output of the behavioral information.

13. The electronic gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the event is associated with one or more of a current game position of the virtual player, a past game position of the virtual player, a winning streak of the virtual player, a losing streak of the virtual player, a game state of the game which requires the virtual player to make a decision, a decision made by the live player, a random factor or combinations thereof.

14. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the first decision information, the second decision information or combinations thereof is associated with the wager.

15. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the live player receives an award associated with winning the game wherein the award is all or a portion of a pot associated with the poker game.

16. The electronic gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the game controller is further configured to select one or more cards to distribute to each of the live player and the virtual player to form poker hands for each of the virtual player and the live player and to generate a visual presentation of at least a poker hand of the live player and output the visual presentation of the at least poker hand of the live player.

17. An electronic gaming machine comprising:

a cabinet;

a security system, coupled to the cabinet, configured to monitor access to the cabinet;

a main video display, coupled to the cabinet, configured to display a presentation of a game;

a touch screen coupled to the main video display;

a bill/ticket acceptor, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive currency or printed ticket vouchers which are converted into credits used to make wagers on the game;

a printer, coupled to the cabinet, configured to print and output ticket vouchers to cash out the credits stored on the electronic gaming machine;

interface buttons, coupled to the cabinet, configured to receive inputs from a live player which plays the game;

a game controller, disposed within the cabinet, including a processor, a memory, communicatively coupled to the security system, the main video display, the bill/ticket acceptor, the printer, the touch screen and the interface buttons, the game controller configured to

     1) receive, via the interface buttons or the touch screen, an indication of a wager on the game using the credits wherein the game is played between at least the live player and a virtual player;

     2) receive, via the interface buttons or the touch screen , first decision information associated with the live player'"'"'s play of the play of the game;

     3) determine second decision information associated with the virtual player'"'"'s play of the game;

     4) advance the game from a first position to a second position based upon the first decision information, the second decision information or combinations thereof;

computer code to generate a visual presentation of the first position and a visual presentation of the second position wherein a portion of the second position includes information hidden from the live player;

     5) generate a visual presentation which temporarily reveals the information hidden from the live player;

     6) determine behavioral information associated with the virtual player;

     7) generate a visual presentation of the behavioral information wherein the behavioral information;

     8) control output to the main video display of the visual presentation of the first position, the visual presentation of the second position, the visual presentation which temporarily reveals the information hidden from the live player and the visual presentation of the behavioral information wherein the behavioral information when correctly interpreted by the live player increases a chance of the live player winning the game played against the virtual player; and

     9) determine a winner of the game from among at least the virtual player and the live player.

18. The electronic gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the information hidden from the live player which is revealed includes a value of a card which is used in the second position of the virtual player.

19. The electronic gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the behavioral information is selected to reveal information related to one of a current game position of the virtual player, a decision made by the virtual player, a decision to be made by the virtual player, a game strategy of the virtual player or combinations thereof.

20. The electronic gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the game controller is further configured to output of the behavioral information in response to determining an event has occurred.