Distributed side wagering methods and systems

• US 9,292,996 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2008
• Issued: 03/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Davis, Dwayne, Champagne, Christiaan R., Ennis, Damien C., Khamis, Michael P., Myers, David, Palmer, David, Rowe, Richard E., Schneider, Richard J., Pleasant, Darryll
• Primary Examiner(s): LIM, SENG HENG
• Application Number:
  US12/344,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20090325686A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,645 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/20, 463/25, 463/42, 463/1, 463/39, 463/40, 273/292, 434/292, 700/93
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

Various techniques are disclosed for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino which includes a casino gaming network. In at least one embodiment, the gaming network includes a plurality of gaming devices, including a first gaming device. A side wager request may be received for placing a first side wager relating to a first target. In at least one embodiment, the first target may be selected from a group of possible targets which, for example, may include, but are not limited to one or more of the following (or combination thereof): casino players, game tables, electronic gaming devices (EGDs), game themes, game denominations, game paytables, etc. An identity of a first player associated with generating the first side wager request may be determined. A first side wager session may be automatically initiated.

Claims

1. A casino side wagering system comprising:

at least one memory device;

at least one interface operable to provide a communication link to at least another network device in a gaming network of a casino, said gaming network including a plurality of wager-based gaming devices including a first wager-based gaming device; and

at least one processor configured to;

(a) receive, from a first player at one of;

a first gaming machine and a first gaming table, a first side wager request to place a first side wager relating to game play activities of a second, different player at one of;

a second, different gaming machine and a second, different gaming table, wherein;

(i) the first player is playing a first game,

(ii) the second player is playing a second, different game,

(iii) the first game is independent of the second game,

(iv) the first gaming machine includes;

(A) a first gaming machine acceptor of a first physical item, wherein when the first physical item is received via the first gaming machine acceptor a first gaming machine credit balance is established based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received first physical item, and

(B) a first gaming device cashout device, wherein when a cashout input is received via the first gaming machine cashout device, an initiation of any payout associated with the first gaming machine credit balance is caused, and

(v) the second gaming machine includes;

(A) a second gaming machine acceptor of a second physical item, wherein when the second physical item is received via the second gaming machine acceptor a second gaming machine credit balance is established based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received second physical item, and

(B) a second gaming device cashout device, wherein when a cashout input is received via the second gaming machine cashout device, an initiation of any payout associated with the second gaming machine credit balance is caused;

(b) determine an identity of the first player associated with the first side wager request; and

(c) in response to receipt of the first side wager request;

(i) initiate a search for one or more available side wagering opportunities at a target, wherein the one or more available side wagering opportunities are filtered based on one or more criteria specified by the identified first player;

(ii) automatically determine the one or more available side wagering opportunities to be presented to the identified first player; and

(iii) automatically initiate a first side wager session, wherein the initiation of the first side wager session includes;

(A) automatically placing the first side wager in the gaming network, wherein;

 

(I) the placed first side wager includes first side wager criteria,

 

(II) the placed first side wager is on a game play-related event associated with the second player, and

 

(III) an outcome of the game play-related event is influenced by an action of the second player; and

(B) associating the placed first side wager with the identified first player.

2. The casino side wagering system of claim 1:

wherein the first side wager relates to game play activities conducted at the first wager-based gaming device; and

wherein the first player corresponds to a non-primary player of the first wager-based gaming device.

3. The casino side wagering system of claim 1:

wherein the first side wager relates to game play activities conducted at the first wager-based gaming device; and

wherein control of game play decisions at the first wager-based gaming device is unavailable to the first player.

4. The casino side wagering system of claim 1:

wherein the first side wager criteria specifies that an outcome of the first side wager is related to at least one event associated with the game play activities of the second player.

5. The casino side wagering system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine at least one available side wager opportunity using information relating to the identity of the first player.

6. The casino side wagering system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

determine a current location of the first player within the casino; and

determine at least one available side wager opportunity using information relating to the current location of the first player within the casino.

7. The casino side wagering system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

detect wagering activity at the first wager-based gaming device that is being conducted by the second player;

automatically identify a first wager placed at the first wager-based gaming device by the second player, the first wager including first wager criteria; and

automatically place the first side wager using the first wager criteria.

8. The casino side wagering system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

detect that the first wager-based gaming device is currently being used by the second player; and

provide side wager opportunity information to the first side wager, the side wager opportunity information including information relating to at least one available opportunity for placing a side wager on game play associated with the first wager-based gaming device.

9. The casino side wagering system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive second side wager request for placing a second side wager relating to the first wager-based gaming device;

determine an identity of a player associated with placing the second side wager request; and

automatically initiate, concurrently while the first side wager session is active, a second side wager session, wherein the initiation of the second side wager session includes;

automatically placing the second side wager in the gaming network, wherein the second side wager includes second side wager criteria; and

associating the placed second side wager with the identified player;

wherein a second criteria of the second side wager specifies that an outcome of the second side wager is related to at least one event associated with game play at the first wager-based gaming device.

10. The casino side wagering system of claim 1, wherein the first side wager relates to a wager on a wager-based game being played at the first wager-based gaming device.

11. The casino side wagering system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

identify the first wager-based gaming device as a side wager candidate for which one or more side wagers may be placed;

automatically determine at least one available side wager opportunity for placing a side wager on game play associated with the first wager-based gaming device; and

automatically provide side wager opportunity information to the first side wager, the side wager opportunity information including information relating to the at least one available side wager opportunity.

12. A method for facilitating side wagering activities conducted at a casino, the casino including a gaming network, the gaming network including a plurality of wager-based gaming devices, including a first wager-based gaming device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, at a processor having a memory, a first side wager request from a first player at one of;

a first gaming machine and a first gaming table, the first side wager request being for placing a first side wager relating to game play activities of a second, different player at one of;

a second gaming machine and a second gaming table, wherein;

(i) the first player is playinq a first game,

(ii) the second player is playing a second, different game, and

(iii) the first game is independent of the second game;

(b) determining an identity of the first player associated with the first side wager request; and

(c) in response to receipt of the first side wager request;

(i) initiating, by use of the processor, a search for available side wagering opportunities at a target, wherein the available side wagering opportunities are filtered based on one or more criteria specified by the identified first player;

(ii) automatically determining, by use of the processor, one or more available side wagering opportunities to be presented to the identified first player; and

(iii) automatically initiating a first side wager session, wherein the initiation of the first side wager session includes;

(A) automatically placing the first side wager in the gaming network, wherein;

(I) the first side wager includes first side wager criteria,

(II) the placed first side wager includes placing first wager on a game play related event or activity associated with the second player,

(III) a credit balance is decreasable based on the placed first side wager, said credit balance being increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and said credit balance being decreasable via a cashout device, and

(IV) an outcome of the game play-related event is influenced by an action of the second player; and

(B) associating the placed first side wager with the identified first player.

13. The method of claim 12:

wherein the first side wager relates to game play activities conducted at the first wager-based gaming device; and

wherein the first player corresponds to a non-primary player of the first wager-based gaming device.

14. The method of claim 12:

wherein the first side wager relates to game play activities conducted at the first wager-based gaming device; and

wherein control of game play decisions at the first wager-based gaming device is unavailable to the first player.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein a first criteria of the first side wager specifies that an outcome of the first side wager is related to at least one event associated with the game play activities of the second player.

16. The method of claim 12, which includes:

determining at least one available side wager opportunity using information relating to the identity of the first player.

17. The method of claim 12, which includes:

determining a current location of the first player within the casino; and

determining at least one available side wager opportunity using information relating to the current location of the first player within the casino.

18. The method of claim 12, which includes:

detecting wagering activity at the first wager-based gaming device that is being conducted by the second player;

automatically identifying a first wager placed at the first wager-based gaming device by the second player, the first wager including first wager criteria; and

automatically placing the first side wager using the first wager criteria.

19. The method of claim 12, which includes:

detecting that the first wager-based gaming device is currently being used by the second player; and

providing side wager opportunity information to the first side wager, the side wager opportunity information including information relating to at least one available opportunity for placing a side wager on game play associated with the first wager-based gaming device.

20. The method of claim 12, which includes:

receiving second side wager request for placing a second side wager relating to the first wager-based gaming device;

determining an identity of a player associated with generating the second side wager request; and

automatically initiating, concurrently while the first side wager session is active, a second side wager session, wherein the initiation of the second side wager session includes;

automatically placing the second side wager at the gaming network, wherein the second side wager includes second side wager criteria; and

associating the placed second side wager with the identified player;

wherein a second criteria of the second side wager specifies that an outcome of the second side wager is related to at least one event associated with game play at the first wager-based gaming device.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the first side wager relates to a wager on a wager-based game being played at the first wager-based gaming device.

22. The method of claim 12, which includes:

identifying the first wager-based gaming device as a side wager candidate for which one or more side wagers may be placed;

determining at least one available side wager opportunity for placing a side wager on game play associated with the first wager-based gaming device; and

providing side wager opportunity information to the first side wager, the side wager opportunity information including information relating to the at least one available side wager opportunity.