Gaming table system permitting play of a shared player hand by multiple players

• US 9,566,500 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2014
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Chun, Jay
• Primary Examiner(s): GARNER, WERNER G
• Application Number:
  US14/320,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20150024818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 959 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/003 Blackjack; Twenty one
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00164 Casino tables
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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

An electronic gaming table for hosting live table games involving wagers can include a physical surface, a dealer station, a plurality of player terminals, and a table controller. The physical surface permits the play of live table games with a live dealer and physical game components. The dealer station is situated proximate the physical surface and allows the presence of a live dealer who facilitates game play. Player terminals allow live players to play the games and include player terminal processors coupled to player interfaces having input and output devices. A table controller coupled to the player terminals controls various table functions and administers a live table game pitting a first hand against a second hand. Each of multiple live players can make different live game decisions independently based upon the same second hand, wherein resolution of the game varies by player depending upon the different live game decisions.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

an electronic gaming table including;

(a) a physical surface adapted for a play of a live table game that includes use of a live dealer and one or more physical game components;

(b) a dealer station situated proximate to said physical surface and configured to enable live dealer to facilitate the play of said live table game;

a plurality of player terminals situated at or nearby the electronic gaming table, wherein each of said plurality of player terminals enables a player to participate in the play of the live table game and includes a player terminal processor configured to operate with a player interface including one or more player input devices and one or more player output devices; and

a table controller configured to operate with said plurality of player terminals and the electronic gaming table, to;

(a) administer a live table game pitting a dealer hand against a shared player hand, wherein the shared player hand is shared by the player of each of the plurality of player terminals who each play the shared player hand against the dealer hand,

(b) if a collective decision condition is satisfied in association with the shared player hand;

(i) receive a collective game decision;

(ii) enable each of the players to make one or more live game decisions regarding the shared player hand, wherein the one or more live game decisions are each independent of other players and are based, at least in part, on the received collective decision; and

(iii) resolve the play of the live table game for each player depending upon the one or more live game decisions of each player playing the shared player hand against the dealer hand; and

(c) if no collective decision condition is satisfied;

(i) enable each of the plurality of players to make one or more live game decisions regarding the shared player hand, wherein the one or more live game decisions are each independent of other players, and

(ii) resolve the play of the live table game for each player depending upon the one or more live game decisions of each player playing the shared player hand against the dealer hand.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more live game decisions takes place after the initial creation of the dealer hand and the player hand.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more live game decisions occurs after initial wagers are placed and initial physical game components creating the dealer hand and the player hand have been distributed.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the live game decisions involves a strategic decision on the play of the shared player hand that is separate from placing wagers or wager amounts.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the dealer hand and the shared player hand are the only two hands in the play of the live table game.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the live table game is a game of blackjack.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the live game decisions involves a decision on whether to hit or stay with the shared player hand.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein a first player of the play of the live table game independently decides to hit with the shared player hand while a second player of the play of the live table game independently decides to stay with the shared player hand, and wherein one of the first player and the second player wins with the shared player hand against the dealer hand based on his or her independent decision to hit or stay while the other of the first player and the second player loses with the shared player hand against the dealer based on his or her independent decision to hit or stay.

9. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein at least one of the collective game decisions involves a decision on whether to split or not split with the shared player hand.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the live table game is a game of pai gow.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the table controller is further configured to interact with one or more third party electronic devices as added virtual player terminals for additional players to participate in the play of the live table games.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein said one or more third party electronic devices include at least one mobile device.

13. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the collective game decision is determined by a collective player vote.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the collective game decision is determined by a single dominant player.

15. An electronic gaming table system, comprising:

one or more electronic gaming tables, each electronic including;

(a) a physical surface adapted for a play of a live table game that includes use of a live dealer and one or more physical game components, and

(b) a dealer station situated proximate to said physical surface and configured to enable the live dealer to facilitate the play of said live table game,

a plurality of player terminals situated at or nearby the electronic gaming table, wherein each of said plurality of player terminals enables a player to participate in the play of the live table game and includes a player terminal processor configure to operate with a player interface including one or more player input devices and one or more player output devices,

a table controller configured to operate with said plurality of player terminals, each of the one or more electronic gaming tables, and at least one interface in communication with one or more gaming system components remotely located from said one or more electronic gaming tables, to;

(a) administer a live table game pitting a dealer hand against a shared player hand, wherein the shared player hand is shared by the player of each of the plurality of player terminals who each play the shared player hand against the dealer hand,

(b) if a collective decision condition is satisfied in association with the shared player hand;

(i) receive a collective game decision;

(ii) enable each of the players to make one or more live game decisions regarding the shared player hand, wherein the one or more live game decisions are each independent of other players and are based, at least in part, on the received collective decision; and

(iii) resolve the play of the live table game for each player depending upon the one or more live game decisions of each player playing the shared player hand against the dealer hand; and

(c) if no collective decision condition is satisfied;

(i) enable each of the plurality of players to make one or more live game decisions regarding the shared player hand, wherein the one or more live game decisions are each independent of other players, and

(ii) resolve the play of the live table game for each player depending upon the one or more live game decisions of each player playing the shared player hand against the dealer hand, and

a host server located remotely from and in communication with each of said one or more electronic gaming tables, said host server configured to facilitate the processing of transactions with respect to the play of the live table game played at said one or more electronic gaming tables.

16. The electronic gaming table system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the one or more live game decisions takes place after the initial creation of the dealer hand and the player hand.

17. The electronic gaming table system of claim 15, wherein the live table game is a game of blackjack.

18. The electronic gaming table system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the one or more live game decisions of the game of blackjack involves a decision on whether to hit or stay with the shared player hand.

19. The electronic gaming table system of claim 18, wherein a first player of the game of blackjack independently decides to hit with the shared player hand while a second player of the game of blackjack independently decides to stay with the shared player hand, and wherein one of the first player and the second player wins with the shared player hand against the dealer hand based on his or her independent decision to hit or stay while the other of the first player and the second player loses with the shared player hand against the dealer based on his or her independent decision to hit or stay.

20. The electronic gaming table system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the live table games is a came of pai gow.

21. The electronic gaming table system of claim 15, wherein at least one of the table controllers is further configured to interact with one or more third party electronic devices as added virtual player terminals for additional players to participate in the play of the live table games.

22. The electronic table gaming system of claim 15, wherein the collective game decision is determined by a collective player vote.

23. The electronic table gaming system of claim 15, wherein the collective game decision is determined by a single dominant player.

24. A gaming table comprising:

a physical surface adapted for a play of a live table game that includes use of a live dealer and one or more physical game components;

a dealer station situated proximate said physical surface and configured to enable the live dealer to facilitate the play of said live table game;

a plurality of player stations situated at or nearby the gaming table, wherein each of said plurality of player stations enables a player to participate in the play of live table game; and

a controller configured to operate with said plurality of player stations, to;

(a) administer a live table game pitting a dealer hand against a shared player hand, wherein the shared player hand is shared by the player of each of the plurality of player stations who each play the shared player hand against the dealer hand,

(b) if a collective decision condition is satisfied in association with the shared player hand;

(i) receive a collective game decision;

(ii) enable each of the players to make one or more live game decisions regarding the shared player hand, wherein the one or more live game decisions are each independent of other players and are based, at least in part, on the received collective decision; and

(iii) resolve the play of the live table game for each player depending upon the one or more live game decisions of each player playing the shared player hand against the dealer hand; and

(c) if no collective decision condition is satisfied;

(i) enable each of the plurality of players to make one or more live game decisions regarding the shared player hand, wherein the one or more live game decisions are each independent of other players, and

(ii) resolve the play of the live table game for each player depending upon the one or more live game decisions of each player playing the shared player hand against the dealer hand.

25. The gaming table of claim 24, wherein the collective game decision is determined by a collective player vote.

26. The gaming table of claim 24, wherein the collective game decision is determined by a single dominant player.