RFID system for facilitating selections at a table game apparatus

• US 9,919,201 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital Table Systems LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital Table Systems LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Seng H
• Application Number:
  US14/867,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20160016071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 1/06 Card games appurtenances
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/065 Devices for bidding
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/001 Bridge or baccarat
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a system for facilitating a card game is equipped with RFID antennas or interrogators operable to detect initial wagers placed by players on a table surface of the system. The system is further equipped with an electronic shoe which deals cards for the game and a processor with is operable to receive data both from the RFID antennas and the electronic shoe. Upon receiving data from an RFID antenna that a player has placed an initial wager based on initial odds and receiving data identifying some (but not all) cards dealt for a hand, the processor is operable to calculate adjusted odds for a re-characterization wager that would replace the initial wager, and output on a display of the system an offer for the re-characterization wager that corresponds to adjusted odds.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating a card game, comprising:

a table apparatus, the table apparatus comprising;

at least one antenna associated with at least one player position included on the table apparatus, the at least one player position for placement of RFID-enabled chips by a player, a placement of at least one RFID-enabled chip on a particular player position serving as an indication of a wager being placed by a player associated with the player position;

an electronic card shoe for automatically dealing cards for the card game;

a display device for outputting information to at least one of a player and a dealer;

a processor operable to communicate with the at least one antenna, the electronic card shoe and the display device;

a memory accessible to the processor, the memory storing (i) information about RFID-enabled chips usable on the table apparatus for a card game; and

(ii) information about cards dealt from the electronic card shoe to at least one of the player and the dealer for the card game; and

a program, wherein the processor is operable with the program to;

receive first data from the at least one antenna, the first data indicating a placement of an initial wager from the player, the initial wager corresponding to initial odds;

receive second data from the electronic card shoe, the second data indicating at least one card dealt after the placement of the initial wager, into at least one of at least a partially formed player hand and at least a partially formed banker hand;

identify, based at least on the second data, adjusted odds for a re-characterization wager;

output on the display device an opportunity for the player to re-characterize the initial wager into the re-characterization wager, the re-characterization wager corresponding to the adjusted odds;

recognize that the player has selected to re-characterize the initial wager into the re-characterization wager;

receive third data from the electronic card shoe, the third data indicating at least one additional card that has been dealt, into the at least one of the at least partially formed player hand and the at least partially formed banker hand;

resolve, based on at least the second data and the third data, a game outcome; and

authorize a benefit to be output to the player based on the adjusted odds if the player wins the re-characterization wager.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system further comprises an electronic device that includes a mechanism via which the player may provide payment for at least one of the initial wager and the re-characterization wager.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the cards utilized in the card game are virtual representations of cards output via the display device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine adjusted odds for a re-characterization wager comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine a plurality of adjusted odds, each adjusted odds corresponding a respective re-characterization wager of a plurality of re-characterization wagers.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is further operable with the program to select a subset of available re-characterization wagers to output on the display device as an available option for the player.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the re-characterization wager operates to supersede the initial wager with a new wager.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the re-characterization wager operates to split the initial wager into a first wager and a second wager.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second wager is based on a second event different from that on which the initial wager was based such that there are multiple wagering opportunities for the player.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first wager is based on an event within the card game identical to that on which the re-characterization wager was based.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein determining adjusted odds comprises determining an expected value and a house advantage.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein determining an expected value comprises determining a probability that the re-characterization wager will result in a win.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein determining adjusted odds comprises subtracting the house advantage from the expected value.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein determining adjusted odds comprises using a lookup table based at least in part on the second data.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable to output on the display device the adjusted odds corresponding to the re-characterization wager.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor being operable with the program to output the adjusted odds comprises the processor being operable with the program to output at least one of the following on the display device:

(i) net payout using the initial wager, (ii) gross payout using the initial wager, (iii) an amount paid per a standard unit bet, (iv) a ratio correlating payout amount to bet amount, and (v) an amount that must be bet to win a certain amount.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the card game is baccarat.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine that the player has selected to re-characterize the initial wager into the re-characterization wager comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine, based on fourth data, that the player has placed additional value with the initial wager.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine adjusted odds comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine the adjusted odds based at least in part on information corresponding to the player.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the information corresponding to the player comprises a player rating associated with the player.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the player rating is based on historical play of the player.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the player rating is based on a value of the initial wager.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine that the player has selected to re-characterize the initial wager into the re-characterization wager comprises the processor being operable with the program to determine, based on fourth data, that the player has placed additional value with the initial wager, the fourth data being received from the at least one antenna.