Systems and methods for resolving a hand of blackjack that results in a push

• US RE43,822 E1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Kim, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): RADA, ALEX P
• Application Number:
  US12/346,342
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463 12- 13, 273/292, 273/138.1, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/12
• 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 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/003 Blackjack; Twenty one

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for resolving a hand of blackjack played by a player. If it is determined that the hand of blackjack has resulted in a push, then it is determined if the player has won the hand of blackjack based on a random outcome. For example, a dealer may receive from the player an indication of a wager amount associated with a hand of blackjack. The hand of blackjack may then be played according to traditional rules. If it is determined that the hand has resulted in a push, an indication of a random outcome may be received. The random outcome may be, for example, statistically independent of the hand of blackjack. Based on the random outcome, it is determined if the player has won the hand of blackjack. If the player has won, he or she receives payment of a winning amount based on the wager amount.

Claims

1. A method of resolving a hand of blackjack played by a player, comprising:

playing a hand in a game of blackjack, which includes

dealing a first set of accumulated cards to a player, and

dealing a second set of accumulated cards to a dealer, wherein the first set of accumulated cards and the second set of accumulated cards together comprise a first random outcome;

determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in a push;

in response to said determining, generating an additional random outcome;

displaying an indication of the additional random outcome to the player;

based on said additional random outcome, determining if the player has won the hand of blackjack;

wherein said random outcome is statistically independent of said hand of blackjack played prior to said push;

determining, based on the additional random outcome, which of a plurality of possible winning amounts the player has won if the additional random outcome results in the player winning the hand of blackjack; and

providing, to the player, the winning amount the player has won.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the player an indication of a wager amount associated with the hand of blackjack, said receiving being performed prior to said determining that the hand of blackjack resulted in the push; and

wherein providing comprises

after said determining if the player has won the hand of blackjack, arranging for the player to receive payment of one of a the plurality of winning amounts based on the wager amount.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deciding if the push will be resolved.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said deciding comprises:

after said determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in the push, receiving from the player an indication of whether the push will be resolved.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a random outcome generator; and

receiving an indication of the random outcome.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating the random outcome.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating is performed after said determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in the push.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said generating is performed in response to said determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in the push.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating is performed prior to said determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in the push.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating is performed using at least one die.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating is performed using a coin.

12. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating is performed using a random number generator.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating is performed using a rotating wheel.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein said generating is performed using a set of playing cards.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of playing cards comprises a set other than a set of playing cards used in the hand of blackjack.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the winning amount of the plurality of winning amounts is based at least in part on the additional random outcome.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

displaying the one winning amount of the plurality of winning amounts to the player.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the winning amount of the plurality of winning amounts is based at least in part on at least one of:

(i) information associated with the player, and (ii) at least one card accumulated by the player or a dealer in the hand of blackjack.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional random outcome has a plurality of states, at least two of the plurality of states being associated with different winning amounts.

20. A method of resolving a plurality of hands of blackjack played by a player, comprising:

determining that a first hand of card game has resulted in a first push;

determining that a second hand of the card game has resulted in a second push;

based on a random outcome, determining if the player has won the first and second hands of blackjack,

wherein an indication of the random outcome is displayed to the player, and

wherein the random outcome is statistically independent of the first hand and the second hand of blackjack played prior to the first push and second push;

determining, based on the random number, which of a plurality of possible winning amounts the player has won if it is determined, based on the random number, that the player has won the first and second hands of the card game; and

providing, to the player, the winning amount the player has won.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second hand of the card game is played after said determining that the first hand of the card game has resulted in the first push.

22. A method of determining a winner in a hand of blackjack played by a player, comprising:

receiving an indication that the hand of blackjack has resulted in a push;

transmitting, via a communication network and to a processing device located at a blackjack table at which the hand of blackjack resulted in a push, a random outcome in response to said receiving, the random outcome determining if the player has won the hand of blackjack; and

causing, if the player has won the hand of blackjack, a winning amount to be provided to the player.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the processing device is a device operated by a dealer of the blackjack table.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the processing device is a device operated by the player.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein different possible random outcomes each correspond to one of a plurality of possible winning amounts, such that the transmitted random outcome is further determinative of which one of the plurality of winning amounts the player has won as a result of the random outcome.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining, based on the random outcome, a winning amount that the player has won.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

determining an adjusted winning amount, wherein the adjusted winning amount is determined by adjusting the winning amount based on at least one of (i) a number of hands played, (ii) particular cards accumulated by at least one of the dealer and the player, and (iii) information associated with the player; and

authorizing the adjusted winning amount to be provided to the player.

28. A method of resolving a hand of blackjack, comprising:

receiving from a player an indication of a wager amount associated with the hand of blackjack;

determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in a push;

in response to said determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in the push, initiating a random outcome generator of a processing device associated with a table at which the hand of blackjack is being played;

receiving, from the processing device, an indication of a random outcome, the random outcome being statistically independent of the hand of blackjack played prior to the push;

based on the random outcome, determining if the player has won the hand of blackjack;

displaying to the player an indication of at least one of (i) the random outcome and (ii) the determination if the player has won the hand of blackjack; and

arranging for the player to receive payment of a winning amount based on the wager amount.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the processing device is a device operated by a dealer of the blackjack table.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the processing device is a device operated by the player.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein different possible random outcomes each correspond to one of a plurality of possible winning amounts, such that the received indication of the random outcome is further determinative of which one of the plurality of winning amounts the player has won as a result of the random outcome.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

determining, based on the random outcome, a winning amount that the player has won.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining an adjusted winning amount, wherein the adjusted winning amount is determined by adjusting the winning amount based on at least one of (i) a number of hands played, (ii) particular cards accumulated by at least one of the dealer and the player, and (iii) information associated with the player; and

causing the adjusted winning amount to be provided to the player.

34. A method of resolving a hand of blackjack, comprising:

determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in a push;

in response to said determining that the hand of blackjack has resulted in the push, initiating a random outcome generator of a processing device associated with a table at which the hand of blackjack is being played;

receiving, from the processing device, an indication of a random outcome, the random outcome being statistically independent of the hand of blackjack played prior to the push;

based on the random outcome, determining if a player has won the hand of blackjack;

displaying to the player an indication of at least one of (i) the random outcome and (ii) the determination if the player has won the hand of blackjack; and

arranging for the player to receive payment of a winning amount.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the processing device is a device operated by a dealer of the blackjack table.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the processing device is a device operated by the player.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein different possible random outcomes each correspond to one of a plurality of possible winning amounts, such that the received indication of the random outcome is further determinative of which one of the plurality of winning amounts the player has won as a result of the random outcome.

38. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

determining, based on the random outcome, a winning amount that the player has won.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

determining an adjusted winning amount, wherein the adjusted winning amount is determined by adjusting the winning amount based on at least one of (i) a number of hands played, (ii) particular cards accumulated by at least one of the dealer and the player, and (iii) information associated with the player; and

causing the adjusted winning amount to be provided to the player.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

determining an adjusted winning amount, wherein the adjusted winning amount is determined by adjusting the winning amount based on at least one of (i) a number of hands played, (ii) particular cards accumulated by at least one of the dealer and the player, or (iii) information associated with the player; and

causing the adjusted winning amount to be provided to the player.