Apparatus for progressive jackpot gaming

• US 6,475,088 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1999
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Daniel A. Jones, James P. Suttle
• Inventors: Jones, Daniel A., Suttle, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US09/466,305
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/274, 273/309, 273/292, 463/12, 463/13, 463/42, 463/25, 463/27, 463/29
• US Class Current: 463/27
• 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 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/142 with pay-out or rewarding with a prize
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

An apparatus including a progressive jackpot component in a live casino table game. In addition to playing a live casino table game, each player makes an additional wager at the beginning of each hand that makes that player eligible to win all or part of a jackpot. If during the play of the hand a player is dealt a predetermined arrangement of cards, the player wins a preselected percentage of the jackpot amount. The jackpot is progressive in that unwon amounts of the jackpot carry over to the next hand. The apparatus is provided to receive each gaming token wagered for the jackpot component. An electronic sensor is operated to sense each wagered gaming token, and an indicator is operated in response to the sensor to produce a signal indicating whether each wagered gaming token was received. The apparatus is also provided to increment the jackpot meter which displays the jackpot amount, to decrement the jackpot meter whenever a winning hand is paid and to reset the apparatus for the next hand.

Claims

1. A table for playing a wagering game, said table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives tangible, physical cards from a live human dealer, said table including:

(a) an electronic sensor operative to sense the making of a wager by a player; and

(b) an indicator operative in response to said sensor to produce a signal indicating whether a player has made said wager.

2. A table according to claim 1 wherein said sensor includes and optical detector to sense the presence of a gaming token.

3. A table according to claim 1 wherein said signal comprises a light signal.

4. A table according to claim 1 further including a counter electronically interconnected to said sensor and operative to count wagers sensed by said sensor.

5. A table according to claim 1 further including a controller electronically interconnected with said sensor and operative to register the occurrence of said sensor sensing said wager.

6. A table according to claim 5 further including a manually operable lock out switch operatively connected to deactivate said sensor such that said controller does not register the occurrence of a player making said wager.

7. A table for playing a wagering game, said table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives tangible, physical playing cards from a live human dealer, said table including:

(a) an electronic sensor operative to sense the making of a wager by a player; and

(b) a counter electronically interconnected to said sensor and operative to count wagers sensed by said sensor.

8. A table according to claim 7 wherein said sensor includes an optical detector operative to sense the presence of a gaming token.

9. A table for playing a wagering game, said table having a substantially horizontal playing surface substantially defined by a tangible, physical sheet of flexible material that may be rolled bearing information indicating locations on the sheet where wagers may be placed, said table including:

(a) an electronic sensor operative to sense the making of a wager by a player; and

(b) an indicator operative in response to said sensor to produce a signal indicating whether a player has made said wager.

10. A table according to claim 9 wherein said sensor includes an optical detector operative to sense the presence of a gaming token.

11. A table according to claim 9 wherein said signal comprises a light signal.

12. A table according to claim 9 further including a counter electronically interconnected to said sensor and operative to count wagers sensed by said sensor.

13. A table according to claim 9 further including a controller electronically interconnected with said sensor and operative to register the occurrences of said sensor sensing said wager.

14. A table according to claim 13 further including a manually operable lock out switch operatively connected to deactivate said sensor such that said controller does not register the occurrence of a player making said wager.

15. A table for playing a wagering game, said table having a substantially horizontal playing surface substantially defined by a tangible, physical sheet of flexible material that may be rolled bearing information indicating locations on the sheet where wagers may be placed, said table including:

(a) an electronic sensor operative to sense the making of a wager by a player; and

(b) a counter electronically interconnected to said sensor and operative to count wagers sensed by said sensor.