System and method for performing bet protection

• US 7,722,459 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2005
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gamelogic Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Kane, Steven N., Yanowitz, Jason, Roseman, Stuart
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shah; Milap
• Application Number:
  US11/073,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20050227756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25- 28, 463/1, 463/16, 463/20, 463/42, 273/292, 273/274
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 2001/003 Blackjack; Twenty one
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A method of playing a game (e.g., blackjack or other wagering game), where the user is provided with the option of purchasing bet insurance by paying an additional fee at the time the time he/she pays the subscription fee. At a predetermined time during the course of the subscription period, and if the player is below a predetermined number of total points or other standing, the player'"'"'s bet protection is automatically applied, and the player is refunded his initial subscription fee with the gaming operator keeping the insurance fee. Further, the player is eliminated from the plurality of game sessions for the remaining time of that subscription period.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a game comprising a plurality of game sessions, the method comprising acts of:

providing for an entry of a player and a plurality of other players in the plurality of game sessions through an interface of one or more computer systems;

prior to play by the player of the plurality of game sessions, accepting payment of a single entry fee through a payment component of a computer system to provide the player access to the plurality of game sessions;

providing the player with an option of paying a bet protection fee through a payment component of a computer-based bet protection system for the plurality of game sessions, the bet protection fee being separate from the single entry fee;

determining a standing of the player in the game relative to standings of the plurality of other players in the game on a controller of the computer-based bet protection system; and

determining, on the controller of the computer-based bet protection system, whether the determined standing meets a predetermined standing, and, if not, refunding at least a portion of the single entry fee if the player had paid the bet protection fee.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of providing an entry includes an act of entering the player in a plurality of game sessions of blackjack.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined standing comprises accruing a minimum number of points.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising an act of receiving the single entry fee from the player before the player plays the plurality of game sessions of a blackjack game.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bet protection fee is accepted by a gaming operator.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising an act of eliminating a player from the plurality of gaming sessions if the player does not meet the predetermined standing.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising permitting the player to continue play in the plurality of game sessions if the player meets the predetermined standing.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the player meets the predetermined standing at a midpoint of the plurality of game sessions;

and

wherein if it is determined that the player does meet the predetermined standing, the bet protection fee is not refunded to the player.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retaining the bet protection fee if the player meets the predetermined standing.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retaining the single entry fee if the player chooses not to pay the bet protection fee, and the player does not achieve a winning standing in the plurality of game sessions.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing for an entry of the player in at least one game session using an alternative method of entry (AMOE).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the AMOE is performed by at least one of a mail entry or through the Internet.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the player to continue play when the player does not meet the predetermined standing and the player did not pay the bet protection fee.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of determining a standing of the player in the game is based, at least in part, on performance in at least a portion of the plurality of game sessions.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising paying to the player any winnings in addition to the refunded portion of the single entry fee.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bet protection fee is accepted with the single entry fee.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of game sessions comprise sessions of at least one multiplayer game.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein determining the standing of the player comprises determining a rank of the player in the at least one multiplayer game.

19. A system for conducting a plurality of game sessions, the system comprising:

an interface that receives from a player an entry to the plurality of game sessions;

a payment component configured to accept a single entry fee to provide the player access to the plurality of game sessions prior to play by the player in the plurality of game sessions, configured to accept entry fees from a plurality of other players to provide the plurality of other players access to the plurality of game sessions prior to play by the plurality of other players in the plurality of game sessions, configured to accept a bet protection fee associated with the plurality of game sessions, the bet protection fee being separate from the single entry fee; and

configured to refund at least a portion of the single entry fee when so instructed by a controller if the player had paid the bet protection fee and if the player is determined to not meet a predetermined standing in the plurality of game sessions relative to standings of the plurality of other players of the plurality of game sessions at a predetermined time.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the controller is adapted to determine the standing of the player in the plurality of game sessions.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the controller is further adapted to conduct the plurality of game sessions.

22. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for storing a predetermined standing, and wherein the controller is configured to compare the determined standing and the predetermined standing.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to eliminate the player from playing in the plurality of game sessions if the player does not meet the predetermined standing.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to instruct the payment component to refund at least a portion of the single entry fee if the player does not meet the predetermined standing.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of game sessions comprise sessions of at least one multiplayer game.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the controller is further adapted to determine the standing of the player by determining a rank of the player in the at least one multiplayer game.

27. The system according to claim 19, wherein the payment component is configured to provide payment to an external payment system.

28. The system according to claim 19, wherein the payment component is located in a legal gambling jurisdiction.

29. The system according to claim 19, further comprising means for entering the player in at least one game session using an alternative method of entry (AMOE).

30. The system according to claim 29, further comprising means for entering the player using AMOE by at least one of a mail entry or through the Internet.

31. The system according to claim 19, wherein the bet protection fee associated with the plurality of game sessions entitles the user to a refund of a portion of the single entry fee in response to the user not meeting a predetermined standing.

32. The system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of game sessions comprise sessions of at least one multiplayer game.

33. A system for conducting a plurality of game sessions, the system comprising:

an interface that receives from a player an entry to a plurality of game sessions;

a payment component configured to accept a single entry fee to provide the player access to the plurality of game sessions prior to play by the player in the plurality of games sessions, configured to accept entry fees from a plurality of other players to provide the plurality of other players access to the plurality of game sessions prior to play by the plurality of other players in the plurality of game sessions, and configured to provide the player with an option of paying a bet protection fee for the plurality of game sessions, the bet protection fee being separate from the single entry fee;

a controller configured to determine a standing of the player in the plurality of game sessions relative to standings of the plurality of other players, and configured to compare the determined standing to a predetermined standing; and

wherein the payment component is further configured to refund at least a portion of the single entry fee when the comparison indicates that the player does not meet the predetermined standing and the player had paid the bet protection fee.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the controller is further configured to eliminate the player from the plurality of game sessions when at least a portion of the single entry fee is refunded.

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein the controller is further configured to permit the player to continue playing the plurality of game sessions when the player does not meet the predetermined standing and the player has not paid the bet protection fee.

36. The system according to claim 33, wherein the interface is configured to permit an entry from a player in at least one game session using an alternative method of entry (AMOE).

37. The system according to claim 33, wherein the plurality of game sessions comprise sessions of at least one multiplayer game.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the controller is further configured to determine the standing of the player by determining a rank of the player in the at least one multiplayer game.

39. A method of conducting a game comprising a plurality of game sessions, the method comprising acts of:

providing for an entry of a player and a plurality of other players in the plurality of game sessions through an interface of one or more computer systems;

prior to play by the player of the plurality of game sessions, accepting payment of a single subscription fee through a payment component of a computer system to provide the player access to the plurality of game sessions;

providing the player with an option of paying a bet protection fee through a payment component of a computer-based bet protection system for the plurality of game sessions, the bet protection fee being separate from the subscription fee;

determining a standing of the player in the game relative to standings of the plurality of other players on a controller of the computer-based bet protection system; and

contingent on the player not achieving a pre-determined standing at a pre-determined point during game session play, refunding the subscription fee and, through the controller of the computer-based bet protection system, eliminating the player from playing in one or more remaining game sessions if the player paid the bet protection fee, and permitting the player to continue to play in one or more game sessions if the player did not pay the bet protection fee.