Cashless computerized video game system and method
First Claim
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1. A method of operating one or more games of chance for a plurality of players with one or more computers, comprising:
- identifying at least two players participating in a selected one of the games of chance at the expiration of a predetermined time period at the beginning of every game of chance;
establishing at the one or more computers a wager pool for each selected game of chance, the wager pool including a total of wager amounts from each of the identified players at one or more locations;
reducing the wager pool by a takeout amount that corresponds to a predetermined percentage or amount of the wager pool;
generating one or more random numbers;
determining one or more winners of the selected game of chance based on the one or more random numbers;
calculating the amount of winnings for the determined one or more winners using a non-fixed odds payout amount in which players compete with one another in the selected game of chance for winnings; and
distributing, at the end of each game of chance, the funds from the wager pool for each wager type to the determined one or more winners of the selected game of chance,wherein a portion of a player'"'"'s wager is not deducted as a takeout amount at a player terminal but instead is deducted when the player'"'"'s wager is combined with wager amounts from other players to establish the wager pool,wherein the games of chance operate continuously in pre-established time sequences,wherein players cannot alter a start time of the offered games of chance from any player terminal, andwherein a monetary value that corresponds to the funds of the wager pool that are distributed at the end of each game of chance to the one or more winners does not change in monetary value based on winnings made in previous and future games of chance participated in by one or more of the plurality of players.
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Abstract
A system and method for operating one or more games for a plurality of players including identifying at least two players participating in a selected one of the games at the expiration of a predetermined time period, and establishing a wager pool corresponding to a total of wager amounts from each of the identified players. The wager pool is reduced by a takeout amount. One or more random numbers are generated, and one or more winners of the selected game are determined based on the one or more random numbers. Funds are distributed from the wager pool to the determined one or more winners of the selected game.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method of operating one or more games of chance for a plurality of players with one or more computers, comprising:
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identifying at least two players participating in a selected one of the games of chance at the expiration of a predetermined time period at the beginning of every game of chance; establishing at the one or more computers a wager pool for each selected game of chance, the wager pool including a total of wager amounts from each of the identified players at one or more locations; reducing the wager pool by a takeout amount that corresponds to a predetermined percentage or amount of the wager pool; generating one or more random numbers; determining one or more winners of the selected game of chance based on the one or more random numbers; calculating the amount of winnings for the determined one or more winners using a non-fixed odds payout amount in which players compete with one another in the selected game of chance for winnings; and distributing, at the end of each game of chance, the funds from the wager pool for each wager type to the determined one or more winners of the selected game of chance, wherein a portion of a player'"'"'s wager is not deducted as a takeout amount at a player terminal but instead is deducted when the player'"'"'s wager is combined with wager amounts from other players to establish the wager pool, wherein the games of chance operate continuously in pre-established time sequences, wherein players cannot alter a start time of the offered games of chance from any player terminal, and wherein a monetary value that corresponds to the funds of the wager pool that are distributed at the end of each game of chance to the one or more winners does not change in monetary value based on winnings made in previous and future games of chance participated in by one or more of the plurality of players. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of operating, at a computer, one or more games of chance for a plurality of players, comprising:
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selecting at the computer which one of the games of chance in which to participate at the expiration of a predetermined time period; entering a wager amount, which is placed in a wager pool for each selected game of chance, the wager pool including a total of wager amounts from each player participating in the selected game of chance at one or more locations; receiving one or more random numbers; converting the one or more random numbers into one or more numbers, colors, symbols or cards in accordance with the selected game; receiving an indication of whether the player has won the selected game of chance in which players compete with one another in the selected game of chance for winnings; and receiving at least a portion of the funds from the wager pool if the player is a winner of the selected game of chance, wherein the funds of the wager pool are distributed to winners of the selected game of chance for each wager type at the end of each game of chance, wherein a portion of a player'"'"'s wager is not deducted as a takeout amount at a player terminal but instead is deducted when the player'"'"'s wager is combined with wager amounts from other players to establish the wager pool, wherein the games of chance operate continuously in pre-established time sequences, wherein players cannot alter a start time of the offered games of chance from any player terminal, and wherein a monetary value that corresponds to the funds of the wager pool that are distributed at the end of each game of chance to the one or more winners does not change in monetary value based on winnings made in previous and future games of chance participated in by one or more of the plurality of players. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A game system for operating one or more games of chance for a plurality of players, the game system comprising:
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a processor; and a memory, coupled to the processor, comprising a plurality of logic units, each logic unit including a plurality of instructions executed by the processor, the memory comprising; accounting logic configured to identify at least two players participating in a selected one of the games of chance at the expiration of a predetermined time period at the beginning of every game of chance; central processing logic configured to establish a wager pool for each selected game of chance, the wager pool including a total of wager amounts from each of the identified players at one or more locations, and reduce the wager pool by a takeout amount that corresponds to a predetermined percentage or amount of the wager pool; and game logic configured to generate one or more random numbers, wherein the accounting logic is further configured to determine one or more winners of the selected game of chance based on the one or more random numbers and to distribute at the end of each game of chance the funds from the wager pool for each wager type to the determined one or more winners of the selected game of chance in which players compete with one another in the selected game of chance for winnings, wherein a portion of a player'"'"'s wager is not deducted as a takeout amount at a player terminal but instead is deducted when the player'"'"'s wager is combined with wager amounts from other players to establish the wager pool, wherein the games of chance operate continuously in pre-established time sequences, wherein players cannot alter a start time of the offered games of chance from any player terminal, and wherein a monetary value that corresponds to the funds of the wager pool that are distributed at the end of each game of chance to the one or more winners does not change in monetary value based on winnings made in previous and future games of chance participated in by one or more of the plurality of players. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A player terminal for playing one or more games of chance with a plurality of players, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory, coupled to the processor, comprising a plurality of instructions executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions configured to; select which one of the games of chance in which to participate at the expiration of a predetermined time period; enter a wager amount, which is placed in a wager pool for each selected game of chance, the wager pool including a total of wager amounts from each player participating in the selected game of chance at one or more locations; receive one or more random numbers; convert the one or more random numbers into one or more numbers, colors, symbols or cards in accordance with the selected game of chance; receive an indication of whether the player has won the selected game of chance in which players compete with one another in the selected game of chance for winnings; and receive at least a portion of the funds from the wager pool if the player is a winner of the selected game of chance, wherein the funds of the wager pool for each wager type are distributed to winners of the selected game of chance at the end of each game of chance, wherein a portion of a player'"'"'s wager is not deducted as a takeout amount at a player terminal but instead is deducted when the player'"'"'s wager is combined with wager amounts from other players to establish the wager pool, wherein the games of chance operate continuously in pre-established time sequences, wherein players cannot alter a start time of the offered games of chance from any player terminal, and wherein a monetary value that corresponds to the funds of the wager pool that are distributed at the end of each game of chance to the one or more winners does not change in monetary value based on winnings made in previous and future games of chance participated in by one or more of the plurality of players. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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Specification