Casino card handling system with game play feed to mobile device

• US 9,339,723 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2015
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Grauzer, Attila, Bourbour, Feraidoon, Yoseloff, Mark L., Haushalter, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US14/662,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20150217183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 463/11, 463/12, 463/13
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/12 Card shufflers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/14 Card dealers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/80 Special adaptations for executing a specific game genre or game mode
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/00 ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

A card game monitor manages play of a game with a video feed of casino table game play. A dealer deals a game using a card-handling device that randomizes and dispenses cards, which may be grouped into sets of hands by the card-handling device. A card recognition system recognizes card information including rank and suit of each card dispensed by the card handling device. A camera captures a video feed of casino table game play, which is transmitted to a mobile computing device operated by a player. A control system receives the card information from the card recognition device and manages control of the game using hand information associated with players. Player action elections from the mobile computing device are displayed to a dealer. The player provides a player action through the mobile computing device, which is used to facilitate play of the casino table game.

Claims

1. A card game monitoring apparatus, comprising:

a card-handling device to randomize and dispense cards during a casino table game play on a gaming table, the card-handling device forming a plurality of groups of cards, each respective group of the plurality of groups of cards comprising one or more cards of a respective at least partial player hand for a respective player position of a plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

a card recognition system to recognize card information including a respective rank and a respective suit of each respective card of the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

a communications interface in communication with at least a respective computing device operated by a respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table; and

a control system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory wherein the control system is at least configured to;

receive at least an indication of at least the recognized card information including at least the respective rank and at least the respective suit of each respective card of the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table from the card recognition system;

communicate, at least to the respective computing device operated by the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least respective information for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the respective information for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table comprising the recognized card information including at least the respective rank and at least the respective suit of each respective card of the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table; and

receive, at least from the respective computing device operated by the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least a respective indication of at least a respective election of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

2. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a respective player action indicator associated with at least the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the respective player action indicator indicating to at least a dealer at least the respective election of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

3. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 2 wherein the control system further communicates, at least to the respective player action indicator associated with at least the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least the respective election of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

4. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system further communicates, at least to the card-handling device, at least the respective election of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

5. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system further communicates, at least to the respective computing device operated by the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least an indication of at least one option available to the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least a first option of the at least one option corresponding to the respective election of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

6. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control system further

receives, at least from the respective computing device operated by the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least an indication of at least one portion of at least one of video, audio, image, and text and

communicates, at least to a dealer display or a respective player action indicator associated with at least the respective player position respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least one of the at least one portion of the at least one of video, audio, image, and text.

7. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the communications interface is additionally in communication with at least a second computing device operated by a second player and

the control system further:

associates at least the second computing device operated by the second player with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

communicates, at least to the second computing device operated by the second player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least second information for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table; and

receives, at least from the second computing device operated by the second player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least a second indication of at least a second election of the second player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

8. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control system further:

designates, as a respective active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

designates, as a second active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the second player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

communicates, at least to the respective computing device operated by the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least one option available to each active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the at least one option including at least a first active player option corresponding to at least one action decision available to each active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table; and

communicates, at least to the second computing device operated by the second player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the at least one option available to each active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the at least one option including at least the first active player option corresponding to the at least one action decision available to each active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table,

wherein the second information comprises the recognized card information including at least the respective rank and at least the respective suit of each respective card of the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

9. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 7 wherein the control system further:

designates, as a respective active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

designates, as a back bettor associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the second player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

communicates, at least to the respective computing device operated by the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least one option available to each active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the at least one option including at least a first active player option corresponding to at least one action decision available to each active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table; and

communicates, at least to the second computing device operated by the second player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, one or more options available to each back bettor associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the one or more options including at least a first back bettor option corresponding to at least one back betting decision available to each back bettor associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table,

wherein the respective election of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table corresponds to a respective election of the first active player option according to a respective action decision of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table and

the second information comprises the respective election of the first active player option according to the respective action decision of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

10. The card game monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein each group of the plurality of groups of cards comprises at least two cards.

11. A method for controlling casino table game play, comprising:

receiving, with at least one processor and from at least a control system, at least an indication of at least a portion of card information including at least each rank and at least each suit of at least one card dealt from a card-handling device and forming a respective at least partial player hand for a respective player position of a plurality of player positions at a gaming table;

communicating, with the at least one processor and to a respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least the portion of the card information including at least each rank and at least each suit of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

communicating, with the at least one processor and to the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least one option available to at least the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table;

generating, with the at least one processor and at least in part in response to the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table indicating at least a respective election of at least a first option of the at least one option available to at least the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least an indication of at least the respective election of at least the first option of the at least one option available to at least the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table; and

communicating, with the at least one processor and to at least the control system, at least a portion of the indication of at least the respective election of at least the first option of the at least one option available to at least the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

12. The method for controlling casino table game play of claim 11, further comprising:

generating, with the at least one processor, at least an indication of at least a portion of at least one of video, image, sound, and text of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table and

communicating, with the at least one processor and to the at least one processor of at least the control system, at least a portion of the indication of at least the portion of the at least one of video, image, sound, and text of the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

13. The method for controlling casino table game play of claim 11, further comprising:

generating, with the at least one processor and at least in part in response to the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table indicating at least a respective election of at least the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least an indication of at least the respective election of at least the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table; and

communicating, with the at least one processor and to at least the control system, at least a portion of the indication of at least the respective election of at least the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

14. The method for controlling casino table game play of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, with the at least one processor and from at least the control system, at least an indication that at least the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table is designated as at least an active player.

15. The method for controlling casino table game play of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, with the at least one processor and from at least the control system, at least an indication that at least the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table is designated as at least a back bettor.

16. The method for controlling casino table game play of claim 11 wherein the first option of the at least one option available to at least the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table is a first active player option corresponding to at least one action decision available to each active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

17. The method for controlling casino table game play of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, with the at least one processor and from at least the control system, at least an indication of at least an active player election of an active player option according to an action decision of an active player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table wherein the first option of the at least one option available to at least the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table is a first back bettor option corresponding to at least one back betting decision available to each back bettor associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

18. The method for controlling casino table game play of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating, with the at least one processor and to the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least the portion of the card information including at least each rank and at least each suit of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table by displaying, with the at least one processor, at least a portion of at least a respective visual representation of at least a respective rank and at least a respective suit of at least a respective card of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, the respective visual representation of at least the respective rank and at least the respective suit of at least the respective card of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table is at least one of at least a partial image, at least a partial video, at least a partial graphic, or at least a partial symbol.

19. The method for controlling casino table game play of claim 11, further comprising:

generating, with the at least one processor and at least in part in response to the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table indicating a desire to manipulate at least a respective card of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least an indication of at least a respective card manipulation of at least the respective card of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table; and

communicating, with the at least one processor and to the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least a respective arrangement of at least the respective card of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table at least partially in accordance with at least the indication of at least the respective card manipulation of at least the respective card of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.

20. The method for controlling casino game play of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating, with the at least one processor and to the respective player associated with the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table, at least a respective portion of respective card information including a respective rank and at least a respective suit of at least one face-down card of the at least one card dealt from the card-handling device and forming the respective at least partial player hand for the respective player position of the plurality of player positions at the gaming table.