Gambling game system and method for remotely-located players
In some embodiments of the present invention a gambling game system is disclosed, comprising a central station including a plurality of betting-type game devices, and an electronic camera for each game device A plurality of player stations remotely located with respect to the central stations, each one including a monitor for displaying a selected game device at the central station, and input means for selecting a game device and for placing a bet by a player at the player's station relating to an action involving an element of change to occur at the selected game device
The present invention relates to gambling game systems and methods, and particularly to such systems and methods enabling remotely-located players to participate in the gambling system.
With the increasing use of personal computers by private individuals and the increasing use of the internet communication network, many gambling game systems have been developed and are now in use enabling remotely-located players to play gambling games via the internet. The presently-available systems are virtual systems which desplay, on the player's screen, a simulated or virtual game device, such as a roulette wheel, card table, or slot machine, on which the player may place a bet at the player station. A data processor system “automatically” credits the player for the “wins” and debits the player for the “losses” according to the specific game choice.
However, such known systems, in which the player views on the player's screen a simulated or virtual image of the game device, does not produce the same feeling or excitement as that in a gambling casino, nor does it instill in the player the same confidence in the integrity of the gambling system against the possibility of electronically manipulating the results. In fact, some jurisdictions even outlaw gambling systems involving simulated or virtual images of the game devices because of the possibility of electronically manipulating the results. A further drawback in many of the existing virtual game device systems is that the player must frequently download large quantities of software into the player's computer before the player can even start to play the game.
OBJECT AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA broad object of the present invention is to provide a gambling game system and method having advantages in the above respects.
According to one broad aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gambling game system, comprising: a central station including a plurality of betting-type game devices each involving an element of chance, and an electronic camera for each game device; a plurality of player stations remotely located with respect to the central station, each of the player stations including a monitor for displaying a selected game device at the central station, and input means for selecting a game device and for placing a bet by a player at the player's station relating to an action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device; and data processing means for: (a) establishing communication between the central station and each of the player stations; (b) enabling a player at each player station via the input means at the player station to select a game device at the central station, to see via the monitor at the player station what occurs at the selected game device, and to place a bet via the input means at the player station relating to the action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device; (c) displaying in the monitor at the player's station the action involving an element of chance as the action occurs at the selected game device; (d) determining whether the action, after it occurs, resulted in a “win” or “loss” of the placed bet; and (c) maintaining a current account for the player in which each win is registered as a credit, and each loss is registered as a debit, according to the rates of the selected game device.
Such a system, preferably utilizes an actual casino as the central station and displays the actual game device to the remotely-located player during the actual playing of the game. Thus, the system in effect moves the player to the casino, or the casino to the player. This increases the feeling and excitement in the remotely-located players of being present in a real gambling casino. It also increases the confidence of the players in the integrity of the system against the possibility of electronical manipulation.
According to further preferred features in the embodiment of the invention described below, the casino also includes a microphone at each game device; and each of the players stations also include a speaker; enabling a player at each player station to hear, as well as to see, what occurs at the selected game device as it occurs at the casino. These features add to the transfer of the gambling casino atmosphere to the remotely-located player's station, and to the confidence of the players in the integrity of the system against the possibility of manipulation.
According to further preferred features in the preferred embodiment of the invention described below, the current account for the player is continuously displayed and updated at the respective player station. In this manner, the player is continuously informed as to the state of the player's account.
Preferably, the plurality of betting-type game devices at the central station include at least one in which the action involving an element of chance to occur at the game device is an action effected by a house person at the central station (casino). Described examples of this type of game include those involving a table, such as a roulette table or card game table, on which the action involving an element of chance is effected by the house person, such as a dealer, at the casino. In such game devices, the casino would preferably also include a display for each game device; and a data processor means would also display at the casino the bet played by each player with respect to each game device, and the current account for each player.
For example, where the game device is for playing a card game, such as black-jack, in which the card table has a player position for each of the players to play the card game, the central station (the casino) would include a camera for imaging each player position of the card table, and a display for displaying the bet and the current account of the player at each player position of the card table; and each player station would include means enabling the player thereat to input commands to the house person at the casino relating to choices made by the player in playing the card game.
Preferably, the player at each player station would use the normal monitor and input means provided in personal computers, which would be programmed, by software downloaded from the system into the player's personal computer, to perform the various display and input functions. In some cases, however, player stations may be provided with an electronic camera selectively energizable by the player at that station for transmitting the player's image to the display of the respective player position at the card table. This feature would add even further to creating the atmosphere of an actual gambling casino.
According to further features in the described preferred embodiment, the table may be a roulette table including a roulette wheel, the roulette table being displayed in the monitor at the respective player station such that the player may place a bet thereon by the input means at the player station.
According to still further features, the plurality of betting-type game devices at the central station the (casino) would include at least one game device in which the action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device is an action effected by the player at the player station. Examples of the latter type game devices include slot machines to be activated remotely by the player at the player station, or dice games for dice to be thrown remotely by the player at the player station.
According to still further features in the described preferred embodiment, the data processor means includes a data processor at each player station, a data processor at the casino for each game device thereat, a central data processor for all the game devices at the casino, and a communication system establishing communication between all the data processors. There may be a plurality of such casinos connected together in a network, the data-processor means enabling the player at the player station to select both a particular casino, and a particular game device at the selected casino for placing a bet.
The plurality of player stations may be a different locations connected to the casino or casinos via the internet communication network, telephone lines, closed cable lines, or any other data communication system. It is also contemplated, however, that the plurality of player stations may be at a common location, e.g., at one or more satellite locations of a main gambling casino, remotely located from the main gambling casino but connected thereto by the communication network.
The invention also involves a method of providing gambling services to remotely-located players as described above.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Overall System
The present invention, in effect, brings the real casino to remotely-located players, such as may be located in other regions or in other countries, and brings such distant players to the real casino, such as to enable the distant players to experience a close approximation of the same atmosphere as a real gambling casino. As indicated earlier, this not only enhances the players excitement in playing the game devices, but also increases the players confidence in the integrity of the game devices against possible manipulation, as compared, for example, to the currently-known virtual gambling systems.
As further shown in
The servers 10a, 10b, of the casinos 2a, 2b, communicate with a central site server computer, generally designated 20, which may be located at one of the casinos, or at another location. The central site server computer 20 includes a main controller 21 which processes data regarding all the game devices in all the casinos of the system.
The computer 31 at each of the player stations 30a-30n may communicate with the casino 52a, 2b, either by a direct connection with the casino, or in most cases, via the central site server computer 20. This communication may be by any of the known communication media.
The Black-Jack Table
As shown particularly in
A further camera 53 is focussed to view the complete black-jack table 5; and a still further camera 54 is focussed on the dealer to view both the dealer and the dealer's cards as played by the dealer.
Each black-jack table 5 is further equipped with a table microphone 56 to pick-up the sounds at the table, in general, and with a dealer microphone 57 to pick up the sounds, (e.g., instructions or messages) made by the dealer.
Each black-jack table 5 further includes a keyboard 58 which may be used by the dealer for inputting certain information, and/or for communicating various messages to the players, as will be described more particularly below with respect to
Monitor 60 further displays a plurality of messages relating to various types of information which can be selected by the player in the course of playing the game. The selection of a message can be effected in any one of the known manners using a monitor screen, e.g., by moving a cursor, via a mouse, to the selected message block and “clicking” the mouse. If selecting a message also involves selecting the amount of a bet, the amount can be selected by the number of “clicks” according to rules and rates supplied to the player in the software.
The messages illustrated for purposes of example in
Monitor 60 includes another area, generally designated 65, to display the credit available to the player, which the player must establish beforehand as will be described more particularly below, and also to display the bet made by the player for the respective game. The area 65 of monitor 60 maintains a running account for the respective player, in which each “win” is registered as a credit, and each “non-win” is registered as a debit, according to the rates and rules of the respective black-jack table.
If the game is played with both cards open, the player's cards would be displayed to the player at the remote location by display section 62 of monitor 60. If the game is played with one card covered and one card open, the table would be provided with a scanner, as shown at 66 in
As also shown in
The Roulette Table
Each roulette table (e.g. 6, 7,
Thus, the monitor 70 (
The player's monitor 70 further includes a section 74 for displaying the selected number of the bet, a section 75 for displaying the amount of the bet, and a section 76 for displaying the current credit status of the player's account.
The Slot Machine
Thus, as shown in
The Dice Game
The dice game 6 illustrated in
The dice game may also be played by the remote player in a passive manner, i.e., by merely placing bets with respect to dice thrown by another player, for example, a player at the actual casino or another remotely-located player.
Operation
Thus, when the player enters the internet (block 90), the monitor at the player's computer displays a Home Page (block 91). An example of a Home Page display is shown in
As shown by blocks 92 and 93 in
The player must then establish credit (block 94). This may be done by registering as a subscriber for future participation as well, or by establishing credit with the cashier for only the one time participation. An example of a registration display for registering as a subscriber is illustrated in
Once the player's credit has been established, the player may then obtain the necessary software according to the game and casino selected (block 95).
When the player selects gambling (block 96), the player's monitor displays the actual game device selected at the selected casino, and enables the player to actually participate in the game as if the player were present in the casino, in the manner described above. The remotely-located player thus actually sees the hears events occurring at the game table, and receives a running account of the WINS and LOSSES, and the current status of the player's credit account. If the player's account is not sufficient to cover a BET, the dealer can inform the player of this and can provide other messages or instructions by the use of the dealer's keyboard, e.g., 58 in
For example, in playing black-jack, the player 10 informs the remotely-located dealer whether another card is desired, etc., (
If the player prefers to wait for an opening in a desired game device in a desired casino, the player may select “entertainment” (block 96), rather than “gambling” whereupon a non-gambling menu will be displayed, such as shown in
When the player decides to quit the gambling session (block 97), this is also communicated to the system in one of the above-described manners, whereupon the system makes an accounting of the results of that particular gambling session (block 98). The player may then disconnect the communication with the casino site (block 99), and turn off the computer (block 100).
It is a feature of the gambling game system of the invention that the real casino atmosphere is especially applicable to card games in which one or more cards or hidden and where cards are dealt by the player, such as traditional poker and baccarat, which will be described in further detail below. The physical involvement of the players is an integral part of these games and it is a further feature of the present invention that the remote player can view the player's physical reactions as if he was sitting at the same table, as described below.
Caribbean Stud Poker Table
A table camera 114 is focussed to view the complete Caribbean stud poker table 110 and the dealer to view both the dealer and the dealer's cards as played by the dealer. The Caribbean stud poker table 110 is further equipped with a table microphone 116 to pick-up the sounds at the table, in general, and the instructions and messages made by the dealer.
Each Caribbean stud poker table 110 further includes a keyboard 130 which may be used by the dealer for inputting certain information, and/or for communicating various messages to the players, similar to that described above with respect to
In the game of Caribbean stud poker, each player wishing to take part places his bet (known as ante) and is dealt a five-card hand, The dealer also receives five cards but only one of which is exposed. The player now either folds, losing his ante or bets an additional amount equal to twice the ante. The dealer then reveals the four remaining cards of his hand. If the dealer's hand is not Ace-King or better, the player is paid even money on the ante and nothing on the bet. If the dealer's hand is better then Ace-King, it qualifies for play against the player. Should the dealer have a better hand than the player, the player loses both his ante and the bet. If the player has a better hand, he receives a payout depending on the player's hand. There is also an optical independent side bet of $1.00 is available for which the player is paid for being dealt premium hands (flush or better). The payoff is usually progressive depending on the hand.
Monitor 120 further displays a plurality of messages relating to various types of information which can be selected by the player in the course of playing the game, including the table data 124 for each of the players (SP1-SP7). The selection of a message can be effected in any one of the known manners as described hereinabove.
For example purposes only, the messages illustrated in
Monitor 120 also includes a credit display 128 established by the player beforehand as described above, and displays showing the ante, bet and bonus (if applicable) made by the player for the respective game. Each “win” in registered as a credit, and each “non-win” is registered as a debit, according to the rates and rules of the game.
The table computer for the card table 110 includes the appropriate video/audio circuitry connected to the various cameras and microphones for the respective player, and also the appropriate modem according to the specific communication medium used between the remotely-located player and the selected game device at the casino, similar to that shown in
Traditional Poker Table
In contrast to Caribbean stud poker, players of traditional poker have the option of replacing one or more of the five cards there are dealt. Also, betting between the players can continue for several rounds until either a player ‘folds’ his cards or ‘passes’ (that is, exits from the game and loses his bets) and only one player remains as the winner of the ‘pot’.
Since bluffing is an integral element in the game of poker, it is vital that the remote players see the expressions on the faces of the other players. The faces of the other players (referenced P1 . . . P5) are thus displayed on the monitor 140. In addition their betting status (referenced SP1 . . . SP5) is also displayed below the picture of the corresponding player. For example, the status SP1 of player P1 indicates that he has changed one card and that his last bet was S10. The status SP3 of player P3 indicates that three cards were changed and that the player passed and did not bet. The other players (SP2, SP4 and SP5) are still in the game, player P5 having changed one card and raised the bidding to $50. The display of the status messages can be effected in any one of the known manners as described hereinabove.
In addition, the player's betting data is also displayed. For example the data displayed includes information regarding the “ante” 146 position for his initial entry into the game and his “bet” position 148 during the game. In both cases, the player can indicate his actions. Thus if he wishes to play he selects ante (yes/no) and enters the amount (150) of the ante. He can change cards by selecting “change” 152 and entering the number (#) 153. If he continues playing, he can bet (148) by selecting ‘yes’ and entering the amount (154) of the bet.
The monitor 140 also includes a credit display (not shown for clarity) established by the player beforehand, as described above.
Finally, monitor 140 displays messages 156 (such as “you can place a bet” sent by the dealer.
Baccarat Table
Reference is now made to
The cameras, microphones and player monitors are similar to the devices described hereinabove and will not be further described.
Briefly, Baccarat is a card game that is dealt each time by one of the players (Banco) from a shoe 169 that holds 6 or 8 decks of cards. The dealer acts a supervisor not taking part in the game itself, but making declarations, ensuring that the game is played according to the rule, moving the shoe to the player who is dealing (Banco) and organizing the cards that are dealt.
Two hands (“banker” and “player”) are dealt by the house dealer. Before the hands are dealt, bets may be placed on the banker hand (Banco), the player hand (Punto) or on a tie (Egalite). Once a bet had been placed, there are no opportunities for further decisions and hands are dealt according to fixed rules. The value of the hand equals the value of the cards, with 10 and picture cards having a value of 0. Only the last digit is counted and the hand with the highest value wins. Any player including the remote player may act as banker.
Also reproduced on monitor 170 is a reproduction of the Baccarat table 160, specific keys, generally designated 176, for the player to enter his instructions, a credit display 178 (established by the player beforehand) and the amount of the bet 179, as well as a “bet confirm key 182” and the betting position 184. The monitor 170 also displays the dealer's instructions and messages 186.
Optionally, in addition, the player can enter data 188 related to each of the 14 player positions around the table to keep a record of the type of bets each player makes. The monitor 170 also has a key 190 for contacting the cashier who sits opposite the dealer. The cashier's instructions using his own keyboard 192 (FIG 20) which may be relayed to the player in a similar manner to that of the dealer.
FIG 21 illustrates the Baccarat dealer's keyboard 180. Keyboard 180 is similar to keyboard 70 and 130 illustrated in FIGS 5 and 18, respectively, except that the keys are specifically coded for the game, each key or combination of keys performing different functions, examples of which are shown in Table 4. Several functions are similar to that described in Tables 1, and 3.
While the invention has been described with respect to one preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that this is set forth merely for purposes of example, and that many other variations, modifications, and applications of the invention may be made. For example, commands by the players can be by voice and converted by voice recognition techniques. Also, each table can be used at the same time by both remote players and regular players physically on the premises.
It will be further appreciated that the various casino games which have been described are only illustrative of the system and that the system is not restricted to any particular game, but may be adapted to suit the applicable rules and regulations. The operation of the system, as described hereinabove, is applicable to all games of chance such as card games including card games which have ‘hidden’ cards and games such as roulette. The system enables the remote player to effectively participate in the games as if he is present in the casino, remotely receiving the feel and atmosphere of the casino.
Claims
1. A gambling game system, comprising:
- a central station including a plurality of betting-type game devices each involving an element of chance, and an at least one electronic camera for each game device and a sensor at each of a plurality of player positions at said game device to sense at least one card placed at said player position at said game device;
- a plurality of player stations remotely located with respect to said central station, each of said player stations including a monitor for displaying an image of a selected game device at the central station taken by said at least one electronic camera and information based on sensing output from at least one sensor associated with the game device, said sensed information relating to said card placed at the respective player position, and input means for selecting a game device, placing a bet by a player at the player's station relating to an action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device and effectuating said action; and
- data processing means for: (a) establishing communication between said central station and each of said player stations; (b) enabling a player at each player station via the input means at the player station to select a game device at the central station, to see via the monitor at the player station what occurs at the selected game device, to receive said sensed information about the card, and to place a bet via the input means at the player station relating to the action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device; (c) displaying in the monitor at the player's station the action involving an element of chance as the action occurs at the selected game device, taken by said electronic camera; (d) (c) determining whether the action, after it occurs, resulted in a “win” or “loss” of the placed bet; and (e) (d) maintaining a current account for the player in which each win is registered as a credit, and each loss is registered ass as a debit, according to the rules and rates of the selected game device; and
- wherein said monitor is adapted to display a movie picture taken from said electronic camera, wherein said game device is a card table, and wherein said sensor at each player position at said card table is a scanner to scan a card placed at said player position.
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: said central station also includes a microphone at each game device; each of said player stations also including a speaker enabling, to enable a player at each a player station to hear, as well as to see, what occurs at the selected game device as it occurs at the central casino.
3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said current account for the player is continuously displayed and updated at the respective player station.
4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of betting-type game devices at the central casino include at least one in which the action involving an element of chance to occur at the game device is an action effected actuated by a house person at the central station selected game device.
5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said central station includes a display for each game device; and said data processor means displays at the central station the bet placed by each player with request to each game device, and the current account for each player.
6. The system according to claim 5 4, wherein said at least one game device of said plurality of game devices at the central station includes a table on which the action involving an element of chance is to be effected actuated by the house person at the central station.
7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said table is a card table for playing a card game and has a player position for each of the players to play a card game at the table; said central station including a an electronic camera for each player position of said card table, and a display for displaying the bet and current account of the player at each player position of said card table; said input means at each player station including means enabling the player thereat to input commands to the house person at the central station relating to choices made by the player in playing the card game.
8. The system according to claim 7 6, wherein said central station further includes an a central station input device, operated by the house person for the respective game device at the central station, for inputting information relating to each player position of said card table.
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said central station input device operated by the house person is a keyboard including a plurality of keys selectively depressible by the house person to transmit to the monitor of a selected player information relating to the respective player.
10. The system according to claim 7 6, wherein at least some of said player stations include a camera selectively energizable by the player thereat for transmitting the player's image to the a display of at the respective player position at the card table.
11. The system according to claim 7 6, wherein there is further comprising a separate display at the central station for each player position at each card table at the central station.
12. The system according to claim 7 6, wherein said command input means includes a manual device for manually inputting said commands input means at each player station includes command input means enabling the player thereat to input commands to the house person at the central station relating to choices made by the player in playing a card game.
13. The system according to claim 7 12, wherein said command input means includes a microphone for voice inputting said commands.
14. The system according to claim 7 12, wherein said command input means includes a camera for visually inputting said commands.
15. The system according to claim 6, wherein said table is a roulette table including a roulette wheel, said roulette table being displayed in the monitor at the respective player station such that the player may place a bet thereon by the inupt means at the player station.
16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of betting-type game devices at the central station includes at least one in which the action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device in is an action effected by the player at the player station to be remotely actuated at said game device.
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said at least one game device is a slot machine to be activated remotely by the player at the player station.
18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said at least one game device is a dice game for dice to be thrown remotely by the player at the player station.
19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said central station is an actual casino which includes a plurality of different-type game devices selectable by a player at a player station, including a first group of game devices in which the action involving an element of chance is one effected remotely actuated by the player at the player station, and a second group of game devices in which the action involving an element of chance is one effected actuated by a house person at the casino; each game device further including a microphone, and each player station including a speaker enabling a player at the respective player station to hear, as well as to see, what occurs at the selected game device as it occurs at the casino.
20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said first group of game devices include slot machines, and said second group of game devices include tables each having a plurality of player positions.
21. The system according to claim 1, wherein said data processor means includes: a data processor at each player station, a data processor at the central station for each game device thereat, a central data processor for all the game devices at the central station, and a communication system establishing communication between all said data processor.
22. The system according to claim 21, wherein there are said data processing means further comprises a communication link to a plurality of said additional central stations connected together to said central station in a network; said data-processor means enabling the player at said player station to select both a central station any of said central stations, and a game device thereat, for placing a bet.
23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said communication system includes the an internet communication network.
24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said communication system is a dedicated communication network using public telephone lines for communication between the central station and the player stations.
25. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of player stations are at different locations.
26. The system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of player stations are at a common location.
27. A method of providing gambling gaming services, comprising:
- providing a central station with a plurality of betting type game devices each involving an element of chance, and an at least one electronic camera for each game device and at least one sensor at each of a plurality of player positions at said game device to sense at least one card placed at said player position at said game device;
- providing each of a plurality of player stations, remotely located with respect to said central station, with a monitor for displaying an image of a selected game device at the central station taken by said at least one electronic camera and information based on sensing output from at least one sensor associated with the game device, said sensed information relating to said card placed at the respective player position, and input means for selecting a game device, placing a bet by a player at the player's station relating to an action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device and effectuating said action; and
- providing data processing means at said central station and said player stations for: (a) establishing communication between said central station and each of said player stations; (b) enabling a player at each player station via the input means at the player station to select a game device at the central station, to see via the monitor at the player station what occurs at the selected game device to receive said sensed information about the card, and to place a bet via the input means at the player station relating to the action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device; (c) displaying in the monitor at the player's station the action involving an element of chance as the action occurs at the selected game device, taken by said electronic camera; (d) (c) determining whether the action, after it occurs, resulted in a “win” or “loss” of the placed bet; and (e) (d) maintaining a current account for the player in which each win is registered as a credit, and each non-win is registered as a debit, according to the rules and rates of the selected game device; and
- wherein said monitor is adapted to display a movie picture taken from said electronic camera, wherein said game device is a card table, wherein said sensor at each player position at said card table is a scanner to said a card placed at said player position.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said central station is also provided with a microphone at each game device and each of said player stations is also provided with a speaker enabling a player at each a player station to hear, as well as to see, what occurs at the selected game device as it occurs at the central station.
29. The method according to claim 27, wherein each player station also continuously displays and updates the current account of the respective player.
30. The method according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of betting-type game devices at the central station includes at least one in which the action involving an element of chance to occur at the game device is an action effected actuated by a house person at the central station.
31. The method according to claim 27, wherein said central station includes a display for each game device; and said data processor means displays at the central station the bet placed by each player with respect to each game device, and the current account for each player.
32. The method according to claim 27, wherein said at least one game device at the central station includes a table on which the action involving an element of chance is to be effected by the house person at the central station.
33. The method according to claim 27 32, wherein said table is a card table for playing a card game and has a player position for each of the players to play a card game at the table; said central station including a an electronic camera for each player position of said card table, and a display for displaying the bet and current account of the player at each player position of said card table; said input means at each player station including means enabling the player thereat to input commands to the house person at the central station relating to choices made by the player in playing the card game.
34. The method according to claim 27 33, wherein said central station further includes an input device, operated by the house person for the respective game device at the central station, for inputting information relating to each player position of said card table.
35. The method according to claim 34 32, wherein said input device operated by the house person is a keyboard including a plurality of keys selectively depressible by the house person to transmit to the display of a selected player information relating to the respective player.
36. The method according to claim 34 32, wherein at least some of said player stations include a camera selectively energizable by the player thereat for transmitting the player's image to the a display of the respective player position at the card table.
37. The method according to claim 34 32, wherein there is further comprising a separate display at the central station for each player position at each card table at the central casino.
38. The method according to claim 27, wherein said command input means includes a manual device keyboard for manually inputting said commands.
39. The method according to claim 38 27, wherein said command input means includes a microphone for voice inputting said commands.
40. The method according to claim 38 27, wherein said command input means includes a camera for visually inputting said commands.
41. The method according to claim 32, wherein said table is a roulette table including a roulette wheel, said roulette table being displayed in the monitor at the respective player station such that the player may place a bet thereon by the input means at the player station.
42. The method according to claim 27, wherein said plurality of betting-type game devices at the central station includes at least one in which the action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected game device is an action effected remotely actuated by the player at the player station.
43. The method according to claim 42, wherein said at least one game device is a slot machine to be activated remotely by the player at the player station.
44. The method according to claim 42, wherein said at least one game device is a dice game for dice to be thrown remotely by the player at the player station.
45. The method according to claim 27, wherein said central station is an actual casino which includes a plurality of different-type game devices selected selectable by a player at a player station, including a first group of game device devices in which the action involving an element of chance is one effected remotely actuated by the player at the player station, and a second group of game device devices in which the action involving an element of chance is one effected actuated by a house person at the casino; each game device further including a microphone, and each player station including a speaker enabling a player at the respective player station to hear, as well as to see, what occurs at the selected game device as it occurs at the casino.
46. The method according to claim 45, wherein said first group of game devices include slot machines, and said second group of game device include tables each having a plurality of player positions.
47. The method according to claim 45, wherein said data processor means includes: a data processor at each player station, a data processor at the casino for each game device thereat, a central data processor for all the game device devices at the casino, and a communication system establishing communication between all said data processors.
48. The method according to claim 45, wherein there are further comprising a means for establishing communication with a plurality of said casinos connected together to said casino in a network; said data-processor means enabling the player at said player station to select both a casino, any of said casinos and a game device thereat, for placing a bet.
49. The method according to claim 45 48, wherein said means for establishing communication system includes the internet communication network.
50. The method according to claim 45 48, wherein said means for establishing communication system is a dedicated communication network using public telephone lines for communication between the casino and the player stations.
51. The method according to claim 45, wherein said plurality of player stations are at different locations.
52. The method according to claim 45, wherein said plurality of player stations are at a common location.
53. The system of claim 1, wherein said betting data includes at least the amount of the bet, the player's account balance, and an outcome wagered upon.
54. The game system according to claim 1 wherein said scanner is located below said card table at each player position, said scanner to scan a face of a face down card, wherein said player station is to show remote players at least one face down card dealt at the respective player position based on scanning output of said scanner.
55. The method of claim 27, wherein said betting data includes at least the amount of the bet, the player's account balance, and an outcome wagered upon.
56. The method according to claim 27 wherein said scanner is located below said card table at each player position, wherein said player station is to show remote players at least one face down card dealt at the respective player position based on scanning output of said scanner.
57. A game system, comprising:
- at least one game device involving an element of chance, an electronic camera for the game device and a sensor at each of a plurality of player positions at said game device to sense at least one card placed at said player position at said game device;
- means for receiving from a remote player input for placing a bet relating to an action involving an element of chance to occur at the game device, and input for effectuating said action;
- means for establishing communication with a player station;
- means for transmitting to the player station an image taken by said electronic camera of the action involving an element of chance at said game device for display on a first portion of a monitor at said player station, for transmitting to the player station sensed information associated with said at least one card placed at said player position at said game device, said sensed information for displaying on at least a second portion of said monitor at said player station, and for transmitting player betting data for display on at least a third portion of said monitor at said player station; and
- data processing means for determining whether the action, after it occurs, resulted in a “win” or “loss” of the placed bet and for maintaining a current account for the player in which each win is registered as a credit, and each loss is registered as a debit, according to the rules and rates of the selected game device, wherein said game device is a card table and wherein said sensor at each player position at said card table is a scanner to scan a card placed at said player position.
58. The system of claim 57, comprising:
- a plurality of betting-type game devices; and
- selection means for receiving a selection of a game device by a player for betting thereat.
59. The system of claim 58, wherein said plurality of betting-type game devices are located in a single physical location.
60. The system of claim 58, wherein said plurality of betting-type game devices are located in different locations.
61. The system of claim 57, wherein said at least one game device comprises:
- a table at which the action involving an element of chance is to occur; and
- means for communicating to a house person at said game device a command by said player relating to the action involving an element of chance, said action to be effected by a house person.
62. The system of claim 57, further comprising:
- means for receiving an image from at least a first remote player; and
- means for transmitting said image received from said first remote player to at least a second remote player.
63. The system according to claim 57 wherein said scanner is located below said card table at each player position, wherein said player station is to show remote players at least one face down card dealt at the respective player position based on scanning output of said scanner.
64. A method of providing gaming services, comprising:
- providing a central station with a plurality of betting type game devices; at least one electronic camera for each game device, and at least one sensor at each of a plurality of player positions at said game device, to sense at least one card placed at said player position at said game device;
- receiving from a remote player input for placing a bet relating to an action involving an element of chance to occur at a game device;
- receiving from a remote player input for effectuating said action;
- transmitting to a player station an image of the action involving an element of chance, said image taken by an electronic camera associated with said game device for display on a first portion of a monitor at said player station, transmitting to the player station sensed information associated with said at least one card placed at said player position at said game device, said sensed information for display on at least a second portion of said monitor at said player station, and transmitting player betting data for display on at least a third portion of said monitor at said player station;
- determining whether the action, after it occurs, resulted in a “win” or “loss” of the placed bet; and
- maintaining a current account for the player in which each win is registered as a credit, and each loss is registered as a debit, according to the rules and rates of the selected game device, wherein said game device is a card table and wherein said sensor at each player position at said card table is a scanner to scan a card placed at said player position.
65. The method of claim 64, further comprising receiving from a remote player a selection of one of a plurality of betting-type game devices for betting thereat.
66. The method of claim 65, wherein said plurality of game devices are located in different physical locations.
67. The method of claim 65, wherein said plurality of game devices are located in the same physical location.
68. The method of claim 64, wherein said at least one game device includes a table on which the action involving an element of chance is to be effected by a house person.
69. The method of claim 57, further comprising displaying at said game device an image of at least one remote player.
70. The method of claim 69, comprising displaying at said game device images of a plurality of remote players.
71. The method of claim 64, comprising:
- receiving an image from at least a first remote player; and
- transmitting said image received from said first remote player to at least a second remote player.
72. The method according to claim 64 wherein said scanner is located below said card table at each player position, wherein said player station is to show remote players at least one face down card dealt at the respective player position based on scanning output of said scanner.
73. A method of providing gaming services, comprising:
- providing a central station with a plurality of card tables, at least one electronic camera for each card table, and at least one sensor at each of a plurality of player positions at said card table;
- providing data processing means associated with said central station configured to: (a) establish communication between said central station and each of a plurality of player stations remotely located with respect to said central station, (b) enable players at the player stations to select a card table at the central station and to place bets relating to an action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected card table, (c) determine whether the action, after it occurs, resulted in a “win” or “loss” of the placed bet, and (d) maintain a current account for each player in which each win is registered as a credit, and each non-win is registered as a debit, according to the rules and rates of the selected game device;
- receiving a selection of a card table from a remote player at one of said player stations;
- receiving a bet placed by said remote player relating to the action involving an element of chance to occur at the selected card table and effectuating said action;
- transmitting to said player station a movie picture of the selected card table at the central station taken from said electronic camera associated with the card table, and information based on sensing output from the sensor associated with the respective player position at said card table;
- determining whether the action, after it occurs, resulted in a “win” or “loss” of the placed bet; and
- maintaining a current account for the remote player in which each win is registered as a credit, and each loss is registered as a debit, according to the rules and rates of the selected game device, wherein said sensor is a scanner positioned on the card table to scan a card placed at the respective player position.
74. The method of claim 73, wherein said sensing output of the sensor relates to the value of a card placed at the respective player position.
75. The method of claim 73, wherein said scanner is positioned on the card table to scan a card placed face down at the respective player position.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 6, 2000
Date of Patent: Aug 13, 2013
Inventor: Yacob Rafaeli (Bat Yam)
Primary Examiner: Corbett B Coburn
Application Number: 11/477,125
International Classification: A63F 9/24 (20060101);