GB2454581A - Gaming apparatus producing both real and virtual results - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaming apparatus is described comprising a physical gaming unit 2 providing a physical outcome determinator; a central processing unit including: a real result register to store a result based on the outcome generated by the outcome determinator; a virtual result generation module to create a functional mapping between each possible real result 24 and one of a plurality of virtual results 22, and thus determine a virtual result 22 from a real result 24; a display in data communication with the central processing unit to display an image corresponding to the virtual result 22 in the form of a visual presentation of a race event, preferably a horse race, and bet input mean to allow a player to bet on the virtual results 22. The physical outcome determinator is preferably based upon a standard casino table game, such as roulette, a card game, big wheel or the like, and can have a bet placement area that includes markings for placing bets on the outcome of the virtual game. Odds can be assigned to the virtual game outcomes based upon the probability of each of the virtual outcomes. The gaming apparatus may be incorporated within a gaming network to allow the placement of bets from remote player terminals.

Description

1 2454581

GAMING APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

The present invention relates to a gaming apparatus and system. The invention in particular relates to table games such as a roulette and the like which are traditionally played in casinos and similar gaming establishments. The invention in particular relates to a gaming apparatus and system linking one or more game of chance units or game of chance tables to a plurality of user terminals, at least some of which may be situated at remote locations.

Games of chance on which wagers can be placed have become a significant part of the growing leisure industry in recent years. In particular, gaming establishments such as casinos are an expanding sector in relation to the provision of gambling entertainment based on such games.

At the core of this industry, and accounting for a significant if not primary component of the provision of gaming equipment in gaming establishments, are games where players are seated at and place bets at a table, and are thus often known as "table" games. Table games are wagering games, based on an underlying chance element, played on a table or the like, and including apparatus for determining a random, pseudo-random or otherwise unpredictable game outcome.

In physical table games such a game outcome is typically generated using an electro-mechanical or mechanical or other physical random, pseudo-random or otherwise unpredictable game outcome generator. Examples of random outcome determinator include a spinning wheel providing for a plurality of possible outcomes based on an at rest position (for example the wheel and ball of a roulette apparatus, the wheel and pointer of a big six wheel), playing cards and dice. However, the invention is applicable to any random game outcome determinator.

Table games are conventionally supervised by a human operator, for example a dealer or croupier, who controls the play, betting and payout process. Usually, such a dealer or croupier will control operation of the random outcome determinator, for example by dealing cards, rolling dice or spinning a roulette or big six wheel. Games under such human control are sometimes called "banker's rules" games.

It is possible using modern technology to automate, in part or in full, traditional table games. Some parts of the process are particularly susceptible to automation. For example automated means may read an outcome by detecting a ball or wheel position, processing a captured image etc. Additionally or alternatively automated means may be used for bet placement, calculation and settlement. Systems have been developed in which some or all of these processes have been automated either in full (in that the apparatus itself collects the necessary bet data, outcome data or other input data and generates appropriate outputs) or partly (in that the dealer or croupier inputs bet data, outcome data or other information to the system via a suitable terminal) which then settles the bet.

The whole process can be fully automated, dispensing with a physical table and outcome generator altogether. Instead a virtual wheel, dice, card or other traditional table game is generated virtually on a screen display as a terminal game. Such virtual games are a growing industry in their own right, both in an online environment and as terminal-based games in a gaming establishment, but are often perceived by players to have a different appeal to traditional physical tables with many customers of casino-based gaming preferring to play against a human dealer or croupier rather than just a machine. Also such games may be subject to different, and often more stringent, regulatory regimes than banker's rules games. The invention preferably relates to games where at least the invitation of the process (for example the spin of a wheel, ball, dice etc) is under croupier control, and where at least the games outcome is determined by physical means.

As a compromise, partial automation raises possibilities for play at remote locations based on a core physical game but without needing a player to be physically present at the table. By way of example of this, systems have been developed (for example in US5762552 and W02000/04031 3) that network players at remote terminals to one or more live table games.

A number of player terminals are linked to live game outcome generator such as a roulette table, in a nearby or remote location, and for example on or remote from a casino floor. A dealer controls the gaming event, and for example spins the wheel or ball, rolls dice, deals cards etc. in the usual manner. The result may be shown on the terminals via an image (collected by video link or as an electronic representation) of the gaming layout. Bets may be placed and settled automatically. Players are playing synchronously with the dealer, who controls the gaming process. The game remains fundamentally a banker's rules table game. Terminals provide a mechanism by which a player can participate in the game without being physically present and seated at the table itself, and optionally even when at a remote location on a distributed network. To this end, the terminals will usually include at least some form of mechanism enabling a player to place bets and to keep a tally of bet performance. Terminals typically therefore include input means, for example in the form of a key pad or the like, allowing players to place bets.

Terminals may be touch-screen devices. The advent of affordable touch-screen devices has made the terminal play option much more attractive to casino operators.

The terminals are linked via a data link to the central table game, for example on a distributed network. Either the terminals themselves, or a central processor, associated with the table game or elsewhere, conveniently assists in the processing of bets in relation to game outcomes and in the calculation of win/loss amounts. Players on the terminals place bets and payouts are made automatically based on the outcome at the live table. Players may also be seated at the table in conventional manner. Multiple tables may be networked to multiple terminals.

At the heart of such systems is a live table. The gaming experience thus offers enhanced authenticity to players not seated at the table but playing via a touch screen or other networked terminal arrangement in a nearby or remote location. This can be a desirable factor, especially in a casino environment.

However, the provision of terminals also offers the system additional functionality over that of a table alone. For example, such discrete terminals may enable more efficient use of space in areas where a physical table might not be practical. They might attract to play less experienced customers who might find the traditional physical table game intimidating. They might be used to provide extra play options, for example allowing a user at a terminal to choose between table games and/or to place combination and/or novelty bets which differ from the standard options offered by the traditional game.

The industry is always seeking to develop technology solutions that enhance the functionality of a gaming system installation, in particular in respect of providing additional gaming options and/or increasing the customer through-put for a given hardware system or floor area and/or attracting users who might not be so attracted by traditional games. Such developed solutions might therefore produce potentially more effective, usable and profitable systems.

Thus, in accordance with the invention in its principal aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising: a physical gaming unit providing a physical outcome determinator; a central processing unit including: a real result register to store a result based on the outcome generated by the outcome determinator; and a virtual result generation module to create a functional mapping between each possible real result and one of a plurality of virtual results, and thus determine a virtual result from a real result; a display means in data communication with the central processing unit to display an image corresponding to the virtual result in the form of a visual presentation of a race event; and means to allow a player to bet on the virtual results so presented.

The basis of the invention is at least one physical gaming unit having a mechanical, electromechanical or other physical outcome determinator on which outcome bets may be placed, such as a gaming table. This may be located at a primary gaming site (for example being a conventional casino gaming floor). The outcome determinator comprises a physical means which can, in familiar manner, exist in a plurality of outcome states, its adoption of a particular state being determined in an unpredictable and for example random or pseudo-random manner. The physical gaming unit may therefore be a gaming unit of any familiar design, making use of a suitable game outcome generator in familiar manner.

However, the apparatus of the invention is arranged so that a secondary gaming option is provided. This takes the form of the presentation of the result in a secondary way, based on a mapping between a first data set comprising results of real outcomes determined by the physical outcome determinator and a data set comprising virtual results. The virtual results are associated with a race style presentation, and each virtual result is associated with a particular victor in such a presentation. Thus, each given real outcome and result is associated with a single virtual result, and the apparatus of the invention is so configured that for any given real outcome a presentation is delivered at the display means reflecting this functional correspondence, presenting a race and displaying a race winner accordingly.

Preferably, the gaming unit is a conventional table game. Preferably, the gaming unit has a physical game outcome determinator such as a wheel, dice or the like on which outcome bets may be placed. For example, the table includes a bet placement area in familiar manner that comprises areas demarcated for the placement of such bets.

The purpose of the apparatus of the invention is to allow outcome bets to be placed on the secondary, virtual result. For example, the apparatus may comprise a gaming table itself including a bet placement area in familiar manner that comprises areas demarcated for the placement of such secondary bets. Additionally or alternatively players may be provided with betting modules at the table or at remote terminals which allow them to place such secondary bets.

Preferably, the apparatus of the invention includes an odds calculation module to assign a loss/win odds score to each virtual result to facilitate bet settlement, for example based on a calculation of a probability of the real outcome(s) mapped thereonto.

Preferably, to mimic more effectively the likely odds structure for a race event, real outcomes are mapped to virtual results in such a way that at least some of the virtual results occur with different probability, and are assigned different loss/win odds. For example, a real outcome generator might be designed to produce a plurality of equally likely outcomes (such as will be the case, for example, for the ball slots in a roulette wheel) which are assigned unequally to the data set of virtual results, so that different virtual results are associated with a different number of equally likely real outcomes, and different virtual results have consequent different likelihoods.

In this way, the real game is played and an outcome generated in conventional manner, but it is given a secondary gaming functionality. A player may play in conventional manner or in accordance with the secondary gaming alternative, or in some combination of both. The gaming system offers greater functionality for a given unit, for a given system based on such units, or for a given casino floor area. It offers the potential to attract customers who might not immediately be attracted by the traditional table game itself.

Preferably, the central processor includes an image generation module to generate, for example co-operably with the display means, an image data set processable by the display means to produce a display of the virtual result in the form of a visual presentation of a race event. This visual presentation is played on the display means. The presentation preferably comprises one or other or both in combination of recorded images retrieved from a data store in accordance with the image data set and animated images produced as a result of instructions in the image data set. Stored images may be retrieved from store and/or animated images may be generated by one or other or both acting together of the central processor and display means.

In one embodiment such a table may be fully manual, in that a croupier or dealer operates the game in the usual manner. Preferably, such a gaming unit provides for game outcome data input means to enable the croupier or dealer to input the result of a game outcome for data transmission to the central processing unit. In an alternative embodiment the game may be at least partly automatic in that the croupier or dealer is at least responsible for initiating operation of a random game outcome generator, but that the gaming unit includes game outcome data capturing means (for example comprising optical, electrical, magnetic or mechanical readers to determine the position of the ball in a roulette wheel, the position of a big six wheel etc) to capture the game outcome data via the game data link to the central processing unit. For example, the game is a roulette game and the croupier spins the ball in a wheel. An administration terminal allows for faults or mis-spins. Otherwise the result is sent automatically to the system. Alternatively, fully automated mechanical units may be used. For example a game is a roulette game and a pneumatic cylinder spins the ball in the wheel, which reads the number directly. The unit may be sealed. However, it is the preferred mode of operation of the invention that the game is at least to some extent under croupier/dealer control.

The invention can be put into practice merely as a modification of a table or like gaming unit at a fixed location, with the secondary virtual result being displayed to players seated at the fixed location, and bets being placed thereon at the fixed location. However, the invention lends itself particularly to application in network systems such as are above described where one or more physical fixed location gaming units such as table games are networked to an array of player terminals, at least some of which may be remote from the fixed location (that is for instance, at least out of line of sight contact) and for example remotely on a distributed network.

In accordance with this more complete aspect, a gaming system includes at least one apparatus as above described including at least one gaming unit, and further comprises: a plurality of electronic player terminals each allowing a player to place bets electronically to be settled on a determination derived from an outcome of the physical gaming unit; a game data link between the central processing unit and a gaming unit to pass game outcome data to the central processing unit from the gaming unit; a player data link between the central processing unit and each player terminal to pass bet data therebetween; the game data links, player data links and central processing unit together comprising a data network to provide a data link between a player terminal and a gaming unit.

Multiple player terminals are linked via a network to one or more live games. As a result the number of players who can access a given game is theoretically much greater.

In a preferred embodiment multiple terminals are provided and the central processing unit acts as a hub through which game outcome data from a live gaming unit may be linked to bet data from various player terminals to allow for calculation of a bet outcome and preferably further for the generation of win or loss data for a player based upon the bet placed. The central processing unit may serve as a simple conduit for data transmission, with individual bet outcome calculations being performed at a gaming unit and/or a player terminal. Preferably, however, the central processing unit performs these functions centrally. Accordingly, the central processing unit preferably comprises means to process game outcome data, means to process bet data, means to calculate a bet outcome therefrom and to generate win/loss data for a player, and means to transmit a bet outcome indication and/or win/loss data and/or related data to a player terminal.

Preferably at least some of the terminals are remote from the or each gaming unit, for example being remote from a gaming unit location such as a casino floor where gaming units are provided in a casino. Preferably, terminals are disposed remotely on a distributed network. Additionally or alternatively terminals may be provided at a gaming unit location to allow a player seated at or playing in the vicinity of a gaming unit to make use of the secondary gaming functionality conferred by the invention.

Remote terminals, placed strategically away from the gaming floor, could offer play opportunities to the casual player who might otherwise be intimidated from sitting at a physical table. Player terminals may therefore be placed in remote locations, out of line-of-sight of the live game, whether within a casino or like premises or elsewhere, to allow gaming access therefrom. It will be apparent that such player terminals will require, in addition to means for placement of bets, means to display the visual presentation of the virtual result. Preferably, all player terminals have such display means.

Preferably the betting process is at least partly automated by the player terminals in conjunction with the central processor. Placement of bets and calculation of bet outcomes and optionally win/loss data can be an automated process with the croupier or dealer not required to calculate all of the bets for players at player terminals. This again assists in making practical both larger numbers of players on a given table and bet placement and settlement based on the secondary race simulation option.

It may also speed up play and reduce or eliminates the risk of mistake by human error.

Each gaming unit can be any unpredictable outcome game on which outcome a bet can be placed. Traditional casino-style table games are particularly preferred, such as roulette or other wheel games, blackjack and like card games, dice games etc. It will be understood in the art that references herein to "random" or "unpredictable" game outcome determination should be read in the gaming context, not as relating to a rigid mathematical concept of randomness or to an absolute degree of unpredictability, but as relating to outcome generation that is truly random, pseudo-random or otherwise unpredictable for practical purposes and can thus form the basis for a practical game of chance.

Each player terminal provides at least means for bet data input. Further features may optionally be incorporated into a player terminal depending on the gaming system, and on the location of the player terminal.

In particular, at least those remote player terminals that do not have line-of-sight access to the gaming units must provide for means to display the game status (that is, for example, whether it remains open for betting or not, and optionally the time remaining to bet) and the game outcome for a selected game being played at that terminal. Conveniently the player unit also includes means to display current bet status for the current game. To facilitate this, each gaming unit continually generates current game status data in addition to game outcome data to be passed via the game data link to the central processing unit and then to the player terminal.

The central processor and/or each gaming unit and/or player unit may optionally also include a game outcome data store to store and process together successive game outcomes and/or to store and process together real and virtual outcomes to facilitate the placement of combination bets based on successive and/or alternative game outcomes.

The player terminal, in particular when a remote player terminal, preferably comprises a display screen to effect a display of at least the virtual result presentation. Additionally it preferably comprises a touch pad to input player bet data etc. In a convenient embodiment, the touch pad is incorporated into the screen as a touch screen using technology which will be familiar.

The display screen may be divided into different areas, physically or virtually, and/or comprise a multiple screen unit, for example to display information concerning the real and the virtual results simultaneously on selected screen areas. Alternatively these may be displayed successively.

Where a terminal is displaying a physical gaming unit, the display on the screen may comprise a direct physical representation in real time of the gaming unit, for example a captured image thereof, with the gaming unit location being provided with suitable image caption means, such as a camera, providing an image of the gaming unit to the player terminal via the game data link and player data link. Alternatively, the player terminal may be adapted to process game status and game outcome data from the gaming unit and to provide a virtual representation of a game, in full facsimile or as or a schematic display giving basic game status and game outcome information only.

Preferably, the system, via the central processor and/or a player terminal includes processing means for calculating bet outcome or win/loss data in accordance with bet data and game outcome data. Preferably, the system also includes customer credit storage means for storing data concerning customer credit values, and updating means for updating customer credit values in accordance with the win/loss data.

Preferably, the system also provides means to allow a player to purchase credit. Optionally this may be via a central credit purchasing unit, which may be at a credit sales point within the casino or under croupier/dealer control. Additionally or alternatively, means may be provided at a player terminal to allow a player to input credit directly, for example including mechanical means to process cash, casino chips or the like, to scan a bank or credit card or other card such as a card with pre-stored credit.

The player terminal or central credit purchasing unit may similarly be adapted for retrieval of credit and for example winnings after play.

In accordance with the established procedure in relation to many table games, each gaming operation may include an initial period during which bets can be placed, an intermediate period during which further bets cannot be placed as the outcome is determined, and a payout period following outcome determination. When a game is controlled by a banker or croupier, the banker or croupier may determine the first period, for example by advising players "no more bets", If a game also provides for a player at remote terminals a means will be provided to allow a banker or croupier to indicate this and prevent further bets from the remote terminals. In automated or partially automated systems this period may be determined automatically.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the display means is adapted to display a non-outcome specific race presentation during the initial and/or intermediate period, and to display an outcome specific presentation following determination of the outcome consequent determination of the virtual result. This can produce a more realistic race simulation presentation. For example the non-outcome specific presentation may include the start of the race and the initial stages where race participants manoeuvre for position.

The virtual race presentation may be of any type and involve any race participants, but given its intended application in the gaming industry as a means to generate secondary wagering options, presentations of horse and dog races, and of car or motorcycle races will be particularly preferred.

The invention will now be described in an embodiment by way of exampling with reference to the accompanying figures in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a network arrangement for implementing the principles of the invention; Figure 2 is a roulette wheel modified for play in accordance with the principles of the inventions shown in plan views; Figure 3 is a gaming table bet placement area shown in plan view for the wheel of figure 2.

Referring to figure 1, a schematic illustration of a suitable network is illustrated making use of a roulette wheel 2 which adapted for play both at a table (not shown in full) and via remote terminals 10.

The roulette wheel 2 is linked via a game datalink 4 to a central processor 6. A primary game outcome is determined in the usual way by the wheel 2, as is illustrated with further reference to figure 2 which shows a suitable wheel layout in plan view. The wheel consists of a ring of slots 22 each labelled with a different number 24 in the standard format for a European roulette wheel. The wheel conveniently operates automatically. A croupier may spin the ball, or this may also be automatically done in an intervention-free sealed unit.

During use, the wheel is spun in conventional manner, the ball is spun in the wheel, and an outcome is determined as the ball comes to rest in one of the 37 separately numbered slots 22. In the case of roulette, each of these 37 outcomes is in principle randomly equally likely, but this is not a mandatory feature of the game outcome generator of the invention.

The outcome is transmitted via the game datalink 4 to the central processor 6. To this extent, the wheel functions as a conventional networked roulette wheel, and the outcome data (that is, data concerning in which slot the ball finally come to rest) can be captured in any suitable manner, for example by provision of electrical, magnetic, mechanical or electromechanical sensors in the slot, by way of video capture, or by data input by a croupier. Preferably, outcome capture and processing and bet settlement is fully automated.

The apparatus differs from a conventional networked roulette wheel in a first respect in the way that the result is processed and output by the central processor 6. The central processor receives a result indicating the position of the ball in usual manner. This would normally be assigned to zero or to one of the numbers 1 to 36. However, in accordance with the invention, each numerical result 1 to 36 is instead assigned to one of six virtual results. For convenience of presentation in the present embodiment, a physical representation of this mapping of real to virtual results is included in the wheel itself by virtue of the provision of distinctive symbols representing each virtual result and associated with each slot so mapped. However, this is not a necessary feature of the invention, and the mapping from the data set of possible real results to the data set of possible virtual results may entirely be an artefact of the processor.

Rather, the invention is distinguished in the fact that once a virtual result has been determined from a real outcome by the central processor 6 this virtual result is passed via the display datalink 14 to be displayed on a display screen 16 in the form of a visual presentation of a race. The screen may play recorded images generated by live animation, or some consideration of the two.

The display screen 16 is disposed so as to visible to players seated in the vicinity of the wheel 2. The system additionally provides for a network capability, with a plurality of user terminals 10 being provided via a user datalink 8. Each user terminal 10 similarly has a display screen 12 which can receive a visual presentation of the virtual result in the form a race presentation via the datalink 8.

In accordance with the invention bets may be placed on the virtual result.

Players on the system in the vicinity of table may do this directly via the table in conventional manner. A suitable table layout is presented on figure 3 with bet areas delineated both for conventional roulette play for betting on the race. Players at the remote terminals 10 will be provided with means to place bets via the terminals and the datalink 8, for example via a touchpad or touchscreen at the terminal in familiar manner.

In the example given, the 36 numerical outcomes possible on the roulette wheel (excluding 0) map to six virtual results. In the example, these are mapped unequally, so that some virtual outcomes are more likely than others, even though each real outcome (a ball position 1 to 36) is in principle equally likely. For example, as presented in figures 2 and 3, race winner 1 (represented by the diamond pattern) is the virtual outcome for 12 ball positions of the 36 scoring positions, whereas race winner 6 (represented by the star pattern) corresponds to only two such ball positions. The resultant win/loss odds for each virtual outcome can reflect this, and the odds for the virtual game thus more closely reflect a typical situation in the scenario the virtual game attempts to mimic, that of a race.

It will be readily appreciated that the same principles could be applied to the networking of multiple roulette tables to multiple display units, whether remotely or locally placed, and to the networking of other gaming units.

The invention is capable of producing a virtual racing presentation to enhance the functionality and playability of any gaming unit which is underpinned by a physical game outcome generator, and in particular a gaming unit such as a table game which is under the control of a human croupier or dealer.

Claims (12)

1. An apparatus comprising: a physical gaming unit providing a physical outcome determinator; a central processing unit including: a real result register to store a result based on the outcome generated by the outcome determinator; and a virtual result generation module to create a functional mapping between each possible real result and one of a plurality of virtual results, and thus determine a virtual result from a real result; a display in data communication with the central processing unit to display an image corresponding to the virtual result in the form of a visual presentation of a race event; and means to allow a player to bet on the virtual results so presented.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the gaming unit comprises a gaming table having a physical outcome determinator on which outcome bets may be placed, and which includes a bet placement area that comprises areas demarcated for the placement of outcome bets on the secondary, virtual result.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2 wherein players are provided with betting modules remote from the table to allow outcome bets to be placed on the secondary, virtual result.

4. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim further comprising an odds calculation module to assign a loss/win odds score to each virtual result to facilitate bet settlement, for example based on a calculation of a probability of the real outcome(s) mapped thereonto.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein real outcomes are mapped to virtual results in such a way that at least some of the virtual results occur with different probability, and are assigned different loss/win odds.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein a real outcome generator is adapted to produce a plurality of equally likely outcomes which are assigned unequally to the data set of virtual results, so that different virtual results are associated with a different number of equally likely real outcomes, and different virtual results have consequent different likelihoods.

7. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the outcome generator is a gaming unit comprising a table game with a physical game outcome determinator.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 wherein the physical game outcome determinator is a roulette wheel.

9. An apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim wherein the central processor includes an image generation module to generate, for example co-operably with the display means, an image data set processable by the display means to produce a display of the virtual result in the form of a visual presentation of a race event.

10. A gaming system comprising at least one apparatus in accordance with any preceding claim including at least one gaming unit, and further comprising: a plurality of electronic player terminals each allowing a player to place bets electronically to be settled on a determination derived from an outcome of the physical gaming unit; a game data link between the central processing unit and a gaming unit to pass game outcome data to the central processing unit from the gaming unit; a player data link between the central processing unit and each player terminal to pass bet data therebetween; the game data links, player data links and central processing unit together comprising a data network to provide a data link between a player terminal and a gaming unit.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein multiple terminals are provided and the central processing unit acts as a hub through which game outcome data from a live gaming unit may be linked to bet data from various player terminals to allow for calculation of a bet outcome and preferably further for the generation of win or loss data for a player based upon the bet placed.

12. A system in accordance with claim 11 wherein at least some of the terminals are remote from the or each gaming unit.