GB2459938A

GB2459938A - Gaming terminal with display areas relating to wagers

Info

Publication number: GB2459938A
Application number: GB0808928A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tom Warren; Neale Deeley
Original assignee: Inspired Gaming UK Ltd
Current assignee: Inspired Gaming UK Ltd
Priority date: 2008-05-16
Filing date: 2008-05-16
Publication date: 2009-11-18
Also published as: GB0808928D0

Abstract

A gaming terminal has a graphical interface 40 for displaying information associated with a plurality of events. The graphical interface 40 includes a primary display area 54 of a display region 50 in which is displayed a first set of wager details relating to wagers placed upon the outcomes of the events; and a secondary display area 56 in which is displayed selectable content relating to one of the plurality of events, the outcomes of which a player may one or more wagers upon. The second display area 56 may display one or more wager options based on the event selected for display in the second display area 56. The content of the primary display area 54 does not change when a different event is selected for display in the second display area 56. Wager details shown in the primary display area 54 may include the betting odds, the amount of the bet, a description of the bet and any return. Wagers may be placed on the outcomes of a number of different events and a record of these wagers is continuously displayed. A network of gaming terminals may be formed having independent display units. The events may be virtual events.

Description

Gaming terminal The present invention relates to an improved system for the display of information at a gaming terminal and a graphical interface used to display information at the gaming terminal.

It is known to place wagers on the outcome of an event or series of events, In particular within a gaming environment it is known to present randomised events and for players to place wagers upon the outcome, for example by providing gaming terminals to accept wagers from a player and display the related event (including the result) to the player. Such games may include those such as roulette where the odds of a particular winning event occurring will be fixed. Other wagers may be placed on the outcome of a virtual sports event, such as a virtual horse race. Details of the use of a random number generator to determine the results of such an event are described in WO 2007/012789 of Red Vision Limited. Methods of generating images to display the virtual event are also disclosed therein.

Typically, a player is only able to wager on one kind of event on a given gaming terminal. In some cases, a player may select a first displayed view, wager on a first event displayed therein for example on the spin of a first roulette wheel, change the displayed view to select a second event and then wager upon the second event for example on the spin of a second roulette wheel, but is presented at any one time only with details of the wager relevant to the displayed view and so is not able on a single viewing to observe details of more than one wager made, or set of wagers upon a single event made, and any associated outcome or outcomes.

According to a first aspect of the invention, a graphical interface for a gaming terminal having a payment mechanism for receiving value some or all of which may be used for placing one or more wagers is provided, the graphical interface displaying information associated with a plurality of events, in which the graphical interface comprises: a display region having a primary display area and a secondary display area in the primary display area a first set of wager details relating to wagers placed upon the outcomes of one or more of the plurality of events are displayed; and in the secondary display area of the display region content relating to only one of the plurality of events may be selectively displayed, such that selecting differing content for display in the secondary display area does not result in a change to the displayed wager details in the primary display area.

Preferably, in the secondary display area a player may place one or more wagers upon the outcome or outcomes of the event selected for display in the secondary display area.

Preferably, the first set of wager details comprises particulars of the one or more wagers placed in relation to one or more outcomes of the events.

It is an advantage of the present invention that one or more wagers may be placed on the outcomes of a number of different events and that a record of these wagers is persistently displayed.

More preferably, the particulars of the one or more wagers placed in relation to one or more events includes one or more from the size of the or each wager placed, a description of the wager placed, odds provided for the or each wager made, and any return from any wagers already determined.

Preferably, at least one of the plurality of events, the outcome of which a player may place wagers upon is a virtual event.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a system for displaying information relating to a plurality of events comprises: a server to supply data relating to the plurality of events upon which one or more wagers may be placed; and an electronic gaming device having a payment mechanism for receiving value some or all of which may be used for placing one or more wagers, the electronic gaming device being connected to the server and comprising a display region, the display region having a primary display area and a secondary display area in which in the primary display area of the display region a first set of wager details relating to wagers placed upon the outcomes of one or more events are displayed; and in the secondary display area selectable content relating to only one of the plurality of events is displayed such that selecting differing content for display in the secondary display area does not result in a change to the displayed wager details in the primary display area.

Preferably the system further comprises one or more additional display units, the or each additional display unit being configured to display one from the plurality of events that may be displayed in the secondary display area of the display region of the entertainment device.

More preferably, the server creates and supplies data relating to one or more of the plurality of events upon which one or more wagers may be placed. More preferably, one or more of the plurality of events upon which one or more wagers may be placed is a virtual event.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of creating the graphical interface of the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an electronic gaming device having a payment mechanism for receiving value some or all of which may be used for placing one or more wagers has a display unit on which is displayed a graphical interface according to the first aspect of the present invention.

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-Figure 1 shows in diagrammatic form a gaming system for use with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic layout of elements of an example gaming terminal for use with the present invention; and Figure 3 shows an example graphical interface in accordance with the present invention.

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments of the present invention. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and mechanical, compositional, structural, electrical, and operational changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the embodiments of the present invention is defined only by the claims of the issued patent.

Use of the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", is to imply the inclusion of a particular element or step, or set of elements or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or set of elements, integers or steps.

Examples of network topology are illustrative and other topologies may be used.

Referring to Figure 1, a gaming system 10 for use in accordance with the present invention is shown. A number of entertainment devices in the form of electronic gaming terminals 12 operating in a gaming establishment are shown as part of the gaming system. While only two such gaming terminals 12 are shown it will be understood that any number of gaming terminals 12 as may be required by the management of the gaming establishment may be included in the present arrangement. The gaming terminals 12 each comprise a payment mechanism for receiving value some or all of which may be used for placing one or more wagers.

The value received may include coins, notes, a ticket or other means of transferring value with which a player may wager. Other suitable means of providing value are within the scope of the present invention. A gaming establishment may include a licensed betting office or a casino or other establishment in which gaming and/or gambling may be made available.

An example gaming terminal 12 will now be described by reference to Figure 2. Each gaming terminal comprises a processor 20 in communication with a variety of peripherals. Illustrative peripherals suitably include one or more value peripherals 22, acting as a payment mechanism to provide a transfer of value from the player to the gaming terminal (for example an input of currency, tokens, including printed tickets, or where a player is playing with points or play money an allocation of the points or play money from a suitable account or register), one or more payment peripherals 24 to provide value in the form of payment or credit back to a player, output peripherals 26 for communicating with a player and input peripherals 28 for a player to communicate choices to the gaming terminal processor 20.

Suitable value peripherals 22 may include a coin acceptor, note acceptor, credit card or debit card reader or other electronic payment interface, for example to charge a player account or to charge a mobile telephone account of a player by connection to a suitable electronic payment system.

Suitable payment peripherals 24 may include a coin dispenser, a note dispenser, a ticket dispenser, a card writer or an electronic payment interface, for example credit a player account or to credit a mobile telephone account of a player by connection to a suitable electronic payment system.

Where a player is operating a player account, the account may operate for currency or play points or both.

Suitable output peripherals 26 may include for example a display unit, a light array, and audio means, such as one or more loudspeakers.

Suitable input peripherals 28 to detect and communicate player choices to the processor 20 may include one or more buttons or switches, a touch sensitive screen (or regions thereof) or a combination of same.

It will be appreciated that certain peripherals will have characteristics common to more than one type of peripheral, for example a touch sensitive screen may function as an output peripheral when providing a display for view by a player, but also as an input peripheral that detects player choices when a player touches a particular region of the touch screen.

The peripherals described are illustrative only, other peripherals may be used as required.

The processor 20 is also able to communicate with devices outside of the gaming terminal 12 for example through a network interface card 30.

Each gaming terminal 12 is provided with at least one display unit having a display region 50 (Figure 3).

The gaming establishment is provided with a number of additional display units 14 forming part of the gaming system 10. The additional display units 14 may take the form of plasma display screens. While only three such additional display units 14 are shown in the Figure any number of additional display units as may be required by the gaming establishment may be included in the present arrangement.

The gaming system 10 further includes a content server 16 and an administration server 18. Each of content server 16 and administration server 18 is in communication with the other as well as being in communication with the gaming terminals 12 (as illustrated by dashed line 15) to allow for the exchange of data between the content server 16, the administration server 18 and each of the gaming terminals 12. While the servers are described as being separate a single server may provide both functionalities. Similarly a number of servers may provide the functionality described for each of the content server and the administration server.

While it is convenient to have the content server 16 and the administration server 18 located geographically near to the terminals, for example in a backroom of the gaming establishment, this need not be the case and one or both of these servers may be located geographically remote from the gaming establishment.

The content server 16 is adapted to provide content (or certain aspects of the content) to be displayed by the processor 20 on the display region 50 of the or each gaming terminal 12. For example, the content server 16 may be adapted to generate a content event, such as a simulation of a horse race ("a virtual horse race") -as well as providing wager details such as particulars relating to possible wagers. In such an embodiment, the server will include (or have access to) a database of virtual jockeys, horses, identifying silks and colours to enable generation of the virtual horse race.

The content server 16 may include means to generate random numbers for determining the outcomes of content events, or as in the illustrated embodiment, may receive random number output from a hardware random number generator 32 in communication with the content server 16 (as illustrated by dashed line 33).

The content server 16 may also receive further content data from elsewhere relating to gaming or gambling events. The content server 16 may then provide the further content data to the gaming terminals 12. A content event need not be an event upon which wagers may be placed. For example, the content event may be a sporting event upon which wagering is not available. The content server may also provide content data from elsewhere to be streamed to the gaming terminals, unrelated to gaming or gambling, such as an entertainment event.

A play session will be initiated by a player providing an initial value or balance of credit to the gaming terminal 12. The play session will continue until terminated either when the balance of credit falls to zero and no more wagers await determination or when the player causes the play session to terminate by seeking return of the current balance of credit.

The administration server 18 is adapted to record administration data relating to the use of the gaming terminals 12 for example to record any payments made or any winnings taken. For example, using ticket in ticket out functionality, a player may obtain a ticket, for example by purchase from a cashier. The cashier may utilise a management terminal 34 to provide details of the payment received and the ticket issued to the administration server 18. The management terminal 34 is in communication with each of the content server 16 (as illustrated by dashed line 17) and the administration server (as illustrated by dashed line 19).

The player subsequently supplies the ticket to a suitable reader provided at a gaming terminal 12 to enable a transfer of value and the creation of a balance of credit at the gaming terminal 12. Conveniently, the gaming terminal processor 20 communicates details of the ticket to the administration server 18 and the administration server 18 records the use of that ticket. Such communication may allow for player tracking by the management of the gaming establishment as well as creating an audit frail for subsequent review by a suitably authorised person. The processor 20 causes the balance of credit to be displayed within the display region 50 of the gaming terminal 12.

When the play session ends because the player decides to terminate the play session, the balance of credit remaining is communicated to the administration server 18 and a corresponding value returned to the player, for example by issuing a printed ticket that may be redeemed for currency at a cashier station.

A player may not cause the play session to end while wagers that have been placed relate to events that have yet to be displayed at the gaming terminal 12, for example by not making this option available to the player while such wagers are outstanding.

Alternatively, if a player seeks to end the play session while wagers that have been placed relate to events that have yet to be displayed, the processor 20 will cause a message to be displayed advising that terminating the play session will result in cancellation of the placed wagers and inviting the player to confirm cancellation. If the player confirms that these wagers should be terminated, the wagers are returned to the balance of credit and the balance of credit is then communicated to the administration server 18 and a corresponding value returned to the player.

The management terminal 34 may additionally be utilised by suitably authorised representatives of the gaming establishment to transmit queries to and receive responses from each of the content server 16 and the administration server 18. For example, suitably authorised representatives may be able to review a predetermined number of wagers placed at each gaming terminal, for example the last 50 wagers, in order to address potential dispute resolution or attempted fraud. Suitably authorised representatives may also use the management terminal 34 to synchronise gaming terminals 12, for example to control the starting times of virtual sporting events or the frequency of virtual sporting events. In this way a variety of opportunities for wagering may be presented at any one time. The management terminal 34 may further be utilised by suitably authorised representatives of the gaming establishment to query the administration server 18 to acquire details of the usage of the gaming terminals 12, for example to obtain reports.

In practice, the content server 16 communicates data relating to a content event as a data feed or stream. This data may include particulars relating to the odds available for certain wagers that may be placed. The content server 16 may be adapted to alter the odds offered over time as a result of the wagers placed throughout the system.

In the case of a virtual event, such as a virtual horse race, the content server 16 may also generate and communicate visual aspects of the content event as a video feed or data stream. As an alternative, the content server 6 may communicate with a separate graphics server (or a server farm) (not shown) that generates the visual aspects of the content event. The content server 6 then communicates the visual aspects as a synchronous feed to a suitable audio visual splitter 36. Alternatively, the separate graphics server communicates the visual aspects directly to the audio visual splitter 36 for synchronous distribution to each of the gaming terminals 12 and any of the additional display units 14 that have been designated to receive the feed. In a further alternative embodiment, the content server 16 may receive video from a live roulette wheel installation and communicate such video as a data stream to the audio visual splitter 36. Such communication may be by any suitable means, including wired or wireless communication.

The content server 16 distributes the feed in a synchronous manner to each of the gaming terminals 2.

In the case of a live roulette wheel installation a camera is conveniently arranged to provide a stream of video of the roulette wheel. The roulette wheel installation may provide for a signal to be sent indicative of the well into which the roulette ball settles at the end of each spin, either automatically or as a result of confirmation by a croupier.

The video feed or stream from the content server 16 is first supplied to the audio visual splitter device 36 (as illustrated by dashed line 35). The audio visual splitter device 36 supplies the video feed or stream to each of the gaming terminals 12 (as illustrated by dashed lines 37) for display in a manner to be described and such of the additional display units 14 as have been allocated to receive the video feed or stream (as illustrated by dashed lines 38).

In a first embodiment, while the content server 16 may generate or cause to be displayed many different kinds of content event, such that a player may choose to wager on a variety of such content events and data streams relating to any available content are forwarded only to the gaming terminals 12, the data stream forwarded to the additional display units 14 relates only to a single content event in progress. In an alternative embodiment, a variety of different content may be generated or caused to be displayed concurrently on different additional display units 14, for example a virtual roulette wheel may be allowed to spin, while a feed from a live roulette wheel is being broadcast, while a virtual horse race and a virtual dog race are also run. In this case, certain of the additional display units 14 will be allocated to display certain events. Suitably authorised representatives of the gaming establishment may use the management terminal 34 to allocate certain of the additional display units 14 to display certain events -either to display certain events only or to display predetermined events in preference to others. The additional display units 14 may also be allocated to display within the gaming establishment other content such as a sports or other event.

As noted above, the gaming terminals 12 are also in communication with the content server 16 and the administration server 18. For example the content server 14 will communicate details of the content available to a gaming terminal 12 and the gaming terminal 12 will communicate details of any game selections made. Details of any credit purchased, the size of any wagers placed, any credit to be returned at the end of a play session and other similar administrative data may be communicated between each gaming terminal 12 and the administration server 18.

An example of a graphical interface 40 for display at a gaming terminal 12 is shown in Figure 3. The display region 50 is provided at a gaming terminal 12 having a primary display area 54. A secondary display area 56 occupies a substantial portion of the remainder of the display region 50. In the illustrated embodiment, additional first, second, third and fourth marked areas 58,60,62,64 are also provided, each marked area corresponding to different content made available to a player at the gaming terminal 12. A greater or fewer number of marked areas may be provided for.

When a player selects one of the marked areas the content displayed within the secondary display area 56 will be altered to that corresponding to the marked area.

Any details displayed in the primary display area 54 will remain unchanged.

Conveniently, prior to the content event being shown in the secondary display, the secondary display shows details of a number of potential outcomes of the content event and enables a player to place wagers relating to these potential outcomes. For example, a player may touch the screen in the region of the details of a selected potential outcome to place a wager on this potential outcome. Alternatively, details of certain more involved potential wagers may be accessed by selecting from offered menus allowing such involved wagers to be placed upon potential outcomes.

Examples of such more involved wagers include wagering on final scores, or combinations of wagers such as the choosing of three named selections a, b and c to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order in a specified racing event.

By way of example, the content allotted to the first marked area 58 may be a first roulette based item of content, for example a virtual roulette wheel, the content allotted to the second marked area 58 may be a second roulette based item of content, for example a live roulette feed, the content allotted to the third marked area 60 may relate to a first virtual sports event such as a horse race and the content allotted to the fourth marker area 62 may relate to a second virtual sports event such as a dog race.

The content allotted to each marked area may be determined at the management terminal. The content allotted to one or more of the marked areas need not be gaming content, but may be other content that the gaming establishment may consider of interest to a player, such as advertisements or coverage of a real world sports or other event.

When a player places a wager, for example by touching a part of the secondary display area 56 to indicate a choice or choices of wager and then verifying the choice or choices made, the processor 20 causes particulars relating to the wager made to be displayed within the primary display area 54 of the display region 50. A first part of the display area 54 may be used to display particulars relating to the amount available to the player to wager, the amount staked during the gaming session and any winnings obtained during the gaming session.

Prior to the content event being supplied as a data stream from the content server 16, the wager details presented within the primary display area 54 relating to the wager may be limited to the total amount of the wager placed (for example in a roulette based event), but may also include a summary of the actual wagers made (for example by displaying a betting layout for a roulette game or listing the wager(s) made in the case of an event such as a virtual horse race together with the odds offered).

Following streaming of the content event, some of the particulars presented relating to the wager or wagers placed in relation to the content event may be removed (so that only outstanding wagers are shown in the primary display area 54), may be presented in summary form (for example by identifying the content event and the amount of any winnings) or in more detail (for example by also identifying each wager made and the amount of the wager).

During streaming of a content event the processor 20 may cause the relevant marked area to be highlighted to a player, for example by changing the colour of the associated marked area during streaming of the content event, or by causing the associated marked area to flash. Alternatively or additionally, the processor 20 may cause the relevant wager details in the primary display area 54 to be highlighted to the player, for example by changing the background or otherwise emphasising the details of the particulars displayed.

Should the wager details to be presented exceed the space available in the primary display area 54, the processor 20 may be adapted to cause the wager details to scroll up and down within the primary display area 54, or to reduce the particulars displayed in relation to each wager detail. In this second instance a player may touch the screen in the region of the primary display area 54 where the reduced wager detail is presented causing the processor 20 to display full particulars of the selected wager details and others of the displayed wager details to be shown in reduced form. In this regard the details of the selected wagers may be said to be persistently displayed within the primary display area 54, even though not all of the details of the selected wagers may be visible at one time within the primary display area 54.

Where the presentation of the wager details is caused to scroll up and down within the display area 54, the wager details relating to the most recent wagers placed are preferably maintained in the primary display area 54 by default. For example a player may scroll through the wager details to seek particulars relating to a previous wager or wagers, but once the player indicates that the particulars are no longer sought, the processor 20 will cause the wager details in the primary display area 54 to scroll back to shown the wager details relating to the most recently placed wagers.

Other embodiments are intentionally within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1 A graphical interface for a gaming terminal having a payment mechanism for receiving value some or all of which may be used for placing one or more wagers, the graphical interface displaying information associated with a plurality of events in which the graphical interface comprises: a display region having a primary display area and a secondary display area in the primary display area a first set of wager details relating to wagers placed upon the outcomes of one or more of the plurality of events are displayed; and in the secondary display area of the display region content relating to only one of the plurality of events may be selectively displayed, such that selecting differing content for display in the secondary display area does not result in a change to the displayed wager details in the primary display area.
2 A graphical interface according to claim 1, in which in the secondary display area a player may place one or more wagers upon the outcomes of the event selected for display in the secondary display area.
3 A graphical interface according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the first set of wager details comprises particulars of the one or more wagers placed in relation to one or more outcomes of the events.
4 A graphical interface according to claim 3, in which the particulars of the one or more wagers placed in relation to one or more events includes one or more from the size of the or each wager placed, a description of the wager placed, odds provided for the or each wager made, and any return from any wagers already determined.
A graphical interface according to any previous claim, in which at least one of the plurality of events, the outcome of which a player may place wagers upon is a virtual event.
6 A system for displaying information relating to a plurality of events comprises: a server to supply data relating to the plurality of events upon which one or more wagers may be placed; and an electronic gaming device having a payment mechanism for receiving value some or all of which may be used for placing one or more wagers, the electronic gaming device being connected to the server and comprising a display region, the display region having a primary display area and a secondary display area in which in the primary display area of the display region a first set of wager details relating to wagers placed upon the outcomes of one or more events are displayed; and in the secondary display area selectable content relating to only one of the plurality of events is displayed such that selecting differing content for display in the secondary display area does not result in a change to the displayed wager details in the primary display area.
7 A system according to claim 6, in which the system further comprises one or more additional display units, the or each additional display unit being configured to display one from the plurality of events that may be displayed in the secondary display area of the display region of the entertainment device.
8 A system according to claim 6 or claim 7, in which the server creates and supplies data relating to one or more of the plurality of events upon which one or more wagers may be placed.
9 A system according to claim 8, in which one or more of the plurality of events upon which one or more wagers may be placed is a virtual event.
A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer, perform the steps of creating the graphical interface of any of claim ito 6.
11 An electronic gaming device having a payment mechanism for receiving value some or all of which may be used for placing one or more wagers, in which the electronic gaming device has a display unit on which is displayed a graphical interface according to any of claims 1 to 6.