MXPA99003872A - Electronic system and method for operating an auxiliary incentive game - Google Patents

Abstract

The progress of each player in playing an auxiliary incentive game simultaneously with a primary card game is controlled and displayed at a gaming table. A prize display (34) is attached to the table and the prize display indicates at least one prize available to the player who accumulates a predetermined number of bonus points playing the auxiliary game. A player interface unit (30) is positioned on the table adjacent to each player. The player interface unit displays the number of bonus points received by the associated player. A dealer interface unit (32) is positioned on the table adjacent the dealer. The dealer interface unit includes control elements to allow the dealer to display the bonus points awarded to each player on the associated player interface unit and to activate a prize award control element on the player interface unit. The winning player selects a randomly indexed prize indicated on the prize display by manipulating the prize award control element on their player interface unit. A controller (36) is connected to the prize display and the player and dealer interface units to control the displays and operation of the equipment.

Description

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM AND METHOD TO OPERATE AN AUXILIARY INCENTIVE GAME This application claims priority under 35 USC § 120 of the patent application of E. U. A. Series No. 08 / 918,944 filed on August 25, 1997, now pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an auxiliary incentive game, which is played simultaneously with a primary casino table game such as blackjack (twenty-one), and more particularly to a new and improved electronic system for displaying and controlling the progress of each player within the auxiliary game and to randomly award prizes to each player who wins the auxiliary game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Casino table games such as dice, roulette, poker, blackjack or other card games are highly successful for casinos, particularly since the surpluses associated with such table juices favor the casino. In order to maximize the benefit generated by each table, it is desirable not only to attract a large number of players to the table, but also to keep players playing at the table for an extended period. In essence, although a player can occasionally stand at a table to place several bets, a casino will probably get a benefit from a player who remains at an individual table for the course of several hours, since it is unlikely that said player will be able to " hit the surplus "during a long career. In this way, casinos usually add extra incentives (for example, complementary foods and beverages) to keep players at the table for extended periods. However, since all casinos typically offer the same extra incentives, it is not common for players to "try their luck" in number of different tables or even in a number of different casinos within an individual game section. For example, if a player is losing money at a particular table (for example, a blackjack table) or if the player perceives that a particular table (or a private dealer) does not bring him luck, that player can leave the table and, In some cases, you can leave the casino along with the game. Of course, during the time in which the player is monitoring different tables or different casinos, the player is not playing and the casino is not being benefited by that player. In this way, the casinos not only have an interest in attracting players to their gaming tables, but also have an interest in keeping the player in their seat for as long as possible. In addition to complementary items such as beverages, which help keep players in the casino, but not necessarily promote continuous bets at a specific table, the casinos want to provide an extra incentive to players who play for extended periods in a single table. This added incentive can be an auxiliary incentive game, which is played simultaneously with the primary game, but without interfering with the primary game. The auxiliary game preferably offers its own group of prizes separate from any of the prizes or losses that the player may experience within the primary game. In addition, the auxiliary game preferably rewards all players who remain at the table, regardless of whether the players are winning or losing in the primary game. The auxiliary game simply provides players with the opportunity for additional rewards if the player remains at the table for a sufficient time to complete or "win" the auxiliary game. However, the march of the auxiliary game is preferably much slower than the march of the primary game, so that a player must continue the game of the primary game for a number of hours without interruption before offering him the opportunity to complete or win the game assistant. In this way, the auxiliary juice serves its purpose of keeping players at the table for long periods, even if the player is losing money in the primary board game.

An ancillary prize game system is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,743,800 to Huard et al., The specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. In the Huard et al. Patent, the auxiliary prize game includes random selection means for randomly selecting the amount of the prize that will be awarded, for randomly selecting the matching game symbols or for randomly selecting a player position. The auxiliary prize may be awarded based on the player's compliance with one or more eligibility conditions, such as game selection and player's position. Another example of such an auxiliary game, which is played simultaneously with blackjack as the primary game is Ten Stix 21 ™. Ten Stix 21 ™ is played in the same format as blackjack where all players try to hit the dealer's hand without reaching 21. The primary difference between Ten Stix 21 ™ and standard blackjack is that a bonus card is replaced by another card in each pile of cards. "Bonus points" can be awarded for each of the bonus cards collected by the players during the course of multiple consecutive hands of blackjack. Once a player has collected a predetermined number of bonus points, the player is awarded a prize by the casino as a bonus gift. This bonus prize in this way provides the added incentive for players to remain at the blackjack table, regardless of whether the player is winning or losing while playing blackjack.

The bonus cards used within the Ten Stix 21 ™ game preferably replace the ten suits within each pile of cards so that, for example, one set of six pile cards could contain six bonus cards but not ten suit cards. During the normal course of a blackjack hand, each bonus card carries the value of ten and can be used by both a player and the dealer as a ten. However, players have the option to either keep the bonus card and play it as a ten or trade the bonus charge with the dealer for the next card in the group. If the player chooses to trade the bonus card, the player receives a bonus point for the end of the auxiliary game. However, the bonus point does not impact the player's current blackjack hand. Rather, after trading the bonus card and receiving a replacement card from the dealer, the blackjack hand continues in a normal manner. On the other hand, if the player chooses to keep the bonus card, the game normally continues with the bonus card assigning a value of ten points within the player's hand. To prevent a player receiving the bonus card from gaining an unfair advantage over the other players during the course of the blackjack hand, a player will not be able to trade in the bonus card if the bonus card "leads to bankruptcy". player's hand (ie, if the value of ten points on the bonus card can cause the player's hand to exceed twenty-one points). In this way, in those cases, the bonus card will automatically be awarded its value of ten points and the player will not receive a bonus point to distribute the bonus card. In addition, the dealer does not have the option to trade a bonus card, and in this way a bonus card distributed to the dealer will count equally as the letter of ten. To complete or win the auxiliary incentive game within Ten Stix 21 ™, a player must accumulate ten bonus points in one sitting at the same table. In essence, a player starts with zero points when he first sits at a Ten Stix 21 ™ table and receives a single bonus point for each bonus card traded with the dealer. When the player trades a bonus card of ten, the player completes or wins the auxiliary game and is awarded the prize by the casino. Nevertheless, the bonus points accumulated by a player during the course of a number of blackjack hands may not be carried by the player to another table nor may the player save or carry accumulated bonus points to be used in subsequent sessions at the same table . In addition, the bonus points of a first player can not be transferred to another player at the table or taken to a subsequent player who takes the place of the first player at the table. In this way, the player is encouraged to remain at the blackjack table for extended periods until the player has accumulated the ten bonus points required to win the auxiliary game and thus the casino prize. In particular, the Ten Stix 21 ™ version of blackjack tends to increase the duration of a player's stay at the blackjack table, since the player's determination to win the bonus prize will typically increase as he continues to accumulate points. of bonus. Actually, a player can continue to play Ten Stix 21 ™ for hours after they can usually leave a conventional blackjack table due to the belief that they will eventually win the bonus prize. The previous Ten Stix 21 ™ game required that the dealers physically trade a player's bonus card for an object such as a special chip known as a "lick". These lamers are then displayed by each player at a designated point on the gaming table immediately to the player's position. Once the player accumulates ten lamers trading bonus cards of ten in one sitting at the Ten Stix 21 ™ table, the player then flips the lamers to the dealer and picks up the bonus prize offered by the casino. Of course, as noted above, a player is not allowed to transfer or trade the lamers to other players at the table, nor is the player allowed to take the lamers if the player leaves the table before accumulating ten lamers and claiming the lamers. bonus prize. However, due to the tangible nature of the lamers, it was usually difficult to have a policy to drive the players and reinforce the previous rules, particularly at a table where a large number of players enter and exit the game. For example, a player who accumulates one or more lamers but who does not have enough funds to continue playing blackjack may try to transfer the lamers clandestinely to another player or leave the table with the lamers in the hope of using those lamers in a hard game of Ten Stix 21 ™ As a more specific example, a Ten Stix 21 ™ player with less than ten lamers can decide for a number of reasons to leave the table and leave the game. The player is then required to return the lamers to the dealer so that they can be used with subsequent players. However, the player may try to pocket some of the lamers, thus returning only the remaining lamers to the dealer. If a busy, exhausted, distracted or new delivery person does not remember how many lamers have been accumulated by the player, the dishonest player will probably not reveal this or expose it. The player can then save or transfer those lamers to another player without the intention of clandestinely adding those extra lamers to the player's total. In essence, an unscrupulous player could count the inability of the dealer or multiple dispatchers to keep track of the exact number of lamers distributed to each player during the course of a number of hours, and thus the dishonest player in the previous example, you only need to accumulate six or seven lamers in one session, while using the lamers obtained in the previous session, to claim the casino bonus prize. The use of lamers to keep track of each player's bonus points provides a number of opportunities for dishonest players to thwart the purpose of the auxiliary game (ie, keeping players at the table for extended periods), since such players can legally transfer or remove the lamers from the game table, thereby promoting the incentive for such players to remain at the table. This way, although the use of the lamers allow a conventional blackjack table to be used for a Ten Stix 21 ™ game with little or no modification, there is a need for improvements to control and mark the auxiliary game that can be controlled on a reliable basis only by the dealer and that are not subjected to abuse by dishonest players. It is also advantageous for the casino to promote the game of an auxiliary game. Promoting the interest of players to play the auxiliary game has the positive effect of also increasing the game of the primary game as observed. One of the recognized aspects to promote games in casinos is to attract the attention and fanfare of the winners to those games. it can take the form of visual and audible announcements of the player's success, such as turning on screens and bells of sound, tones and noises to call attention to the player's success. The game of the auxiliary game with lamers and the awarding of the prizes through the dealer It makes it difficult to recognize the player who wins and announces his success to other players in the vicinity. This invention is implicated with respect to these and other factors.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION One aspect of the present invention allows an auxiliary game to be controlled and marked on a more reliable basis. Another aspect of the available improvements of the present invention relates to assuring the casino that the bonus points associated with the game of the auxiliary game will be more accurately represented and will not be clandestinely transferred by an unscrupulous player to another game. A further aspect of the present invention relates to facilitating the responsibilities and obligations of the dealer in a primary game, when an auxiliary game is played simultaneously with the primary game. Among other aspects of the present invention is the ability to promote the game of the auxiliary game, and indirectly to promote the game of the primary game, creating public displays and the recognition associated with the awarding of prizes to the winners of the auxiliary game. The auxiliary game according to the invention rewards the legality or fidelity of the players for the main game and / or the auxiliary game by awarding prizes and payments once the player has accumulated a predetermined number of bonus points. Such points can be awarded in addition to other prizes in the auxiliary game. For example, the auxiliary game may offer the opportunity to win a number of prizes and may include a relatively large amount of prizes. The rules in the auxiliary game may stipulate that the big prize may be won based on the possession of a particular combination of luck of game symbols, and a smaller fixed prize is awarded to a constant player who reaches the predetermined number of points. of bonus. Similarly, the rules can provide the opposite prizes, mainly smaller ones that can be won directly, although the larger payouts in the auxiliary game can only be won after reaching the predetermined number of bonus points. The auxiliary game may require payment to participate, thus allowing a greater amount of prizes to be awarded. Although bonus points can be awarded by receiving a special game card or by attaching a game symbol with a randomly selected symbol (for example, by selecting a number, color, column, etc., on the roulette wheel), the bonus points are also they can be awarded through random determination, that is, a random selector can determine if a player is going to be awarded a bonus point. In the auxiliary game, it is possible that some prizes are of greater value, and said higher value value can also be awarded by giving more than one bonus point to the winning player. Although the invention provides better control with respect to an auxiliary game that requires the accumulation of bonus points as a condition to be eligible to win a prize, the invention can be configured in order to allow a player to transfer the points of interest. bonus to another table or to another player position on a table, to receive a non-zero entry number of bonus points (preferably randomly determined), and for a player position to maintain the number of bonus points acquired when a player in that position the game continues without paying to participate in the auxiliary game and when the player is replaced by a new player. When configured in this way, there may be a greater incentive to start participating in the auxiliary game. In an auxiliary game that requires payment for participation, leaving the bonus points in the player unit when a player leaves the player position does not "cost" the casino, since the bonus points have been paid directly. If a player decides to leave the table, a spectator will be attracted to occupy the position and take the bonus points. In the event that the players can take the bonus points with themselves, the bonus points can be exchanged for a single chip of value by the dealer, or the bonus points can be loaded to a smart card or "Dahlias" key to not be downloaded to the new table. The individual value card can be exchanged in the new table with the dealer, who will enter the value of the card in his console. Using individual value tokens, players can not combine two tokens to earn a higher trade value at another table. Stamping time, bonus points recorded on the smart card or other means of monetary value recording, the new table may refuse to accept the bonus points if more than a predetermined amount of time elapsed, for example, the time for a snack or time to change tables, or even longer if desired by casino managers. Instead of reducing the number of bonus points stored or saved to zero, when a player exceeds the time limit, it may be possible to reduce the bonus points as a function of time. As an incentive to arrive at a table, the auxiliary game according to the invention can be configured to grant a random number of bonus points. In the event that ten points are required to win a prize in an auxiliary game, the random number will be between zero and five, for example, with a distribution selected by the casino administration to have attraction, while still being beneficial for the home. In the latter case, a player, who has little attention to stay at a table long enough to accumulate the desired number of bonus points to win a prize, may be lured to stay at the casino table to see the benefit of his luck. initial, obtaining a relative large number of bonus points. According to the invention, a player is eligible to win a prize when a predetermined number of bonus points are reached. The auxiliary game according to the invention does not need to directly and automatically grant a fixed or random value prize when the predetermined number of bonus points has been reached. For example, by reaching the predetermined number of bonus points simply the player becomes eligible to win an improved amount of a regular prize or pay (for example, a double prize or pay) either in the main game or in the auxiliary game . In such a multiplier or pay enhancement or regular prize configuration, the number of bonus points required to be eligible may also be reduced, for example, five points, and the number of bonus points may be restored when the following or the following bonus points are earned. The excitement in this way can be increased when the predetermined number of bonus points is reached since the player will be eager to win a prize that qualifies the legal bonus point improvement while actually waiting to not receive an additional bonus point. Also, the bonus bonus point can cancel the improvement eligibility and also earn a smaller bonus prize. These and other aspects of the present invention are obtained through an electronic system, which controls and displays the progress of each player playing the auxiliary incentive game simultaneously with the primary casino table game. A bonus point screen is placed to be seen by each player to display the number of bonus points received by each player in the board game. A controller connects to the bonus point screen and has first means to make the screen display an increased number of bonus points received by each player as the new bonus points are received by each player, and second media pair make the screen reset and display a bonus point game number in response to the number of bonus points received by the associated player that reaches the predetermined number of bonus points. The bonus point screen is preferably provided by a player interface unit associated with each player of the primary game and placed on the gaming table adjacent to the primary game player, each player interface unit including a screen element to display the number of bonus points received by the associated player, the second means causing the player interface unit to reset the screen element to display the number of points game of bonus. Alternatively, the bonus point screen may comprise a common screen mounted to be seen by the players on the game table, the common screen having a screen element for each player. Also, preferably, the screen element is an "n" array of lights, where "n" is the predetermined number of bonus points after which a prize is awarded. Preferably, a prize screen is attached to the game table and the prize screen includes an indication of at least one prize available to each player who accumulates the predetermined number of bonus points. The controller is connected to the prize screen to control the indications of the prize screen to show the prize received by each player. Another embodiment of the invention includes a dispatcher interface unit connected to the controller and the player interface unit. The dealer interface unit includes dealer control elements, which control the bonus points displayed in the player interface units, and which activate a prize selection control element also present in the player interface unit. . After activation and manipulation of the prize selection control element, the player is able to select one of a plurality of different prizes available for which the auxiliary game wins. A further embodiment of the invention involves a method for controlling and displaying the progress of each player playing the auxiliary game. The method involves joining the prize screen to the table, indicating on the prize screen a plurality of different prizes, selectively illuminating the indication of each prize on the prize screen, displaying in each player interface unit the number of points of bonus received by the player, controlling the number of points displayed in each player interface unit by the dealer control elements that manipulate the dealer of the dealer interface unit, by activating a prize selection element in the interface unit of player through the manipulation of the dealer of the elements "of dealer control, randomly indexing between the different available prizes, and selecting one of the prizes randomly indexed by the player that manipulates the player's prize selection element. preferred embodiments of the present invention involve randomly indexing through each or not of the different prizes and to correlate the present time when the prize selection control element is manipulated to determine the prize awarded; set less surpluses to randomly index each of the most valuable prizes; produce audible sounds when each prize is indicated, when each prize is awarded and when the bonus points are indicated in each player interface unit; and displaying control information of the game to the dealer in the dealer interface unit which speeds up the dealer to manipulate the dealer control elements according to the rules of the game of the auxiliary game; among other things. A more complete appreciation of the nature, scope and improvements of the present invention can be obtained by referring to the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below, the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and the claims annexes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a game table on which a primary card game, such as blackjack is played, and also illustrates an electronic system incorporating the present invention to play an auxiliary incentive game simultaneously with the primary game . Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a player interface unit of the system for playing the auxiliary game shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a driver interface unit of the game system of the auxiliary game shown in the Figural. Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a system screen for playing the auxiliary game shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a block diagram of the system elements for playing the auxiliary game shown in Figures 1-4 . Figure 6 is a block diagram of the elements of the system for playing the auxiliary game according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A conventional casino type card game table 20 on which both a primary card game and an auxiliary incentive game are played is shown in Figure 1. Although the preferred mode of the auxiliary incentive game (specifically Ten Stix 21 ™ in the preferred embodiment) will be described along with the blackjack game as the primary casino table game, it should be understood that the present invention can be used with a variety of different table games, and card games in particular, where You want to stimulate the players to prolong their game at that table. An electronic system 22 (Figure 5) for displaying and monitoring the progress of each player in the auxiliary game is shown placed on the table 20. The electronic system 22 preferably comprises four separate primary components, which are electrically connected to each other. These four elements include a player interface unit (30 also shown in Figure 2), a dealer interface unit 32 (also shown in Figure 3), an awards screen 34 (also shown in Figure 4) and a controller 36 (shown in Figure 5). The four components 30, 32, 34 and 36 are shown in an interconnected system relationship in Figure 5. The four components of system 22 can be added to a gaming table conventionally shown in Figure 1, with a minimum of modifications to the table 20. A separate explanation of each of the four components 30, 32, 34 and 36 is provided below with respect to its use to play a new and improved version of the Ten Stix 21 ™ game, which has been developed for used to play the auxiliary incentive game with the electronic system 22 Each player at the table 20 has its own player interface unit 30 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 Each player interface unit 30 is supported on or fixed to a playing surface 40 (Figure 1) of the table 20 adjacent to an outer semicircular rail 42 of the table Although Figure 1 illustrates seven player interface units 30 arranged along the rail 42 demonstrating as the maximum number of players who can play simultaneously at table 20, different sized game tables can be adapted to either a larger or smaller number of player interface units 30 Each player interface unit 30 preferably includes ten screens or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) 46, as shown in detail in Figure 2 Although the previous versions of Ten Stix 21 ™ used special chips or lamers to denote the accumulation of bonus points, the LEDs in each unit The player's own interface 30 exhibits the number of bonus points accumulated by that player The bonus point LEDs 46 are individually activated or lit only by the dealer, using the dealer interface unit 32 (Figure 1) As noted by the player receives bonus points during the Ten Stix 21 ™ auxiliary game by trading the bonus card with which the player is working during the game of the card game. If the player chooses to play the bonus card in the primary game, the bonus card is considered to have a predetermined traditional card value., such as a letter of ten. The LEDs in the player interface unit 30 are arranged in a row as shown in Figure 2, although it is within the scope of the present invention to arrange the bonus point LEDs 46 in a different pattern or even to replace the multiple LEDs. with an individual numeric screen which can be increased by the dealer. Similarly, and depending on the type of auxiliary game played, the number of bonus point LEDs 46 can be set from ten as illustrated and described here. The bonus point LEDs 46 and ignition control of the LEDs 46 provide a number of advantages over the prior practice of using physical lamers to denote the accumulation of bonus points. For example, the LEDs 46 allow both the dealer and the player, as well as the spectators and the other players in table 20, to quickly and accurately give access to the number of bonus points that each player has accumulated. Importantly, however, "the dealer has the ability to maintain control over the allocation of each player's bonus points." Similarly, when the player chooses to stop playing at the table, he ensures that the dealer collects all the Player bonus point simply cleared the screen of the 46 LEDs turned on from the Player Interface Unit 30. thereby preventing unscrupulous players from illegally transferring their bonus points to other players or taking one or more of their bonus points with when they leave the table 20. As an example, a player who has accumulated five bonus points, the system of the present invention represents these five bonus points as five LEDs 46 turned on in the player interface unit 30. If that player decides leaving the table 20, the dealer reinitializes the corresponding player interface unit 30 (ie, deactivates the five LEDs) through the use of the dealer interface unit 32 According to the rules of the game Ten Stix 21 ™, a new player must start the game with zero bonus points, which is assured since none of the LEDs 46 is on when the new player starts playing. In addition, since only the dealer can increase the LEDs in each player interface unit 30, there is no opportunity for players to clandestinely transfer the bonus points to each other. In addition, the distributors can be rotated in the game, as usual, without having to remember or communicate the information regarding the number of bonus points accumulated by each player at the table. In essence, these and other advantages are obtained since the bonus points are no longer represented by physical objects such as lamers. Each player interface unit 30 also includes an award selection button 48, which can be played by the player to obtain a prize when the player wins the auxiliary game. Button 48 activates a switch or other control element (not shown). A player wins the auxiliary game once the player receives ten bonus points and all the LEDs 46 of the ten bonus points are turned on. Once a player wins the auxiliary game, the ten LEDs 46 turned on in that player interface 30 preferably begin to flash at a time. After the conclusion of the blackjack hand or another primary card game in which the player accumulates his ten bonus points, the dealer uses the dealer interface unit 32 to activate the prize selection button 48 on the interface unit of player 30 who wins. The requirement that the player wait until the button 48 has been activated by the dealer, preferably prevents the player from interrupting the flow of the blackjack hand where the player accumulates his ten bonus points. The activated prize selection button 48 (which can then also be illuminated to show that it has been activated) is pressed by the player and a randomly selected prize is awarded to that player. Activation or touch of the prize selection button 48 signals the controller 36 to initiate a random prize selection and grant the operational sequence. The operational sequence of prize awarding is reflected by visual screens and audible effects from the prize screen 34 shown in Figures 1 and 4. In addition, by touching the activated reward selection button 48 it is also caused that the controller 36 reinitializes the corresponding player interface unit 30 by deactivating the ten flashing LEDs 36 as well as turning off the light associated with the 48 reward selection button. this way, the player interface unit 30 is ready for a subsequent auxiliary game that will begin after the random prize is awarded. The prize screen 34 preferably contains eight indications and lights 56 indicative of four different prizes (ie, two indications and lights indicate a single prize for each), although the present invention contains different numbers of lights and prizes that will be adapted by screens of awards 34 of different sizes and configurations. In the example of the prize screen 34 shown, the prize screen configuration is an eight point star, with lights 56 located at each point 58 of the star configuration. Printed or otherwise displayed on prize screen 34 is the amount of or a description of the prize associated with each light 56. For example, the four prizes shown in Figures 1 and 4 on the prizes screen 34 correspond to different values monetary awards of 25, 50, 100 and 200 dollars. The corresponding values of the four prizes are preferably located in diagonally opposite positions on the eight-point star, as shown. Once the activated prize selection button 48 is touched by the wig player, the controller 36 illuminates the lights 56 on the reward screen 34, one at a time in a rotational sequence around the 58 points. Simultaneously, a conventional tone generator (not shown) of controller 36 generates signals to play with accompanying sound effects from a speaker 60, which preferably is integrated within the prizes screen 34. After a predetermined period during which the lighting Sequential rotational of lights 56 and sound effects occur, a conventional random number generator of controller 36 selects one of the prizes. The status of the random number generator is correlated with the instant when the player presses the prize selection button 48 to establish the prize that is selected and awarded. The controller 36 responds to the random prize selection and one of the lights 56 corresponding to that randomly selected prize is then lit continuously or in an intermittent manner to indicate the prize. Of course, the rotational sequence of lights 56 is terminated once the selected prize is announced in this manner. Preferably, the sound effects associated with the rotationally sequential illumination of the lights also ceases or changes to indicate that the prize has been selected and awarded, such as playing with a different musical selection as the cattle light 56 is continuously illuminated at an intermittent way The aspects of the prize screen 34 provide a number of advantages with respect to the Ten Stix 21 ™ game, where a single prize was typically awarded to the winner of the auxiliary game. First, allowing the wig player to press the rewards selection button 48 (Figure 2) and thus gain some control, albeit random, over the prize awarded, and promoting the awarding event with lights and sounds in the prize screen 34, the present invention provides a more visceral and useful experience for the wig player. The player feels that he is actually participating in the prize selection process. In addition, the use of lights 56 and sound effects on the screen 34 will attract the attention of viewers or other players within the casino, which will promote and activate the fact that players are wig prizes for playing the auxiliary game as well as the primary game. This promotion will presumably improve the excitement and interest level of all players, as well as reinforce the determination of the remaining players at the table to continue playing so that they can also receive an auxiliary prize. In addition, the casino may offer multiple prizes as opposed to only one prize, as a result of the driver's random selection capability. Offering multiple prizes of increased value, also a larger segment of players can be attracted to play the games. Although the selection of prizes can be truly random (that is, equal surpluses are assigned to the possibility of winning each of the prizes), the controller 36 also offers the possibility of assigning different predetermined surpluses to win each of the prizes. For example, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surpluses allocated to win each of the four prizes may be as follows: 1: 2 of a 50.00% chance of winning the fourth prize of $ 25; 1: 3 or a 33.34% chance to win the third prize of $ 50; 1: 8 or a 12.50% chance of winning the second prize of $ 100; and 1:24 or a 4.16% chance to win the first prize of $ 200. In this way, although the controller 36 may continue to choose a random prize, the controller 36 may be programmed to restrict its random prize selection according to the previous surpluses. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the delivery interface unit 32 is contained within an enclosure that is attached to or rests on the table 20 adjacent to the position where the dispenser would normally be standing or sitting adjacent to a dispenser. bank of chip trays 68 of the table 20. The delivery unit 32 preferably includes at least one liquid crystal display ("LCD") 70, which exhibits a menu-driven interface to be used to guide the dispatcher through the steps necessary to control the system 22. The information presented on the LCD 70 is generated by the controller 36. The dealer interface unit 32 also preferably includes a series of player position or player number buttons 72. The buttons 72 activate switches on other control elements (not shown) to signal the control 36 In this manner, in the preferred example described herein, where the table 20 adapts seven player is, the dealer interface unit 32 contains at least seven consecutive player number 72 buttons. The player number buttons 72 are preferably numbered or physically located to correspond to, and indicate each of the players and player positions. around the table The player number buttons 72 are used by the dealer to select the player interface unit 30 to turn on the bonus point LEDs 46 and to activate the prize selection buttons 48 The dealer interface unit 32 preferably includes an AWARD button 74, which the dealer touches to grant an individual LED or bonus point to a player. Once the dealer touches the bonus point AWARD button 74, the controller 36 is signaled and the next of the bonus player LEDs 46 of the selected player is illuminated. The dealer interface unit 32 also includes an AWARD PRE-button. MIO (AWARD PRIZE) 76, which the dealer touches once the player has accumulated the ten bonus points or the ten LEDs 46 on his interface unit 30 The accumulation of the ten bonus points and the 46 LEDs on will be recognized by the controller 36 and the ten on LEDs 46 will cause the LEDs 46 of the winning players to flash on their interface unit 30 However that player's 48 prize selection button will not be activated automatically due to the desire to allow the dealer conclude with the current hand of cards in the primary game before providing the winning player with the opportunity to select his prize from the auxiliary game. Once the dealer concludes the hand of the primary game, the dealer then touches the AWARD 76 button to start the prize award sequence. Once the appropriate player number button 72 is selected by the dealer, that player can press the prize selection button 48 on his interface unit 30 to initiate the random prize selection process described above. The buttons 74 and 76 activate switches or other control elements (not shown) to signal the controller 36. Although the dealer preferably touches the player number button 72 to identify and determine the player to whom the bonus points will be assigned and Game prizes for the subsequent touch of the dealer of the GRANT AND AWARD buttons of the bonus point, the reverse way may also occur, depending on the control sequence established by the controller 36. For example, the dealer can touch the button to GRANT bonus point 74, and in the controller he can ask the dealer for the display on LCD 70 asking which player should be awarded the bonus point. In this circumstance, the dealer could respond by touching one of the player number buttons 72 that correspond to the player to whom the bonus point will be awarded. A similar sequence could be followed with respect to the AWARD 76 button, before the dealer can award the bonus game prize to the winning player. The logical condition of requiring ten LEDs 46 turned on from the player interface unit 30 which will be determined by the controller 36 can also ensure the correct activation of the AWARD AWARD button for the winning player. Once the button of the appropriate player number 72 selected by the dealer, that player can press the prize selection button 48 (Figure 2) on his interface unit 30 to start the random prize selection process described above. In general, however, the LCD 70 in the splitter interface unit 32 provides the possibility of communicating the information directly to the dispatcher from the controller 36, and it may be necessary or desirable to obtain efficient and correct play of the auxiliary game. The LCD screen 70 may display the selected player number or position, the number of bonus points awarded to each player, the playing time of each player, and a variety of other information that may be directly important or only in the form peripheral of interest to the game of the auxiliary game.

The controller 36 and system 22 shown in Figure 5 is preferably implemented by a conventional microprocessor or microcontroller (not specifically shown), which has been programmed to perform the functions described above, and possibly additional functions not directly relevant to the present invention. . The programming of the microprocessor or microcontroller will be achieved by recording in its memory those functions and logical constraints necessary to achieve the game of the auxiliary game as described. In addition, logic circuits and conventional logic elements, in addition to the conventional tone and random number generators described above, can be used to achieve and determine the logical conditions and constraints involved in playing the auxiliary game. Said logic circuits and other elements can be implemented separately from the microcontroller or microprocessor but, for convenience of illustration, Figure 5 shows all these operational elements grouped together as a single controller 36. Preferably, the controller 36 will also include a non-volatile memory. containing information that defines the basic instructions for the microcontroller or microprocessor. Advantageously, electrically programmable read only memories can be used for this purpose. The use of non-volatile memory in this matter eliminates the need for separate batteries and other power supplies that will be included as part of the controller 36. The functional components of the controller 36 preferably are also contained within a single enclosure, and this single enclosure can be conveniently attached to the bottom of the table 20 or somewhere else on the table that does not interfere with or become evident to the players, thus avoiding additional distractions and changes of conventional representation and a casino-type card table 20. energy from a conventional AC source such as a wall outlet is preferably supplied directly to the controller 36. The controller 36 also includes the power supply elements necessary to convert the standard electrical energy to the levels necessary to activate the components of the system 22. The player and dealer interface units are in electrically connected to the controller 36 through individual cables of multiple conductors. The multi-conductor cables supply electrical power to the interface units and also conduct the control signals caused by the oppression or the touch of the buttons (which results in switch closures) as described, as well as driving the energization signals to the screen lights, LEDs, LCD and speaker. As a result, only a minimum of cables need to be directed into the table 20, and power cables must not be attached to each of the elements. Preferably, the player's interface units are positioned adjacent to the table rails 42 (Figure 1), and the individual cable of multiple cables is directed directly below the rail 42 without obstructing the table. Therefore, only a minimal amount of modifications is required to convert a standard blackjack table or other casino-style card table to a table capable of supporting the game of an auxiliary game according to the present invention. As can be seen from the above description, the present invention provides a number of benefits with respect to the Ten Stix 21 ™ games, and a number of improvements for playing an auxiliary game simultaneously with a primary card game. First, the use of an electronic player interface 30 allows bonus points to be awarded through intangible LED screens as opposed to lamers or tangible chips, and this intangible bonus point granting prevents unscrupulous players from transferring some or all your bonus points to a different game or player. Thus, the electronic version of the Ten Stix 21 ™ game achieves the purpose of encouraging players to remain for extended periods at the gaming table while no extra prize is provided to players who do not remain for sufficient periods to complete or win the auxiliary game . The use of the electronic rewards screen 34 with these visual and audible effects increases the level of excitement and entertainment for the game and also helps to promote and concentrate the game to other players. Also, by providing the opportunity for the winners to proactively select their own prize randomly, by pressing the 48 prize selection button to initiate the random ejection, the assistant game can attract more players. Finally, the use of a random prize generator allows casinos to offer a variety of prizes opposed to the standard prize, and this may attract a larger number of players, even if the controller 34 is programmed to increase the surpluses that a player will gain. in prizes with lower values. Figure 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the bonus point screen 46 is provided on a screen 34 'mounted on a common table including eight individual numeric displays 46' associated with each of the player's positions. A prize amount screen 56 'is provided centrally on the screen 34'. In an alternative modality, the players who play to participate in the auxiliary game. Each player who participates in the auxiliary game pays the dealer using a chip or bet chip of a quantity that the dealer receives and then credits the player's account by pressing the credit key 75, selecting the corresponding amount using the keys above / down (for example 74) and then pressing the player key 72. The controller then sends a player interface credit signal 30 to display the amount paid for a numerical screen 31. When the screen 31 is reduced with each game to zero , the player no longer participates in the auxiliary game, and in this way the player must pay the dealer to supplement his credits. In the alternative mode, a player who participates in the auxiliary game may win prizes in the auxiliary game in addition to the bonus prize. which is earned when a predetermined number of bonus points have been accumulated. A random bonus point generator 38 is also provided to make the auxiliary incentive game more exciting, and to draw attention to the auxiliary game among those who are not participating. The game generator 37 can give points to players who do not participate, that is, to vacant player positions or occupied player positions where the player has opted not to play the auxiliary game. The latter case requires that the controller receives an additional entry to know which positions are occupied by players who are not playing the auxiliary game, since the controller 36 only knows directly which players are paying to play the auxiliary game. The dealer can provide said entry by pressing a "in play" key (not shown) and then the player position key 72 for the player. The random bonus point generator 37 can "pester" non-participating players by randomly awarding one or more bonus points. Bonus points can accumulate and provide a strong incentive to join the auxiliary game. The generator 37 may also randomly select "destroy" the bonus points accumulated in a non-participating player position in order to provide the additional incentive to join in the auxiliary game resulting from the "free" bonus points that are a "Limited time offer". Similarly, the generator 37 can operate to provide random bonus points to player positions where no player is still playing in the main game. The spectators in this manner are attracted to screen 46 and 46 'of the bonus points to join the main and auxiliary game in the particular player position. The delay to join can result in, of course, that the incentive is destroyed. The starting amount of bonus points can also be determined by the random generator 37 in case previous player quantities may not be left behind and the "inciting" amounts are not used. The generator 37 can also be used simply to provide auxiliary game players who participate with bonus bonus points. When a player leaves the gaming table 40, the rules of the house may prevent the player from taking the bonus points with it, as is the case with the preferred modality. In the alternative mode, however, the player may take the bonus points to a new game table or leave them for the next player. A player can take the points by asking the dealer if he takes his Dallas ™ key or smart card type button and charges his bonus point credits on the key. The delivery panel 32 has a key interface 77 and a transfer button 73 for this purpose. The dealer touches the key on the interface 77, presses the transfer key 73 and then the player position key 72 The controller 36 confirms the validity of the key, and loads the bonus points with a time and code on the key. authorization When the player goes to another table, the key is given to the dealer when it is played at interface 77. The data on the key is checked to ensure the time and the authorization code that these are valid and that the player can transfer them. points under the rules of the house. The dealer then presses the player position key 72 to transfer the points to a new player at a new table. When a key or smart card is not used, special tokens can be granted to players who wish to move between the tables, however, it is very desirable that said tokens have the exact amount (ie 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6, 7, 8 and 9 points) to prevent players from combining two of these chips to start at a new table with bonus points closer to the predetermined number to win a prize. The currently preferred embodiment of the invention, its improvements and the alternative embodiment have been described with a degree of particularity. This description has been made by way of preferred example, it should be understood that the scope of the present invention is defined by the following claims, and necessarily should not be limited by the detailed description of the preferred embodiment set forth above.

Claims (27)

1. - A system to monitor and display the progress of each player in an auxiliary incentive game played simultaneously with a main or primary casino table game led by a dealer or dealer and played at a game table, the auxiliary game involving each player which receives bonus points during the course of the primary game and each player being eligible to receive a prize only after accumulating a predetermined number of bonus points, the system comprises: a bonus point screen to display the number of bonus points received by each player at the gaming table; and a controller connected to the bonus point screen and having first means to make the screen display an increased number of bonus points received by each player as new bonus points are received by each player, and second means to make the screen reinitialize and display a bonus point game number in response to the number of bonus points received by the associated player reaching a predetermined number of bonus points.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the bonus point screen comprises a player interface unit associated with each player of the primary game and placed on the gaming table adjacent to the primary game player, each unit of player interface including a screen element to display the number of bonus points received by the associated player, the second means causing the player interface unit to reinitialize the screen element to display the bonus points game number .

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the bonus point screen comprises a common screen mounted to be easily seen by the players on the game table, the common screen having a screen element for each player.

4. A system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the screen element comprises an arrangement of "n" lights, where "n" is the predetermined number of bonus points after a prize is awarded. .

5. A system according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a player participation indicator to provide an indication that if each player of the primary game has paid an additional bet to participate in the auxiliary game.

6. A system according to any of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: a random bonus point generator associated with the controller for randomly granting one of none or at least one bonus point of one of none and at least one player

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein: the game table has predetermined player positions and the bonus point screen has display elements associated with each of the player positions; the controller randomly grants selected bonus points to the player positions when no one is playing in the player positions; the random bonus point generator means randomly generates a bonus point erase signal; and the controller subtracts one from none, one, any and all bonus points accumulated by player positions when no player is playing in player positions.

8. A system according to claim 6, wherein the gaming table has predetermined player positions and the bonus point screen has display elements associated with each of the player positions; the controller grants randomly selected bonus points to player positions when the player is playing in the player position and has not paid to participate in the auxiliary game; Random bonus point generator means randomly also generate a bonus point erase signal; and the controller subtracts one from none, from one, from any or all of the bonus points accumulated by the player positions when the player playing in the player position has not paid to participate in the auxiliary game.

9. A system according to any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: means for resetting the bonus point screen when the associated player leaves the gaming table.

10. A system according to claim 9, further comprising a start bonus point generator for randomly determining the start number of bonus points displayed on the bonus point screen for a new player starting to play at the game table.

11. A system according to any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising: means associated with the controller for receiving bonus points from another gaming table.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the controller comprises a monetary value recording medium reader for receiving bonus points from another gaming table.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein the controller comprises means for being used by the dealer or croupier to enter a value of bonus points for a player in exchange for a bonus point chip of similar value.

14. A system according to claim 2, further comprising: a prize screen including an indication of at least one prize available to each player that accumulates the predetermined number of bonus points, the prize screen including less a light emitting element associated with each indication, the controller being connected to the rewards screen and further comprising third means for controlling the light emitting elements associated with the indications on the rewards screen to indicate the prize received by each player.

15. A system according to claim 14, further comprising: a dispatcher interface unit associated with the primary settler and placed on the table adjacent to the deliverer, the deliverer interface unit including deliverer control elements to signal the controller to display bonus points on the bonus point screen.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the player interface unit further comprises a player control element manipulated by the associated layer to select the prize.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein: the dispatcher control elements of the dispatcher interface unit also signal the controller to activate the player control element in the player interface unit associated with the controller. the player who has accumulated the predetermined number of bonus points; and the player control element used by the player to select the prize is activated in the player interface unit by the controller in response to a signal from the dealer control elements of the dealer interface unit.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein: the controller further determines when each player has received the predetermined number of bonus points that allow the player to select the prize; and the player control element used by the player to select the prize is activated by the controller after determining that the controller has received the predetermined number of bonus points and after the signaling of the dealer control elements.

19. A system according to claim 16, wherein: the prizes screen includes indications of a plurality of different prizes available for each player that accumulates the predetermined number of bonus points; and the controller randomly selects one of the plurality of different prizes in response to the manipulation of the activated player control element of the player interface unit by the associated player.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein: the controller includes a random generator; The controller causes the random generator to select each of the prizes on a random basis; and manipulation of the player control element by the associated player sends signals to the random generator to select one of the prizes.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein: the random generator is indexed through each of the different prizes on a random basis; and the moment of time when the player control element is manipulated is correlated to one of the prizes that is indexed by the random generator.

22. A system according to claim 20, wherein the controller establishes different surpluses for the random generator so that it selects each of the prizes.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein: each of the different prizes has a different value; and the controller establishes lower surpluses to select the highest value prizes.

24. A system according to claim 19, wherein the prizes screen includes a separate indication for each of the different prizes; and the controller sends signals to the rewards screen to illuminate the light-emitting element of each indication of each prize immediately prior to the selection of the prize that results from the manipulation of the associated player of the player control element of the interface unit. player.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein: the controller sends signals to the rewards screen to turn on the light emitting element of each rewards indication in a predetermined sequence.

26. A system according to claim 25, wherein the indications of each prize are placed on the prizes screen in a predetermined pattern capable of displaying a sequence; and the predetermined sequence of turning on the light emitting elements of each reward indication is correlated with the predetermined pattern of indications on the prizes screen.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein: the predetermined pattern is a rotational figure; and the predetermined sequence is a rotational sequence around the pattern of rotational figure indications. 28 - A system according to claim 25, further comprising: a loudspeaker connected to the controller, and wherein the controller further includes a tone generator connected to the loudspeaker and which operates to produce a predetermined audible sound of the loudspeaker during power on. the light-emitting elements of each award indication. 29. A system according to claim 15, wherein: the dealer interface unit includes a display to display the game control information to the deliveryman; and the controller gives signal to the display of the dealer interface unit to display the information by rushing the dispatcher to manipulate the dealer control elements according to the rules of the game of the auxiliary game. 30. A system according to claim 14, further including: a speaker connected to the controller; and wherein: the controller further includes a tone generator connected to the speaker and operating to produce a predetermined audible sound of the speaker during the lighting of the light emitting elements of the prize indications before selecting the prize. 31. A system according to claim 30, wherein. the controller controls the tone generator to produce an audible sound of the speaker when a bonus point is displayed on each player interface unit.