PH12015000058B1 - Online gaming system, method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaming system is described that allows online participants to participate in a modified version of Baccarat played in a gaming establishment by live participants and a live dealer. In one embodiment, remote game participants receive a video feed or other electronic representation of physical playing cards dealt by the live dealer to the live game participants. A server coordinates play among the remote game participants and the modified Baccarat game by accepting wagers from the online game participants for any Bank hand to beat one or more Player hands, for any Player hand to beat one or more Bank hands, or ties occurring among a Bank hand and a Player hand.

Description

8. Each remote participant may place bets similar to the ones described above in relation to the traditional Bank and Player hands and/or similar to the wagers placed on live participants’ Bank and/or Player hands.

In one embodiment, wagers placed that do not involve the “traditional” Bank and

Player hands are only settled at the conclusion of the round of play. This is because the modified game of Baccarat described herein compares each of the live participants’ hands to the traditional hands, and there is no comparison during the round of play of any live participant hand to another live participant’s hands. The term “traditional Bank hand” and “traditional Player hand” as used herein refers to the Bank hand and Player hand that is dealt in traditional Baccarat, no matter who is acting as the “Banker”. In certain versions of Baccarat, the dealer acts as the “Banker”, while in other embodiments, a Bank hand and a Player hand is dealt to one of the live participants each round, rotating among the live participants as each round is played. This is known typically as “American-style”

Baccarat.

Modified Game of Baccarat per System 100

Game play is coordinated among the live dealer, live participants, and remote participants as follows. The live dealer deals physical playing cards to live participants playing the modified game of Baccarat at an established gaming venue, such as a casino, on a gaming table 124. The live participants typically sit at gaming table 124 having a layout, in one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, which will be explained in more detail later herein.

In some embodiment, the physical playing cards are held by a “shoe” capable of holding, for example, up to eight decks of physical playing cards. By using eight decks of physical playing cards in a shoe, downtime due to shuffling is minimized, while also lowering the chances of card-counting, as there are eight times the number of each type of cards compared to a normal 52-card deck of cards. In a tournament embodiment, however, participants who are able to keep track of cards already played from the shoe can have an advantage over other participants who do not possess such talent. While it is true that tournament participants are competing against each other for standing, each participant will still be playing their Bank hands against the traditional Player hand and their Player hands against the traditional Bank hand.

As physical playing cards are dealt by the live dealer, they are scanned by detector 104, which is any device capable of converting the values of the physical playing cards into electronic representations. For example, detector 104 could be a card reader, which visually scans each physical cards dealt by the dealer and generates electronic data representative of the card values, such as a digital image or other representative information, such as a numerical value and an identification of a card suit, as determined by known techniques inside detector 104.

In another embodiment, detector 104 comprises a still or video camera which captures images of each card and/or the gaming table showing each of the hands dealt by the dealer and generates digital images or video streams/files. For example, in a game having 7 live participants, where 3 of the live participants wish to receive their own bank and player hands, a total of 4 sets of Bank/Player hands will be dealt by the live dealer (one set representing traditional Bank/Player hands, and one set to each of the three live participants wishing to receive their own hands). In another embodiment, both a card reader and one or more cameras could be used to provide electronic representations of the cards, as well as a visual overview of action occurring on the gaming table. In an embodiment where participants are allowed to decide when to receive a third card, the commission structure may be altered to account for the changing odds that occur under these circumstances. For example, the traditional “house” edge for the Player bet is 1.24% and the edge for the Bank bet is 1.06%. Allowing participants to determine whether to draw a third card will alter these odds and, thus, an altered commission may be imposed when rules of the game deviate from traditional rules. In a related embodiment, the commission charged to participants may vary, depending on whether participants are given an opportunity to decide when to receive a third card. If “late bets” are allowed, e.g., any bet placed after initial wagers are placed prior to cards being dealt, a commission may be charged to participants wishing to place such late bets.

In yet still another embodiment, at least some of the cards dealt during the game by the live dealer may be dealt face down. For example, at least one of the two initial traditional Bank or Player hands could be dealt face down, and/or one of the two initial live participants’ Bank and/or Player cards. In this embodiment, one camera could be positioned to view the face down cards as the live participants peek at them, or by the use of a transparent gaming table or positions on a regular gaming table that have transparent windows built in to allow viewing of face-down cards by the camera. The camera’s view of the face down cameras could be provided to large audiences, such as people viewing the game over a television, cable, satellite, or Internet network. Such video distribution may occur during an embodiment where the live participants comprise one or more celebrities, to further increase interest and awareness of the game. Such “face-down” action may be used to add uncertainty to the game, to live participants and online participants alike.

Detector 104 may provide the electronic representations to server 102 directly or indirectly over a wide-area network 106, such as the Internet. In another embodiment, detector 104 may communicate with server 102 via an optional dealer interface unit 108, described in more detail below. Although server 102 is shown as located outside gaming establishment 120 in Fig. 1, in other embodiments, it may be located within gaming establishment 120 or its functionality incorporated into analysis system 122. In any case, electronic representations from detector 104 are provided to serve 102 so that remote game participants may participate in the modified game of Baccarat.

System 100 may comprise analysis system 122 used to perform a variety of functions pertaining to the modified game of Baccarat. For example, analysis system 122 may determine wagering types and amounts, determine scores for each Baccarat hand dealt by the live dealer, determine whether to award a third card to any Baccarat hand, determine odds of each Baccarat hand winning against any other Baccarat hand as game play progresses, determine final scores, determine which hands win against other hands, and track payouts to the live participants and/or remote game participants. Analysis system 122 typically comprises a microprocessor or microcontroller that executes machine-readable code stored in an electronic memory, wherein the analysis system performs some or all of the aforementioned tasks for use in a modified game of Baccarat.

In one embodiment, analysis system 122 generally handles functions involving the live participants at gaming table 124, while server 102 handles functions involving remote game participants.

As mentioned above, system 100 allows remote game participants to participate in the modified Baccarat game as it is being played by the live participants at gaming table 124. Each remote participant participates in the game using a respective electronic device 110, 112, and 114, such as a smartphone, tablet computer, desktop computer,

PDA, dedicated gaming terminal, or other electronic device capable of communications with server 102. Any of the electronic devices may be located within gaming establishment 120 or located remotely. In the case of an electronic device located within gaming establishment 120, the electronic device could comprise an electronic gaming machine 118, similar to traditional video poker or slots, connected either wirelessly or via wires, to analysis system 122, server 102, or both. Typically, each of the electronic devices communicates with server 102 via wide-area network 106, which acts as an intermediary between the remote game participants and game actions occurring as the modified game is played at the gaming establishment. In the case of electronic gaming machine 118, it may receive electronic representations of the cards dealt by the live dealer either directly, via wired or wireless means, or indirectly, for example via a server (not shown) located on the premises of gaming establishment 120.

Remote game participants may participate in the modified game typically by pre- establishing an account with an online gaming provider, which may or may not be an entity associated with the gaming establishment hosting the modified game. Each account is typically funded by a respective remote game participant. When a remote participant wishes to participate in the modified game, he or she logs into his or her account via a website provided by server 102 (or another server), whereupon server 102 may provide an indication of a number of different games that are currently active, and/or games that may begin in a relatively short time period. The remote game participant selects one of the modified games to participate in, for example, and sends such selection to server 102 via wide-area network 106. In response, server 102 may send a notification to the live dealer that a remote participant has joined the game as each remote participant requests participation in the game.

Server 102 receives electronic representations from detector 104 of the physical cards dealt as they are dealt by the live dealer as each round of play occurs. The electronic representations are then provided by server 102 to current and/or prospective remote game participants. In one embodiment, the electronic representations are sent to each remote participant’s electronic device. In another embodiment, the electronic representations are posted to a website that offers an interface to remote game participants to participate in the game. In yet another embodiment, the electronic representations are, additionally or alternatively, provided to a display device 116, such ~as a TV monitor or other electronic display. In this embodiment, the display 116 is typically located in a public venue, such as a bar, nightclub, casino floor, to present the electronic representations to a large number of potential participants in order to entice them to play the game via their personal, electronic devices. The electronic representations may be presented as a live video feed of the modified game as it is being played by the live dealer and live participants, or it may be presented in a graphical format, having graphical representations of the cards, live participants, cards, etc. as the game is played. In this embodiment, game play may be displayed to a large number of potential remote game participants without the potential game participants having to use a personal electronic device keep track of game play. This embodiment could be useful, for example, for remote participants who are frequently interrupted by phone calls on their smartphones, for example.

In one embodiment, server 102 receives wagers from remote participants via their respective electronic devices as the modified game is being played by the live dealer and live participants. In this embodiment, the remote game participants act merely as observers that are able to place wagers on the traditional Baccarat Player and/or Bank hands and/or to place wagers on hands received by any of the live participants at gaming table 124. For example, a remote game participant using electronic device 110 may place an initial wager that a traditional Bank hand will beat a Player hand provided to one of the live game participants, or that a Player hand of one of the live game participants will beat a Bank hand provided to another live game participant. The wagers may be placed after the remote game participants receive the electronic representations from detector 104, either via each participant’s electronic device, or as a result of being displayed by display 116.

In one embodiment, online participants are limited to place wagers only on the traditional Bank hand and the traditional Player hand, i.e., not allowed to place wagers on the live Players’ hands, when the rules of the game permit live participants to choose whether to receive a third card. This is because a live participant may decide to play his own Bank or Player hand in a detrimental way to the live participant, but also to an online participant who placed a bet on the live participant’s Bank or Player hand. In addition, by limiting online wagers to only the traditional Bank or Player hands, collusion amount live participants and online participants is minimized. In other embodiments, online participants may be allowed to place bets only after a live participant has decided to receive a third card or not. For example, if a live participant received a Player hand, and the rules of the game permit the live participant to receive a third card under any circumstances, an online participant might be allowed to place a wager on either the traditional Bank hand or the live participant’s Player hand only after the live participant has informed the dealer of whether or not he or she would like to receive a third card.

This, again, prevents the live participant from playing “poorly” in an attempt to cause online participants to lose their wagers based on decisions made by the live participant, and may prevent the live participant from teaming up with online participants in a cheating scheme.

Server 102 receives additional electronic representations as the round of play progresses, and also provides these to any remote game participants participating in the modified game. Alternatively, or in addition, the additional electronic representations are provided to display 116. At the conclusion of the round of play, server 102 generally determines which remote game participants have won their bet(s), and credits their respective accounts accordingly. Similarly, server 102 debits these accounts when wagers are unsuccessful.

Server 102 may communicate with the live dealer via dealer interface 108. Dealer interface 108 could comprise any one of a variety of electronic devices able to present information from remote game participants via server 102 and/or server 102 directly to the live dealer and/or provide signals from the live dealer to any of the remote game participants or server 102. For example, dealer interface may receive indications from server 102 when one or more remote game participants have joined or left the game, receive indications from server 102 when one or more remote game participants have placed a wager, receive a signal from server 102 when a time limit has been reached for remote game participants to place wagers, receive streaming video from one or more of the remote participants, receive wagering information from server 102 such as wager types and amounts received from the remote participants, or any other information * pertinent to game play to and/or from remote game participants. In any case, the live dealer may be alerted to any of these events by dealer interface 108, such as by visual or audio circuitry, such as an electronic display, amplifier/speaker combination, etc.

Dealer interface 108 may comprise a smartphone, tablet computer, fixed computer, a custom display/user input device, or any other device capable of providing information to the live dealer and/or sending information from the live dealer to the remote game participants. Dealer interface 108 may communicate with remote game participants via circuitry to connect directly or indirectly to wide-area network 106, or it may communicate with detector 104 which, in turn, transmits and receives signals from server 102 on behalf of dealer interface 108. Alternatively, dealer interface 108 may transmit and receive signals on behalf of detector 104. Other well-known communication techniques and related circuitry may be used as well.

Table Layout :

FIG. 2 shows an example gaming table layout of gaming table 124 to facilitate processing of user input during a modified game as described in this specification. A number of input sensors 210, 220, 230 can be provided for each live participant space 272, 274 and 276 allocated to each participant. Each of the input sensors 210, 220, and 230 can be incorporated with betting spaces (e.g., 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269 and 270 as shown in Fig. 2a) to automatically determine whether any of the live participants have placed a bet on any of the betting spaces.

The input sensors 210, 220, 230 can include a pressure sensor, a touch sensor, an optical reader, a weight sensor, a microchip such as a radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensor associated with betting chips or a combination thereof. FIG. 2b shows an example design of input sensor 220 for illustrative purposes. The input sensor 220 can include multiple delineated active areas that can be dynamically arranged and customized with respect to shape and size based on the application. For example, FIG. 2b shows the input sensor implemented as 10 distinct active areas 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227,

228, 229 and 231 that correspond to each betting/participant space 272, 274 and 276 (see

FIG. 2a). Each active area can detect via touch, pressure, etc. whether a bet has been placed and, in some embodiments, the amount of the bet.

For example when a participant places a bet on his bank hand (B1) by placing chips on active area 222, the active area 222 senses the chips via touch, pressure, and/or optical means and sends a signal to an analysis system (e.g., analysis system 122) and/or directly to dealer interface 108. The signal from the active area 222 can include data that identify the type of chip placed and the amount based on touch, pressure optical scan or a combination thereof. Thus, the analysis system 122 can automatically determine the types of bets placed by the participant and the amount of his/her wager for each type of bet.

The dealer interface 108 can provide an indication to the dealer as to which live participant hands to provide.

In addition, or alternatively, gaming table 124 can include individual display units 212, 222 and/or 224 located at or near the table. For example, a single display unit 212 can be incorporated into the surface of the table to provide data associated with each live participant’s player and/or bank hand. The display unit 212 can be mounted on the surface of the table so that the display surface of the display unit is flush with the surface of the table. Once flush-mounted onto the surface of the table, the display unit 212 can be rotated or tilted so that the display surface is positioned at an angle with respect to the surface of the table. The display unit can be rotated or tilted to obtain any angle in the range between 90 and 180 degrees with respect to the surface of the table. The 180 degree angle represents the display surface of the display unit being flush with the surface of the table. The single display unit configuration is shown in FIG. 2a with respect to the participant 1's space 212 for illustrative purposes.

In some implementations, two display units 222 and 224 can be mounted on the table, one for each hand (e.g., Player and Bank hand in Baccarat) of each participant. By providing a display unit for each hand, the information can be further separated and thus assisting each live participant to keep track of his/her hands. FIG. 2a shows the two display unit configuration with respect to participant 2's space 220. While, different participant spaces 272, 274 and 276 are shown with different display unit configurations, all participant spaces can be provided with the same display configurations (i.e., all with one display unit or all with two display units.) Alternatively, the different display configurations can be available for each participant space.

Further, the system 100 can include visual indicators 252 and 254 for each participant's space to provide a visual cue as to whether each participant should receive his/her own Player hand and/or Bank hand. Based on the above determination of the types of bets placed by the participant, the analysis system 124 can send a signal to the visual indicators 252 and/or 254 to allow the participants and the dealer to know that the participants should receive his/her own Player hand and/or Bank hand. Visual indicator 254 can correspond to a participant's Player hand and the visual indicator 252 can correspond to the participant's Bank hand. Alternatively, or in addition, the visual cue can be provided to the live dealer via the dealer interface 108.

The visual indicators 252, 254 can include a simple light, such as an LED light that lights up when the corresponding hand should be dealt. When the participant places a bet in the active space 221 or 222 only, the visual indicator 252 lights up but not visual indicator 254. When the participant places a bet in the active space 225 or 226 only, the visual indicator 254 lights up but not visual indicator 252. When the participant places a bet on both active spaces (221 or 222) and (225 or 226), both visual indicators 252 and 254 light up.

The visual indicators 254 and 252 can include a simple light with no particular shape. Also, the visual indicators 254 and 252 can include any appropriate terms associated with each hand of cards. For example, in a Baccarat game, the visual indicators can include terms "Player Hand" (or "Player") and "Bank Hand" (or "Bank") respectively that light up. Other visual indications can be implemented, such as blinking light, an illustration, a photograph, etc.

While the active areas 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229 and 231 are shown as circular shapes, other shapes can be implemented. For example, rectangles, triangles, stars, etc. can be implemented. Similarly, the visual indicators, such as visual indicators 254 and 252 can be implemented in other shapes including rectangles, triangles, stars, etc.

FIG. 2c shows example information 260 displayed on an output device (e.g., display device 212, any of the electronic devices 110, 112, and/or 114 operated by remote game participants, and display 116). The analysis system 122 and/or server 102 can output data to these devices to display real-time status and information of each participant throughout each round of game play. For example, the information 260 displayed can include the real-time score for each patticipant's hand(s) and the house's hands. In another example, after the initial two cards are dealt for each initial Baccarat hand, two card scores can. be provided. Then, after a third card is dealt, the three card score can be displayed. In some implementations, the information can be used to inform each participant of the rules of the game including options available to each participant. For example, each participant can be informed whether a third card can be obtained. In addition, each participant can be informed whether an additional bet is available. If an additional bet is available, the dynamically calculated odds for placing additional bets on the participant's own hands can be displayed. The information 260 shows the above described information for participant 3 for example.

FIG. 2d shows example information 282 displayed on any of the aforementioned devices that includes information on all positions, including live participants and remote game participants. In another embodiment, information may be apportioned by analysis system 122 and/or server 102 to include only live participant information for presentation to only live game participants at gaming establishment 122. Similar to FIG. 2c, the system allows each participant to place bets on his or her own hands, as well as other participant’s hands. Also, the odds for additional bets can be displayed for all positions, as shown, as each round of play occurs.

Each of the display units can include a touch-screen interface to allow a participant to provide input in response to the displayed information 280 that includes interactive information. For example, using the touch-screen, a participant may place bets on the participant’s own hand(s) or other participant’s hand(s), or both, using electronic betting means.

FIG. 2e shows example information 284 displayed to enable participants to place bets on other participant’s hands in addition to his or her own hand(s). The information 284 includes information for each of the participants, including remote game participants.

This information 284 can be displayed on individual display units to allow each participant to place electronic bets on his own hand(s) and other participant’s hand(s).

ONLINE GAMING SYSTEM, METHOD AND APPARATUS

BACKGROUND

L Field of Use

The present application relates generally to the casino and gaming arts.

IL Description of the Related Art

Online gaming has grown in popularity over the years. Participants wishing to participate in any number of different types of games may do so easily using a computer, tablet, or mobile device in communication with one of a variety of online gaming providers over the Internet. Typically, participants establish accounts with selected online gaming providers, fund the accounts, and then are able to select games from among many offered by the online gaming provider. Games may include a variety of electronic card games, such as Texas Hold ‘em, or blackjack, Baccarat or other casino- type games, including roulette, keno, bingo, etc. The games are played by online participants each using a mobile or stationary computer, tablet, smart phone, or some other consumer device.

Some games, however, have not gained in popularity as much as others. For example, the game of Baccarat is not widely offered by online gaming providers, in part because of the traditional manner in which it is played and, in part, due to its relative obscurity, especially in certain regions of the world. Some view Baccarat as uninteresting, because in traditional variations, participants do not make determinations when to receive another card after the initial bank and player hands have been dealt.

It would be desirable to make the traditional game of Baccarat more interesting, while at the same time affording online game participants more of an opportunity to participate and enjoy the game of Baccarat.

CO

: Additional Bets

In addition, each game participant may be able to place additional bets on each of their hands and some or all of other game participants’ hands with odds associated with each potential bet tracked by either analysis system 122, server 102, or both. Additional bets, if allowed by house rules, may be placed before a 3rd card is dealt to the traditional

Player hand and/or before a 3rd card is dealt to the traditional Bank hand. In contrast to bets that are required to be placed before the beginning of a round, additional bets are based on changing odds of winning as the game progresses. Additional wagers may also be placed in reference to any of the live participants’ hands, such as after initial hands are provided to live participants, but before any live participant hand receives a third card.

FIG. 3 shows an example table layout 300 for enabling each live participant to receive his own Player and Bank hands. The table layout 300 represents a mini-Baccarat table depicting enough surface space for four live participants 310, 320, 330 and 340 in addition to space 350 for traditional Bank and Player hands. However, depending upon table size, more or less than four live participants could be accommodated.

The table layout 300 is designed to provide each live game participant with more space on a surface of the table than in a traditional Baccarat game. The table layout 300 includes enough surface space for each participant to place bets and to receive and view up to two hands (e.g., participant’s own Player and Bank hands). In addition, the space 310, 320, 330, and 340 provided to each live participant in the table layout 300 includes each enough surface space for a dealer to deal up to two hands to each participant without intermingling the cards dealt to a participant’s first hand with the cards dealt to that game participant’s second hand. Further, the spaces 310, 320, 330, and 340 provided to each participant includes enough space for the live dealer to deal up to two hands for each participant without intermingling the cards dealt to one participant with cards dealt to another participant.

The table layout 300 includes betting spaces 311, 321, 331, and 341 for each participant’s Player hand versus the traditional Bank hand. The table layout 300 also includes betting spaces 313, 323, 333, and 343 for each participant’s Bank Hand versus the traditional Player hand. In addition, the table layout 300 includes a separate betting space for a TIE bet on either hand. The betting spaces 312, 322, 332 and 342 represent a

TIE bet betting space for each participant’s Player hand (versus the traditional Bank hand). The betting spaces 314, 324, 334 and 344 represent a TIE bet betting space for each participant’s Bank hand (versus the traditional Player Hand).

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of table layout 400 for allowing additional wagers above the initial wager placed before receiving cards. In addition to the features described with respect to FIG. 3 above, the table layout 400 includes betting spaces for additional bets for each participant. For illustrative purposes, the table layout 400 shows enough space on a surface of a table for three participants 410, 420 and 430 in addition to the space 440 for traditional Bank and Player hands. However, the table layout 400 can be modified to accommodate more than three live participants.

For example, space 410 provided for live participant 1 includes an initial betting space 412 for participant 1's Player hand versus the traditional Bank hand. The space 410 provided for live participant 1 also includes an initial betting space 416 for participant 1's

Bank hand versus the traditional Player hand. Also, betting spaces 411 and 415 for additional bets are provided for betting on participant 1's Player and Bank hands, respectively. Two more additional betting spaces 419 and 421 for placing cross bets on the traditional Bank and Player hands, respectively, are also shown. During game play, a live participant may start with a bet placed on his own Player hand. Then, as part of the additional bets allowed, based on casino rules, the participant may place a cross-bet on the traditional Bank hand. This may be desirable when the participant realizes during game play that the traditional Bank hand is more likely to win than the participant’s

Player hand. A similar cross-bet on the traditional Player hand can be placed.

The space 410 for participant 1 also includes betting spaces for TIE bets including initial TIE bets and additional bet TIE bets. The initial TIE bet spaces include an initial

TIE bet space 413 for participant 1's Player hand vs. the traditional Bank hand and an initial TIE bet space 417 for participant 1's Bank hand vs. the traditional Player hand. In addition, the space 410 includes additional bet TIE bet spaces including an additional bet

TIE bet space 414 for participant 1's Player hand vs. the traditional Bank hand and an additional bet TIE bet space 418 for participant 1's Bank hand vs. the traditional Player hand.

Similar betting spaces are provided for other participants. Thus, the spaces 420 and 430 provided for live participants 2 and 3 respectively also include the initial and additional bet spaces for each live participants’ Player hand vs. the traditional Bank hand, each participants’ Bank hand vs. the traditional Player hand, and Tie bets for both Player and Bank hands of each live participant as described above.

Each remote game participant may place wagers similar to live game participants, as just described. That is, each remote game participant may place a wager on any of the live participants’ hands and/or the traditional hands, typically in any combination. For example, a remote game participant may place an initial wager (prior to the start of a round of play) on live participant 1’s Bank hand beating the traditional Player hand, participant 2’s Player hand beating participant 2’s Bank hand, and a Tie occurring between participant 3’s Player hand and participant 1’s Bank hand, if participant 1 has decided to receive a Bank hand, participant 2 has decided to receive both a Player hand and a Bank hand, and participant 3 has decided to receive a Player hand, The decision to receive the various hands by participants 1, 2, and 3, in one embodiment, are in response to each of the live participants placing a wager indicative of each’s desire for his or her own Baccarat hand(s) prior to a round of game play. After the initial Baccarat hands have been dealt by the live dealer to each of the live participants and the traditional Bank and Player hands, and before a third card is dealt to one or more Player hands, each remote participant may, in one embodiment, place a wager or wagers on any of the hands beating any other hand, or a Tie occurring between any of the hands. After the live dealer has provided a third card to any Player hand requiring such, and before a third card is dealt to one or more Bank hands, the live participants and the remote participants may be given another opportunity to place a wager or wagers on any of the hands beating any other hand, or a Tie occurring between any of the hands.

Thus, a new and exciting game of Baccarat has been described, where live game participants can receive their own Baccarat hands and place traditional Baccarat wagers, wagers on one or both of their own Baccarat hands, and/or on other live participants hands. In addition, remote game participants may participate by either placing traditional wagers and wagers on the live participants’ hands, or on those hands plus their own, or other remote game participants’ hands.

Determination of Winning Hands

Independent of the number of hands dealt to each live participant or remote participants, winning hands are determined using the standard rules of Baccarat as follows:

A. Each game participant’s Player hand versus the traditional Bank hand.

B. Each game participant’s Bank hand versus the traditional Player hand.

C. For TIE bets: (1) TIE on each game participant’s Player hand versus the traditional Bank hand. (2) TIE on each game participant’s Bank hand versus the traditional Player hand. (3) TIE on any game participant’s Bank hand against one or more other game participant’s Player hands. (4) TIE on any game participant’s Player hand against one or more other game participant’s Bank hands. (5) TIE between a game participant’s Player hand and the same game participant’s Bank hand.

D. A game participant’s Player hand versus the same game participant’s Bank hand.

E. A game participant’s Bank hand versus the same game participant’s Player hand.

F. Any game participant’s Bank hand against one or more other game participant’s Player hands.

G. Any game participant’s Player hand against one or more other game participant’s Bank hands.

Fig. § illustrates a functional block diagram of one embodiment of server 102.

Shown is processor 500, memory 502, user interface 504, and communication interface 506. Server 102 comprises an electronic computing device, such as a computer or a server, wherein processor S00 executes machine-readable computing instructions stored in memory 502 that causes server 102 to enable remote game participants to place wagers on live participants’ hands. Server 102 may perform other functions related to remote game participants, including calculating scores of each Bank and Player hand, including the live participants hands, the traditional hands, and the remote participants’ hands, } calculate odds of any hand beating any other hand, offering payout information for any wagers of any hand beating another hand as game play progresses during a round, and provide account management for each remote game participant.

Processor 500 comprises a general-purpose microprocessor well known in the art or it may comprise a custom or semi-custom ASIC. Processor 500 generally executes machine-readable instructions stored in one or more non-transitory storage devices, such

RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROMs, UVPROMs, etc. User interface 504 comprises any one or more of a combination of hardware necessary for a technician or other technical personal to operate and/or maintain server 102.

Communication interface 506 comprises circuitry to send and receive digital signals to/from a variety of sources, such as one or more remote game participants, to dealer interface 104, and/or to/from analysis system 122. In one embodiment, such signals are sent to/from these sources via wide area network 106, such as the Internet using standard Internet protocols such as TCP/IP. Such circuitry and communication protocols are well known in the art.

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of a method for allowing remote game participants an option to place wagers on hands played by live participants located at gaming table 124. The method is implemented by either analysis system 122, server 102, or both, executing machine-readable instructions stored in a respective memory of either the system or the server. It should be understood that in some embodiments, not all of the steps shown in FIG. 6 are performed and that the order in which the steps are carried out may be different in other embodiments. It should be further understood that some minor method steps have been omitted for purposes of clarity.

In one embodiment, the game is played as punto banco, or North American

Baccarat, where there is no discretion whether a third card is provided to the Bank or participant hands.

In another embodiment, the game is played as chemin de fer, where one participant is designated as a “banker”, and this designation rotates around the table to each participant as the game progresses between hands. In each round, the banker wagers the amount he wants to risk. The other participants, in order, then declare whether they will "go bank," playing against the entire current bank with a matching wager. Only one participant may "go bank." If no one "goes bank," participants make their wagers in order. If the total wagers from the participants are less than the bank, online participants may also wager up to the amount of the bank. If the total wagers from the participants are greater than the bank, the banker may choose to increase the bank to match; if he does not, the excess wagers may be removed in reverse play order. In some embodiments, these traditional rules of chemin de fer may be altered, because in some cases, the traditional rules limit the number of participants who engage in any round of play. For example, if the banker places a large wager for others to match, perhaps only one participant will want to risk the large dollar amount relating to the wager placed by the banker, thus reducing the number of active participants in that round of play. This may result in a dull, uninteresting game, especially to online game participants.

In either of the above-described embodiments, the game may be played in tournament style, as described above, where live participants and/or online participants are allowed one or more “buy ins”, and the participants are eliminated as they exhaust their chips.

At block 600, any live game participant at gaming table 124 may place a wager on his/her own Player, Bank and/or Tie positions (e.g., positions 211, 213, 212, 214.) The bets may be sensed by sensors 210, 220, and/or 230 for example and then provided to analysis system 122, server 102, or both. In one embodiment, remote game participants may also place an initial wager to receive their own Bank and/or Player hands, indications of such received from the remote game participants’ electronic devices, over network 106, and to either analysis system 122, server 102, or both.

At block 602, in response to the live participants placing bets, analysis system 122, server 102, or both determines a number of hands (e.g., a player hand and/or a bank hand) to deal to each live participant based on the received initial bet(s). The analysis system 122 or server 102 can send a signal to dealer interface 108 to indicate the determined number of hands (and types of hands, such as player or bank) to deal to each live participant. This signal may, additionally or alternatively, be sent to the visual indicators 252 and 254 (see FIG. 2b) located at each live participant’s space to provide a visual cue to the live dealer as to whether such live participants should receive his/her own Player hand and/or Bank hand, for example.

At block 604, in one embodiment, analysis system 122 or server 102 provides an indication to any remote game participant who is participating in the game being played on gaming table 124 of the wagers placed by any of the live participants prior to any hands being dealt. In another embodiment, an indication of any wagers placed by any remote game participant may also be provided to each of the other remote game participants. Such indications are displayed on each remote game participant’s electronic device, and/or to display 116, in order to allow the remote game participants to place an initial wager on one or more combinations of hands to be dealt by the live dealer. For example, if live participant 1 placed a wager to receive a Player hand, and live participant 2 placed a wager to receive a Player hand and a Bank hand, the online game participants may place a wager on any of the following final game outcomes: a) Participant 1°s Player hand beats the traditional Bank hand; b) Participant 1’°s Player hand beats Participant 2’s Bank hand; ¢) Participant 2’s Bank hand beats Participant 1’s Player hand; d) Participant 2’s Bank hand beats the traditional Player hand; e) Participant 2’s Player hand beats the traditional Bank hand; f) a Tie occurring between any of the aforementioned hands.

At block 606, one or more wagers may be received by analysis system 122, server 102, or both from one or more remote game participants via their electronic devices, as described above.

At block 608, based on the received signal to dealer interface 108, the live dealer deals the first of two cards to each of the live participants at gaming table 124 who placed a wager in order to receive Bank and/or Player hands and traditional Bank and Player hands. As each of the cards are dealt by the dealer, they are recorded by detector 104 and converted into electronic representations of the cards, and provided to analysis system 122, server 102, or both. The electronic representations are then provided by either analysis system 122 or server 102 to the remote game participants via their electronic devices, or provided to one or more displays 116.

The order of the deal can proceed in a counter clockwise fashion around the table.

Based on the received bet for each live participant, an initial card is dealt to each live participant beginning with the first live participant to the left of the dealer, for example.

For example, if the first live participant places a bet on just Player and/or Tie, then that live participant receives one Player hand, and the first card dealt is the first card of that live participant's Player hand.

The above described initial card example applies to each live participant in the order of the deal (e.g., counter clockwise order) and to the traditional Bank and Player hands as applicable.

Next, a second card is dealt to each live participant/remote game participant who : 5 placed a wager to receive a Bank and/or Player hand, and the traditional Bank and Player hands. The procedure described above for dealing the first card is followed for the second card. For example, those live participants that place a bet on both of his/her Player and

Bank positions receive two second cards, one for each hand. Each of these cards is likewise converted into an electronic representation by detector 104 and provided to analysis system 122, server 102, or both, and then provided to remote game participants via their electronic devices and/or one or more displays 116.

In one embodiment, the live dealer may deal one or more of the initial cards to each hand face down.

Alternate Process of Dealing the First Two Cards of Each Hand (to be

Determined by House Rules)

In some implementations, each of the live participants and the traditional hands are dealt both of the initial card and the second card for each hand before other participants or the traditional hands receive cards. For example, if the first live participant to the left of the dealer is to receive both a Player and a Bank hand, the first two cards received by the live participant is dealt to the first live participant's Player hand and the second two cards are dealt to the first live participant's Bank hand. After the first live participant has received all of his/her cards for all of his/her hands, each of the other live participants receive his/her cards using the same system process of distribution.

At block 610, in one embodiment, after the two cards have been dealt to a Player hand and/or a Bank hand for each live/remote participant who placed a wager, and the traditional hands, analysis system 122, server 102, or both may calculate theoretical, mathematical odds of any particular hand beating any other hand and/or calculate payoff odds to be presented to participants. The payoff odds may or may not take cards already played into consideration. This may be useful to participants, as the number of possible wagering opportunities become great as participants receive their own Bank and/or

Player hands. The payoff odds are generally based on the mathematic odds, typically giving participants less of a payout than the mathematical odds would allow. One or both types of odds may be presented to live participants and remote game participants alike, to help them determine whether or not they will place a wager at this point in the round of game play for one hand to beat or tie another hand that has been dealt on the gaming table 124. The odds may be determined based on the then-current odds of a Tie hand occurring, or a win by any Bank hand against any other Player hand, or a win by any

Player hand against any other Bank hand.

For example, the mathematical odds may be calculated based on a combination of the current score of two hands being assessed and the particular cards that have already been dealt by the live dealer during the current and/or previous rounds of play (e.g., when multiple decks of cards are used in conjunction with a shoe). However, in another embodiment, the mathematical odds may be determined solely by the scores of each of the hands. In one embodiment, the mathematical odds are calculated based on the probability of any particular card value being drawn next by the dealer (e.g., 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,6, 7,8, or 9). Such probability may take into consideration the cards that have previously dealt. For example, a live table game participant who originally bet $1,000 on his own Player hand beating the traditional Bank hand who believes that he is going to lose this original wager might decide to place a $5,000 additional bet on the traditional

Bank hand. In this case, the mathematical odds of the traditional Bank hand beating the participant’s Player hand may be calculated to be 1-4, and the payoff odds offered to participants may be 1-5. If the traditional Bank hand wins, a game participant would win $950 ($1,000 less $50 commission) on the additional bet, which will cover most of the loss related to the initial bet on his Player hand.

In another example, payoff amounts may be altered as cards are dealt from a shoe containing multiple decks of cards. For example, the payoff amount described above, equal to 1-5, may be adjusted depending on which cards have been already dealt from the shoe. Thus, the payoff amount may by dynamically increased during game play to, for example, 1-5.2 by server 102 based on cards already dealt and provided to server 102 from detector 104, or dynamically decreased to, for example, 1-4.8, if the mathematical odds calculated by server 102, considering cards already dealt, decreases.

At block 612, after the odds have been calculated and provided to participants, a determination is made of whether a final result is known between any participant’s Player hand and the traditional Bank hand, based on traditional rules of Baccarat. In one embodiment, a determination is also made as to whether a final result is known between the traditional Player hand any participant’s Bank hands. Similarly, a determination may be made as to whether a final result is known between the traditional Player hand and the traditional Bank hand. Such determination(s) can be made manually by the dealer or automatically by the analysis system 122 and/or server 102. For example, a two-card score is calculated for each 2-card hand, and then the scores are compared to each other to determine whether a final result can be determined among the hands. A winning hand may be determined at block 612 in at least the following example cases: (1) The traditional Player hand and/or participant's Bank hand total is 8 or 9. (2) The traditional Bank hand and/or participant's Player hand total is 8 or 9. (3) As between any participant’s Player hand against another participant’s Bank hand, or between any participant’s Bank hand against another participant’s Player hand, if either or both have a total of 8 or 9. (4) The traditional Player hand total is either 6 or 7 and the participant's Bank hand total is 6 or 7. (5) The traditional Bank hand total is either 6 or 7 and participant's two-card

Player hand total is 6 or 7. (6) As between any participant’s Player hand against another participant’s Bank hand, or between any participant’s Bank hand against another participant’s Player hand, both have a total of either 6 or 7.

If a participant wins one or both hands, he or she is typically paid on the spot at the approved and published payoff for the particular bet. If a participant loses a bet, the wager is typically collected at that time by the live dealer (or server 102 debits a remote game participant’s account). Traditionally, any hands that are decided at this point in the game are removed from the gaming table 124. However, in one embodiment, these hands may remain on the table, for use in wagers that involve “cross-participant” wagers, ie, a wager placed between one participant’s Bank or Player hand against another participant’s Bank or Player hand.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein relate to gaming systems that allow online game participants to participate in a modified version of Baccarat played in a gaming establishment by live participants and a live dealer. The modified version of Baccarat allows participants to receive their own Bank and/or Player hands, and place wagers that involve these hands.

In one embodiment, the online game participants are able to place wagers on the outcome of any Bank or Player hand that is dealt to the live participants and/or traditional

Bank and Player hands. In this embodiment, a gaming system comprises a detector for providing electronic representations of physical playing cards dealt by the live dealer, wherein the traditional Bank hand and the traditional Player hand is dealt by the live dealer on a gaming table, and live participants participate in the modified game at the gaming table, wherein each of the live participants may receive a respective Player hand, a Bank hand, or both, a remote electronic device configured to enable a remote game participant to participate in the modified version of Baccarat over a wide-area network, a server, coupled to the detector and the electronic device, configured to, receive the electronic representations from the detector over the wide-area network, provide the electronic representations of the physical playing cards to the remote electronic device as they are received from the detector, receive a wager from the remote electronic device for one of the live participants’ Bank hands or one of the live participants’ Player hands to beat the traditional Bank hand or the traditional Player hand, respectively, determine a final game result between one of the live participants’ Bank hands and the traditional

Player hand, or between one of the live participants’ Player hands and the traditional

Bank hand, determine whether the wager from the remote electronic device was successful based on the final game result, and update an account balance associated with the remote game participant in accordance with whether the wager was successful.

In another embodiment, online participants are able to receive Bank and/or Player hands in addition to the traditional Bank and Player hands and the Bank and/or Player hands provided to the live game participants. In this embodiment, a gaming system

At block 614, analysis system 122 may receive additional wagers from the live participants, while server 102 may receive additional wagers from any of the remote game participants, as described above. Typically, such additional wagers may be placed regardless of a participant’s original bet, or may be placed without having placed an 5S original bet.

At block 616, when a final result cannot be determined after the first two cards are dealt, the analysis system 122, server 102, or the live dealer determines whether to deal a third card to any live/remote participant’s Player hands and/or the traditional Player hand.

One or more signals may be provided by the analysis system 122 or server 102 to dealer interface 104, indicating which Player hands are to receive a third card. .Each Player hand on gaming table 124 that is eligible to receive a third card in accordance with the rules of traditional Baccarat is dealt a third card. Each Player hand plays against the traditional Bank hand when this determination is made, as well as the traditional Player hand against the traditional Bank hand. As each third card is dealt by the live dealer, it is read by detector 104 and provided to analysis system 122, server 102, or both, and ultimately provided to online game participants.

At block 618, analysis system 122 or server 102 determines whether a final result can be obtained for Player hands that received a third card and, if so, determining whether those hands have beaten the traditional Bank hand. Server 102 may determine whether the wagers placed by remote game participants have been successful or not based on the third card. Server 102 may adjust any remote game participants’ account balance based on whether a final determination can be made in accordance with the third card provided to any of the live participants who received such a card. A third card is dealt to Player hands when the Player score is 0-5.

At block 620, in one embodiment, after the Player hands have been given the third card, analysis system 122, server 102, or both may calculate mathematical odds of any particular hand beating any other hand and/or calculate payoff odds to be presented to participants, as described above.

At block 622, analysis system 122 may receive additional wagers from the live participants, while server 102 may receive additional wagers from any of the remote game participants, as described above. Typically, such additional wagers may be placed regardless of a participant’s original bet, previous bet, or whether any previous bet has been placed or not.

At block 624, the analysis system 122, server 102 or the live dealer determines whether to deal a third card to the traditional Bank hand. In one embodiment, a third card is dealt to the traditional Bank hand when the Bank hand total is 0-5. In another embodiment, a third card is dealt to the traditional Bank hand in the following scenarios: (1) A participant's Player hand stands on two card total of 6 or 7 and the traditional Bank hand's starting total is 0-5. (2) A participant draws to a starting Player total of 0-5, and traditional Bank hand totals 0-2 and is entitled to draw a third card. (3) The traditional Bank hand total is 3-6, and the live participant draws a third card to his or her Player hand that entitles the traditional Bank hand to draw a third card.

At block 618, based on above scenarios, a third card is dealt to the traditional

Bank hand. Other scenarios are additionally, or in the alternative, available. The third card is read by detector 104 and provided to analysis system 122, server 102, or both.

At block 626, analysis system 122 and/or server 102 determines a final, three-card score for the traditional Bank hand and compares it to any of the Player hands that has not been finally determined to determine a final result between the traditional Bank hand and the remaining Player hands, based on traditional rules of Baccarat. Server 102 may then adjust any remote game participants’ account balance based on whether their wager was successful or not, based on the win determination made by server 102.

Play Now Moves to participants’ Bank hands vs. the traditional Player hand

At block 628, the analysis system 122, server 102 and/or the dealer may determine whether a final result can be determined after the first two cards are dealt, but this time with respect to processing the traditional Player hand vs. each participant’s

Bank hand. For example, as described above, the analysis system 122, sever 102 and/or dealer can calculate a two-card score for the traditional Player hand and any two-card

Bank hands provided to the participants to determine whether a final result can be determined among the hands. When the final result is known after the first two cards are dealt as described above, analysis system 122 and/or server 102 may settle any wagers placed by remote game participants after calculating the two-card scores of the traditional

Player hand and the participant Bank hands.

Examples of the above described results (traditional Player hand vs. game participant’s Bank hand) being known after the second card include the following: (1) Either participant’s Bank and/or the traditional Player hand starting total is 8 or 9. (2) The traditional Player hand's two card total is either 6 or 7 and the game participant's Bank hand's two card total is 6 or 7.

Final result may not be known after the first two cards are dealt for all the game participants. Thus, play may continue to block 630, where analysis system 122, server 102, and/or the live dealer determines whether or not to deal a third card to the traditional

Player hand, based on standard rules of Baccarat. Typically, the traditional Player hand will receive a third card if the two-card score is 0-5.

At block 632, in one embodiment, analysis system 122, server 102, or both may calculate mathematical odds of any participant Bank hand beating the traditional Player hand and/or any other Player hand and/or calculate payoff odds to be presented to participants, as described above.

At block 634, analysis system 122 may receive additional wagers from the live participants, while server 102 may receive additional wagers from any of the remote game participants, as described above. Typically, such additional wagers may be placed regardless of a participant’s original bet, previous bet, or whether any previous bet has been placed or not.

At block 636, the analysis system 122 and/or server 102 determines if a final result can be determined after dealing the third card to the traditional Player hand. The calculated three-card score for the traditional Player hand can be compared with the two- card score for each participant’s Bank hand to determine whether a final result can be determined for each participant. When the final results are known after a third card has been dealt to the traditional Player hand, analysis system 122 and/or server 102 may determine winners and settle any wagers placed by remote game participants after calculating the three-card score of the traditional Player hand and the participant Bank hands.

When final results cannot be determined after the third card is dealt to the traditional Player hand, analysis system 122, server 102 and/or the dealer determines whether each participant’s Bank hand should receive a third card, based on standard rules of Baccarat, at block 638. One or more signals may be provided by the analysis system 122 or server 102 to dealer interface 104, indicating which Bank hands are to receive a third card. Examples of these situations include the following:

A. Traditional Player hand stands on two card total of 6 or 7, and a live game participant’s Bank hand starting total is 0-5.

B. Traditional Player hand draws to a starting total of 0-5, and a live game participant’s Bank hand totals 0-2, and is entitled to draw a third card.

C. Traditional Player hand receives a third card on a two card total of 0-5 and a live game participant’s Bank hand starting total is 3-6, and the traditional Player hand draws a third card that does entitle a live game participant’s Bank hand to receive a third card.

At block 640, in one embodiment, analysis system 122, server 102, or both may calculate mathematical odds of any participant Bank hand beating the traditional Player hand and/or any other Player hand and/or calculate payoff odds to be presented to participants, as described above.

At block 642, analysis system 122 may receive additional wagers from the live participants, while server 102 may receive additional wagers from any of the remote game participants, as described above. Typically, such additional wagers may be placed regardless of a participant’s original bet, previous bet, or whether any previous bet has been placed or not.

At block 644, after a third card has been dealt to any participant’s Bank hand in need of a third card, analysis system 122 or server 102 determines a score for each three- card Bank hand and compares each score to the traditional Player score to determine a final result between each participant Bank hand and the traditional Player hand based on traditional rules of Baccarat. Each participant’s three-card Bank score may be calculated by analysis system 122 or server 102 and then compared to the traditional Player hand to determine winners. Analysis system 122 or server 102 may then adjust any remote game participants’ account balance based on whether their wager was successful or not, based on the win determination made by analysis system 122 or server 102. This process is performed for each game participant's Bank hand. In addition, the result of any cross- bets placed at any time during the round of play by any of the participants may be determined by analysis system 122 or server 102.

The methods or steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware or embodied in machine-readable instructions executed by a processor, or a combination of both. The machine-readable instructions may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may reside in an ASIC. In the alternative, the processor and the storage medium may reside as discrete components.

Accordingly, an embodiment of the invention may comprise a non-transitory processor-readable media embodying code or machine-readable instructions to implement the teachings, methods, processes, algorithms, steps and/or functions disclosed herein.

While the foregoing disclosure shows illustrative embodiments of the invention, it should be noted that various changes and modifications could be made herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The functions, steps and/or actions of the method claims in accordance with the embodiments of the invention described herein need not be performed in any particular order.

Furthermore, although elements of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated.

comprises a detector for providing electronic representations of physical playing cards dealt by the live dealer, a dealer interface for proving indications to the live dealer whether to deal an online game participant his or her own Bank hand, Player hand, or both, a remote electronic device configured to enable an online game participant to participate in the modified version of Baccarat over a wide-area network, a server, coupled to the detector and the electronic device, configured to, receive a wager from the remote electronic device for the online Player hand to beat the traditional Bank hand, in response to receiving the wager, sending a signal to the dealer interface for the dealer interface to alert the live dealer to deal an online Player hand for the online game participant, receive electronic representations from the detector over the wide-area network representing the traditional Bank hand, the traditional Player hand, and the online Player hand, provide the electronic representations of the hands to the remote electronic device as they are received from the detector, determine a final game result between the traditional Bank hand and the online Player hand, and update an account balance associated with the remote game participant in accordance with whether the traditional Bank hand beat the online Player hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description as set forth below, when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like referenced characters identify correspondingly throughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a is a perspective view of a system 100 for playing a game of cards in a live setting such as a casino or other authorized gaming establishment;

FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of a gaming table layout of a gaming table to facilitate processing of user input during a modified game of Baccarat;

FIG. 2a shows input sensors comprising spaces to automatically determine whether a live participant has placed a bet on any betting space of the gaming table layout shown in Fig. 2;

FIG. 2b shows one embodiment of one of the input sensors of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 2c shows example game information displayed on an output device;

FIG. 2d shows example information displayed on a display device that includes information on all positions, including live participants and remote game participants;

FIG. 2e shows example information displayed to enable participants to place bets on other participant’s hands;

FIG. 3 shows an example gaming table layout for enabling each live participant to receive his own Player and Bank hands;

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of gaming table layout for allowing additional wagers in addition to initial wagers placed before receiving cards;

Fig. § illustrates a functional block diagram of one embodiment of the server shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of a method for allowing remote game participants an option to place wagers on hands played by live participants located at a gaming table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system 100 for playing a modified game of Baccarat in a live setting such as a casino or other authorized gaming establishment 120. Such “live” games typically involve a human dealer who deals physical playing cards to human participants gathered around a gaming table 124 located inside the authorized gaming establishment 120. In addition, online game participants may participate in the game being played at authorized gaming establishment 120, by placing wagers on live participants’ hands.

Almost any type of game that can be played in a traditional casino environment may be played using system 100, however, the present discussion will center on playing a modified version of Baccarat, involving a “live” dealer playing with “live” participants at a gaming table 124 located inside gaming establishment 120, and also including one or more remote game participants, or “online” game participants (i.e., game players who participate in a modified game of Baccarat being played by the live participants via the

Internet), who may participate in the game being played by the live dealer and live participants.

In one embodiment, the modified game of Baccarat is played in “tournament” style, where participants may be allowed one or more “buy ins”, and participants are eliminated as they exhaust their chips. Tournament play may occur among live participants at a gaming table or among live participants and online participants. Further, tournament play may offer a prize to the winner, or even just the simple prestige of being recognized as the tournament winner in trade magazines or other forms of recognition.

The reward structure offered to participants may be regulated by local and/or regional laws where the tournament is physically being played. To make the game even more exciting to online participants, the live participants may comprise one or more celebrities.

Having celebrity participants has already been proven to attract large viewing interest, such as many live poker tournaments broadcast on television.

Traditional Rules of Baccarat

Baccarat is a simple gambling card game with only three possible results (excluding approved side bets): (1) Player, (2) Bank and (3) TIE. The term Player does not refer to a live participant, and the term Bank does not refer to the house. Player, Bank and TIE are merely names of three betting options from which a live participant can choose.

Baccarat, as played on a table in a casino, is generally played with 8 decks of cards dealt from a container known as a shoe. The shoe facilitates efficient dealing while decreasing the chance of cards being prematurely exposed by the dealer. Baccarat, in its electronic form, as played on-line or by machine in a casino, may use electronic decks of cards and shoes in which shuffles may not occur until the end of the shoe as in table games using real cards. In situations where the participants can gain an advantage by counting cards, the casino may reshuffle or use a new deck prior to dealing a new hand.

For example, when additional bets are allowed, such reshuffle may be used. For both table games and electronic games, the cards can be reshuffled after each hand is played as described above.

Scoring in Baccarat involves the assignment of points corresponding to the face value of each card. The suit and color does not matter in determining the value of each card. Aces are worth 1. Each numbered card less than ten is worth its face value. Tens and face cards are worth 0. Further, the score of a hand is determined by the right digit of the total value of the cards. For example, if the cards dealt are an 8 and a 7 (of any suit or color), the total value is 15 but the score for the hand would be 5. If the cards dealt are an 8, 7 and a 6, the total value is 21 but the score would be 1. The scores always range from 0 to 9, and it is impossible to bust as in the game of blackjack. The winning hand is determined by identifying the hand with a score closest to 9 at the end. Matching scores at the end are considered a TIE. In case of a TIE, bets on TIE win and bets on the Bank and Player positions are returned.

Baccarat is a game that tends to attract high stakes because (with the exception of the TIE bet) the game provides extremely close odds.

Traditionally, the bets on BANK, PLAYER and TIE are placed by live participants prior to the beginning of each hand. Then, two hands are dealt by the live dealer: a bank hand and a player hand, each hand consisting of two cards dealt from the deck(s) of physical playing cards. The score of each hand is calculated by the dealer and a determination is made whether a third card should be dealt to the Player position and/or the Bank position by considering the following:

Player and Bank positions both stand, or

Player position stands, Bank position draws third card, or

Bank position stands, Player position draws third card, or

Player and Bank positions both draw a third card or

Player position draws third card, Bank position sometimes draws third card.

The determinations, above, are made using the following standard Baccarat drawing rules: 1. If either the Player position or the Bank position has a total of an 8 or 9, each position stands and the hand is over. This rule overrides all other rules. 2. If both the Player position and the Bank position have a total of 6 or 7, each position stands and the hand is over. This rule overrides the rules below. 3. The Player position always stands on a 6 or 7 and draws on 0-5.

4. The Bank position always stands on a total of 7, draws on 0-5 if the Player position stands, but if the Player position is not going to stand, is guaranteed a draw on 0- 2 only. 5. In cases in which the Player position is not going to stand and the Bank position has a total of 3 to 6, the determination on whether the Bank position does or does not receive a third card is based on the value of the third card received by the Player position. In these cases the Bank position draws a third card if the Bank position's starting total is (a) 3 and the Player position's third card is an A-7, 9 or 0 value card (any card but an8) (b) 4 and the Player position's third card is a 2-7 (c) 5 and the Player position's third card is a 4-7 (d) 6 and the Player position's third card is a 6-7

The above rules describe traditional, “Punto banco” baccarat, otherwise known as “American-Style” baccarat. Modifications to these rules are envisioned, depending on the jurisdiction and/or gaming operator hosting the live game. For example, a participant may be given a choice of whether to receive a third card if he or she has received an initial participant Bank hand, after determining whether a traditional Player hand is to receive a third card under the traditional rules. In another example, a participant may determine whether to receive a third card only under certain, predetermined conditions, such as when a participant’s initial Player hand score is equal to 7 and an initial traditional Bank score equals 8 or 9. Of course, other modifications could be enacted by the gaming operator, such as rules that allow a live dealer to determine when to receive a third card on an initial traditional Bank hand.

Modified Game of Baccarat

As described above, in traditional Baccarat, only one Bank hand and one Player hand is dealt, and no participant receives their own bank or player hands. Each participant’s wager is determined by the outcome of the Bank hand vs. the Player hand.

The techniques and systems described in this specification allow each live participant to receive his own bank and/or Player hand and/or Bank hand, thus proving live participants with additional betting opportunities not available in traditional Baccarat. For example, one or more of the following possible wagering opportunities may be available to live participants in accordance with the modified game of Baccarat: 1. Each live participant may continue to place traditional TIE and/or BANK or’

PLAYER bets on the traditional Bank and Player hands. 2. Each live participant may place a wager on his own Bank hand beating the traditional Player hand, or a tie occurring between these hands. 3. Each live participant may place a wager on his own Player hand beating the traditional Bank hand, or a tie occurring between these hands. 4. Each live participant may place a wager on his own Bank hand beating his own Player hand and/or a tie occurring between his own Bank and Player hands. In some embodiments, this type of wager is only available when traditional Baccarat drawing rules are used, e.g., when participants are not given any choice of whether to receive a third card for their initial Player and/or Bank hands. 5. Each live participant may place a wager on his own Player hand beating his own Bank hand and/or a tie occurring between his own Bank and Player hands. In some embodiments, this type of wager is only available when traditional Baccarat drawing rules are used, e.g., when participants are not given any choice of whether to receive a third card for their initial Player and/or Bank hands. 6. Each live participant may place a wager on his own Bank hand beating one or } more of other participants’ Player hands and/or a Tie occurring between his own Bank hand and other participants’ Player hands. In some embodiments, this type of wager is only available when traditional Baccarat drawing rules are used, e.g., when participants are not given any choice of whether to receive a third card for their initial Player and/or

Bank hands. 7. Each live participant may place a wager on his own Player hand beating one or more of other participants’ Bank hands and or a Tie occurring between his own Player hand and other participants’ Player hands. In some embodiments, this type of wager is only available when traditional Baccarat drawing rules are used, e.g., when participants are not given any choice of whether to receive a third card for their initial Player and/or

Bank hands.

Claims (15)

CLAIMS AE { LE CL ~

1. A gaming system for providing a modified version of Baccarat, comprising: x 23 a physical gaming table having at least an area for placing a traditional Bank hand and a traditional Player hand, and areas for placing Player hands and/or Bank hands of at least one live participant, wherein the respective hands are dealt by a live dealer, a detector for reading and providing electronic representations of physical playing cards dealt by the live dealer at each area; a remote electronic device configured to enable a remote game participant to participate in the modified version of Baccarat over a wide-area network; a server, coupled to the detector and the electronic device, configured to: receive the electronic representations from the detector; provide the electronic representations of the physical playing cards to the remote electronic device as they are received from the detector; receive from the remote electronic device a wager for one of the live participants’ Bank hands to beat the traditional Player hand, and/or a wager for one of the live participants’ Player hands to beat the traditional Bank hand, respectively; determine a final game result between one of the live participants’ Bank hands and the traditional Player hand, and/or between one of the live participants’ Player hands and the traditional Bank hand; determine whether the wager from the remote electronic device was successful based on the final game result; and update an account balance associated with the remote game participant in accordance with whether the wager was successful.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising input sensors for detecting whether any of the live participants places a bet before any round of play indicating a desire to receive a Bank hand, a Player hand, or both; and a dealer interface for providing an indication to the live dealer to deal a respective Bank hand, Player hand, or both to the live participants when the input sensors detect the bet.

3. ' The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising: a dealer interface, coupled to the server, for providing an indication to the live dealer of an indication of a number of remote game participants participating in the modified version of Baccarat.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein the dealer interface further provides an indication of how many remote live participants have placed a wager.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising: a dealer interface, coupled to the server, for allowing the live dealer to provide an indication to the remote game participant that no more wagers will be accepted at some point during a round of game play.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising: a dealer interface, coupled to the server, for providing a notification to the dealer when wagers are no longer accepted from the remote game participant during a round of game play.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to: calculate odds during one or more points during a round of game play for the live participant’s Bank hand to beat the traditional Player hand, or the live game participant’s Player hand to beat the traditional Bank hand; determine one or more payouts based on the odds; and provide the one or more payouts to the remote game participant for use in determining whether to place an additional wager.

8. A gaming system to allow both live game participants and online game participants to participate in a modified version of Baccarat, comprising:

a physical gaming table having at least an area for placing a traditional Bank hand and a traditional Player hand, and areas for placing online Player hands and/or online Bank hands of at least one online participant, wherein the respective hands are dealt by a live dealer with physical playing cards, a detector for reading and providing electronic representations of physical playing cards dealt by the live dealer at each area; a dealer interface for proving indications to the live dealer whether to deal an online game participant his or her own Bank hand, Player hand, or both; a remote electronic device configured to enable an online game participant to participate in the modified version of Baccarat over a wide-area network; a server, coupled to the detector and the electronic device, configured to: receive a wager from the remote electronic device for the online Player hand to beat the traditional Bank hand; in response to receiving the wager, sending a signal to the dealer interface for the dealer interface to alert the live dealer to deal an online Player hand for the online game participant; receive electronic representations from the detector representing the traditional Bank hand, the traditional Player hand, and the online Player hand; provide the electronic representations of the hands to the remote electronic device as they are received from the detector; determine a final game result between the traditional Bank hand and the online Player hand; and update an account balance associated with the remote game participant in accordance with whether the traditional Bank hand beat the online Player hand.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, further comprising input sensors for detecting whether any of the live game participants places a bet before any round of play indicating a desire to receive a live Bank hand, a live Player hand, or both; and a dealer interface for providing an indication to the live dealer to deal a respective Bank hand, Player hand, or both to the live participants when the input sensors detect the bet.

10. The gaming system of claim 9, wherein the server is further configured to: calculate odds during one or more points during a round of game play for any Player hand to beat any other Bank hand; determine one or more payouts based on the odds; and provide the one or more payouts to the online game participant for use in determining whether to place an additional wager.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to: receive an additional wager from the online game participant after the traditional Bank hand, the traditional Player hand, the online Player hand, and at least one of the live Bank hand, the live Player hand, or both, have been dealt for any one of the Player hands to beat any one of the Bank hands.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the server is further configured to: receive an additional wager from the online game participant after the traditional Bank hand, the traditional Player hand, and the online Player hand has been dealt for the traditional Bank hand to beat the online Player hand.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein the dealer interface is further configured to receive a notification from the server when wagers are no longer accepted from the online game participant during a round of game play.

14. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising a video camera for providing a live video stream of the game to the remote electronic device.

15. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the physical playing cards are dealt face down, further comprising: a second video camera for providing a live video stream of at least one of the physical playing cards that have been dealt face down.