WO2023193929A1

WO2023193929A1 - Method for running an online-gaming platform

Info

Publication number: WO2023193929A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/059471
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nicolai ROIDER
Original assignee: GAJRAKU, Afrim; Roider, Oliver; Seitz, Patrick
Priority date: 2022-04-08
Filing date: 2022-04-08
Publication date: 2023-10-12

Abstract

The invention refers to a method for running an online-gaming platform (10), wherein the gaming activity of an individual player (26) is made public (54) to users (28a-d) of said platform (10). According to the invention a joining routine (50 - 70) to join a game of the individual player (26) is offered to the users (28a-d), in which joining routine (50 - 70) the users (28a-d) joining the individual player's (26) game have to input (58) a stake (40) for their bet on the outcome of the individual player's (26) game.

Description

Method for running an online-gaming platform

The present invention relates to a method for running an online-gaming platform, wherein the gaming activity of an individual player is made public to other users of said platform. The term "gaming" here contains card-games, typical luck-based gems (gambling), as. e.g. slot-machines as well as adventure games. Meanwhile it is common for certain individual players as famous pro players and influencers to perform online gaming in public so that their gaming activity can be shared by a lot of followers and fans. Using an online-gaming platform, streaming services or even social networks the public gaming of the individual player can be followed by an arbitrary number of users, be it fans, followers or even interested players, who want to take a peek on the gaming strategy of a famous pro or influencer. Thus, the experience of interested users with respect to individual players like famous pros or influencers is to follow their games.

It is object of the present invention to intensify this shared gaming experience for fans, followers and interested users.

This object is solved with a method according to claim 1. The object is further solved with a system according to claim 14. Preferred embodiments of the invention are subject-matter of the corresponding dependent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are also described in the specification and in the drawings.

According to the invention, a joining routine to join a game of an individual player is offered to the users of the online-gaming platform. To enable a user to join the individual player's game, he has to input a stake for a bet on the outcome of the individual player's game.

This joining routine can refer to an actual game currently taking place or to a game which is scheduled by the individual player for a certain time. Such a game might be for example a card game like Poker or Blackjack, where the joining users can simply join the game in a passive way by following the card playing activity on the virtual gaming table. This means that the joining users bet is solely dependent on the individual player's decisions or actions. The joining user has no influence on the course of the game he joins. With the joining of the individual player's game, the user's probability to win or lose the game is exactly the same as that of the individual player.

Accordingly, with this inventive method, the interaction between an influencer and his followers can be intensified in that the followers cannot only follow the influencer's game but they can participate in its outcome which is a more intensive experiencing and sharing of the influencer's or pro player's gaming activity.

With respect to card games, there are pro-players who are already famous in their respective gaming field as for example Blackjack or Poker and their numerous fans have the opportunity to participate in their games whereby they can learn some of the pro-player's tricks and strategies for their own gaming competence.

An essential effect of the invention is that the gaming platform's turnover is increased as now one individual player attracts a lot of joining players who also set their bets on the individual player's game. Accordingly, the invention multiplies the turnover of an online game according to the number of joining users.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gaming platform or a service provider of the gaming platform handles account data of all users and the account of the joining user is debited with his stake before the joining of the individual player's game is accepted. Via this measure, it is ensured that the joining user really bets a stake on the individual player's game so that the joining of the joining user automatically increases the gaming platform's turnover with regard to the game of the individual player.

Alternatively, the gaming platform or a service provider of the gaming platform may handle account data of all users and the account of the joining user is debited when the game starts. Also in this case it is secured that the stake of the joining user is debited before the joining user is really allowed to experience his common game with the individual player.

A service provider could be e.g. an external debiting or accounting service and/or a game platform which offers different games to online-gaming platforms. In this case, the gaming platform only provides the organization of the whole gaming business whereas the game provider offers different games to the gaming platform which can be played by the users of the gaming platform. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a part of the joining user's stake is branched off as a commission for the individual player. Via this measure, not only the gaming platform profits from the joining of the joining users, but also the individual player as the total commission he gets is dependent on the number of joining players who join his game.

Alternatively, particularly in case where the game is a gambling machine, for example a slot machines, the commission could be a part of the hold of the slot machine. Also in this case, the individual player benefits from the number of joining users which in case of gaming particularly refers to influencers as for gaming no pro-knowledge is necessary as gaming is simply dependent on the luck of the player.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the individual player's game is transmitted via a streaming platform to the other users so that the joining users can follow the actual game via the streaming platform, which has not to be a platform owned by the gaming platform but to which the gaming platform has access. In this case, only handling of bets, the debiting and crediting procedure and the joining routine has to be handled by the gaming platform.

Alternatively, the individual player's actual game could of course be transmitted via a terminal device, particularly in a casino.

Of course, the terminal device to follow the individual player's actual game could be a tablet or a smartphone, particularly if the streaming platform is internet-based.

In this connection it has to be carried out that the inventive online-gaming platform is preferably a platform concentrating on card games and/or gambling. While the individual players with respect to card games are more likely to be pro-players, the individual players with respect to gambling are more likely to be influencers and famous people who do not need to be experienced and whose gaming activity is shared by their followers or fans.

In one embodiment of the invention, a game provider runs games via the online-gaming platform and the game provider gets a share of the stakes set on the individual player's game or a share of the hold of a slot machine. Via this measure, not only the online-gaming platform benefits from the joining of users to individual player games but also the game provider which thus has an incentive to provide interesting and exciting games to the online-gaming platform. Preferably, the share for the game provider is a part of the stakes or of the hold in a gambling machine paid to the online-gaming platform after lost games of the user and the individual player.

Preferably, information on individual players like pro-players or influencers, their success rate and their game specialization as well as their playing schedule is made public to the users of the onlinegaming platform via a selection page, which selection page offers the users the joining routine to actual or scheduled games of a number of individual players. This enables all users of the gaming platform to search for pro-players or influencers which appear promising to participate in their gaming activity. This measure offers users of the gaming platform an additional gaming experience aside of their own games.

The invention also refers to a system for carrying out the above-described method for joining an individual player's game in an online-gaming platform. The system comprises a server based onlinegaming platform, which server comprises a data output to a public network for showing the game activity of an individual player. The server of the online-gaming platform or a service provider providing games for the online-gaming platform comprises a multitude of game processors, handling the game activities of individual players. The server is configured to link in a joining routine for users of the online-gaming platform to the game processor handling the game activity of said individual player. Via this measure, the joining routine links further users to the game activity of said individual players. The game processor for the individual player's game is then linked to the joining users so that the game activity and game outcome is the same for the individual player and all joining users, without needing further processor power as the calculating and processing of the game only has to be processed once.

Preferably, the online-gaming platform or a service provider thereof comprises an account managing system for the users of the online-gaming platform and the joining routine comprises the debiting of joining users' accounts. Via this measure, joining users are automatically linked to the debiting or crediting of games which take place in connection with an individual player's game.

Preferably, the joining routine could be opened dependent on data from the account managing system. Via this measure, it can be ensured that the joining of a user is only possible after successfully debiting the joining user's account.

The joining routine has not to be provided by the online gaming platform but it can be provided by an external service provider, e.g. an accounting platform or a joining routine provider. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the data output of the server is connected to a social media platform so that the gaming activity might not only be shown to the users of the onlinegaming platform but also to all users using the social media platform. Also this might attract people to join in the gaming of pro-players or influencers.

Following terms are used as synonyms: platform - online platform - online gaming platform - gaming platform; account - game account;

The invention is now described in a schematic embodiment with respect to the appended drawings. In these drawings,

Figs. 1 shows a schematic view of a server based online-gaming platform with a gaming provider, whereby the server has an output to a public network to which terminal devices of several users are connected. Furthermore, the server is connected to terminal devices of a casino,

Fig. 2 shows on the left side the display of a terminal device of a pro-player playing a card game and on the right side the display of a terminal device of a user joining the card game of the pro-player on the left side,

Fig. 3 shows the functional correlation between an influencer/pro-player and joining users,

Fig. 4 shows the benefit system between the gaming platform, the individual pro-player and joining users, and

Fig. 5 a flow diagram of the handling of joining users to a pro-player's game.

Fig. 1 shows an online-gaming platform 10 comprising a server 12 which is connected to a social communication network 14, for example the Internet, via which terminal devices 16, 16a to 16e are connected which terminal devices may be tablets, computers or smartphones.

Also a casino 18 is connected to the server 12, which casino 18 comprises gaming terminals 20a to 20c. The games which are offered by the gaming platform 10 can be provided by the server 12 itself or the games can be provided by a game provider 22 which provides a variety of different games and gaming options to the server 12 of the online-gaming platform 10. A particular characteristic of said online-gaming platform 10 is that the game of an individual player 26 which might be a pro-player or an influencer can be shared by a lot of other users 28a-28d, whereby the sharing does not only include the following of the game but also the option to bet on that individual player's 26 game in a joining routine which is offered by the server 12 of the onlinegaming platform 10. Via this measure, joining users 28a-28d can participate in that game in that their win/loss is dependent on the activity of the pro player or influencer 26. This allows them to benefit from that game, particularly if the individual player is a pro-player having a famous skill in a card game.

The advantage for the joining users 28a-28d is that they might benefit from the pro-player's 26 experience and thus they might win based on the experience of the pro-player 26. For the pro-player 26, the advantage of his shared game is that he gets a commission from the joining users 28a-28d. For the online-gaming platform 10, the advantage or benefit of this method is that the turnover might be increased as people who normally would not play online games might be inclined to join in games of famous pro-players or influencers to intensify their experience.

Fig. 2 shows on the left side the display 24 of the individual player's terminal device 16. The display 24 shows for example the cards 23 in his actual play. On the bottom of his display 24 a menu and input field 25 is located for controlling his card game. Further, the display 24 shows the other players 27a-d and the cards they play.

On the right side, the display 24a-d of the joining users 16a- 16d is shown. The display shows the individual player 26 with his cards 23 in connection with other players 27a-d of said card game. In the bottom of the display 20a, c-e, an input field 30 is provided for inputting a stake on the pro-player's 26 game and a joining button 32 is provided to join the pro-player's game with the inputted stake. On the display 24a, c-e, also other menu buttons 34 are provided to browse through different pages provided by the server 12 of the online-gaming platform.

Fig. 3 shows the mutual relationship between an individual player 26 which might e.g. be a proplayer or an influencer and joining users 28a-28c. The joining users 28a-28c get from the individual player game experience or game action 36 whereas each joining user 28a-28c increases via his commission 38 the individual player's 26 win. Further, the reputation of a pro-player might also be dependent on the number of joining users joining his games. Thus, the mutual relationship between the individual player 26 be it a pro-player or an influencer and the joining users 28a-28c is mutually beneficial. Fig. 4 shows the relationship between the individual players 26, the joining users 28a-28c and the online-gaming platform 10. The individual player 26 as also the joining users 28a-28c pay to the online platform their stake 40. In case the individual player 26 wins, the online platform 10 pays a win 42 to the individual player 26 as well as a win 44 to the joining users 28a-28c whereby automatically from the win 44 of the joining users 28a-28c a commission 46 is branched off and forwarded to the individual player 26.

This shows that in a successful game of the individual player 26 and all joining users 28a-28c benefit from the invention. In case of a lost game, of course the benefit for the gaming platform 10 is increased because not only the stake 40 of the individual player 26 is debited but also the stakes 40 of the joining users 28a-28c which increases the turnover of the gaming platform 10 essentially.

Fig. 5 shows a possible flow chart of a routine for opening a joining routine for a pro-player's game, which routine is an open process running uninterrupted on the online gaming platform 10.

The routine starts with start filed 50. In input field 52 a pro player 26 inputs a game he wants to play together with the scheduled time. Input field 52 may alternatively be the start of a game activity of the pro player. The actual game or the game schedule is the made public in field 54 so that other users 28a-d may acknowledge from a corresponding info page of the gaming platform 10 that the pro player's game is scheduled or running. Now users 28a-d can join via the input field 56 - e.g. via the joining button 32 on display 24a-d of their terminal device 16a-d - the scheduled or running game of the pro player 26. In this case his account is debited in step 58.

The game is streamed via output field 60 e.g. via a social network platform or via a streaming network of the gaming platform 10 itself. The streaming ends with the game end 64.

In decision field 66 the online gaming platform 10 checks, whether the pro player and correspondingly also the joining users 28a-d have won the game. If the decision is positive, the joining user's account is credited with the win in step 68. Further the pro players account is credited with his win and also with the commissions of the joining users wins in step 68.

The routine ends in end step 70. As it is mentioned above the joining routine can be an open process without defined start and end time. It is apparent that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention but the invention can be varied within the scope of the appended patent claims.

List of reference numbers

10 online gaming platform

12 server of the gaming platform

14 public network - internet

16 individual player's terminal device

16a-d joining user's terminal devices

18 game casino - gambling hall

20a-c casino's terminal device - slot machine

22 game provider

23 individual player's hand

24 display of individual player's terminal device

25 menu and input field in individual player's display

24a-d display of joining user's terminal devices

26 individual player - pro player

27a-d players participating in individual player's game

28a-d joining user in individual player's game

30 stake input field in joining user's display

32 joining button in joining user's display

34 selection menu in joining user's display

36 benefit for the joining user from the pro player - game experience and/or game excitement

38 commission of the joining user to the pro player

40 stakes of pro player and joining users

42 pro player's win

44 joining user's win

46 joining user's commission to the pro player

50 start field of joining routine

52 input field - pro player starts or schedules game

54 publishing starting or scheduled game - pro player's games on a selection page

56 joining field for joining the pro player's game

58 debiting of joining user's game account 60 streaming the pro player's game

62 game end

64 decision field - game won?

66 crediting joining user's game account with win from online gaming platform 68 crediting joining user's game account with win and commissions from joining users

70 end field

Claims

Claims:

1. Method for running an online-gaming platform (10), wherein the gaming activity of an individual player (26) is made public (54) to users (28a-d) of said platform (10), wherein a joining routine (50 - 70) to join a game of the individual player (26) is offered to the users (28a-d), in which joining routine (50 - 70) the users (28a-d) joining the individual player's (26) game have to input (58) a stake (40) for their bet on the outcome of the individual player's (26) game.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the gambling platform (10) or a service provider (22) of the gaming platform (10) handles account data of all users (28a-d), and wherein the account of the joining user (28a-d) is debited (58) with his stake (40) before his joining to the individual player's (26) game is accepted.

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein the gambling platform or a service provider of the gaming platform (10) handles account data of all users (28a-d), and wherein the account of the joining user (28a-d) is debited (58) when the game starts.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a part of the joining user's (28a-d) stake (40) is branched off as commission (38, 46) for the individual player (26).

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a part of the hold of a slot machine is branched off as commission for the individual player (26).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the individual player's (26) actual game is published (60) via a streaming platform to the other users (28a-d).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the individual player's (26) actual game is published (60) via a terminal device, particularly in a casino.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein a mobile device (16, 16a-d), particularly a tablet is used as terminal device.

9. Method according to claim 7, wherein a terminal device (20a-c) of a casino (18) is used as terminal device.

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a game provider runs games via the online-gaming platform (10), wherein the game provider gets a share of the stakes (40) set on the individual player's (26) game or a share of the hold of a slot machine.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein said share is a part of the stakes (40) or a hold paid to the online-gaming platform (10) after lost games of the users (28a-d) and/or of the player (26).

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein information on individual players (26), their success and their game specialization and their playing schedule is made public to the users (28a-d) of the online-gaming platform (10) via a selection page, which selection page offers the users (28a-d) the joining routine (50 - 70) to actual or scheduled games of any of the indicated individual players (26).

13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of joining users (28a-d) to an individual player's (26) game is made public.

14. System for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a server (12) based online-gaming platform (10), which server (12) comprises a data output to a public network (14) for streaming the game activity of an individual player (26), whereby the server (12) or a service provider (22) providing games for online-gaming platform (10) comprises a multitude of game processors, handling game activities of an individual player (26), and the server (12) is configured to link in a joining routine (50 - 70) for users (28a-d) of the onlinegaming platform (10) to the game processor handling the game activity of said individual player (26).

15. System according to claim 14, wherein the online-gaming platform comprises an account managing system for the users (28a-d) and the joining routine (50 - 70) comprises the debiting of the accounts of joining users (28a-d).

16. System according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the joining routine (50 - 70) is configured to be opened dependent on data from the account managing system.

17. System according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that the data output is connected to a social media platform.