Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
C06117 CA 02558913 2006-09-07
A METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR PROVIDING A JACKPOT PRIZE
Field of the invention
[001 ] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a
communal jackpot in a
table game environment.
Background of the invention
[002] Slot machines were initially stand alone wagering machines in which a
fixed
percentage of the wagers was returned to the players over a period of time.
Jackpots are a
desirable feature as far as the operator of the machines is concerned as they
are popular with
players and can provide large pool sizes compared with the standard prizes.
Jackpots are
available on individual slot machines in which the jackpot is taken from the
amount of wagers on
the machine. This lowers the average non jackpot return of the machine as the
jackpot is
included in the average return. However, for slot machine players, the
provision of a jackpot
feature is considered to be a desirable feature.
[003] Communal jackpots are also available on slot machines. Electronic slot
machines
can be linked into large groups and large jackpots can be accumulated.
Communal jackpots on
slot machines usually operate by diverting a percentage of each wager into the
jackpot pool,
which has the effect of decreasing the prize pool for each individual slot
machine available for
the non jackpot prizes. Communal jackpot pools can be substantially larger
than those available
on individual machines, and this increases their popularity with players. In
such jackpot games, a
player contributes to the jackpot pool whether or not the player wishes to
participate in the
jackpot.
[004] Mystery jackpots usually set a lower and an upper limit within which the
jackpot
must be won. In known slot machine jackpot systems, a pooled jackpot is funded
by taking a
percentage of each wager on each linked machine to build up the jackpot pool.
[005] Historically, table games have been "manual" and usually operated by a
human
dealer or croupier. Electronic table games are only now becoming available. In
these games there
are usually two or more players. The players may all bet on a common outcome,
such as in
roulette, or they may each wager against a central bank, as in baccarat, or
they may compete
against the "hand" of other players such as in poker, so that there is some
common element
between the players in deciding the outcome. Such games will be referred to
herein as casino
table games.
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[006] The increasing popularity of linked mystery progressive jackpots has not
been
transferred with a high degree of success from slot machines to casino table
games, which have a
high "hold" per game when compared with slot machines. Most popular table
games such as
roulette, blackjack, sic bo, baccarat, are designed to return a high
percentage of a player's wagers
to the players. Some casino table games have a limited number of outcomes
compared with slot
machines which can have outcomes in the order of billions, so that diminishing
the return on
each bet is seen as altering the core of these games. Where the allocation of
a portion of each
player's wager to a jackpot pool has been tried in casino table games, this
has not proved popular
as the players consider that they receive less value for money for their non
jackpot returns.
[007] Attempts to implement jackpots for casino table games such as Blackjack,
Roulette, Sic Bo, Baccarat, and the like have not been well received by the
players. One factor
which players considered unfavourably is the reduction in the average non
jackpot return
resulting in the perception of a lower value for money return.
[008] In "manual" table games, the operator has to keep track of the bets of a
plurality
of players, and the additional difficulty of calculating jackpot deduction
percentages from normal
wagers bets has, to a large extent, prevented the implementation of such a
feature in a "manual'
table environment.
[009] Any reference herein to known prior art does not, unless the contrary
indication
appears, constitute an admission that such prior art is commonly known by
those skilled in the
art to which the invention relates, at the priority date of this application.
Summary of the invention
[010] This invention proposes the implementation of a jackpot for table games.
This
invention can provide a communal mystery jackpot feature for casino table
games. The invention
is applicable to casino table games whether they are dealer operated or
automatic. In a preferred
embodiment, the invention is implemented using an electronic betting
interface.
[011 ] The invention provides a method and arrangement to permit a player to
participate in a jackpot using an "opt-in" choice whereby the player makes a
specific jackpot
wager, at Ieast a part of which is allocated to a jackpot pool.
[012] The invention is preferably implemented in an electronically controlled
arrangement in which player terminals are in communication with a computerized
controller.
(013] An embodiment of the invention provides an arrangement for implementing
a
casino table game in which two or more player terminals are linked to a
controller, and wherein
the player terminals are adapted to enable a player to make a dedicated
jackpot wager.
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[014] The controller can be adapted to implement a jackpot feature in response
to
jackpot wagers from player terminals under the control of a jackpot operating
feature.
[015] The player terminals and the controller can be linked by a communication
link.
[016] The invention also encompasses a method of implementing a jackpot
feature in a
casino table game arrangement.
[017] Preferably, the method is implemented in an electronic gaming system.
[018] In one embodiment, each player makes a dedicated wager which contributes
to
the jackpot.
[019] Preferably, the dedicated jackpot wager is additional to normal game
wagers.
[020] Preferably, the dedicated jackpot wager is made on a per play basis.
[021 ] The dedicated jackpot wager can be the same for each player.
[022] Alternatively, each player can make a plurality of dedicated jackpot
wagers on
one play to obtain a plurality of chances of winning the jackpot.
[023] The maximum number of dedicated wagers per player can be limited.
[024] The players can participate in the jackpot feature by electronic
interfaces.
[025] The jackpot pool can be displayed on a large screen.
[026] Eligibility to make the choice to participate in the jackpot pool can be
made
contingent on the player having first made a wager on a "standard" game
providing a "standard"
prize pool which is independent of the jackpot pool.
[027] According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided an
electronic
gaming arrangement having two or more or player terminals connected to a
central controller via
a communication link, wherein each player terminal is adapted to receive
dedicated player inputs
to permit the player to participate in a jackpot game.
[028] The dedicated player inputs can include a dedicated jackpot wager.
[029] The player terminals can communicate information indicative of the
dedicated
player input to the central controller which maintains the jackpot pool.
[030] Various methods of awarding the jackpot prize are within the scope of
the
invention.
[031 ] The result of the jackpot game can be determined from one or more
player inputs
to the player terminal.
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[032] The result of the jackpot can alternatively be determined by a selection
process
performed by the central controller.
[033] In a further alternative, the result of the jackpot can be determined
from a "chance
engine" such as a roulette wheel, physical dice, electronic dice and so on.
Brief description of the drawings
[034] An embodiment or embodiments of the present invention will now be
described,
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[035] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a casino table game arrangement adapted
for
implementation of a jackpot according to an embodiment of the invention;
[036] Figure 2 is a table illustrating a first jackpot betting option;
[037] Figure 3 is a table illustrating a second jackpot betting option;
[038] Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention;
[039] Figure 5 shows detail of a player screen suitable for use with an
embodiment of
the invention;
[040] Figure 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating the functional
components of
an arrangement suitable for implementing an embodiment of the invention;
[041 ] Figure 7 shows a flow diagram of the interactions between the player
and the
various elements of the arrangement according to an embodiment of the
invention.
[042] Figure 8 is an interaction flow diagram according to a further
embodiment of the
invention.
Detailed description of the embodiment or embodiments
[043] The invention will be described with reference to the embodiments shown
in
accompanying drawings. The invention will be described with reference to an
arrangement for
playing roulette, but it can be readily adaptable to other casino table games
without departing
from the inventive concept. Various means can be used to determine the winner
or winners of a
jackpot game.
[044] An element of a mystery jackpot is that it can be won at random by any
player
contributing to the game. Usually the awarding of the jackpot is determined by
given parameters,
such as a lower jackpot pool value or an upper jackpot pool. That is, the
jackpot pool must be
greater than a threshold value before the jackpot can be awarded. A jackpot
can be awarded at
C~611~ CA 02558913 2006-09-07
any time once a particular parameter occurs in a game. The parameter can be a
time period.
Alternatively, the parameter can be a maximum or minimum amount of money in
the jackpot
pool. Eligibility for the jackpot can be determined in accordance with which
players have elected
to participate in the jackpot by making a dedicated jackpot wager in that
game.
[045] The introduction of a different feature of this kind into a casino table
game
enables the implementation of some substantially different game elements. The
participation in
the jackpot becomes voluntary rather than compulsory. Contributions to the
jackpot can make a
noticeable difference to the jackpot pool. Jackpot features can be provided on
casino table games
to improve their competitiveness with slot machines. Such a jackpot feature
provides the
operator with the ability to offer a wide range of jackpots in casino table
games.
[046] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an electronic gaming arrangement
suitable
for use with an embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the game is
roulette and the
result of the standard non jackpot game is determined by a roulette wheel 102.
T'he result can be
communicated to a controller 104 illustrated in Figure 1 as a computer via a
communication link,
e.g., cable 124 or electromagnetic wave (infrared, wireless) (not shown), or
the result can be
input by an operator via an input device such as keyboard 103, mouse (not
shown) or other
suitable input device.
[047] The controller 104 controls a plurality of player terminals of which
106, 108, 110,
112 are shown. However, the number of terminals can be much greater than the
four shown in
Figure 1. The player terminals are in communication with the controller 104
via cable 114.
Alternative means of communication are within the scope of the invention. For
example, the
player terminals may communicate with the controller 104 by wireless links,
infrared link or
other suitable communication link. Security coding, encryption, and tamper and
fraud detection
means can be used to prevent interference with the communications link.
[048] The result can be displayed on a screen which can be a large display
screen
visible from all player positions when the players are all located within a
specific area. Where
the players are not located in one dedicated location, but are distributed
around a venue or in two
or more venues interconnected via a communication link, two or more displays
can be provided.
The result can also be displayed on the player terminals. The display screen
105 is shown as a
computer screen 105 in Figure 1. Alternatively, the result can be captured by
a camera and
displayed on a display screen.
[049] The method of selecting the jackpot winner can be chosen from various
selection
methods. The jackpot can be a "mystery" jackpot which is unrelated to the
result of the standard
C06117 CA 02558913 2006-09-07
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game. A mystery jackpot can be determined by a suitable method such as a
predetermined
algorithm, a predetermined set of events, or by some random or pseudo-random
trigger event.
[050] One method of determining the result of the jackpot is for a player to
select a
sequence of winning numbers over a series of spins in the standard game of
roulette. The
selection of the winning sequence can be detected by the player terminal, and
the player terminal
can communicate the fact that the player has won the jackpot. Alternatively,
the central
processor can record the last "n" selections from each player and determine
when if a player has
won.
[OS 1 ] An alternative method of determining the winner of a jackpot in a card
game is
the detection of a specific "hand" of cards such as four of a kind or a royal
flush. Again this can
be detected by the player terminal or the central processor.
[052] Figure 2 shows a table which illustrates schematically a method
embodying the
invention showing how the controller 104 can manage the player inputs for a
jackpot game. For
the purpose of this description, the game is assumed to be roulette, but may
be any other suitable
casino table game. The players are represented as "A" to "I", and their
jackpot bets are
represented as "a" to "i". In one embodiment, each participating player, A, C
D, E, H & I selects
a number, which may or may not be the same as the number selected by another
player. In
Figure 2, the participating players are limited to a single unit bet per game.
The other player
terminals, B, F and G, are not participating in the current game as the
players may have elected
not to participate, or the player terminals may be idle.
[053] The value of the jackpot includes any "seed" money forming an initial
pool, plus
the accumulated player bets since the jackpot was last won and the current
game contributions of
the players participating in the jackpot. The initial pool can be provided in
various ways. For
example, it can be provided from a deduction from earlier jackpot pools, or
from a fund
controlled by the operator.
[054] Figure 6 illustrates functional elements of a connection between a
player terminal
and a controller. As illustrated in Figure 6, player terminals such as 106
discussed with reference
to Figure 1, can include a display and a player input device such as a touch
screen 602, mouse,
joystick, keyboard or other suitable input device. The player terminals also
include a display
control interface 604 and a player input interface 606 to transmit the player
inputs to the
controller 104. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 6, the player
display 602 is a touch
screen which also acts as a player input. The touch screen is connected to the
controller via a
display control circuit 606.
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[055] The controller controls display 612 which can display the jackpot pool.
Display
612 can be a large screen communal display.
[056] The controller 608 controls the display on the player terminal screen
602. The
player can determine which game the terminal is to be used to play by
selecting the game from a
default screen when the player terminal is idle.
[057] Figure 5 illustrates a sample display on a player terminal suitable for
use in an
electronic version of roulette. The display 500 represents the standard "felt"
layout used for
players to make bets in traditional roulette. The bet area 502 includes an
array 504 of numbers 1
to 36 together with the additional zero at the left hand side, as in
traditional roulette. Various
combination bet areas are provided to the right and below the number array. An
information line
506 can provide information for the player, such as the amount of credit, the
value of the current
bet, the amount won on the most recent play. The game control display area 508
display notifies
the player of the time remaining in which to place a wager. A history line 512
can display the
results of a number of previous games.
[058] Additional functional buttons such as CANCEL 514, CHANGE GAME 516,
COLLECT 518, can be provided. Other buttons, such as BET (not shown) can be
provided to
enable the player to control the submission of a wager. This means that the
player can set up a
wager but wait for a subsequent game before submitting the wager.
[059] Additional areas, such as wager amounts, can also be provided to permit
the
player to select the amount of a wager.
[060] The display can be a touch screen which communicates the player wagers
to the
controller 104 as described with reference to Figure 6.
[061] The jackpot area 508 enables the player to participate in a jackpot
play. In a first
embodiment, in which each player terminal can wager only one unit on the
jackpot and the
winner is determined independently of player input, the player makes a jackpot
wager by
touching the jackpot section of the display. In this embodiment, the jackpot
winner can be
determined on a random basis.
[062] In an alternative arrangement the jackpot can be awarded based on player
input,
the player can make a jackpot wager by touching the jackpot are and then
selecting a number as
the player's input. If the number selected by the player is the same as the
game result, the player
wins a share in the jackpot depending on how many other players selected that
number as their
jackpot number. This method can be extended to requiring the player to select
a sequence of
winning numbers to increase the odds against winning to an appropriate level.
C06117 CA 02558913 2006-09-07
g
[063] In a further embodiment, the player can first activate the jackpot
feature and then
select an amount which enables the player to select more than one number.
[064] In a further embodiment, the player can wager more than one unit on one
number.
[065] Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing the process of selecting between a
jackpot
game and a non jackpot game according to an embodiment of the invention, and
Figure 7 shows
an associated action flow diagram.
[066] At the start of the game 402, the player places a standard game wager at
step 404.
The player is then given the choice of activating the jackpot feature in
decision box 406, for
example by touching the SUPER JACKPOT icon 510 in Figure 5 and making a
jackpot bet. In
one embodiment, players can only make a single unit bet in the jackpot per
game. In an
alternative embodiment the players may be permitted to make more than one unit
bets on the
jackpot per game. Where the players are permitted to make multiple-unit
jackpot bets per game,
there may be an upper limit on the number of jackpot units per game a player
can bet.
[067] The option to make standard wager and to then choose a jackpot wager may
be
available for a limited time period and once this period has expired and the
player has not
selected the jackpot option, the output of the decision box 406 follows the
"NO" output and the
player is allocated to the standard game only at 408. If the player does not
select the jackpot
option, that player does not participate in the jackpot for that game. The
player's terminal
participates in the normal game at 408, which, for the purpose of this
description, is assumed to
be roulette, but can be any other suitable casino type table game.
[068] When the game is finished at 410, the result of the standard game is
displayed
either on each player terminal and/or on a central display such as a display
screen controlled by
controller 104. After the completion of a game, a new game period commences at
402 and the
player has the option to participate in the standard game, and, at the
player's option, to then
participate in the jackpot. In this second iteration, we assume that the
player selects the standard
game at 404 and then selects the jackpot option at 406 so that the program
follows the "YES"
option from decision box 406. Thus the player participates in the game at 414,
and the standard
game is played and the result displayed at 416. In addition, the program
checks via decision box
418 to determine whether the jackpot has been won. If the jackpot has not been
won, the
program follows the "NO" output of decision box 418 and returns to the start
402.
[069] If the jackpot has been won, the program follows the "YES" output of
decision
box 418 and the jackpot is awarded at 420, and then the control returns to the
start 402.
06117 CA 02558913 2006-09-07
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[070] Figure 7 is an interaction flow diagram which illustrates typical
interactions
between the player, the player terminal, the controller and the game
determining mechanism for
a jackpot feature where each player is entitled to only one wager unit per
game. The game
determining mechanism can be a physical device such as a roulette wheel, or it
can be a software
implementation of an algorithm to determine the outcome. For the purpose of
this example, the
jackpot is determined by the result of the roulette wheel spin. However, other
methods of
determining the jackpot winner are within the scope of this invention.
[071 ] In this embodiment, each player can wager one unit on the jackpot.
[072] When a new game period has been initiated by the controller, it causes
the player
terminal to activate the game screen via link 700. The player can then
activate a game by
touching the standard bet input section and making one or more bets, which may
be of the same
or differing values. The bet is detected by the player screen at 701. Once the
player has joined
the game by making a standard bet, the player terminal reports the bet to the
controller at 702,
which sends a jackpot authorization to the player terminal at 703. The player
terminal then
activates the jackpot input, at 704, and the player has the option to make a
jackpot wager. The
player in this instance selects the jackpot and this is detected by the player
terminal at 705, and
reported by the player terminal to the controller at 706. The new wager is
added to the jackpot
pool and the jackpot pool display (not shown) is incremented by the
controller. The controller
also monitors the time allowed for placing wagers and when this expires, the
controller or the
operator initiates the decision mechanism, in this case exemplified by a
roulette wheel. The
roulette wheel then determines the result and this is communicated to the
controller at 708. The
controller than identifies the jackpot winner, if any, and notifies the
winning player terminal at
709.
[073] Instead of the player terminal needing to obtain authorization from the
controller
to permit the player terminal to activate the jackpot feature, the terminal
can be programmed to
activate the jackpot feature when the player places a standard wager. The
player terminal then
reports the jackpot wager to the controller when the player places a jackpot
wager.
[074] Figure 8 is an interaction flow diagram in which the player is able to
choose a
specific jackpot number and wager more than one unit on the jackpot.
[075] Again the controller initiates the game by alerting the player terminals
at 800, and
the player terminals display the "ready" screen. The player makes a standard
game wager at 801,
and the player terminal reports this to the controller at 802. The controller
than enables the
jackpot element of the player terminal at 803 and the player terminal
activates the jackpot feature
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at 804. The player can then choose to enter the jackpot at 805, and the player
terminal can then
display an instruction to the player at 806 as to how to place the jackpot
bet, for example, the
player terminal can display the instruction "SELECT NUMBER". The player then
selects the
number at 807, and the player terminal then offers the player the opportunity
to select an amount
at 808. The player selects the amount at 809, and the player terminal reports
the transaction to
the controller at 810. The controller adds the new wagers to the jackpot pool
and records the
details in the jackpot table. The wagering period for the game times out and
the result is
determined. The controller identifies the winner or winners, if any, and
notifies their player
terminals at 813.
[076] The game software can be designed so that the standard game and the
jackpot
feature are treated as separate events.
[077] The machine audit programs can be adapted to incorporate the jackpot
wagers.
The standard game and the jackpot can be treated as separate accounting items.
[078] The jackpot value can be presented on a separate screen from standard
game play,
or it can be presented on the same screen as standard game play, in which case
it can be
highlighted to stand out.
[079] Where ever it is used, the word "comprising" is to be understood in its
"open"
sense, that is, in the sense of "including", and thus not limited to its
"closed" sense, that is the
sense of "consisting only of '. A corresponding meaning is to be attributed to
the corresponding
words "comprise", "comprised" and "comprises" where they appear.
[080] It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein
extends to all
alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned
or evident from the
text. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative
aspects of the invention.
[081 ] While particular embodiments of this invention have been described, it
will be
evident to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied
in other specific
forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. The
present embodiments and
examples are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and
not restrictive, and all
modifications which would be obvious to those skilled in the art are therefore
intended to be
embraced therein.
