Systems, methods and articles to facilitate playing card games with selectable odds

https://patents.google.com/patent/US8550464B2/en

using the playing card handling system, providing at least one of a set of house odds or a house advantage that includes corresponding different house odds or a different house advantage for a particular player position to which a subset of cards is to be dealt from the playing card handling system during a round of play than another player position to which a different subset of the subsets of playing cards is to be dealt from the card handling system during the same round of play.

One or more displays may provide an input interface for the dealer 114. For example, the display 126 b may take the form of a touch sensitive display, presenting a graphical user interface (GUI) with one or more user selectable icons. The display 126 b may be positioned within reach (e.g., within approximately 3 feet) of the dealer position 106. Such may allow the dealer 114 to enter odds information for each of the respective player positions 104. For example, the dealer 114 may enter payout or house odds, such as standard blackjack payout or house odds 3:2 for player position 6, while entering non-standard blackjack payout or house odds (e.g., 5:1) for the fourth player position.

The displays 126 c may take the form of touch screen displays presenting a GUI with user selectable icons. The user selectable icons may allow the players 110 to select payout or house odds for a particular hand or game. The user selectable icons may allow the player 110 to select between a set of predefined house odds (e.g., 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, . . . , 100:1, . . . , 1000:1, etc.) or may permit the user to enter a user defined set of payout or house odds. Alternatively, or additionally, other user input devices may be employed, for example, keypads and/or keyboards. The user selected house odds may be displayed on the display 126 b viewable by the dealer 114. In other embodiments, the payout or house odds may be kept secret from the dealer 114 as well as from the other players 110.

FIG. 3 shows a gaming environment 300 in the form of a pit, including a plurality (e.g., four) of gaming tables 102 a-102 d communicatively coupled to the display 126 a via the host computing system 124. The display 126 a may be viewable by some or all of the players 110 at the various gaming tables 102 a-102 d. The displays 126 a may be viewable by other patrons of the casino. Such may advantageously create excitement amongst the patrons. Such also advantageously allows pit bosses or other casino personnel to easily keep track of the payout or house odds selected by the players 110 in the various player positions 104 at multiple tables. The pit bosses or other casino personnel may quickly and easily discern suspect or extraordinarily high payout or house odds selections. Additionally, or alternatively, the host computing system 124 may provide a notification (e.g., audible and/or visual) to casino security personnel.

Patent timeline (this one's for you axel it expires in 2030 and owned by bally and its not for bridge)

2005-09-12
Priority to US71653805P

2006-05-23
Priority to US80292106P

2006-06-30
Application filed by Bally Gaming Inc

2006-06-30
Priority to US11/428,286

2006-09-11
Assigned to BALLY GAMING, INC.

2007-03-15
Publication of US20070057466A1

2013-10-08
Publication of US8550464B2

2013-10-08
Application granted

2013-11-30
Assigned to BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT

2014-12-01
Assigned to BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC., BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC., SIERRA DESIGN GROUP, BALLY GAMING, INC, SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC, ARCADE PLANET, INC.

2017-12-15
Assigned to DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

2018-04-11
Assigned to DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT

2019-02-28
Application status is Active

2031-01-04
Adjusted expiration