초록 ▼

The electronic game table of the invention may comprise a standard game table, e.g., for poker, incorporating multiple player seats for tournament or side game play. Each player has a display device in front of him/her containing information about the card in pocket. The community cards are displaye

The electronic game table of the invention may comprise a standard game table, e.g., for poker, incorporating multiple player seats for tournament or side game play. Each player has a display device in front of him/her containing information about the card in pocket. The community cards are displayed in the center of the table on a display device. Each player has a console with control elements, such as buttons, computer mouse, touch screen, etc. for activating means of betting, such as coins, tokens, credit or smart card readers, etc. A function of a dealer is accomplished by a central server, e.g., a random combination generator. For participation in multi table tournaments, e.g., of poker, the aforementioned electronic game table is provided with means of interfacing with other tables participating in the tournament via Internet, Intranet, local area network, etc., without participation of a live dealer.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An electronic game table for at least two players engaging in a completely electronic competitive game that uses both confidential cards and community cards comprising: a table having a surface; a plurality of individual player terminals arranged at or beneath the surfa

The invention claimed is: 1. An electronic game table for at least two players engaging in a completely electronic competitive game that uses both confidential cards and community cards comprising: a table having a surface; a plurality of individual player terminals arranged at or beneath the surface of said table, each of said individual player terminals comprising a terminal display and a data input device comprising a plurality of player activated electronic game function buttons including an action button and a betting button; a central processing unit connected to the game function buttons of each of said individual player terminals for bi-directional data exchange with each of said individual player terminals, said central processing unit configured to cause the display of at least an electronic representation of confidential cards and a representation of game status on each of said terminal displays; and a single common display showing multiple community cards and betting information for each player, the common display located at the center of the table and horizontally mounted in the tabletop surface continuously displaying said community cards and betting information to all the players. 2. The electronic game table of claim 1, wherein said central processing unit is provided with an outlet port for connection to external electronic means. 3. The electronic game table of claim 2, wherein said external electronic means are selected from the group consisting of a local area network, the Internet, and an Intranet. 4. The electronic game table of claim 1, wherein said plurality of player activated electronic game function buttons comprises at least control means for anteing the bets, control means for betting, control means for indicating a role of a player acting in the capacity of a dealer in a current round. 5. The electronic game table of claim 4, wherein said position of the single common display is a position selected from the group consisting from of; a horizontal position on and flush with said table top, and a vertical position outside said table top. 6. The electronic game table of claim 5, wherein said central processing unit is provided with an outlet port for connection to external electronic means. 7. The electronic game table of claim 6, wherein said external electronic means are selected from the group consisting of a local area network, the Internet, and an Intranet. 8. The electronic game table of claim 1, wherein the electronic competitive game is a poker game, and wherein the individual terminals are spaced around the table for a number of players from two to ten. 9. The electronic game table of claim 8, wherein said central processing unit is provided with an outlet port for connection to external electronic means. 10. The electronic game table of claim 8, wherein said external electronic means are selected from the group consisting of a local area network, the Internet, and an Intranet. 11. The electronic game table of claim 8, wherein said data input device comprises at least control means for anteing the bets, control means for betting, control means for indicating a role of a dealer in a current round. 12. The electronic game table of claim 11, wherein said position visible to said at least two players is a position selected from the group consisting of: a position on said table top, and a position outside said table top. 13. The electronic game table of claim 12, wherein said central processing unit is provided with an outlet port for connection to external electronic means. 14. The electronic game table of claim 13, wherein said external electronic means are selected from the group consisting of a local area network, the Internet, and Intranet. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein said central processing unit deals said confidential cards to each individual player terminal. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the display of said confidential cards is obscured from players associated with other individual player terminals. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein said confidential cards are only visible from the individual player terminal on which they were caused to be displayed. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein each individual player terminal is configured to obscure the display of said confidential cards from other individual player terminals. 19. A system for playing an electronic card game, comprising: (a) a table having surface and a plurality of player positions; (b) a player display at or beneath the surface of the table corresponding to each player position, the player display configured to present virtual pocket cards to a player such that the display of the virtual pocket cards is obscured from other player positions; (c) a central processing unit configured to deal virtual pocket cards to the player displays and at least two different community cards to the community display and cause the respective player displays to present the virtual pocket cards to a corresponding player, the central processing unit configured to receive input from the input mechanism related to the virtual pocket cards that are presented; (d) an input mechanism accessible from and associated with each of the player positions comprising a plurality of player activated electronic game function buttons connected to the central processing unit; and (e) a single common display showing multiple community cards and betting information for each player, the common display located at the center of the table and horizontally mounted in the surface continuously displaying said community cards and betting information to all the players. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein said virtual pocket cards displayed on the player display are confidential. 21. A dealerless game table for playing an automated card game exclusively using images of cards and automated betting without chips, the game table comprising: a horizontal tabletop having two or more player positions; a supporting base; player interface console terminals positioned within the tabletop at each of the player positions so that each player can observe all other players, the terminals each comprising: (a) a private screen to display pocket cards and betting information relevant only to one particular player; (b) a player in/out indicator; (c) several bet operation buttons on or adjacent the screen; (d) several action buttons on or adjacent the screen; and (e) a player operated automated payment device; a single common display showing multiple community cards and betting information for each player, the common display located at the center of the table and horizontally mounted in the tabletop surface continuously displaying said community cards and betting information of all the players is visible to all the players; and a table central processing unit connected to all the console terminals and to the single common display, wherein the table central processing unit performs one or more functions of a dealer and automatically conducts the play of the game based upon inputs from the player interface console terminals. 22. The dealerless game table of claim 21 wherein the payment device is a bill acceptor for accepting paper currency. 23. The dealerless game table of claim 21 wherein the payment device is a card reader for reading information from a card. 24. The dealerless game table of claim 23 wherein the card reader reads a magnetic strip.