FR3092424A1 - Parallel game management system - Google Patents

Abstract

Parallel game management system comprising at least one game table (T) defining at least one main game area (Z1, Z2, Z3) of a traditional game and at least one parallel game area (S1, S2 and S3 ) a parallel game, characterized in that it includes: - parallel game providers (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4), - a platform (P) comprising a bank of parallel games (P1) grouping together parallel games provided by the parallel gaming providers (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4), - at least one casino (C) connected to the platform (P) and having said at least one gaming table (T), - the gaming area parallel game (S1, S2, S3) includes a display screen (M1, M2, M3) associated with the game table (T), connected to the platform (P) and displaying a parallel game from the game bank parallels (P1) of the platform (P). "Figure for the abstract: single figure"

Description

Parallel game management system

The present invention relates to a system for managing parallel games offered in parallel to traditional games, such as BlackJack or Baccarat. The management system includes at least one game table defining at least one main game area of a traditional game. In addition, the table includes at least one parallel game zone of a parallel game on which a player can place betting elements, such as chips or plates. The preferred field of application of the present invention is therefore that of casinos and gaming rooms.

In order to diversify its offer and increase its income, the gaming and casino industry is constantly on the lookout for new products. For a number of years, games "parallel" to traditional table games, commonly called "side bets", have appeared. These new optional bet possibilities, available in parallel with traditional games such as BlackJack or Baccarat, offer higher expectations of winning than with the main bets, but with a much lower probability of winning. In the end, these "side bets" offer casinos long-term winning percentages (house edge (HE)) much higher than traditional games. As an example, classic six-card Blackjack offers a casino an ET of around 0.5% (win of 1 per 200 bets), while a popular side bet can offer an ET by about 15%, or 30 times higher than that of traditional Blackjack.

Conventionally, a "side bet" takes the form of a betting area drawn on the playing mat, close to the main betting area. In addition, the payout table is also displayed on the mat to allow players to know the payout ratios for the "side bets" offered. On a playing mat, you can see one or at most two different “side bets”. Some of the most popular side bets include BlackJackk Buster, Perfect Pairs, 21+3 or Kings Bounty.

To date, a large number of side bets are available on the market and they are created very regularly. However, only about twenty "side bets" are really popular and therefore mainly offered in casinos. These few popular “side bets” are under license and the classic business model is based on a fixed commission per table reduced to the month, plus a percentage of the income from the table. This information is not very precise, because there is no means of precise traceability of bets on "side bets" only. Thus, even if a gaming table is not operated daily by the casino, it will pay the fixed commission. Finally, it is very difficult for a casino to be able to offer all the popular "side bets" due to the economic aspect and the fact that it would involve a number of different stacks. As a result, players often choose to play at casinos that offer their favorite side bets.

In summary, the offer of parallel games or "side bets" suffers from the following disadvantages:
- Integration of the "side bet" directly into the game mat, which must therefore be changed to offer another "side bet", resulting in a low renewal of "side bets" in the same casino,
- Over-representation of well-established side bets to the detriment of more recent ones, resulting in a low diversity of side bets,
- Impossibility for players to choose "side bets",
- Choice of casino according to the "side bets" offered, hence the formation of clans of players,
- Difficulty, or even impossibility, of measuring the actual use of "side bets", resulting in a lack of visibility of the impact of "side bets" for casinos,
- License royalties based on parameters not representative of the actual use of the “side bet”, hence difficulties in the long-term justification of the amounts of license royalties by the owners of “side bets”.

The aim of the present invention is to solve these various drawbacks by proposing a system for managing parallel games (or side bets) which implements technical means within an architecture which extends from the supplier of "side bets" to the casino's gaming table via an intermediate or interface platform.

More specifically, the present invention proposes a system for managing parallel games (offered in parallel to traditional games, such as BlackJack or Baccarat) comprising at least one game table defining at least one main game area of a traditional game and at least one parallel game zone of a parallel game,
the parallel game management system comprising:
- parallel game providers,
- an intermediate platform comprising a bank of parallel games grouping together parallel games provided by parallel game providers,
- at least one casino connected to the platform and having said at least one gaming table,
- the parallel game area comprising a display screen associated with the game table, connected to the platform and displaying a parallel game from the bank of parallel games of the platform.

Thus, the parallel game area printed on the game mat can be replaced by a display screen and the link between the casino and the parallel game providers is now made through an intermediate platform, which manages the relationships with parallel gaming providers and downstream with casinos, enabling a connection between the display screen and the platform.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the platform comprises switching means enabling the platform, the casino and/or the player to switch from one parallel game to another parallel game from the bank of parallel games of the platform and thus to determine the duration of use of each parallel game.

The proposed system therefore combines hardware, software and structural means, allowing casinos in particular to be able to swap “side bets” without having to change the playing mat. Thus, the casino can easily adapt to player demand. To do this, instead of the line(s) of the "side bets" on the mat, there is a screen integrated into the gaming table to display the "side bet" in progress. The table of payout ratios, for its part, can be displayed on this same screen or on a remote screen. On a gaming table with a standardized carpet, provision may be made to place one or more screens, in order to offer several different “side bets”.

The choice of the "side bet" thus proposed can be modified by the casino, on a regular basis (daily for example) or at the request of a player. Thus, this device could make it possible to offer a different "side bet" to each player at the same table.

Advantageously, the system comprises at least one parallel betting zone on which a player can place betting elements, such as tokens or plates, the parallel betting zone being provided with detection means for identifying the value and the number of betting elements placed on the parallel betting zone. Preferably, the paralleling zone is formed by the display screen. The display screen is thus used to indicate the type of “side bet” offered, but also as a betting area where the value of the bets can also be determined.

According to another aspect of the invention, the system can comprise management software, hosted by the platform or the casino, this management software making it possible, from the data collected by the permutation and/or detection means, to determine actual usage of each parallel game in terms of usage time and wager amounts, which determination of actual usage may serve as the basis for billing between the casino and the platform and/or between the platform and the service provider parallel game.

The casino is thus aware of the actual use of the "side bets" it offers, and this in a very precise way, since the data collected is done individually at the level of each display screen. The casino can know the activity in time and in betting volume of each display screen. The casino can even use an analysis tool to optimize its choice of "side bets", like "yield management" in aviation.

Above all, the casino can establish a more flexible fixed commission billing, by the day, or even by the hour or even by the minute. Thus, a casino that activates only five days in the month a "side bet" at a table will only pay five days of fixed commission.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the system may comprise a selection touch screen, integrated into the game table or mobile, allowing a player to select the parallel game he wishes, this selection touch screen being chosen from:
- the display screen,
- another screen integrated into the gaming table,
- a smartphone loaded with a dedicated application.

The player thus becomes the real pilot of the “side bets”.

Advantageously, the selection touch screen makes it possible to select a parallel game from a basket of parallel games preselected by the casino from among the parallel games of the bank of parallel games.

The present invention also defines a method of invoicing a use by a casino of a parallel game belonging to a parallel game supplier, the invoicing method comprising identifying the value and the number of bets on the parallel game and/ or to measure the duration of time of use of the parallel game, the collected data being correlated to establish a quantitative and/or temporal invoicing.

Advantageously, a platform acts as an intermediary between the parallel game providers and the casinos, the platform comprising a bank of parallel games grouping parallel games provided by the parallel game providers, the platform issuing invoices to be paid by the casinos to the platform and invoices to be paid by the platform to the parallel game providers on the basis of the data collected by means of detection and/or permutation.

It should be noted that this particular invoicing process is the subject of protection in itself, that is to say independently of the management system of the invention. This is explained by the fact that the invoicing process derives directly from the spirit of the invention which resides in the fact of setting up a network making it possible both to provide players with varied "side bets" and to provide suppliers of "side bets" with real data allowing them to establish objective invoicing. The platform allows casinos to offer all possible side bets and allows side bet license providers to be present in many more casinos. The platform can be considered in the form of an "online store", bringing together all the "side bets", like a "marketplace" from which casinos could download the "side bets" that they would like to offer in their casino through a system of permutation of "side bets". The platform is then an intermediary between the casinos and the owners of “side bets”. The platform could negotiate so-called floating licenses to owners of “side bets” and resell them to casinos with objective billing that takes into account the actual use of “side bets”.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description given below, with reference to the appended drawing, which illustrates an exemplary embodiment thereof without any limiting character.

is a very schematic view of a parallel game management system according to the invention.

This management system applies to an already known environment comprising a casino C and several parallel or “side bet” game providers designated by SB1, SB2, SB3 and SB4 in the figure. Providers may be creators, owners or licensees of side bets looking for casinos to offer their side bets to their customers or players. By “casino”, we mean any establishment offering traditional gambling, such as BlackJack or Baccarat. These traditional games are played on a game table T designed for several players, for example three, as in the single figure. The game table T thus comprises three main game zones Z1, Z2 and Z3 defining three main betting zones Z11, Z21 and Z31. These main betting areas can, for example, be equipped with token or plate detectors, making it possible to identify the number and value of the tokens or plates placed in the betting area. In the prior art, there already exist tokens and/or game boards which are provided with detectable means, such as an RFID chip. Each main betting area Z1, Z2, Z3 can be provided with a display screen, at which the main betting area Z11, Z21, Z31 can be defined. The T game mat also includes a Z0 dealer area, which can be provided with a Z01 display screen. The game table T also includes three parallel game areas S1, S2 and S3, each being associated with a respective main game area Z1, Z2, Z3. Until then, the T game table is a completely conventional design.

Casino C also has a Cc computer connected to the Internet.

According to the invention, the parallel game areas S1, S2 and S3 comprise or are formed by display screens M1, M2, M3 making it possible to display information, and in particular the name and/or the logo of the parallel game or Proposed side bet. The display screen M1, M2, M3 can occupy the entire parallel game area S1, S2 and S3, as is the case in the single figure, or on the contrary, only part of the game area parallel. Each side game area S1, S2 and S3 defines a side bet area S11, S21 and S31, which can be formed at the display screen M1, M2, M3. The parallelization zone S11, S21 and S31 can occupy the entire display screen M1, M2, M3, or on the contrary, only a part, as is the case in the single figure. Advantageously, each parallel betting area S11, S21 and S31 is equipped with token detectors D1, D2 and D3, making it possible to identify the number and the value of the tokens placed in the parallel betting area S11, S21 and S31. These detectors can be similar or identical to those of the main betting zones Z11, Z21, Z31.

According to the invention, the game table T also includes a local server Sp to which the display screens M1, M2, M3 and the token detectors D1, D2 and D3 are connected.

The management system of the invention also comprises a platform P, which constitutes the key element of the system, due to its intermediate position or interface between the casino C and the parallel game providers or "side bets" SB1, SB2, SB3 and SB4. Preferably, there is no communication or direct link between them: all exchanges pass through or through the platform P. It can take the form of one or more servers and/or autonomous computers accessible on the Internet. through a dedicated site. Casinos and “side bet” providers thus have access to the P platform website, preferably with codes for security and confidentiality reasons.

The platform P integrates several modules, namely a “side bet” bank P1, a permutation module P2, a management software P3 and a billing unit P4.

The "side bet" bank P1 collects all the "side bets" brought by the "side bet" suppliers SB1, SB2, SB3 and SB4 to the platform P. We could also qualify this bank as an online store or marketplace offering a whole range of "side bets" to interested casinos.

The permutation module P2 is a module accessible to casinos, allowing them to choose the “side bets” which interest them among the “side bets” offered by the bank of “side bets” P1, for example by selecting them on the site of platform P from their computer Cc. The selection of a "side bet" triggers a clock which will measure the duration of use of the selected "side bet". Casinos will also use the P2 switching module to put an end to the "side bets" they had chosen, for example by deselecting them. Deselecting the side bet stops the clock, thus measuring the total duration of use of the selected side bet.

The management software P3 receives all the data from the local server Sp, which receives all the data from the token detectors D1, D2 and D3. The management software P3 also receives all the selection duration data from the switching module P2. The P3 management software correlates and processes this temporal (duration of selection) and quantitative (amount of bets) data to provide, for example, a report on the use of each "side bet", which can even detail the use of the "side bet » at the level of each paralleling zone S11, S21 and S31. The platform thus has reprocessed data which gives precise and real indications of the performance of each "side bet", globally for all the casinos, locally for a particular casino, in a targeted manner for a gaming table or again in a "surgical" way on a specific betting area. These real return indications may be communicated, in part or in whole, raw or interpreted, to the providers of "side bets" SB1, SB2, SB3 and SB4 and/or to the casinos C, in order to inform them of the increasing or decreasing success of the "side bet", depending on geographical areas, time slots, age, type of main game with which it is associated, etc.

The temporal and quantitative data, as well as the indications of real yield resulting from these temporal and quantitative data, are transmitted and authenticated in an unfalsifiable manner to the invoicing unit P4 responsible for drawing up the invoices to be paid by the casinos C, likewise as the invoices that the platform P will pay to the “side bet” providers SB1, SB2, SB3 and SB4.

Without departing from the scope of the invention, this objective invoice based on an actual use of each "side bet" constitutes a method of invoicing in itself, which is based on physical data (measurement of time duration - token detections) . It should be noted that this is a subsequent or a posteriori invoicing, which is established on the basis of past due use, and not immediate invoicing, based on a use in arrears of the "side bet".

While the selection of "side bets" has hitherto been reserved solely for C casinos, it is also possible to give this possibility of selection to players, for example via a selection touch screen, which could be integrated into the game table or on the contrary mobile. This selection touch screen would allow a player, or even the dealer, to select the "side bet" they want from among the "side bets" selected by the casino. This selection touch screen can be confused with the display screen M1, M2, M3 of the parallel game area S1, S2 and S3, the display screen of the main game area Z1, Z2, Z3 or yet another screen integrated into the game table T. As a variant, this selection touch screen can be that of a smartphone loaded with a dedicated application. This selection touch screen can be connected to the computer Cc of the casino C via the local server Sp. The players and/or croupiers of the casino C can thus select the “side bets” of their choice, not directly in bank P1 of platform P, but in a basket of side bets C2 pre-selected by casino C from among the side bets of bank P1. This basket C2, defined within the computer Cc, thus constitutes a sort of secondary bank of “side bets”.

Thanks to the invention, a "side bets" management system is available which increases the supply of "side bets" in casinos, facilitates the permutation of "side bets", gives a chance to "side bets" confidential or new, provides accurate and reliable performance analysis tools and guarantees real billing. Moreover, this a posteriori invoicing based on real physical data stems directly from the “side bets” management system of the invention.

Claims (10)

System for managing parallel games offered in parallel with traditional games, such as BlackJack or Baccarat, the management system comprising at least one game table (T) defining at least one main game area (Z1, Z2, Z3) d a traditional game and at least one parallel game zone (S1, S2 and S3) of a parallel game,
characterized in that it comprises:
- parallel game providers (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4),
- a platform (P) comprising a bank of parallel games (P1) grouping parallel games provided by parallel game providers (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4),
- at least one casino (C) connected to the platform (P) and having said at least one gaming table (T),
- the parallel game zone (S1, S2, S3) comprises a display screen (M1, M2, M3) associated with the game table (T), connected to the platform (P) and displaying a parallel game from the bank of parallel games (P1) of the platform (P). System according to claim 1, in which the platform (P) comprises switching means (P2) enabling the platform (P), the casino (C) and/or the player to switch from one parallel game to another parallel of the bank of parallel games (P1) of the platform (P) and thus to determine the duration of use of each parallel game. System according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one side betting area (S11, S21, S31) on which a player can deposit betting elements, such as chips, the side game area (S11, S21, S31 ) being provided with detection means (D1, D2, D3) for identifying the value and the number of betting elements deposited on the parallel betting zone (S11, S21, S31). System according to Claim 3, in which the parallelization zone (S11, S21, S31) is formed by the display screen (M1, M2, M3). System according to claim 1, comprising management software (P3), hosted by the platform (P), allowing, from data collected by permutation means (P2) allowing the platform (P), the casino (C ) and/or the player to switch from one parallel game to another parallel game from the bank of parallel games (P1) of the platform (P) and thus to determine the duration of use of each parallel game and/or detection (D1, D2, D3) to identify the value and the number of betting elements deposited on the parallel betting area (S11, S21, S31), to determine the actual use of each parallel game in terms of duration of usage and stake amounts, this determination of the actual usage being able to serve as a billing basis between the casino (C) and the platform (P) and/or between the platform (P) and the parallel game provider (SB1 , SB2, SB3, SB4). System according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a selection touch screen, integrated into the game table (T) or mobile, allowing a player to select the parallel game he wishes, this selection touch screen being chosen among :
- the display screen (M1, M2, M3),
- another screen (Z11, Z21, Z31) integrated into the gaming table (T),
- a smartphone loaded with a dedicated application. System according to claim 6, in which the selection touch screen makes it possible to select a parallel game from a basket of parallel games (C2) preselected by the casino (C) from among the parallel games of the bank of parallel games (P1). A method of charging for a casino's use of a side game owned by a side game provider (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4), the billing method comprising identifying the value and number of wagers on the game parallel and/or to measure the duration of time of use of the parallel game, the collected data being correlated to establish a quantitative and/or temporal invoicing. Billing method according to Claim 8, in which a platform (P) acts as an intermediary between the parallel game providers (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4) and the casinos (C), the platform (P) comprising a bank of parallel games (P1) grouping parallel games provided by parallel game providers (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4), the platform (P) issuing invoices to be paid by the casinos (C) to the platform (P) and invoices to be paid by the platform (P) to the parallel game providers (SB1, SB2, SB3, SB4) on the basis of the data collected by means of permutation (P2) and/or detection (D1, D2, D3). Billing method according to claim 9, wherein:
- the switching means (P2) allow the platform (P), the casino (C) and/or the player to switch from one parallel game to another parallel game of the bank of parallel games (P1) of the platform (P) and thus to determine the duration of use of each parallel game,
- the detection means (D1, D2, D3) make it possible to identify the value and the number of wagering elements deposited on a parallel wagering zone (S11, S21, S31) of a game table (T).
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