Gaming player image capture and display systems and methods

Abstract

Systems and methods for capturing images of gaming players and incorporating such images for display into casino games are disclosed. Such casino games can include reel, reel simulation or card games. Methods can include using a camera to capture at a casino game an image of a player located within the field of view of the camera, electronically sensing the image captured by the camera, and electronically displaying at least a portion of the electronically sensed image on a first electronic display associated with the casino game such that the displayed portion of the image is utilized within the play of the casino game.

1 . A gaming system adapted to capture real-time player images for incorporation into associated wager based games, comprising: 
 means for presenting a wager based game involving the placement of a wager, the play of a first game based on said wager, and the grant of a monetary award based on the outcome of said first game;    means for capturing a real-time image of a player of said wager based game while said player is at or near said means for presenting said wager based game;    means for electronically sensing said real-time image captured by said capturing means;    means for rejecting said real-time image if said real-time image does not include a minimum number of facial features; and    means for electronically displaying at least a portion of said real-time image on a first electronic display associated with said wager based game such that the displayed portion of said real-time image is utilized within the play of said wager based game.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein said minimum number of facial features includes two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and a chin.  
   
   
       3 . A system adapted to capture player images for incorporation into associated wager based games, comprising: 
 a camera adapted to capture a first player image of a player of a wager based game, said wager based game involving the placement of a wager, the play of a first game based on said wager, and the grant of a monetary award based on the outcome of said first game;    an image recognition system adapted to scan said first player image captured by said camera for a plurality of facial features, said image recognition system being further adapted to reject said first player image if said first player image does not include a preselected minimum number of facial features; and    a first display associated with said wager based game, said first display adapted to display at least a portion of said first player image along with at least a portion of said wager based game during the play of said wager based game.    
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said minimum number of facial features includes two eyes, a nose, a mouth, and a chin.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 3 , further including: 
 a gaming machine adapted to administer and present said wager based game.    
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said first display is included as a component of said gaming machine.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said gaming machine is configured as a slant top machine whereby a player may sit on a stool or chair in front of the gaming machine.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said camera is mounted at or near said gaming machine and is oriented toward the area where a player's head and face would usually be located during the play of a game at said gaming machine.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 5 , further including: 
 one or more additional displays associated with said wager based game, said one or more additional displays adapted to display at least a portion of said first player image at one or more locations remote from said camera and remote from said gaming machine.    
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said camera includes speakers and a communication system adapted to provide audio communications to one or more remote locations.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 3 , further including: 
 an electronic sensor board adapted for use in verifying the identity of said player by utilizing said first player image.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 3 , further including: 
 one or more player controls that enable said player to initiate the capture of said first player image.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said one or more player controls include at least one control that enables said player initiate the capture of a second player image of said player if said player is dissatisfied with said first player image.  
   
   
       14 . A method of capturing and displaying player images in association with wager based games comprising: 
 accepting at a gaming machine a wager from a first player for a wager based game, said wager based game involving the placement of a wager, the play of a first game based on said wager, and the grant of a monetary award based on the outcome of said first game;    using a first camera to capture a first player image of said first player of said wager based game;    scanning said first player image for one or more facial features, wherein said one or more facial features comprise at least one of a chin, a nose, a mouth and eyes;    rejecting said first player image if said first player image does not include a minimum number of facial features;    playing said wager game based on said wager from said first player; and    displaying at least a portion of said first player image and at least a portion of the play of said wager based game simultaneously on a display at said gaming machine.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said camera is located at said gaming machine.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said displaying step includes displaying at least a portion of an unrejected first player image such that said unrejected first player image is combined with a video depiction of a figure to create a video character image comprising a video depiction of said first player imposed on the video depiction of the figure, and is displayed in the playing portion associated with said first player.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14 , further including the step of: 
 using a second camera positioned at a location different from said first camera to capture a second player image for display on said display.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said second player image is of a player other than said first player.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 14 , further including the step of: 
 comparing said first player image to an image associated with a player tracking card used by said first player.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14 , further including the step of: 
 displaying at least a portion of said first player image on an additional display located remotely from said gaming machine.