System and method for inducing wagering in a poker-type game

Abstract

A system and method for inducing wagering in a poker-type game are provided. In one aspect, wagering is induced by providing an opportunity for game participants and/or spectators to place one or more side bets on the occurrence of an event during the game. A payout for each side bet is determined by: 1) detecting the facts, for example, known by a player, defining a current state of play in the game; and 2) according to the current state of play in the game, determining the probability of the event occurrence. In some embodiments, the side bet may be an insurance bet. In another aspect, the system and method induce wagering by determining a player's probability of winning the game and indicating to the player a potential payout relative to the player's probability of winning the game. The potential payout may be, for example, an inverse of a determined probability.

1 . A system for inducing wagering in a poker-type game, the system comprising: 
 at least one client game device including a user interface configured to provide at least one card and initiate a wager request relative to an event; and    a game server in communication with the at least one client game device to receive the wager request, wherein the game server, substantially simultaneously with initiation of the wager request, determines a probability of occurrence for the event relative to the at least one card and communicates to the at least one client game device a payout according to the probability of occurrence.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a database in communication with the game server, the database storing a data structure including a plurality of historical gameplay data entries relative to a plurality of players.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the game server further determines the probability of occurrence for the event relative to at least one historical gameplay data entry of the plurality of historical gameplay data entries.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a game-state detection means in communication with the game server.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the game-state detection means comprises an optical recognition system including at least one camera.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the game-state detection means comprises an RFID system including an RFID reader and at least one RFID tag connected to at least one of a plurality of wagering chips and the at least one card.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 4  wherein the game-state detection means comprises a barcode system including a barcode scanner and at least one barcode connected to at least one of a plurality of wagering chips and the at least one card.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a means for preventing cheating.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the means for preventing cheating comprises an algorithm executing on the game server, and wherein the game server adjusts the payout according to the algorithm.  
   
   
       10 . A method for inducing wagering in a multi-stage poker-type game, the method comprising: 
 dealing, during at least one stage of the game, at least one card to at least one player;    detecting, at each stage of the game, an instant state of the game relative to the at least one card;    determining probabilities, relative to the instant state of the game, for occurrences of a plurality of events;    accepting a wager from the at least one player that at least one event of the plurality of events will occur; and    determining an outcome of the wager.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising: 
 constructing a pay table relative to the probabilities; and    providing the pay table to the at least one player.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the constructing step further comprises: 
 accessing at least one data entry of a historical gameplay data structure; and    calculating a plurality of wager payouts relative to the probabilities and the at least one data entry.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising, after the constructing step and before the providing step: 
 offering to provide the pay table to the at least one player;    requiring payment of a fee from the at least one player; and    determining receipt of the fee.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the steps of: a) detecting, at each stage of the game, an instant state of the game relative to the at least one card; and b) determining probabilities, relative to the instant state of the game, for occurrences of a plurality of events; are performed substantially continuously during each stage of the game.  
   
   
       15 . A method for inducing wagering in a poker-type game having a plurality of wagering stages, the method comprising: 
 dealing, during at least one wagering stage of the plurality of wagering stages, at least one card to a player;    determining, at each wagering stage, an instant probability that the player will win the game relative to the at least one card;    determining, at each wagering stage, a potential payout according to at least the instant probability; and    indicating to the player, at each wagering stage, the potential payout.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the step of determining, at each wagering stage, a potential payout comprises calculating an inverse of the instant probability.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of adjusting the inverse of the instant probability to provide a predetermined expected return.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 detecting at each wagering stage an instant state of the game relative to the at least one card;    determining event probabilities, relative to the instant state of the game, for occurrences of a plurality of events;    accepting a wager from at least one of the player and a spectator that at least one event of the plurality of events will occur; and    determining an outcome of the wager.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising: 
 constructing a pay table relative to the event probabilities; and    providing the pay table to at least one of the player and the spectator.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the constructing step further comprises: 
 accessing at least one data entry of a historical gameplay data structure; and    calculating a plurality of wager payouts relative to at least one of the event probabilities and the at least one data entry.