Electronic gaming system and method of house collection

Abstract

An electronic gaming system has at least one table having a plurality of electronic player interaction areas (EPIA's) spaced preferably about the table so that a gaming player may locate oneself in front of a respective EPIA to play a game. The gaming system preferably has a host console that communicates with each EPIA preferably via a server for managerial control of the plurality of tables. Preferably, a software-based administrator tool operates through a user interface for the creation of at least one gaming profile type by the deletion, editing and creation of various gaming rule parameters. A software-based house collection tool operates similarly to the administrator tool for creating a plurality of house collection profiles that may then be assigned to various game profiles. House collection methods whether performed manually through a human dealer or via the software based house collection tool, preferably include: a pot collection method that is a function of the final pot amount, preferably the betting round reached and the number of players in the game; a time collection method having the option to pay prior to each time interval or optionally pay for extended periods of time; and a hand collection method where each player pays a house collection prior to each hand.

1 . An electronic gaming system for control of a plurality of games being selectively played by a plurality of players, the system comprising:
 at least one game table having a plurality of electronic player interaction areas for player communication and player input, wherein each one of the plurality of players is located adjacent to a respective one of the plurality of electronic player interaction areas;   a game computer being in communication with the plurality of electronic player interaction areas, and a user interface for managerial control of the at least one game table; and   a software based house collection tool being operated through the user interface for the creation of house collection profiles including a pot collection profile, a hand collection profile and a time collection profile.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising a software based administrator tool operated through the user interface for the creation of at least one gaming profile type associated with at least gaming rules, and wherein the software based house collection tool is inter-dependent with the administrator tool through the user interface. 
   
   
       3 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 2  wherein a host with a first security clearance has access to the administrator tool and a host with a second security clearance has access to the house collection tool. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 2  wherein the house collection tool is accessed from the administrator tool. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 2  wherein the administrator tool is slave to the house collection tool with respect to house collection profiles. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the pot collection profile has a minimum collection amount for comparison to a predetermined percentage of a final pot amount when a hand of poker does not progress beyond a pre-flop betting round. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 6  wherein the pot collection profile has a maximum collection amount for comparison to the predetermined percentage of a final pot amount when a hand of poker progresses beyond the pre-flop betting round. 
   
   
       8 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the time collection profile has a time interval that begins and ends commonly with the plurality of players of a poker game. 
   
   
       9 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 8  wherein the time collection profile has a door charge option for providing an extended period of play for an opting player without reference to the time intervals, and wherein any one of the time intervals is substantially shorter than the extended period of play. 
   
   
       10 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 1  wherein the hand collection profile automatically removes a predetermined house collection amount from the table stakes of each player prior to play of each hand of a poker game. 
   
   
       11 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 10  wherein the house collection amount is displayed graphically on a central display area. 
   
   
       12 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 2  further comprising:
 a computer having the user interface for receiving input for the creation of the house collection profiles and the creation of gaming profiles; and   wherein the game computer executes play of the game profiles and house collection rules.   
   
   
       13 . A house collection method utilized in connection with the game of poker, the house collection method comprising the steps of:
 recognizing a number of players at the beginning of a poker hand;   completing play of a poker hand;   establishing the final pot amount;   calculating a preliminary collection amount based on the final pot amount;   comparing the preliminary collection amount to a pre-selected minimum house collection amount if betting rounds of the poker hand do not proceed beyond a pre-flop betting round;   collecting the preliminary collection amount from players of the game if the preliminary collection amount is less than the minimum house collection amount; and   collecting the minimum house collection amount from the players of the game if the minimum house collection amount is less than the preliminary collection amount.   
   
   
       14 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 13  comprising the further steps of:
 calculating a maximum house collection amount base on at least in-part the recognized number of players;   comparing the preliminary collection amount to the maximum house collection amount if betting round proceed beyond the pre-flop betting round;   collecting the preliminary collection amount from players of the game if the preliminary collection amount is less than the maximum house collection amount; and   collecting the maximum house collection amount from the players of the game if the maximum house collection amount is less than the preliminary collection amount.   
   
   
       15 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 14  wherein the calculation of the maximum house collection is also a function of a number of betting rounds. 
   
   
       16 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 13  wherein the method is executed via a software based house collection tool. 
   
   
       17 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 14  wherein the method is executed via a software based house collection tool. 
   
   
       18 . A house collection method utilized in connection with the game of poker, the house collection method comprising the steps of:
 initiating a first response time period;   taking a house collection from a first player without any intervention from the first player;   expiring of first response time period;   initiating a first time interval period;   commencement of poker play;   expiring of first response time period; and   initiating a second response time period.   
   
   
       19 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 18  comprising the further steps of:
 opting not to pay interval collection by a second player during the first response time period; and   removing the second player from the game prior to initiating the first time interval period.   
   
   
       20 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 19  comprising the further steps of:
 determining that at least a pre-determined minimum number of players remain in the game; and   commencement of poker play if at least the pre-determined minimum number of players remain in the game.   
   
   
       21 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 20  comprising the further steps of:
 opting not to pay interval collection by at least one player of the plurality of players;   removing the at least one non-paying player from the game;   determining that the pre-determined minimum number of players do not remain in the game;   determining whether any of the remaining players have paid the interval collection;   refunding the interval collection to the remaining players that paid; and   termination of poker play.   
   
   
       22 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 21  wherein the house collection method is controlled by a software based house collection tool. 
   
   
       23 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 22  wherein the house collection method is executed by a game computer. 
   
   
       24 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 23  comprising the further step of selecting between an auto-post collection process and a prompted collection process by a player. 
   
   
       25 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 24  comprising the further steps of:
 leaving the poker game by a player of the plurality of players during a given time interval;   return of the player of the plurality of players prior to termination of the given time interval; and   resuming play by the player without further house collection toward the given time interval.   
   
   
       26 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 21  comprising the further steps of:
 entering the game by a new player during a given time interval;   calculating a proportionate house collection based on the time remaining in the given time interval; and   payment of the proportionate house collection by the new player.   
   
   
       27 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 23  comprising the further steps of:
 entering the game by a new player during a given time interval;   calculating a proportionate house collection based on the time remaining in the given time interval by the game computer; and   payment of the proportionate house collection by the new player.   
   
   
       28 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 23  comprising the further steps of:
 selecting between a door charge option and a time interval collection option by a player; and   selecting between an auto-post collection process and a prompted collection process by the player if the player pre-selected the time interval collection option.   
   
   
       30 . A house collection method utilized in connection with the game of poker, the house collection method comprising the steps of:
 pre-determining a fixed house collection;   collecting the fixed house collection from each one of a plurality of players;   dealing a hand of poker;   verifying sufficient table stakes from each one of the plurality of players;   dealing-out a player having insufficient table stakes from the next hand;   providing the dealt-out player an option to quit or refund table stakes; and   initiating a zero balance timer if the dealt-out player opts to refund table stakes.   
   
   
       31 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 30  comprising the further steps of:
 expiring the zero balance timer prior to the dealt-out player refunding table stakes; and   un-seating the dealt-out player.   
   
   
       32 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 30  comprising the further steps of providing the dealt-out player with the additional option of reserve seat; and
 initiating a zero balance timer if the dealt-out player opts to reserve seat.   
   
   
       33 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 30  wherein the house collection method is controlled by a software based house collection tool. 
   
   
       34 . The house collection method set forth in  claim 32  wherein the house collection method is controlled by a software based house collection tool. 
   
   
       35 . A method of operating a house collection tool for controlling revenue collection from hosting a card game, the method comprising the steps of:
 activating a computer of a gaming system;   displaying the house collection tool on a user interface of the computer;   selecting one of a plurality of house collection profiles displayed on the user interface;   selecting a unique house collection profile of one of the plurality of house collection profiles; and   assigning the unique house collection profile to a game profile.