Rewarding player detection of notable nonrandom patterns in games

Abstract

Tools and techniques are provided for creating nonrandom notable patterns in elements of games of chance which are traditionally random and hence lack such patterns. Players are notified of the existence of such patterns. When a player detects a pattern, the player may act on it to the player's advantage. Play may be monitored to determine whether a pattern has been detected by a player. Player rewards may be limited by a reward threshold, based on amounts wagered by the individual player and possibly other players. Play may be monitored to detect undesired play by software bots.

1 - 7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . A game device for game play between a player and a house, the game device comprising: 
 a pattern creating means for creating at least one nonrandom notable pattern of house moves in a game by at least one of: subsequence reordering, contra-patterned filling, changing at least one randomly generated game value, the game having a traditional counterpart which is free of created nonrandom notable patterns, the nonrandom notable pattern tending to increase player ability to predict house moves; and    a player interface configured to permit a player to play the game, to present the player with a nonrandom notable pattern during such play, and to reward the player.    
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device is configured to withhold part of the nonrandom notable pattern from presentation to the player if rewarding the player further would cause the player's reward to exceed a specified reward threshold.  
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the specified reward threshold is specified by a fixed amount which is independent of any given player's record of game play.  
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the specified reward threshold is specified based on at least in part on at least one of the following: the player's total winnings this play session, the player's total winnings over more than one play session.  
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the specified reward threshold is specified based on at least in part on wagers by other players over a period of time.  
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the game played with the device is one of: a variety of poker, blackjack (a.k.a. twenty-one), baccarat, another game of playing cards, blackjack, a form of poker, baccarat, craps, roulette, Sic Bo, another casino table game, a dice game, and the game includes player decisions more complex than mere slot machine play.  
   
   
       14 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device comprises software located at least in part on a networked server for game play online.  
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device allows multiple players to play the game together.  
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the device allows play which includes at least one move that is disallowed under traditional random game play.  
   
   
       17 . A configured storage medium in a system configured with data and instructions to cause at least one device having a processor and a memory to perform steps for playing a game between a player and a house, comprising: 
 creating at least one nonrandom notable pattern of house moves in the game by at least one of: subsequence reordering, contra-patterned filling, changing at least one randomly generated game value, the game having a traditional counterpart which is free of created nonrandom notable patterns, the nonrandom notable pattern tending to increase player ability to predict house moves;    presenting a player with a nonrandom notable pattern in the game; and    rewarding the player for detecting the nonrandom notable pattern in the game.    
   
   
       18 . The configured storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the steps further comprise withholding part of the nonrandom notable pattern from presentation to the player if rewarding the player further would cause the player's reward to exceed a specified reward threshold.  
   
   
       19 . The configured storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the steps further comprise monitoring to automatically detect at least one of: a play session beginning, a play session ending.  
   
   
       20 . The configured storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the play includes at least one move which is disallowed under traditional random game play.  
   
   
       21 . The configured storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the game is at least one of: a lottery, a sweepstakes, a game of playing cards, a casino table game, a dice game.  
   
   
       22 . The configured storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the steps further comprise testing to detect automated nonhuman players.