WO2008154048A1 - Termination of table session play - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for improving blackjack by selling blocks of hands to a player at a reduced price includes providing the player with some indication of a number of hands remaining in the session and some mechanism through which the player may make wagers on each hand of blackjack. The player may purchase the session through appropriate purchasing forms and receive payouts at the end of the session.

Description

TERMINATION OF TABLE SESSION PLAY

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[01] The present application claims the benefit of and priority to the following provisional patent applications:

[02] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/974,901, filed September 25, 2007; [03] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/957,021, filed August 21, 2007; [04] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/952,728, filed July 30, 2007; [05] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/949,962, filed July 16, 2007; [06] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/948,848, filed July 10, 2007; and [07] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/943,171, filed June 11, 2007. [08] The disclosures of each of the above-listed provisional patent applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[09] The present application is related to the following patent and applications: [10] U.S. Patent No. 6,077,163, issued June 20, 2000;

[11] U.S. Patent Application serial Nos. 10/792,014, filed March 3, 2004; 11/293,016, filed November 2, 2001; and 11/270,016, filed November 9, 2005;

[12] U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 60/715,666, filed September 9, 2005 and 60/865,273, filed November 10, 2006; and

[13] PCT Application No. WOUS05/28383 filed August 10, 2005. [14] Each of the above applications and patent is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[15] The present invention is related to playing a session of a table wagering game for a set price and more particularly to determining how and when the session of game play ends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[16] Figure 1 illustrates a top plan view of a blackjack table suitable for use with at least one embodiment of session play.

[17] Figure 2 illustrates a flow chart illustrating a method of implementing at least one embodiment of session play.

[18] Figures 3 A & 3B illustrate session chips for use in the embodiment of Figure 2. [19] Figure 4 illustrates a top plan view of a second blackjack table suitable for use with a different embodiment of session play. [20] Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of a chip suitable for use with some embodiments of session play.

[21] Figures 6 & 7 illustrate perspective views of the chip of Figure 5 showing indicia used to mark the chip.

[22] Figure 8 illustrates a block diagram of components of the table of Figure 4.

[23] Figure 9 illustrates an exemplary method set forth as a flow chart using the table of

Figure 4.

[24] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary screen shot of the table of Figure 4 in the middle of a session.

[25] Figure 11 illustrates an exemplary methodology associated with termination events on a smart table.

[26] Figure 12 illustrates one embodiment of a session termination token.

[27] Figure 13 illustrates a second embodiment of a session termination token.

[28] Figure 14 illustrates a session termination event counter.

[29] Figure 15 illustrates an exemplary methodology associated with termination events with session termination tokens.

[30] Figure 16 illustrates a table in the middle of session play using physical tokens for session termination tracking.

[31] Figure 17 illustrates an alternate way to use physical tokens for session termination tracking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[32] In traditional blackjack, a player determines a wager for each hand, places the wager, helps resolve the hand that the player is dealt after game initiation, and collects any winnings. The player repeats the process for each hand. A side effect of this process is that the player may not know how long or how many hands the player will be able to play for a given budget. For example, if the player plays poorly or has a string of bad luck, the player may exhaust her budget rapidly in a minimal number of hands. Conversely, a player who plays well or has a string of good luck may extend her playing time through a large number of hands, and may even walk away from the table with more money than she had before playing.

[33] The present disclosure describes how a player may purchase a session of blackjack hands for a predetermined price and play such hands at a blackjack table. Because gamblers like the thrill and rush of gambling, the session may guarantee a certain minimum number of hands, but the end of the session may be left quasi-undetermined, thereby instilling the belief in the player that she always has a chance of ending the session a winner.

[34] Specifically, the session may have a predetermined number of defined session termination events. The player may be provided tokens or other markers which indicate how many session termination events remain in the session. Each time a session termination event occurs, the player loses a token or marker. In an exemplary embodiment, the predetermined price of the session is less than the cost of buying each hand individually and may be less than the cost of buying the guaranteed hands individually. In some embodiments, each such hand may be restricted to a predetermined maximum wager amount to control the cost to the gaming establishment.

[35] Exemplary session termination events include, but are not limited to the dealer having a blackjack, the player having a blackjack, someone at the table being dealt a one-eyed jack, or the like in blackjack. Other events may be defined for other games such as baccarat, poker, or the like. Similarly, games such as roulette or craps may have session termination events such as the ball landing on 00, consecutive points in craps, or the dice showing a three and a four. [[do we have other examples we want to introduce early?]]

[36] Before addressing the particulars of the session termination events, an introduction to session based play and the hardware that supports such session based play is presented using a blackjack game as an example. The discussion of session termination begins below with reference to Figure 9.

[37] Session play may be applied to a simple blackjack table 10 as illustrated in Figure 1. The blackjack table 10 may have a planar top surface 12. A dealer station 14 is positioned on one side of the blackjack table 10. The dealer station 14 may include a place for the dealer to stand, a chip rack 16, a card shoe 18, a drop box 20, a discard collection area 22, and a dealer hand area

24. Note that not all of these elements are necessary for a dealer station 14. Likewise, additional elements or repositioning of these elements are contemplated as being within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, a device that provides an alert when the dealer is dealt a natural blackjack could be added.

[38] The chip rack 16 includes tubes or slots sized to handle a number of chips as is well understood. In practice, chips of differing denominations are placed in different tubes or slots. The dealer removes chips to pay winning wagers and collects chips into the chip rack 16 as the dealer collects losing wagers. In one embodiment, chips may be designated for use with particular player positions. Thus, as described below, indicia may be provided on the chips to indicate this designation. Slots or tubes may be designated for different player positions to assist the dealer in tracking chips for each player such that the chips and session termination tokens may be stored by player position.

[39] The shoe 18 may include a shuffler or just dispense cards as is well understood in the casino industry. The shoe 18 may be a single deck shoe or a multi-deck shoe as desired, although usually shoes will be used only for four or more decks.

[40] The drop box 20 provides a place for dealers to insert cash into a locked receptacle.

Typically, the dealer accepts cash from a player, provides chips to the player corresponding to the cash received and inserts the cash into the drop box 20. A pit boss or other supervisory personnel may view and/or record the transaction to assist in the accounting of the gaming establishment. This process and the use of such drop boxes are well understood in the casino industry.

[41] Discard collection area 22 may be used to collect used cards after completion of a hand.

The cards may be stacked neatly on the table surface or passed through an aperture into a locked container for later inspection and disposal as is well understood. Other discard collection mechanisms are also possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[42] Dealer hand area 24 is the space into which the dealer deals his own hand. The dealer hand area 24 may have square indicia printed on the top surface 12 so that it is clear that cards placed proximate thereto are the dealer's cards. Still other techniques of denoting the dealer hand area 24 are also contemplated.

[43] A placard 26 may indicate the minimum and maximum bets, as well as any other rules particular to the blackjack table 10. Other rule indicia 28 may be printed on the top surface 12 as is well understood. A plurality of player stations 30 may be positioned at the table on a curved side opposite the dealer station 14. Each player station 30 may have a betting circle 32 printed on the top surface 12 as is well understood.

[44] In a first embodiment of session play whose methodology is illustrated in Figure 2, the player approaches the blackjack table 10 (block 100). The player may view available sessions listed on the placard 26, verbally solicit a listing of available sessions from the dealer, or otherwise determine what sessions are available. Based on the available sessions, the player may purchase a session (block 102). The player may identify the session in myriad ways. The player may say she would like to buy a "50-hand session" or identify the session by a nickname or moniker displayed on the placard 26 (e.g., "Afternoon Blackjack Session") or point to a session on the placard 26. To purchase the session, the player provides equity to the dealer, such as by providing the dealer cash. Alternatively, the player may provide cashable gaming chips, a receipt for comp points, a promotional voucher, a voucher purchased from a kiosk, cashier station or through a web interface, a cashless gaming receipt, a line of credit marker from the casino, or other equity mechanism as is well understood. Based on the session purchased, the dealer may then issue the player session chips (block 104).

[45] For the sake of example, the player purchases seventy- five hands of one dollar wager blackjack for ten dollars. (Please note that this example uses relatively simple numbers for ease in explaining.) The dealer collects the ten dollars from the player, deposits the money in the drop box 20 and issues the player seventy-five session chips 34 (see Figure 3A). A session chip 34 may include indicia 36 indicating that the chip is a session-only chip and/or a player position with which the chip 34 is associated, wager indicia 38 indicating the value of the wager, and rules indicia 40 indicating any rules associated with the session chip 34 such as that it has no cash value and may only be used as part of session play.

[46] Session play commences and the player places a session chip 34 in the betting circle 32 (block 106). The dealer deals out the hands and resolves the hand of blackjack (block 108). Resolving the hand may involve providing additional cards to the player if the player indicates a hit and adding cards to the dealer hand according to the house rules (e.g., dealer hits on a soft seventeen) as is well understood. Special wagers such as splitting and doubling down are addressed below.

[47] The dealer determines if the player won (block 110). If the player lost, then the dealer collects the session chip 34 (block 112) and determines if the session is over (block 114). The session is over if the player has exhausted all of his session chips 34. If the answer to block 114 is no, the session is not over (i.e., the player still has session chips 34), then the process repeats for the next hand. If however, the session is over, then the dealer accounts with the player based on a win chip count (block 120) as explained in greater detail below. [48] If the answer to block 110 is yes, the player won, then the dealer collects the session chip 34 and awards the player a win chip 42 (block 116). A win chip 42 is illustrated in Figure 3B. In particular, the win chip 42 may include indicia 44 indicating that the chip is a session win chip and/or a player position with which the chip 42 is associated, value indicia 46 indicating a winning face value associated with the win chip 42, and rules indicia 48 indicating any rules associated with the win chip 42 such as that it has no cash value and may only be used as part of session play. In some embodiments, in the event that a player hits a natural blackjack, any portion of the payout due to the player above the standard 1 : 1 payout-to-wager ratio for normal wins (blackjacks commonly pay 3:2 or 6:5) may be paid in standard negotiable chips or hard currency; this may reduce the number of denominations of session chips that must be made available, facilitate accounting, and facilitate tipping. Alternatively, win chips 42 may be printed in different denominations (e.g., for dollar wagers, win chips might have denominations of $1, $2, and $2.50 to reflect a push, a win, and blackjack respectively).

[49] The dealer determines if the session is over (block 118) in much the same manner described above with reference to block 114. If the answer to block 118 is no, then the process repeats as indicated. If the answer to block 118 is yes, the session is over, then the dealer accounts with the player based on the win chips 42 that the player has accumulated during the session (block 120). Specifically, the player presents all of his collected win chips 42 to the dealer. The dealer then adds up the values on the win chips 42 and compares this winning total to the face value of the session chips issued to the player. If the winning total exceeds the face value, the dealer may then provide the player cashable chips having a cash value equal to the winning total minus the face value.

[50] As the above explanation may not be readily intuitive, an example is provided. Extending the example provided above, assume the player won twenty times during the seventy- five hand session. The player's total would be forty dollars (assuming that winning hands pay one to one as is common in blackjack, and the player received no natural blackjacks and no pushes). This amount of forty dollars is the winning total. In contrast, the face value of the session chips is seventy-five dollars. As this amount of forty dollars is less than the seventy- five dollar face value, the player receives nothing, but owes nothing. Assume instead that the player won sixty times during the seventy-five hand session. The player's total would be one hundred twenty dollars (again assuming no blackjacks or pushes). The player is then paid forty- five dollars (the total ($120) minus the face value ($75) = $45). Given that the session cost $10, the player is still ahead $35.

[51] Other exemplary price points could be, for example, a one hundred dollar session with fifty hands at twenty-five dollar wagers or a two hundred dollar session with fifty hands at fifty dollar wagers. Do we want to update this?

[52] It is relatively easy to account for pushes and blackjacks, which do not pay out at the same one to one odds as a win. As alluded to above, the value indicia 46 of the win chips 42 may be varied to reflect different values corresponding to the pushes and the blackjacks. In the example above, win chips with value indicia 46 of one dollar (to pay on a push) and two dollars fifty cents (to pay for a natural blackjack) are provided. Such face values are added together during the accounting of block 120. An example is provided to illustrate such usage. Using the same seventy-five hand session above, the player won thirty-five hands, had six pushes and had three natural blackjacks during the session. The dealer would have collected the seventy-five session chips 34 from the player and provided the player thirty-five two dollar win chips 42, six one dollar win chips 42 and three two dollar fifty cent win chips. The player's total is then $83.50, which when the face value is subtracted results in a payout to the player of $8.50. [53] While it is specifically contemplated that during the accounting step 120 the dealer will pay the player any winnings with conventional chips having a cash value (rather than the session chips 34 or win chips 42), it is also possible that the dealer provides cash, a cashless gaming receipt, or other item that reflects the winnings of the player. For example, the winnings could be returned to the dealer to pay for a marker signifying a loan from the casino or other technique as desired.

[54] In this exemplary embodiment, the session length is fixed at a certain number of hands as evidenced by the number of session chips 34. There is no real potential for extending the session indefinitely without making an additional purchase.

[55] A potential shortcoming of the embodiment of Figures 1 -3B is the manner in which double downs and splits are handled. In a first embodiment, these options are simply not available to a player. In a second embodiment, the player is allowed to use one of her session chips 34 to signify the split or the double down. Such usage has the effect of reducing the total number of hands that the player has in the session, but preserves the "action" purchased by the player for a given session in that the player is allowed to put the same amount of money into play during the session, albeit at the expense of total number of hands in the session. In a third embodiment, the player is provided a fixed number of special wager chips (not illustrated) which can be used for splits or double downs. For example, in a seventy-five hand session, the player may be provided five such special wager chips. Increasing the fixed number of special wager chips effectively increases the cost of the session to the gaming establishment, but because such wagers are customary, players may demand that such wagers be available during session play. In another example, the player may split and/or double down whenever the player desires (according to the standard rules of blackjack about the availability of such wagers). Still other techniques for accommodating such wagers are also possible.

[56] While the embodiment of Figures 1-3B is one way that a player may experience session play for blackjack, the embodiment of Figures 1-3B is a bit simplistic and does not take full advantage of improvements in table technology that simplify and facilitate tracking the session as it evolves. Thus, a more robust table 50 is illustrated in Figure 4.

[57] The table 50 has a planar top surface 52 on which game play takes place. The table 50 further has a dealer station 54 and at least one player station 56 (seven shown). The dealer station 54 has space for the dealer to stand or sit and may include a dealer monitor 58, a discard collection area 60, a drop box 62, a chip rack 64, a dealer hand area 66, a shoe 68, and a placard 70. The discard collection area 60, drop box 62, dealer hand area 66, and placard 70 are substantially similar to the discard collection area 22, drop box 20, dealer hand area 24, and placard 26 previously described although variations on the structure and arrangement on the table 50 are contemplated and embraced by the present disclosure. [58] The dealer monitor 58 may be a display as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation set forth below. It is particularly contemplated that the dealer monitor 58 has touch screen functionality. Alternatively a keyboard or other input mechanism may be provided (not shown).

[59] Chips 72 (also illustrated in Figures 5-7) may be positioned in the chip rack 64 and used throughout the table 50. The chips may include a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag or memory 82 with an electronic circuit or processor 84 and an antenna 86 (see Figure 5). The chip 72 may be similar or identical to those disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,166,502; 5,676,376; 6,021,949; and 6,296,190, which are all incorporated by reference in their entireties. Gaming Partners International (GPI), of 1182 Industrial Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89102 and Shuffle Master, Inc. of 1106 Palms Airport Drive, Las Vegas Nevada 89119 both sell RFID chips suitable for use with the table 50, although neither product is specifically required to practice the concepts of the present disclosure. The GPI chip uses a standard microchip made by Philips Semiconductors called the Vegas S, each of which has a unique serial number. The gaming establishment (e.g., casino) or other entity may associate values with each serial number. The association may be in a look-up table or the like. Alternatively, the unique identifier may be encoded to include information therein. Likewise, the chips 72 may be color-coded or include other indicia, such as indicia 88 (Figs. 6 and 7) that indicate values and/or player positions to the player or dealer. The chips 72 may include further indicia 36 (Figure 6), 40 (Figure 7) similar to that previously described.

[60] In use, the electronic circuit 84 and antenna 86 act as a transponder capable of responding to an interrogator (not shown). In essence, the interrogator sends out an electromagnetic signal that impinges upon the antenna 86, exciting a current within electronic circuit 84. In response to the excited current, the electronic circuit 84 causes the antenna 86 to emit a second electromagnetic signal as a response, which is received by the interrogator. The second signal has identifying information about the chip 72 encoded therein such that the interrogator can identify the chip on receipt of the second signal. The second signal may be generated passively or actively. That is, in a first embodiment, the energy from the interrogation signal provides sufficient power for the electronic circuit 84 to use to send the second signal. In a second embodiment, the electronic circuit 84 may include a battery or other power source, which is used to power the generation of the second signal. While batteries have increasingly small footprints and longer lives, it is generally more practical to have a passive transponder. [61] The chip rack 64 may be one such interrogator. An exemplary chip rack of this sort is made by GPI under the trade name CHIP BANK READER. Alternatively, the interrogators described in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,814,589; 5,283,422; 5,367,148; 5,651,548; and 5,735,742 - all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties - could be used. Another RFID tag and interrogator suitable for use with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure are produced by Texas Instruments as the TAG-IT™ product line. An improved interrogator is discussed in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0077036, which is also incorporated by reference in its entirety. [62] The shoe 68 may be an intelligent shoe such as the IS-T 1™ and IS-B 1™ or the MDl, MD2 sold by Shuffle Master or comparable devices. The shoe 68 may be able to determine which cards are being dealt to which player position through RFID technology, image recognition, a printed code on the card (such as a barcode), or the like. The particular technique used to recognize cards is not central to the present disclosure. Further information about intelligent shoes may be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,941,769 and 7,029,009, both of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties and U.S. Patent Application Publications 2005/0026681; 2001/7862227; 2005/0051955; 2005/0113166; 2005/0219200; 2004/0207156; and 2005/0062226 all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. In place of an intelligent shoe, cameras may be used with pattern recognition software to detect what cards have been dealt to what player positions. One method for reading data from playing cards at table games is taught by German Patent Application No. P44 39 502.7. Other methods are taught by U.S. Patent Application Publication 2007/0052167 both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. Similarly, cameras may be used to detect when a token or chip (e.g., a session termination token) was given or removed from a specific player. This information may be helpful should the gaming establishment need to audit a session.

[63] The player station 56 may include a player hand area 74, a betting circle 76, a player tracking mechanism 78, and a player display 80. The player hand area 74 is the area into which the dealer deals the cards for the player. Note that if the shoe 68 cannot or does not track the cards, it is possible to use RFID technology or other image recognition technology to determine what cards have been dealt to the player once the cards have been placed in the player hand area 74. The interested reader is referred to the previously incorporated application 2004/0207156. The betting circle 76 may further be associated with an interrogator so that chips 72 placed in the betting circle may be detected. Another technique would be to put a card reader in the discard collection area 22.

[64] The player tracking mechanism 78 may be a card reader adapted to receive a magnetic stripe card such as is commonly used in gaming establishments. Alternatively, the player tracking mechanism 78 may be a smart card reader, an RFID interrogator that interrogates a player tracking RFID fob, or other device as desired.

[65] The display 80 may be a display as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation set forth below. The display 80 may be a touch screen display and/or have associated input elements such as a keypad or keyboard. Collectively, the display 80 and any associated input elements are termed a player interface. Information about the player, about the session in which the player is participating, remaining session termination events, a current balance of chips remaining in the player's chip stack, or other information may be presented on the display 80 as described herein. In a first embodiment, each player station 56 has its own display 80. In an alternate embodiment, all the player stations 56 at the table 50 share a single display 80 (not shown). Appropriate indicia may be used to distinguish which information relates to which player. In this embodiment, the display 80 may be positioned so that it is readily seen by each player. For example, the display may be vertically mounted proximate the placard 70. The display 80 may be a touch screen display or include a keyboard, keypad or other user input as desired. In still another embodiment, one or more player stations 56 share one or more displays 80 (not shown). While not shown, the player station 56 may also include a bill acceptor and/or a cashless gaming receipt device such as the TITO bill validating device such as a FutureLogic GEN2™ PSA-66 device configured to operate within an EZ-PA Y™ system by IGT. Another variation is to use a mobile terminal such as a personal digital assistant, palm-style computer, cellular phone, hand held or laptop computer as a display.

[66] The various electronic components of the table 50 may communicate with one another as better illustrated by the block diagram of Figure 8. A central processing unit (CPU) or processor 90 may act as the brains of the table 50. The processor 90 is a control system as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation set forth below. The processor 90 may be part of the table 50 or may be remotely positioned therefrom. It is possible that the processor 90 may be a central server that controls multiple tables concurrently if desired. The processor 90 may be communicatively coupled to the various components through a network (not labeled) as that term is defined in the Rules of Interpretation set forth below, a bus, or other communication system as desired.

[67] The processor 90 may control all the various components and perform all the calculations according to software stored in a computer readable format in a memory unit (not shown). For example, the processor 90 may receive data from the shoe 68 and or the interrogator associated with the chip rack 64. Such interrogator may be referred to as chip rack sensor 64A. Likewise, the processor 90 may control the player tracking mechanisms 78, the displays 80 and any sensors that track bets such as chip sensors 76A. Chip sensors 76A may be interrogators associated with betting circles 76. Alternatively, functions specific to individual player stations 56 such as control of the display 80, interpretation of data from the chip sensors 76A and the like may be controlled by player station processors 92. As yet another alternative (not illustrated), a single player station processor 92 may control all the player stations and a second processor 90 control the table such that the single player station processor 92 is a client for the processor 90. [68] While the table 50 is particularly contemplated, it may be possible to modify an existing table to include the functionality of some or all of the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, PGI, with Shuffle Master and IGT, sells an intelligent table under the moniker INTELLIGENT TABLE SYSTEM™ together with software entitled TABLE MANAGER™. Other intelligent table systems sold by Progressive include the TABLELINK PLAYER TRACKING, TABLELINK CHIP TRACKING, TABLELINK GAME TRACKING, TABLELINK TOTALVIEW, and TABLELINK CUBE. Further intelligent table teachings can be found in U.S. Patent Nos. 6,676,517 and 7,011,309 as well as U.S. Patent Application Publications 2002/0147042; 2003/0003997; 2005/0026680; 2005/0051965; and 2005/0054408, all of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

[69] With such an automated table 50, the dealer's tasks and record keeping associated with the play session are greatly eased and facilitated by the automation of the table. An example of an exemplary method of using such a table 50 is presented with reference to the flow chart of Figure 9.

[70] As before, the player approaches the table 50 (block 200). The player may view the placard 70, verbally communicate with the dealer, or otherwise become aware of the availability of session play. The player may insert a player tracking card into the player tracking mechanism 78. The player may then purchase a session (block 202). The dealer accepts money or other equity from the player (e.g., by accessing an account associated with the player tracking card or the like) and creates a session for the control system of the table 50 (block 204). The dealer may do this by entering the session information through the dealer display 58 (if it is a touch screen display), through a keyboard, or other input mechanism associated with the dealer station 54. Collectively, the display 58 and its associated inputs (either from the touch screen aspect or the associated input elements) are termed the dealer interface. The session information may be stored in a database or otherwise tracked by the processor 90. Session information may include player position, wager size, number of hands or session termination events, any ancillary rules associated with the session (e.g., player may not split tens and/or may not double down on a natural blackjack). Other information may be included as desired. For example, the session may be associated with the player through the player tracking mechanism so that the player receives appropriate comp points for the session.

[71] The session parameters are then presented to the player on the player display 80 (block 206). Pertinent information may include the player's current balance associated with the session, a number of hands or session termination events remaining, and other information as desired. The dealer provides the player with one or more session chips 72 (block 208). The session chips 72 have wager values associated therewith as described above. The session chip(s) 72 may be scanned by the dealer with an interrogator to associate the identifier within the chip with the session just purchased by the player. Alternatively, the dealer may type in a chip identifier as part of the process of setting up the session. While linking the session chip(s) 72 to the player and the session are specifically contemplated, such is not required.

[72] The player places one or more session chips 72 in the betting circle 76 (block 210) where the interrogator 76A detects them (block 212). The interrogator 76A communicates the presence of the chip 72 in the betting circle along with an address to the processor 90 so that the processor 90 knows that player at the given player position is playing as part of the session. Likewise, the control system is able to derive the amount wagered by the player based on the information from the interrogator 76A. The processor 90 or other control system operating the method then updates the session information. Specifically, the player's current balance has the value of the wager deducted therefrom, the number of hands is decremented if appropriate, and any other updates are performed as desired. The information on the player display is updated as well. For example, if the current balance is forty dollars, and the player wagers twenty five dollars as indicated by five $5 session chips 72, the current balance is decremented to $15. [73] The dealer and the player resolve the hand, and a determination is made by the processor 90 whether the player won the hand, and if so, what the payout is for the hand (block 214). The processor 90 can determine whether the player is a winner because the processor 90 has received inputs from the shoe 68 and the dealer that indicate which player has received which cards compared to the dealer's hand. Resolution of the hand is according to whatever version of blackjack is currently available at the table as modified by any session specific rules (i.e., the rules determine when the dealer must hit, what the odds are, when the player can split or double down, and the like). The control system may further determine if a session termination event has occurred (block 215). Again, the various interrogators, card detection systems, and the like may be used to provide data to the control system from which this determination may be made. Based on whether the player won or not and whether a session termination event occurred, the session information is updated (block 216). For example, if the player won, the balance is updated and displayed. Continuing the above example, if the player wins the twenty- five dollar wager, the balance is now updated to $65. A counter associated with a number of session termination events remaining may be decremented if appropriate.

[74] The processor 90 or other control system determines whether the session is over by determining if the predetermined number of session termination events has occurred (block 218). If the answer to block 218 is no, the process repeats as indicated. If however, the session is over, then the dealer accounts with the player (block 220) by providing a payout to the player if the player is owed such. The payout may be in the form of a cashless gaming receipt, a voucher for an amount of money, chips redeemable at a cashier station for cash, or other mechanism as desired. The payout may be based on the current balance for the session. [75] Note that since the display 80 may track the player's current balance, the player does not need to use chips to place wagers at all. Rather, wagers may be entered through the user interface and the balance updated accordingly. If chips are eliminated in this fashion, one mechanism through which the exemplary methodology is facilitated is through the use of a negative credit balance. That is, the player starts the session with a credit balance of zero dollars. If the wager amount is ten dollars, then when the session is updated in block 212, the player's credit balance goes to negative ten dollars. If the player wins, the session balance is updated to positive ten dollars at step 216. If the player loses, the session balance remains at negative ten dollars until the next game start. If the player ends a session with a negative credit balance, the player owes the gaming establishment nothing; the player has already paid for the session, so the player can walk away from the table having experienced entertainment for his expenditure. For the one hundred and two hundred dollar price point sessions described above, computer simulations suggest that on average about forty- five percent of sessions will end with a positive balance and about twenty-two percent of all players will walk away with a net winning amount (more money than the cost of the session). For the gaming establishment, the price point and wager amount may be manipulated to achieve a desired hold percentage assuming perfect play by the player. More detail on the concepts of the negative credit balance for a flat rate play session can be found in U.S. Patent Publication 2007/0087818, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[76] Note that it is easier to accommodate pushes and natural blackjacks in table 50 because the table does not need win chips 42 of varying denominations. Note also, that during the accounting phase of the method, or when the processor 90 determines that the session is over, the session only chip may be deactivated by the processor 90 and collected by the dealer. Further note that doubles, splits and the like may be processed similarly to the manner described above in that they may be prohibited; they may be allowed only a set number of times; their use may decrement the number of hands the player is allowed in the session; or they may be allowed freely, with the current balance decremented for their use but the number of hands unaffected. In this latter situation, the player may be provided necessary and sufficient number of chips 72 or a balance on the display 80 to allow the player to denote each split and double down wager appropriately.

[77] Figure 10 illustrates an exemplary table 50 in the middle of a session, essentially at block 214. The player display 80 has textual indicia 94 thereon showing the current session balance (negative thirty dollars) and the number of session termination events remaining (e.g., two blackjacks). As noted above, other information may be included or presented as desired. [78] Note also that there is a continuum of tables on which the present disclosure may be implemented. Table 10 represents a simple, dumb table and table 50 represents a fairly intelligent almost automated table. In between some of the elements of table 50 may be removed and the function of such elements imposed on the dealer. The dealer may, through the dealer input devices provide the information to the processor 90 so that the same functionality can be achieved. An exemplary middle intelligent table might require that the dealer visually determine the amount of the bet and type the value into the dealer interface. Instead of the dealer typing in the wager amount, the player may type in the wager amount in the player interface. Likewise, instead of the intelligent shoe 68 and/or cameras detecting what cards have been dealt to what player, the dealer may make an entry through the dealer interface as to what cards have been dealt and to whom. This entry may be verbal, such as through the BLOODHOUND system sold by Shuffle Master. Likewise, the dealer may announce and enter outcomes. Likewise, instead of the control system automatically adjusting the session balance, the dealer may adjust the session balance manually through the dealer interface. Session Termination Events

[79] Now that the reader has an understanding of session play, embodiments of the present disclosure are presented. The present disclosure introduces the concept of a session termination event during a session of game play. For simplicity, blackjack will remain the exemplary embodiment. Instead of having a session composed of a certain number of hands, the session may be defined by a predetermined number of termination events. For example, a player may continue to play according to the terms of the session (e.g., minimum and maximum wagers, session rules on splits and double-downs, and so on) until the dealer is dealt four natural blackjacks. To effectuate this sort of session, the termination events are tracked and the session ends when enough predetermined termination events occur during game play. There are numerous variations on this concept both in terms of what events may be termination events and how the termination events are tracked.

[80] As noted, there are numerous types of potential termination events. The termination event may be a particular card being dealt (e.g., a one-eyed jack), either to the player, to the dealer, or to any person at the table (i.e., any player or dealer). The termination event may be a condition relating to the player's final hand, the dealer's find hand or some comparison between the player's hand and the dealer's hand. Other exemplary termination events include, but are not limited to: the dealer gets a blackjack, the player gets a blackjack, the dealer pushes with the player, the player busts, the dealer busts, the player beats the dealer by a certain point margin, the player loses to the dealer by a certain point margin, the player has a final point value of a certain amount, the dealer has a final point value of a certain amount, the dealer switches or changes shoes or decks a certain number of times, the total number of cards dealt, the number of dealer shift changes, the player wins a predetermined number of hands in a row (e.g., three), the player loses a predetermined number of hands in a row (e.g., three), a number of occurrences of a particular card or hand (e.g., thirty A*), and the like. In some embodiments, a termination event may comprise a balance of chips for the session reaching a predetermined maximum amount. For example, a session which a player purchases for $40 and for which the player receives $100 worth of non-cashable chips may end if the player accumulates $250 of non-cashable chips. Similarly, a termination event may comprise the value of the non-cashable chips reaching a predetermined minimum amount (e.g., $0).

[81] Given that introduction, the disclosure now provides an example. In an embodiment that uses a smart table 50, a control system, such as processor 90 may track events occurring at the table 50 through the various sensors and provide an indication of how many termination events have occurred or how many termination events remain on the player display 80. An example flow chart of this process is provided with reference to Figure 11.

[82] As discussed above, the player approaches the table and purchases a session (block 450). The dealer provides the player with non-cashable chips or sets an initial credit balance on the display 80 according to the rules of the session (block 452). The dealer may also cause the control system to initialize or otherwise set a counter that tracks session termination events remaining in the session (block 454).

[83] Play occurs according to the blackjack rules of the gaming establishment (block 456). At some point during game play, a termination event occurs (block 458). In our example, the dealer gets a blackjack. The dealer or the control system causes the counter to be decremented (block 460). In our example, the display 80 changes to reduce the number of blackjacks remaining (see Figure 10).

[84] The control system evaluates whether the player has exhausted their counters (block 462). That is, since the control system knows what cards have been dealt to what player positions and what dealer positions, the control system "knows" what events have transpired and may track these events with an internal counter whose data is mirrored on the display 80. Other ways to track the termination events are also contemplated as discussed in greater detail below. If the player has not exhausted her termination events, then play continues. If however, the player has exhausted her termination events, then the dealer ends the session and performs the required accounting (block 464).

[85] Note that the display 80 and other elements of the player station may be used to alert the player as to the player's current status within the session. For example, an audio signal (e.g., a chime, buzzer, or the like) may sound each time a termination event occurs. Likewise, an audio signal may indicate to the player how many termination events she has acquired (or has left). That is, much like a clock tower's bells tolling the hour, the audio signal may sound a number of times according to how many termination events have occurred. A textual message may be presented, scroll or flash on the display 80 stating, for example, "DEALER BLACKJACK! ONLY TWO LEFT THIS SESSION!" Instead of the display 80, LEDs or other elements may illuminate counting up or counting down the number of session termination events remain or have accrued.

[86] The number of termination events required before the session ends may vary depending on how long the gaming establishment desires to make each session. In an exemplary embodiment, a session should be about an hour of play. As a generalization, it takes about an hour to play about sixty hands. Statistical evidence shows that on average, a player expects about three blackjacks every sixty hands. Likewise, the dealer would have about three blackjacks in the same number of hands. Other average frequencies include about six pushes for each player in sixty hands, eighteen dealer busts within sixty hands, or the like. [87] While the smart table 50 embodiment simplifies things for the dealer and the player so that the tracking of termination events is readily effectuated, the present disclosure also works for tables lacking such sophistication. For example, instead of using a display 80 to track session termination events, physical tokens may be used for the same purpose. In the simplest form a chip, token, bead, chit, lammer, plaque, printed receipt, card, tent card, abacus, cube or the like may be used to represent a session termination event. The player is given a number of such physical elements equal to the predetermined number of session termination events in the session. For example, if the session is defined by four dealer blackjacks, the player is provided four tokens.

[88] Somewhat more esoterically, the session termination events may be represented by a frangible item that is torn up as session termination events occur. For example, as illustrated in Figure 12, the physical element may be a perforated printed receipt 500 with frangible elements 502A-502D. As each dealer blackjack occurs the player or the dealer tears off the appropriate frangible element. The torn frangible element may be deposited in the drop box 20, thrown away, or otherwise handled as desired. Another example is a bracelet 504, illustrated in Figure 13 with frangible tabs 506A-506E. Again, as session termination events occur, the frangible tabs are torn from the bracelet 504. In still another embodiment, the counter may be a dial counter 508 such as illustrated in Figure 14. The pointer 510 may be turned to point to the arc having numerical indicium 512A-512E corresponding to how many termination events have occurred. [89] Another exemplary flowchart is presented in Figure 15 showing how such tokens may be used. As before, the player approaches the table and purchases a session (block 250). The dealer provides non-cashable chips to the player according to the starting balance associated with the purchased session (e.g., for a thirty dollar session, the player may be given $100 of non-cashable chips). The dealer also provides the player a number of session termination counters to the player (block 252). For example, the dealer may provide the player with four tokens or lammers to represent four dealer blackjack session termination events. Play occurs with the dealer dealing cards, verifying wagers, and the like. At some point, a termination event occurs (block 256). In our example, the dealer gets a blackjack. The dealer decrements the counter (block 258). In our example, the dealer takes one of the player's tokens. The dealer determines whether the player has exhausted her counters (block 260). If the answer is no, the player still has one or more counters, then play continues as noted. If the answer is yes, the player has exhausted her counters, then the session ends, and the dealer performs end of session accounting (block 262). [90] Figure 16 illustrates an exemplary table in the middle of the methodology of Figure 15. The table 270 is substantially similar in many respects to table 10, lacking much of the sophistication and automation of table 50. However, in addition to betting circle 32, each player station 30 further includes session termination token area 272. The player may have a stack of non-cashable chips 274 and a plurality of session termination tokens 276. When the player places her wager by putting one or more non-cashable chips 274 in the betting circle 32, the player may contemporaneously position a session termination token 276 in the session termination token area 272. If the player does not have a session termination event at block 254, the dealer leaves the session termination token 276 in the session termination token area 272 while paying out winnings and collecting losings. Then, when a session termination event does occur, the dealer may collect the session termination token 276. The session termination token 276 may be stored in chip rack 16 or other location as desired.

[91] As noted above, other forms of session termination counters may be used. If the session termination counter is an abacus, the beads on the abacus may be moved to show the remaining number of session termination events. Instead of tearing a card, holes may be punched in the card, such as is done with a train ticket. The session termination counters may also have dual purposes. For example, the counter could be a playing card that is used during the course of the game. For example, if the session termination event was the dealing of a one-eyed jack to a player, then when such a card was dealt, it may be removed from the set of available cards and placed beside the player to signify that the player has accumulated a session termination event. Or, for example, in craps, if the session termination event is a die showing a one, then when a die is rolled to a one, that die is removed from the table and placed next to the player to show that the player has accumulated a session termination event.

[92] Still another form of tracking session termination events is a system wherein a single session termination token 276 is moved between different session termination indicia 278 as illustrated in Figure 17. The process is similar to that previously described wherein when the player places her first wager, she places one or more non-cashable chips 274 in the betting circle 32 and places her session termination token 276 in a first indicia 278A. When the first session termination event occurs during game play, the dealer moves the session termination token 276 to the second indicia 278B. As each session termination event occurs, the token 276 is moved from indicium 278 to indicium 278. While not illustrated, it should be appreciated that indicia 278 may indicate through ordinal numbers, upon which session termination event the token 276 current rests. E.g. "0, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, final" or the like.

[93] Instead of counting down from the predetermined number of session termination events, the process could be reversed. Each time a termination event occurs, the dealer increments a counter or gives the player a token (or equivalent) to indicate the termination event. Once the player has accumulated a certain number of tokens, the session ends.

[94] Likewise, while most of the discussion above contemplates one counter element for each session termination event, it is possible to have the last session termination event not have a token. For example, if the dealer collects the tokens at the end of the hand, if the player cannot tender a token, then the session is over for that player.

[95] In a variation, the player may be able to purchase additional tokens so as to extend the session effectively. Or, in the embodiment where the player accumulates tokens as termination events occur, the player could pay the dealer to take a token away. In some embodiments, the ability to purchase additional tokens (or take away tokens) may be accompanied by one or more restrictions. For example, a player may purchase additional tokens to extend her session only when her game play is in the positive.

[96] In another variation, the player may lose and receive tokens depending on different events. For example, the player loses a token when the dealer gets a blackjack, but receives a token when the player is dealt a suicide king. In effect, the game has an extension event built into the session. Just as the termination events are diverse, so to the extension events may be diverse.

[97] In another variation, the player may have two different types of tokens that have different meanings. A first type of token counts termination events, but a second type of token counts extension events. The different tokens may have an exchange rate. For example, three extension events results in the player receiving an additional termination event token. [98] In still another variation, the dealer may conditionally collect the termination event tokens. For example, the session is defined by twelve dealer busts, so the player receives twelve tokens at the start of the session. However, the dealer does not collect a token if the player receives a blackjack or if the player busts. One easy way to recognize these conditions is whether the player has cards in front of them at the end of the round. That is, when the player has a natural blackjack, the dealer typically pays the player immediately and collects the player's cards (subject to the dealer also having a natural blackjack) before resolving the dealer hand. Likewise, when the player busts, the dealer typically collects the cards immediately before resolving the dealer hand. Thus, if after the dealer resolves his hand and has a bust, the dealer may collect termination event tokens from the players that still have cards in front of them. These conditions are exemplary, and other conditions may be imposed if desired. [99] Settlement of termination tokens

[100] In some embodiments, players who wish to terminate a session early may "settle" their remaining termination counters for some form of value, including hard currency, comp points, and the like. For example, a player who starts a session with thirty termination event tokens may wish to terminate the session after spending only twenty-two. The remaining eight tokens may be settled for $1 each. In some embodiments, the settlement value of the termination counters is dependent on the parameters of the session the player initially purchased. For example, promotional sessions may have a zero dollar settlement value, a low cost session (e.g., $40 for $100 in non-negotiable chips and thirty termination tokens) has a settlement value of $1, while a comparatively high cost session (e.g., $100 for $500 in non-negotiable chips and seventy play tokens) has a settlement value of $3. These values are exemplary and non- limiting. In some embodiments, other elements of a session may be "sold back" to the house. For example, "buy- back rates" may be available for wagering chips, termination counters, or any other elements provided to session players.

[101] While it is expected that the casino or gaming establishment will be the owner of the session termination counters, it is possible that the players may rent the counters from the gaming establishment. Alternatively, a third party may own the counters and provide them to the gaming establishment as part of a promotion or other activity. Still other ownership schema are possible. Social Gaming

[102] To encourage more people to play session based play, it is possible to incent such. For example, accrual of termination events may be spread amongst the players playing session based play. For example, if the termination event is a dealer blackjack, the dealer can only collect one session termination event token per blackjack, so if five players are playing session play blackjack, then the length of the session is effectively multiplied by five. A plaque or marker may show which player has her session termination token at risk for any given hand. Much like a blind in certain forms of poker, the marker may rotate around the table. Note on additional games

[103] Aspects of the present invention as described above in the context of blackjack may be equally applicable to other table games, including but not limited to: baccarat, roulette, Pai Gow poker, Pai Gow tiles, Sic Bo, and variations of such games (e.g., Let it Ride™, Spanish 21™, etc.). For example, a player may buy a flat rate baccarat session, providing him game play and/or chips with which to wager, as described above (e.g., $40 buys 30 rounds of baccarat, given certain betting rules). In one example of a baccarat session, a player may be given wagering chips with various values/denominations (e.g., for a 30-hand session, a player may play 20 hands at a bet of $50, 8 hands at a bet of $100 and 2 hands at a bet of $200), such that the player has control enough to "play hunches" and vary his bet as seen appropriate. In a baccarat session, a player may be restricted from placing bets in various specific manners, such as restricted from wagering on "tie" a given number of times during a session (or at all). In another example, a player may purchase a roulette session, giving him 30 spins of a roulette wheel and a stack of chips, with various restrictions on his betting each spin.

Rules of Interpretation [104] Numerous embodiments are described in this disclosure, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations, such as structural, logical, software, and electrical modifications. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[105] The present disclosure is neither a literal description of all embodiments nor a listing of features of the invention that must be present in all embodiments.

[106] Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of this disclosure) nor the

Abstract (set forth at the end of this disclosure) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s).

[107] The term "product" means any machine, manufacture and/or composition of matter as contemplated by 35 U.S. C. §101, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[108] The terms "an embodiment", "embodiment", "embodiments", "the embodiment", "the embodiments", "one or more embodiments", "some embodiments", "one embodiment" and the like mean "one or more (but not all) disclosed embodiments", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[109] The terms "the invention" and "the present invention" and the like mean "one or more embodiments of the present invention."

[110] A reference to "another embodiment" in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

[Ill] The terms "including", "comprising" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[112] The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[113] The term "plurality" means "two or more", unless expressly specified otherwise. [114] The term "herein" means "in the present disclosure, including anything which may be incorporated by reference", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[115] The phrase "at least one of, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination of one or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the phrase at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel means either (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car and a wheel.

[116] The phrase "based on" does not mean "based only on", unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase "based on" describes both "based only on" and "based at least on".

[117] Where a limitation of a first claim would cover one of a feature as well as more than one of a feature (e.g., a limitation such as "at least one widget" covers one widget as well as more than one widget), and where in a second claim that depends on the first claim, the second claim uses a definite article "the" to refer to the limitation (e.g., "the widget"), this does not imply that the first claim covers only one of the feature, and this does not imply that the second claim covers only one of the feature (e.g., "the widget" can cover both one widget and more than one widget).

[118] Each process (whether called a method, algorithm or otherwise) inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a "step" or "steps" of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in the mere recitation of the term 'process' or a like term. Accordingly, any reference in a claim to a 'step' or 'steps' of a process has sufficient antecedent basis.

[119] When an ordinal number (such as "first", "second", "third" and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unless expressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature that is described by the same term or by a similar term. For example, a "first widget" may be so named merely to distinguish it from, e.g., a "second widget". Thus, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, and likewise does not indicate any other characteristics of either or both widgets. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" (1) does not indicate that either widget comes before or after any other in order or location; (2) does not indicate that either widget occurs or acts before or after any other in time; and (3) does not indicate that either widget ranks above or below any other, as in importance or quality. In addition, the mere usage of ordinal numbers does not define a numerical limit to the features identified with the ordinal numbers. For example, the mere usage of the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" does not indicate that there must be no more than two widgets.

[120] When a single device or article is described herein, more than one device or article

(whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device or article that is described. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than one device or article (whether or not they cooperate).

[121] Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a single device or article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device or article that is described. For example, a plurality of computer-based devices may be substituted with a single computer-based device. Accordingly, the various functionality that is described as being possessed by more than one device or article may alternatively be possessed by a single device or article.

[122] The functionality and/or the features of a single device that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices that are described but are not explicitly described as having such functionality and/or features. Thus, other embodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather can include the one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments, have such functionality/features.

[123] Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to each other as necessary or desirable, and may actually refrain from exchanging data most of the time. For example, a machine in communication with another machine via the Internet may not transmit data to the other machine for weeks at a time. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

[124] A description of an embodiment with several components or features does not imply that all or even any of such components and/or features are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention(s). Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no component and/or feature is essential or required.

[125] Further, although process steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes may be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

[126] Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps, that does not indicate that all or even any of the steps are essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step is essential or required.

[127] Although a product may be described as including a plurality of components, aspects, qualities, characteristics and/or features, that does not indicate that all of the plurality are essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other products that omit some or all of the described plurality.

[128] An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the enumerated list "a computer, a laptop, a PDA" does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are mutually exclusive and does not imply that any or all of the three items of that list are comprehensive of any category.

[129] Headings of sections provided in this disclosure are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[130] A player "wagers" at least a single "unit of wager" to pay for a game start. In many gaming devices, a unit of wager may be referred to as a credit. Many gaming devices allow multiple credits to be wagered concurrently in exchange for an improved paytable or more paylines. A unit of wager may be equivalent to a full dollar amount ($1 , $5), a fractional dollar amount, a coin (e.g., $.05 (nickel) or $.25 (quarter)), or specified amount of another currency (e.g., a specified number of comp points). Some paytables may be expressed as a number of coins won relative to a number of coins wagered. In such instances, the term coin is the same as a unit of wager. Because gaming devices are embodied in different denominations, it is relevant to note that a coin, credit, or unit of wager on a first device may not be identically valued as a coin, credit, or unit of wager on a second device. For example, a credit on a quarter slot machine (on which the credit is equivalent to $0.25) is not the same as a credit on a five dollar slot machine (on which the credit is equivalent to $5.00). Accordingly, it should be understood that in embodiments in which a player may cash out credits from a first gaming device that operates based on a first denomination (e.g., a quarter-play slot machine) and establish, using only the cashed out credits, a credit balance on a second gaming device that operates based on a second denomination (e.g., a nickel-play slot machine), the player may receive a different number of credits on the second gaming device than the number of credits cashed out at the first gaming device. An interesting discussion of this concept can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,277,424, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[131] "Determining" something can be performed in a variety of manners and therefore the term "determining" (and like terms) includes calculating, computing, deriving, looking up (e.g., in a table, database or data structure), ascertaining, recognizing, and the like. [132] A "display" as that term is used herein is an area that conveys information to a viewer. The information may be dynamic, in which case, an LCD, LED, CRT, LDP, rear projection, front projection, or the like may be used to form the display. The aspect ratio of the display may be 4:3, 16:9, or the like. Furthermore, the resolution of the display may be any appropriate resolution such as 48Oi, 48Op, 72Op, 1080i, 1080p or the like. The format of information sent to the display may be any appropriate format such as standard definition (SDTV), enhanced definition (EDTV), high definition (HD), or the like. The information may likewise be static, in which case, painted glass may be used to form the display. Note that static information may be presented on a display capable of displaying dynamic information if desired. Some displays may be interactive and may include touch screen features or associated keypads as is well understood. [133] The present disclosure frequently refers to a "control system". A control system, as that term is used herein, may be a computer processor coupled with an operating system, device drivers, and appropriate programs (collectively "software") with instructions to provide the functionality described for the control system. The software is stored in an associated memory device (sometimes referred to as a computer readable medium). While it is contemplated that an appropriately programmed general purpose computer or computing device may be used, it is also contemplated that hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware (e.g., an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) may be used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions for implementation of the processes of various embodiments. Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software.

[134] A "processor" means any one or more microprocessors, CPU devices, computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or like devices. Exemplary processors are the INTEL PENTIUM or AMD ATHLON processors.

[135] The term "computer-readable medium" refers to any medium that participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) that may be read by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may take many forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include DRAM, which typically constitutes the main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acoustic waves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as those generated during RP and IR data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, any other magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, a USB memory stick, a dongle, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave as described hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer can read.

[136] Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying sequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences of instruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may be carried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may be formatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols. For a more exhaustive list of protocols, the term "network" is defined below and includes many exemplary protocols that are also applicable here.

[137] It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithms described herein may be implemented by a control system and/or the instructions of the software may be designed to carry out the processes of the present invention.

[138] Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to those described may be readily employed, and (ii) other memory structures besides databases may be readily employed. Any illustrations or descriptions of any sample databases presented herein are illustrative arrangements for stored representations of information. Any number of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested by, e.g., tables illustrated in drawings or elsewhere. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databases represent exemplary information only; one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the number and content of the entries can be different from those described herein. Further, despite any depiction of the databases as tables, other formats (including relational databases, object-based models, hierarchical electronic file structures, and/or distributed databases) could be used to store and manipulate the data types described herein. Likewise, object methods or behaviors of a database can be used to implement various processes, such as those described herein. In addition, the databases may, in a known manner, be stored locally or remotely from a device that accesses data in such a database. Furthermore, while unified databases may be contemplated, it is also possible that the databases may be distributed and/or duplicated amongst a variety of devices.

[139] As used herein a "network" is an environment wherein one or more computing devices may communicate with one another. Such devices may communicate directly or indirectly, via a wired or wireless medium such as the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), Token Ring, or via any appropriate communications means or combination of communications means. Exemplary protocols include but are not limited to: Bluetooth™, TDMA, CDMA, GSM, EDGE, GPRS, WCDMA, AMPS, D-AMPS, IEEE 802.11 (WI-FI), IEEE 802.3, SAP, SAS™ by IGT, OASIS™ by Aristocrat Technologies, SDS by Bally Gaming and Systems, ATP, TCP/IP, gaming device standard (GDS) published by the Gaming Standards Association of Fremont CA, the best of breed (BOB), system to system (S2S), or the like. Note that if video signals or large files are being sent over the network, a broadband network may be used to alleviate delays associated with the transfer of such large files, however, such is not strictly required. Each of the devices is adapted to communicate on such a communication means. Any number and type of machines may be in communication via the network. Where the network is the Internet, communications over the Internet may be through a website maintained by a computer on a remote server or over an online data network including commercial online service providers, bulletin board systems, and the like. In yet other embodiments, the devices may communicate with one another over RF, cable TV, satellite links, and the like. Where appropriate encryption or other security measures such as logins and passwords may be provided to protect proprietary or confidential information.

[140] Communication among computers and devices may be encrypted to insure privacy and prevent fraud in any of a variety of ways well known in the art. Appropriate cryptographic protocols for bolstering system security are described in Schneier, APPLIED CRYPTOGRAPHY, PROTOCOLS, ALGORITHMS, AND SOURCE CODE IN C, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2d ed., 1996, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. [141] The present disclosure provides, to one of ordinary skill in the art, an enabling description of several embodiments and/or inventions. Some of these embodiments and/or inventions may not be claimed in the present disclosure, but may nevertheless be claimed in one or more continuing applications that claim the benefit of priority of the present disclosure.

Claims

Claims

1. A method comprising: receiving a request from a player to initiate a session of gaming at a gaming table; providing the player a plurality of non-cashable chips with which to make wagers during the session of table top gaming; providing the player a plurality of session termination tokens; determining that a session termination event has occurred during the session of table top gaming; and taking from the player one of the plurality of session termination tokens after the session termination event has occurred.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the player the plurality of session termination tokens comprises providing the player one or more lammers.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the player the plurality of session termination tokens comprises providing the player a plurality of casino owned tokens.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising terminating the session of table top gaming when the player has no more session termination tokens.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving wagers, from the player, the wagers received during the session, the wagers represented by one or more of the plurality of non- cashable chips provided to the player.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the session termination tokens by player position.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising conducting the session of gaming at the gaming table by conducting a session of blackjack at the gaming table.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising conducting the session of gaming at a gaming table by conducting a session of baccarat at the gaming table.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the player the plurality of session termination tokens comprises providing the player a frangible device and wherein taking from the player one of the plurality of session termination tokens comprises tearing an element from the frangible device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the frangible device comprises a paper based device and the tokens are torn therefrom.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the frangible device comprises a bracelet and the tokens are tabs torn therefrom.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the player the plurality of session termination tokens comprises providing the player a punchable ticket and wherein taking from the player one of the plurality of session termination tokens comprises punching the ticket to indicate that the token has been taken.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an additional session termination token to the player if a session extending event occurs.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein providing the player with an additional session termination token further comprises providing the player an additional frangible device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein providing the player with an additional session termination token further comprises providing the player an additional punchable ticket.

16. A method comprising : receiving a request from a player to initiate a session of table top gaming at a gaming table; providing the player a plurality of non-cashable chips with which to make wagers during the session of table top gaming; determining that a session termination event has occurred during the session of table top gaming; giving the player a session termination token after the session termination event has occurred; and terminating the session when the player has accumulated a predetermined number of session termination tokens.

17. A method comprising : receiving a request from a player to initiate a session of table top gaming at a gaming table; providing the player a plurality of non-cashable chips with which to make wagers during the session of table top gaming; providing the player a counter for indicating session termination events; determining that a session termination event has occurred during the session of table top gaming; and adjusting the counter after the session termination event has occurred.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein adjusting the counter comprises incrementing the counter.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein adjusting the counter comprises decrementing the counter.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the counter comprises an audible counter.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the counter comprises a visual counter.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the visual counter is embodied as an electronic display associated with the gaming table.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein the visual counter is embodied as an electronic device associated with the gaming table.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein the counter comprises a display on a mobile terminal.

25. The method of claim 17 wherein the counter comprises an object physically adjustable by a dealer to indicate an appropriate number of termination events.

26. A method comprising: receiving a request from a player to initiate a session of table top gaming at a gaming table; providing the player a plurality of non-cashable chips with which to make wagers during the session of table top gaming; providing the player a session termination token; positioning the session termination token at a first location on the gaming table to indicate a start of the session; determining that a session termination event has occurred during the session of table top gaming; and moving the session termination token to a second location on the gaming table to indicate that a session termination event has occurred.