WO2018144530A1

WO2018144530A1 - Systems and methods for an electronic baccarat game

Info

Publication number: WO2018144530A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/016131
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephen Moore; Michael Russell; Mark Hettinger
Original assignee: Walker Digital Systems, Llc
Priority date: 2017-01-31
Filing date: 2018-01-31
Publication date: 2018-08-09

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a game of baccarat provides for collecting an ante/fee from a punter, in addition to two wagers required during two respective phases of the game. In exchange for the ante, a first card of a hand is revealed to the punter prior to the punter placing the first wager (which first wager may be required to be twice the ante) and a second card of the hand is revealed to the punter prior to the punter placing the second wager (which second wager may be required to be twice the first wager and in addition to the first wager). The punter may place the two wagers on different sides (one on Banker Side and the other on Player Side) or on the same side. The punter may be allowed to select which two cards are to be revealed during the two phases of the game.

Description

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN ELECTRONIC BACCARAT GAME

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0100] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/452,604 filed January 31, 2017 in the name of Stephen Moore and titled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN ELECTRONIC BACCARAT GAME. The entirety of this Provisional Application is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

[0101] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

SUMMARY

[0102] Described herein are various improvements to an electronic (e.g., video or RFID- enabled table) baccarat game, which improvements may each be implemented individually or in any desired combination. A first improvement comprises a game mechanic which allows a punter (i.e., a player participating in a baccarat game) to place an ante (i.e., provide a fee or payment) prior to cards being dealt, in exchange for which ante the punter will receive certain privileges during the game of baccarat, such as being able to view one or more card values prior to making wagering decisions during the game. This first improvement or game mechanic is referred to as Ante Baccarat herein. The novel game of Ante Baccarat involves dealing a plurality (e.g., four (4)) cards face-down to the punter upon the punter providing the ante and requires the punter to make certain wagers at different wager-decision points in the game (e.g., by committing a first wager that is double the ante at a first wager- decision point in the game and then committing a second wager that is double the first wager (or choosing to fold) at a second wager-decision point in the game). The first wager-decision point occurs once a first card (e.g., a card selected by the punter) is revealed to the punter (e.g., turned face-up such that the punter can see the value and suit of the card). The second wager decision-point occurs once a second card (e.g., another card selected by the punter) is revealed to the punter. A second improvement comprises a game mechanic which allows a punter to select whether to place his wager on a Banker side or Player side after (i) the punter commits the wager amount for the hand and four (4) cards are dealt face down; and (ii) one of the four (4) cards (e.g., a card as selected by the punter) is revealed to the punter and odds for both Banker side and Player side are determined based on the revealed card and output to the punter. This second improvement or game mechanic is referred to as One Card Odds Baccarat herein. A third improvement comprises a game mechanic which allows a punter to provide an input (e.g., by actuating a mechanism such as by touching a touchscreen or actuating a virtual or mechanical button), which input causes (i) a stop in a visual mechanic which cycles through a set of cards which are represented as possible candidates for placement in a particular card position, and (ii) a particular card of the set of cards to be placed in the card position. This third improvement or game mechanic is referred to as Cycling Cards Baccarat herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0103] Figure 1 comprises a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of a systems which may be operable to facilitate one or more of the functionalities and processes described herein.

[0104] Figure 2 comprises a block diagram of an example apparatus 200, which may be part of a system such as system 100 (Figure 1).

[0105] Figure 3 comprises a plan view of an example gaming apparatus that may be utilized to implement one or more of the functionalities and processes described herein.

[0106] Figures 4A - 4H illustrate, via a physical baccarat table implementation, an example round of Ante Baccarat as it progresses through a plurality of progressive steps and punter decisions in the game.

[0107] Figure 5 comprises an example user interface of an electronic gaming device (e.g., electronic gaming device 300 of Figure 3) engaged in a game of Ante Baccarat, in accordance with some embodiments. [0108] Figure 6 comprises an example user interface of an electronic gaming device (e.g., electronic gaming device 300 of Figure 3) engaged in an example game of One Card Odds Baccarat, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0109] Figure 7 comprises an example user interface of an electronic gaming device (e.g., electronic gaming device 300 of Figure 3) engaged in an example game of Cycling Cards Baccarat, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0110] Figure 8 comprises a flowchart illustrating one example process for conducting a game of Ante Baccarat, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0111] Figure 9 comprises a flowchart illustrating one example process for conducting a game of One Card Odds Baccarat, in accordance with some embodiments.

[0112] Figure 10 comprises a flowchart illustrating one example process for conducting a game of Cycling Cards Baccarat, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Ante Baccarat

[0113] In accordance with some embodiments, a game mechanic in a game of baccarat may allow a punter to place an initial fee or payment referred to herein as the ante in order to engage in a game that allows the punter to view the value of one or more cards prior to making wagering decisions and requires at least two wager decisions at two different points in the game, wherein the wager amounts the punter is required to place during each point in the game are dictated by the value of the ante the punter initially provided at the initiation of the game. , to increase the ante in a multi-step process at various stages of the game. For example, in one embodiment, a punter may be required to (i) place a first wager (e.g., double the ante value) once a first card of the dealt cards is revealed and during a first phase of the game; and (ii) place a second wager (e.g., quadruple the ante or double the first wager) once a second card is revealed and during a second phase of the game.

[0114] In some embodiments, the punter may be provided with one or more additional decision opportunities during the game. For example, the punter may be allowed to select which card (e.g., of the four cards dealt face down for the baccarat hand) is to be revealed in step (i) and/or which card is to be revealed in step (ii). In other embodiments, the selection of cards to be revealed may be performed by the system based on one or more game rules. For example, the card(s) in a predetermined position(s) may be revealed (e.g., it is always the cards in a predetermined card position that are revealed in a particular stage of the game) or the selection may be based on a random or pseudo-random algorithm.

[0115] In another example of a decision opportunity which may be provided to the punter, at step (i) (once the first card is revealed to the punter) the punter may be allowed to decide whether to wager on the Banker side or the Player side. In one embodiment the punter may be required to pick an initial side (Player or Banker) when placing the ante and step (i) may comprise allowing the punter an opportunity to stay on the initially selected side or to switch his bet to the other side. In another embodiment, the punter may not select Banker side or Player side when placing the ante, deferring the selection of which side to wager on until step (i) and the revelation of the first card.

[0116] In yet another example of a decision opportunity which may be provided to the punter, in step (ii), once the second card is revealed, the punter may be provided an opportunity to hold his bet on the side previously selected (Banker side or Player side; e.g., as selected in step (i)) or to switch sides. Alternately, the punter may be allowed to "hedge" by placing the second wager being placed in step (ii) on the side not bet on by the punter in step (i) (i.e., the first wager may be placed on Player side while the second wager may be placed on Banker side or vice versa). For example, if the punter elected to place the ante and first wager (e.g., 2X the ante) on the Player side in step (i) after the first card is revealed, the punter may be allowed to place the required second wager (e.g., 2X the first wager) on the Banker side, or vice versa.

[0117] Once step (ii) is completed (the punter has placed the second wager), the remaining cards of the hand are revealed and the hand is resolved. In embodiments in which the punter placed the first wager on a first side (e.g., Player side) and the second wager on the other side (e.g., Banker side), resolving the hand or determining a result for the hand may comprise resolving the result of the first wager and resolving the result of the second wager as two distinct results for the hand.

[0118] In accordance with some embodiments, all bets may be paid based on the traditional rules of baccarat, except the ante. The ante may be collected by the gaming establishment on all hands, irrespective of the result (or results) of the hand, such that the ante may be considered a fee in exchange for being able to play the game in accordance with the embodiments described herein and not as part of a wager. In some embodiments, however, the ante may be refunded on certain results such as a tie.

[0119] It should be noted that the values or formulas described above for the two distinct wagers being placed in the game (the first wager being required to be 2X the ante in step (i) and second wager being required to be 4X the ante in step (ii)) as well as the rule of the fee being collected for each hand (e.g., entire ante is collected as fee for all hands other than hands which result in a tie) are intended as non-limiting examples. Other increases multiples of the ante or other formulas or rules for determining the respective values of the first wager and the second wager, as well as rules for how much or under what circumstances the ante is collected, may be implemented as desired. Additionally, step (i) may not necessarily require a separate first wager but merely a decision as to which side to place the ante on (in which embodiments the ante is a wager and not a fee). For example, in one embodiment a punter may commit an ante at the initiation of a hand and decide after the first card is revealed in step (i) whether to place the ante on the Banker side or the Player side. The punter may then be required to double the ante in step (ii) as a second wager. In such an embodiment, only ½ the ante (or another portion of the ante) may be collected for each hand (e.g., other than a tie or some other specified result(s)) to maintain sufficient punter satisfaction with the game. Figures 4A - 4H, 5 and 8 illustrate various embodiments of an Ante Baccarat game mechanic.

One-Card Odds

[0120] In accordance with some embodiments, a game mechanic allows a punter in a game of baccarat to select a side to wager on (Banker or Player) after (i) a punter commits, prior to any card(s) being revealed for the hand, to placing a wager for the hand; and (ii) a subset (e.g., one) of cards in a set of dealt cards is revealed. In accordance with one embodiment, odds of winning for each side are determined based on the revealed card(s) and output to the punter prior to the punter selecting the side to wager on. For example, the odds may be dynamically calculated based on (i) the revealed card; and (ii) other card(s) previously dealt from the deck or shoe being utilized in the current hand such that they are no longer available to be dealt for the hand. In an alternate embodiment, odds may be dynamically calculated based at least in part on cards remaining in the shoe and available to be dealt.

[0121] In another example, the odds may be determined by being looked up in a table or database stored in a memory (e.g., a memory of the gaming device on which the baccarat game is being played or a memory of a remote server in communication with the gaming device). The tables below provide some example odds which may be stored in a memory and utilized to output an indication of odds to a punter, depending on what card is revealed (Table 1 showing one set of possible odds if the card revealed is a card on the Player side and Table 2 showing one set of possible odds if the card revealed is a card on the Banker side):

Table 1: Odds for Revealed Player Side Cards

Table 2: Odds for Revealed Banker Side Cards

5 0.452179 0.454358 0.093463

6 0.433199 0.460388 0.106413

7 0.400152 0.493067 0.106781

8 0.356026 0.548373 0.0956

9 0.334672 0.569564 0.095764

[0122] It should be noted that the example odds illustrated in Table 1 and Table 2 may be for a baccarat game in which the odds are calculated based on one revealed card but without any additional rules changes to the traditional game of baccarat. These and additional odds and calculations for a traditional game of baccarat may be found on the WIZARD OF ODDS website. In some embodiments, additional rules adjustments or discounted pay rates may be factored in such that the house advantage is more attractive to a gaming establishment (the above odds result in about a 6% advantage to the punter (blended house advantage of -6.76%), which may not be considered attractive by some gaming establishments).

[0123] In some embodiments, one additional adjustment to the rules of baccarat may be that a punter's wager is considered to be automatically lost if the revealed card is a particular card or has a particular card value (e.g., 4). Such an adjustment results in a game with a house advantage similar to, but slightly higher than traditional baccarat (and, also flips the side with the better odds to Player instead of Banker, as is the case with traditional baccarat rules). For example, implementing a rule in which the revealed card being a 4 causes an automatic loss of the punter's wager results in blended house advantage of +1.18%.

[0124] In one embodiment, once a card is revealed, the odds corresponding to the revealed card are output to the punter. In embodiments in which the punter had initially committed a wager amount but not a side to bet on, the punter may be required to select the side on which the previously committed wager amount is to be placed once the card is revealed. In embodiments in which a punter had committed both a wager amount and a side, the punter may be provided an opportunity to switch sides or remain with the side initially wagered on, once the one of four cards is revealed. In one embodiments, a timer may be output to a punter and a side may automatically be selected for the punter's wager if the punter fails to place a wager before the timer runs out. Cycling Cards

[0125] In accordance with one embodiment, a game interface of an electronic baccarat game comprises a plurality of card positions, each card position for displaying at least one game indicium or symbol (e.g., a card dealt for a baccarat game). The electronic baccarat game may be played, for example, on a dedicated gaming device (e.g., a slot-machine like video baccarat device in a gaming establishment) or non-dedicated gaming device (e.g., a mobile device of a punter, a smart table for facilitating the card game using electronic displays, etc.). In accordance with one embodiment, during a preliminary stage of a hand of baccarat (e.g., before all the cards dealt for the hand are revealed) a method for displaying the cards dealt for the hand allows a sense of control over the outcome of the hand to the punter by providing the punter an

opportunity to provide an input in response to which a particular card is displayed in at least one particular card position. In one implementation, a plurality of cards comprising possible cards to be placed into a particular card position (e.g., all cards in a deck, all cards in a deck which have not otherwise been dealt or revealed as having been dealt) are visually cycled through in an area of the game interface (e.g., an area comprising the particular card position or a specially designated area for displaying of the possible cards as they are visually cycled through). The visual cycling of the possible cards may be done in a continuing fashion such that one card at a time is indicated as the active card in a rapidly repeating cycle until the punter provides the input causing the cycling to stop. Upon receiving the input from the punter, the visual cycling of the possible cards stops and a particular one of the cards is placed in the corresponding card position.

[0126] In some embodiments, there may be a maximum time allowed for the punter to provide such an input and, if the punter does not provide such an input within the maximum allowed time, the cycling is stopped automatically and a default card of the possible cards is placed in the corresponding card position. The input provided by a punter may be, for example, a touch of a touch screen via which the visually cycling cards are displayed, wherein the cycling of the cards is stopped upon a detection of the punter's touch in an appropriate area of the touch screen. In another example, the input may comprise an actuation of a button (virtual or mechanical) of a gaming device on which the game is being played. In one embodiment, the input may comprise data (e.g., a selection of a number or other element from a plurality of available elements) based upon which a time at which to stop the cycling is determined.

[0127] In accordance with some embodiments, the card to be displayed in the corresponding card position is predetermined (e.g., based on previously or contemporaneously determined data, such as an output from a random number generator (RNG) as this term is described herein) and not dependent on a timing or other aspect of the punter' s input. Thus, the punter' s input may not actually determine which card is displayed in the corresponding card position but provides to the punter a sense of influence over which card is displayed.

[0128] In accordance with some embodiments, a gaming device includes a display element operable to display at least one visually perceptible card representation, each card representation comprising a card which is indicated to a punter as available for being placed in a corresponding card position (even though, in some embodiments, the particular card of the plurality of card representations has already been predetermined as the card to be placed in the corresponding card position). The display element may be operable to display the plurality of available cards by, for example, (i) displaying the card representations one at a time in a sequential fashion, or (ii) displaying them all simultaneously but indicating, one at a time, an active one of the cards (e.g., by lighting up, highlighting or otherwise modifying the card representations to indicate which one is active at a particular time). The gaming device may further include a user- actuatable input element responsive to actuation by the punter and a processor operable with the program to interrupt the visual cycling of which card is an active card upon recognizing an input from the punter and, upon so interrupting the visual cycling, display a particular card in a corresponding card position (e.g., display the predetermined card determined by the processor for the card position, irrespective of the card displayed as currently active via the visual cycling at the time of the user input. In some embodiments, the visual cycling of which card is the currently active card is done so rapidly that a punter would not be able to discern a discrepancy between the card indicated as the active card at the time of the input and the card that was placed in the corresponding card position.

[0129] In some embodiments, a punter may be provided with additional opportunities to obtain a sense of influence over a result of hand of the card game. For example, a punter may be provided an opportunity to provide an input which initiates a visually depicted cycling of the possible cards for a particular card position. In one embodiment, a parameter of such an input may effect a parameter of the visually depicted cycling (e.g., a speed or velocity of the cycling).

[0130] In some embodiments, the above-described game mechanic of outputting a plurality of possible cards in a visually cycling manner and allowing a punter to provide an input which causes the cycling to stop and a card (e.g., a predetermined card, unbeknownst to the punter) to be placed in a corresponding card position may be provided for more than one card position of a card game. For example, in a baccarat card game, this game mechanic may be provided for at least one card of the Banker side hand and at least one card of the Player side hand.

Baccarat Game Play and Supporting Example Systems

[0131] In accordance with some embodiments, a determination of whether the Banker hand wins or the Player hand wins (or whether there is a Tie) may be based on a valuation of the cards in accordance with the traditional rules of valuating a hand in baccarat. For one unfamiliar with rules of baccarat, a brief description of some example traditional rules of baccarat is provided herein. Each card dealt to the Banker side (i.e., the Banker hand) and each card dealt to the Player side (i.e., the Player hand) may be attributed a point value as follows: (i) cards having the numerals two (2) through nine (9) depicted thereon may have their face value in points (e.g., a card with a "2" on it is worth 2 points towards a final point value of the hand, a card with a "3" on it is worth 3 points towards a final point value of the hand, etc.); (ii) cards having 10s, Js, Qs and Ks may have a zero point value (i.e. are worth zero points); and (iii) Aces may have a 1 point value. Further, each of the Banker hand and the Player hand may be valued by summing the point value of each card comprising the respective hand according to the rightmost digit of the sum of their constituent cards: for example, a hand consisting of 2 and 3 is worth 5, but a hand consisting of 6 and 7 is worth 3 (i.e. the 3 being the rightmost digit in the combined points total: 13), such that the highest possible hand value in Baccarat is 9. The hand with the highest point value (or the point value closest to 9) may be considered the winning hand (e.g., if Banker hand has a value of 7 and Player hand has a value of 9, the Player side is determined to be the winning hand or winning side). Of course, any desired scheme for valuing hands, whether a point system for attributing value to cards comprising a hand or other mechanism for determining a winning side or a winning hand may be implemented. The above methodology is provided as an example only and the embodiments described herein are not dependent on any particular method for determining whether the Player hand or the Banker hand wins (or there is a Tie) for a given game event in a game of baccarat.

[0132] The determination of which card to deal into a particular card position or hand of cards may be based on one or more sources. For example, in one embodiment a random number generator ("RNG"; comprising software and/or hardware for selecting cards to be dealt for a hand or other game event on a random or pseudo-random basis) may be utilized to determine the cards to be dealt as an outcome of a hand, bet, or other game event for a video baccarat game as described herein. In embodiments implemented on a live table game equipped with a card shoe, the card shoe may be operable to shuffle the cards contained therein and deal out the shuffled cards in order. In another embodiment, "live game play data" may be a source for determining the cards, or the order of cards dealt. Live game play data may comprise data indicating cards dealt (simultaneously, contemporaneously or essentially simultaneously, such as within the past predetermined period of time, such as within the past thirty (30) minutes or less) on one or more physical tables (e.g., cards dealt from a physical shoe at the table or manually dealt by a dealer). The live game play data may include, for example, an indication of at least one of (i) an outcome determined for a respective one or more hands, bets or other game events; (ii) a result determined for a respective one or more hands, bets or other game events (e.g., a payout won, an indication of a winner for a hand, bet or other game event), (iii) a rank or characteristic of a hand, bet or other game event; (iv) a suit, rank or other characteristic of a card or other game indicia output for a respective one or more hands, bets or other game events; and (v) the one or more cards or other game indicia output for a respective one or more hands, bet or other game events. It should be noted that there may be some overlap in the scope of the examples listed above (e.g., an indication of an outcome in a card game may comprise an indication of a card comprising the outcome).

[0133] Live table games generally include a live dealer that deals randomly-ordered physical playing cards to punters seated at a physical gaming table, and involves the use of physical gaming chips for wagering by the punters at the gaming table during the play of the game. A live table game may also involve an automated system for dealing physical playing cards to punters seated at a physical gaming table but without a live dealer present (e.g., the physical table may provide for a remote dealer or software which simulates a dealer).

[0134] In accordance with some embodiments, live game play data may be obtained through wager detections systems, which may include at least one of hardware and software for identifying, storing, analyzing and/or transmitting events (e.g., results, outcomes, wagers, etc.) which have occurred during or in association with a live table game. For example, a wager detection system may include at least one of RFID tagged gaming chips and corresponding RFID sensing devices, one or more card reading devices, such as a camera positioned to capture card images for detection, an optical reader incorporated in a gaming table, an automated shuffling device and a playing card shoe (e.g., an electronic shoe which is operable to communicate with a processor to indicate at least one of an outcome or result of a wager and/or the game symbols comprising an outcome for a wager). Once received or otherwise determined, the live game play data may be stored, processed, analyzed, selected and/or communicated as repurposed game play data for display on one or more gaming devices (defined below) through any appropriate wired or wireless communication hardware and software technology.

[0135] The systems, processes and articles of manufacture described herein may be operable to utilize the live game play data as repurposed game play data to provide games or wagering opportunities at one or more of gaming devices. The wagering opportunities or games so provided may be based on, or simulations of, the live game play data of the underlying game or original game from which the data originated. In one embodiment, the systems, methods and articles of manufacture described herein may be operable to provide additional wagering games or opportunities which differ from the underlying or original game based upon which the game data was determined.

[0136] In yet another example, a source for cards to be dealt in a virtual baccarat game may comprise "historical game play data." Historical game play data may comprise, for example, data indicating cards dealt (or any of the other data types described with respect to live game play data) which was determined or which occurred at a physical table (or electronic baccarat device) more than a predetermined period of time ago (e.g., more than thirty (30) minutes ago), which has been stored in a database or other memory mechanism. A system controller, which may take any form, including one or more general purpose computers, specific purpose computers or servers, may receive, determine, store, analyze, categorize, select and/or repurpose the game play data from live games for one or more additional wagering opportunities on a gaming device (e.g., a dedicated device for outputting a virtual baccarat game or a non-dedicated device such as a smart phone or tablet computer, on which software for facilitating the baccarat game has been installed). Various examples of gaming devices are described herein with respect to Figure 1.

[0137] Certain aspects, advantages, and novel features of various embodiments of a baccarat game are described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize different embodiments may be implemented or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.

[0138] Although several embodiments, examples and illustrations are disclosed herein, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention described herein extends beyond the specifically disclosed embodiments, examples and illustrations and includes other uses of the invention and obvious modifications and equivalents thereof. Embodiments of the invention(s) are described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention(s). In addition, embodiments of the invention(s) can comprise several novel features and it is possible that no single feature is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or is essential to practicing the invention(s) herein described.

[0139] Throughout the descriptions herein and unless otherwise specified, the following terms may include and / or encompass the example meanings provided in this section. These terms and illustrative example meanings are provided to clarify the language selected to describe embodiments both in the specification and in the appended claims, and accordingly, are not intended to be limiting. Other terms are defined throughout the present description.

[0140] A "game", as the term is used herein unless specified otherwise, may comprise any game (e.g., wagering or non-wagering, electronically playable over a network) playable by one or more punters in accordance with specified rules. A game may be playable on a personal computer online in web browsers, on a game console or terminal and/or on a mobile device such as a smart-phone or tablet computer. A game may also be playable on a dedicated gaming device (e.g., a slot machine-type of device in a brick-and-mortar casino). "Gaming" thus refers to play of a game.

[0141] A "wagering game", as the term is used herein, may comprise a game on which a punter can risk a wager or other consideration. A wager may comprise a monetary wager in the form of an amount of currency or any other tangible or intangible article having some value which may be risked on an outcome of a wagering game. "Gambling" or "wagering" refers to play of a wagering game.

[0142] The term "game provider", as used herein unless specified otherwise, refers to an entity or system of components which provides, or facilitates the provision of, games for play. For example, a game provider may comprise a designer, manufacturer, supplier or retailer of the game.

[0143] The terms "information" and "data" , as used herein unless specified otherwise, may be used interchangeably and may refer to any data, text, voice, video, image, message, bit, packet, pulse, tone, waveform, and / or other type or configuration of signal and / or information.

Information may comprise information packets transmitted, for example, in accordance with the Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) standard as defined by "Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) Specification" RFC 1883, published by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), Network Working Group, S. Deering et al. (December 1995). Information may, according to some embodiments, be compressed, encoded, encrypted, and / or otherwise packaged or manipulated in accordance with any method that is or becomes known or practicable.

[0144] The term "indication", as used herein unless specified otherwise, may refer to any indicia and / or other information indicative of or associated with a subject, item, entity, and / or other object and / or idea. As used herein, the phrases "information indicative of and "indicia" may be used to refer to any information that represents, describes, and / or is otherwise associated with a related entity, subject, or object. Indicia of information may include, for example, a code, a reference, a link, a signal, an identifier, and / or any combination thereof and / or any other informative representation associated with the information. In some embodiments, indicia of information (or indicative of the information) may be or include the information itself and / or any portion or component of the information. In some embodiments, an indication may include a request, a solicitation, a broadcast, and / or any other form of information gathering and / or dissemination.

[0145] The term "network component," as used herein unless specified otherwise, may refer to a user or network device, or a component, piece, portion, or combination of user or network devices. Examples of network components may include a Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) device or module, a network processor, and a network communication path, connection, port, or cable.

[0146] In addition, some embodiments are associated with a "network" or a "communication network". As used herein, the terms "network" and "communication network" may be used interchangeably and may refer to any object, entity, component, device, and / or any combination thereof that permits, facilitates, and / or otherwise contributes to or is associated with the transmission of messages, packets, signals, and / or other forms of information between and / or within one or more network devices. Networks may be or include a plurality of interconnected network devices. In some embodiments, networks may be hard-wired, wireless, virtual, neural, and / or any other configuration of type that is or becomes known. Communication networks may include, for example, one or more networks configured to operate in accordance with the Fast Ethernet LAN transmission standard 802.3-2002® published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). In some embodiments, a network may include one or more wired and / or wireless networks operated in accordance with any communication standard or protocol that is or becomes known or practicable.

[0147] The term "punter," as used herein unless specified otherwise, may refer to any type, quantity, and or manner of entity associated with the play of a game. In some embodiments, a punter may comprise an entity (i) conducting play of an online game, (ii) that desires to play a game (e.g., an entity registered and/or scheduled to play and/or an entity having expressed interest in the play of the game - e.g., a spectator) and/or may (iii) that configures, manages, and/or conducts a game. A punter may be currently playing a game or have previously played the game, or may not yet have initiated play - i.e., a "punter" may comprise a "potential punter" {e.g., in general and/or with respect to a specific game). In some embodiments, a punter may comprise a user of an interface {e.g., whether or not such a punter participates in a game or seeks to participate in the game). [0148] Some embodiments described herein are associated with a "gaming device". As used herein, a "gaming device" may generally refer to any device (operable, in some embodiments, to communicate via a network) that is operable to facilitate at least some of the embodiments described herein. For example, a gaming device may comprise an electronic baccarat table in a live gaming establishment such as a casino, equipped with some electronic equipment such as one or more of a card shoe, processor, memory, RFID antenna(s), optical reading device(s)s, camera(s) and display(s). In another example, a gaming device may comprise a video baccarat device dedicated to facilitating an electronic baccarat game (e.g., akin to a slot machine). In yet another example, a gaming device may comprise a non-dedicated device owned by a punter and operable to facilitate a baccarat software application (e.g., a personal computer (PC), laptop, smartphone (or other mobile device), etc.).

[0149] A "game event", "event instance", "game instance", "hand" or "turn" is triggered upon an initiation of, or request for, at least one result of the game by a punter, such as an actuation of a "start" or "deal" mechanism, which initiation causes an outcome to be determined or generated (e.g., a random number generator is contacted or communicated with to identify, generate or determine a random number to be used to determine a result for the event instance). An event instance or turn may comprise an event instance or turn of a primary game or an event instance or turn of a bonus round, mode or feature of the game. For example, actuation by a punter of a "deal" mechanism may cause an appropriate number of cards to be dealt to the punter for a new hand of a baccarat game.

[0150] "Virtual currency" as the term is used herein unless indicated otherwise, refers to an in- game currency that may be used as part of a game or one or more games provided by a game provider as (i) currency for making wagers, and/or (ii) to purchase or access various in-game items, features or powers. References to an "award", "prize" and/or "payout" herein are intended to encompass such in the form of virtual currency, credits, real currency or any other form of value, tangible or intangible.

[0151] A "credit balance", as the term is used herein unless indicated otherwise, refers to (i) a balance of currency, whether virtual currency or real currency, usable for making wagers or purchases in the game (or relevant to the game), and/or (ii) another tracking mechanism for tracking a punter's success or advancement in a game by deducting therefrom points or value for unsuccessful attempts at advancement and adding thereto points or value for successful attempts at advancement. A credit balance may be increased or replenished with funds external to the game. For example, a punter may transfer funds to the credit balance from a financial account or a gaming establishment may add funds to the credit balance due to a promotion, award or gift to the punter.

[0152] Referring now to the figures, Figure 1 depicts a block diagram of an example system 100 according to some embodiments. The system 100 may be utilized, for example, within a gaming establishment such as a casino, and include a plurality of electronic gaming machines ("EGMs", such as video baccarat machines, slot machines, video poker machines, etc.) in communication with one or more server devices. The system 100 may comprise a plurality of gaming devices 102a - 102n in communication with a game server 110 via a network 104. For purposes of brevity, any or all of the gaming devices 102a - 102n will be referred to as a gaming device 102 herein, even though the plurality of gaming devices 102a - 102n may include different types of gaming devices (as described below). The game server 110 may also be operable to

communicate with or access a database 140 (which may comprise one or more databases and/or tables and which may comprise a storage device distinct from (or be a component of) the game server 110). It should be noted that in some embodiments database 140 may be stored on a game server 110 while in other embodiments database 140 may be stored on another computing device with which game server 110 is operable to communicate in order to at least access the data in database 140 (e.g., another server device remote from game server 140, operable to determine outcomes for an event instance of a game). In some embodiments a processor (e.g., one or more microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digital signal processors) of a gaming device 102 and/or game server 110 may receive instructions (e.g., from a memory or like device), and execute those instructions, thereby performing one or more processes defined by those instructions. Instructions may be embodied in, e.g., one or more computer programs and / or one or more scripts.

[0153] In some embodiments a game server 110 and / or one or more of the gaming devices 102 stores and / or has access to data useful for facilitating play of a game. For example, game server 110 and/or a gaming device 102 may store (i) one or more probability databases for determining one or more outcome(s) for an event instance, hand or turn of a game, (ii) a current state or status of a game or game session (e.g., at least one card revealed to a punter, odds determined based on the at least one revealed card, a side on which a punter has placed a wager), (iii) one or more user interfaces for use in a game, (iv) one or more game themes for a game and/or (v) profiles or other personal information associated with a punter of a game. It should be noted that in some embodiments such data may be stored on the game server 110 and information based on such data may be output to a gaming device 102 during play of a game, in other embodiments a game program may be downloaded to a local memory of a gaming device 102 and thus such data may be stored on a gaming device 102 (e.g., in encrypted or other secure or tamper-resistant form), in yet other embodiments at least some of such information may be stored on a portable medium such as a player tracking card (e.g., the punter's profile, preferences and information on last game(s) played, rewards earned, etc.) and still in other embodiments information may be stored in a combination of such localities.

[0154] A game server 110 may comprise a computing device for facilitating play of a game (e.g., by receiving an input from a punter, determining an outcome for a game, causing an outcome of a game to be displayed on a gaming device, facilitating a wager and/or a provision of a payout for a game). For example, the game server 110 may comprise a server computer operated by a game provider or another entity (e.g., a social network website not primarily directed at providing games). In some embodiments, the game server may determine an outcome for game event of a game by requesting and receiving such an outcome from another remote server operable to provide such outcomes. In some embodiments, the game server 110 may further be operable to facilitate a game program for a game (e.g., a wagering game). In accordance with some embodiments, in addition to administering or facilitating play of a game, a game server 1 10 may comprise one or more computing devices responsible for handling online processes such as, but not limited to: serving a website comprising one or more games to a gaming device and/or processing transactions (e.g., wagers, deposits into financial accounts, managing accounts, controlling games, etc.). In some embodiments, game server 110 may comprise two or more server computers operated by the same entity (e.g., one server being primarily for storing states of games in progress and another server being primarily for storing mechanisms for determining outcomes of games, such as a random number generator).

[0155] Turning now to a description of a gaming device 102, in accordance with some embodiments a gaming device 102 may comprise a computing device that is operable to execute or facilitate the execution of a game program and used or useful by a punter for accessing a casino or other electronic (e.g., online) game. For example, a gaming device 102 may comprise a computing device dedicated to gaming, a desktop computer, computer workstation, laptop, mobile device, tablet computer, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) devices, cellular or other wireless telephones (e.g., the Apple™ iPhone™), video game consoles (e.g., Microsoft™ Xbox One™, Sony™ Playstation™, and/or Nintendo™ Switch™), and/or handheld or portable video game devices (e.g., Nintendo™ Game Boy™ or Nintendo™ DS™). A gaming device 102 may comprise and/or interface with various components such as input and output devices (each of which is described in detail elsewhere herein) and, in some embodiments, game server 1 10. A gaming device 102 may be a dedicated gaming device (e.g., a slot machine or video terminal on a casino floor) or a non-dedicated gaming device (e.g., an iPad™). It should be noted that a game server 1 10 may be in communication with a variety of different types of gaming devices 102.

[0156] In accordance with some embodiments, a gaming device may comprise a physical baccarat table equipped with one or more mechanisms for detecting wagering chips placed or removed on certain bet spots or area of the table (e.g., RFID antenna(s) and/or optical readers). An example of such a physical baccarat table is described in detail in commonly-owned U.S. Patent Application No. 15/813, 151 filed in the name of Moore et al. on November 14, 2017. The entirety of this application, and particularly its description of an electronic baccarat table and its capabilities (e.g., with reference to Figures 2, 3 and 4 thereof), is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes.

[0157] A gaming device 102 may be used to play a wagering or non-wagering game (e.g., a baccarat game) over a network and output information relating to the game to punters participating in the game (e.g., outcomes for an event instance of the game, qualifying for a bonus round of the game, outcomes determined for a bet, a result of a bet, credit balance of credits available for play of the game, etc.). Any and all information relevant to any of the aforementioned functions may be stored locally on one or more of the gaming devices 102 and/or may be accessed using one or more of the gaming devices 102 (in one embodiments such information being stored on, or provided via, the game server 1 10). In another embodiment, a gaming device 102 may store some or all of the program instructions for determining, for example, (i) that an event instance or game instance (e.g., a dealing of cards for a baccarat game) has been triggered or initiated (and, in some embodiments, communicating such a trigger or initiation to game server 1 10), (ii) a result for a bet (e.g., which may comprise the payout won as a result of the bet), and/or (iv) modifying a game interface to reflect events within the game (e.g., revealing the card selected by the punter in a game of Ante Baccarat). In some embodiments, the game server 110 may be operable to authorize the one or more gaming devices 102 to access such information and/or program instructions remotely via the network 104 and / or download from the game server 110 (e.g., directly or via an intermediary server such as a web server) some or all of the program code for executing one or more of the various functions described in this disclosure. In other embodiments, outcome and result determinations may be carried out by the game server 110 (or another server with which the game server 110 communicates) and the gaming devices 102 may be terminals for displaying to an associated punter such outcomes and results and other graphics and data related to a game.

[0158] It should be noted that the one or more gaming devices 102 may each be located at the same location as at least one other gaming device 102 (e.g., such as in a casino or internet cafe) or remote from all other gaming devices 102. Similarly, any given gaming device may be located at the same location as the game server 110 or may be remote from the game server 110. It should further be noted that while the game server 110 may be useful or used by any of the gaming devices 102 to perform certain functions described herein, the game server 110 need not control any of the gaming devices 102.

[0159] In one embodiment, a game server 110 may not be necessary or desirable. For example, some embodiments described in this disclosure may be practiced on one or more gaming devices 102 without a central authority. In such an embodiment, any functions described herein as performed by a game server 110 and / or data described as stored on a game server 110 may instead be performed by or stored on one or more gaming devices 102. Additional ways of distributing information and program instructions among one or more gaming devices 102, a game server 110 and / or another server device will be readily understood by one skilled in the art upon contemplation of the present disclosure.

[0160] Figure 2 is a block diagram of an apparatus 200 according to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the apparatus 200 may be similar in configuration and / or functionality to any of the gaming devices 102, the game server 110 and/or another server device operable to facilitate the embodiments described herein. The apparatus 200 may, for example, execute, process, facilitate, and / or otherwise be associated with any of the processes described herein. [0161] In some embodiments, the apparatus 200 may comprise a processor 202, an input device 204, an output device 206 and / or a memory device 208. Fewer or more components and / or various configurations of the components 202, 204, 206 and/or 208 may be included in the apparatus 200 without deviating from the scope of embodiments described herein.

[0162] According to some embodiments, the processor 202 may be or include any type, quantity, and / or configuration of processor that is or becomes known. The processor 202 may comprise, for example, an Intel® IXP 2800 network processor or an Intel® XEON™ Processor coupled with an Intel® E7501 chipset. In some embodiments, the processor 202 may comprise multiple inter-connected processors, microprocessors, and / or micro-engines. According to some embodiments, the processor 202 (and / or the apparatus 200 and / or other components thereof) may be supplied power via a power supply (not shown) such as a battery, an Alternating Current (AC) source, a Direct Current (DC) source, an AC/DC adapter, solar cells, and / or an inertial generator. In the case that the apparatus 202 comprises a server such as a blade server, necessary power may be supplied via a standard AC outlet, power strip, surge protector, and / or

Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) device.

[0163] In some embodiments, the input device 204 and / or the output device 206 are

communicatively coupled to the processor 202 (e.g., via wired and / or wireless connections and / or pathways) and they may generally comprise any types or configurations of input and output components and / or devices that are or become known, respectively.

[0164] The input device 204 may comprise, for example, a keyboard that allows an operator of the apparatus 200 to interface with the apparatus 200 (e.g., by a punter, an employee or other worker affiliated with either a casino or other entity operating a system which provides games to punters). In some embodiments, the input device 204 may comprise a mechanism configured to indicate to a remote server device an initiation or triggering of an event instance (e.g., that a punter has actuated a "deal" mechanism (e.g., a "soft" or virtual button on an online game interface) and thus initiated a game event of a baccarat game), such information being provided to the apparatus 300 and / or the processor 202. In such embodiments, the input device may comprise a key on a keyboard of the apparatus 200 or a touch-sensitive screen of a device. Other examples of input devices include, but are not limited to: a game controller and/or gamepad, a bar-code scanner, a magnetic stripe reader, a pointing device (e.g., a computer mouse, touchpad, and/or trackball), a point-of-sale terminal keypad, a microphone, an infrared sensor, a sonic ranger, a computer port, a video camera, a motion detector, a digital camera, a network card, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, a GPS receiver, a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) receiver, a RF receiver, a thermometer, a pressure sensor, and a weight scale or mass balance.

[0165] The output device 206 may, according to some embodiments, comprise a display screen and / or other practicable output component and / or device that is operable to output

information. The output device 306 may, for example, comprise a display screen via which are output outcomes, instructions, guidance, questions or information to a punter of a game. For example, the output device may output a game interface for a game which indicates an outcome of an event instance of the game, such as an outcome for a hand of a baccarat game. Some additional examples of output devices that may be useful in some embodiments include a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) monitor, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) screen, a printer, an audio speaker, an Infra-red Radiation (IR) transmitter, an RF transmitter, and/or a data port. According to some embodiments, the input device 304 and / or the output device 306 may comprise and / or be embodied in a single device such as a touchscreen display or screen.

[0166] In some embodiments, the apparatus 200 may comprise any type or configuration of communication device (not shown) that is or becomes known or practicable. For example, the apparatus 200 may include a communication device such as a Network Interface Controller (NIC), a telephonic device, a cellular network device, a router, a hub, a modem, and / or a communications port or cable. In some embodiments, the communication device may be coupled to provide data to a telecommunications device. The communication device may, for example, comprise a cellular telephone network transmission device that sends signals (e.g., an initiation of an event instance) to a server (e.g., game server 110) in communication with a plurality of gaming devices 102. According to some embodiments, the communication device may also or alternatively be coupled to the processor 202. In some embodiments, the communication device may comprise an IR, RF, Bluetooth™, and / or Wi-Fi® network device coupled to facilitate communications between the processor 202 and another device.

[0167] The memory device 208 may comprise any appropriate information storage device that is or becomes known or available, including, but not limited to, units and / or combinations of magnetic storage devices (e.g., a hard disk drive), optical storage devices, and / or semiconductor memory devices such as Random Access Memory (RAM) devices, Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, Single Data Rate Random Access Memory (SDR-RAM), Double Data Rate Random Access Memory (DDR-RAM), and / or Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM).

[0168] The memory device 208 may, according to some embodiments, store a program 210 for facilitating one or more of the embodiments described herein, which program may include a primary game program 210a for facilitating a primary aspect of a game and a bonus game program 210b for facilitating a bonus round of the game, which may be relevant to some embodiments. In some embodiments, the primary game program 210a and/or the bonus round program 210b may be utilized by the processor 202 to provide output information via the output device 206.

[0169] The apparatus 200 may function as a computer terminal and / or server of an online casino or other entity operating to provide online games, receive and/or manage information related to online games. In some embodiments, the apparatus 200 may comprise a web server and / or other server device operable to accept wagers and determine random numbers based upon which outcomes for wagering games are determined. In some embodiments, the apparatus 200 may comprise an apparatus that is operable to interact with a punter of an online game. In some embodiments, apparatus 200 may comprise a plurality of devices working together to accomplish the functionality described herein with respect to Figure 2.

[0170] Any or all of the exemplary instructions and data types described herein and other practicable types of data may be stored in any number, type, and / or configuration of memory devices that is or becomes known. The memory device 208 may, for example, comprise one or more data tables or files, databases, table spaces, registers, and / or other storage structures. In some embodiments, multiple databases and / or storage structures (and / or multiple memory devices 208) may be utilized to store information associated with the apparatus 200. According to some embodiments, the memory device 208 may be incorporated into and / or otherwise coupled to the apparatus 200 (e.g., as shown) or may simply be accessible to the apparatus 200 (e.g., externally located and / or situated).

[0171] Referring now to Figure 3, illustrated therein is an example gaming apparatus 300, which comprises an example of a gaming device embodied as a dedicated gaming apparatus, such as may be found on a casino floor, which may specially function to provide at least some of the embodiments described herein. In one embodiment, gaming apparatus 300 comprises a gaming device 102 (Fig. 1) embodied as a video baccarat device. [0172] In accordance with some embodiments, the gaming apparatus 300 may include a console having a display 305 on which is displayed, merely as an example of the type of game-related information that display 305 may be operable to display, a graphical user interface (GUI) illustrating a screen shot of a game of Ante Baccarat being played by a punter in accordance with some embodiments described herein.

[0173] The display 305 may, in some embodiments, comprise a touch screen operable to receive input from a punter. In accordance with some embodiments, one or more areas of a GUI output to a punter may comprise respective input mechanisms, such as interactive virtual buttons on a touch screen which allow a punter to make selections or provide input to the game. In accordance with some embodiments, the display 305 may be operable to output a GUI such as the example GUIs illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7, respectively.

[0174] Section 315 of the console comprising gaming apparatus 300 includes a first area 315b which comprises a set of input mechanisms for receiving game option selections from a punter, such as a bank of buttons, as well as a second area 315a which comprises a set of input and/or output mechanisms for receiving and/or outputting one or more media or physical objects for facilitating game play. In accordance with some embodiments, area 315b may comprise mechanical buttons for enabling a punter to interact with the gaming apparatus (e.g., to provide selections or input during game play, such as selection of a wager amount, ante amount, which card is to be selected or revealed and/or request for an initiation of a new game instance or dealing of at least one hand into a game interface). Mechanical buttons may be used in place of or in addition to input mechanisms on a touch screen. Area 315a may include, in some embodiments, at least one monetary input mechanism for allowing a punter to input currency, credit or other information (e.g., financial account information) in order to establish funds with the gaming apparatus such that the punter may wager on the game playable on the gaming apparatus 300. For example, the at least one monetary input mechanism may comprise at least one of (i) a coin input chute; (ii) a bill collector; (iii) a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card; (iv) an RFID reader device for reading information from an RFID-enabled currency mechanism of the punter (e.g., an RFID-enabled credit or debit card, an RFID-enabled portable memory device which stores fund information for the punter, etc.); and (v) a ticket- in/ticket-out mechanism for receiving and/or outputting printed receipts or other printed media which a punter may utilize to establish funds with the gaming apparatus. In some embodiments, section 315a may further include other components, such as a reading device operable to read a player tracking card or other device (e.g., a magnetic stripe card, flash drive or any other portable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device).

[0175] A bottom portion 325 of the console comprising gaming apparatus 300 may output or have displayed thereon artwork or information regarding the game (e.g., the name of the one or more games available for play via the gaming apparatus 300). Additional information and/or artwork may be displayed or output on the bottom portion 325 of the console or an additional top panel of the console (not shown). Finally, the example console of Figure 3 includes a tray 335 on which a punter may place a drink or other possessions while playing a game. In some embodiments, the gaming apparatus may include additional components not illustrated in Figure 3. For example, the gaming apparatus 300 may include a coin tray and/or a mechanism for holding and/or interfacing with a smartphone or other portable device of the punter.

[0176] Referring now to Figures 4 A - 4H, illustrated therein and consistent with some

embodiments is a baccarat game interface 400. Baccarat game interface 400 may comprise (i) a physical felt layout of a physical baccarat table; (ii) an electronic interface of a video baccarat table; or (iii) a GUI of a video baccarat gaming device or an online baccarat game. Figures 4A - 4H illustrate the baccarat game interface as it may be modified during a progression of a round or hand of Ante Baccarat. In embodiments in which the baccarat game interface 400 ("interface 400" herein) is embodied as a physical felt layout of a physical baccarat table, it may reflect the physical movements of wagering chips onto bet spots of the table (e.g., a placement of an ante onto an "ante" spot of the table, a placement of a first wager amount during a first phase of an Ante Baccarat game onto a Player bet spot or a Banker bet spot at a Player Position). As described herein, in some embodiments a physical baccarat table may be equipped with RFID antennas, optical recognition technology or other mechanisms for identifying the placement of wagering chips onto specific areas or bet spots of the table. In embodiments in which interface 400 is embodied in electronic form (e.g., whether by virtue of being part of an electronic baccarat table, a video baccarat device or an online baccarat game), it may be operable to display information regarding a program, software application or other element associated with a computing device.

[0177] In accordance with one embodiment, the interface 400 (or other game interfaces described herein, such as GUI 500 of Figure 5, GUI 600 of Figure 6 or GUI 700 of Figure 7) may be associated with a program comprising one or more sub-routines, modules or functions. In one embodiment, interface 400 is associated with a program for facilitating an Ante Baccarat game consistent with at least some embodiments described herein and playable by a punter via a gaming device (e.g., a dedicated gaming device such as that illustrated in Figure 3 or a non- dedicated gaming device such as a smart phone or tablet computer) or via a physical baccarat table (e.g., one equipped with RFID antennas that communicate data to/from a game controller).

[0178] In accordance with some embodiments, interface 400 (or other game interfaces described herein, such as GUI 500 of Figure 5, GUI 600 of Figure 6 or GUI 700 of Figure 7) may be associated with program 210 (Figure 2), as described in more detail herein. In one more specific example, in some embodiments a gaming device may access a server device as a client via a browser on the gaming device and the punter may play a game consistent with at least some embodiments described herein by accessing the game interface using a browser rather than having game logic downloaded to the gaming device. Thus, in some embodiments interface 400 (or other game interfaces described herein, such as GUI 500 of Figure 5, GUI 600 of Figure 6 or GUI 700 of Figure 7) may comprise a game interface output in a display of a non-dedicated gaming device via a web browser of the gaming device, the information displayed therein being modified by a server device of a game provider.

[0179] In accordance with some embodiments, interface 400 (or other game interfaces described herein, such as GUI 500 of Figure 5, GUI 600 of Figure 6 or GUI 700 of Figure 7) may be arranged to display information associated with a program for facilitating a game (e.g., a game of Ante Baccarat, One Card Odds Baccarat or Cycling Cards Baccarat) consistent with at least some embodiment described herein, such as to permit interaction with (e.g. provide input to the program), whether directly or indirectly, the computing device which is running or performing the program. In one embodiment, the interface 400 (or other game interfaces described herein, such as GUI 500 of Figure 5, GUI 600 of Figure 6 or GUI 700 of Figure 7) comprises a mechanism for one or more computing devices to output game data to a punter via a display of a gaming device (e.g., by displaying the interface via a web browser of the gaming device or by displaying it via display 305 of gaming apparatus 300 (Figure 3)) and/or receive data from a punter, and thereby perform one or more programs or sub-routines for facilitating a baccarat game (e.g., an Ante Baccarat game, a One Card Odds Baccarat Game or a Cycling Cards Baccarat Game). For example, some elements of the interface 400 (or other game interfaces described herein, such as GUI 500 of Figure 5, GUI 600 of Figure 6 or GUI 700 of Figure 7) may comprise input mechanisms (e.g., virtual buttons or links actuatable by the punter via a cursor or via a touch if the interface is being displayed via a touchscreen of a gaming device) and the inputs provided by the punter to the interface may be transmitted to the computing device (e.g., gaming apparatus 300) which is operable to determine data and progress in the game based on the inputs (e.g., a computing device operable to perform at least one of process 800, process 900 and process 1000, described herein with reference to Figures 8, 9 and 10, respectively).

[0180] Referring again to Figures 4A - 4H, the progression of the example Ante Baccarat game will be described with reference to process 800 of Figure 8. Process 800 (or any of the processes described herein, such as process 900 of Figure 9 and process 1000 of Figure 10) may be performed, for example, by at least one of a server device operable to facilitate an electronic baccarat game and/or a gaming device enabling a punter to play the electronic baccarat game. For example, any of the processes 800, 900 and 1000 may be performed by at least one of (i) a gaming device 102 (Figure 1); (ii) a game server 1 10 (Figure 1); and (iii) a gaming apparatus 300 (Figure 3). It should be noted that additional and/or different steps may be added to those depicted and that not all steps depicted are necessary to any embodiment described herein. The processes 800, 900 and 1000 are example processes of how some embodiments described herein may be implemented, and should not be taken in a limiting fashion. A person of ordinary skill in the art, upon contemplation of the embodiments described herein, may make various

modifications to either of the processes 800, 900 and 1000 without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments in the possession of applicant.

[0181] Referring now to Figure 8 and Figures 4A - 4H in particular, process 800 will be described with reference to the example interface 400 of Figures 4 A - 4H. Process 400 begins in step 402, when it is detected that a punter has placed an ante for an Ante Baccarat game, thus initiating a round or hand of the Ante Baccarat game. In some embodiments, step 402 may also include (i) determining a value or amount of the ante; (ii) deducting the value or amount of the ante from a credit balance associated with the punter or otherwise receiving the monetary value of the ante from the punter; and/or (iii) recognizing a "deal" or other game initiation request or input from the punter. Once the punter has committed the ante for the hand or round of the game, a plurality (e.g., four, or in some embodiments six) cards are dealt to the punter (step 404). The cards are dealt face down or in some other manner that does not allow the punter to know the value (e.g., number and/or suit) of any of the cards.

[0182] Figure 4A illustrates the example interface 400, which includes 7 Player Positions 310 - 370 (a respective punter may select one of the available Player Positions to wager from, whether it be at a physical table or an electronic game of baccarat). Each Player Position includes several bet spots, or areas via which a punter can place a wager. For example, Player Position 1 (310) includes a banker bet spot 310a and a player bet spot 310b such that if a punter playing Player Position 1 desires to make a wager that the Banker side will be the winning side for the next hand, the punter's wager is placed on the Banker spot 310a while if the punter desires to make a wager that the Player side will be the winning side, the punter's wager is placed on the Banker spot 310b. The example baccarat game layout of interface 400 also allows a punter to make one or more additional bets, such as whether there will be a player pair (PP), a banker pair (BP) or a tie (T), a bet spot for each such available bet being shown at the top of the banker bet spot of each respective Player Position 310 - 370. Additionally, and in accordance with embodiments described herein, each Player Position includes a spot for placing an ante for an Ante Baccarat game (the ante spot being indicated by an "A" in a circle): ante spot 310c for Player Position 1 (310), ante spot 320c for Player Position 2 (320), ante spot 330c for Player Position 3 (330), ante spot 340c for Player Position 4 (340), ante spot 350c for Player Position 5 (350), ante spot 360c for Player Position 6 (360) and ante spot 370c for Player Position 7 (370). Of course, in an online Ante Baccarat game or an Ante Baccarat game being embodied in a video baccarat gaming apparatus, the interface 400 may only show the bet spots and ante spot for a single Player Position (e.g., unless the game is a multi-player game). Finally, interface 400 includes an area 302 into which the two (or, in some embodiments, three) cards for the Player side are dealt and an area 304 into which the two (or, in some embodiments, three) cards for the Banker side are dealt.

[0183] Illustrated in Figure 4A is interface 400 at an instance in a game of Ante Baccarat in which a punter has placed an ante but cards have not yet been dealt for the hand. This may be, with reference to the process of Figure 8, during step 802. The punter in the example of Figures 4A - 4H is playing from Player Position 4 and thus the punter's ante is illustrated in ante spot 340c. The example ante amount illustrated is $100USD (although any amount or denomination may be used, based on the preferences and rules of the gaming establishment operating the game). In some embodiments, a gaming establishment may set a minimum amount for an ante amount.

[0184] Turning now to Figure 4B, illustrated therein is a progression of the Ante Baccarat game illustrated in Figure 4A, to an instance in the game in which four cards (two to the Player side in area 302 and two to the Banker side in area 304) have been dealt, face down. Referring again to the process 800 of Figure 8, this may be during step 804. In accordance with some

embodiments, the punter has not yet placed a wager at this point in the game but has provided the ante. In some embodiments, the ante may be provided before the cards are dealt face down to the punter (e.g., steps 802 and 804 of process 800 may be reversed).

[0185] In accordance with some embodiments, one of the plurality of cards dealt face down to the punter is revealed to the punter (i.e., it is flipped over or otherwise modified in appearance such that the punter can see the value and suit of the card) after the punter has committed the ante but prior to the punter placing a first wager for a first phase of the Ante Baccarat game. As described herein, in accordance with some embodiments an Ante Baccarat game involves having the punter select an ante amount and commit the ante as a fee or payment for a hand of the game (which fee or payment is collected by the gaming establishment irrespective of the result of the hand, other than in limited circumstances such as ties or other circumstances as the gaming establishment may specify in the rules of the game). In accordance with some embodiments, in exchange for the ante, the punter may play the Ante Baccarat game such that the punter can view a first card of the plurality of cards initially dealt face down (i.e., have the first card revealed to him/her) before committing a first wager in a first phase of the game and then view a second card of the plurality of cards initially dealt face down before committing a second wager in a second phase of the game.

[0186] In accordance with one embodiment, the punter selects which card of the four cards initially dealt face down is the first card to be revealed. Process 800 proceeds in accordance with such an embodiments and thus, in step 806, the first card selected by the punter is revealed to the punter (in some embodiments, step 806 may include or be preceded by receiving a selection from a punter of the card to be revealed). In other embodiments, a first card may be revealed without being selected by the punter (e.g., the system may be configured to reveal a card that is randomly selected or selected in accordance with another process; in some embodiments the system may be configured to always reveal the card in a particular card position for a first phase of the game).

[0187] Figure 4C illustrates a progression of the Ante Baccarat game illustrated in Figure 4B, wherein one of the cards dealt for the current hand of baccarat (one of the cards on the Player side) is revealed to the punter to be a 7 of Clubs. In accordance with some embodiments, once a first card has been revealed to the punter in a first phase of the game, the punter is required to place a first wager for the hand.

[0188] Returning to step 800, in step 808 an indication of the first wager for the first phase of the game is received. Receiving the first wager may simply comprise determining that the punter has select, input or confirmed the first wager amount. In some embodiments, the first wager amount may be required to be based on the ante amount (e.g., 2X the ante) and thus the punter may simple be required to confirm the first wager amount that is automatically calculated or indicated by the system. In other embodiments, the punter may be required to affirmatively input the first wager amount. In some embodiments, step 808 may further comprise verifying that the first wager amount is acceptable or complies with one or more requirements of the game (e.g., it is 2X the ante, at least 2X the ante, etc.). In some embodiments, the first phase of the game, once the first card is revealed to the punter, may present a further decision opportunity to the punter. For example, once the first card is revealed to the punter the punter may be allowed to decide whether to wager on the Banker side or the Player side (in which case step 808 may comprise receiving from the punter an indication of whether the first wager is being placed on the Banker side or the Player side). In another embodiment the punter may be required to pick an initial side (Player or Banker) when placing the ante (in which case step 802 may comprise receiving from the punter an indication of whether the punter is selecting the Banker side or the Player side). In such embodiments, step 808 may comprise allowing the punter an opportunity to place the first wager on the initially selected side or to switch to the other side. In yet another embodiments, the punter may not be allowed to switch sides during placement of the first wager after having selected a side during placement of the ante.

[0189] Figure 4D illustrates a progression of the Ante Baccarat game illustrated in Figure 4C, wherein the punter has placed a first wager of $200USD (which is 2X the ante, in accordance with some embodiments) on the Player side. This is indicated by the indication of two $100USD wagering chips (whether virtual, in the case of an electronic interface 400, or physical, in the case of a physical table interface 400) on the Player bet spot 340b of Player Position 4. It should be noted that the ante of $100 remains indicated on the ante spot 340c of Player Position 4.

[0190] In accordance with one embodiment, once the first wager is placed in a first phase of the game, the punter selects a second card of the four cards initially dealt face down as the next card to be revealed. Process 800 proceeds in accordance with such an embodiments and thus, in step 810, the second card selected by the punter is revealed to the punter (in some embodiments, step 810 may include or be preceded by receiving a selection from a punter of the card to be revealed). In other embodiments, a second card may be revealed without being selected by the punter (e.g., the system may be configured to reveal a second card that is randomly selected or selected in accordance with another process; in some embodiments the system may be configured to always reveal the card in a particular card position for a second phase of the game).

[0191] Figure 4E illustrates a progression of the Ante Baccarat game illustrated in Figure 4D, wherein another one of the cards dealt for the current hand of baccarat (the other of the cards on the Player side in the illustrative example, although in other embodiments a card from the other side may be selected) is revealed to the punter to be a 2 of Diamonds. In accordance with some embodiments, once a second card has been revealed to the punter in a second phase of the game, the punter is required to place a second wager for the hand.

[0192] Returning to step 800, in step 812 an indication of the second wager for the second phase of the game is received. Receiving the second wager may simply comprise determining that the punter has select, input or confirmed the second wager amount. In some embodiments, the second wager amount may be required to be based on the first wager amount (e.g., 2X the first wager amount) and thus the punter may simple be required to confirm the second wager amount that is automatically calculated or indicated by the system. In other embodiments, the punter may be required to affirmatively input the second wager amount. In some embodiments, step 812 may further comprise verifying that the second wager amount is acceptable or complies with one or more requirements of the game (e.g., it is 2X the first wager amount, at least 2X the first wager amount, etc.).

[0193] In some embodiments, the second phase of the game, once the second card is revealed to the punter, may present a further decision opportunity to the punter. For example, once the second card is revealed, the punter may be provided an opportunity to hold his bet on the side previously selected (Banker or Player; e.g., as previously selected in step 802 or step 808) or to switch sides. Alternately, the punter may be allowed to "hedge" by placing the second wager being placed in the second phase of the game (e.g., in step 812) on the side not bet on by the punter during a first phase of the game (e.g., during step 802 or step 808). In other words, in some implementations of the Ante Baccarat game the punter may be allowed to place the first wager on the Player side while placing the second wager on the Banker side or vice versa).

[0194] Turning again to Figures 4A - 4H, Figure 4F illustrates a progression of the Ante Baccarat game illustrated in Figure 4E, wherein the punter has placed a second wager of $400USD (which is 2X the first, in accordance with some embodiments) on the Player side. This is indicated by the indication of six $100USD wagering chips (whether virtual, in the case of an electronic interface 400, or physical, in the case of a physical table interface 400) on the Player bet spot 340b of Player Position 4. The six $100USD chips represent a sum of the first wager ($200USD) that the punter had placed on the Player side in the first phase of the game and the second wager ($400USD) that the punter has placed, also on the Player side, in the second phase of the game. If, as may be allowed in some embodiments, the punter had opted to place the second wager on the Banker side, Figure 4F would have shown (i) the $100USD on the ante spot 430c; (ii) the $200USD first wager on the Player bet spot 340b; and (iii) the $400USD second wager on the Banker spot 340a.

[0195] Once the punter has placed the second wager, the remaining cards of the hand are revealed (step 814). Figure 4G illustrates a progression of the Ante Baccarat game illustrated in Figure 4F, in which the remaining two cards (the two for the Banker side, in the illustrative example) are revealed to be an Ace of Clubs and an Ace of Hearts in area 304 of interface 400. Thus, in accordance with traditional rules of baccarat, the Player side end value is 9 (the values of the two cards in area 302 sum to "9") and the Banker side end value is 2 (the values of the two cards in area 304 is "2").

[0196] Returning to process 800, once all of the dealt cards have been revealed, the hand is resolved (step 816). In other words, a result for the hand based on the cards dealt and the wagers placed is determined. In embodiments in which the punter placed the first wager on a first side (e.g., Player side) and the second wager on the other side (e.g., Banker side), resolving the hand or determining a result for the hand may comprise resolving the result of the first wager and resolving the result of the second wager as two distinct results for the hand. For purposes of the illustrative example of Figures 4A - 4H, the Player side is the winning side because "9" is greater than "2". Because the punter placed both his first wager and his second wager on the Player side, the punter wins both wagers. In accordance with some embodiments, the ante of $100USD is collected by the gaming establishment and the punter is paid for his winning wagers of $600USD in accordance with the rules of the game. Illustrated in Figure 4H is the resulting payment of $600USD (via the six $100USD chips placed next to the punter's wager at Player Position 4) based on the punter winning the sum of the first and second wagers.

[0197] In accordance with some embodiments, all wagers may be paid based on the traditional rules of baccarat, except the ante. The ante may be collected by the gaming establishment on all hands, irrespective of the result (or results) of the hand, such that the ante may be considered a fee in exchange for being able to play the game in accordance with the embodiments described herein and not as part of a wager. In some embodiments, however, the ante may be refunded on certain results such as a tie.

[0198] Referring now to Figure 5, illustrated therein is a GUI 500 consistent with some

embodiments in which an Ante Baccarat game is embodied as either a game available via a video baccarat gaming apparatus or an online game. In contrast to the interface 400, the GUI 500 illustrates an Ante Baccarat game for a single punter and does not include a plurality of Player Positions. GUI 500 illustrates an Ante Baccarat game as it may be output at a particular point in the game. In particular, GUI 500 illustrates an Ante Baccarat game after (i) a punter has placed an ante, (ii) four cards have been dealt face down (two cards for the Player side as shown in area 505a and two cards for the Banker side as shown in area 505b), and (iii) a first of the four cards have been revealed; but before the punter has placed the first wager for the first phase of the game. In the illustrated example scenario, it is shown in area 505c that the ante placed by the punter is 100 (e.g., 100 electronic credits) and that the punter is being instructed, in area 505d, to place the first wager for the first phase of the game. GUI 500 further indicates: (i) that the punter has 1000 electronic credits available for wagering (area 505e); and (ii) that the wager status is "pending" (area 505f).

[0199] Referring now to Figure 6, illustrated therein is a GUI 600 consistent with some

embodiments in which a One Card Odds Baccarat game is embodied as either a game available via a video baccarat gaming apparatus or an online game. GUI 600 illustrates a One Card Odds Baccarat game as it may be output at a particular point in the game. In particular, GUI 600 illustrates an One Card Odds Baccarat game (i) once four cards have been dealt; (ii) one of the four cards has been revealed; (iii) the odds for both the Banker side and the Player side have been determined and output; and (iv) before the punter has placed his/her wager for the hand. The GUI 600 further indicates: (i) that the punter has 1000 electronic credits available for wagering; and (ii) that the wager status is "pending."

[0200] Referring to Figure 9, illustrated therein is an example process 900 for facilitating an example game of One Card Odds Baccarat. As described herein, in a game of One Card Odds Baccarat a punter may be prompted to select a side to wager on (Banker or Player) after (i) a punter commits, prior to any card(s) being revealed for the hand, to placing a wager for the hand (by, for example, committing a wager amount); and (ii) a subset (e.g., one) of cards in a set of dealt cards is revealed. In accordance with one embodiment, odds of winning for each side are determined based on the revealed card(s) and output to the punter prior to the punter selecting the side to wager on. For example, the odds may be dynamically calculated based on (i) the revealed card; and (ii) other card(s) previously dealt from the deck or shoe being utilized in the current hand such that they are no longer available to be dealt for the hand. In an alternate embodiment, odds may be dynamically calculated based at least in part on cards remaining in the shoe and available to be dealt. In another example, the odds may be determined by being looked up in a table or database stored in a memory (e.g., a memory of the gaming device on which the baccarat game is being played or a memory of a remote server in communication with the gaming device). Tables 1 and 2, described above, illustrate example odds that may be determined based on a revealed card.

[0201] Returning to process 900, four (or, in some embodiments, six) cards are dealt for a game of One Card Odds Baccarat (step 902). The cards are initially dealt face-down such that the punter cannot determine or know the value thereof. The cards may be determined randomly based on an RNG of the system. A wager amount is received from the punter for the hand (step 904). In some embodiments, step 904 may also include deducting the wager amount from a credit balance of the punter or verifying that the punter has placed the appropriate value of wagering chips in an appropriate area of a baccarat table. In some embodiments, steps 902 and 904 may be reversed, such that the wager amount may be received from the punter (even if the punter has not yet selected whether the wager amount is to be placed on the Player side or the Banker side) before the cards are dealt. [0202] In step 904 one of the dealt cards is revealed to the punter. In some embodiments the punter may be allowed to select which of the cards is to be revealed while in other embodiments the system may select which card to reveal (e.g., randomly or based on a rule of the game, such as always revealing the card in a particular card position). The odds for both the Banker side and the Player side are determined (e.g., calculated or looked up) based on at least one of (i) the revealed card; (ii) the other dealt cards; and (iii) cards remaining in the deck(s) or otherwise available for dealt. The odds are output to the punter. In some embodiments, the odds for only one of the Banker side and the Player side may be output to the punter. In some embodiments, steps 906 and 908 may be essentially combined such that the card is revealed and the odds output at essentially the same time. Figure 6 illustrates an example GUI 600 that may be output to a punter at step 908 of a One Card Odds baccarat game.

[0203] In accordance with some embodiments, if the revealed card is of a particular value (e.g., four ("4")) or is a specially designated card (e.g., a "bust" card), this may cause a particular event in the game. For example, in some embodiments the game may end and the punter may automatically lose his wager if the revealed card is of a particular value or is a specially designated card. In such embodiments, process 900 may include an additional step of determining whether the revealed card is one that causes the particular event in the game and conducting the game accordingly (e.g., collecting the wager from the punter and ending the hand) if it is.

[0204] Once the odds are output and the one card is revealed, the selection of Banker side or Player side is received from the punter (step 910). In some embodiments, if a punter had made an initial selection of Banker side or Player side earlier in the process (e.g., in step 904 or otherwise when the punter was committing his wager for the current hand), then step 910 may involve allowing the punter to either verify that the wager should remain on the initially selected side or be switched to the other side. The result for the hand is then resolved (step 912).

Resolving the hand may comprise revealing the rest of the dealt cards and determining whether the Player side or the Banker side is the winning side and determining, based on the decision made by the punter in step 910, whether the punter wagered on the winning side. In some embodiments, step 912 may further include providing to the punter a payout amount if it is determined that the punter has won the wager. [0205] Turning now to Figure 7, illustrated therein is a GUI 700 consistent with some embodiments in which a Cycling Cards Baccarat game is embodied as either a game available via a video baccarat gaming apparatus or an online game. GUI 700 illustrates a Cycling Cards Baccarat game as it may be output at a particular point in the game. As described herein, in a game of Cycling Cards Baccarat provides a punter an opportunity to provide an input in response to which a particular card is displayed in at least one particular card position. GUI 700 illustrates a Cycling Cards Baccarat game at a point in the game wherein: (i) three cards have been dealt face-down for a hand; and (ii) additional, face-up, cards are shown as cycling through a selection window 710, for the punter to select a card to fill the remaining empty card position 720a. The punter is being prompted, in area 705, to select the card to be placed into card position 720 by hitting "stop," such that the card being shown in selection window 710 at the moment the punter hits stop will be the card that is placed into card position 720a. The punter may "hit stop", for example, by actuating a button or selecting a designated area of a touch screen of the gaming device or screen. In some embodiments, although not shown in Figure 7, the GUI 700 may further indicate information such as (i) the number of electronic credits available to the punter for wagering; and (ii) the wager amount and/or status for the current hand.

[0206] Referring to Figure 10, illustrated therein is an example process 1000 for facilitating an example game of Cycling Cards Baccarat. In accordance with some embodiments, a wager for a hand of baccarat is received (step 1002) and the all but one of the cards for the hand are dealt face-down (step 1004). In one implementation, a plurality of cards comprising possible cards to be placed into a particular card position (e.g., all cards in a deck, all cards in a deck which have not otherwise been dealt or revealed as having been dealt) are visually cycled through in an area of the game interface (step 1006). For example, the area through which the cards are cycled through may comprise the particular card position (e.g., the available cards for that card position are rapidly cycled through that card position). In another example, the available cards for a card position are cycled through a different, specially designated area (e.g., such as the cards in the oval configuration that are cycled through window 710 of GUI 700). The visual cycling of the possible cards may be done in a continuing fashion such that one card at a time is indicated as the active card in a rapidly repeating cycle until the punter provides the input causing the cycling to stop. Upon receiving the input from the punter, the visual cycling of the possible cards stops and a particular one of the cards is placed in the corresponding card position (step 1008). In accordance with some embodiments, step 1008 or a different step in process 1000 may comprise receiving an input from the punter and determining which card to place in the remaining card position based on the input or the timing of the punter input.

[0207] In some embodiments, there may be a maximum time allowed for the punter to provide such an input and, if the punter does not provide such an input within the maximum allowed time, the cycling is stopped automatically and a default card of the possible cards is placed in the corresponding card position. The input provided by a punter may be, for example, a touch of a touch screen via which the visually cycling cards are displayed, wherein the cycling of the cards is stopped upon a detection of the punter's touch in an appropriate area of the touch screen. In another example, the input may comprise an actuation of a button (virtual or mechanical) of a gaming device on which the game is being played. In one embodiment, the input may comprise data (e.g., a selection of a number or other element from a plurality of available elements) based upon which a time at which to stop the cycling is determined.

[0208] In accordance with some embodiments, the card to be displayed in the corresponding card position is predetermined (e.g., based on previously or contemporaneously determined data, such as an output from a random number generator (RNG) as this term is described herein) and not dependent on a timing or other aspect of the punter' s input. Thus, the punter' s input may not actually determine which card is displayed in the corresponding card position but provides to the punter a sense of influence over which card is displayed.

[0209] In some embodiments, a punter may be provided with additional opportunities to obtain a sense of influence over a result of hand of the card game. For example, a punter may be provided an opportunity to provide an input which initiates a visually depicted cycling of the possible cards for a particular card position. In one embodiment, a parameter of such an input may effect a parameter of the visually depicted cycling (e.g., a speed or velocity of the cycling).

[0210] In some embodiments, the above-described game mechanic of outputting a plurality of possible cards in a visually cycling manner and allowing a punter to provide an input which causes the cycling to stop and a card (e.g., a predetermined card, unbeknownst to the punter) to be placed in a corresponding card position may be provided for more than one card position of a card game. For example, in a baccarat card game, this game mechanic may be provided for at least one card of the Banker hand and at least one card of the Player hand. Rules of Interpretation

[0211] 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.

[0212] 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.

[0213] The Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of this disclosure) is not to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s).

[0214] The term "product" means any machine, manufacture and / or composition of matter as contemplated by 35 U.S.C. § 101, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0215] 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.

[0216] The terms "the invention" and "the present invention" and the like mean "one or more embodiments of the present invention."

[0217] 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.

[0218] The terms "including", "comprising" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0219] The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0220] The term "and/or", when such term is used to modify a list of things or possibilities (such as an enumerated list of possibilities) means that any combination of one or more of the things or possibilities is intended, such that while in some embodiments any single one of the things or possibilities may be sufficient in other embodiments two or more (or even each of) the things or possibilities in the list may be preferred, unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0221] The term "plurality" means "two or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0222] The term "herein" means "in the present disclosure, including anything which may be incorporated by reference", unless expressly specified otherwise.

[0223] 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.

[0224] 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".

[0225] 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.

[0226] 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.

[0227] When a single device, component or article is described herein, more than one device, component or article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device, component 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, component or article (whether or not they cooperate).

[0228] Similarly, where more than one device, component or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a single device, component or article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device, component 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, component or article may alternatively be possessed by a single device, component or article.

[0229] 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.

[0230] 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.

[0231] 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. [0232] 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.

[0233] 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.

[0234] 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.

[0235] 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.

[0236] Headings of sections provided in this disclosure are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

[0237] "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. [0238] 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, Digital Light Processing (DLP), rear projection, front proj ection, 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 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i, 1080p or the like. The format of information sent to the display may be any appropriate format such as Standard Definition Television (SDTV), Enhanced Definition TV (EDTV), High Definition TV (HDTV), 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.

[0239] The present disclosure may refer to a "control system" or program. A control system or program, 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 or an article of manufacture, which may be non-transitory in nature). 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.

[0240] A "processor" means any one or more microprocessors, Central Processing Unit (CPU) devices, computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or like devices.

Exemplary processors are the INTEL PENTIUM or AMD ATHLON processors.

[0241] The term "computer-readable medium" refers to any statutory 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 specific statutory types of 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. Statutory types of transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupled to the processor. 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, Digital Video Disc (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, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The terms "computer-readable memory", "article of manufacture" and / or "tangible media" specifically exclude signals, waves, and wave forms or other intangible or non-transitory media that may nevertheless be readable by a computer.

[0242] 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.

[0243] 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.

[0244] 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.

[0245] 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: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Bluetooth™, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access

(CDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), Digital AMPS (D-AMPS), IEEE 802.11 (WI-FI), IEEE 802.3, SAP, , 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.

[0246] 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.

[0247] The term "whereby" is used herein only to precede a clause or other set of words that express only the intended result, objective or consequence of something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when the term "whereby" is used in a claim, the clause or other words that the term "whereby" modifies do not establish specific further limitations of the claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

[0248] It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithms described herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmed general purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor (e.g., one or more microprocessors) will receive instructions from a memory or like device, and execute those instructions, thereby performing one or more processes defined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement such methods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted using a variety of media (e.g., computer readable media) in a number of manners. In some embodiments, hard-wired circuitry or custom hardware 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. Accordingly, a description of a process likewise describes at least one apparatus for performing the process, and likewise describes at least one computer-readable medium and / or memory for performing the process. The apparatus that performs the process can include components and devices (e.g., a processor, input and output devices) appropriate to perform the process. A computer-readable medium can store program elements appropriate to perform the method.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for facilitating an electronic baccarat game, the apparatus comprising:

a processor,

a display device operable to output an electronic game interface for displaying outcomes of an electronic game of baccarat;

an input device, and

a game controller comprising:

a processor, and

a first non-transitory memory operable to communicate with the processor, the first non-transitory memory storing a game program comprising instructions for directing the processor to manage the electronic baccarat game, wherein the processor is operable with the game program to:

output, on the display device, the electronic game interface comprising an area for displaying at least one hand of baccarat, each at least one hand of baccarat comprising a plurality of element positions for placement of game elements and including a first subset of the plurality of element positions corresponding to a Player side and a second subset of the plurality of element positions corresponding to a Banker side;

receive, from a punter, a fee for a round of the electronic baccarat game, wherein the fee is retained by a game operator irrespective of a result of the round of the game;

determine a value of the fee received from the punter;

output, in the electronic game interface, four game elements for the round of the game by dealing a first two game elements into the first subset of the plurality of element positions corresponding to the Player side and a second two game elements into the second subset of the plurality of element positions corresponding to the Banker side, wherein the four game elements are initially output face down such that values thereof cannot be determined by the punter;

reveal to the punter, after the fee has been received and in a first phase of the game, a value of a first game element of the four game elements;

receive, at a first wager decision point of the game and after the value of the first game element has been revealed, a first wager amount, wherein the first wager amount is based on the value of the fee; reveal to the punter, after the first wager amount has been received and in a second phase of the game, a value of a second game element of the four game elements;

receive, at a second wager decision point of the game and after the value of the second game element has been revealed, a second wager amount,

wherein the second wager amount is based on the first wager amount; reveal to the punter, after the second wager amount has been received, a remaining two of the four game elements that had not yet been revealed; and

output, via the electronic game interface, a result of the round of the game based on the four game elements, the first wager amount and the second wager amount.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wager amount must be equal to twice the value of the fee in accordance with a requirement of the game.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second wager amount must be equal to twice the value of the first wager amount in accordance with a requirement of the game.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable with the game program to:

receive from the punter, after receiving the fee and prior to revealing the value of the first game element, a selection of one of the four game elements, thereby determining a first selected game element; and

wherein the processor being operable to reveal, in the first phase of the game, the value of the first game element of the four game elements comprises the processor being operable to reveal the value of the first selected game element.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second wager amount is wagered by the punter on the round of the game in addition to the first wager amount, such that a total wager amount for the round of the game is equal to a sum of the first wager amount and the second wager amount.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable with the game program to:

receive from the punter, after receiving the first wager amount and prior to revealing the value of the second game element in the second phase of the game, a selection of another of the four game elements, thereby determining a second selected game element; and

wherein the processor being operable to reveal, in the second phase of the game, the value of the second game element of the four game elements comprises the processor being operable to reveal the value of the second selected game element.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further operable with the game program to:

receive, at the first wager decision point of the game and along with the first wager amount, an indication of which one of the Player Side and the Banker side the first wager amount is being placed on.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further operable with the game program to:

receive, at the second wager decision point of the game and along with the second wager amount, an indication of which one of the Player Side and the Banker side the second wager amount is being placed on.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is further operable with the game program to:

determine that the punter has placed the first wager amount on one of the Player side and the Banker side and has placed the second wager amount on the other of the Player side and the Banker side, and wherein the processor being operable with the program to output the result of the round of the game comprises the processor being operable with the program to:

output a first result for the round of the game, the first result being based on the first wager and the four game elements, and

output a second result for the round of the game, the second result being based on the second wager and the four game elements.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for directing a processor of an apparatus to perform a method, the method comprising:

outputting an electronic game interface comprising an area for displaying at least one hand of baccarat, each at least one hand of baccarat comprising a plurality of element positions for placement of game elements and including a first subset of the plurality of element positions corresponding to a Player side and a second subset of the plurality of element positions corresponding to a Banker side;

receiving, from a punter, a fee for a round of the electronic baccarat game, wherein the fee is retained by a game operator irrespective of a result of the round of the game;

determining a value of the fee received from the punter;

outputting, in the electronic game interface, four game elements for the round of the game by dealing a first two game elements into the first subset of the plurality of element positions corresponding to the Player side and a second two game elements into the second subset of the plurality of element positions corresponding to the Banker side, wherein the four game elements are initially output face down such that values thereof cannot be determined by the punter;

revealing to the punter, after the fee has been received and in a first phase of the game, a value of a first game element of the four game elements;

receiving, at a first wager decision point of the game and after the value of the first game element has been revealed, a first wager amount,

wherein the first wager amount is based on the value of the fee; revealing to the punter, after the first wager amount has been received and in a second phase of the game, a value of a second game element of the four game elements;

receiving, at a second wager decision point of the game and after the value of the second game element has been revealed, a second wager amount,

wherein the second wager amount is based on the first wager amount;

revealing to the punter, after the second wager amount has been received, a remaining two of the four game elements that had not yet been revealed; and

outputting, via the electronic game interface, a result of the round of the game based on the four game elements, the first wager amount and the second wager amount.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the first wager amount must be equal to twice the value of the fee in accordance with a requirement of the game.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the second wager amount must be equal to twice the first wager amount in accordance with a requirement of the game.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from the punter, after receiving the fee and prior to revealing the value of the first game element, a selection of one of the four game elements, thereby determining a first selected game element; and

wherein revealing, in the first phase of the game, the value of the first game element of the four game elements comprises revealing the value of the first selected game element.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the second wager amount is wagered by the punter on the round of the game in addition to the first wager amount, such that a total wager amount for the round of the game is equal to a sum of the first wager amount and the second wager amount.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from the punter, after receiving the first wager amount and prior to revealing the value of the second game element in the second phase of the game, a selection of another of the four game elements, thereby determining a second selected game element; and

wherein the revealing, in the second phase of the game, the value of the second game element of the four game elements comprises revealing the value of the second selected game element.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, at the first wager decision point of the game and along with the first wager amount, an indication of which one of the Player side and the Banker side the first wager amount is being placed on.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operable with the game program to:

receiving, at the second wager decision point of the game and along with the second wager amount, an indication of which one of the Player side and the Banker side the second wager amount is being placed on.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:

determining that the punter has placed the first wager amount on one of the Player side and the Banker side and has placed the second wager amount on the other of the Player side and the Banker side, and wherein outputting the result of the round of the game comprises:

outputting a first result for the round of the game, the first result being based on the first wager and the four game elements, and

outputting a second result for the round of the game, the second result being based on the second wager and the four game elements.