Computer-implemented method and gaming apparatus for allowing a player-banker to play against at least one virtual opponent

Abstract

A computer-implemented method allows a player-banker to play a wagering game against at least one virtual opponent. The player-banker selects virtual opponents and accepts wagers from them. The gaming apparatus determines the winners and adjusts the credits according to the rules of the wagering game. In the method, a gaming apparatus includes a user input unit and a display unit, and the player selects virtual opponents via the user input unit. A computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit, a display unit and a processor unit is also disclosed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 (a) providing a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit and a display unit;    (b) allowing a player-banker to operate the user input unit for selecting at least one virtual opponent and for accepting a wager from each of said at least one virtual opponent; and    (c) allowing the player-banker to play the wagering game with each of said at least one virtual opponent, wherein the gaming apparatus shows progress of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent on the display unit, wherein the gaming apparatus determines the winner between the player-banker and each of said at least one virtual opponent according to a set of game rules associated with the wagering game, wherein the gaming apparatus shows result of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent on the display unit, and wherein the gaming apparatus adjusts credits for the player-banker and each of said at least one virtual opponent according to the result of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent and with reference to the wager placed by each of said at least one virtual opponent.    
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in step (b), the player-banker is further allowed to select the wagering game from a set of different games.  
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the set of different games includes card games and dice games.  
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in step (c), the gaming apparatus awards bonus credit to the player-banker when a predetermined condition is detected.  
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined condition is one in which the player-banker is dealt with a predetermined hand by the gaming apparatus.  
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the predetermined condition is one in which the player-banker won against each of said at least one virtual opponent.  
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein in step (c), the gaming apparatus allows winning ones of said at least one virtual opponent to give a tip credit to the player-banker.  
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 (d) allowing the player-banker to continue playing when the credit of the player-banker is sufficient to match a preset maximum possible wager for one virtual opponent, and to stop playing when otherwise.    
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein step (d) includes the sub-step of reducing a current number of virtual opponents playing with the player-banker when the credit of the player-banker is insufficient to support the wagers to be made by the current number of virtual opponents.  
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented method as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein step (d) includes the sub-step of allowing the player to quit playing the wagering game.  
     
     
         11 . A computer program product for a gaming apparatus that includes a user input unit, a display unit and a processor unit coupled to the user input unit and the display unit, said computer program product adapting the gaming apparatus for playing a wagering game, said computer program product comprising: 
 a computer readable storage medium comprising: 
 a first code that directs the processor unit to allow a player-banker to operate the user input unit for selecting at least one virtual opponent and for accepting a wager from each of said at least one virtual opponent; and  
 a second code that directs the processor unit to allow the player-banker to play the wagering game with each of said at least one virtual opponent, including a code that directs the processor unit to show progress of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent on the display unit, a code that directs the processor unit to determine the winner between the player-banker and each of said at least one virtual opponent according to a set of game rules associated with the wagering game, a code that directs the processor unit to show result of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent on the display unit, and a code that directs the processor unit to adjust credits for the player-banker and each of said at least one virtual opponent according to the result of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent and with reference to the wager placed by each of said at least one virtual opponent.  
   
     
     
         12 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first code further directs the processor unit to allow the player-banker to select the wagering game from a set of different games that includes card games and dice games.  
     
     
         13 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the second code further includes a code that directs the processor unit such that winning ones of said at least one virtual opponent give a tip credit to the player-banker.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said computer readable storage medium further comprises: 
 a third code that directs the processor unit to allow the player-banker to continue playing when the credit of the player-banker is sufficient to match a preset maximum possible wager for one virtual opponent, and to stop playing when otherwise.    
     
     
         15 . A gaming apparatus for playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 a user input unit;    a display unit;    first means for allowing a player-banker to operate said user input unit so as to select at least one virtual opponent and so as to accept a wager from each of said at least one virtual opponent; and    second means for allowing the player-banker to play the wagering game with each of said at least one virtual opponent, wherein progress of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent is shown on the display unit, wherein the winner between the player-banker and each of said at least one virtual opponent is determined according to a set of game rules associated with the wagering game, wherein result of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent is shown on the display unit, and wherein credits for the player-banker and each of said at least one virtual opponent are adjusted according to the result of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent and with reference to the wager placed by each of said at least one virtual opponent.    
     
     
         16 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said first means further allows the player-banker to select the wagering game from a set of different games that includes card games and dice games.  
     
     
         17 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said second means further allows winning ones of said at least one virtual opponent to give a tip credit to the player-banker.  
     
     
         18 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 third means for allowing the player-banker to continue playing when the credit of the player-banker is sufficient to match a preset maximum possible wager for one virtual opponent, and to stop playing when otherwise.    
     
     
         19 . A gaming apparatus comprising a user input unit, a display unit, a processor unit coupled to said user input unit and said display unit, and a computer program product for adapting said gaming apparatus for playing a wagering game, said computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium that includes: 
 a first code that directs said processor unit to allow a player-banker to operate said user input unit for selecting at least one virtual opponent and for accepting a wager from each of said at least one virtual opponent; and    a second code that directs said processor unit to allow the player-banker to play the wagering game with each of said at least one virtual opponent, including a code that directs said processor unit to show progress of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent on said display unit, a code that directs said processor unit to determine the winner between the player-banker and each of said at least one virtual opponent according to a set of game rules associated with the wagering game, a code that directs said processor unit to show result of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent on said display unit, and a code that directs said processor unit to adjust credits for the player-banker and each of said at least one virtual opponent according to the result of the wagering game played by the player-banker with each of said at least one virtual opponent and with reference to the wager placed by each of said at least one virtual opponent.    
     
     
         20 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said first code further directs said processor unit to allow the player-banker to select the wagering game from a set of different games that includes card games and dice games.  
     
     
         21 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said second code further includes a code that directs said processor unit such that winning ones of said at least one virtual opponent give a tip credit to the player-banker.  
     
     
         22 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said computer readable storage medium further includes: 
 a third code that directs said processor unit to allow the player-banker to continue playing when the credit of the player-banker is sufficient to match a preset maximum possible wager for one virtual opponent, and to stop playing when otherwise.