Casino table device with automated progressive jackpot

Abstract

Casino table device with automated progressive jackpot, comprising a gaming table, game means for a casino game, several player positions ( 1 ) with a betting position, a jackpot calculator ( 32 ), and display means ( 34 ) for displaying the state of the jackpot. Each player position has a detection mechanism ( 20 ) for detecting an action carried out by a player or croupier for that player position, which action forms an essential part of the casino game and is essential for a continuation of a round of a game for that player position. The detection mechanism of each player position is linked to the jackpot calculator ( 32 ), so that on detection of the action carried out by a player or croupier for that player position during a round of a game an instruction is sent automatically to the jackpot calculator to raise the jackpot progressively.

1 . Casino table device with automated progressive jackpot, comprising: 
 a gaming table designed for playing a casino game;    game means for playing the casino game;    a game control unit ( 31 ) for playing the casino game in an at least partially automated manner;    several player positions ( 1 ), in which each player position ( 1 ) has at least one betting position or betting mechanism ( 8 ) for placing at least a minimum bet at the beginning of a round of a game;    a jackpot calculator ( 32 ) for progressively raising a jackpot depending on the bets placed during the round of the game, and reducing the jackpot if a jackpot payout has been made to a player position ( 1 ); each player position ( 1 ) having a detection mechanism for detecting an action carried out for that player position ( 1 ) and the detection mechanism of each player position ( 1 ) being linked to the jackpot calculator ( 32 ), so that on detection of the action carried out for that player position ( 1 ) during a round of a game an instruction is sent automatically to the jackpot calculator ( 32 ) to raise the jackpot progressively depending on the bet placed, characterized in that for each player position ( 1 ) a control element ( 20 ) is provided, which control element is linked to the game control unit ( 31 ), so that a player can send a play command to the game control unit ( 31 ), which play command forms an essential part of the casino game and is essential for a continuation of the round of the game for that player position ( 1 ),    the detection mechanism ( 20 ) being formed by the control element ( 20 ), so that on operation of the control element ( 20 ) during the round of the game an instruction is sent automatically to the jackpot calculator ( 32 ) to raise the jackpot progressively, and the play command is sent simultaneously to the game control unit ( 31 ).    
     
     
         2 . Casino table device according to  claim 1 , in which the control element ( 20 ) is a control button.  
     
     
         3 . Casino table device according to  claim 1 , in which the control element ( 20 ) is a touch screen.  
     
     
         4 . Casino table device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the casino game is a random selection game, making use of a series of first images, in particular numbers, in the case of which each player position is provided with: 
 a read-out window under which at least a first display is situated, on which display the entire series of first images or a selection of them is provided;    a control element that can be operated by the player and is linked to a random generator for selecting a first player image from the series of first images during each round of a game, the device further comprising: 
 a central control unit that is designed to ensure that the image in the first display corresponding to the selected first player image is kept activated during at least the next round of the game.  
   
     
     
         5 . Casino table device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the jackpot calculator ( 32 ) is designed for progressively raising the jackpot as a fixed percentage of the minimum bet when the control element ( 20 ) is operated.  
     
     
         6 . Casino table device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the game means for each player position comprise a buffer with images, and the game control unit ( 31 ) comprises a random generator for causing a random selection of an image from the abovementioned buffer when the control element ( 20 ) is operated.  
     
     
         7 . Casino table device according to  claim 6 , in which the buffer is a rotatable roller provided with images.  
     
     
         8 . Casino table device according to  claim 6 , in which the buffer is an electronic buffer.  
     
     
         9 . Casino table device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the jackpot calculator ( 32 ) is integral with the game control unit ( 31 ).