Hospitality feature of an electronic gaming system and method of operation

Abstract

An electronic gaming system has a plurality of tables each having a plurality of electronic player interaction areas (EPIA's) spaced preferably about a table periphery so that a gaming player locates oneself in front of a respective EPIA to play a game. A computer-based controller of the system assigns any one of preferably a variety of games to any one table. The player is then free to choose what game he/she desires to play by picking a particular table. The gaming system has a host console that communicates with each EPIA via the controller for managerial control of the plurality of tables. A software-based hospitality feature is integrated into the electronic gaming system for logging players in and out of a game, monitoring and recording of game play, enabling efficient waiter service, assisting security personal and preferably establishing confidential communications with the floor manager or host.

1 . An electronic gaming system for control of a game in a gaming establishment, the electronic gaming system comprising: 
 a computer;    at least one electronic player interaction area having a user interface;    a host console being in communication with the at least one electronic player interaction area through the computer; and    a software-based hospitality feature integrated between the at least one electronic player interaction area and the host console for the transfer of information between at least one game player of each respective one of the at least on electronic player interaction area and at least one host of the gaming establishment.    
   
   
       2 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an account of the hospitality feature established for each respective one of the game players; and    a personal identification number of each account for entering by each one of the respective at least one game players into each respective one of the electronic player interaction areas.    
   
   
       3 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an account of the hospitality feature established for each respective one of the game players;    a card reader of the hospitality feature integrated into each respective one of the at least one electronic player interaction areas; and    a computer readable at least one player card of the hospitality feature wherein each one of the at least one player cards is associated with the account of a respective one of the at least one game players.    
   
   
       4 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 3  wherein the at least one player card identifies and accounts for funds in the account of the respective at least one game player.  
   
   
       5 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 4  wherein the at least one player card identifies and locates the respective at least one game player through the host console.  
   
   
       6 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 3  further comprising a personal identification number of each account for entering by each one of the respective at least one game players into the user interface of each respective one of the electronic player interaction areas.  
   
   
       7 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 6  further comprising government reporting forms of the hospitality feature viewable by the at least one player on the user interface and being constructed and arranged to accept an electronic signature of the at least one game player.  
   
   
       8 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 an electronic gaming table;    the at least one electronic player interaction areas being a plurality of electronic player interaction areas spaced about the gaming table from one-another;    a leave table button of the hospitality feature integrated into each respective one of the plurality of electronic player interaction areas that permits a respective one of the at least one players to leave the electronic gaming table during play of a game.    
   
   
       9 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 8  further comprising a sit-in button of the hospitality feature integrated into each respective one of the plurality of electronic player interaction areas that permits a new player to sit-in for the respective one of the at least one players that has left the electronic gaming table.  
   
   
       10 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 9  wherein the sit-in button is de-activated unless the leave table button is initiated.  
   
   
       11 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 1  comprising an electronic signal of the hospitality feature received at the host console when a first player logs in to a respective one of the at least one electronic player interaction areas.  
   
   
       12 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 11  wherein the hospitality feature tracks the frequency of play of the first player and stores in a database.  
   
   
       13 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 12  wherein the hospitality feature tracks a history of play of the first player and stores in the database.  
   
   
       14 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 13  wherein the history of play includes games, wagering and how each hand is played.  
   
   
       15 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 12  further comprising a trigger of the hospitality feature received at the host console if the identification of the first player appears in the database for alerting the at least one host.  
   
   
       16 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 11  further comprising an options button of the hospitality feature integrated into each one of the at least one electronic player interaction areas, the options button having a drink request option for selection by the at least one player for ordering drinks.  
   
   
       17 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 16  wherein the drink request option is communicated to the host console for tracking of drinks consumed.  
   
   
       18 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 11  further comprising: 
 an electronic gaming table;    the at least one electronic player interaction areas being a plurality of electronic player interaction areas spaced about the gaming table from one-another; and    an options button of the hospitality feature integrated into each one of the at least one electronic player interaction areas, the options button having an anonymous alert selection communicating with the host console for alerting the host of undesirable behavior at the electronic gaming table.    
   
   
       19 . The electronic gaming system set forth in  claim 9  further comprising an unseat button of the hospitality feature integrated into the host console for selection by the host when a player has left a game without logging out.  
   
   
       20 . A method of operation of a hospitality feature of an electronic gaming system comprising the steps of: 
 creating an account for a player in a gaming establishment;    assigning a personal identification number to the account;    funding the account by the player;    selecting an electronic player interaction area by the player;    entering the personal identification number by the player into the electronic player interaction area;    sending a signal to a host console alerting a host of the gaming establishment of the player; and    monitoring play of the player; and    downloading of the monitored play into a database of a computer.    
   
   
       21 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 20  comprising the further step of selecting a service request button of the electronic player interaction area by the player for ordering of a drink.  
   
   
       22 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 21  comprising the further step of sending a signal to the host console upon the selection of the service request for monitoring drink consumption.  
   
   
       23 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 20  comprising the further steps of: 
 selecting an anonymous alert selection of the electronic player interaction area by the player; and    sending of an alert signal to the host console to alert the host.    
   
   
       24 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 20  comprising the further step of assigning a computer readable playing card to the player when creating the account.  
   
   
       25 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 20  comprising the further step of: 
 monitoring the rate of play of a game at a table having the electronic player interaction area;    comparing the rate of play to a minimum threshold value by the computer; and    sending a signal to the host console by the computer if the rate of play falls below the minimum threshold.    
   
   
       26 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 20  comprising the further step of: 
 alerting the player as to available funds by the electronic player interaction area; and    converting at least a portion of the funds to electronic chips.    
   
   
       27 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 26  comprising the further step of: 
 logging out from the game by the player; and    crediting any game winnings to the account by the computer.    
   
   
       28 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 27  comprising the further step of displaying government forms on a user interface of the electronic poker interaction area by the computer if the player has winnings.  
   
   
       29 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 28  comprising the further step of providing an electronic signature on the government forms by the player.  
   
   
       30 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 20  comprising the further step of retrieving the downloaded monitored play for evaluation.  
   
   
       31 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 30  comprising the further step of evaluating the retrieved monitored play to establish player collusion.  
   
   
       32 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 31  comprising the further step of evaluating the retrieved monitored play at the request of a player.  
   
   
       33 . The method of operation set forth in  claim 20  comprising the further step of selecting a history button of the host console by the host; and 
 reviewing past game play by the host.