Automatic table game

Abstract

A gaming table in which the outcome of the game is determined manually, and in which players place bets electronically and wins or losses are calculated electronically. The gaming system is applicable to any suitable game including roulette.

1 . A gaming table, comprising: 
 at least one game outcome determining device, exclusive of a card game, and configured for determination of a random outcome for a game, said at least one game outcome determining device being physically located adjacent a dealer position such that a dealer at said dealer position is able to directly physically interact with said device, said device having a manual operation initiated by at least one direct physical interaction by a dealer, said manual operation causing said device to produce said random outcome without intervening automation following initiation by said dealer;    a plurality of player terminals located at said gaming table, each of said terminals being physically located with respect to said at least one game outcome determining device such that a player positioned at a terminal is unable to directly physically interact with said device, each terminal including a player user interface to permit a player to select at least one possible outcome of the game, occurring at said gaming table, and to make wagers on said at least one possible outcome; and    at least one processor for comparing said wagers to said random outcome for determining winning ones of said wagers, and for crediting winning proceeds directly to said player terminals.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming table according to  claim 1  further comprising a dealer terminal operatively coupled to said at least one processor, said dealer terminal including a dealer user interface configured to permit said dealer, after receipt of payment from a player, to directly credit one of said player terminals.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming table according to  claim 2  wherein said dealer user interface is configured to permit said dealer to pay out to a player, upon request, a remaining credit balance on a player terminal in use by said player.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming table according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one game outcome determining device is a roulette wheel and said at least one direct physical interaction of a dealer is selected from the group consisting of manual spinning and manual dispensing of a roulette ball by said dealer.  
   
   
       5 . A method for operating a gaming table, comprising: 
 receiving at a plurality of player terminals, located at said gaming table, respective player selections of a possible game outcome, occurring at said gaming table, and player wagers on said respective player selections of said possible game outcome;    determining a random outcome for a game, said random outcome being produced by a game outcome determining device having a manual operation, said manual operation being initiated by at least one direct physical interaction by a dealer with said device, said manual operation causing said device to produce said random outcome without intervening automation following initiation by said dealer;    comparing automatically said random outcome to said respective player selections; and,    determining winning ones of said wagers responsive to said comparing step, and crediting winning proceeds directly to said player terminals based on said player wagers.    
   
   
       6 . The method according to  claim 5  further comprising receiving a player credit entry at a dealer terminal after receipt of payment from a player, and responsive to said entry directly crediting one of said player terminals.  
   
   
       7 . The method according to  claim 6  further comprising the step of determining a remaining credit balance on a player terminal in use by said player, and cashing out a player from said player terminal, upon request, by clearing any credit balance from said player terminal and paying said credit directly to said player.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming table according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one game outcome determining device is a Big Wheel and said at least one direct physical interaction of a dealer comprises manual spinning by said dealer.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming table according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one game outcome determining device is a plurality of dice and said at least one direct physical interaction of a dealer comprises manual rolling by said dealer.  
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said game outcome determining device is a roulette wheel, said at least one direct physical interaction is selected from the group consisting of manual spinning said roulette wheel and manual dispensing of a roulette ball by said dealer.  
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said game outcome determining device is a Big Wheel, said at least one direct physical interaction of a dealer being manual spinning of said Big Wheel by said dealer.  
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said game outcome determining device is a plurality of dice, said at least one direct physical interaction of a dealer being manual rolling said dice by said dealer.