Automated poker table

Abstract

The automated poker table of the present invention allows for live, face-to-face play of all types of poker games and limits without the need for live dealers, cards or chips. All aspects of the game play may be automated so hands are played faster, and downtime is reduced. The system includes a table, a player subsystem, and a dealer subsystem. The player subsystem includes a touch-screen display terminal for viewing cards dealt to a player, and includes a mechanism for creating a transitional animation for displaying at least a portion of the face of each card. The system may further include a debit and credit subsystem having a kiosk for accepting cash and transferring it to an account associated with the player, and an administrator module having a device for interfacing with an administrator of the system.

1 . A system for playing poker, comprising: 
 a table;    a player subsystem; and    a dealer subsystem.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the player subsystem includes a touch-screen display terminal for viewing cards dealt to a player, and includes means for creating a transitional animation for displaying at least a portion of the face of each card.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the means for displaying a transitional animation includes means for touching a plurality of areas on a card for exposing different portions of the face of the card.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the player subsystem includes: 
 an identification terminal for accepting a device containing data related to a player;    at least one pressure sensitive chair connected to the player subsystem;    a microphone configured to a speech recognition system; and    a bar code reader.    
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a debit and credit subsystem having a kiosk for accepting cash and transferring it to an account associated with the player.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a processing system that interfaces with a plurality of player stations over the Internet.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a processing system that interfaces with a plurality of player stations over a virtual private network.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , further including a processing system that provides for a user of the player system to temporarily suspend an interface with the dealer subsystem.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an administrator module having a device for interfacing with an administrator of the system.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the administrator module is configured to control functions of the player subsystem.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the administrator module is configured to provide an administrator data related to a plurality player stations associated with the player subsystem.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the administrator module is configured to provide an administrator the ability to initiate mini-tournament play.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the administrator module is configured with a reporting function.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising a central processing subsystem for interfacing with the player subsystem, the dealer subsystem, a kiosk, an administrator module and a point of sale subsystem.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the administrator module is configured to provide accounting data from an accounting database.  
   
   
       16 . A method for playing poker; comprising: 
 (a) providing, 
 a table having a plurality of player stations,  
 a processing system for controlling the player stations and a virtual dealer screen;  
 a kiosk for dispensing a player card;  
   (b) entering cash value and player data onto a player card at the kiosk;    (c) using the player card at a player station at the table;    (d) playing a game of poker at a player station while interfacing with the virtual dealer screen.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including providing a processing system that interfaces with a plurality of a player the Internet.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , further including providing a processing system that interfaces with a plurality of player stations over a virtual private network.  
   
   
       19 . A kiosk, comprising: 
 means for a user to store a cash value onto an electronic player card;    means for dispensing to the user the cash value stored on the electronic player card;    means for displaying the cash value available on electronic player card    means for entering and storing user information onto the player card;    means for displaying the user information stored on the electronic player card; and    means for altering the user information stored on the electronic player card.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , further including means for entering a personal identification number and user name on the player card.