System and method for personalizing playing cards at a table game

Abstract

A method comprises receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player, identifying at least one of a rank, a color, and a suit for the at least one personalized card, identifying at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card, providing an indication of at least one personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card, enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change, and applying the at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card upon the occurrence of the at least one personalized card.

1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one value change with the at least one personalized card;   providing an indication of the at least one value change; and   enabling a game play in accordance with the value change.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one value change comprises a value different form a traditional value of the personalized card. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one value change is chosen by the player. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising associating at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the at least one value change is deactivated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one value change. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the at least one value change is activated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one value change. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one value change is activated upon the occurrence of a trigger. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the trigger comprises an outcome of the game play. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein providing comprises providing the indication via a physical indicator. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the physical indicator forms a portion of a game table. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the physical indicator comprises a first grid comprising elements each corresponding to each of the at least one personalized card and a second grid comprising elements each corresponding to at least one of the at least one value change and a rule change. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein at least one object is placed on at least one of the first grid and the second grid to indicate at least one of a personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the at least one object is a token. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the at least one object is a playing card. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein game play comprises at least one of blackjack and baccarat. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the game play occurs on a smart table. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1  wherein game play occurs on an electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the value change comprises at least one of a rank and a suite of at least one personalized card. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the value change is specified in the request. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the value change is determined by an electronic apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the value change is at least partially randomly determined. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the game play comprises a flat rate blackjack session. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the flat rate blackjack session is comprised of a plurality of segments each of an associated predetermined length. 
     
     
         24 . A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one value change with the at least one personalized card;   providing an indication of the at least one value change; and   enabling a game play in accordance with the value change.   
     
     
         25 . An apparatus comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one value change with the at least one personalized card;   providing an indication of the at least one value change; and   enabling a game play in accordance with the value change.   
     
     
         26 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card in exchange for consideration;   providing an indication of the at least one rule change; and   enabling game play in accordance with the rule change.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the rule change comprises an automatic win rule. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  wherein each of the at least one rule change is deactivated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one rule change. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  wherein each of the at least one rule change is activated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one rule change. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the at least one rule change is activated upon the occurrence of a trigger. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the trigger comprises an outcome of the game play. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26  wherein an amount of the consideration is determined based upon an expected value of the player as a result of the at least one personalized card. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26  wherein an amount of the consideration is determined based upon an expected frequency of the appearance of the at least one personalized card during game play. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26  wherein an amount of the consideration is determined based upon an amount of a player's wager. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26  wherein an amount of the consideration is predetermined and displayed to the player. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the consideration comprises a tax applied to a winning of the player. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the associated at least one rule change is an advantageous rule change. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26  wherein the associated at least one rule change is a disadvantageous rule change. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 26  wherein associating comprises the player associating both an advantageous and a disadvantageous rule change with the at least one personalized card. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 26  wherein associating comprises the player associating the at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein associating comprises automatically associating a disadvantageous rule change with the player associated at least one rule change. 
     
     
         42 . A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card in exchange for consideration;   providing an indication of the at least one rule change; and   enabling game play in accordance with the rule change.   
     
     
         43 . An apparatus comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card in exchange for consideration;   providing an indication of the at least one rule change; and   enabling game play in accordance with the rule change.   
     
     
         44 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one of a value change and a rule change with the at least one personalized card;   enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and   determining whether the at least one personalized card is applicable.   
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining comprises determining a segment of a flat rate session comprising a plurality of the at least one game play. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein the at least one personalized card is determined to be applicable based in part upon the segment. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining comprises determining whether the at least one personalized card appears in a player's initial hand. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining comprises determining a shoe from which the at least one personalized card is dealt. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining comprises determining a duration during which the at least one personalized card is applicable. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 44  wherein determining comprises determining a minimum bet and a maximum bet associated with the applicability of the at least one personalized card. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the determining is performed by a dealer. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51  wherein the dealer determines the applicability of the at least one personalized card based upon a visual inspection. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the determining is performed by the player. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 44  wherein the determining is performed by a smart table. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 44  further comprising providing an indication of the applicability of the at least one personalized card. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the indication comprises a verbal reminder. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 55  wherein the indication comprises an alert delivered via an output device. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the alert comprises at least one of a text box, a pop up box, an audio message, a beep, and a siren. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57  wherein the output comprises an LCD, a light emitting diode, a Cathode ray tube, a plasma display panel, a touch screen and a speaker. 
     
     
         60 . A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one of a value change and a rule change with the at least one personalized card;   enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and   determining whether the at least one personalized card is applicable.   
     
     
         61 . An apparatus comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   associating at least one of a value change and a rule change with the at least one personalized card;   enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and   determining whether the at least one personalized card is applicable.   
     
     
         62 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   identifying at least one of a rank, a color, and a suit for the at least one personalized card;   identifying at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;   providing an indication of at least one personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;   enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and   applying the at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card upon the occurrence of the at least one personalized card.   
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the at least one value change comprises a value different form a traditional value of the personalized card. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the at least one value change is chosen by the player. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 62  wherein each of the at least one value change is deactivated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one value change. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 62  wherein each of the at least one value change is activated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one value change. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the at least one value change is activated upon the occurrence of a trigger. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the trigger comprises an outcome of the game play. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 62  wherein providing comprises providing the indication via a physical indicator. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69  wherein the physical indicator forms a portion of a game table. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the physical indicator comprises a first grid comprising elements each corresponding to each of the at least on personalized card and a second grid comprising elements each corresponding to at least one of the at least one value change and a rule change. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein an object is placed on at least one of the first grid and the second grid to indicate at least one of a personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the object is a token. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 72  wherein the object is a playing card. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 62  wherein game play comprises at least one of blackjack and baccarat. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein the game play occurs on a smart table. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 62  wherein game play occurs on an electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the value change comprises at least one of a rank and a suite of at least one personalized card. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the value change is specified in the request. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the value change is determined by an electronic apparatus. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 80  wherein the value change is at least partially randomly determined. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 62  wherein the game play comprises a flat rate blackjack session. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 82  wherein the flat rate blackjack session is comprised of a plurality of segments each of a predetermined length. 
     
     
         84 . A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   identifying at least one of a rank, a color, and a suit for the at least one personalized card;   identifying at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;   providing an indication of at least one personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;   enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and   applying the at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card upon the occurrence of the at least one personalized card.   
     
     
         85 . An apparatus comprising:
 receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;   identifying at least one of a rank, a color, and a suit for the at least one personalized card;   identifying at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;   providing an indication of at least one personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;   enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and   applying the at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card upon the occurrence of the at least one personalized card.