FACILITY FOR PLAYING POKER BY DECENTRALIZED PLAYERS OVER THE INTERNET AND ITS USE

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a system for playing poker online. Poker enjoys great international popularity, and knowledge of its rules is assumed here and does not change the basic concept of the system presented. The invention also relates to the use of such a system for conducting a prize draw with monetary stakes.

[0002] Typically, poker is played in a casino at a real poker table by physically present players, with a Dealer organizes the game and acts as a kind of legislator at the poker table. He determines who will small blind sets, he gives the Chips according to the players' bets, he sets the Flops, Turns and Rivers, he takes over Chips from the players and puts them on the Pot-Area, He determines who has won and he collects the Chips or distributes them according to the winnings achieved by the players. Chips can be redeemed at the casino at the end of a game and the winnings can be paid out.

[0003] There are numerous proposals in the patent literature for playing games, especially roulette or poker, without having to go to a physical roulette or poker table. Players participate from home, via the internet, and are connected to the game via a computer and webcam, regardless of whether the game takes place virtually on the internet or in a physical location.

[0004] The US 6 755 741 B1 Gambling game system and method for remotely located players reveals such a concept for a roulette game. Individual players sit in front of their personal computers, connected to the casino via the internet, and can view the roulette table via a camera connection.

[0005] US 7 727 060 B2 shows a land-based, on-line poker system. This includes a staffed poker table with a Live-Dealer with several assigned places with at least one Remote -player and one or more live players or with a variety of Remote -players. Remote -Players connect to the system via a wide area network. At each poker table, there is an individual card camera. This produces and transmits images of the face-down cards that are dealt. A card camera for the community cards checks and transmits images of all exposed cards on the poker table. A table camera constantly provides a picture of the entire table and the Dealer. A deck of cards with an identifying RFID tag is used with images to verify the identity of the player cards and the community cards A game logic server connects to a network server, and host and client-side software programs allow remote players to connect to the server.

[0006] US 8 672 735 B2 discloses another land-based on-line poker system. It includes a staffed poker table with a Live-Dealer with several assigned places to at least one Remote -players and one or more Live -players or to a variety of Remote -players. Players located far away from the game connect to the system via a wide area network. At each player seat there is a player card camera that transmits images of the cards laid out and turned face down. A camera for the community cards transmits images of the visible cards dealt on the poker table of a flop, turns or rivers. A table camera is used to capture images of the entire poker table or parts of the poker table and the Dealers An RFID reader, a barcode reader or an OCR software program is used to verify the identities of the community cards and the player cards that are dealt in each round. The information described on the community cards and player cards are stored on the game logic server and sent to each Remote -player and there on his Display sent.

[0007] In US 2019 / 0147705 A1 a method, system and apparatus for administering table games to real and virtual users simultaneously This multiplayer game system requires a Live-Dealer at least one Live -players and at least one Virtual-Reality -player and comprises: a physical gaming table, a plurality of physical objects for playing the game, a processor or processors, a gaming platform for hosting the game for the at least one virtual reality player, a player terminal communicatively coupled to the game, a platform via a network, then at least one camera for transmitting a view of the dealer and the physical objects via the network to the player, a terminal from the perspective of a person sitting or standing at the gaming table, and a display at the gaming table for receiving and displaying inputs to the game by the Virtual-Reality -Player.

[0008] WO 2006 / 031428 shows a system and method for providing electronic card game at a plurality of electronic poker tables. Here, electronic, i.e., virtual poker tables are used. However, this is detrimental to a realistic game.

[0009] WO 2010 / 062653 shows a Game System and methods for remote card games using physical playing cards. The gaming system may include a game table, a card reader, a processing system, and a plurality of state indicators. The game table may accommodate a plurality of playing cards during a card game. The game table may have a plurality of player regions, and a first player region on the game table may include a card sensor for detecting the presence of one or more playing cards in the first player region. The card reader may detect identities of the plurality of playing cards. The processing system may automatically detect a game state of the card game based at least in part on data generated by the card sensor in the first player region. The plurality of state indicators may be in communication with the processing system and thereby control the game based on the detected game state.

[0010] Despite all these suggestions, there is still no way to play poker realistically over the Internet. Realistic here means playing at a real table, with a real Dealer and with real Chips and real poker cards, as if you were sitting at the poker table yourself. It would be desirable to be able to observe all the other players, especially their facial expressions and gestures during the game. live, This means that in real time, all players could hear who said what at the poker table and when. By having an insight into the entire real game play on the poker table by all players and the Dealer cheating is also made very difficult, if not almost impossible.

[0011] The object of this invention is therefore to create a system for playing poker by decentralized players over the Internet, which enables poker to be played as realistically as possible, that is to say with a real table, with a real Dealer as a game leader and with real Chips and real poker cards, as if you were sitting at the poker table yourself, so that you can follow the entire game exactly as in reality, and in particular you can follow the other players, their faces, their facial expressions and their gestures simultaneously, i.e. in real time.

[0012] This task is solved by a system for playing poker by decentralized players over the Internet, with a real poker table for a Dealer and up to ten player seats along its perimeter, with the edge area of ​​the poker table being transparent, for storing the player poker cards with the playing side facing down on this transparent edge area, and above this edge area a raised edge area for storing Chips, further comprising at least one IP camera directed from above onto the poker table for real-time recording and real-time internet transmission of the entire game, as well as an IP camera assigned to each player's seat below the poker table for recording only the poker cards placed on the transparent edge area at this player's seat, and a computer belonging to the poker table, which is connected to all IP cameras and to the internet and on which a poker game software is installed, which communicates with an associated poker game software application on each player's computer, whereby Dealer from his place at the poker table all areas of the poker table with one hand to grasp Chips and poker cards are accessible, as well as computers located at each player's location with internet access and the associated application software for establishing and operating a video / sound connection between the computer associated with the poker table and all participating players' computers. Furthermore, the solution also covers the use of such a system for conducting prize draws with monetary stakes.

[0013] It is very important for the game of poker to be able to observe the other players closely. Every display of the community cards, that is, when laying out the flops, of the following turns and finally the rivers triggers emotional reactions, which the players, depending on their talent and experience, are able to amplify, weaken, suppress, or reverse. It takes human knowledge and an 'X-ray vision' to classify these reactions as accurately as possible. Without good live Without live images of the other players, it is impossible to play realistic poker. Such a 'computer game' without live images of the other players appears bloodless and sterile. The game of poker thrives on human reactions to the game. This is only possible with a system according to this invention, because everything happens physically and is therefore real, in contrast to a game with a virtual table and virtual cards or chips. The transmission of the game action at the real poker table, as well as at least the faces of the other players and also the Dealers are delivered to each player in razor-sharp detail on their computer display. This is crucial. After all, a real poker table must be used for this purpose to ensure that the Dealer can perform all operations, including those performed by the other players in a real poker game. In a real poker game, the poker players take their Chips and their cards in their hands and turn them over or push them forward onto the playing field, or they pull them back. With the system presented here, they can participate in the game by telephone using only their voice and the Dealer carries out what each player says, and this always happens under the control of all other players. The great advantage of this system is that all players always live Dishonest play or cheating is therefore virtually impossible. Every player hears what the other players say, and if an instruction is not understandable, the Dealer ask, just like at a real poker table in a conventional poker game.

[0014] This system for playing poker by decentralized players over the Internet is described in detail below using the drawings, and its function is explained and explained. It shows: Figure 1: The real poker table as an essential core element of the system, seen from above; Figure 2: The real poker table in a perspective view from the side of a seated Dealers Figure 3: The real poker table in a perspective view from the side of a standing Dealers seen from above; Figure 4: The real poker table turned over by 180°, i.e. seen from below; Figure 5: A partial section through the edge of the tabletop of the poker table standing on legs, with IP cameras directed obliquely from below onto the poker cards; Figure 6: A partial section through the edge of the tabletop of the poker table standing on legs, with IP cameras directed orthogonally from below onto the poker cards; Figure 7: The bar below the outer edge of the tabletop with LEDs and IP cameras; Figure 8: A rectangular poker table with a display for the dealer on the two free corners; Figure 9: A poker table made from a glass or Plexiglas plate, seen from above; Figure 10: A poker table with an indentation on the dealer's side; Figure 11: The structure of the entire system for playing poker via the Internet; Figure 12: A single poker player at home at the table, connected to the system, playing poker;Figure 13: Ten different, geographically separated poker players, all networked via the system, playing poker on their various devices; Figure 14: An example of the display design on the computer screens of the poker players involved; Figure 15: Another example of the display design on the computer screens of the poker players involved, with the table as seen by the players; Figure 16: Another example of the display design on the computer screens of the poker players involved, using the image of the poker table recorded by an IP video camera arranged above the poker table; Dealer, and player images displayed around the table; Figure 17: Another example of the design of the display on the computer screens of the participating poker players by the image of the poker table recorded by a further-placed IP video camera with Dealer, with the player pictures assigned to the individual player positions.

[0015] First, the Figur 1 The real poker table 1 as the essential core element of the facility, seen from above. The fact that this is a real poker table 1, i.e., a physical poker table 1 with a physical surface instead of merely a virtual table on a display, increases the impression for poker players that they are playing their game under real conditions, because everything actually takes place at a real poker table 1, and the entire game can be followed seamlessly by every player, as if they were sitting at this real poker table 1. This contributes significantly to the gaming experience and is far more exciting and appealing than a purely virtual game with virtual cards. This poker table 1 forms approximately a semicircle or a fan, or has the shape of a ship's bow, which tapers to a blunt point 21 in the middle of the circular or fan-shaped arc, as is typical for the shape of a ship's bow.The poker table 1 is dimensioned so that a person sitting or standing on the lower straight side 5 of the poker table 1 can... Dealer 22 can easily reach all areas of the poker table 1 with one hand. This allows for tool-free handling of the Dealers 22 on the playing surface 14. Because every aid could also be a potential source of cheating, the inventive system offers the player maximum transparency.

[0016] A poker table 1 with a base line 5 of usually up to 130 cm in length and a radius of the semicircular edge of usually up to 90 cm is suitable. Ideally, the poker table 1 measures for a seated player Dealer 22 in the baseline 110 cm to 120 cm, and in the radius of the essentially semi-circular edge it measures between 60 cm and 80 cm. In conventional poker, when several poker players gather around a poker table and the game is led by a so-called Dealer is conducted, the poker players handle the player poker cards and the Chips. You receive the player poker cards and chips from the dealer, place the player poker cards face up on the table and also give chips to the Dealer. The Dealer gives the player poker cards and Chips and, depending on the casino, he may also accept cash in coins or banknotes directly from the poker players sitting at the table in a conventional game. Among other things, he assumes the role of a bank employee at the counter. These physical assistance from the poker players is eliminated in this poker game, which is played via the Internet. Consequently, the poker player, who is still physically present at the real poker table, takes over the Dealer 22 these functions. Poker table 1 is specially designed and divided for this purpose, and payment transactions are handled entirely electronically. Dealer 22 sits or stands at the baseline 5 of this poker table 1, and if he player poker cards 11, also called hand cards, or Chips 9 to a player, he pushes the corresponding player poker cards 11 at the corresponding player seat 7 under the outer raised edge area 45 of the poker table 1, which edge area simultaneously forms the storage area 8 for the Chips 9. The edge area 41 of the poker table 1 below this raised edge area is transparent, consisting of a glass or Plexiglas plate 42, while the rest of the tabletop can be made of wood, metal, or plastic. Above this glass or Plexiglas plate 42 and the rest of the tabletop, the edge area 45 made of wood, metal, or plastic is arranged elevated relative to the rest of the tabletop. Below this raised edge area 45, compartments 10 are formed, which can be accessed from the base line 5 of the table. Dealer From his seat, 22 can slide player poker cards 11 with the playing side facing down, so that the players cannot see this playing side, under this edge area 45, i.e. into the compartments 10, whereby each compartment 10 is assigned to a specific player seat 7. Ten player seats 7 are provided along the semicircular or fan-shaped or bow-shaped edge of the poker table 1. Accordingly, several or usually up to ten poker players can participate in the game. Ten poker players is a number that is Dealer can still be easily managed. Separation walls (not visible in this view) extend downwards at the bottom of the glass or plexiglass plate 42 across the entire radial width of the glass or plexiglass plate 42 and separate the individual player seats 7 from one another below the glass or plexiglass plate 42.

[0017] On the shelves 8 for the Chips 9 you can see three different stacks of Chips 9 with different values, and in the assigned compartments 10 there are two player poker cards 11 as they are after the start of the game from the Dealer dealt and placed face down. It is pointless to describe and explain the rules of poker in detail here. Such explanations are familiar to the reader, or they can easily be found and downloaded online, for example. There are excellent videos explaining the rules of poker on YouTube. However, what is necessary to play poker and adhere to the rules will become clear from the further description of this poker system.

[0018] Within the poker table 1 and within its outer edge area 45, which is the storage area 8 for the Chips 9 and under which the compartments 10 for the inserted player poker cards 11 are formed, is the playing surface 14, for example, in black. This is limited towards the center of the semicircular, fan-shaped, or bow-shaped poker table 1 by a demarcated area 12 for the so-called community cards 13 ( community cards ), for example in red color, for laying flops, turns and rivers. Overlapping or covering both areas, the playing area 14 and the demarcated area 12 for the community cards, is an oval pot area 16, again delimited by a different color, for example, blue. This area 16 is used for laying down Chips through the Dealer. In the example shown there are three stacks of Chips in the form of round plastic discs, which are designed in different colours for different 'values', on the Pot- Area 16. On the area 12 for the community cards, five exposed community cards 13 are shown, and next to them - in the picture according to Figur 1 just below - the stack of remaining, not yet used poker cards 39 is shown. On the playing surface 14 is a Dealer-Button 23 can be seen, and further three Chips to see, once a single one and once a stack of two Chips 9, each of which is located in front of an assigned player seat 7. On the other half of the playing surface 14, three stacked, fanned-out poker or 'burn' cards 49 can be seen. Outside the baseline 5 of the poker table 1, a container 24 for holding Chips 9 different values.

[0019] Preferably, such a poker table 1 is provided with a surface for the edge area, the playing surface 14 and the area 12 for the community cards, covered with a felt-like material, or designed similarly to a fitted carpet. Dealer comfortable to use the cards and Chips to slide and place cards on it. He can grip the cards easily, and they don't slip like they would on a smooth surface. Another important element for this poker table 1 is the IP (Internet Protocol) video camera, which is designed for comprehensive monitoring and transmission of the images recorded in real time. This IP video camera is preferably a POE (Power over Ethernet)- Camera, which is powered via an Ethernet cable. At least one IP video camera 2 with microphone is located beyond the Dealer place, for example, standing separately on a tripod or attached to the poker table 1 via a rod or a gooseneck. This IP video camera 2 covers the entire poker table 1 and also the Dealer 22, as shown here. If it is equipped with a microphone, it is also suitable for recording all acoustic expressions of the Dealers to record precisely and transmit it further. It is advantageous to place another IP camera 18 above the poker table, for example, mounted on the ceiling, so that it looks orthogonally onto the table surface and records the entire poker table 1. Otherwise, a separate microphone can be used for the acoustics, i.e., for recording the dealer's voice and all noises at the poker table, as well as the voices of the individual players transmitted via loudspeakers and their playback on all participating computers. These images or this video film and also the sound, always recorded in real time, are transmitted via the Internet to all participating poker players. This allows each poker player to monitor the entire process continuously, completely and seamlessly, i.e., they can see all manipulations which the Dealer All poker players therefore always see the same thing at the same time. Each player seat 7 is therefore completely equivalent, even more 'equal' than if a poker player were sitting at a physical poker table. There, a player inevitably sits Dealer One player is closest to the other, and another is farthest away. So, there are differences that can have a psychological impact, but these are completely eliminated in this online poker game.

[0020] The Figur 2 shows this real poker table 1 in a perspective view from the side of a seated Dealers 22, sitting on a suitable, preferably height-adjustable chair 28 with a backrest. The poker table 1 stands on its own legs 29, which hold the poker table 1 at a height suitable for the assistance of the Dealers 22 is comfortable. Optionally, the poker table 1 can be equipped with an additional IP video camera 26 behind and above the Dealers 22. This IP video camera 26 stands on a tripod 27 in the example shown, but could also be positioned and held differently, for example by a rod attached to the poker table 1 or by a gooseneck attached to the poker table 1, which allows the IP video camera 26 to be aligned as desired, or by being mounted on the ceiling. This IP video camera 26 sweeps the poker table 1 with its 'field of view' as the Dealer 22, i.e. at least from the baseline 5 of poker table 1 to its far edge. This view, also transmitted via cable or wirelessly via the Internet to the participating poker players, allows them to view the perspective of the Dealers 22. However, this is not absolutely necessary for the current online poker game. It's also not possible to directly capture this angle when playing poker with the physical presence of the poker players sitting at a poker table, but with this second IP video camera 26, this perspective can be offered, and it is appealing to some players.

[0021] A special feature at poker table 1 in the Figur 2 A display 30 is arranged for each player position 7, advantageously tilted slightly backwards. On these ten displays 30, the faces of the individual poker players at the corresponding player positions 7 are shown and give the Dealer 22 a highly effective overview of the different participants, so that he can see and know at any time who is sitting at which seat 7. If the poker table 1 is as in Figur 2 also shown via a second IP video camera 26 above the Dealer 22, all participating players can see this perspective at any time and see exactly how the Dealer 22, who plays at which position 7.

[0022] The Figur 3 shows the same poker table 1 as in Figur 2 shown, only that this one stands on higher table legs 29 and is supported by a Dealer 22 can be operated standing up. It is clear that such a poker table 1 can also be equipped with height-adjustable table legs 29, so that it can be used by different people working on it. Dealer 22 can be adjusted to an ideal height for sitting or standing, depending on your preference. This adjustment can be done manually or electrically, as is often the case with such height-adjustable office desks.

[0023] In Figur 4 This real poker table 1 is shown overturned by 180° in a view from below, as if it were lying with its tabletop on the floor. In this perspective view of the overturned table, the three table legs 29 can be seen. The outer, arched edge area 41 of the table is transparent, in that the tabletop there is made of a glass or Plexiglas plate 42. Because the dealer places the player poker cards 11 with their playing side facing down on the glass or Plexiglas plate 42 from above, this playing side can be seen from below, as shown here. Separation walls 43 are arranged between all pairs of player poker cards 11, which extend slightly downwards from the bottom of the glass and Plexiglas plate 42 and are indicated here by dashed lines so that you can see what lies behind them.Furthermore, IP cameras 44 are arranged below the tabletop on mounts (not shown), so that when the table is in its normal position, they view the playing sides of the player poker cards 11 from below or diagonally from below. When the table is in its normal position, the separation walls 43 extend downwards so far that an IP camera 44, positioned between two separation walls 43 and looking at the assigned player poker cards 11, only captures these two assigned player poker cards 11 with its lens. For each compartment 10 of each player seat 7, there is a separate IP camera 44 assigned to this compartment 10, which then transmits its recording via a computer and the internet solely to the player assigned to this player seat 7. Thus, each player sees only his or her own player poker cards, never others.

[0024] The Figur 5 shows a partial section through the edge area of ​​the tabletop of the poker table, which is now standing on its legs again, here with IP cameras 44 directed obliquely from below onto the players' poker cards 11. These cameras are located here, as with a single IP camera 44 shown, on a holder 45 each, which is mounted at the bottom of the tabletop. This IP camera 44 looks at the two player poker cards 11, which are placed in the first visible compartment 10 with the playing side facing down, with the angle indicated by dash-dot lines. To the left and right of this pair of cards, the separation walls 43 are visible, as are arranged in the same way next to all pairs of cards. These separation walls 43 are shown here with dashed lines to allow a view behind them. On the outside edge of the tabletop, a peripheral wall 48 extends slightly downwards, beyond the glass or Plexiglas plate 42.Extending along the bottom of this peripheral wall is a curved strip 46, on which an LED 47 is arranged on its top side for each compartment. This ensures that each compartment separated by two separation walls 43 is illuminated from below, i.e., the light falls upwards onto the underside of the glass or Plexiglas plate 42 and onto the player poker cards 11 placed on it, playing side down. The IP camera 44 is mounted here on the bracket 45 and views the pair of player poker cards 11 assigned to it. The recording is transmitted via the game computer and the Internet to the poker player assigned to this player seat, wherever they are. They are the only ones who have access to their two player poker cards 11.

[0025] The Figur 6 shows the same view, but here with an IP camera 44 positioned on a holder 45 so that it looks orthogonally at the pair of player poker cards 11 that have been placed by the dealer face down on the glass or plexiglass plate 42.

[0026] In Figur 7 An alternative bar 46 is shown, which not only carries the LEDs for each pair of player cards, but also carries an IP camera 44 on a pre-installed area for each pair of player cards, which looks diagonally upwards from the bottom to the underside of the transparent table top and thus onto the playing side of the player poker cards lying thereon.

[0027] The Figur 8 shows a poker table 1 in rectangular design. Within the rectangular shape, the arched or fan-shaped part of this poker table forms the actual gaming table, while the two free corners 54 opposite the Dealer 22 provide space for a flat screen 50 each, on which the images of the players captured by the IP cameras at the individual players are displayed in a row, as they occupy their seats along the curved edge of the gaming table. With this display, the Dealer 22 always have an overview of the participating players and their identity.

[0028] As the Figur 9 As shown, the table does not have to be made of a wooden or plastic plate, but can also be made of a continuous glass or Plexiglas plate. Films are then glued to this, for example textile or velvet films, in order to functionally mark certain areas 52, namely the playing area 14, the area for the community cards 12, and the pot area 16. The outer edge area 51 remains transparent, as a glass surface or Plexiglas surface, onto which the player poker cards 11 can be placed with their playing side facing down and which are then recorded from below with the assigned IP camera. For this purpose, the IP cameras can also have only very specific, restricted fields of view 53, which can be achieved with appropriate lenses or software. In this case, no downward-projecting partitions between the individual player seats are necessary.Outside the dashed line, above the area 51, which remains transparent here, is the storage area for the chips, which is not shown here.

[0029] The Figur 10 shows a variant of the poker table 1, seen from above, which has a recess 55 on the side of the dealer's seat. This allows the dealer 22 to move closer to the player seats 7 on the far edge of the poker table 1 and can more easily grasp the player poker cards 11 and the chips 9 on the edge area there. For the container 24 for the reserve chips and cards in front of the stomach of the dealer 22, the poker table 1 can have a drawer 56, which can be pulled out from under the poker table 1 as needed to remove chips or cards from the dealer 22, and then pushed back under the poker table 1, after which the dealer 22 can roll back up close to the recess 55. For this purpose, he sits advantageously on a comfortable office chair with side armrests and casters.

[0030] In Figur 11 The structure of the entire system for playing poker via the Internet is shown. This includes a poker table 1, as already presented above, and also includes a computer / CPU 31, to which the IP video cameras 2, 26, 44 are connected. The connections 32 are indicated here by cables. However, it is clear that these connections can also be implemented wirelessly in the usual way. The computer or CPU 31 is connected to the Internet 33 via an Internet connection, again via cable 34 or wirelessly via a WLAN. Thus, all signals and images recorded by the IP video cameras 2, 26, 44 and their microphones are available worldwide to those authorized via software, wherever an Internet connection and a computer for receiving and displaying the images and playing the acoustic signals are available. Further down in the Figur 10 the various computers 35 of the players are shown with their displays 36 and their keyboards 37. Interactive input fields on the displays 36 are used when an iPad or possibly even a smartphone is used instead of a PC or laptop. A single poker player who takes part in the poker game sits at each such device. There are usually up to ten computers 35, with which up to ten players can take part in the poker game, whereby these players can be located all over the globe. While one participating player is sitting in Europe, for example in Switzerland, and it is 4:00 p.m. Central European Time there, for another player in North America, for example in New York, it is only 11:00 a.m., or in the western USA, for example in San Francisco, it is only 8:00 a.m., or for a person in Asia, for example in Tokyo, it is already midnight.

[0031] The Figur 12 shows a single poker player 25 at home at table 38, connected to the system via a laptop 4, which is usually equipped with a camera and a microphone. If this is not the case, this participating player 25 requires an additional webcam 40, which can record images and sounds and send them via the laptop connection and the Internet. Furthermore, the player 25 requires a special application in the form of software on his computer 4, which ensures the exchange with the computer 31 at the poker table 1 and displays the action on the poker table 1 in the application-typical form. Using his keyboard and the computer mouse belonging to the computer 4, he can choose between different views, for example the field of view of the IP video camera 2 compared to the Dealer 22, or the field of view of the IP video camera 26 behind and above the Dealers 22. He can also choose a setting in which both images are displayed split on his screen. Finally, he can display the faces or chest images of all other players individually. This allows him to communicate with the other player via the Internet in picture and sound. Dealer 22 and all other players 25 in real time and can play at poker table 1 as if he were physically present. Only his player poker cards and Chips from the Dealer placed and moved, according to his verbal instructions. All participating players are equally fully integrated into the game and can live as if they were sitting in person at poker table 1. Everyone sees everyone, and everyone hears everyone. Seamless monitoring by all participants virtually eliminates any tricks, as everything is largely transparent for everyone. After all, everything that happens at the poker table is 100% transparent and can be followed by everyone involved.

[0032] The Figur 13 shows ten different, geographically separated poker players, all connected via the system presented, playing poker. Each is sitting in a different location, at home or elsewhere, possibly in different countries or even different continents, and each is using their own device. This can be a PC, a laptop, a tablet computer, or even a smartphone. It must simply be ensured that the player's face is recorded online by a webcam and sent via an internet connection to the system's computer 31. The players must be able to communicate in a common language, because the players give instructions to the Dealer, which is important for all players involved and of course also for the Dealer must be understandable, and vice versa. To ensure the necessary order in the game, the Dealer the supremacy and directs the communication so that everyone does not talk at the same time, just like in the usual poker game when all players are physically present at a physical table.

[0033] The Figur 14 shows a possible display design on the computer screens of the poker players involved. Different displays and designs can be selected by the individual players, depending on their preferences, and they can also switch between different displays during the game. For example, at least the first name or full name can be displayed for each player's image, which the player enters himself via the software before the game begins. On the left half of this computer screen, poker table 1 can be seen in an orthogonal view from above, recorded by another IP video camera located directly above the table. The entire game is clearly visible in the image, and the playing cards are clearly identifiable. Below this, an image of poker table 1 is displayed as seen by the players, looking towards the Dealer, and finally at the very bottom a picture from behind the Dealer from the player's perspective, recorded by an IP video camera installed further behind and above him. On the right-hand side of the screen, the ten players are shown in grid-like rectangles, each with their face shown, with at least the first name of each player being interactively entered by the player or the Dealer can be written into these fields using the game software. This allows a player to remain largely anonymous. If all players agree, more personal information can be provided so that identities can be verified. Below the player pictures are the two player poker cards 11, which are located at that specific player's seat and which only that player can see. And below them are the five community cards 13 dealt by the dealer. This allows each player to compare their two player poker cards 11 with the community cards 13 for the game round.

[0034] The Figur 15 shows a representation with the poker table 1 on the left as seen by the players 25 in the conventional normal case, that is, with a view to the Dealer 22, and to the right of it are the pictures of the individual players 25. Similarly, poker table 1 could also be shown in the center of the image, with a row of player pictures of the 25 players sitting at the corresponding side of the table or belonging to the player seats there on the left and right. In this example, the player poker cards 11 are shown to the left of dealer 22, and the community cards 13 for the game round are shown to the right of dealer 22, allowing for easy comparison.

[0035] The Figur 16 shows the image seen by an IP video camera mounted above poker table 1 and looking orthogonally at poker table 1. The faces of all players are arranged around poker table 1, in the order of their player seats 7 at poker table 1. At the very bottom of the image are the two player poker cards 11 of this specific poker player, who sees this image and which the IP camera 44 assigned to his player seat 7 records, and which only he can see on his screen. Every other poker player sees the same image except for these two player poker cards 11. Above the player poker cards 11, the community cards 13 of the respective game round are also displayed here to facilitate comparison.

[0036] Finally, the Figur 17 Another way to represent the game is to present the players 25 seeing the poker table 1 from their side and the pictures of the individual players 25 assigned to their player seats 7 are shown arranged around the poker table 1. This representation is probably the one that comes closest to reality, because here the Dealer 22 sits opposite players 25 as if in reality, and the players 25 can see him or her face. Each player 25 sees himself or herself in one of the facial or chest images shown here around the arc of poker table 1. Below the image, the community cards 13 of the game round are displayed in a row, recorded orthogonally from above by an IP camera. Below this, the two player poker cards 11 of a specific player 25 are shown, recorded by the IP camera 44 assigned to his or her player seat 7, and which only he or she can see on his or her screen. Every other poker player sees the same image except for these two player poker cards.

[0037] This system allows for a very realistic poker game. The individual player is transparently integrated into the group for everyone else, as is the Dealer, Everyone can see everyone else and the entire poker table 1 at any time, and can track and review all activities in real time. This system is also easy to transport. For transport purposes, the poker table 1 can have table legs 29 that can be disassembled and reassembled using a quick-release fastener. It can be folded along its central axis around a folding hinge to half its surface and can then be transported in a car.

[0038] This system also allows a poker game to be played virtually independently of time and place in a very realistic way. Dealer can offer a poker game from anywhere, wherever its physical poker table 1 is located, tailored to selected time slots on different continents. If the Central European Dealer is a "morning person" and likes to get up very early, he can offer a game at 4:00 a.m. for players on the west coast of North America, for whom the clock then shows 8:00 p.m., and so the Dealer may play a few hours into his morning, while players in the US play into their evening hours. Conversely, the Dealer Offer a game starting at 1:00 PM for people in Japan, where it's then 8:00 PM, etc. As already mentioned, people from anywhere can, of course, sign up to play at any time, and depending on where they are, it will be morning, afternoon, evening, or even night. It should also be mentioned here that the same system and the same poker table can also be used for other games, such as Blackjack or Baccarat.

[0039] Of course, money transfer is also important for practical processing. Several options are available, including fully automated payment transfers, which can be carried out by the players and the Dealer In a simple variant, players can pay a certain bonus amount to the casino offering the game before a game, for which the Dealer This amount will be credited to a separate account for a specific game, to which the Dealer has insight and access at any time. This allows the Dealer Chips and immediately debit the corresponding prices from the participating players’ accounts. Conversely, the Dealer In the event of profits / losses, the corresponding amounts are credited or debited to the respective accounts. Dealer at poker table 1 via a keyboard to the CPU 31 of the system, on which the accounting software is set up. The software can be configured so that each player has full real-time insight into the account movements on his own account, but no insight into the accounts of other players. Dealer However, he can see all accounts on his computer screen at any time. So if a player has a number Chips wants to buy, he gives this to the Dealer upon his request by telephone and the Dealer then sets the corresponding Chips onto the corresponding player's 25 slot 8 and debits their account with the corresponding amount. The player can follow the transaction in real time and, should an error occur, can immediately intervene and object by phone. The same procedure occurs after each game result. Before the game begins, all players 25 are charged their stakes, and after the game, the winnings are credited to the winners. Optionally, the dealer 22 or the casino reserves the right to retain a portion of the stake directly. To win at poker, it is not enough to simply defeat your opponents. You must also win a sum that is higher than your contribution to the game provider or casino. This contribution is called Rake. Usually a percentage of the Pots by the game provider during "each hand of the Dealers", That is, for each of his paid actions, but it can also be taken every half hour or as a participation fee for a tournament. In games in which the Rake as a percentage of Pot taken, the pot winners pay in a clearly visible way, because if there were no Rake, For example, the winners would receive $60 instead of just $57. But it is not always so obvious, especially when you think about the consequences that the Rake on their own game. The amount of Rakes, The amount the casino takes from a player based on his actions is not easy to determine.

[0040] It is clear that this system offers unimagined and previously unknown possibilities for operating an online casino. It can be used to conduct a competition with monetary stakes. Players can meet at the same time, but be physically located in completely different locations, with completely different times of day and night. The game is possible internationally and even across continents, just as if the different players were sitting together at the same table. The use of the system offers the possibility of its commercial exploitation by offering the international community a gaming opportunity, regardless of where the interested parties are located, as long as they have an internet connection with a camera.Many such games can also be played in parallel or at different times, requiring a separate system for each game that overlaps with another game. With a sufficient number of systems, it is conceivable that hundreds, even thousands, of poker games could take place simultaneously internationally. Index

[0041] 1Poker table 2IP video camera 3Computer to poker table 1 4Player's laptop ( Fig. 11 ) 5Baseline of the poker table 1 6Semicircular edge or fan edge or bow edge of the poker table 7Player seats 8Storage area for Chips 9 Chips 10Sliding compartments 11Player poker cards or hand cards 12Delimited area for community cards 13 community cards, Gemeinschaftskarten or table cards 14Playing area 15Bisecting line of the poker table 16Pot area 17Quarter-circle arc 18Third camera orthogonal above the poker table 19Straight sections of the player seats 7 20Displays around the poker table to present all players 21Top of poker table 22 Dealer 23 Dealer Button 24Container for Chips 25Poker players 26IP video camera behind Dealer 27Tripod for IP video camera 26 28Chair for Dealer29Table legs 30Display at poker table 1 31CPU of the system 32Connection between IP video cameras and CPU 33Internet 34Connection between CPU and Internet 35Player computer 36Display / screen 37Keyboard 38Poker player's table 39Stack of unused poker cards 40Webcam at player's 41Transparent area outside the poker table 42Glass or Plexiglas plate for outer transparent area 41 43Separation walls 44IP cameras at the bottom of the poker table 45Raised edge area at the poker table for storing chips 46Ledge below the outer edge of the poker table 47LED on the ledge 46 48Outer peripheral wall outside of poker table 1 49Burn cards 50Displays on poker table, for dealer 51Area of ​​the glass table that remains transparent 52with Areas of the glass table covered by foil 53 Detection range of the IP cameras for the players' poker cards 54 Free corners of the rectangular poker table 55 Recess on the dealer side of the poker table

Claims

1. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet, having a real poker table (1) for a dealer and up to ten player seats (7) on its periphery, the edge region (41) of the poker table (1) being transparent, for depositing the player poker cards (11) on this transparent edge region (41) with the playing side facing downwards, and having a raised edge region (45) above this edge region (41) for depositing chips (9), further with at least one IP camera (2, 18, 26) directed from above onto the poker table (1) for real-time recording and real-time Internet transmission of the entire game events, and with an IP camera (44) assigned to each player's seat (7) below the poker table (1) for recording only the player poker cards (11) placed on the transparent edge area (41) at this player's seat (7), and with a computer (3) belonging to the poker table (1), which is connected to all IP cameras (2, 18, 26; 44) and to the Internet and on which a poker game software is installed which communicates with an associated poker game software application on each player computer (4), whereby all areas of the poker table (1) can be reached by the dealer (22) from his seat at the poker table (1) with one hand for grabbing chips (9) and player poker cards (11), as well as decentralised player computers (4) available at the individual players with an Internet connection and the associated application software for establishing and operating a video / sound connection between the computer (3) belonging to the poker table (1) and all participating computers (4) of the players (25).

2. System for playing poker by decentralised players (25) via the Internet (33) according to claim 1, characterised in that the real poker table (1) is essentially semicircular or fan-shaped, with a base line (5), and offers up to ten player places (7) distributed along the semicircular edge (6), in that the transparent area is a glass or Plexiglas plate (42), each player seat (7) having, above the transparent area, a storage surface (8) for depositing chips (9) and a slide-in compartment (10) for at least partially sliding two adjacent player poker cards (11) onto the transparent edge area (41), and within the poker table (1), adjoining the centre of the base line (5), a delimited area (12) for the community cards (13) extending into the semicircular area for laying flops, turns and rivers, wherein a playing area (14) is formed outside this area (12) as far as the player seats (7), and wherein a pot area (16) for laying chips (9) is formed on the bisector (15) of the semicircle.

3. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the real poker table (1) is substantially semi-circular or fan-shaped around a base line (5), in that it is formed from two approximately full, adjoining quarter-circle arcs (17), so that it forms the shape of a ship's bow, with a tip (18) with an included obtuse angle of 130° to 150°, and on both sides adjoining this tip (18) five player places (7) each with straight or curved sections (19) are formed along the arc (17), and in that the poker table (1) either forms a straight base line (5) or else a curved indentation (55) for moving the dealer (22) closer to the opposite edge region of the poker table (1).

4. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to claim 2, characterised in that the real poker table (1) has a base line (5) of at most 130 cm, and the radius of the essentially semicircular edge (6) measures at most 90 cm.

5. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to claim 2, characterised in that the real poker table (1) has a base line (5) of 110 cm to 120 cm, and the radius of the essentially semi-circular edge (6) measures between 60 cm and 80 cm.

6. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to claim 2, characterised in that the areas of player seats (7), the area (12) for the community cards (13), the playing area (14) and the pot area (16) are designed in different colours.

7. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the directional IP camera (2, 18, 26) can be supplied with power via the LAN cable, that is to say is a Power over Ethernet camera (POE camera) and its cable is installed above the poker table (1) by means of a holder which can be fastened to the poker table (1) or next to it, for optical coverage of the entire poker table (1).

8. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the poker table (1) is equipped, in addition to the table surface, with a keyboard with mouse, which can be operated from the dealer's seat, as well as an associated display, with which the dealer (22) can make inputs to the computer (3), for managing the player accounts which can be accessed by the associated game software on the computer (3), for crediting and debiting individual player accounts with amounts depending on the course of the game.

9. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to claim 7, characterised in that a second IP camera POE (26) is installed behind and above the dealer's seat, for imaging the poker table (1) from at least the baseline (5).

10. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a third IP camera (18) is installed above the poker table (1) for orthogonal imaging of the poker table (1).

11. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the computer (3) is equipped with the CPU and the player computers (4) are equipped with software which enables the poker table (1) to be displayed at least from the player side, and the faces of all participating players (25) to be displayed.

12. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the computer (3) and the player computers (4) are equipped with software which enables the poker table (1) to be displayed at least from the player side, wherein the faces of all participating players (25) can be displayed optically assigned to their player positions at the poker table (1).

13. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the poker table (1) has table legs (29) which can be dismantled and reassembled by means of a quick-release fastener for transport purposes and is equipped with a folding hinge along its central axis, so that it can be folded to half its surface and can be transported in a car.

14. System for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to claim 2, characterised in that the poker table (1) is made of a glass or Plexiglas plate, wherein the playing surface (14) with pot area (16) and the area (12) for the community cards (13) are coated with different colours or are each coated with separate foils in the form of textile or velvet foils, and in that the individual player positions (7) are separated from one another below the poker table (1) by partitions extending downwards from the table top, so that the IP camera (44) assigned to the player positions (7) only sees the poker cards (11) placed on the transparent edge area (41) in the corresponding player position (7).

15. Use of a system for playing poker by decentralised players via the Internet according to one of the preceding claims for the purpose of conducting a commercial prize game with stakes of monetary value.