Abstract:
A gaming apparatus comprising a number of mobile gaming devices and gaming means to provide wagering games to players using the mobile gaming devices. The apparatus comprises at least one credit entering device for entering credit in association with the respective mobile devices, wherein the credit entering device has means for detecting the identity of a mobile device presented to it for crediting and means for receiving a credit amount to be associated with the presented mobile gaming device, and wherein the gaming means includes a memory for storing a respective credit amount in association with identifying data of each respective mobile gaming device.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to provisional application 61/756,263, filed Jan. 24, 2013, titled “Mobile Gaming System,” and is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to gaming apparatus. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The present gaming apparatus has been devised in order to address the problems of how to provide additional functionality to mobile gaming systems and how to incorporate a mobile gaming device into a group gaming environment and enable ongoing games to be continued without interruption. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The apparatus described herein is a flexible apparatus having dual functionality that enables playing of wagering games in both an environment where multiple players play a wagering game together and playing of wagering games at locations remote from that environment. The wagering game may be any casino game, such as roulette or a card game such as poker, blackjack, etc. 
         [0005]    In a first playing mode, one or more players are seated round a gaming table and each player has a mobile gaming device docked to a docking station at the table. The table may have any convenient number of docking stations, but six or eight docking stations may be preferred. The table has a central display representing the game. The display may be a graphic depicting the wagering fields of a roulette table, and may show images of chips on the wagering fields, corresponding to bets placed by the players. Players seated round the table may place bets by entering wagering commands on their mobile gaming devices, and winnings are paid out by crediting the mobile gaming devices after each wheel spin (in the case of roulette) or hand of cards. 
         [0006]    In a second playing mode, a player may release his mobile gaming device from the docking station at the table, and take it to another location, such as to a poolside or other seating area, or to a restaurant. The player may continue to participate in the game from this remote location, placing wagers using his mobile gaming device and observing the outcome of game events such as wheel spins or hands of cards on the display of the mobile gaming device. 
         [0007]    In a first aspect, the invention relates to gaming apparatus having a gaming table and a plurality of mobile computer devices for playing wagering games taking place at the table, said apparatus being operable to detect the presence of the mobile devices at the table and to display at the table wagers placed by said detected mobile devices and being operable to permit the placing of wagers by said mobile devices when remote from said table. 
         [0008]    In a second aspect, the invention relates to gaming apparatus comprising a plurality of mobile devices and gaming means for performing wagering game operations utilising wagers entered by means of said mobile devices, said apparatus further including at least one credit entering device for entering credit in association with respective different ones of said mobile devices, said credit entering device having means for detecting the identity of a said mobile device presented thereto, and for receiving a credit amount associated with said detected mobile device, said apparatus being operable to store said credit amount in association with the identity of the associated mobile device and to permit said wagering game operations by said mobile device utilising said stored credit. 
         [0009]    In a third aspect, the invention relates to gaming apparatus comprising: 
         [0010]    a plurality of mobile computer devices each having identification means uniquely identifying the device, a user interface for entering wagering data defining wagers for playing wagering games on the device, a credit store, and wireless telecommunication means for transmitting data to and receiving data from a wireless telecommunications network; 
         [0011]    a gaming table for performing wagering events upon which wagers may be placed and having a plurality of player stations each being adapted to receive a respective one of said mobile devices and having means for detecting the identity thereof utilising said identification means; 
         [0012]    display means for displaying at said table wagers placed on said wagering events; 
         [0013]    server means having 
         [0014]    (a) means for storing data defining said wagering events performed at said gaming table, 
         [0015]    (b) means for storing, in association with the identity of each respective different one of said mobile computer devices, wagering data defining wagers on said wagering events placed by means of the associated mobile computer device and a credit value defining credit available for the playing of wagering games utilising said associated mobile computer device, 
         [0016]    (c) means for adjusting said credit value to a current credit value to take account of winning and losing wagers, placed utilising said associated mobile computer device, upon wagering events performed at said gaming table; and 
         [0017]    wherein said apparatus is operable: 
         [0018]    (i) to transmit, to each said respective mobile devices via said wireless telecommunications network, said data defining wagering events and the current credit value associated with the respective mobile device, for display on said user interface; 
         [0019]    (ii) to transmit, from each said mobile computer device to said server, said wagering data entered by said user interface, and 
         [0020]    (iii) to display on said display means the wagering data transmitted to said server from said mobile computer devices detected by said detecting means. 
         [0021]    The invention also relates to a mobile apparatus or device adapted or configured for use in the gaming apparatus as described above. The mobile apparatus or device may be a portable laptop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone or the like. 
         [0022]    The invention also relates to a gaming table for use in the gaming apparatus as described above. 
         [0023]    The invention also relates to a self-service credit entering means for use in the gaming apparatus as described above. 
         [0024]    The invention will now be described by way of example only and without limitation by reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a gaming system in accordance with the invention; 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic perspective view of a self-service top-up kiosk, included in the system shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a diagram of a tablet gaming device included in the system of  FIG. 1 , and shows a typical display that a user sees during a game of roulette; 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of a roulette table included in the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing some components of a server included in the system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  showing a table layout for playing the dice game “Sic Bo”; and 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 4 , showing a table layout for playing the card game Baccarat. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0032]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the Figures. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a gaming system in accordance with the invention. The system comprises a server  10  which communicates over secure telecommunications network  20  with a number of static devices in a casino. These static devices include roulette tables  60 , baccarat table  70 , craps table  80 , a cash station  90  for enabling players to purchase credit for playing games with the assistance of a cashier, and a number of self-service top-up kiosks  40  for enabling players to purchase credit without the assistance of the cashier. 
         [0034]    The system also includes a number of mobile gaming devices in the form of tablet computers  50  which are operable as terminals by means of which players may play gambling games. For this purpose, the tablet computers  50  include means for recording credit, obtained by means of the station  90  and/or the kiosks  40 . 
         [0035]    Each tablet computer  50  has assigned to it a unique identification code, which will be referred to as IDT1, IDT2 etc in the following description. In the described embodiment, the identification code is embodied in the form of an RFID tag which can be interrogated by an RFID reader to recover the unique identification code of the tablet computer  50 . 
         [0036]    The double headed arrow A in  FIG. 1  denotes that the tablet computer  50  having the identification code IDT1 may be removably docked with a gaming table such as for example one of the roulette tables  60 , the baccarat table  70 , the craps table  80  or with another gaming table not shown in the Figure. 
         [0037]    The tablet computers  50  incorporate conventional wireless data transmitters and receivers for transmitting and receiving data to and from a conventional Wi-Fi network  30 , which is separate from the secure network  20 . The server  10  is also provided with, or connected to, a conventional wireless data transmitter and receiver so that the server  10  and the tablet computers  50  can communicate with each other over the wireless network  30  independently of the secure network  20 . 
         [0038]    As will be described more fully below, the system is such that players can play games, particularly wagering games such as roulette, baccarat or craps, using the tablet computers whilst sitting at the gaming table but can also take their tablet computers away from the gaming table and continue to play the game carried on at the same table but in locations remote from the table, particularly locations in other parts of the casino premises. 
         [0039]    If the credit on the player&#39;s tablet computer runs low, the player may top up the credit on the tablet using one of the self-service top-up kiosks  40  located around the casino, rather than returning to the cash station  90  for topping up by the cashier. The double headed arrow B in  FIG. 1  denotes that the tablet  50  may be removably docked with one of the top-up kiosks  40  or with the cash station  90 . 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , this shows a perspective view of a self-service top-up kiosk  40  for crediting funds to a mobile gaming device such as tablet computer  50 . The tablet computer  50  is denoted as being removably dockable to the kiosk by double headed arrow B. 
         [0041]    The self-service top-up kiosk  40  has a unique identification  41  encoded in software in a file in the kiosk&#39;s processor (not shown) which enables the kiosk to be identified to the server  10 . The kiosk has a docking station  42  which, in this example, is a sloping platen formed in a recess  44  in the front face of the kiosk. The tablet computer  50  is docked to the kiosk  40  by placing the tablet computer  50  on the platen of the docking station  42 . The docking station has an RFID reader  43  for reading the RFID tags of mobile gaming devices that are docked with the kiosk. Below the recess  44 , the front face of the kiosk has a bill acceptor slot  45  for receiving bills or banknotes paid in by a user, a coin acceptor slot  46  for receiving coins paid in by a user, and a returned coin hatch  47  where bent or damaged coins are returned if they cannot be accepted in payment. In addition to the bill and coin accept orders, the kiosk may be provided with a credit card reader (not shown) for accepting payment by credit card. 
         [0042]    In the Figure, the docking station  42  is shown as being of a size compatible with receipt of the tablet computer  50 . In practice, the docking station may be configured to accept a variety of mobile gaming devices, including tablets of various sizes and aspect ratios, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones or the like. In these circumstances, the platen of the docking station  42  may be provided with indicia to show the user how to orient each type and model of mobile gaming device when placing it in the docking station  42  so as to be certain that the RFID reader  43  is able to read the RFID tag  51  in the user&#39;s mobile gaming device. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , this illustrates a tablet computer  50 , shown in this Figure with a display that is typical of the type that a user sees during a game of roulette. 
         [0044]    Tablet computer  50  has a unique identifier IDT1 recoverable from RFID tag  51  which enables it to be identified. Any message sent by the tablet computer  50  to the server  10 , or to any other component of the gaming system will include the unique identifier IDT1 to enable the message recipient to identify the originator of the message. Tablet computer  50  further includes a touchscreen  52 . In the Figure, the touchscreen is showing a user interface  53  for a live roulette game. A betting area graphic  54  occupies most of the screen. The betting area graphic comprises a grid having a field for each of the numbers 0 to 36, fields for the first second and third dozen (1 to 12, 13 to 24, and 25 to 36), fields for the lower and upper halves (1 to 18 and 19 to 36), fields marked “2-to-1” for the first second and third columns, and fields for “even”, “odd”, “black” and “red”. As is conventional, on the grid the field for the zero is coloured green, the fields for the numbers 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 30, 32, 34 and 36 are coloured red, and the fields for the remaining numbers are coloured black. Adjacent fields are separated by lines, and the lines meet at intersections. 
         [0045]    Bets are placed using the same conventions as in the physical game of roulette. For example, if a player wishes to bet only on the number 3 then he touches the field F corresponding to the number 3. If the player wishes to bet on the numbers 9 and 12, he touches the line L which separates the fields corresponding to the numbers 9 and 12. If the player wishes to bet on the numbers 14, 15, 17 and 18, he touches the intersection I where the four fields numbered 14, 15, 17 and 18 meet. 
         [0046]    To the right of the betting area graphic  54  is a result graphic  55  which, in this view, shows that the roulette ball  59  has come to rest in the pocket corresponding to number 19. To the bottom left of the betting area graphic  54  is a row of wager amount icons  56 . To select a wager amount before placing a bet, the user touches one of the icons which then becomes lit whilst the other icons in the row remain greyed out to differentiate them from the selected wager amount icon. When the user wishes to change his wager amount, he touches another of the icons which then becomes lit to indicate the new selected wager amount. The previously selected wager amount icon becomes greyed out. Beneath the result graphic  55  is a chip colour indicator icon  58 , the purpose of which will be explained below. When an amount to be wagered has been selected, the player places the bet by touching the appropriate field, line between two fields, or intersection of two lines on the touchscreen. 
         [0047]    In a physical roulette game, played with wagering chips, the chips usually have no value denomination marked on them. Instead, the game is played with different coloured chips and a respective colour of chip is assigned to each individual player at the table. When the player buys-in, he is assigned his own colour of chip, and the value of an individual chip is determined by dividing his buy-in amount by the number of chips that he receives. For example, if a player buys 100 chips for £500, each of his chips is worth £5. If, however, the player buys 10 chips for £500, then each of his chips is worth £50. The croupier records the value amount of a particular player&#39;s chips. One of the consequences of this scheme is that the number of players at the table cannot exceed the number of different colours of chips available at the table. For example, if there are only six colours of chips available, then only six players can play at the table. 
         [0048]    When a player is playing a roulette game on tablet computer  50  in an area away from the roulette table, the betting area graphic  54  on his tablet computer  50  may show his own bets in a colour of his choice, or in a colour corresponding to his wager amount. The betting area graphic  54  may also show bets placed by other players either at the table or playing in the game via their respective tablet computers  50  from other locations. The bets placed by players seated at the table may be shown on his tablet computer  50  in the colours allocated to those players at the table, and the bets placed by players who are playing from remote locations may be shown on his tablet computer  50  in another colour, different from the table players&#39; colours and different from the colour used for bets placed by the player himself. 
         [0049]    However, if the player is playing a roulette game at the roulette table with his tablet computer  50 .to one of the docking stations  65  of the table, his bets will be displayed as chips on the communal betting field (to be described below in relation to  FIG. 4 ) of the roulette table. Therefore, his bets have to be assigned a particular chip colour for the purposes of the communal display. The colour assigned to his chips in these circumstances is displayed on the tablet computer  50  by the chip colour indicator icon  58  and may be determined by the docking station  65  at which the player is seated. Each docking station  65  may have its own dedicated colour. Alternatively, the player may be given a choice of colours to select from, software in the table computer ensuring that no two players at the table may select the same colour. 
         [0050]    Above the betting area graphic  54  there is a balance display  57  that indicates to the user how much available credit he has remaining on the tablet computer  50 . This area of the screen may also include a bet total display which tells the user how much he has wagered on the current spin, a win total display which tells the user how much was won on the previous spin, and a received total display which tells the user the actual amount that was received, taking into consideration what the user staked on the winning combination. 
         [0051]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , this shows a plan view of a roulette table  60 . The table has a unique identification IDR1 encoded in software in a file  61  in the table&#39;s processor (not shown). Any message sent from the table&#39;s processor to the server  10  will include the unique identification IDR1, which enables the table to be identified by the server  10 . Likewise, messages intended for the tables processor will be addressed using the unique identification IDR1. Roulette wheel  62  may be a manually operated wheel or an automatic wheel. The result of each spin may be communicated to the table&#39;s processor by an input device operated by the croupier, or may be automatically detected by a result detector  63  which in turn sends a signal communicating the result of the spin to the table&#39;s processor. To the right of the roulette wheel  62  is a betting display area  64  which takes the place of the normal betting felt. The markings on the betting display area  64  are the same as those that would be provided on a normal betting felt. As the players make their wagers, the betting display area  64  may show the appropriately coloured chips placed at the appropriate locations on the betting grid to correspond to the wager amounts and selections made by each player. 
         [0052]    Along each long side of the roulette table are three docking stations  65  (making a total of six docking stations around the table) for receiving mobile gaming devices such as tablet computers  50  for communal game play around the table. 
         [0053]    Each docking station  65  has a unique docking station identification encoded in software in a file  66  in the docking station&#39;s processor (not shown) which enables each docking station to be identified to the server  10 . Each docking station  65  also has an RFID reader  67  for reading the RFID tags of mobile gaming devices that are docked with it. Similarly to the docking station  42  of self-service top-up kiosk  40  described above, the docking stations  65  of the roulette table  60  may be configured to accept a variety of mobile gaming devices, including tablets of various sizes, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smart phones or the like. The docking stations  65  may be provided with indicia to show the user how to orient his mobile gaming device when placing it in the docking station so as to be certain that the docking station&#39;s RFID reader  67  can read the RFID tag in the user&#39;s mobile gaming device. 
         [0054]    Optionally, the docking stations  65  may include means (not shown) for recharging the battery of a docked mobile gaming device. 
         [0055]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , this is a block diagram showing some components of the server  10 . The server  10  has a mobile gaming device credit list  11  which is a table storing the credit assigned to the account of each mobile gaming device  50  uniquely identified in the table as IDT1, IDT2, IDT3, IDTX recognised by the system. The server  10  also has a game select list  12  accessible to the user through his mobile gaming device for selecting a game that he wishes to play. 
         [0056]    System Component Functions 
         [0057]    The server  10  stores the unique identities (IDT1, IDT2, etc) of each mobile gaming device operable with the mobile gaming system and the unique identities (IDR1, IDR2, IDB1 etc) of each static device, e.g., each gaming table  60 ,  70 , each docking station  65  at each gaming table and at each docking station  42  at each self-service top-up kiosk  40 . The store of unique identities is sorted into “types” so that the server can differentiate between mobile gaming devices  50 , gaming tables  60 ,  70 , docking stations  65  and also between different types of gaming tables, as well as between different types of docking stations, i.e., docking stations  65  at gaming tables, docking stations  42  at self-service top-up kiosks and docking stations at the cash station  90 . Messages sent to the server across the secure network  20  by the static devices always include the unique identification of that static device. 
         [0058]    When a credit is loaded onto a particular mobile gaming device, either at the cash station or at one of the self-service top-up kiosks, the server assigns that credit to the particular mobile gaming device in its mobile gaming device credit list  11 . 
         [0059]    A—Server and Kiosk Functions when Tablet Computer  50  is Docked with a Self-Service Top-Up Kiosk  40   
         [0000]    A1. When the tablet computer  50  is docked with the self-service top-up kiosk  40 , the RFID reader  43  of the kiosk reads the RFID tag  51  of the tablet computer and the kiosk sends a message to the server  10  over the secure network  20  indicating that the kiosk has a device having the unique identity IDT1 docked to it. The message from the kiosk includes its own unique identification (IDK1).
 
A2. The server  10  checks its store of unique identities and determines that the device having the identification IDT1 is a tablet computer and that it is docked with the device having the identification IDK1, which device is a self-service top-up kiosk.
 
A3. The server  10  sends a message to the tablet computer  50  across wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to switch to a “credit receive” mode and to show a credit balance. The touchscreen  52  of tablet computer  50  may display a prompt to the user to insert cash into the kiosk  40 .
 
A4. Banknotes or bills inserted into the kiosk  40  through its bill acceptor slot  45 , or coins inserted into its coin acceptor slot  46 , cause the kiosk  40  to send a message to the server  10  across the secure network  20  indicating to the server that it has received a cash payment, and indicating the amount received. The cash received at kiosk  40  is temporarily held in escrow.
 
A5. The server  10  notes that a kiosk  40  having the identification IDK1 has tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 docked to it.
 
A6. The server  10  sends a message back to the kiosk  40  having the identification IDK1 across secure network  20  causing the kiosk to put the cash received into its cashbox.
 
A7. When the kiosk has put the cash received into its cashbox, the kiosk sends a message including its identification IDK1 back to the server  10  across the secure network  20  confirming that it has put the cash received into its cashbox.
 
A8. The server  10  updates its mobile gaming device credit list  11  to show the new credit balance assigned to the device having the identification IDT1.
 
A9. The server  10  sends a message across the wireless network  30  to the tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 which causes the tablet computer  50  to adjust its credit balance, and to update the credit balance displayed on the tablet computer&#39;s touchscreen  52 
 
A10. When the tablet computer  50  is undocked from the kiosk  40 , the kiosk sends a message including its identification IDK1 to the server  10  across the secure network  20  indicating that the device having the identification IDT1 has been removed from the kiosk  40 .
 
A11. The server  10  then sends a message across the wireless network  30  to the tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 causing the tablet&#39;s default display to be restored in place of the “credit receive” mode display.
 
         [0060]    B—Server and Tablet Functions when Tablet Computer  50  is Docked with a Self-Service Top-Up Kiosk  40   
         [0000]    B1. When the tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 is docked with the kiosk  40  having the identification IDK1, the tablet may be running any application, such as a roulette game, a card game a dice game or an application concerned with booking restaurant or theatre tickets, etc. The mere act of docking with the kiosk does not affect the tablet computer&#39;s function.
 
B2. The tablet computer having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  causing it to a adopt a “cash receive” mode.
 
B3. The tablet computer  50  display changes to show the current credit balance and the tablet computer awaits further messages from the server  10  across the wireless network  30 . The display on the tablet computer  50  may also prompt the user to insert payment into the kiosk&#39;s receptors.
 
B4. When the tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  with details of the new credit balance, the credit balance is updated on the tablet computer&#39;s display. The tablet computer awaits further messages from the server  10  across the wireless network  30 .
 
B5. When the tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 is undocked from the kiosk  40  having the identification IDK1, the tablet computer display does not change.
 
B6. The tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer&#39;s default display to be restored in place of the “credit receive” mode display.
 
         [0061]    C—Server and Roulette Table Functions when Tablet Computer  50  is Docked with Roulette Table  60   
         [0000]    C1. The roulette table  60  having the identification IDR1 sends messages to the server  10  across the secure network  20  indicating the state of the roulette wheel  62 . Permitted states are: 
         [0062]    (a) “Place your bets” 
         [0063]    (b) “Finish betting” 
         [0064]    (c) “No more bets” 
         [0065]    (d) “Result” 
         [0000]    C2. When the tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 is docked with one of the docking stations  65  of the roulette table  60 , the RFID reader  67  of the docking station  65  reads the RFID tag  51  of the tablet computer  50 . The docking station has its own unique identification. The docking station  65  having the identification IDD1 sends a message including its identification IDD1 to the server  10  over the secure network  20  indicating to the server that it has a device having the identification IDT1 docked to it.
 
C3. The server  10  checks its store of unique identities and determines that the device having the identification IDT1 is a tablet computer and that it is docked with the device having the identification IDD1 which is a particular docking station at the roulette table having the identification IDR1.
 
C4. The server  10  sends a message across the secure network  20  to the processor of the roulette table having the identification IDR1 telling the roulette table that it has a device having the identification IDT1 docked at the roulette table&#39;s docking station  65  having the identification IDD1.
 
C5. The roulette table  60  having the identification IDR1 sends a message including its identification to the server  10  across the secure network  20  requesting the server to forward information about any bets for the current spin placed by the device having the identification IDT1 before the device became docked at docking station having the identification IDD1.
 
C6. If any bets had been placed by the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 for the current spin before it became docked at the docking station having the identification IDD1, the server  10  sends a message to the roulette table having the identification IDR1 across the secure network  20  with information about those bets and the roulette table causes the bets to be displayed on its betting display area  64 .
 
C7. The roulette table having the identification IDR1 sends a message including its identification to the server  10  across the secure network  20  requesting from the server information about any bets for the current spin made by the device having the identification IDT1 since it became docked at the docking station having the identification IDD1.
 
C8. If any bets are placed by the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 for the current spin since it became docked at the docking station having the identification IDD1, the server  10  sends the information across the secure network  20  to the roulette table having the identification IDR1, and the roulette table displays the bets on its betting display area  64 .
 
C9. The roulette table having the identification IDR1 displays on its betting display area  64  all bets for the current spin placed by the tablet having the identification IDT1. The bets are displayed on the betting display area as images of chips, whose colour corresponds to the docking station IDD1.
 
C10. For subsequent spins, the roulette table having the identification IDR1 receives messages from the server  10  across the secure network  20  about any bets placed by the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 and displays those bets on its betting display area  64 .
 
C11. When the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 is undocked from the docking station having the identification IDD1, the docking station sends a message including its identification to the server  10  across the secure network  20  telling the server that its association with the device having the identification IDT1 has ended.
 
C12. The server  10  sends a message to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 across the wireless network  30  telling the tablet computer that its association with the device having the identification IDD1 has ended.
 
C13. The server  10  sends a message to the roulette table having the identification IDR1 telling the roulette table that the association between its docking station having the identification IDD1 and the device having the identification IDT1 has ended. The message may instruct the roulette table to remove from its betting display area any bets placed by the device having the identification IDT1 for the current spin, or may instruct the roulette table to keep any bets placed by the device having the identification IDT1 but display them in its betting display area with a colour different from the colours of the chips corresponding to the docking stations of the table.
 
C14. As an alternative to the functions described above at C13, the server  10  may send a message to the roulette table having the identification IDR1 indicating that the association between docking station having the identification IDD1 and the device having the identification IDT1 has ended, but causing the roulette table to maintain on its betting display area any bets placed by the device having the identification IDT1 for the current spin. This option may be invoked if the occupancy of the docking stations  65  around the roulette table is incomplete so that there is no requirement to assign the departed player&#39;s chip colour to a new player.
 
         [0066]    D—Server and Tablet Functions when Tablet Computer  50  Docked at Roulette Table  60   
         [0000]    D1. When the tablet computer  50  having the identification IDT1 is docked with the docking station  65  having the identification IDD1 of the roulette table  60  having the identification IDR1, the tablet computer may be running any app. The mere act of docking with the docking station does not affect the tablet computer&#39;s function.
 
D2. The tablet computer having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  preparing the tablet computer to play a live roulette game.
 
D3. The display on the screen of the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 changes to show a representation of the roulette game at the roulette table having the identification IDR1 and showing the credit balance available for betting. The chip colour indicator icon  58  to the bottom right of the tablet computer&#39;s user interface  53  shows the colour that will be assigned to the user&#39;s chips when his bets are displayed on the betting display area  64  of the roulette table. The tablet computer  50  awaits further messages from the server  10  across the wireless network  30 .
 
D4. When the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  indicating that bets may be placed for a new spin of the roulette wheel  62  at the roulette table having the identification IDR1, a touch by the user of one of the wager amount icons  56  to the bottom left of the tablet user interface  53  is effective to select a wager amount for the user&#39;s bets. Further touches by the user of appropriate fields, lines or intersections of the betting area graphic  54  of the user interface  53  are effective to place bets on the outcome of the current spin.
 
D5. The tablet computer having the identification IDT1 sends messages to the server  10  across the wireless network  30  with information about the wager amounts and the selections which comprise the bets that have been placed for the current spin.
 
D6. The tablet computer having the identification IDT1 receives messages from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to display an updated credit balance in the balance graphic  57 .
 
D7. The tablet computer having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to display “Finish betting” on the user interface  53 .
 
D8. The tablet computer having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to display “No more bets” on the user interface  53 .
 
D9. The tablet computer having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to display the result of the current spin in the result graphic  55  of the user interface  53 .
 
D10. If the user of the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 has placed a winning bet, the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to display the win amount to update the credit balance displayed in the balance graphic  57 .
 
D11. When the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 is undocked from the docking station having the identification IDD1, the tablet computer receives a message from the server  10  across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to grey out the chip colour indicator icon  58  to the bottom right of the user interface  53 . Otherwise the tablet display does not change.
 
D12. The user can continue to play live roulette when his tablet computer is undocked. If the user wishes to end play or wishes to switch to another roulette table or to another type of wagering game, the user may select one of these alternatives from a menu displayed on his tablet computer. The tablet computer sends a message to the server  10  across the wireless network  30  indicating to the server  30  that a new game has been selected or that game play has ended.
 
D13. If a new game has been selected, the server  10  sends a message back to the tablet computer across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to display graphics for the newly selected game on its touchscreen  52 .
 
         [0067]    E—Server Functions During Game Play 
         [0000]    E1. At commencement of a new gaming session (e.g., when the casino opens for the day), the server  10  sends a message to the roulette table having the identification IDR1 telling the table that the table is now open. The default condition for the roulette table having the identification IDR1 is “table closed” unless it receives a message from the server  10  telling the roulette table to change from its default condition to a “table open” condition.
 
E2. If the server  10  receives a message from the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 across the wireless network  30  to place a bet on the roulette table having the identification IDR1, the server carries out certain validation steps:
       (a) the server checks that the roulette table having the identification IDR1 is open;   (b) the server checks that the roulette table having the identification IDR1 is in a state for receiving bets, i.e., in the “place bets” state or in the “finish betting” state;   (c) the server checks that the requested bet complies with the current bet thresholds set for the roulette table IDR1.
 
E3. The server  10  checks its mobile gaming device credit list  11  to determine if the credit balance assigned to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 is sufficient to cover the bet. This check may optionally be carried out before the checks set out in step E2.
 
E4. If the server  10  determines that the credit balance assigned to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 is not sufficient to cover the bet, the server sends a message to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to display the legend “Bet refused, reason: insufficient funds” on the tablet computer&#39;s user interface  53 .
 
E5. If the server  10  determines that the credit balance assigned to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 is sufficient to cover the bet, it stores the bet and adjusts the credit balance of the tablet computer accordingly in its mobile gaming device credit list  11 . The server sends a message to the tablet computer causing it to adjust the displayed credit balance to correspond with the balance now held in the gaming device credit list  11 . The server sends a message to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to display the bet on the betting area graphic  54  of the tablet computer&#39;s user interface  53 .
 
E6. If the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 is docked at one of the docking stations  65  of the roulette table having the identification IDR1, the server  10  sends a message to the roulette table having the identification IDR1 across the secure network  20  causing the roulette table to display the bet on the table&#39;s betting display area  64 , using the chip colour corresponding to the docking station  65 .
 
E7. The server  10  executes a repetitive loop of steps E2 to E6 while players keep betting until the state of the roulette table having the identification IDR1 changes to the “no more bets” condition or until the credit balance of their tablet computer is depleted to a level that cannot support further bets.
 
E8. When the server  10  receives a message from the roulette table having the identification IDR1 across the secure network  20  that the roulette table state has changed to the “no more bets” condition, the server  10  sends a message to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 across the wireless network  30  telling the tablet computer to display the legend “no more bets” on the betting area graphic  54  of the tablet computer&#39;s user interface  53 .
 
E9. The server  10  waits for a message from the roulette table having the identification IDR1 across the secure network  20  telling the server the winning number as determined by the roulette table&#39;s result detector  63 .
 
E10. The server  10  sends a message to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 across the wireless network  30  telling the tablet computer to display the result in the result graphic  55  on the tablet computer&#39;s user interface  53 .
 
E11. The server  10  determines winning bets for each mobile gaming device playing the current game.
 
E12. The server  10  sends a message to the tablet computer having the identification IDT1 across the wireless network  30  causing the tablet computer to highlight winning bets on the betting area graphic  54  of the tablet&#39;s user interface  53 .
 
E13. The server  10  credits the account of each mobile gaming device that placed a winning bet and adjusts its mobile gaming device credit list  11  accordingly.
 
E14. The server  10  sends a message across the wireless network  30  to each mobile gaming device that placed a winning bet causing the mobile gaming device to update the balance graphic of its user interface.
 
E15. The server  10  increments the game number to commence the next game. The server  10  sends a message to the roulette table having the identification IDR1 across the secure network  20  telling the roulette table to remove the bets for the game just concluded from the table&#39;s betting display area  64 . Incrementation of the game number occurs before the state of the roulette table having the identification IDR1 can be changed to the “place bets” condition.
       
 
       Additional Embodiments 
       [0071]    In the foregoing detailed description, the roulette table  60  is described as having a plurality of docking stations  65  for removably receiving mobile gaming devices such as the tablet computer system the. In a variant, the docking stations  65  may have a built-in touchscreen that can be utilised by a player positioned at the docking station who wishes to play the live game even though he does not have a mobile gaming device to dock with the docking station. In this variant, bets placed using the docking station&#39;s built-in touchscreen are communicated to the server across the secure network. However, when a mobile gaming device is docked at the docking station, the docking station&#39;s built-in touchscreen is rendered inoperative and communications between the server and the docked mobile gaming device are made over the wireless network as described previously. 
         [0072]    In another variant, the roulette table  60  with its wheel  62  may be a “master” roulette table and there may be one or more associated “slave” roulette tables that do not have their own wheels but nevertheless allow the live roulette game played at the master roulette table  60  to be followed. The slave roulette tables may be able to accommodate additional docking stations in place of the absent roulette wheel, or they may simply be shorter versions of the master roulette table  60 , truncated at the point where the wheel would have been positioned. The progress of the live game taking place on the master roulette table  60  is conveyed to the slave roulette tables by the server across the secure network  20  and the docking stations provided at the slave roulette tables communicate with the server across the secure network  20  in the same way as the docking stations of the master roulette table  60 . However, mobile gaming devices docked at the docking stations of the slave roulette tables communicate with the server  10  across the wireless network  30  in the same way as mobile gaming devices docked at the docking stations of the master roulette table  60 . 
         [0073]    In the illustrated embodiments, the crediting device for “recharging” the credit on a tablet computer  50  is a top-up kiosk. The top-up kiosk may be permanently fixed at a particular location, and may be floor-standing or may be mounted to a wall in an insulation resembling a conventional ATM machine. In alternative embodiments, it is foreseen that the crediting device may be a mobile or portable device. In one mobile embodiment of the crediting device, the top up-kiosk  40  shown in  FIG. 2  may simply be mounted on a wheeled base, so that it can be positioned at a convenient location, and optionally secured in place by applying brakes to the wheels, or by securing the kiosk to a fixed structure. 
         [0074]    The crediting device may alternatively be a hand-portable device which a member of the casino staff may bring to a player&#39;s location to enable the player&#39;s tablet computer  50  to be docked with a docking station of the portable crediting device and “recharged” with credit in a manner similar to that described in relation to crediting a tablet computer  50  using the top-up kiosk  40 . The crediting device may communicate with the server over a secure wireless network, and may have cash receptors and/or credit card receptors for the player to make payments either in specie or by using a credit card. 
         [0075]    The identification tags used in the foregoing detailed description are RFID tags. However, alternative forms of identification tag could be used, for example barcodes. In these circumstances, the identification tag readers provided at the system docking stations will be barcode readers. Increasingly, mobile communication devices are equipped with near field communication (NFC) capability, so another alternative form of tagging would be using NFC tags. In a further alternative, the mobile computing device may be provided with a Bluetooth® wireless communication capability, which requires a unique identification code. The docking station of a gaming table or of the credit top-up device may utilise the Bluetooth wireless code as an identifier for the mobile computing device. All that is required is that the mobile devices and the static devices of the gaming system be uniquely identifiable and that mobile devices, in particular, be identifiable when docked. 
         [0076]    The foregoing detailed description relates to the example of a roulette game, but it will be understood by persons skilled in the art that the underlying technology is equally applicable to other casino wagering games, for example card games such as baccarat, poker and blackjack, dice games such as craps or Sic Bo, and other games such as “Wheel of Fortune”-type games such as for example “Big Money Wheel”. 
         [0077]      FIG. 6  illustrates, in plan view, an embodiment of the invention adapted for playing the dice game “Sic Bo”. The gaming table has an overall form similar to the roulette table of  FIG. 4 , but in place of the roulette wheel  62  is a dice shaker  72  containing three dice, and in place of the roulette betting display  64  is a “Sic Bo” betting grid  74  which comprises a number of fields corresponding to the various outcomes possible when shaking three dice. The table has docking stations  65  similar to those described in relation to the roulette table  4 , with RFID detectors  67  and docking station identification encoded in software in files  66 . 
         [0078]    When a tablet computer  50  is docked to one of the docking stations  65  of the gaming table, the user interface  53  of the tablet computer  50  shows the “Sic Bo” betting grid in place of the roulette grid, and wagers are placed in the same way as has been described in relation to the roulette game, with the user selecting a wager value and then selecting a field of the “Sic Bo” betting grid on which to place the bet. Wager amounts and selections are communicated to the server in the same way as described above, and the user interface may have a panel similar to the panel  55  of  FIG. 3  to display the result of a dice roll. When all players have placed their wagers, the dice shaker  72  is operated and the result of the dice roll communicated to the result detector  63 , and winning and losing bets are resolved. 
         [0079]    Adjustment of credit balances as wagers are placed and bets won, and display of available credit, are substantially as described above in relation to the roulette game. 
         [0080]    In place of the automatic dice shaker  72 , a manual croupier may throw physical dice, and the result of each dice roll may be detected automatically and input to the result detector  63 , or may be input by the croupier via an input device (not shown). 
         [0081]      FIG. 7  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  and illustrates a further embodiment of the gaming table, adapted to the card game of Baccarat. In this embodiment, an intelligent dealing shoe  82  takes the place of roulette wheel  62 , and the betting grid is replaced with a baccarat-style grid  84  in which each player has three options and may bet on “player”, “bank” or “tie”. The user interface of the tablet computers  50  is arranged to display a number of wagering amounts from which the player can select an amount to be wagered, the three wager selections available to the player, the player&#39;s current credit balance, and a winning result. 
         [0082]    After all players have placed their wagers, cards are dealt from the shoe  82  into dealing fields  85  and  86  for the “player” and the “bank” hands, respectively. The dealing shoe communicates the values of the cards to the result detector  63 . The detector  63  may determine the winning result from the card values and the order in which they were dealt. Alternatively, the information on the order and values of the cards dealt may be forwarded to the server  10 , which then determines the winning result. As before, each player&#39;s wager may be displayed on the grid  84 . 
         [0083]    In an alternative to the use of physical playing cards and a dealing shoe, the dealing fields  85  and  86  may be display fields which can display images of cards which form the “player” and the “bank” hands to the players seated at the table. The server  10  may generate data to determine which cards are dealt to which hand, and send the data to the table for display on display fields  85  and  86 . 
         [0084]    Likewise, the physical roulette wheel  62  shown in  FIG. 4 , and the physical dice shaker  72  shown in  FIG. 6  may be replaced by a graphic video display illustrating a roulette wheel or dice shaker, controlled from the server  10  to show wheel spins or dice shakes on a random basis. 
         [0085]    The invention can also be adapted to wagering games such as blackjack or poker, where the result is influenced by player input. In these embodiments, commands are input using the tablet computer interface by the player during play to hit or draw more cards, to exchange cards, and/or to increase the wagered amount before a final result of the round of play is reached.