Dice game and gaming system

• US 20020193160A1
• Filed: 05/09/2002
• Published: 12/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Colepat, LLC
• Inventors: Tarantino, Elia Rocco
• Granted Patent: US 7,090,579 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

A variety of methods of playing games using dice or other indicia and apparatus for implementing the games are disclosed. In one embodiment, the game involves the step of accepting a wager, displaying indicia such as images of the sides of dice and determining if identical indicia are connected. Winning combinations of indicia comprise two or more indicia located in adjoining or connecting relationship within the matrix. In one embodiment, a player'"'"'s bet determines how many indicia are displayed in the matrix. In one embodiment a bonus or separate game comprises using the existing displayed indicia or displaying a new set of indicia and determining the maximum number of identical indicia. If the maximum number exceeds a predetermined number, the outcome is a winning outcome.

Claims

1. A method of playing a game in which a player attempts to receive a predetermined number of identical indicia comprising the steps of:

providing a matrix comprising m rows by n columns of possible indicia positions, where n and m are at least 2;

accepting a wager;

displaying an indicia from a group of indicia in said indicia positions of said matrix;

identifying identical indicia displayed in said matrix;

identifying the largest group of identical indicia which are displayed;

determining if said largest group is at least as large as a predetermined winning number of identical indicia; and

awarding a winning if said largest group is at least as large as said predetermined number.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said indicia comprise dice indicia.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wager is for the play of an underlying game.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said indicia are displayed as part of the play of another game.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said matrix is 4×

4 and said predetermined number is 8.

6. A method of playing a game having a bonus game comprising the steps of:

playing a main game comprising the steps of;

providing a matrix comprising m rows by n columns of possible indicia positions, where n and m are at least 2;

accepting a wager;

displaying indicia in indicia positions of at least a first column of said matrix for an accepted wager of a first amount, said indicia selected from a group of indicia comprising at least two different indicia;

displaying indicia in indicia positions of at least an additional second column of said matrix for an accepted wager of a second amount larger than said first amount, said indicia selected from said group of indicia;

awarding a winning for receiving a combination of at least three identical indicia which are displayed in linked positions in said matrix; and

playing a bonus game utilizing said displayed indicia, said bonus game comprising;

determining the maximum number of identical indicia from said displayed indicia;

determining if said maximum number of identical indicia exceeds a predetermined minimum number; and

awarding a bonus winning if said maximum number exceeds said predetermined minimum number.

7. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said bonus game is played without placing an additional bet or wager.

8. The method in accordance with claim 6 including the step of playing said bonus game only if said outcome of said main game is a winning outcome for which a winning was awarded.

9. The method in accordance with claim 6 wherein said minimum number comprises at least half of said displayed indicia.