Methods and apparatus for providing free-play credits in a video poker game
First Claim
1. A method of operating a video poker game, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of credit wagers at the video poker game;
generating a plurality of poker hands in response to receiving the plurality of credit wagers;
awarding at least one free-play credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is below a predetermined poker hand rank threshold, said free-play credits useable to play the video poker game but not redeemable for cash;
awarding at least one monetary credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is above the predetermined poker hand rank threshold, said monetary credits useable to play the video poker game and redeemable for cash; and
accepting at least one of the free-play credits as payment for at least one play of the video poker game.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for providing free-play credits in a video poker game are disclosed. The methods and apparatus enable a video poker player to play a plurality of poker hands. The poker game awards free-play credits for lower ranking hands (e.g., below a threshold such as a straight) and monetary credits for higher ranking hands (e.g., at or above a threshold such as a straight). Free-play credits have a lower value than monetary credits. As a result of this lower value, awarding free-play credits instead of monetary credits creates a surplus of money that can be used to further reward the player without changing the overall payback percentage of the poker game. The surplus can be used to increase the payback of the higher ranking hands (e.g., increase the jackpot associated with a royal flush) and/or as a bonus award for frequent players (e.g., award one bonus free-play credit for every twentieth free-play credit earned).
136 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of operating a video poker game, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of credit wagers at the video poker game;
generating a plurality of poker hands in response to receiving the plurality of credit wagers;
awarding at least one free-play credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is below a predetermined poker hand rank threshold, said free-play credits useable to play the video poker game but not redeemable for cash;
awarding at least one monetary credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is above the predetermined poker hand rank threshold, said monetary credits useable to play the video poker game and redeemable for cash; and
accepting at least one of the free-play credits as payment for at least one play of the video poker game. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A video poker gaming device operable under control of a processor, the video poker gaming device comprising:
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a display device controlled by the processor; and
an input device operatively coupled to the processor, wherein the processor, the display device and the input device are configured to;
receive a plurality of credit wagers at the video poker game;
generate a plurality of poker hands in response to receiving the plurality of credit wagers;
award at least one free-play credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is below a predetermined poker hand rank threshold, said free-play credits usable to play the video poker game but not redeemable for cash;
award at least one monetary credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is above the predetermined poker hand threshold, said monetary credits useable to play the video poker game and redeemable for cash; and
accept at least one of the free-play credits as payment for at least one play of the video poker game. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a video poker game, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of credit wagers at the video poker game;
generating a plurality of poker hands in response to receiving the plurality of credit wagers;
awarding at least a first free-play credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is associated with at least one free-play credit predetermined poker hand rank, said first free-play credits useable to play the video poker game but not redeemable for cash;
awarding at least a second free-play credit if a count of first free-play credits awarded exceeds a predetermined threshold, said second free-play credits useable to play the video poker game but not redeemable for cash;
awarding at least one monetary credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is associated with at least one monetary credit predetermined poker hand rank, said monetary credits useable to play the video poker game and redeemable for cash; and
accepting at least one of the free-play credits as payment for at least one play of the video poker game. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of operating a video poker game, the method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of credit wagers at the video poker game;
generating a plurality of poker hands in response to receiving the plurality of credit wagers;
awarding at least one free-play credit if at least one of the plurality of poker hands is associated with at least one free-play predetermined poker hand rank, said free-play credits usable to play the video poker game but not redeemable for cash;
awarding at least one monetary credit if at least another one of the plurality of poker hands is associated with at least one monetary credit predetermined poker hand rank, said monetary credits usable to play the video poker game and redeemable for cash, wherein at least a portion of the at least one monetary credit is at least partially funded by the awarding of the at least one free-play credit; and
accepting at least one of the free-play credits as payment for at least one play of the video poker game. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification