GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD PROVIDING A VIDEO POKER GAME WITH POSITIONAL MATCHING CARD WINNING OPPORTUNITIES

• US 20150057062A1
• Filed: 08/26/2013
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cole, James M., Capsouto, Michael David
• Granted Patent: US 9,547,958 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker game with additional winning opportunities. Upon receiving a primary wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player cards. The gaming system enables the player to discard zero, some, or all of the player cards. The discarded cards are replaced. The player cards are compared to a paytable to determine an award, if any, won by the player. In addition to the player cards, the player is provided five card indicators. If one or more of the player cards matches with corresponding card indicators, then the player is provided an additional win opportunity.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one processor;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device, for a play of a game, to;

(a) enable a player to place at least one wager on the play of the game;

(b) display a predetermined quantity of player cards to the player, each of the player cards in the predetermined quantity selected randomly from at least one deck of cards;

(c) display a predetermined quantity of card indicators to the player, wherein the predetermined quantity of card indicators is less than or equal to the predetermined quantity of player cards, and wherein each of the card indicators corresponds to one of the player cards;

(d) enable the player to discard zero or more player cards from the quantity of player cards;

(e) replace each discarded player card by another card selected from the at least one deck of cards;

(f) for each card indicator, determine a match, if any, with its corresponding player card;

(g) for each card indicator matching its corresponding player card, provide an additional win opportunity; and

(h) provide an award, if any, based on the player cards and any additional win opportunity.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the quantity of player cards is five.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the predetermined quantity of card indicators is equal to the predetermined quantity of player cards.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to select the card indicators.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the card indicators are selectable prior to receipt of the wager from the player.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the card indicators prior to the receipt of the wager from the player.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each additional win opportunity includes one of a wild card, a bonus round, a multiplier and a fever mode.

8. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to receive, from a player, a wager on a play of a game;

(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a predetermined quantity of player cards to the player, each of the player cards in the predetermined quantity selected randomly from at least one deck of cards;

(c) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a predetermined quantity of card indicators to the player, wherein the predetermined quantity of card indicators is less than or equal to the predetermined quantity of player cards, and wherein each of the card indicators corresponds to one of the player cards;

(d) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to enable the player to discard zero or more player cards from the quantity of player cards;

(e) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to replace each discarded player card by another card selected from the at least one deck of cards;

(f) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a match for each card indicator, if any, with its corresponding player card;

(g) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to provide an additional win opportunity for each card indicator matching its corresponding player card; and

(h) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to provide an award, if any, based on the player cards and any additional win opportunity.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the quantity of player cards is five.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the predetermined quantity of card indicators is equal to the predetermined quantity of player cards.

11. The method of claim 8, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to select the card indicators.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the card indicators are selectable prior to receipt of the wager from the player.

13. The method of claim 8, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display the card indicators prior to the receipt of the wager from the player.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein each additional win opportunity includes one of a wild card, a bonus round, a multiplier and a fever mode.

15. The method of claim 8, which is provided through a data network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the data network is an internet.

17. A non-transitory computer readable memory device including a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) cause at least one input device to receive, from a player, a wager on a play of a game;

(b) cause at least one display device to display a predetermined quantity of player cards to the player, each of the player cards in the predetermined quantity selected randomly from at least one deck of cards;

(c) cause at least one display device to display a predetermined quantity of card indicators to the player, wherein the predetermined quantity of card indicators is less than or equal to the predetermined quantity of player cards, and wherein each of the card indicators corresponds to one of the player cards;

(d) cause at least one input device to enable the player to discard zero or more player cards from the quantity of player cards;

(e) cause at least one display device to replace each discarded player card by another card selected from the at least one deck of cards;

(f) determine a match for each card indicator, if any, with its corresponding player card;

(g) cause at least one display device to provide an additional win opportunity for each card indicator matching its corresponding player card; and

(h) cause at least one display device to provide an award, if any, based on the player cards and any additional win opportunity.

18. The non-transitory computer readable memory device of claim 17, wherein the quantity of player cards is five.

19. The non-transitory computer readable memory device of claim 17, wherein the predetermined quantity of card indicators is equal to the predetermined quantity of player cards.

20. The non-transitory computer readable memory device of claim 17, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to select the card indicators.

21. The non-transitory computer readable memory device of claim 20, wherein the card indicators are selectable prior to receipt of the wager from the player.

22. The non-transitory computer readable memory device of claim 17, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display the card indicators prior to the receipt of the wager from the player.

23. The non-transitory computer readable memory device of claim 17, wherein each additional win opportunity includes one of a wild card, a bonus round, a multiplier and a fever mode.