Apparatus for progressive jackpot gaming

• US 5,078,405 A
• Filed: 06/05/1989
• Issued: 01/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1988
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Caribbean Stud Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Daniel A., Suttle, James P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiu, Raleigh W.
• Application Number:
  US07/361,276
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 273/85 CP, 273/292, 364/412
• US Class Current: 463/27
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/142 with pay-out or rewarding with a prize
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A method and apparatus for including a progressive jackpot component in a live casino table game. In addition to playing a live casino table game, each player makes an additional wager at the beginning of each hand that makes that player eligible to win all of part of a jackpot. If during the play of the hand a player is dealt a predetermined arrangement of cards, the player wins a preselected percentage of the jackpot amount. The jackpot is progressive in that unwon amounts of the jackpot carry over to the next hand. Apparatus is provided to receive each gaming token wagered for the jackpot component, to increment the jackpot meter which displays the jackpot amount, to decrement the jackpot meter whenever a winning hand is paid and to reset the apparatus for the next hand.

Claims

1. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:

a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer,

b) means associated with each player location for the player to insert a gaming token to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game,

c) means for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot,

d) means for increasing the amount shown on the jackpot meter a preselected amount for each gaming token inserted, and

e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the jackpot meter by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the playing cards.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an indicator signal means associated with each playing location for indicating that the gaming token has been inserted.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further including lockout switch means for preventing late inserting of the gaming token.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further including reset switch means for resetting the apparatus at the end of a each hand of the game.

5. An apparatus for including a jackpot component as an additional feature in a live casino table game comprising:

a) a gaming table having a plurality of player locations at which a player receives playing cards from a dealer,

b) a coin acceptor located at each player location for accepting a gaming token inserted by the player to participate in the additional jackpot component of the live casino table card game,

c) a numerical display associated with each coin acceptor for indicating on a jackpot meter the amount in the jackpot,

d) means for increasing the amount shown on the numerical display a preselected amount for each gaming token inserted into the coin acceptor, and

e) means for decrementing the amount shown on the numerical display by the amount won by a player if the player achieves a predetermined arrangement of the cards.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising an light indicator associated with each playing location for indicating that a gaming token has been inserted into the coin acceptor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a lockout switch associated with each coin acceptor to prevent late inserting of a gaming token into the coin acceptor.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 further including a reset switch associated with the apparatus for resetting the apparatus at the end of a each hand of the game.