Multi-pay video poker machine

• US 5,415,404 A
• Filed: 11/19/1993
• Issued: 05/16/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Joshi, Shridhar P., Nicastro, John P. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Millin, Vincent
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Kerry
• Application Number:
  US08/154,981
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/85 CP, 273/274, 273/138 A, 364/412
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A multi-pay video poker machine includes a microprocessor based video display system. The program permits higher payoffs when compared to conventional video poker games. In accordance with the present invention, it is recognized that each of the winning poker hands include constituent winning sub-hands for which the player may be compensated to increase the payoff level of winning hands. For example, a player is compensated for the values of a royal flush, a straight flush, a flush and a straight when a royal flush is obtained. The computer instructions required to play the game are stored in a read-only memory inside the machine which are executed by the microprocessor unit.

Claims

1. A method of calculating the payoff to be made for the final hand in a poker game played on a video poker game machine having a microprocessor and a read-only memory (ROM) containing a game program and a pay table containing predetermined payoff values for all winning poker hands, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining whether the final hand is a winner;

(b) if the final hand is a winner, determining all of the winning sub-hands which are subsets of the winning final hand; and

(c) calculating a payoff for both the winning final hand and the winning sub-hands by summing said predetermined payoff values for the winning final hand and said winning sub-hands.

2. A video poker game machine comprising:

(a) a microprocessor (MPU);

(b) a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM), said ROM having a game program stored therein for controlling operation of said MPU and a pay table containing predetermined payoff values for all winning hands for the particular game to be played;

(c) means for displaying simulated poker hands including a cathode ray tube (CRT);

(d) bus means for connecting the MPU to the RAM and ROM and to said display means,

(e) said microprocessor including;

(1) means for storing the current game data in said RAM,

(2) means for determining whether a winning final hand has been obtained,

(3) means for determining, in the event of a winning final hand, all of the constituent winning sub-hands which are subsets of the winning final hand, and

(4) means for calculating an award equal to the sum of said predetermined payoff values for the winning hand and the constituent winning sub-hands; and

(f) means for paying said award,

whereby player interest is stimulated by permitting larger payoffs for given poker combinations.