Multi-tiered wagering method and game

• US 5,544,892 A
• Filed: 02/14/1995
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Breeding, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/388,292
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/309, 273/274, 273/85 CP
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00167 with a jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• 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

Abstract

A multi-tiered wagering game and method, including a playing card wagering game, involves placing a first game wager and an optional second wager and entry fee to participate in the multi-tiered game. Cards are dealt by the dealer, two face down to the dealer and three face down to each player. Players inspect or "sweat" their cards and the dealer gives each player the opportunity to withdraw one part of the bet. Each player decides and the dealer then turns over one of the cards and again gives each player the opportunity to withdraw a second part of the bet. The players decide, their cards are shown, and based on the shown cards the remaining game wagers are resolved. Also based on the shown cards, players that placed the optional second wager and entry fee become eligible for bonus payouts and to participate in a second game to determine the winner of a super jackpot, respectively.

Claims

1. A method for playing a series of casino card games between a casino and a plurality of players, with a super jackpot comprising:

each player placing a first wager to become a participant in the casino card game;

each player placing a combined second wager and entry fee to become eligible to win a bonus payout and the super jackpot;

dealing a hand of cards to each player;

resolving each player'"'"'s first wager based on said hand, wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards, that player wins a preselected amount from the casino;

resolving each player'"'"'s second wager based on said hand, wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a subset of the predetermined arrangement of cards, that player wins a preselected bonus pay-off from the casino;

resolving each player'"'"'s entry fee based on said hand wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a narrower subset of the predetermined arrangement of cards, that player becomes a finalist eligible to win the super jackpot; and

playing a second game to select a winner of the super jackpot from said finalists.

2. The method according to claim 1, said second game occurring after an accumulation period defined by said jackpot reaching a predetermined amount.

3. The method according to claim 1, said second game occurring after a predetermined jackpot accumulation period.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the number of finalists is limited to those said participants becoming finalists during said accumulation period.

5. The method according to claim 1, said second game occurring when a predetermined number of finalists is selected.

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein the number of finalists is limited to those said participants becoming finalists during said accumulation period.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the preselected amount is a multiple of the amount of the first wager.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the preselected bonus payout is a fixed amount.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the preselected bonus payout is a fixed amount.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the casino card game is poker, wherein the predetermined arrangement of cards is a pair of tens or better, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush, wherein the subset of the predetermined arrangement is a straight, a flush, a full house, four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush, and wherein the narrower subset is a designated number of the highest hands, including ties, selected from said subset.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the preselected amount is a multiple of the first wager.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the preselected bonus payout is a fixed amount.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the preselected bonus payout is a fixed amount.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the casino card game is poker, wherein the predetermined arrangement of cards is a pair of tens or better, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush, wherein the subset of the predetermined arrangement is a straight, a flush, a full house, four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush, and wherein the narrower subset is a royal flush.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein the super jackpot payout is comprised of said entry fees.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the super jackpot payout is comprised of a portion of said entry fees.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the super jackpot payout is comprised of a substantial portion of said entry fees.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the super jackpot payout is a fixed amount.

19. The method according to claim 1, wherein the super jackpot is comprised of said entry fees accumulated for a selected period of time.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein said super jackpot is formed by an accumulation of a portion of each player'"'"'s said entry fee.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said super jackpot amount is fixed prior to the commencement of said second game.

22. The method according to claim 1, wherein said second game is a playoff or tournament.

23. A method for playing a series of casino card games between a casino and a plurality of players, with a super jackpot comprising:

each player placing a first wager to become a participant in the casino card game;

each player placing a second wager to become eligible to win a bonus pay-off and the super jackpot;

dealing a hand of cards to each player;

resolving each player'"'"'s first wager based on said hand, wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards, that player wins a preselected amount from the casino;

resolving each player'"'"'s second wager based on said hand, wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a subset of the predetermined arrangement of cards, that player wins a predetermined bonus pay-off from the casino, and further wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a narrower subset of the predetermined arrangement of cards, that player becomes a finalist eligible to win the super jackpot; and

playing a second game to select a winner of the super jackpot.

24. A method for playing a series of casino card games between a casino and a plurality of players, with a super jackpot comprising:

each player wagering at least one gaming token or wager to become a participant in the casino card game;

each player placing a combined second wager and entry fee to become eligible to win a bonus payout and the super jackpot;

dealing a hand of cards to each player;

resolving each player'"'"'s first wager based on said hand, wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards, that player wins a preselected amount from the casino;

resolving each player'"'"'s second wager based on said hand, wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a subset of the predetermined arrangement of cards, that player wins a preselected bonus pay-off from the casino;

resolving each player'"'"'s entry fee based on said hand wherein if a player'"'"'s hand comprises a narrower subset of the predetermined arrangement of cards, that player becomes a finalist eligible to win the super jackpot; and

playing a second game to select a winner of the super jackpot from said finalists.

25. The method according to claim 24, said second game occurring after an accumulation period defined by said jackpot reaching a predetermined amount.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the number of finalists is limited to those said participants becoming finalists during said accumulation period.

27. The method according to claim 24, said second game occurring after a predetermined jackpot accumulation period.

28. The method according to claim 24, said second game occurring when a predetermined number of finalists is selected.

29. The method according to claim 24, wherein the casino card game is poker, wherein the predetermined arrangement of cards is a pair of tens or better, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, a straight, a flush, a full house, four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush, wherein the subset of the predetermined arrangement is a straight, a flush, a full house, four-of-a-kind, a straight flush or a royal flush, and wherein the narrower subset is a designated number of the highest hands, including ties.

30. The method according to claim 24, wherein said second game is a playoff or tournament.