Match symbol side bet game

• US 6,227,969 B1
• Filed: 09/21/1998
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yoseloff, Mark L.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/157,971
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/274, 273/245, 273/256, 273/309, 273/305, 273/138.2, 273/146, 273/142.13, 273/306, 273/353, 273/149 R, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/242, 273/243, 463/10, 463/16, 463/17, 463/13, 463/12, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/25, 463/27, 463/26, 463/22
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot

Abstract

A side game with potential wagering is provided along with an underlying game. The side game may include the use of symbols or cards or card figures, and may be played live, on video gaming apparatus, or with a combination of live play and various display means, including, but not limited to, cathode ray tubes (monitors), light-emitting diodes (LED'"'"'s), Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD'"'"'s), plasma displays and other video gaming displays. A method of playing both an underlying game and a side bet game comprises the steps of:

a) playing an underlying game in which at least two cards are received and at least two cards are kept by a player at the end of an underlying game and at least one wager is placed by the player on the underlying game,

b) a player placing a wager on a side bet game,

c) providing to the view of the player at least two randomly generated cards which become a part of the side bet game,

d) comparing the at least two cards kept at the end of the underlying game to the at least two randomly generated cards which become part of the side bet game, and

e) determining a level of correspondence between the at least two cards kept at the end of the underlying game and the at least two randomly generated cards which become part of the side bet game.

Wagers may be placed at any time before, during or after play of the underlying game.

Claims

1. A method of playing both an underlying game and a side bet game comprising the steps of:

a) playing an underlying game in which at least one card is received and at least one card is kept by a player at the end of an underlying game and at least one wager is placed by the player on the underlying game,

b) a player in the underlying game placing a wager on a side bet game,

c) providing to the view of the player at least one randomly generated card which becomes a part of said side bet game,

d) comparing said at least one card kept at the end of the underlying game to the at least one randomly generated card which becomes part of the side bet game, and

e) determining a level of correspondence between said at least one card kept at the end of the underlying game and the at least one randomly generated card which becomes part of the side bet game.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager is placed on said side bet game before any cards are received by said player.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager is placed on said side bet game after at least one card is received by said player.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager is placed on said side bet game after at least one card is viewed by said player.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager is placed on said side bet game after all cards used by a player in play of the underlying game have been received by said player.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager is placed on said side bet game after all cards used by a player in play of the underlying game have been viewed by said player.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager is placed on said side bet game after conclusion of play of the underlying game.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager is placed on said side bet game after conclusion of play of the underlying game and after payment of awards in said underlying game.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of correspondence comprises matching suit.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of correspondence comprises matching rank.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the level of correspondence comprises matching suit and rank.

12. The method of playing both an underlying game and a side bet game according to claim 1 wherein after determining a level of correspondence between said at least one card kept at the end of the underlying game and the at least one randomly generated card which becomes part of the side bet game, comparing that level of correspondence to a look-up table.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein after comparing that level of correspondence to a look-up table, a rate of award to be provided to that level of correspondence is identified.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein after a rate of award to be provided to that level of correspondence is identified, an indication of a total amount of award or bonus is indicated to the player.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said wager on said side bet game is placed before or at the same time as a wager on the underlying game.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein said wager on said side bet game is placed after at least one card is received by the player.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein said wager on said side bet game is placed after at least one card is received by the player.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager on said side bet game is placed after at least two cards are received by the player.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said wager on said side bet game engages the player in an opportunity to be a contestant in a progressive jackpot.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein said wager on said side bet game engages the player in an opportunity to be a contestant in a progressive jackpot.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said underlying game is stud poker with at least five cards received by the player in the underlying game.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein in said underlying stud poker game at least five cards and no more than seven cards are received by the player in the underlying game, and at least three randomly generated cards which become part of the side bet game are provided after or when a side bet wager is made.

23. The method of claim 16 wherein said underlying game is five card stud poker, and at least three randomly generated cards which become part of the side bet game are provided after or when a side bet wager is made.

24. The method of claim 17 wherein said underlying game is five card stud poker, and at least three randomly generated cards which become part of the side bet game are provided after or when a side bet wager is made.

25. The method of claim 16 wherein said underlying game is five card stud poker, and five randomly generated cards which become part of the side bet game are provided after or when a side bet wager is made.

26. The method of claim 17 wherein said underlying game is five card stud poker, and five randomly generated cards which become part of the side bet game are provided after or when a side bet wager is made.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein said wager on said side bet game engages the player in an opportunity to be a contestant in a progressive jackpot.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein said wager on said side bet game engages the player in an opportunity to be a contestant in a progressive jackpot.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein said wager on said side bet game engages the player in an opportunity to be a contestant in a progressive jackpot.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein play of an underlying game provides at least two groups of cards selected from the group consisting of one hand of a player, two hands of a player, dealer'"'"'s hand, and common cards, and wherein a wager on said side bet game is made on only one of said at least two groups.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said wager on said side bet game is made on at least two of said at least two groups.

46. The method of claim 39 wherein said underlying game comprises Let-It-Spin™

casino game.

48. The method of claim 1 wherein placing a wager on a side bet game occurs after the player has folded his hand.

49. The method of claim 1 wherein placing a wager on a side bet game occurs after a dealer'"'"'s hand has been folded.

50. The method of claim 1 wherein at least two cards are received and at least two cards are kept by a player at the end of the underlying game and at least two cards are randomly generated as match cards which becomes part of said side bet game.

51. The method of claim 1 wherein said wager is placed on said side bet game before revealing any randomly generated cards on the side bet game to the player.

52. The method of claim 13 wherein the rate of award is progressive.

53. The method of claim 13 wherein the rate of the award is proportional to the amount of the side bet wager.

30. A method of playing both an underlying game and a side bet game comprising the steps of:

a) playing an underlying game in which at least one symbol is received and at least one symbol is kept by a player at the end of an underlying game and at least one wager is placed by the player on the underlying game,

b) a player placing a wager on a side bet game,

c) providing to the view of the player at least one randomly generated symbol which becomes a part of said side bet game,

d) comparing said at least one symbol kept at the end of the underlying game to the at least one randomly generated symbol which becomes part of the side bet game, and

e) determining a level of correspondence between said at least one symbol kept at the end of the underlying game and the at least one randomly generated symbol which becomes part of the side bet game.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said symbols are playing cards or replications of playing cards.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein at least five cards are kept by a player at the end of the underlying game.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein said underlying game comprises five card stud poker or five card draw poker.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the player has an option of placing a wager on the side bet game before receiving any cards, after receiving at least one card, and after completing play of the underlying game.

35. The method of claim 30 wherein said side bet game comprises a match card side bet game in which providing to the view of the player at least one randomly generated card which becomes a part of said side bet game comprises providing five cards to the view of the player.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein wagering on the side bet game engages the player in a progressive jackpot.

37. The method of claim 31 wherein wagering on the side bet game occurs after at least one of the cards exposed to the view of the player during play of the underlying game has been exposed.

44. The method of claim 30 wherein said underlying game comprises Let-It-Spin™

casino game.

40. A method of playing a side bet game in connection with an underlying game, comprising the steps of:

a player placing a wager to participate in an underlying wagering game, the underlying wagering game including the step of randomly assigning a plurality of game symbols to the player;

the player playing the underlying game to resolution, wherein at a conclusion of play of the underlying game, the player holds a first set of game symbols;

awarding the player a payout if the player achieves a winning outcome in the underlying game;

providing a second set of randomly selected game symbols to participate in the side bet game;

the player placing an optional wager at any time up until both the first set of game symbols and the second set of game symbols are revealed to the player;

determining a level of correspondence between the first set of game symbols and the second set of game symbols; and

awarding a payout for the level of correspondence between the first set of game symbols and the second set of game symbols.

45. The method of claim 40 wherein said underlying game comprises Let-It-Spin™

casino game.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein said underlying game comprises Let-It-Spin™

casino game.

41. A method of playing a side bet game in connection with an underlying game, comprising the steps of:

a first player placing a wager to participate in an underlying wagering game, the underlying wagering game including the step of randomly assigning a plurality of game symbols to the player;

the first player playing the underlying game to resolution, wherein at a conclusion of play of the underlying game, the player holds a first set of game symbols;

awarding the first player a payout if the player achieves a winning outcome in the underlying game;

providing a second set of randomly selected game symbols to participate in the side bet game;

either the first player, a second player who is not a participant in the underlying game, or both the first and second player placing an optional wager at any time up until both the first set of game symbols and the second set of game symbols are revealed to the first player and/or second player;

determining a level of correspondence between the first set of game symbols and the second set of game symbols; and

awarding a payout to said first player and/or said second player for the level of correspondence between the first set of game symbols and the second set of game symbols.

42. A video wagering device for play of a video wagering game having at least an underlying game and a side bet wager game, comprising:

a cabinet;

a screen display mounted in the cabinet;

player controls mounted in the cabinet;

a device for receiving wagers mounted in the cabinet;

a payout device for paying player winnings mounted in the cabinet;

a microprocessor located within the cabinet, RAM and ROM memory,

where a program is stored in the ROM memory which comprises a video wagering game with at least a first underlying game in which symbols or cards are provided to a player and a second side wager game in which symbols or cards are revealed and a level of correspondence between a) the symbols or cards provided to a player and b) the symbols or cards revealed is determined, wherein the program generates a first screen display corresponding to the symbols or cards provided to a player and a second screen display corresponding to the symbols or cards that are revealed, wherein player instructions received from the player controls are stored in RAM, wherein an award is determined and then provided to the player when a level of correspondence between the a) the symbols or cards provided to a player and b) the symbols or cards revealed has been indicated by the program to receive an award; and

data bus means between the microprocessor and screen display, player controls, device for receiving wagers and payout device.

43. The device of claim 42 wherein the microprocessor is programmed to play a poker game as the underlying game.

54. A method of playing both an underlying game and a side bet game comprising the steps of:

a) playing an underlying game in which at least two symbols are received and at least two symbols are kept by a player at the end of an underlying game and at least one wager is placed by the player on the underlying game,

b) a player placing a wager on a side bet game,

c) providing to the view of the player at least two randomly generated symbols which become a part of said side bet game,

d) comparing said at least two symbols kept at the end of the underlying game to the at least two randomly generated symbols which become part of the side bet game, and

e) determining a level of correspondence between said at least two symbols kept at the end of the underlying game and the at least two randomly generated symbols which become part of the side bet game.