Multi-tiered wagering method and game

• US 6,334,614 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US09/495,149
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/309, 273/274
• 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 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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/or 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/or entry fee become eligible for bonus payouts and/or to become eligible to participate in a second game to determine the winner of a super jackpot, respectively.

Claims

1. A method of playing a card game including a base game, a base game payoff, and a bonus payoff, the method comprising:

placing a first wager to become a participant in the base game;

optionally placing a second wager to become eligible to win the bonus payoff;

dealing cards to a player playing the base game to an outcome;

resolving the first wager based on the outcome, wherein if a player'"'"'s outcome meets one of a predetermined set of game outcomes that does not depend on other player'"'"'s outcome or on a dealer'"'"'s outcome, that player wins the base game payoff;

wherein, the base game payoff on the first wager is made according to a first proportional payout table; and

resolving the second wager, wherein if the player'"'"'s outcome one of a subset of the predetermined game outcomes, that player wins the bonus payoff according to a second payout table that pays a bonus payoff only in proportion to the second wager.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bonus payoff varies according to the outcome.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the bonus payoff includes the player becoming qualified to play in a second game and then the player plays the second game.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the base game payoff is only proportional to the first wager.

4. A method of playing a game including a base game, a base game payoff, and a bonus payoff, the method further characterized by providing a player an opportunity to make a last wager of at least two wagers, wherein if a player makes the last wager of the at least two wagers, that player has a chance to win a reward, the method comprising:

placing a first wager to become a participant in the base game;

placing one of the at least two wagers to become eligible to win the bonus payoff;

playing the base game to an outcome;

resolving the first wager based on the outcome, wherein if a player'"'"'s outcome meets one of a predetermined set of game outcomes that does not depend on other player'"'"'s outcomes or on a dealer'"'"'s outcome, that player wins the base game payoff;

wherein, the base game payoff on the first wager of the at least two wagers is made according to a first proportional payout table; and

resolving the last wager of the at least two wagers, if made, wherein if a player'"'"'s outcome meets one of a subset of the predetermined game outcomes, that player wins an amount proportionate to the last wager and the reward.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the reward comprises a payout of an amount of money disproportionate to the last wager and a non-monetary reward component.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the award comprises eligibility to play at least one more game for a super jackpot.

7. A method of playing a game including:

a base game and a plurality of base game outcomes, the method comprising providing a player an opportunity to place at least a first wager and an optional last wager, wherein if a player places the optional last wager, the player becomes eligible to win a reward, the method further comprising;

placing the at least first wager to play the base game and

dealing a hand of cards to a player playing the base game to at least one of the outcomes, wherein if a player'"'"'s outcome meets a predetermined outcome from the plurality of base game outcomes that does not depend on other player'"'"'s outcomes or on a dealer'"'"'s outcome, that player wins a basic game payoff; and

resolving the last wager, if placed, wherein if a game event comprising a player attaining one of the highest hands over a period of time or a random selection of a player occurs during the base game, the player wins the reward, the reward comprising a monetary payoff that is only proportional to the last wager.

8. The method according to claim 7 herein the game event occurs randomly during the basic game.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the reward comprises becoming eligible to participate in a second game, and the player plays in the second game.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein participation in the second game guarantees a payoff.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the reward comprises eligibility to participate in a second game with a bonus payoff, and a player participates in the second game and wins a bonus payoff.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the bonus payoff is a selected multiple of the last wager.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the bonus payoff is progressive.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the game event occurs randomly during the basic game, and wherein the reward comprises a bonus payoff, said bonus payoff being a selected multiple of the last wager, and becoming eligible to participate in a second game wherein a second game payoff is guaranteed, said second game payoff being disproportionate to the last wager.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the base game payoff is only proportional to the first wager.

16. A method for playing a wagering game involving a player, including a base game and a base game payoff and the method further comprising providing a player an opportunity to place an optional wager, wherein if a player places the optional wager, that player becomes eligible to win a reward, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a first wager to become a player in the base game;

playing the base game to an outcome;

resolving the first wager based on the outcome, wherein if a (player'"'"'s outcome) meets one of a predetermined set of game outcomes that does not depend on other player'"'"'s outcomes or on a dealer'"'"'s outcome, that player wins the base game payoff that is only proportional to the first wager; and

resolving the optional wager, if made, wherein if (a player) meets one of a subset of the predetermined game outcomes, that the player'"'"'s outcome wins a reward in accordance with a pay table based on a payout that is only proportionate to the optional wager.

18. A method for playing a wagering game involving a player, including a base game and a base game payoff and the method further comprising providing a player an opportunity to place an optional wager, wherein if a player places the optional wager, that player becomes eligible to win a reward, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a first wager to become a player in the base game;

playing the base game to an outcome;

resolving the first wager based on the outcome, wherein if a (player'"'"'s outcome) meets one of a predetermined set of game outcomes that does not depend on other player'"'"'s outcomes or on a dealer'"'"'s outcome, that player wins the base game payoff that is only proportional to the first wager; and

resolving the optional wager, if made, wherein if (the player'"'"'s outcome) meets one of a subset of the predetermined game outcomes, that player wins a reward in accordance with a pay table based on the optional wager.

19. A method of playing a game including a base game and a base game payoff, the method further comprised by providing a player an opportunity to place an optional wager, wherein if a player places the optional wager, that player becomes eligible to win a reward, the method comprising:

placing a first wager to become a participant in the base game;

dealing cards to a player playing the base game to an outcome;

resolving the first wager based on the outcome, wherein if a player'"'"'s outcome meets one of a subset of predetermined conditions of game outcomes and that game outcome does not depend on other player'"'"'s outcome or on a dealer'"'"'s outcome, that player wins the base game payoff and, that player wins the reward that includes a payoff in accordance with a paytable based only on proportionate payouts.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the reward comprises a payout of a) an amount of money only proportionate to the optional wager and b) a non-monetary reward component.

21. The method according to claim 20 wherein the bonus payoff is won if a player meets a predetermined outcome.

22. The method according to claim 19, wherein the reward comprises eligibility to participate in a second game wherein a participant is guaranteed to win a payoff, and the participant participates in the second game.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the reward comprises eligibility to play another game for a super jackpot, and the player plays said another game.

24. The method according to claim 19 wherein the reward comprises eligibility to play at least one other game in a competition to win a jackpot, and the player plays at least one game in the competition.

25. A method for playing a wagering game involving a player, including a base game and a base game payoff and the method further comprising providing a player an opportunity to place an optional wager to play a second game, wherein if a player places the optional wager, that player becomes eligible to win a reward, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a first wager to become a player in the base game;

placing an optional second wager to elect to play the second game;

playing the base game to an outcome;

resolving the first wager based on the outcome, wherein if a player'"'"'s outcome meets one of a predetermined set of game outcomes that does not depend on other player'"'"'s outcomes or on a dealer'"'"'s outcome, that player wins the base game payoff; and

resolving the optional wager, if made, wherein if the player'"'"'s outcome meets one of a subset of the predetermined game outcomes, that player wins a reward in accordance with a paytable based on a payout that is only proportionate to the optional wager.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the predetermined set of game outcomes is a randomly occurring game event selected before beginning to play the base game.