Casino method and device therefor

• US 6,379,245 B2
• Filed: 09/23/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aquarius Productions Limited
• Original Assignee: David D.E. Keller
• Inventors: De Keller, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendiratta, Vishu K.
• Application Number:
  US09/159,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20020008356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,315 Days
• Field of Search: 273/274, 273/292, 273/303, 273/293, 463/11-13
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/0017 progressive jackpot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082

Abstract

A method for playing a casino game is set forth wherein, in a table game format, players make an ante and an outcome wager. Each player is dealt a plurality of cards and a plurality of cards, some face up and some face down, are dealt as community cards. Players are given the option of discarding or holding cards and increasing their outcome wagers before revelation of community cards. Ante wagers are won by the player with the highest ranking hand and outcome wager(s) are won based upon a schedule of winning outcomes. For an electronic version, the method includes the player making wagers as indicia are revealed and given the opportunity of holding or discarding indicia during play.

Claims

1. A method for playing an electronic video Poker card game comprising:

the player making an initial wager to participate in the game;

providing a processor to control the play of the game and a data structure including data representing a deck of playing cards;

the player prompting play of the game, said processor in response to prompting randomly selecting from the data structure and displaying at an electronic display three cards face up;

the player discarding one to three of the face up cards, said processor replacing the discarded cards with replacements selected from the data structure;

the player opting to (1) fold whereupon the processor reveals a fourth and a fifth card to present a five card hand or (2) place a second wager whereupon the processor reveals a fourth card to present four cards and the player opting to (a) fold whereupon the processor reveals the remaining fifth card to present a five card hand or (b) place a third wager whereupon the processor reveals the remaining fifth card to present a five card hand; and

the processor comparing the five card hand of revealed cards with a schedule of winning hands stored in a second data structure and if the five card hand is a winning hand paying the player based upon his wager(s).

2. The method of claim 1 comprising the processor, when prompted for play by the player, randomly selecting five cards and controlling the display to display the selected cards with three face up and the fourth and fifth cards face down.

3. An electronic device for playing a game based on playing cards comprising:

a processor including a data structure storing data representing each card of a deck of playing cards and winning five card hands;

a display;

means for accepting a wager by a player and for prompting play;

said processor programmed to, in response to prompting of play, randomly select and display at the display three playing cards;

means for the player to discard one to three of the displayed cards, said processor randomly selecting replacement cards from the data structure and controlling the display to the replacement card(s) for the discarded cards;

a control for the player to select to fold or wager, (1) said processor in the event the player selects to fold controlling the display to display a fourth and a fifth card to present a final five card hand and (2) in the even the player selects to wager and makes a second wager via the wager accepting means, said processor controlling the display to display a fourth card;

said control, where a player has made a second wager, providing the player with the option to fold or wager, (1) said processor in the event the player selects to fold controlling the display to display a fifth card to present a final five card hand and (2) in the even the player selects to wager and makes a third wager via the wager accepting means, said processor controlling the display to display a fifth card to present a five card hand; and

said processor comparing the five card hand to the data representing winning hands and if the player has obtained a winning five card hand issuing a pay out to the player.

4. A method for playing a casino game comprising:

the player making an initial wager to participate in the game;

presenting a partial outcome to the player consisting of at least two exposed indicia representing an initial holding, said indicia randomly selected from a field of indicia, at least three exposed indicia representing a final outcome;

the player opting to stand or raise, (i) if the player stands revealing the remaining indicia to define a final outcome and (ii) if the player opts to raise, the player making a second wager and holding one to all of the initial holding, said held indicia replicated into a second hand and (iii) completing each of the initial and second hand holdings with additional indicia selected from the field to define first and second final outcomes; and

comparing each of the final outcomes to a schedule of winning final outcomes and if the player has obtained a winning final outcome paying the player based upon their wager(s) and if the player has not obtained a winning final outcome collecting the player'"'"'s wager(s).

5. The method of claim 4 wherein presenting said indicia includes providing a display of a partial outcome as at least three playing cards and providing said winning outcomes based upon the ranking of final outcome, five card hands of Poker.

6. The method of claim 5 including,

providing an initial display of three cards of a five card Poker hand,

the player opting to place a second wager or stand, if the player stands revealing the remaining two cards to define a five card, final outcome, Poker hand,

if the player makes a second wager, the player opting to hold none to three of the displayed cards;

replicating any held cards into a second displayed hand and selecting additional cards to complete each of the first and second hands to four exposed cards;

the player opting to place a third wager or stand, ifthe player stands, selecting and displaying for each of the first and second hands a fifth card to complete each hand to displayed five card final outcomes;

if the player opts to place a third wager, replicating some of the displayed cards of the initial and second hands into a third hand and revealing the remaining cards for all three hands to define three five card, final outcome, Poker hands;

comparing each of the fmal outcomes to said schedule of winning outcomes; and

for each winning final outcome paying the player based upon the ranking of the five card Poker hand(s).

7. A method for playing a casino game comprising:

the player making an initial wager to participate in the game;

presenting a partial outcome to the player consisting of at least two exposed indicia representing an initial holding, said indicia randomly selected from a field of indicia, at least three exposed indicia representing a final outcome;

the player opting to stand or raise, (i) if the player stands revealing the remaining indicia to define a fmal outcome and (ii) if the player opts to raise, the player making a second wager and holding one to all of the initial holding and (iii) completing the initial holding with additional indicia selected from the field to define a final outcome; and

comparing the final outcome to a schedule of winning final outcomes and if the player has obtained a winning final outcome paying the player based upon their wager(s) and if the player has not obtained a winning final outcome collecting the players'"'"'s wager(s).