Bet withdrawal casino game with wild symbol

• US 6,454,266 B1
• Filed: 08/13/2001
• Issued: 09/24/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SHFL Entertainment Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoseloff, Mark L., Breeding, John G., Dunn, Russell B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, DOLORES R
• Application Number:
  US09/928,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20020027322A1
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/274, 273/309, 273/236, 273/138.2, 463/20, 463/26
• US Class Current: 273/292
• 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
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A method of playing a wagering game, such as a casino table game or video game, including a playing card wagering game method involves each player placing a multiple part bet, such as a two, a three or a four-part bet. At least one game symbol is designated as wild. A certain position in the order of play is reached (such as with cards being dealt by the dealer, two face down to the dealer and three face down to each player), and the player is given an opportunity to withdraw at least one part of the multiple part bet from risk, although at least one part of the multiple part bet must remain at risk during the play of the game. Players evaluate their position in the game and the dealer or the program for the game gives each player the choice of withdrawing or leaving a first part of the bet. The game is then completed. For example in a card game, the player'"'"'s cards are shown, and all remaining bets, which were not withdrawn, are resolved according to a pay table.

Claims

1. A method of playing a wagering game comprising a player placing a wager comprising at least two distinct wagering parts and providing to the player at least a portion of the player'"'"'s game elements so that partial information or a game outcome is provided,

giving the player at least one opportunity, before the player'"'"'s final game outcome is determined, to withdraw from engagement in the game at least one wagering part of said at least two wagering parts, but less than all of said at least two wagering parts, and

continuing play of the game with additional portions of the player'"'"'s game elements being displayed to the player, wherein at least one of the game elements is designated wild.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said game comprises a casino table card game and the game elements comprise cards.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said game comprises a video card game.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein said card game comprises a poker game.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein said video card game comprises a poker game.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein awards are made for predetermined ranks of hands in the card game.

11. The method of claim 5 wherein awards are made for predetermined ranks of hands in the card game.

14. The method of claim 5 wherein awards are made for a player having a higher ranked hand than a dealer in the card game.

17. The method according to claim 3, wherein each of said at least two parts of said wager are equal.

19. The method according to claim 3, wherein each of said at least two parts of said wager are unequal.

22. The method of claim 5 wherein each of said at least two wagering parts of said wager are equal.

24. The method of claim 5 wherein each of said at least two wagering parts of said wager are unequal.

26. The method according to claim 5 wherein said at least two wagering parts comprises at least three wagering parts.

29. The method according to claim 22, wherein an initial three-part wager amount wagered by each participating player comprises three equal wagering parts and is wagered before any cards are dealt.

49. The method of claim 1, wherein the wild game elements are cards.

50. The method of claim 1, wherein the wild game elements are selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

53. The betting method of claim 1, wherein the wild card is selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

2. A method of playing a wagering game comprising a player placing a wager comprising at least two distinct wagering parts and providing to the player a view of at least a portion of a dealer'"'"'s game elements so that a partial game outcome is provided,

giving the player at least one opportunity, before the display of all of the player'"'"'s and/or the dealer'"'"'s final game elements are provided, to withdraw from engagement in the game at least one wagering part of said at least two wagering parts, but less than all of said at least two wagering parts, and

continuing play of the game to a resolution of remaining wagers, wherein at least one of the game elements is designated wild.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said game comprises a casino table card game and the game elements comprise cards.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said game comprises a video card game.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein said card game comprises a poker game.

12. The method of claim 4 wherein awards are made for a player having a higher ranked hand than a dealer in the card game.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein awards are made for a player having a higher ranked hand than a dealer in the card game.

15. The method of claim 6 wherein awards are made for a player having a higher ranked hand than a dealer in the card game.

16. The method of claim 6 wherein awards are made for predetermined ranks of hands in the card game.

18. The method according to claim 4, wherein each of said at least two parts of said wager are equal.

20. The method according to claim 4, wherein each of said at least two parts of said wager are unequal.

21. The method according to claim 4 wherein said at least two wagering parts comprises at least three wagering parts.

23. The method of claim 6 wherein each of said at least two wagering parts of said wager are equal.

25. The method of claim 6 wherein each of said at least two wagering parts of said wager are unequal.

27. The method according to claim 6 wherein said at least two wagering parts comprises at least three wagering parts.

28. The method according to claim 21 wherein said at least two wagering parts comprises at least three wagering parts.

51. The method of claim 2, wherein the game elements are cards, and the wild game element is selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

30. A betting method for a live casino card game comprising:

a player placing a wager to participate in a live casino game, the wager comprising at least two wager parts;

a dealer dealing at least a partial hand to the player from a deck of cards;

the player examining the at least a partial hand and optionally withdrawing at least one of said at least two wager parts, but less than all of said at least two wager parts of the wager;

the dealer dealing at least one additional card in addition to the at least a partial hand of the player to complete the player'"'"'s hand; and

the dealer making payouts to the player holding a winning hand, wherein the winning hand is determined by rules of the live casino card game, and wherein at least one card in the deck is designated as wild.

52. The betting method of claim 30, wherein the wild card is selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

31. A betting method for a live casino card game comprising:

a player placing a wager to participate in a live casino game, the wager comprising at least two wager parts;

a dealer dealing at least one group of cards comprising;

a) a partial hand of cards to the player and

b) at least one common card which forms part of each players'"'"' hand;

the player examining the at least one group of cards and, based upon partial information, optionally withdrawing at least one of said at least two wager parts, but less than all of said at least two wager parts of the wager;

the dealer dealing at least one additional card to the common cards or to the partial hand of the player and playing the game to a conclusion; and

the dealer making payouts to the player or players holding a winning hand, wherein the winning hand is determined by rules for the live casino card game, and wherein at least one card in the group is designated as wild.

32. A betting method for a gaming machine comprising:

a player placing a wager to participate in a casino machine wagering game comprising a plurality of game elements, the wager comprising at least two wager parts;

activating the wagering game;

revealing at least a portion of the game elements to the player on a player display;

the player optionally withdrawing at least one of said at least two wager parts, but less than all of said at least two wager parts of the wager based upon consideration of the revealed game elements;

concluding play of the casino machine wagering game; and

awarding payouts to the player for a winning combination of game elements, wherein the winning outcome is determined by rules for the casino machine wagering game, and wherein at least one of the game elements is designated as wild.

54. The betting method of claim 32, wherein the game elements are representations of cards, and wherein the wild cards are selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

33. A betting method for a live casino game comprising a plurality of game elements, the live casino game having rules that provide that a portion of the game elements is revealed to the player prior to the conclusion of the game, wherein the game includes a dealer, the method comprising:

a player placing a wager to participate in the casino game, the wager having at least two wager parts;

the dealer initiating the game, wherein a portion of the game elements is revealed to the player;

the player examines the revealed portion of the game and optionally withdraws a portion of said at least two wager parts, but less than all wager parts of said wager;

completing the play of the game; and

the dealer awarding payouts to a player or players having a combination of game elements that results in a winning outcome, wherein the winning outcome is defined by rules of the live casino game, and wherein at least one of the game elements is designated as wild.

55. The betting method of claim 33, wherein the game elements are cards and wherein the wild cards are selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

34. A gaming apparatus for playing a live casino wagering game, comprising:

a gaming table including;

a playing surface;

a plurality of player locations on the playing surface;

a dealer station;

dealer game controls;

a chip tray mounted into the playing surface;

a plurality of betting areas located at each player location, wherein each player is required to place a bet comprising a plurality of wager parts;

a reel slot display for displaying game symbols, at least one of the game symbols designated as wild;

a game computer for controlling the operation of the game; and

player controls located at each player location, wherein the player controls permit a player to stop less than all the reels from spinning to afford the player an opportunity to withdraw fewer than all wager parts of his bet before the last wheel comes to rest.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the bet is a three-part wager bet, and the reel mechanism is a three reel mechanism, wherein the player is permitted to withdraw one wager part of the bet after the first reel stops spinning.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the player is permitted to withdraw a second wager part of his bet after the second reel stops spinning.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the reel slot display is an electromechanical reel slot display.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the reel slot display is a video reel display.

56. The gaming apparatus of claim 34, wherein the wild game symbol is selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

39. A method of playing a slot-type casino wagering game comprising:

a player placing a wager of at least two distinct wager parts to participate in the game;

revealing to the player at least one slot symbol defining a partial game outcome to the player, wherein at least one slot symbol is designated as wild;

providing the player the opportunity to withdraw at least one wager part, but fewer than all wager parts of the wager based on the revealed slot symbol;

revealing to the player the remaining slot symbols defining the game outcome; and

paying the player an award for a predetermined winning outcome, wherein the amount of the award is based on the wager parts of the wager remaining in play.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the wager comprises three equal wager parts, and the game is a three-reel slot device.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the game is a live casino table game.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the player is provided with a second opportunity to withdraw at least one wager part of his bet.

43. A method of playing a wagering game including the random assignment of game symbols to each player from a symbol set, comprising the steps of:

placing a wager,

beginning the game by revealing a portion of game symbols to each player,

giving the player an opportunity to withdraw a portion of the wager and leaving a remaining part of the wager,

continuing the game until its outcome by revealing the remaining symbols assigned to each player, wherein at least one game symbol in the symbol set is designated wild; and

resolving the remaining part of the wager.

57. The method of claim 43, wherein the game symbols are cards and the wild symbol is selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

44. A method of playing a wagering game utilizing a group of cards, comprising the steps of:

placing a wager to become a player,

providing at least one card to a player,

providing the player an opportunity to examine the at least one provided card and withdraw only a part of the wager and leave a remaining part of the wager,

providing at least one additional card to the player, and

resolving the remaining part of the wager,wherein at least one card in the group is designated as wild.

58. The method of claim 44, wherein the wild card is selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

45. A method of playing a wagering game utilizing a group of cards, comprising the steps of:

placing a wager to become a player,

providing at least one card to a player,

providing the player an opportunity to examine the at least one provided card and withdraw at least a part of the wager and leave a remaining part of the wager,

providing at least one additional card to the player, and

resolving the remaining part of the wager, wherein at least one card in the group is designated as wild.

46. The method according to claim 45 wherein the game comprises a casino game between a casino and a plurality of players.

47. The method according to claim 45 wherein the cards are standard playing cards.

48. The method according to claim 45 wherein the wager is divided into a number of wager parts and the at least one additional card comprises a number of cards, and wherein the number of wager parts of the wager that may be withdrawn is equal to the number of said at least one additional cards.

59. The method of claim 45, wherein the wild card is selected from the group consisting of deuces and jokers.

60. A method of playing a wagering game, comprising:

a player placing a multiple part wager to participate in a live casino card game;

a dealer dealing a group of cards from a source of cards to each player;

each player having an opportunity to withdraw a portion of the multiple part wager;

the dealer providing at least one additional card to each player;

the dealer resolving each hand according to a predetermined set of rules; and

wherein the house or a player funds player payoffs.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the house collects a fee.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the multiple part wager is a three-part wager, and the group of cards consists of three cards.

63. The method of claim 60, and further comprising an optional side bet.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the at least one additional card comprises two community cards.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the wagering game is played with a standard deck of cards with or without jokers, wherein at least one of the cards is designated wild.

66. The method of claim 63, wherein the wagering game is LET IT RIDE BONUS®

.

67. A method of playing a game comprising a set of rules, the method comprising:

a player placing a wager comprising at least two bet segments to participate in the game;

providing the player with information useful as a partial indication of a game outcome;

the player optionally withdrawing at least one but not all bet segments from play;

completing play of the game; and

providing the player a prize when the player'"'"'s game outcome is a winning game outcome according to the set of rules.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the partial indication is selected from the group consisting of game symbols and clues.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein the game is a television game show.