Interactive simulated stud poker apparatus and method

• US 7,367,563 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2004
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• 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: Smith, Philip S., Snow, Roger M., Yoseloff, Mark L., Dunn, R. Brooke
• Primary Examiner(s): Blau; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins; Dolores R.
• Application Number:
  US10/938,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20050040601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292
• US Class Current: 273/292
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• 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 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A multi-player automated casino table card game platform enables play of casino table poker-type games according to rules effected through a processor. Rules may include games similar to Let It Ride® stud poker such as playing a wagering game comprising a player placing a wager comprising at least two distinct 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 part of said at least two parts, but less than all of said at least two parts, and continuing play of the game with additional portions of the player'"'"'s game elements being displayed to the player.

Claims

1. A multi-player platform that provides multiple player positions for live players to engage in an interactive stud poker game with a virtual dealer and virtual cards comprising at least two player positions that enable live players to place wagers on an underlying poker-type game, a display system for showing a virtual dealer, a display system for showing at least the virtual cards used in play of the underlying poker-type game, and a processor that contains the rules of the underlying poker-type game, the processor enabling play for each player on the underlying poker-type game according to the following rules:

playing a wagering card game for a number of players using standard playing cards having a standard rank, said game involving standard poker hand rankings and comprising the steps of;

each player placing a wager to participate in the game;

dealing at least one card to each player and at least one common card, all of said cards being dealt face down;

giving each player the chance to examine the cards received by that player and to withdraw at least part of said wager based on the rank of said player'"'"'s cards;

showing said at least one common card, thereby providing a hand for each player, each player'"'"'s hand comprising said shown at least one common card and the at least one card each player was dealt; and

resolving each player'"'"'s remaining wager, which was not withdrawn based on the rank of that player'"'"'s hand.

2. The platform according to claim 1, said wager comprising at least two parts.

3. The platform according to claim 2, wherein the quantity of said at least two parts is at least one more than the quantity of said at least one common card.

4. The platform according to claim 1, wherein said wager is divided into parts and wherein the number of said parts of said wager that may be withdrawn is equal to the number of said at least one common card.

5. The platform according to claim 4, wherein said parts of said wager are equal.

6. The platform according to claim 1 wherein the display system for showing at least the virtual cards also displays virtual wagering chips.

7. The platform of claim 1, wherein the rules permit the player to optionally place one or more side bets.

8. An automated wagering gaming event system comprising:

at least two distinct video displays, a first display for showing a dealer in a card game and at least a second display showing at least playing cards to individual players;

at least one processor for enabling play of the wagering gaming event;

multiple player positions to enable multiple players to play the game;

wherein at least one processor can feed at least two different multiple video images and merge the at least two multiple video images to form a composite image of a dealer against a background, wherein the background comprises at least one dynamic image and the system displays images enabling play of a game according to the following rules;

playing a wagering card game for a number of players using standard playing cards having a standard rank, said game involving standard poker hand rankings and comprising the steps of;

each player placing a wager to participate in the game;

dealing at least one card to each player and at least one common card;

giving each player the chance to examine the cards received by tat player and to withdraw at least part of said wager based on the rank of said player'"'"'s cards;

showing said at least one common card, thereby providing a hand for each player, each player'"'"'s hand comprising said shown at least one common card and the at least one card each player was dealt; and

resolving each player'"'"'s remaining wager, which was not withdrawn based on the rank of that player'"'"'s hand.

9. The system of claim 8, said wager comprising at least two parts.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the quantity of said at least two parts is at least one more than the quantity of said at least one common card.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein said wager is divided into parts and wherein the number of said parts of said wager that may be withdrawn is equal to the number of said at least one common card.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said parts of said wager are equal.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the rules permit the player to optionally place one or more side bets.