Gaming device having an interactive poker game with predetermined outcomes

• US 7,837,545 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2004
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Blair, Robert R. Jr., Cannon, Lee E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo; Jasson H
• Application Number:
  US10/934,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,272 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13, 463 25- 26, 463 16- 20
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

An interactive poker game which provides a predetermined outcome to a player. In one embodiment, the player and at least one gaming device generated competitor or dealer are provided a plurality of cards. The gaming device generated competitors then place one or more bets into a community pot, wherein if the predetermined outcome is a win associated with a value, the amount placed into the community pot equals the value associated with the win outcome. The player is enabled to replace one or more of their provided cards with new cards and based on the player'"'"'s cards and the predetermined game outcome, the gaming device determines for each generated competitor which playing cards to replace and the new cards provided. The player'"'"'s hand is compared to each of the dynamic gaming device generated competitors as opposed to a static paytable and the predetermined outcome is provided to the player.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with said at least one display device and the at least one input device to, for each play of an interactive poker game which includes a plurality of playing cards, control said play of the interactive poker game by;

(a) determining and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to a player to form an initial player poker hand;

(b) determining and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to form at least one initial competing virtual poker hand, at least one of said playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand being based on a predetermined game outcome that is selected from a plurality of different predetermined game outcomes;

(c) enabling the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(d) determining which playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand to designate to hold or to discard;

(e) determining and selecting another one of said playing cards for each playing card the player designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards in the player'"'"'s hand is based on the selected predetermined game outcome;

(f) displaying said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial player poker hand that the player designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second player poker hand;

(g) for each initial competing virtual poker hand;

(i) determining and selecting another one of said playing cards for each playing card designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards is based on said selected predetermined game outcome, and

(ii) displaying said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial competing virtual poker hand that were designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second competing virtual poker hand;

(h) displaying a comparison of the second player poker hand to each of said second competing virtual poker hands; and

(i) providing the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and a plurality of playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and each of said playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the player is enabled to designate a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the player is enabled to designate each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to control the play of the interactive poker game by displaying at least one generated competitor placing at least one bet into a community pot.

8. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein if the selected predetermined game outcome is a win outcome with an associated value, the bets placed into the community pot by the generated competitor equals the value associated with the selected predetermined game outcome.

9. The gaming device of claim 7, wherein if the selected predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome, a randomly determined amount of bets are placed into the community pot by the generated competitor.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said selected predetermined game outcome is selected from a memory device of said gaming device.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said selected predetermined game outcome is selected by and received from a central controller.

12. A gaming device comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with said display device and the at least one input device, for each play of an interactive poker game which includes a plurality of playing cards, to control said play of the interactive poker game by;

(a) determining and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to the player to form an initial player poker hand;

(b) determining and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to form at least one initial competing virtual poker hand;

(c) if a selected one of a plurality of different predetermined game outcomes is a win outcome associated with a value, displaying at least one generated competitor placing at least one value into a community pot, wherein said placed values equal the value associated with the predetermined game outcome and each of said plurality of predetermined game outcomes is either a win outcome associated with a value or a loss outcome;

(d) enabling the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(e) determining which playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand to designate to hold or to discard;

(f) determining and selecting another one of said playing cards for each playing card the player designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards in the player'"'"'s hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome;

(g) displaying said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial player poker hand that the player designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second player poker hand;

(h) for each initial competing virtual poker hand;

(i) determining and selecting another one of said playing cards for each playing card designated to discard,

wherein at least one of said selected playing cards is based on said selected predetermined game outcome; and

(ii) displaying said selected playing cards replacing said playing cards in the initial competing virtual poker hand that were designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second competing virtual poker hand;

(i) displaying a comparison of the players second poker hand to each of said displayed second competing virtual poker hands; and

(j) providing the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

14. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

15. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and a plurality of playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

16. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and each of said playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

17. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the player is enabled to designate a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

18. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the player is enabled to designate each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

19. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein if the predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome, a randomly determined amount of bets are placed into the community pot by the generated competitor.

20. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said selected predetermined game outcome is selected from a memory device of said gaming device.

21. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein said selected predetermined game outcome is selected by and received from a central controller.

22. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller configured to operate to;

(i) store a pool of predetermined game outcomes wherein at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(ii) select one of said predetermined game outcomes from said pool of predetermined game outcomes,

(iii) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selections from said pool, and

(iv) output said selected predetermined game outcome; and

at least one gaming device including a display device and a processor in communication with said display device, said processor configured to operate, for each play of a poker game, to;

(a) enable a player to initiate the poker game, wherein said poker game includes a plurality of playing cards;

(b) receive said selected predetermined game outcome from said central controller;

(c) determine and display a plurality of said playing cards to the player to form an initial player poker hand;

(d) determine and display a plurality of said playing cards to form at least one initial competing virtual poker hand, at least one of said playing cards in said at least one initial competing virtual poker hand being based on said selected predetermined game outcome;

(e) enable the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(f) determine which playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand to designate to hold or to discard;

(g) determine and select another one of said playing cards for each playing card the player designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards is based on said selected predetermined game outcome;

(h) display said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial player poker hand that the player designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second player poker hand;

(i) for each initial competing virtual poker hand;

(i) determine and select another one of said playing cards for each playing card designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards is based on said selected predetermined game outcome, and

(ii) display said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial competing virtual poker hand that were designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second competing virtual poker hand;

(j) display a comparison of the second player poker hand to each of said second competing virtual poker hands; and

(k) provide the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

23. The central determination gaming system of claim 22, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

24. The central determination gaming system of claim 22, which includes a plurality of pools of game outcomes.

25. The central determination gaming system of claim 22, wherein a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and a plurality of playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

26. The central determination gaming system of claim 22, wherein each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and each of said playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

27. The central determination gaming system of claim 22, wherein the player is enabled to designate a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

28. The central determination gaming system of claim 22, wherein the player is enabled to designate each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

29. The central determination gaming system of claim 22, wherein the gaming device processor is operable to control the play of the poker game by displaying at least one generated competitor placing at least one bet into a community pot.

30. The central determination gaming system of claim 29, wherein if the selected game outcome is a win outcome with an associated value, the bets placed into the community pot by the generated competitor equals the value associated with the selected predetermined game outcome.

31. The central determination gaming system of claim 29, wherein if the predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome, a randomly determined amount of bets are placed into the community pot by the generated competitor.

32. The central determination gaming system of claim 22, wherein the pool of predetermined game outcomes includes a plurality of loss outcomes and a plurality of different win outcomes, wherein each different win outcome is associated with a different value.

33. A gaming device comprising:

at least one input device,

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with said display device and the at least one input device for each play of an interactive poker game which includes a plurality of playing cards to control said play of the interactive poker game by;

(a) determining and displaying a plurality of said playing cards to the player to form an initial player poker hand;

(b) displaying an image of at least one competing virtual poker hand without determining or displaying a rank and a suit of which of said playing cards are in said competing virtual poker hand;

(c) enabling the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(d) determining and selecting another one of said playing cards for each playing card the player designated to discard;

(e) displaying said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial player poker hand that the player designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second player poker hand;

(f) for each displayed image of a competing virtual poker hand, determining and displaying a plurality of playing cards to include in said competing virtual poker hand, wherein said determination is based on said second player poker hand and a selected one of a plurality of predetermined game outcomes, and each of said predetermined game outcomes is either a win outcome associated with a value or a loss outcome;

(g) if the selected predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome, displaying at least one generated competitor placing a randomly determined amount of bets into a community pot;

(h) displaying a comparison of the second player poker hand to each of said competing virtual poker hands; and

(i) providing the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

34. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

35. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards selected to replace one of said playing cards designated to discard is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

36. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

37. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

38. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein the player is enabled to designate a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

39. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein the player is enabled to designate each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

40. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein if the selected predetermined game outcome is a win outcome with an associated value, the processor is operable to control the play of the interactive poker game by displaying the at least one generated competitor placing bets into the community pot which equal the value associated with the selected predetermined game outcome.

41. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein said selected predetermined game outcome is selected from a memory device of said gaming device.

42. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein said selected predetermined game outcome is selected by and received from a central controller.

43. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein each of said playing cards provided to the player are independent of said selected predetermined game outcome.

44. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a central controller configured to operate to;

(i) store a pool of predetermined game outcomes, wherein at least two of said predetermined game outcomes are different,

(ii) select one of said predetermined game outcomes from said pool of predetermined game outcomes,

(iii) prevent said selected predetermined game outcome from further selections from said pool, and

(iv) output said selected predetermined game outcome; and

at least one gaming device including a display device and a processor in communication with said display device, said processor configured to operate, for each play of a poker game, to;

(a) enable a player to initiate the poker game, wherein said poker game includes a plurality of playing cards;

(b) receive said selected game outcome from said central controller;

(c) determine and display a plurality of said playing cards to the player to form an initial player poker hand;

(d) display an image of at least one competing virtual poker hand without determining or displaying a rank and a suit of which of said playing cards are in said competing virtual poker hand;

(e) enable the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(f) determine and select another one of said playing cards for each playing card the player designated to discard;

(g) display said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial player poker hand that the player designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second player poker hand;

(h) for each displayed image of a competing virtual poker hand, determine and display a plurality of playing cards to include in said competing virtual poker hand, wherein said determination is based on said second player poker hand and the selected predetermined game outcome;

(i) if the selected predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome, displaying at least one generated competitor placing a randomly determined amount of bets into a community pot;

(j) display a comparison of the second player poker hand to each of said competing virtual poker hands; and

(k) provide the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

45. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

46. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, which includes a plurality of pools of game outcomes.

47. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, wherein a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

48. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, wherein each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

49. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, wherein the player is enabled to designate a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

50. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, wherein the player is enabled to designate each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

51. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, wherein if the selected game outcome is a win outcome with an associated value, said processor is configured to operate, for each play of the poker game, to display the at least one generated competitor placing bets into the community pot which equal the value associated with the selected game outcome.

52. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, wherein the pool of predetermined game outcomes includes a plurality of loss outcomes and a plurality of different win outcomes, wherein each different win outcome is associated with a different value.

53. The central determination gaming system of claim 44, wherein each of said playing cards provided to the player are independent of said selected predetermined game outcome.

54. A gaming device comprising:

at least one input device;

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with said display device and the at least one input device for each play of an interactive poker game which includes a plurality of playing cards, to control said play of the interactive poker game by;

(a) determining and displaying an initial player poker hand, wherein the initial player poker hand includes a plurality of said playing cards;

(b) determining and displaying at least one initial competing virtual poker hand, wherein each initial competing virtual poker hand includes a plurality of said playing cards;

(c) enabling the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(d) determining and displaying a second player poker hand, wherein said second player poker hand is based on said player'"'"'s designations and a selected one of a plurality of predetermined game outcomes, and each of said predetermined game outcomes is either a win outcome associated with a value or a loss outcome;

(e) determining and displaying at least one second competing virtual poker hand, wherein each second competing virtual poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome;

(f) if the selected predetermined game outcome is a win outcome with an associated value, displaying at least one generated competitor placing at least one bet into a community pot, wherein the bets placed into the community pot by the at least one generated competitor equal the value associated with the selected predetermined game outcome;

(g) displaying a comparison of the second player poker hand to each of said second competing virtual poker hands; and

(h) providing the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

55. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein if the selected predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome, the processor is operable to control the play of the interactive poker game by displaying a randomly determined amount of bets placed into the community pot by the at least one generated competitor.

56. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein said selected predetermined game outcome is selected from a memory device of said gaming device.

57. The gaming device of claim 54, wherein said selected predetermined game outcome is selected by and received from a central controller.

58. A method of operating a gaming device, for each play of a poker game, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a plurality of playing cards to form an initial player poker hand;

(b) causing at least one display device to display to a player the determined plurality of playing cards which form the initial player poker hand;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a plurality of said playing cards to form at least one initial competing virtual poker hand, at least one of said playing cards in said at least one initial competing virtual poker hand being based on a predetermined game outcome selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcomes;

(d) causing the at least one display device to display the determined plurality of said playing cards which form said at least one initial competing virtual poker hand;

(e) enabling the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine which playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand to designate to hold or to discard;

(g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine and select another one of said playing cards for each playing card the player designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards is based on said selected predetermined game outcome;

(h) causing the at least one display device to display said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial player poker hand that the player designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second player poker hand;

(i) for each initial competing virtual poker hand;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine and select another one of said playing cards for each playing card designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards is based on said selected predetermined game outcome, and

(ii) causing the at least one display device to display said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial competing virtual poker hand that were designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second competing virtual poker hand;

(j) causing the at least one display device to display a comparison of the second player poker hand to each of said second competing virtual poker hands; and

(k) providing the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and a plurality of playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

61. The method of claim 58, wherein each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and each of said playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

62. The method of claim 58, which includes enabling the player to designate a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

63. The method of claim 58, which includes enabling the player to designate each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

64. The method of claim 58, which includes causing the at least one display device to display at least one generated competitor placing at least one bet into a community pot.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein if the selected predetermined game outcome is a win outcome with an associated value, the bets placed into the community pot by the generated competitor equals the value associated with the selected predetermined game outcome.

66. The method of claim 64, which includes placing a randomly determined amount of bets into the community pot by the generated competitor if the selected predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome.

67. The method of claim 58, wherein steps (a) to (k) are provided to the player through a data network.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the data network is an internet.

69. A method of operating a gaming device, for each play of a poker game, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one display device to display a plurality of playing cards to a player to form an initial player poker hand;

(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a plurality of said playing cards to form at least one initial competing virtual poker hand;

(c) causing the at least one display device to display the determined plurality of said playing cards which form the at least one initial competing virtual poker hand;

(d) if a predetermined game outcome selected from a plurality of predetermined game outcomes is a win outcome, causing the at least one display device to display at least one generated competitor placing at least one value into the community pot, wherein said placed values equal the value associated with the predetermined game outcome;

(e) enabling the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine which playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand to designate to hold or to discard;

(g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine and select another one of said playing cards for each playing card the player designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards is based on said selected predetermined game outcome;

(h) causing the at least one display device to display said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial player poker hand that the player designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second player poker hand;

(i) for each initial competing virtual poker hand;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine and select another one of said playing cards for each playing card designated to discard, wherein at least one of said selected playing cards is based on said selected predetermined game outcome; and

(ii) causing the at least one display device to display said selected playing cards replacing said playing cards in the initial competing virtual poker hand that were designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second competing virtual poker hand;

(j) causing the at least one display device to display a comparison of the players second poker hand to each of said displayed second competing virtual poker hands; and

(k) providing the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein at least one of said playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

72. The method of claim 69, wherein a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and a plurality of playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

73. The method of claim 69, wherein each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand and each of said playing cards in said initial competing virtual poker hand are based on said selected predetermined game outcome.

74. The method of claim 69, which includes enabling the player to designate a plurality of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

75. The method of claim 69, which includes enabling the player to designate each of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard.

76. The method of claim 69, wherein steps (a) to (k) are provided to the player through a data network.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the data network is an internet.

78. A method of operating a gaming device, for each play of a poker game, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a plurality of playing cards to form an initial player poker hand;

(b) causing at least one display device to display to a player the determined plurality of playing cards which form the initial player poker hand;

(c) causing the at least one display device to display an image of at least one competing virtual poker hand without determining or displaying which of said playing cards are in said competing virtual poker hand;

(d) enabling the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine and select another one of said playing cards for each playing card the player designated to discard;

(f) causing the at least one display device to display said selected playing cards replacing the playing cards in the initial player poker hand that the player designated to discard, wherein said held playing cards and said selected playing cards form a second player poker hand;

(g) for each displayed image of a competing virtual poker hand;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a plurality of playing cards to include in said competing virtual poker hand, wherein said determination is based on said second player poker hand and a selected one of a plurality of predetermined game outcomes wherein each of said predetermined game outcomes is either a win outcome associated with a value or a loss outcome, and

(ii) causing the at least one display device to display the determined plurality of playing cards of said competing virtual poker hand;

(h) if the selected predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome, causing the at least one display device to display at least one generated competitor placing a randomly determined amount of bets into a community pot;

(i) causing the at least one display device to display a comparison of the second player poker hand to each of said competing virtual poker hands; and

(j) providing the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

79. The method of claim 78, which includes causing the at least one display device to display the at least one generated competitor placing bets into the community pot which equal a value associated with the selected predetermined game outcome if the selected predetermined game outcome is a win outcome.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein each of said playing cards provided to the player are independent of said selected predetermined game outcome.

81. The method of claim 78, wherein steps (a) to (j) are provided to the player through a data network.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the data network is an internet.

83. A method of operating a gaming device, for each play of a poker game, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine an initial player poker hand, wherein the initial player poker hand includes a plurality of playing cards;

(b) causing at least one display device to display the determined initial player poker hand;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine at least one initial competing virtual poker hand, wherein each initial competing virtual poker hand includes a plurality of playing cards;

(d) causing the at least one display device to display the determined at least one initial competing virtual poker hand;

(e) enabling the player to designate at least one of said playing cards in said initial player poker hand to hold or to discard;

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second player poker hand, wherein said second player poker hand is based on said player'"'"'s designations and a selected predetermined game outcome, said predetermined game outcome selected from a plurality of different predetermined game outcomes, wherein each of said predetermined game outcomes is either a win outcome associated with a value or a loss outcome;

(g) causing the at least one display device to display the determined second player poker hand;

(h) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine at least one second competing virtual poker hand, wherein each second competing virtual poker hand is based on said selected predetermined game outcome;

(i) causing the at least one display device to display the determined at least one second competing virtual poker hand;

(j) if the selected predetermined game outcome is a win outcome with an associated value, causing the at least one display device to display at least one generated competitor placing at least one bet into a community pot, wherein the bets placed into the community pot by the at least one generated competitor equal the value associated with the selected predetermined game outcome;

(k) causing the at least one display device to display a comparison of the second player poker hand to each of said second competing virtual poker hands; and

(I) providing the player said selected predetermined game outcome.

84. The method of claim 83, which includes causing the at least one display device to display a randomly determined amount of bets placed into the community pot by the at least one generated competitor if the selected predetermined game outcome is a loss outcome.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein steps (a) to (I) are provided to the player through a data network.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the data network is an internet.