Multi-spin poker gaming system with predetermined game outcomes

• US 7,857,693 B1
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 12/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Johnson, Nicholas, Wolf, Bryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rustemeyer; Malina K
• Application Number:
  US11/764,603
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13
• 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

A gaming system which provides a predetermined outcome to a player. The gaming device a plurality of playing cards in a plurality of playing card positions to form an initial primary poker hand. The gaming device enables the player to select one or more of the initially dealt playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein the held playing cards in the primary hand are also held in one, more or each of a plurality of simultaneously played poker hands. The gaming device evaluates the set of held playing cards and determines, possibly utilizing at least one stored table of solutions, the appropriate playing cards to generate in the appropriate playing card positions to form a plurality of poker hands with a total combined payout equal to the selected predetermined game outcome value.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

at least one display device configured to display a multi-hand spin poker game, said multi-hand spin poker game including;

(i) a plurality of playing cards, wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a payout;

(ii) a plurality of playing card positions; and

(iii) a plurality of paylines;

at least one memory device operable to store data representing a predefined table which includes a plurality of poker hand seeds, wherein each poker hand seed is associated with a payout, each poker hand seed is associated with zero, one or more predefined solutions and at least one poker hand seed is associated with at least one predefined solution,

at least one input device; and

said at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device, said at least one memory device and said at least one input device to control a play of the multi-hand spin poker game by;

(a) determining a predetermined game outcome value;

(b) accessing the predefined table of poker hand seeds to select one of the poker hand seeds based on the predetermined game outcome value, wherein the payout associated with the selected poker hand seed is equal to or substantially equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(c) generating and displaying a plurality of playing cards in a plurality of said playing card positions to form a primary poker hand along one of the paylines, wherein said generated playing cards are based on said selected poker hand seed;

(d) enabling the player to select at least one of said generated and displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands;

(e) determining if, based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(f) if the plurality of playing cards can be generated in the plurality of non-held playing card positions to cause the primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form the total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(i) for each non-held playing card position, generating and displaying said determined playing card in said determined playing card position, and

(ii) providing the predetermined game outcome value to the player; and

(g) if the plurality of playing cards cannot be generated in the plurality of non-held playing card positions to cause the primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form the total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(i) selecting one of the solutions associated with the poker hand seed of the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said solution is based on the held playing cards,

(ii) generating and displaying a plurality of the playing cards in the plurality of playing card positions, wherein which of said playing cards are generated in which of said playing card positions is based on the selected solution, and

(iii) providing the predetermined game outcome value to the player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by determining if, in a set amount of time and based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by determining if, in a set number of attempts and based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by replacing at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by enabling the player to select a plurality of said generated and displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by enabling the player to select each of said generated and displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the predetermined game outcome value is associated with a value of zero for the play of the multi-hand spin poker game.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is selected from a plurality of different predetermined game outcome values.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is stored in said at least one memory device of the gaming device.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is received from a central controller.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the predefined table is received from a central controller.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each playing card position includes a reel.

13. A gaming system comprising:

at least one database including;

(i) data representing a plurality of different poker hand seeds, wherein each poker hand seed is associated with a payout, each poker hand seed is associated with zero, one or more predefined solutions and at least one poker hand seed is associated with at least one predefined solution,

(ii) data representing a plurality of payout amounts and at least one distribution of poker game outcomes, if any, which would result in each of said payout amounts, and

(iii) data representing a set of predetermined game outcome values;

at least one central controller programmed to select at least one of said predetermined game outcome values from the set of predetermined game outcome values; and

a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine operable under control of at least one gaming machine processor and configured to communicate with the at least one central controller, each gaming machine including;

at least one display device configured to display a multi-hand spin poker game operable upon a wager, said multi-hand spin poker game including;

(i) a plurality of playing cards, wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a payout,

(ii) a plurality of playing card positions in said multi-hand spin poker game, and

(iii) a plurality of paylines;

at least one memory device; and

at least one input device;

said at least one gaming machine processor programmed to operate with said at least one input device, said at least one display device and said at least one memory device to control a play of the multi-hand spin poker game by;

(a) accessing the at least one database to select one of the poker hand seeds based on the central controller selected predetermined game outcome value;

(b) generating and displaying a plurality of playing cards in a plurality of said playing card positions to form a primary poker hand along one of the paylines, wherein said generated playing cards are based on said selected poker hand seed;

(c) enabling the player to select at least one of said generated and displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands;

(d) determining if, based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the data of said at least one database;

(e) if the plurality of playing cards can be generated in the plurality of non-held playing card positions to cause the primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form the total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(i) for each non-held playing card position, generating and displaying said determined playing card in said determined playing card position, and

(ii) providing the predetermined game outcome value to the player; and

(f) if the plurality of playing cards cannot be generated in the plurality of non-held playing card positions to cause the primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form the total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(i) selecting one of the solutions associated with the poker hand seed of the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said solution is based on the held playing cards,

(ii) generating and displaying a plurality of the playing cards in the plurality of playing card positions, wherein which of said playing cards are generated in which of said playing card positions is based on the selected solution, and

(iii) providing the predetermined game outcome value to the player.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein each gaming machine processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by determining if, in a set amount of time and based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value.

15. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein each gaming machine processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by determining if, in a set number of attempts and based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value.

16. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein each gaming machine processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by replacing at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

17. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein each gaming machine processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by enabling the player to select a plurality of said generated and displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

18. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein each gaming machine processor is programmed to control the play of the multi-hand spin poker game by enabling the player to select each of said generated and displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

19. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined game outcome value is associated with a value of zero for the play of the multi-hand spin poker game.

20. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the at least one memory device of each gaming machine stores said at least one database.

21. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the central controller is operable to flag said selected predetermined game outcome value, to output the selected predetermined game outcome value and to prevent said selected game outcome value from any subsequent selections.

22. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the central controller is operable to select at least one of said predetermined game outcome values based on the results of a game selected from the group consisting of a bingo game, a keno game and a lottery game.

23. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein each playing card position of at least one of said gaming machines includes a reel.

24. A method of operating a gaming device, said method causing the gaming device to:

(a) determine a predetermined game outcome value;

(b) access a predefined table of poker hand seeds to select one of a plurality of poker hand seeds based on the predetermined game outcome value, wherein each poker hand seed is associated with a payout, each poker hand seed is associated with zero, one or more predefined solutions, at least one poker hand seed is associated with at least one predefined solution and the payout associated with the selected poker hand seed is equal to or substantially equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(c) generate and display a plurality of playing cards in a plurality of playing card positions to form a primary poker hand along one of a plurality of paylines, wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a payout and said generated playing cards are based on said selected poker hand seed;

(d) enable the player to select at least one of said generated and displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands;

(e) determine if, based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(f) if the plurality of playing cards can be generated in the plurality of non-held playing card positions to cause the primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form the total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(i) for each non-held playing card position, generate and display said determined playing card in said determined playing card position, and

(ii) provide the predetermined game outcome value to the player; and

(g) if the plurality of playing cards cannot be generated in the plurality of non-held playing card positions to cause the primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form the total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(i) select one of the solutions associated with the poker hand seed of the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said i solution is based on the held playing cards,

(ii) generate and display a plurality of the playing cards in the plurality of playing card positions, wherein which of said playing cards are generated in which of said playing card positions is based on the selected solution, and

(iii) provide the predetermined game outcome value to the player.

25. The method of claim 24, which includes determining if, in a set amount of time and based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value.

26. The method of claim 24, which includes determining if, in a set number of attempts and based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value.

27. The method of claim 24, which includes replacing at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

28. The method of claim 24, which includes enabling the player to select a plurality of said generated and displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

29. The method of claim 24, which includes enabling the player to select each of said generated and displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the predetermined game outcome value is associated with a value of zero.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein said predetermined game outcome value is selected from a plurality of different predetermined game outcome values.

32. The method of claim 24, which includes storing said predetermined game outcome value.

33. The method of claim 24, which includes receiving said predetermined game outcome value from a central controller.

34. The method of claim 24, which includes receiving the predefined table from a central controller.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein each playing card position includes a reel.

36. The method of claim 24, which is provided over a data network.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the network is an internet.

38. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) maintaining at least one database including;

(i) data representing a plurality of different poker hand seeds, wherein each poker hand seed is associated with a payout, each poker hand seed is associated with zero, one or more predefined solutions and at least one poker hand seed is associated with at least one predefined solution,

(ii) data representing a plurality of payout amounts and at least one distribution of poker game outcomes, if any, which would result in each of said payout amounts, and

(iii) data representing a set of predetermined game outcome values;

(b) causing at least one central controller to select at least one of said predetermined game outcome values from the set of predetermined game outcome values; and

(c) causing at least one gaming machine to;

(i) access the at least one database to select one of the poker hand seeds based on the central controller selected predetermined game outcome value;

(ii) generate and display a plurality of playing cards in a plurality of playing card positions to form a primary poker hand along one of a plurality of paylines, wherein different pluralities of said playing cards form a plurality of different poker hands that are each associated with a payout and said generated playing cards are based on said selected poker hand seed;

(iii) enable the player to select at least one of said generated and displayed playing cards in the primary poker hand to hold or to discard, wherein said selected playing cards are respectively held or discarded in each of the secondary poker hands;

(iv) determine if, based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said determination is based, at least in part, on the data of said at least one database;

(v) if the plurality of playing cards can be generated in the plurality of non-held playing card positions to cause the primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form the total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(A) for each non-held playing card position, generate and display said determined playing card in said determined playing card position, and

(B) provide the predetermined game outcome value to the player; and

(vi) if the plurality of playing cards cannot be generated in the plurality of non-held playing card positions to cause the primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form the total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value;

(A) select one of the solutions associated with the poker hand seed of the predetermined game outcome value, wherein said solution is based on the held playing cards,

(B) generate and display a plurality of the playing cards in the plurality of playing card positions, wherein which of said playing cards are generated in which of said playing card positions is based on the selected solution, and

(C) provide the predetermined game outcome value to the player.

39. The method of claim 38, which includes causing said at least one gaming machine to determine if, in a set amount of time and based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value.

40. The method of claim 38, which includes causing said at least one gaming machine to determine if, in a set number of attempts and based on the held playing cards, a plurality of said playing cards can be generated in a plurality of said non-held playing card positions to cause said primary poker hand and each of said secondary poker hands to be associated with payouts which form a total payout equal to the predetermined game outcome value.

41. The method of claim 38, which includes causing said at least one gaming machine to replace at least one of the playing cards the player designated to hold.

42. The method of claim 38, which includes causing said at least one gaming machine to enable the player to select a plurality of said generated and displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

43. The method of claim 38, which includes causing said at least one gaming machine to enable the player to select each of said generated and displayed playing cards to hold or to discard.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the predetermined game outcome value is associated with a value of zero.

45. The method of claim 38, which includes causing the central controller to flag said selected predetermined game outcome value, to output the selected predetermined game outcome value and to prevent said selected game outcome value from any subsequent selections.

46. The method of claim 38, which includes causing the central controller to select at least one of said predetermined game outcome values based on the results of a game selected from the group consisting of a bingo game, a keno game and a lottery game.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein each playing card position of at said least one gaming machine includes a reel.

48. The method of claim 38, which is provided over a data network.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the network is an internet.