Method and apparatus for team play of slot machines
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining, by a processor performing a program for facilitating a poker game, a first plurality of cards for a first player at a first gaming device, the first plurality of cards being a starting hand of the first player for a first round of the poker game, thereby determining a first starting hand;
determining, by the processor, a second plurality of cards for a second player at a second gaming device, the second plurality of cards being a starting hand of the second player for a second round of the poker game, thereby determining a second starting hand;
receiving a first discard decision from the first player;
receiving a second discard decision from the second player;
determining a third card for the first player based on the first discard decision, the third card being one of the first plurality of cards and a card the first player has decided to discard from the first starting hand;
determining a fourth card for the second player based on the second discard decision, the fourth card being one of the second plurality of cards and a card the second player has decided to discard from the second starting hand;
adding the third card and the fourth card to a pool of cards common to a group comprising the first player and the second player;
determining that the third card and the fourth card, when added to additional cards available in the pool of cards as a result of previous discard decisions of the group, correspond to a winning bonus hand of the poker game; and
providing, based on the winning bonus hand, a reward to the group comprising the first player and the second player.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of operating slot machines permits a machine to be identified as available for team play. Upon being identified for team play, the machine is grouped with other slot machines and subject to bonus conditions dependent on the team play. Bonus conditions typically including selected bonus outcomes and a bonus time period, during which bonus time period all outcomes of the grouped machines are monitored to determine the total bonus outcomes. If the total bonus outcomes of the team meet the bonus conditions within the bonus time period, then a bonus payout is awarded to all of the players. Players are thus encouraged to participate in a social, team environment with others of the team to win the group bonus. The invention is applicable to all slot machines, including video poker machines wherein the bonus outcomes include selected video poker hand ranks, and reeled slot machines wherein the bonus outcomes include selected reel outcomes.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining, by a processor performing a program for facilitating a poker game, a first plurality of cards for a first player at a first gaming device, the first plurality of cards being a starting hand of the first player for a first round of the poker game, thereby determining a first starting hand; determining, by the processor, a second plurality of cards for a second player at a second gaming device, the second plurality of cards being a starting hand of the second player for a second round of the poker game, thereby determining a second starting hand; receiving a first discard decision from the first player; receiving a second discard decision from the second player; determining a third card for the first player based on the first discard decision, the third card being one of the first plurality of cards and a card the first player has decided to discard from the first starting hand; determining a fourth card for the second player based on the second discard decision, the fourth card being one of the second plurality of cards and a card the second player has decided to discard from the second starting hand; adding the third card and the fourth card to a pool of cards common to a group comprising the first player and the second player; determining that the third card and the fourth card, when added to additional cards available in the pool of cards as a result of previous discard decisions of the group, correspond to a winning bonus hand of the poker game; and providing, based on the winning bonus hand, a reward to the group comprising the first player and the second player. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-readable medium storing instructions, which instructions when performed by a processor cause the processor to:
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determine a first plurality of cards for a first player at a first gaming device, the first plurality of cards being a starting hand of the first player for a first round of the poker game, thereby determining a first starting hand; determine a second plurality of cards for a second player at a second gaming device, the second plurality of cards being a starting hand of the second player for a second round of the poker game, thereby determining a second starting hand; receive a first discard decision from the first player; receive a second discard decision from the second player; determine a third card for the first player based on the first discard decision, the third card being one of the first plurality of cards and a card the first player has decided to discard from the first starting hand; determine a fourth card for the second player based on the second discard decision, the fourth card being one of the second plurality of cards and a card the second player has decided to discard from the second starting hand; add the third card and the fourth card to a pool of cards common to a group comprising the first player and the second player; determine that the third card and the fourth card, when added to additional cards available in the pool of cards as a result of previous discard decisions of the group, correspond to a winning bonus hand of the poker game; and provide, based on the winning bonus hand, a reward to the group comprising the first player and the second player.
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Specification