Gaming system, gaming device, and method providing a card game with payouts based on odds of achieving certain events

• US 8,398,473 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2008
• Issued: 03/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Dewaal, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/243,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20090124316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• 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 gaming device includes a poker game where two cards are dealt face-up to at least one player and to a dealer. The gaming device enables the player to place an optional wager based on the initially dealt two card hand. A pay out for the optional wager is determined based on the probability that the final player hand will outrank the final dealer hand. The pay out is inversely proportional to the probability that the player will win. Therefore, if the player has a high probability of winning, the associated pay out will be relatively small. Also, if the player has a low probability of winning, the associated pay out will be relatively small. The gaming device enables the player to place multiple wager after each of a plurality of community cards are dealt, where the associated pay out changes according to a revised probability of winning.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to;

(a) for a first play of a card game, said card game associated with an inventory of different cards, said inventory of different cards including a plurality of active cards, and said first-play of the card game causing a plurality of the active cards used in the first play of the card game to become expired cards and causing a plurality of the active cards to remain active;

(i) employ one of a plurality of different paytables for said first play of the card game, each of said paytables including a different payout for a same designated outcome; and

(ii) display the payout for said same designated outcome of the employed paytable; and

(b) for a second subsequent play of the card game, said second play of the card game causing a plurality of the remaining active cards used in the second play of the card game to become expired cards;

(i) employ one of the plurality of the different paytables for said second play of the card game based on each of the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game, and

(ii) display the payout for said same designated outcome of the employed paytable.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein each of the paytables includes a plurality of different outcomes.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the paytable employed for the first play of the card game is a default paytable.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the paytable employed for the second play of the card game is selected based on which of the inventory of cards are remaining active cards following the first play of the card game.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the paytable employed for the second play of the card game is selected based on how many of the inventory of cards are remaining active cards following the first play of the card game.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the paytable employed for the second play of the card game is selected based on a probability of said same designated outcome occurring in the second play of the card game based on the remaining active cards.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of different paytables includes at least three different paytables, including:

(i) a first paytable having a default payout for the same designated outcome;

(ii) a second paytable having a second different payout for the same designated outcome, said second different payout being higher than said default payout; and

(iii) a third paytable having a third different payout for the same designated outcome, said third different payout being lower than said default payout.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein for the first play of the card game, the first paytable is employed and the same designated outcome has a first probability of occurring in said first play of the card game, and wherein for the second play of the card game:

(i) the second paytable is employed if, based on the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game, a probability of said same designated outcome occurring in the second play of the card game is lower than said first probability; and

(ii) the third paytable is employed if, based on the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game, the probability of said same designated outcome occurring in the second play of the card game is higher than said first probability.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the card game includes a Blackjack game, wherein each play of the Blackjack game includes a dealer hand and at least one player hand.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the card game is played at a gaming table which includes at least one player position and a dealer position.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, which includes an electronic tracking mechanism configured to identify and track physical cards used in each play of the card game.

13. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the at least one display device is associated with and viewable by a player at said at least one player position, said display device configured to display virtual cards dealt to said at least one player position.

14. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the gaming table includes a plurality of player positions, each of the player positions associated with one of a plurality of display devices configured to display virtual cards dealt to said player position.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein for each play of the card game, the display device associated with each player position is configured to display the payout for the same designated outcome of the employed paytable for said play of the card game.

10. The gaming system of claim, wherein said same designated outcome includes one of:

(a) the at least one player hand outranking the dealer hand;

(b) the dealer hand outranking the at least one player hand;

(c) the dealer hand including a Blackjack;

(d) the at least one player hand including a Blackjack;

(e) the dealer hand including a predetermined combination of cards;

(f) the at least one player hand including a predetermined combination of cards;

(g) the dealer hand including a predetermined number of cards; and

(h) the at least one player hand including a predetermined number of cards.

16. A gaming system 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 that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) display a first play of a card game, said card game associated with an inventory of different cards, said inventory of cards including a plurality of active cards, wherein said first play of the card game causes a plurality of the active cards used in the first play of the card game to become expired cards and causes a plurality of the active cards to remain active, and for said first play of the card game;

(i) employ one of a plurality of different paytables for said first play of the card game, each of said paytables including a different payout for a same designated outcome;

(ii) display the payout for said same designated outcome of the employed paytable;

(iii) enable a player to place a wager on said first play of the card game;

(iv) determine an outcome for said first play of the card game; and

(v) provide to the player any award associated with the determined outcome for said first play of the card game in accordance with the employed paytable; and

(b) after the first play of the card game, display a second play of the card game using a plurality of the remaining active cards, and for said second play of the card game;

(i) employ a different one of the paytables for said second play of the card game based on each of the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game,

(ii) display the payout for said same designated outcome of the employed paytable,

(iii) enable the player to place a the wager on said second play of the card game,

(iv) determine an outcome for said second play of the card game,

(v) provide to the player any award associated with the determined outcome for said second play of the card game in accordance with the employed paytable, and

(vi) cause the plurality of the remaining active cards used in the second play of the card game to become expired cards.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein each of the paytables includes a plurality of different outcomes.

18. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the paytable employed for the first play of the card game is a default paytable.

19. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the paytable employed for the second play of the card game is selected based on which of the inventory of cards are remaining active cards following the first play of the card game.

20. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the paytable employed for the second play of the card game is selected based on how many of the inventory of cards are remaining active cards following the first play of the card game.

21. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, for each of said first and second plays of the card game, display an amount of any provided award based on the paytable employed for said play of the card game.

22. The gaming system of claim 16, which includes at least three different paytables, including:

(i) a first paytable having a default payout for the same designated outcome;

(ii) a second paytable having a second different payout for the same designated outcome, said second different payout being higher than said default payout; and

(iii) a third paytable having a third different payout for the same designated outcome, said third different payout being lower than said default payout.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the first play of the card game employs the first paytable and is associated with a first probability that the determined outcome for the first play of the card game will include the same designated outcome, and wherein the second play of the card game:

(i) employs the second paytable if, based on the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game, a probability that said determined outcome for the second play of the card game will include the same designated outcome is lower than said first probability; and

(ii) employs the third paytable if, based on the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game, the probability that said determined outcome for the second play of the card game will include the same designated outcome is higher than said first probability.

24. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein the card game includes a Blackjack game, each play of the Blackjack game including a dealer hand and a player hand.

25. The gaming system of claim 24 wherein said same designated outcome includes one of:

(a) the player hand outranking the dealer hand;

(b) the dealer hand outranking the player hand;

(c) the dealer hand including a Blackjack;

(d) the player hand including a Blackjack;

(e) the dealer hand including a predetermined combination of cards;

(f) the player hand including a predetermined combination of cards;

(g) the dealer hand including a predetermined number of cards; and

(h) the player hand including a predetermined number of cards.

26. A gaming system 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 that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) display a first play of a card game, said card game associated with an inventory of different cards, said inventory of cards including a plurality of active cards, wherein said first play of the card game causes a plurality of the active cards used in the first play of the card game to become expired cards and causes a plurality of the active cards to remain active, and for said first play of the card game;

(i) employ one of a plurality of different paytables for said first play of the card game, each of said paytables including a different payout for a same designated outcome;

(ii) display the payout for said same designated outcome of the employed paytable;

(iii) enable each of a plurality of players to place a wager on said first play of the card game; and

(iv) for each player who places said wager;

(A) determine an outcome for said first play of the card game, and

(B) provide to the player any award associated with the determined outcome for said first play of the card game in accordance with the employed paytable; and

(b) after the first play of the card game, display a second play of the card game using a plurality of the remaining active cards, and for said second play of the card game;

(i) employ a different one of the paytables for said second play of the card game based on each of the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game;

(ii) display the payout for said same designated outcome of the employed paytable;

(iii) enable each of the plurality of players to place a wager on said second play of the card game;

(iv) for each player who places said wager;

(A) determine an outcome for said second play of the card game, and

(B) provide to the player any award associated with the determined outcome for said second play of the card game in accordance with the employed paytable; and

(v) cause the plurality of the remaining active cards used in the second play of the card game to become expired cards.

27. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein each of the paytables includes a plurality of different outcomes.

28. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the paytable employed for the first play of the card game is a default paytable.

29. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the paytable employed for the second play of the card game is selected based on which of the inventory of cards are remaining active cards following the first play of the card game.

30. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the paytable employed for the second play of the card game is selected based how many of the inventory of cards are remaining active cards following the first play of the card game.

31. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, for each of said first and second plays of the card game, display an amount of any provided award based on the paytable employed for said play of the card game.

32. The gaming system of claim 26, which includes at least three different paytables, including:

(i) a first paytable having a default payout for the same designated outcome;

(ii) a second paytable having a second different payout for the same designated outcome, said second different payout being higher than said default payout; and

(iii) a third paytable having a third different payout for the same designated outcome, said third different payout being lower than said default payout.

33. The gaming system of claim 32, wherein the first play of the card game employs the first paytable and is associated with a first probability that any determined outcome for the first play of the game will include the same designated outcome, and wherein the second play of the card game:

(i) employs the second paytable if, based on the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game, a probability that any determined outcome for the second play of the game will include the same designated outcome is lower than said first probability; and

(ii) employs the third paytable if, based on the remaining active cards for said second play of the card game, the probability that any determined outcome for the second play of the game will include the same designated outcome is higher than said first probability.

34. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the card game includes a Blackjack game, each play of the Blackjack game including a dealer hand and at least one player hand.

35. The gaming system of claim 34 wherein said same designated outcome includes one of:

(a) the at least one player hand outranking the dealer hand;

(b) the dealer hand outranking the at least one player hand;

(c) the dealer hand including a Blackjack;

(d) the at least one player hand including a Blackjack;

(e) the dealer hand including a predetermined combination of cards;

(f) the at least one player hand including a predetermined combination of cards;

(g) the dealer hand including a predetermined number of cards; and

(h) the at least one player hand including a predetermined number of cards.