Linked game play on gaming devices

• US 8,475,254 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2009
• Issued: 07/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acres Technology
• Original Assignee: Patent Investment & Licensing Company
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US12/648,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20110159940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,282 Days
• Field of Search: 463/13, 463 16- 20
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices configured for linked game play. First and second gaming devices that are separately playable by first and second players are electronically linked so that a gaming event being played at the first gaming device may also be being played at the second gaming device. Also provided is a method of sharing game play across multiple gaming devices, where the method includes receiving a wager from a first player at a first gaming device, receiving a wager from a second player at a second gaming device, initiating a gaming event that is displayed at the first and second gaming devices, and awarding prizes associated with gaming outcomes displayed at the first and second gaming devices. These and other arrangements of the present concept may allow cooperative or competitive game play between the first and second player.

Claims

1. A method of sharing game play on a plurality of gaming devices, the method comprising:

receiving a wager via the gaming device from a first player at a first gaming device;

receiving a wager via the gaming device from a second player at a second gaming device;

displaying a first video poker hand dealt from a first card deck on a display at the first gaming device;

displaying a second video poker hand dealt from a second card deck on a display at the second gaming device;

displaying an indicator to designate one of the first or second player to provide an option of switching a dealt video poker hand with a video poker hand dealt to the other one of the first or second player;

awarding prizes associated with a first gaming outcome displayed at the first gaming device; and

awarding prizes associated with a second gaming outcome displayed at the second gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising awarding prizes associated with a combined gaming outcome of the first gaming outcome and the second gaming outcome.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first video poker hand and the second video poker hand include identical poker hands.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein an order of draw cards for each of the first video poker hand and the second video poker hand is identical.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein draw cards for the first video poker hand and the second video poker hand are drawn from separate card decks.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the first player an option of switching the first video poker hand dealt with the second video poker hand dealt.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator alternatively designates one of the first or second player to provide the switching option.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the indicator designates the other one the first or second player after an initially designated player utilizes the switching option.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated one of the first or second player must place a side bet to utilize the switching option.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an amount of the side bet is awarded to one of the first or second player that receives a better final poker hand.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing each of the first player and the second player an option to switch an initially dealt video poker hand with another player, the switching option requiring a first side bet to be placed to utilize the option;

providing each of the first player and the second player with an option to block the switch of the initially dealt video poker hands, the blocking option requiring a second side bet to be placed to utilize the option.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second side bets are placed in a common pot, the common pot awarded to one of the first or second player that receives a better final poker hand.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the wager received from the first player at the first gaming device is on the second gaming outcome displayed at the second gaming device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the wager received from the first player at the first gaming station is on the both the first gaming outcome displayed at the first gaming device and the second gaming outcome displayed at the second gaming device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the wager received from the first player at the first gaming device is on a better one of the first and second gaming outcomes respectively displayed at the first and second gaming devices.