Gaming system, gaming device, and method providing poker game with awards based on odds of winning

• US 9,773,375 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Issued: 09/26/2017
• 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., Nicely, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US14/964,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20160086443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• 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 large. The gaming device enables the player to place multiple wagers 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:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing and including an acceptor and a wager-input device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

at least one processor; and

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

(a) establish a credit balance for a first player based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item received by the acceptor;

(b) place an ante wager for the first player for a play of a game following receipt of an ante wager input via the wager-input device, the credit balance being decreasable by the ante wager;

(c) for the play of the game, cause the at least one display device to display a two-element first player hand, a two-element dealer hand, and at least one other two-element player hand;

(d) determine a probability of a final first player hand associated with the two-element first player hand winning against all other final player hands associated with the at least one other two-element player hand, the probability based on the two-element first player hand, the two-element dealer hand, the at least one other two-element player hand, any community elements previously dealt, and at least one of any community elements to be dealt;

(e) determine a payout ratio based on the determined probability of the final first player hand winning against all of the other final player hands and cause the at least one display device to display the payout ratio;

(f) enable, via the wager-input device, receipt of an optional play wager input associated with the displayed payout ratio;

(g) responsive to receiving the optional play wager input via the wager-input device, place a play wager for the first player, the play wager associated with the displayed payout ratio;

(h) cause the at least one display device to display at least one additional community element;

(i) repeat (d) to (h) at least once;

(j) determine whether the final first player hand wins against a final dealer hand associated with the two-element dealer hand;

(k) determine whether the final first player hand wins against all of the other final player hands for the play of the game;

(l) cause the at least one display device to display an ante award responsive to determining that the final first player hand wins against the final dealer hand regardless of whether the final first player hand wins against any of the other final, player hands, the credit balance increasable by the ante award;

(m) cause the at least one display device to display a play award responsive to determining that the final first player hand wins against all of the other final, player hands, the play award including a sum of each of any play wagers placed multiplied by the payout ratio associated with that play wager, the credit balance increasable by the play award; and

(n) initiate a payout associated with the credit balance following receipt of a cashout input via one of the input devices.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein a total number of community elements is at least three and the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to repeat (d) to (h) twice.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause the at least one display device to display a first community element after enabling placement of a play wager based on the two-element first player hand.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the elements are cards.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein a total number of community cards is three and the community cards include a single flop card, a single turn card, and a single river card, and wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to repeat (d) to (h) twice.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to deal the flop card as a first community card after enabling receipt of an optional play wager input based on the first two-card player hand.

7. The gaining system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to deal the turn card as a second community card after enabling receipt of an optional play wager input based on the two-card first player hand and the flop card.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to deal the river card as a third community card after enabling receipt of an optional play wager input based on the two-card first player hand, the flop card, and the turn card.

9. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the community cards include three flop cards, a single turn card, and a single river card.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the payout ratio is inversely proportional to the probability of the final first player hand winning against all other final player hands.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable, via the wager-input device, receipt of an insurance wager input before causing the display of the two-element first player hand and the two-element dealer hand.

12. The gaming system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to cause a refund of at least part of any wagers placed if the final first player hand loses against the final dealer hand and the insurance wager input was received.

13. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing and including an acceptor and a wager-input device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

at least one processor; and

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

(a) establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item received by the acceptor;

(b) place an ante wager for a play of a game following receipt of an ante wager input via the wager-input device, the credit balance being decreasable by the ante wager;

(c) determine and cause the at least one display device to display a partial outcome of the play of the game;

(d) determine a probability that a final outcome of the play of the game will be a first one of a plurality of winning outcomes, the probability based on the partial outcome of the play of the game;

(e) determine and cause the at least one display device to display a payout ratio based on the probability;

(f) enable, via the wager-input device, receipt of a optional play wager input associated with the partial outcome of the play of the game;

(g) responsive to receiving the optional play wager input via the wager-input device, place a play wager associated with the displayed payout ratio;

(h) modify the partial outcome of the play of the game;

(i) repeat (c) to (h) at least once;

(i) determine the final outcome of the play of the game;

(k) cause the at least one display device to display a first award responsive to determining that the final outcome of the play of the game is the first winning outcome, the first award including a sum of each of any distinct optional wagers placed multiplied by the payout ratio associated with the distinct optional wager, the credit balance increasable by the first award;

(l) cause the at least one display device to display a second award responsive to determining that the final outcome of the play of the game is a second one of the winning outcomes different from the first winning outcome, the second award based on the ante wager, the credit balance increasable by the second award; and

(m) initiate a payout associated with the credit balance following receipt of a cashout input via one of the input devices.

14. The gaming system of claim 13, wherein the game is a poker game and the partial outcome of the poker game is based on at least one initial two-card player hand and an initial two-card dealer hand.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the final outcome of the poker game is further based on at least three community cards.

16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the second one of the winning outcomes includes a final five card player hand outranking a final five card dealer hand.

17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the three community cards include a flop card, a turn card, and a river card.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable, via the wager-input device, receipt of a different optional play wager input to be placed after the initial two-card player and dealer hands are dealt, after the flop card is dealt, and after the turn card is dealt.

19. The gaming system of claim 18, wherein the first award includes a payout associated with any optional play wager placed after the initial two-card player hand is dealt, a payout associated with any optional play wager placed after the flop card is dealt, and a payout associated with any optional play wager placed after the turn card is dealt.

20. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing and including an acceptor and a wager-input device;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

at least one processor; and

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

establish a credit balance for a first player based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item received by the acceptor;

place an ante wager for the first player for a play of a game following receipt of an ante wager input via the wager-input device, the credit balance being decreasable by the ante wager;

cause the at least one display device to display a two-element first player hand, a two-element dealer hand, and at least one other two-element player hand;

determine a first probability that a final first player hand associated with the two-element first player hand will win against all other final player hands associated with the at least one other two-element player hand, the first probability based on the elements in the two-element first player hand, the elements in the two-element dealer hand, a number of community elements to be dealt, and the elements in the at least one other two-element player hand;

determine and cause the at least one display device to display a first payout ratio based on the first probability, the first payout ratio being inversely related to the first probability;

enable, via the wager-input device, receipt of a first play wager input associated with the displayed first payout ratio;

responsive to receiving the first play wager input via the wager-input device, place the first play wager for the first player, the first lay wager associated with the first payout ratio;

cause the at least one display device to display a first community element;

determine a second probability that the final first player hand will win against all of the other final player hands, said second probability based on the cards in the two-element first player hand, the elements in the two-element dealer hand, the first community element, at least one community element to be dealt, and the elements in the at least one other two-element player hand;

determine and cause the at least one display device to display a second payout ratio based on the second probability, the second payout ratio being inversely proportional to said second probability;

enable, via the wager-input device, receipt of a second play wager input associated with said displayed second payout ratio;

responsive to receiving the second play wager input via the wager-input device, place the second play wager for the second player, the second play wager associated with the second payout ratio;

cause the at least one display device to display a second community element;

determine a third probability that the final first player hand will win against all of the other final player hands, the third probability based on the elements in the first two-element player hand, the elements in the two-element dealer hand, the first community element, the second community element, at least one community element to be dealt, and the elements in the at least one other two-element player hand;

determine and cause the at least one display device to display a third payout ratio based on the third probability, the third payout ratio being inversely proportional to the third probability;

enable, via the wager-input device, receipt of a third play wager input associated with the displayed third payout ratio;

responsive to receiving the third play wager input via the wager-input device, place the third play wager for the second player, the third play wager associated with the third payout ratio;

cause the at least one display device to display a third community element and determine whether the final first player hand wins against a final dealer hand for the play of the game;

determine whether the final first player hand wins against all of the other final player hands for the play of the game;

cause the at least one display device to display an ante award responsive to determining that the final first player hand wins against the final dealer hand regardless of whether the final first player hand wins against any of the other final player hands, the credit balance increasable by the ante award;

cause the at least one display device to display a play award responsive to determining that the final first player hand wins against all of the other final player hands, said play award based on;

(1) the first play wager, if placed, and the first payout ratio associated, with said first play wager;

(2) the second play wager, if placed, and the second payout ratio associated with said second play wager; and

(3) the third play wager, if placed, and the third payout ratio associated with said third play wager, the credit balance increasable by the play award; and

initiate a payout associated with the credit balance following receipt of a cashout input via one of the input devices.

21. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

(a) following receipt of data associated with an ante wager, place an ante wager for a first player for a play of a game;

(b) for the play of the game, transmit display data which results in a mobile device displaying a two-element first player hand, a two-element dealer hand, and at least one other two-element player hand;

(c) determine a probability of a final first player hand associated with the two-element first player hand winning against all other final player hands associated with the at least one other two-element player hand, the probability based on the two-element first player hand, the two-element dealer hand, the at least one other two-element player hand, any community elements previously dealt, and at least one of any community elements to be dealt;

(d) determine a payout ratio based on the determined probability of the final first player hand winning against all of the other final player hands;

(e) transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying the payout ratio;

(f) responsive to receiving data associated with a placement of an optional play wager input associated with the displayed payout ratio, place a play wager for the first player, the play wager associated with the displayed payout ratio;

(g) transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying at least one additional community element;

(h) repeat (c) to (g) at least once;

(i) determine whether the final first player hand wins against a final dealer hand associated with the two-element dealer hand;

(j) determine whether the final first player hand wins against all of the other final player hands for the play of the game;

(k) transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying an ante award responsive to determining that the final first player hand wins against the final dealer hand regardless of whether the final first player hand wins against any of the other final player hands; and

(l) transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying a play award responsive to determining that the final first player hand wins against all of the other final player hands, the play award including a sum of each of any play wagers placed multiplied by the payout ratio associated with that play wager.

22. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

(a) following receipt of data associated with an ante wager input made, place an ante wager for a play of a game;

(b) determine a partial outcome of the play of the game;

(c) transmit display data which results in a mobile device displaying the determined partial outcome of the play of the game;

(d) determine a probability that a final outcome of the play of the game will be a first one of a plurality of winning outcomes, the probability based on the partial outcome of the play of the game;

(e) determine a payout ratio based on the probability;

(f) transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying the determined payout ratio based on the probability;

(g) responsive to receiving data associated with an optional play wager input associated with the partial outcome of the play of the game, place a play wager associated with the displayed payout ratio;

(h) modify the partial outcome of the play of the game;

repeat (b) to (h) at least once;

(j) determine the final outcome of the play of the game;

(k) transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying a first award responsive to determining that the final outcome of the play of the game is the first winning outcome, the first award including a sum of each of any distinct optional wagers placed multiplied by the payout ratio associated with the distinct optional wager; and

(l) transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying a second award responsive to determining that the final outcome of the play of the game is a second one of the winning outcomes different from the first winning outcome, the second award based on the ante wager.

23. A gaming system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

following receipt of data associated with an ante wager input made, place an ante wager for a first player for a play of a game;

transmit display data which results in a mobile device displaying a two-element first player hand, a two-element dealer hand, and at least one other two-element player hand;

determine a first probability that a final first player hand associated with the two-element first player hand will win against all other final player hands associated with the at least one other two-element player hand, the first probability based on the elements in the two-element first player hand, the elements in the two-element dealer hand, a number of community elements to be dealt, and the elements in the at least one other two-element player hand;

determine a first payout ratio based on the first probability, the first payout ratio being inversely related to the first probability;

transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying the determined first payout ratio;

responsive to receiving data associated with a first play wager input associated with the displayed first payout ratio, place the first play wager for the first player, the first play wager associated with the first payout ratio;

transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying a first community element;

determine a second probability that the final first player hand will win against all of the other final player hands, said second probability based on the cards in the two-element first player hand, the elements in the two-element dealer hand, the first community element, at least one community element to be dealt, and the elements in the at least one other two-element player hand;

determine a second payout ratio based on the second probability, the second payout ratio being inversely proportional to said second probability;

transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying the determined second payout ratio;

responsive to receiving data associated with a second play wager input associated with said displayed second payout ratio, place the second play wager for the second player, the second play wager associated with the second payout ratio;

transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying a second community element;

determine a third probability that the final first player hand will win against all of the other final player hands, the third probability based on the elements in the first two-element player hand, the elements in the two-element dealer hand, the first community element, the second community element, at least one community element to be dealt, and the elements in the at least one other two-element player hand;

determine a third payout ratio based on the third probability, the third payout ratio being inversely proportional to the third probability;

transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying the determined third payout ratio;

responsive to receiving a third play wager associated with the displayed third payout ratio, place the third play wager for the second player, the third play wager associated with the third payout ratio;

transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying a third community element;

determine whether the final first player hand wins against a final dealer hand for the play of the game;

determine whether the final first player hand wins against all of the other final player hands for the play of the game;

transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying an ante award responsive to determining that the final first player hand wins against the final dealer hand regardless of whether the final first player hand wins against any of the other final player hands; and

transmit display data which results in the mobile device displaying a play award responsive to determining that the final first player hand wins against all of the other final player hands, said play award based on;

(1) the first play wager, if placed, and the first payout ratio associated with said first play wager;

(2) the second play wager, if placed, and the second payout ratio associated with said second play wager; and

(3) the third play wager, if placed, and the third payout ratio associated with said third play wager.