Methods of playing wagering games

• US 9,183,705 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2013
• Issued: 11/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Yoseloff, Mark L., Castle, Louis J. II, Snow, Roger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno, Benjamin
• Application Number:
  US14/034,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20140087799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 273/292, 273/274, 273/309, 463/13, 463/12
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/005 Poker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00164 Casino tables
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• 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 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A card game is played against a pay table, wherein a player receives a partial hand that is preferably completed by community cards, but may be completed by cards dealt directly to a hand or a combination of cards dealt directly to a hand and at least one community card or wild card. After placement of an ante wager, each player will have an opportunity to place a game wager before receiving another card for the player'"'"'s hand (whether dealt directly to the player or as a community card revealed to all players). At least some or all game wagers may be an amount within a range of multiples of the player'"'"'s ante wager, such as one times, two times, three times, four times, or five times the amount of the ante wager. The range of wagers may remain the same or vary with the number of dealt cards or community cards revealed to the players.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing play of a wagering game by a processor in communication with a set of user devices and a set of players, each player associated with a user device, comprising:

receiving, at a memory controller hub, an indication of an ante wager associated with a player in the set of players to participate in the wagering game from each user device in the set of user devices;

storing the indication of the ante wager in a memory device;

determining, with the processor, a set of partial player hands, each partial player hand including a number of randomized playing cards from a set of playing cards and each partial player hand associated with a player and an associated user device;

storing the set of partial player hands in the memory device;

providing, with the processor, each partial player hand to the user device associated with the partial player hand for display on the associated user device;

receiving, at the memory controller hub, a first play option including a fold or a first additional wager from each user device in the set of user devices;

storing the first play option in the memory device;

determining, with the processor, at least one first additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, which is insufficient to complete the partial player hand;

storing the at least one first additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands in the memory device;

providing, with the processor, the at least one first additional card to the user device associated with the partial player hand to which the at least one first additional card is added;

responsive to receiving the first additional wager and providing the at least one first additional card, receiving, at the memory controller hub, a second play option including a fold or a second additional wager from each user device in the set of user devices;

storing the second play option in the memory device;

determining, with the processor, at least one second additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, which completes the partial player hand;

storing the at least one second additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands in the memory device;

providing, with the processor, the at least one second additional card to the user device associated with the partial player hand to which the at least one second additional card is added;

storing a set of complete player hands in the memory device, the set of complete player hands including the set of partial player hands, the at least one first additional card added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, and the at least one second additional card added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands;

comparing, with the processor, each complete player hand of the set of complete player hands against a plurality of predetermined winning outcomes; and

resolving the ante wager, first additional wager, and second additional wager of each complete player hand of the set of complete player hands solely against the plurality of predetermined winning outcomes and not against a dealer hand.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ante wager comprises wagering elements.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the wagering elements are play-for-fun credits.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising awarding a quantity of the wagering elements to the set of players based on a hierarchy of the players within the set of players.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting, at the memory controller hub, a poker wager from each player and placing the poker wagers in a pot, wherein the pot is awarded to a player holding a highest ranking poker hand at the conclusion of a round of play.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the pot has no house advantage.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

adding the ante and play wagers to another pot; and

awarding at least a portion of the another pot based on a predetermined event.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein a rake is collected on all wagers placed in the another pot.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined event is selected from the group consisting of a predetermined number of hands, a predetermined number of rounds, a predetermined time limit, and a predetermined amount in the another pot.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined event is a player hand meeting a qualifying premium hand.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the another pot is a progressive pot.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the ante wager comprises wagering elements.

13. A system for managing play of a wagering game, comprising:

a communication interface configured for communicating with a set of user devices and a set of players, each player of the set of players associated with a user device of the set of user devices;

a processor configured to execute instructions; and

a set of instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that when executed by the processor causes the processor to;

cause an indication of an ante wager associated with a player in the set of players to participate in the wagering game from each user device in the set of user devices to be received at a memory controller hub;

cause the indication of the ante wager to be stored in a memory device;

determine a set of partial player hands, each partial player hand including a number of randomized playing cards from a set of playing cards and each partial player hand associated with a player and an associated user device;

cause the set of partial player hands to be stored in the memory device;

provide each partial player hand to the user device associated with the partial player hand for display on the associated user device;

cause a first play option including a fold or a first additional wager from each user device in the set of user devices to be received at the memory controller hub;

cause the first play option to be stored in the memory device;

determine at least one first additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, which is insufficient to complete the partial player hand;

cause the at least one first additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands to be stored in the memory device;

provide the at least one first additional card to the user device associated with the partial player hand to which the at least one first additional card is added;

responsive to receiving the first additional wager and providing the at least one first additional card, causes second play option including a fold or a second additional wager from each user device in the set of user device to be received at the memory controller hub;

cause the second play option to be stored in the memory device;

determine at least one second additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, which completes the partial player hand;

cause the at least one second additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands to be stored in the memory device;

provide the at least one second additional card to the user device associated with the partial player hand to which the at least one second additional card is added;

cause a set of complete player hands to be stored in the memory device, the set of complete player hands including the set of partial player hands, the at least one first additional card added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, and the at least one second additional card added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands;

compare, with the processor, each complete player hand of the set of complete player hands against a plurality of predetermined winning outcomes; and

resolve the ante wager, first additional wager, and second additional wager of each complete player hand of the set of complete player hands solely against the plurality of predetermined winning outcomes and not against a dealer hand.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wagering elements are play-for-fun credits.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the set of instructions further causes the processor to award a quantity of the wagering elements to the set of players based on a hierarchy of the players within the set of players.

16. A system for managing play of a wagering game, comprising:

a communications interface configured for communicating with a set of user devices and a set of players, each player of the set of players associated with a user device of the set of user devices;

a memory controller hub;

a memory device for storing data;

a processor configured to execute instructions; and

a set of instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, that when executed by the processor causes the processor to;

cause an indication of an ante wager associated with a player in the set of players to participate in the wagering game from each user device in the set of user devices to be received at the memory controller hub;

cause the indication of the ante wager to be stored in the memory device;

determine a set of partial player hands, each partial player hand including a number of randomized playing cards from a set of playing cards and each partial player hand associated with a player and an associated user device;

cause the set of partial player hands to be stored in the memory device;

provide each partial player hand to the user device associated with the partial player hand for display on the associated user device;

cause a first play option including a fold or a first additional wager from each user device in the set of user devices to be received at the memory controller hub;

cause the first play option to be stored in the memory device;

determine at least one first additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, which is insufficient to complete the partial player hand;

cause the at least one first additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands to be stored in the memory device;

provide the at least one first additional card to the user device associated with the partial player hand to which the at least one first additional card is added;

responsive to receiving the first additional wager and providing the at least one first additional card, cause a second play option including a fold or a second additional wager from each user device in the set of user devices to be received at the memory controller hub;

cause the second play option to be stored in the memory device;

determine at least one second additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, which completes the partial player hand;

cause the at least one second additional card to be added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands to be store in the memory device;

provide the at least one second additional card to the user device associated with the partial player hand to which the at least one second additional card is added;

cause a set of complete player hands to be stored in the memory device, the set of complete player hands including the set of partial player hands, the at least one first additional card added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands, and the at least one second additional card added to each partial player hand of the set of partial player hands;

combine the ante wager, first additional wager, and second additional wager to a first pot;

compare each complete player hand of the set of complete player hands against predetermined premium poker rankings;

award the first pot to a player associated with a predetermined premium poker ranking and when no premium poker ranking is achieved, not awarding the pot;

compare each complete player hand of the set of complete player hands against a plurality of predetermined winning outcomes; and

resolve the ante wager, first additional wager, and second additional wager of each complete player hand of the set of complete player hands solely against the plurality of predetermined winning outcomes and not against a dealer hand from funds in the first pot.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the set on instructions further causes the processor to receive from each user device a mandatory poker bet and combining all mandatory poker bets into a second pot that is awarded to a player holding a highest ranking hand amongst the set of players at the conclusion of a round of play.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the set of instructions further causes the processor to:

add the first additional wager and second additional wager to the first pot; and

award a portion of the first pot based on occurrence of a predetermined event.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein a rake is collected from the wagers added to the first pot.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined event is selected from the group consisting of a predetermined number of hands, a predetermined number of rounds, a predetermined time limit, and a predetermined amount in the first pot.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined event is a player hand meeting a qualifying hand or better.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the first pot is a progressive pot.

23. A computer-implemented method of managing play of a wagering game by a processor in communication with a user device operated by a player, comprising:

receiving, with a processor, a video feed from a camera, the video feed depicting a dealer, a card handling system configured to output cards from a set of playing cards, and a play area;

providing the video feed to the user device;

receiving, at a memory controller hub, an indication of an ante wager associated with the player in the set of players to participate in the wagering game from the user device;

storing the indication of the ante wager in a memory device;

determining, with the processor, a partial player hand from card information including a number of randomized playing cards dealt to the play area from the card handling device from the set of playing cards;

storing the partial player hand in the memory device;

providing, with the processor, the partial player hand to the user device for display on the user device;

receiving, at the memory controller hub, a first play option including a fold or a first additional wager from the user device;

determining, with the processor, card information of at least one first additional card to be added to the partial player hand in the play area dealt from the card handling system from the set of playing cards, the at least one first additional card being insufficient to complete the partial player hand;

storing the at least one first additional card to be added to the partial player hand;

providing, with the processor, the at least one first additional card to the user device;

responsive to receiving the first additional wager and determining the at least one first additional card, receiving, at the memory controller hub, a second play option including a fold or a second additional wager from the user device;

storing the second play option in the memory device;

determining, with the processor, card information of at least one second additional card to be added to the partial player hand in the play area dealt from the card handling system from the set of playing cards, the at least one second additional card completing the partial player hand;

storing the at least one second additional card to be added to the partial player hand in the memory device;

providing, with the processor, the at least one second additional card to the user device;

storing a complete player hand in the memory device, the complete player hand including the partial player hand, the at least one first additional card added to the partial player hand, and the at least one second additional card added to the partial player hand;

comparing, with the processor, the complete player hand against a plurality of predetermined winning outcomes; and

resolving the ante wager, first additional wager, and second additional wager of the complete player hand solely against the plurality of predetermined winning outcomes and not against a dealer hand.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing an indication of play options for display on a dealer display viewable by the dealer.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the card information is received by the processor from the card handling system.

26. The method of claim 23, further comprising providing the card information to the user device for display to the player.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising receiving an audio feed from a microphone capturing audio from the dealer and play area;

and

transmitting the audio feed to the user device.

28. A computer-implemented method of managing play of a wagering game by at least one processor in communication with one or more players each associated with a user device, comprising:

receiving, at a memory controller hub, an indication of an ante wager to participate in the wagering game from one or more players via one or more respective user devices;

storing the indication of the ante wager in a memory device;

selecting and displaying on each user device, with the at least one processor, a partial player hand including a number of randomized playing cards from a set of playing cards;

storing the partial player hand in the memory device;

receiving, at the memory controller hub, a first play option including a fold or a first additional wager instruction from each user device;

storing the first play option in the memory device;

providing and displaying at each user device from which a first additional wager instruction was received, with the at least one processor, at least one first additional card to be combined with the partial player hand which is insufficient to complete the partial player hand;

storing the at least one first additional card to be combined with the partial player hand in the memory device;

receiving, at the memory controller hub, a second play option including a fold or a second additional wager instruction from each user device from which a first additional wager instruction was received;

providing and displaying at each user device from which a second additional wager instruction was received, with the at least one processor, at least one second additional card to be combined with the partial player hand which completes the participating partial player hand;

storing the at least one second additional card to be combined with the partial player hand;

storing a complete player hand in the memory device, the complete player hand including the partial player hand, the at least one first additional card combined with the partial player hand, and the at least one second additional card combined with the partial player hand;

comparing, with the at least one processor, the complete player hand against a pay table of redetermined winning outcomes; and

resolving, with the at least one processor, the ante wager, first additional wager, and second additional wager of the complete player hand solely against the pay table of predetermined winning outcomes and not against a dealer hand.

29. A system for managing play of a wagering game, comprising:

at least one processor configured to execute instructions;

a memory controller hub;

a memory device for storing data;

a communication interface in information communication with the at least one and memory controller hub, the communication interface configured for communicating with one or more user devices of one or more associated players; and

a set of instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to;

cause an indication of an ante wager to participate in the wagering game from the one or more players via the one or more user devices to be received at the memory controller hub;

cause the indication of the ante wager to be stored in the memory device;

select and display on each user device a partial player hand including a number of randomized playing cards from a set of playing cards;

cause the partial player hand to be stored in the memory device;

cause a first play option including a fold or a first additional wager instruction from each user device to be received at the memory controller hub;

provide for display at each user device from which a first additional wager instruction was received at least one first additional card to be combined with the partial player hand, the at least one first additional card being insufficient to complete the partial player hand;

cause the at least one first additional card to be combined with the partial player hand to be stored in the memory device;

cause a second play option including a fold or a second additional wager instruction from each user device from which a first additional wager instruction was received to be received at the memory controller hub;

provide for display at each player user device from which a second additional wager instruction was received at least one second additional card to be combined with the partial player hand, the at least one second additional card completing the participating partial player hand;

cause the at least one second additional card to be combined with the partial player hand to be stored in the memory device;

cause a complete player hand to be stored in the memory device, the complete player hand including the partial player hand, the at least one first additional card combined with the partial player hand, and the at least one second additional card combined with the partial player hand;

compare the complete player hand against a pay table of predetermined winning outcomes; and

resolve the ante wager, first additional wager, and second additional wager of the complete player hand solely against the pay table of predetermined winning outcomes and not against a dealer hand.