DE69615617T2 - gaming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Games of skill or chance which provide a player, who has received a wild indicia during one game, with the opportunity to reserve that wild indicia for use in a subsequent game.

Description

The present invention is directed to games, and more particularly to novel games, which provide a player with the ability to reserve a "wild" indicia from one game for use in a subsequent game.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games that use playing cards are popular throughout the world. Many people enjoy hours of enjoyment and relaxation playing cards. In certain parts of the world, placing a bet adds an additional dimension of excitement to the game. Whether in "card room" games, where players play against each other, or in the setting of a traditional "casino" game, where a house employee acts as the banker, placing a bet adds excitement to many forms of card games.

Players who engage in single-stakes card games often enjoy new games with relatively simple rules that are easy to learn by a novice or casual player.

Typical card games involve a dealer dealing several cards to each player. Each player then picks up the cards and tries to make the best possible hand according to a predetermined hierarchy of hand values. For example, a standard poker hierarchy, in descending order, is Royal Flush (straight to ace), Straight Flush (straight of a kind), Four of a Kind (four of a kind), Full House (2 + 3 of a kind), Flush (five of a kind), Straight (straight), Three of a Kind (three of a kind), Two Pair (two pairs), One Pair (one pair), and High Card. In some games, players are allowed to discard certain cards and take new cards in an attempt to make a better hand.

It is also common to designate one or more cards as "wild" cards (or wild cards), which can have any of a given number of values, according to the option of the player or players who receive such wild cards. In this way, the designation of wild cards in a deck can significantly increase the chances of a player receiving a particular hand. In popular games that use wild cards, players must use the wild card in the hand in which they received the wild card. Thus, if a player has a hand of cards with little or no value, then the wild card may not be enough to enable that player to make a winning hand. For example, if the payout schedule for a given game starts at a pair of jacks and the player has the following hand: 2, 4, 5, 10 of different suits plus a wild card, then the best poker hand the player could make with a wild card would be a pair of 10s. This hand would not qualify for a winning payout.

GB-A-2 062 922 discloses a gaming machine in which symbol-bearing drums are spun. A "kick-off"device allows each reel to be moved forward or backward to line up different symbols.

A slot machine with independently moving, side-by-side rows of symbols has been disclosed in EP-A-0 238 289. Certain combinations of symbols lying side-by-side after the game represent a winning combination. A special token can be used as a substitute for one or more symbols and their appearance in a winning line gives rise to a share of the winnings payout.

It is therefore desirable to create a card game that increases player excitement and enjoyment as well as the level of player involvement by giving a player an opportunity to maximize the chance of receiving a wild card.

It is also desirable to give non-card staking games an exciting new feature that includes a wild symbol (or wild symbol) and novel ways of using that wild symbol.

It is also desirable to create novel, easily adaptable games for wagering that are relatively easy for new players to learn.

It is also desirable to create games that give one or more players the opportunity to modify the winnings payout of the players by using such a wild symbol, which you received during a game, in a subsequent game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a player who has received at least one wild symbol during a game of play with the ability to reserve that wild symbol for use in a subsequent game of play. The benefits of the present invention are applicable to a wide variety of games including "card" games, as well as other conventional games of chance or skill including keno, bingo, gaming machines such as tumbler slot machines, dice games and lotto. The term "card game" as used herein is intended to include conventional table/board game type games in which one or more persons deal actual playing cards to one or more players, as well as any type of mechanical or electrical device that displays symbols of playing cards.

The wild symbols according to the present invention may take any form desired by the players or the company operating the game. For example, if a card game is being played, the wild symbol will typically be a wild card. Although wild cards may be used to indicate a wild card, it is also within the scope of the present invention to use one or more other symbols, such as one of the other cards in a deck or non-conventional symbols, to indicate a wild card. Similarly, in games other than card games, any form of wild symbol may be used. In all forms of the present invention, a player is provided with the ability to use a wild symbol when it is most advantageous for the player to do so, that is, when the player will maximize a winning payout. When a player receives a wild symbol, the player may use that wild symbol immediately, or he may reserve the wild symbol for use in a subsequent game. For example, a player may use a wild card in a subsequent hand, or he may use a wild symbol received during the play of a bingo game in a subsequent game.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a gaming device having an electronic, touch-sensitive screen which is controlled at least in part by a player touching images on the screen.

Another embodiment of the present invention includes a gaming device in which an input from a player of such a device is entered through operation buttons.

A further embodiment of the present invention includes a gaming table designed for use by a dealer and a plurality of players. Along with conventional displays on the gaming table, including betting areas for each player, each gaming area is also provided with a reserve area on which a player may discard a wild card if that player chooses not to use the wild card in the hand in which he receives the wild card, but prefers to use the wild card in a later hand.

Each of the embodiments of the present invention provides one or more players with the opportunity to maximize the useful effect of a wild symbol.

Accordingly, there has been created a gaming device as set out in the appended claims.

These and other embodiments are described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 illustrates a gaming device embodiment of the present invention with a touch screen.

Fig. 2 illustrates a touch screen used in the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates a gaming device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 4 illustrates a board game embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The various embodiments of the present invention increase the level of player input, increase the probability of a winning payout, provide at least one player with the opportunity to maximize the amount of a winning payout, and increase the overall level of enjoyment of a game that utilizes at least one wild symbol. The present invention achieves these desired results by providing a player who receives a wild symbol during the course of a game the option to reserve that wild symbol for use in a subsequent game.

Although the various embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in connection with a game of five-card draw poker, the advantages of the present invention are equally applicable to a wide variety of other games of skill or chance.

According to the embodiments shown, a player is presented with five symbols of playing cards. The player is given the option to discard one or more of the cards and, if the player has received a wild card, to place that wild card in a reserve area for use in a subsequent hand. To the extent that the player has discarded any cards or moved a wild card from his hand to a reserve area, the player is provided with replacement cards. In addition, a player may be provided with the option to reserve a wild card even if that player has the wild card as a received a drawn card, ie, as a substitute for one of the first symbols of playing cards shown to that player. A winning payout, as determined by a predetermined payout schedule, is then awarded either to the player with the highest hand or to any players who have received a winning hand.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first plurality of playing card symbols presented to a player are selected from a collection that does not include a wild card. In this way, the game can be controlled so that the first plurality of card symbols presented to a player never includes a wild card. The cards remaining after the first display is made can then be reshuffled together with one or more wild cards to form a second collection of cards from which additional cards are selected. The first plurality of playing card symbols can include a number of cards sufficient to form a complete hand, or a smaller number of cards. For example, the first three cards presented to a player in a five-card poker hand can be selected from the first collection that does not include any wild cards, while all remaining cards can be selected from collections to which at least one wild card symbol has been added. Similarly, wild card symbols may be included in an initial collection of cards from which the player's initial card symbols are selected, and then wild card symbols that are not shown to one or more players at a specific location in a hand may be are removed so that no more wild cards are shown. For example, in a five-card draw poker game, each player's first five cards may be selected from a first collection containing one or more wild cards, while drawn cards may be selected from a second collection from which wild cards have been removed.

From the present description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the odds of a player receiving a winning hand can be modified by modifying certain parameters of a game, including the number of wild cards used, the number of symbols displayed from collections containing one or more wild symbols, and the timing of selecting symbols from collections containing wild symbols. These and other parameters can be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Further restrictions may be imposed on one or more of the games according to the present invention by limiting the number of games for which a player may reserve a wild symbol. For example, in a bingo game, a player may be provided with the ability to reserve a wild symbol for ten bingo games. In such cases, if the player does not use the reserved wild symbols within ten games after the wild symbols have been displayed, then the wild symbols shall be forfeited. Similarly, in a card game, a player may be limited to using a wild symbol in a certain number of hands. that follow the receipt of that wild symbol. By limiting the use of a wild symbol in this way, the player's chances of receiving a very high payout can be controlled. Those who are knowledgeable in this area will also find that the chances of a player being shown a wild symbol can be controlled by controlling the total number of game symbols in the collection from which cards are selected, by controlling the number of wild symbols added to the collection, and by keeping the wild symbols out of the collection until a predetermined number of symbols have been shown.

Fig. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention in the form of a gaming device 10 having a pressure sensitive touch screen 20, a coin slot 60, a bill acceptor 70, a credit card receiver/terminal 75, a flashing light 80, a payout schedule 85, a coin chute 90 and a coin tray 95. This embodiment of the present invention may be activated by a player inserting an item of monetary value including coins, paper currency, chips or any form of credit indicator such as a credit card. Appropriate instructions are provided in the instruction window 22 to guide a player through the initial steps required to start the game as well as subsequent steps. If a player has entered more than the amount of the minimum bet, then the player is prompted to indicate the amount of his bet by touching the appropriate bet area 24 labeled "Select Bet". The bet amount will then be displayed in the Bet Window 26. If the player has entered an amount greater than the amount wagered, then the player's remaining credits will appear in the Credit Window 28. Bets for subsequent hands may then be automatically deducted from the player's credits in a manner now well known in the art.

After a player selects an amount for an initial bet, a plurality of symbols of playing cards 30 are displayed on the screen. Following the instructions and directions provided in the instruction window 22, the player may exercise the option to hold one or more of the cards by simply touching the image of the card on the screen 20. There may also be an actuator for these and other player inputs on a keypad. If the player receives a wild card, the player may also exercise the option to reserve the wild card for use in a subsequent hand by touching the "RESERVE WILD CARD" area 32. If a player reserves a wild card, the player is preferably presented with an image of the wild card in the reserve area 34. In this and other embodiments of the present invention, a player may either be permitted or not permitted to use a wild symbol in the same hand or game in which the player has indicated that the wild symbol is to be reserved. Such rules are preferably set by the house or other game makers before the game. In addition, as stated above, a player can have a wild symbol either in an initial display or in a subsequent display received, such as cards drawn after a discard.

If the player has discarded any cards and/or reserved a wild card, then replacement cards are offered to the player's hand and displayed in the display area 30. If the resulting display comprises one of a predetermined plurality of winning card hands, then the player is awarded a winning payout. Particularly large winning payouts may be accompanied by recognizable signals such as a flashing light 80 as well as audible sirens from a loudspeaker (not shown). The amount won by the player is then preferably added to the amount shown in the "credit" window 28.

As an example, the hand shown in the card display area 30 of Figure 2 shows a hand in which a player may wish to use a wild card previously held in the RESERVE area 34. Those familiar with the game of poker will note that by replacing the 3 of diamonds with the wild card, the player has obtained a royal flush and thus typically a large payout.

Since the present invention can be played with a wide variety of games, the winning payouts for a winning hand can vary widely. As an example, in the five-card draw poker game described above, the payout schedule could be as follows:

SAMPLE PAYMENT PLAN TABLE

Royal Flush 800 for 1

Straight Flush 50 for 1

Four of a Kind 25 for 1

Full House 8 for 1

Flush 5 for 1

Straight 4 for 1

Three of a Kind 3 for 1

Two Pair 2 for 1

Pair of Jacks or better 1 for 1

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 in the form of a gaming device. This embodiment of the present invention differs from the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 in that decisions are entered into the machine by the player pressing one or more buttons on a button board 125. The button panel 125 includes a "DEAL/DRAW" button 126, a "BET ONE" button 128, a "BET MAX" button 127, a plurality of "HOLD" buttons 132, a "RESERVE WILD CARD" button 133, a "CASH/BALANCE" button 136, a change button 137, and a "COLLECT WINNINGS" button 138. According to this embodiment of the present invention, after a player has entered a monetary value into the coin slot 160 or the bill acceptor 170, he may select the amount he wishes to bet on the hand at hand by pressing the "BET ONE" button 128 as many times as necessary to correctly display his bet in the bet window on the display screen 120, or by pressing the "BET MAX" button 127. The The remaining portion of the player's balance is displayed in the balance window 129. The player then presses the "DEAL/DRAW" button 126 to receive an initial set of cards. The player may then select which cards to hold by pressing corresponding "HOLD" buttons 132, which most preferably line up with the playing card symbols 130 appearing on the screen 120. If the player has received a wild card which he wishes to reserve for use in a subsequent hand, the player presses the "RESERVE" button 133, which moves the wild card up into the wild card reserve area 134 on the screen 120.

Once the player has made his selection as to which cards to hold and/or reserve, he must then again press the "DEAL/DRAW" button 126 to receive replacement cards. According to this illustrated embodiment, after the player has received any required replacement cards, the gaming device 100 automatically determines whether the player has received a winning hand and, if so, awards a winning payout according to the payout schedule 185 and increases the player's credits as shown in the credit window 129. When a player has finished playing and wishes to withdraw all of the credits shown in the credit window 129, the player may simply press the "COLLECT WINNINGS" button 138 to receive his money and/or credits. As shown, the keypad 125 is also equipped with a "CHANGE" key 137 which notifies a casino employee that a player is requesting change.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 4, in which a game table 200 is equipped with a play surface 210, a chip magazine 220, a card rack 230 and a discard bin 240. A plurality of player stations are arranged around the play surface. According to this embodiment of the present invention, each play area includes a bet area 250, a card area 260 and a wild card reserve area 270. When a player wishes to reserve a wild card for subsequent use, according to this embodiment of the present invention, the reserved wild card is placed in a "wild card reserve area" 270.

Although the present embodiments have been described as providing a player with the option to reserve a wild card when that player receives such a wild card during the initial deal, the various embodiments of the present invention may also provide the player with the option to reserve a wild card for use in a subsequent hand, even if that player receives one or more wild cards as replacements for those that he originally discarded or reserved. Furthermore, a player may be given the option to retrieve a wild symbol from a wild symbol reserve area for use in the same game in which he received the wild symbol, either between or after the times that the player receives or sees additional game symbols.

As a further enhancement of the excitement offered by the games of the present invention, it is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a higher or lower payout when the player uses a wild symbol.

The present invention is readily adapted for use with a wide variety of stakes games of chance or skill, including blackjack, other forms of poker, keno, bingo, lotto, as well as with video slot machines and/or a drum slot machine. For example, other card games such as blackjack may be played in a similar manner in which one or more wild card symbols are presented to players either in a physical form, such as in a table version, or as an image on a screen in a video version.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention may be modified for use in other games with or without additional limitations. For example, in a bingo game, a wild symbol obtained during one game may be used in subsequent games to cover any spot a player chooses. In a lottery game, a player could use a wild symbol for use as any number in a subsequent game. Further embodiments may include the ability to place a wild symbol on one or more faces of a die when used in a dice game. It is therefore within the scope of the present invention to use the traveling wild symbol according to the present invention. Invention in craps games (American: a type of dice game (the translator)). In a game of keno, a game of keno could be restricted to allowing a player to use a reserved wild symbol in subsequent games only if the player has used an identical bet in an identically played game. Use of the wild symbol could be restricted to a predetermined number of hands following the player's receipt of the wild symbol. These and other restrictions may or may not be imposed in other wagering games of chance or skill.

According to further embodiments of the present invention, a wild symbol may have limitations. For example, the wild symbol may be completely wild in that it may be used as a substitute for any symbol in the game. Alternatively, the wild symbol may be restricted so that it may only be played as certain other symbols.

Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the mere receipt of a wild symbol can provide a player with one or more winning advantages. For example, a wild symbol can act as a multiplier to change the payout schedule. Alternatively, the receipt of a wild symbol can provide or qualify the player for a super jackpot. In addition, a player can be provided with an opportunity to increase the amount of a payout by a few percent, for example 25%, or even by a factor of two or three. In addition, the wild symbol could create opportunities for a player to qualify for other opportunities.

For example, in a card game, if a wild card is used to form a royal flush, that winner could be entered into a super jackpot prize drawing. Those skilled in the art will recognize that these embodiments can be achieved without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (17)

1. Gaming device (10) comprising means for displaying at least one indicia (30) of game symbols for at least one player, the symbol having been randomly selected from a first collection of game symbols; characterized in that it comprises means for determining at least one symbol as a wandering wild symbol (34); and Means (32) for providing the at least one player, during play of this game, with the option to reserve this wandering wild symbol for use in a subsequent game when a wandering wild symbol has been presented to this at least one player. 2. Gaming device according to claim 1, in which a plurality of game symbols (30) are displayed to said player. 3. Gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the game is selected from the group consisting of poker, blackjack, keno, drum slot machines, video slot machines, dice, bingo and lotto. 4. Gaming device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one player is given the option of a reserved wandering wild symbol can only be used in one of a predetermined number of subsequent games. 5. Gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one player is given the option to use a reserved walking wild symbol in only one of a predetermined number of subsequent games. 6. Gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the game is a card game. 7. Gaming device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one player receives a replacement card if that at least one player has reserved the traveling wild card for subsequent use. 8. Gaming device according to claim 7, further comprising means for prompting the player to decide whether the player wishes to use the traveling wild symbol in a given hand before receiving replacement cards in that hand. 9. Gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the first collection comprises at least one wild symbol. 10. Gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the first collection does not contain a wild symbol. 11. The gaming device of claim 1, further comprising at least one subsequent collection, the subsequent collection comprising at least one symbol. 12. A gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the game symbols are selected using at least some inputs from that player. 13. A gaming device according to claim 12, wherein the player input comprises rolling at least one die. 14. Gaming device according to claim 12, wherein the player input includes the player selecting at least one symbol before that player is informed of winning symbols. 15. Gaming device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one player receives a replacement symbol if that at least one player has reserved the wandering wild symbol for subsequent use. 16. Gaming device according to claim 14, further comprising means for prompting the player to decide whether the player wishes to use the wandering wild symbol in a given hand before receiving substitute symbols. 17. Gaming device according to claim 1, further comprising means (24) for allowing the at least one player to place at least one bet.