200301148 玖、發明說明 【發明所屬之技術領域】 本發明係關於撲克機及其相關方法，尤其係關於具有 獎金回合之撲克機及其相關方法。 【先前技術】 近年來電腦化的影像撲克機已經成爲一種流行的娛樂 形式。傳統的影像撲克機典型地包括一個電腦系統，其包 含電腦處理器以執行一個控制顯示螢幕、籌碼插槽、以及 支付分發器的程式。影像撲克機典型地也包括一種玩家輸 入的機構，如按鈕，讓玩家能夠從可用籌碼（如果有任何可 用籌碼的話）中選擇賭注，並且選擇留下哪張牌及換掉哪張 牌。電腦程式也控制所賭賭局的性質，並且透過顯示器顯 示已發出之一局牌在數把可能臝局中的已知勝率，以爲玩 家呈現賭注籌碼的機會。 不幸地，如下面討論的，影像撲克機的利潤邊際典型 地受到撲克機本身固有性質的限制。理論上，增加機器利 潤邊際的主要技術有兩個。第一個技術爲增加機器的握持 百分比，其係機器的收拿百分比-機器的收拿是玩家賭注的 總錢數--機器不付出的臝局，而這等於100%減去付出百分 比。但是，如下面討論的，增加機器的握持百分比也可能 減低機器的收拿，也因此減低機器的利潤。第二個技巧係 增加這機器的收拿。增加機器收拿的一個方法爲增加機器 的吸引力以使更多的玩家玩它。例如，機器可以允許狂野 200301148 牌或是提供一些增加玩家獲勝機率的不同特質。然而，雖 然這種特質可能增加吸引力而增加其收拿’卻常常會減低 機器的握持百分比到不增加的程度，因此實際上可能會減 低機器的利潤。 結果是，可以增加影像撲克機利潤之技術的需要出現 了。 傳統影像撲克機的綜述 表1是傳統影像「抽牌式撲克機」付出明細表的一個 範例，此付出明細表典型地位於機器上顯著的位置而使玩 家能夠看見它。 表1 投入籌碼（例1 如鑄幣）： 2 3 4 5 付出： 1 2 3 4 5 一對傑克或 是更好 2 4 6 8 10 二對 3 6 9 12 15 三條 4 8 12 16 20 順子 5 10 15 20 25 同花 8 16 24 32 40 葫蘆 25 50 75 100 125 四同號 50 100 150 200 250 同花順 250 500 750 1000 4000 同花大順 200301148 開始玩牌時，玩家存入一個或更多的籌碼到機器裡， 然後顯示器顯示存入的以及可用於賭注的籌碼數字。如下 面討論的，贏局將以臝得籌碼的數字增加可用籌碼數字， 而敗局將以賭注籌碼的數字減低可用籌碼數字。 之後機器促使玩家經由按下一個按鈕或是其他的輸入 方法，下注一個或是更多的籌碼，下注數目最大到籌碼的 數字最大値（表1爲五個籌碼）。 當玩家下賭注時，處理器隨機地從單副牌中選擇十張 牌（五張起始局以及五張用於抽牌時保留的牌）。處理器如何 選擇十張牌在賭博業中是廣爲人知的，也因此不進一步討 論。 玩家下了他的賭注後，處理器發出五張起始牌。剩下 的五張牌構成抽取的牌。 一旦玩家看到他的五張起始牌，他換掉的他想換掉幾 張（從零到五）的牌，然後處理器抽出要代替被換掉之牌同數 目的幾張牌。如果產生局中的牌爲表1中的一個臝局，那 麼處理器接著增加可用籌碼的計數顯示。例如，參考表1， 如果產生的局中的牌是二對而且玩家下注兩個籌碼，那麼 處理器增加四個可用籌碼的計數顯示。然而，如果產生的 局中的牌不是臝局，那麼處理器減低兩個可用籌碼計數的 顯示。當賭局結束以後，玩家可能下另一個賭注（經由額外 籌碼的存入或是使用可用籌碼）選擇再賭一次，或是讓機器 以顯示的可用籌碼數目支付他所臝得的錢。 200301148 參考表1，設計此付出明細表以提供具有大約4 %預定 握持百分比的影像撲克機。典型地，賭博法要求撲克機於 一段時間付出機器收拿的一個預定百分比。依照表1的付 出明細表，這個預定的付出百分比大約是1〇〇%-4%=96%， 如果機器付出少於這個預定百分比，那麼賭局委員會可以 要求機器擁有者移除這個機器的服務。相反地，如果這個 機器付出多於預定的百分比，那麼機器的利潤可能下降。 因此，由於賭博的模式經常無法預言而影響付出百分比， 機器的處理器因而設計爲必要時可改變勝率，以使機器的 付出維持在預定百分比。也就是，處理器彌補賭博模式， 以使得付出百分比維持在一個長時間實質上不變的水準。 如上面陳述的，透過機器握持百分比的增加以增加影 像撲克機的利潤是困難的。一個增加握持百分比的方法是 減低一或更多臝局中的付出金額。但是，因爲機器顯示賭 博法一般要求的付出明細表，玩家傾向於玩具有較高付出 的其他機器。因此，即使減低付出可以增加握持百分比， 它通常會減低機器的收拿並且因此降低機器的利潤。 也如上面所述的，與其他影像撲克機之玩家吸引力相 比，以增加機器之玩家吸引力來增加影像撲克機的利潤是 困難的。例如，人們可以透過玩家勝算增加或是各別臝局 的付出增加之特性來增加玩家吸引力。但是如上面所述的 ，雖然這種特性以及付出的增加可以增加機器的收拿，他 們典型地會減低機器的握持百分比，當與一個具有表1之 付出明細表的影像撲克機相比，而降到機器的利潤是減低 200301148 的程度。也就是，增加機器的收拿典型地不足以彌補機器 握持百分比的減低。 【發明內容】 本發明的一方面係一種影像撲克機，其包括顯示螢幕 及處理器。處理器發出由螢幕顯示的臝局牌，而且如果臝 局是一個獎金局，它將隨機地選擇獎金獎品。 在本發明另一方面中，處理器隨機地選擇一獎金獎品 ，不論這處理器是否發出臝局或是臝局係一獎金局。 這種獎金回合能夠增加撲克機的利潤。尤其是，獎金 的可得性可以增加吸引力，也因此增加機器的收拿。透過 獎金回合中適當獎金局以及適當獲勝機率的選擇，當與具 有相同付出明細表但沒有獎金回合之傳統機器的收拿比較 時，此收拿的增加可以增加機器的利潤。甚且，這利潤的 增加可以一般地在玩家不知道以及不違反任何賭博法律的 情況下達成。 由於在世界的各個地方玩的影像撲克機數目很大，即 使機器獲利率輕微地增加，對許多這種機器的擁有者將帶 •來極大總數的金錢。 【實施方式】 下面的討論可以讓熟悉此技術的人做出及使用本發明 。其中所描述的一般原理可以應用在以下詳細描述以外的 其他實施例和應用，而不離開本發明的精神以及範圍。本 200301148 發明不受限於以下顯示的實施例，而是依據於與在此揭露 或建議之原理及特質相符的最廣範圍。 圖1係依照本發明實施例實施獎金回合的影像撲克機 10。機器10包括用來顯示牌（沒有在圖1中顯示）以及其他 賭局資訊的傳統顯示螢幕12 。例如，螢幕12可以是一個 陰極射線管（CRT)或是液晶顯示器（LCD)。機器10也包括傳 統的輸入裝置14,在此爲五個按鈕16a-16e，以讓玩家（沒 顯示出來）輸入例如他所下注之數目以及他選擇保留哪張牌 以及換掉哪張牌等資訊。替代地，按鈕16a-16e可以是在螢 幕12上顯示的觸控螢幕按鈕，或者裝置14可以包括額外 按鈕（沒顯示出來）或是其他的輸入元件。此外，機器10包 括一個傳統籌碼插槽18以接收賭注籌碼。例如，插槽18 可以接收硬幣、代幣、紙鈔、金融卡或是其他的付錢機制 。如在下面與圖3-5 —起討論的，執行獎金回合的機器10 當與執行相同的付出明細表但沒有獎金回合之機器的利潤 相比時，機器的利潤是增加的。特別是，獎金回合透過機 器之玩家吸引力的增加，在不過分地減低機器握持百分比 的情況下增加機器10的收拿。也就是，即使獎金回合減低 機器的握持百分比，在收拿方面的增加即足夠增加機器的 利潤，不論握持百分比是否減低。 圖2係依照本發明實施例的一個影像撲克機10示意區 塊圖。機器10包括控制電路20，其與螢幕12、輸入裝置 14以及籌碼插槽18通訊，並且包括與傳統記憶體24連接 的傳統處理器22。處理器22控制機器10的整個作用。特 11 200301148 別是，處理器22透過執行存儲在記憶體24中的至少一個 程式，在螢幕12上執行至少一類型的影像撲克機賭局。程 式命令影像撲克機賭局的屬性（例如付出明細表、獎金明細 表以及賭局規則）。因而使人們能夠透過程式的改變而改變 賭局屬性。在一個實施例中’處理器22設計爲執行具有如 表1之付出明細表以及如在下面與圖5 —起討論之獎金明 細表的五張牌撲克。 參考圖3-5，圖1-2中之影像撲克機10的作用依照本 發明之實施例來討論，在圖3-5中的每一個展示撲克賭局 在各種階段的顯示螢幕12。爲了達到討論的目的，處理器 22假設被設計爲執行抽五張牌的撲克’依照表1的明細表 付出贏得的錢，並且當玩家（沒顯示出來）達到四同號時進入 獎金回合。 參考圖3，處理器22(圖2)使螢幕12顯示可用賭局籌 碼數字30,並且玩家（沒顯示出來）使用輸入裝置14(圖1)下 注一個數字32(在此爲5個可用籌碼）來起動一個賭局。每 一個籌碼都典型地代表例如$〇.〇5(五分）、$〇.1〇(十分）或是 $0.25(25分）數目之適當數目的錢，即使它能夠表示任何數 目的錢。如果玩家希望賭比他的可用籌碼還要多，他可以 透過籌碼插槽18(圖1)購買額外的籌碼。在這範例中，玩家 下注籌碼最大的數量爲5 (表1)，因此他適合下面討論的獎 金回合。 在回應玩家（沒有被顯示）下注一個籌碼數目32時，處 理器22在位置36a-36e「發出」牌的起始局34，並且使螢 12 200301148 幕12顯示此一局，在這範例中其係方塊傑克、方塊四、紅 心四、梅花皇后以及梅花四。更特別地，在回應經由輸入 設備14所接收的賭注時，處理器22如上面討論地從單副 牌中隨機地選擇10張牌，並且產生一個在0以及1之間的 亂數以進行在下面配合圖5 —起討論的獎金回合。處理器 22然後發出10張選定牌中的前5張以產生起始局34，並 且保留剩下的5張牌以讓玩家從其中抽出。 參考圖4,玩家（沒顯示出來）決定保留哪張牌以及換掉 哪張牌，並且假設玩家試圖取得四同號以使得處理器22讓 機器10(圖1)進入賭局的獎金回合。更特別地，因爲起始局 34(圖3)有三張「4」而且假設玩家想要進入獎金回合，他 使用輸入裝置14(圖1)換掉位置36a以及36d分別爲傑克以 及皇后的牌。替代地，玩家使用輸入裝置14以保留在位置 36b、36c以及36e中的幾個「4」。處理器22可以透過螢 幕12建議玩家哪些牌應該保留以及哪些牌應該換掉，雖然 玩家可以自由地保留他想保留的任何一張。 再次參考圖4, 一旦玩家（沒顯示出來）選擇保留哪張牌 以及換掉哪張牌，處理器22使螢幕12在保留的牌上面顯 示「保留」，並且依序從五張儲備的牌中抽出要換掉牌的 代替牌，以產生結果局38。 因爲在這個範例之中抽出牌的一張（位置36d)是黑桃四 ，產生的結果局38是四同號（在這裡爲四張「4」）而它同時 是臝局以及獎金局。結果，處理器22讓螢幕12顯示一個 臝局的橫幅40以及一個進入獎金螢幕的橫幅42或是類似 13 200301148 的顯示以指示進入獎金回合。 參考圖5，因爲產生局38(圖4)是獎金局，處理器22( 圖1)進入獎金回合，並且使螢幕12顯示一個獎金輪子50 以及可選擇的橫幅52及54。輪子50包括楔形區段56，其 中每一個區段都寫有獎金獎品。在一個實施例中，輪子50 具有八個區段56a-56h，它們分別指示以下的獎金獎品：^ 125」、「250」、「400」、「800」、「1600」、「3200」 、「6400」（這些數字分別指示獎金獎品的數目）以及「累積 賭注」。因爲最低的獎金獎品爲125個籌碼，玩家將至少 臝得在表1付出明細表下應得的相同數目。替代地，輪子 50可以具有比八個更多或是更少的區段以指示不同獎金獎 品。而且，複數個區段56可以指示相同的獎金獎品，而且 一些區段可以完全不指示任何獎金獎品。 處理器22(圖1)進入獎金回合之後，它「旋轉」輪子 50,然後玩家（沒顯示出來）臝得當輪子停止時由指示器58 指向之區段56所認定的獎金獎品。處理器22(圖1)可以自 動地旋轉輪子50，或是對玩家透過輸入裝置14所做輸入 產生回應的方式旋轉輪子50,不論在哪一種情況下都可以 讓螢幕12顯示一個旋轉這個輪子的人或是其他特徵（沒顯 示出來）。處理器22將輪子50停在由亂數產生的預定位置 中，該亂數係由在上面配合圖3所討論的方式產生，並且 程式設計使得輪子50的獎金獎品個別地具有想要的勝率。 再次參考圖5，處理器22經由增加可用籌碼之數字30( 圖4)、掉出硬幣/代幣、發信號給服務生或是以任何其他方 14 200301148 式，使機器10(圖1)支付玩家（沒顯示出來）贏得的獎金獎品 。儘管四同號的獎金獎品是以標準付出（也就是無獎金）的情 況來討論，獎金獎品可以是標準付出之額外附贈。例如， 機器10可以對於四同號付出125個籌碼，而且獎金輪子50 可以0個籌碼作爲最低的獎品。此外，累積賭注可以是獨 立進行的累積賭注或是連結進行的累積賭注。獨立進行的 累積賭注量典型地與機器1〇(圖1)收集的資金有關，然而聯 結進行的累積賭注的數目典型地與數個連結機器收集的資 金有關。因爲不同位置的機器能夠電子式地連接，連結進 行的累積賭注典型地比獨立進行的累積賭注大得更多。例 如，前者可以數百萬元成長而後者可以數百元成長。因而 ，雖然它典型地具有低得多的勝率，連結的累積賭注典型 地比獨立進行的累積賭注對玩家有更大的吸引力，因此可 以比獨立的累積賭注增加更多的機器收拿以及利潤。 再次參考圖5,透過機器收拿增加的獎金回合通常會 增加機器10的利潤。如在上面討論的，撲克機的握持百分 比是預定的，而且對於表1的付出明細表來說大約是4%。 然而，隨著獎金回合的增加，握持百分比將降低；降得多 低取決於臝得大於125個籌碼之獎金獎品（對四同號的傳統 付出）的勝率。然而，不論握持百分比是否減低，基於獎金 回合的玩家吸引力的增加會增加收拿，使得機器利潤增加 。並且因爲付出明細表不必改變，利潤的增加對玩家（沒顯 示出來）來說是透明的。此外，選擇四同號作爲獎金局可以 幫助玩家吸引力升到最大。尤其是，四同號的機率大約每 15 200301148 423局有一局。這些勝率足夠高而使得獎金獎品的誘餌以 及可能的累積賭注將誘使玩家嘗試四同號，但其又不會太 高而使得賭局因爲太常進入獎金回合而變得無聊。 參考圖1-5，考慮了影像撲克機10的替代實施例。例 如，機器10可以回應除了四同號以外的臝局而進入獎金回 合，或是回應多於一個贏局而進入獎金回合。此外，機器 10可以不論玩家是否達到勝局或是獎金局而隨機地進入獎 金回合.，並且這個隨機進入可以是獎金局進入的額外進入 。例如，除了獎金局進入獎金回合之外，就平均數値來說 ，每10,000局（所有的局或是只有最大數字籌碼被下注了 的局）機器10可以進入獎金回合一次。機器10可以透過產 生兩個亂數來執行這種隨機獎金回合，其中一個亂數用在 隨機進入獎金回合以及另一個用在獎金獎品的隨機選擇。 此外，獎金回合可以包括除了獎金輪子50之外的獎金指示 器。除此之外，獎金回合可以包括在發出多於或是少於五 張牌之影像撲克機中，或是其他撲克賭局中，例如桌上（非 機器）撲克。此外，當賭注數字低於籌碼最大數時，機器10 可以進入獎金回合，而且獎金獎品可以依照下注的籌碼的 數字不同而變化。 【圖式簡單說明】 (一）圖式部分 當參考下面的詳細描述並伴隨附圖一起考慮時，前述 方面以及本發明的許多附帶優點將變得更容易認識並且同 16 200301148 時變得更容易理解’其中： 圖1係依照本發明實施例的影像撲克機正視圖。 圖2係依照本發明實施例在圖1之影像撲克機的示意 性區塊圖。 圖3係依照本發明實施例在圖1中的顯示螢幕，其顯 示牌的起始局。 圖4係依照本發明實施例在圖1中的顯示螢幕，其顯 示牌的生成獎金局。 圖5係依照本發明實施例在圖1中的顯示螢幕，其顯 示賭局的獎金回合。 (二）元件代表符號 10 影像撲克機 12 顯TpC營幕 14 輸入裝置 16a-16e 按鈕 18 籌碼插槽 20 控制電路 22 處理器 24 記憶體 30 籌碼數字 32 下注數字 34 起始局 36a-36e 位置 38 結果局 200301148 40 、 42 、 52 、 54 50 56a-56h 58 橫幅 獎金輪子 區段 指示器 18200301148 发明. Description of the invention [Technical field to which the invention belongs] The present invention relates to poker machines and related methods, and more particularly to poker machines with bonus rounds and related methods. [Previous technology] In recent years, computerized video poker has become a popular form of entertainment. Traditional video poker machines typically include a computer system that includes a computer processor to execute a program that controls a display screen, a chip slot, and a payment distributor. Video poker machines typically also include a player input mechanism, such as a button, which allows the player to select a bet from the available chips (if any are available), and to choose which cards to leave and which cards to swap. The computer program also controls the nature of the gambling bet, and displays a known winning percentage of a number of possible bare hands on one of the cards that have been issued, showing the player a chance to bet on the chips. Unfortunately, as discussed below, the profit margins of video poker machines are typically limited by the inherent nature of the poker machine itself. In theory, there are two main techniques for increasing the profit margin of machines. The first technology is to increase the holding percentage of the machine, which is the percentage of the machine's acquisition-the machine's acquisition is the total amount of money bet by the player-the naked game that the machine does not pay, which is equal to 100% minus the payout percentage. However, as discussed below, increasing the holding percentage of the machine may also reduce the take-up of the machine and therefore the profit of the machine. The second technique is to increase the acceptance of this machine. One way to increase machine receipt is to increase the appeal of the machine so that more players can play it. For example, the machine can allow wild 200301148 cards or provide different traits that increase the chances of a player winning. However, although this trait may increase the attractiveness and increase its acceptance ’, it often reduces the holding percentage of the machine to a non-increasing degree, so it may actually reduce the profit of the machine. As a result, the need arises for technologies that can increase the profitability of video poker machines. Overview of Traditional Video Poker Machines Table 1 is an example of a payout schedule for a traditional video "draw poker machine". This payout schedule is typically located at a prominent location on the machine so that players can see it. Table 1 Invested chips (eg 1 coin): 2 3 4 5 Pay: 1 2 3 4 5 One pair of Jacks or better 2 4 6 8 10 Two pairs 3 6 9 12 15 Three 4 8 12 16 20 Shun 5 5 15 20 25 Flush 8 16 24 32 40 Gourd 25 50 75 100 125 Four same numbers 50 100 150 200 250 Flush 250 500 750 1000 4000 Flush Das 200301148 When the player starts playing, one or more chips are deposited to Inside the machine, the display then shows the number of chips deposited and available for betting. As discussed below, winning games will increase the number of available chips by the number of bare chips, while losing games will reduce the number of available chips by the number of bets. The machine then prompts the player to bet one or more chips by pressing a button or other input method, with the maximum number of bets to the maximum number of chips (Table 1 is five chips). When the player places a bet, the processor randomly selects ten cards from the single deck (five starting rounds and five cards reserved for the draw). How the processor chooses ten cards is well known in the gambling industry and is therefore not discussed further. After the player places his bet, the processor issues five starting cards. The remaining five cards constitute the drawn card. Once the player sees his five starting cards, he replaces a few (from zero to five) cards he wants to replace, and the processor draws a few cards of the same number to replace the replaced cards. If the hand in the resulting round is a bare hand in Table 1, the processor then increments the available chip count display. For example, referring to Table 1, if the hand produced is a two-pair hand and the player bets two chips, the processor increases the count display of four available chips. However, if the hand in the hand produced is not a bare hand, the processor reduces the display of the two available chip counts. When the game is over, the player may place another bet (either by depositing additional chips or using available chips) to choose to place another bet, or let the machine pay the naked amount of money with the number of available chips displayed. 200301148 With reference to Table 1, this payout schedule was designed to provide video poker machines with approximately 4% of the predetermined grip percentage. Typically, gambling laws require a poker machine to pay a predetermined percentage of the machine's receipt over a period of time. According to the payment schedule in Table 1, the predetermined payout percentage is about 100% -4% = 96%. If the machine pays less than this predetermined percentage, the gambling commission may ask the machine owner to remove the service of the machine. Conversely, if the machine pays more than a predetermined percentage, the profit of the machine may decrease. Therefore, because the mode of gambling often cannot predict and affect the payout percentage, the processor of the machine is therefore designed to change the winning rate if necessary to keep the payout of the machine at a predetermined percentage. That is, the processor compensates for the gambling model so that the payout percentage is maintained at a substantially constant level for a long time. As stated above, it is difficult to increase the profit of the video poker machine by increasing the percentage of the machine holding. One way to increase the grip percentage is to reduce the amount of money spent in one or more bare hands. However, because machines display payout schedules that are generally required by gambling, players tend to prefer other machines with higher payouts. Therefore, even if reducing the payout can increase the grip percentage, it will generally reduce the take-up of the machine and therefore the profit of the machine. As also mentioned above, it is difficult to increase the profitability of video poker machines by increasing the player appeal of the machine compared to the player appeal of other video poker machines. For example, one can increase player attractiveness by increasing the player ’s odds of winning or increasing the payout of individual naked games. But as mentioned above, although this feature and increased payouts can increase the machine's take-up, they typically reduce the machine's grip percentage when compared to an image poker machine with the payout schedule in Table 1, And the profit of the machine is reduced by 200301148. That is, increasing the take-up of the machine is typically not enough to make up for the reduction in machine hold percentage. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An aspect of the present invention is an image poker machine including a display screen and a processor. The processor issues a naked hand displayed on the screen, and if the naked hand is a bonus round, it randomly selects a bonus prize. In another aspect of the present invention, the processor randomly selects a bonus prize, regardless of whether the processor issues a bare round or the bare round is a bonus round. This bonus round can increase the profit of the poker machine. In particular, the availability of bonuses can increase attractiveness and therefore increase machine acceptance. Through the selection of the appropriate bonus round and the appropriate chance of winning in the bonus round, when compared with the collection of a traditional machine with the same payout schedule but no bonus round, this increase in collection can increase the profit of the machine. Moreover, this increase in profits can generally be achieved without the player's knowledge and without violating any gambling laws. Due to the large number of video poker machines being played in various parts of the world, even if the machine's profit margins increase slightly, the owners of many of these machines will bring a significant amount of money. [Embodiment] The following discussion may allow those skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. The general principles described therein can be applied to other embodiments and applications other than the detailed description below without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The 200301148 invention is not limited to the embodiments shown below, but is based on the broadest scope consistent with the principles and characteristics disclosed or suggested herein. FIG. 1 is an image poker machine 10 implementing a bonus round in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Machine 10 includes a conventional display screen 12 for displaying cards (not shown in Figure 1) and other gambling information. For example, the screen 12 may be a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD). The machine 10 also includes a conventional input device 14, here five buttons 16a-16e, for the player (not shown) to enter information such as the number of bets he has placed and which cards he chooses to keep and which cards to replace. . Alternatively, the buttons 16a-16e may be touch screen buttons displayed on the screen 12, or the device 14 may include additional buttons (not shown) or other input elements. In addition, the machine 10 includes a conventional chip slot 18 to receive bet chips. For example, slot 18 can accept coins, tokens, paper money, debit cards, or other payment mechanisms. As discussed below in conjunction with Figures 3-5, machines 10 that perform bonus rounds increase their profits when compared to the profits of machines that perform the same payout schedule but do not have a bonus round. In particular, the increase in player appeal through the machine during the bonus round increased the take-up of machine 10 without unduly reducing the percentage of machine holding. That is, even if the bonus round reduces the machine's holding percentage, an increase in collection is enough to increase the profit of the machine, regardless of whether the holding percentage is reduced. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an image poker machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The machine 10 includes a control circuit 20 that communicates with a screen 12, an input device 14, and a chip slot 18, and includes a conventional processor 22 connected to a conventional memory 24. The processor 22 controls the entire function of the machine 10. In particular, the processor 22 executes at least one type of video poker machine game on the screen 12 by executing at least one program stored in the memory 24. The program orders the attributes of the poker gambling game (such as payout schedules, bonus schedules, and gambling rules). This enables people to change gambling attributes through program changes. In one embodiment, the 'processor 22 is designed to execute a five card poker having a payout schedule as shown in Table 1 and a payout schedule as discussed below with Fig. 5 together. Referring to Figs. 3-5, the role of the video poker machine 10 in Figs. 1-2 is discussed in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Each of Figs. 3-5 shows the display screen 12 of the poker gambling stage at various stages. For the purposes of this discussion, the processor 22 assumes that the poker is designed to perform a five-card draw ' to pay the winnings in accordance with the schedule in Table 1, and enter a bonus round when the player (not shown) reaches four equal numbers. Referring to FIG. 3, the processor 22 (FIG. 2) causes the screen 12 to display the available gambling chip number 30, and the player (not shown) uses the input device 14 (FIG. 1) to bet a number 32 (here, 5 available chips) Let's start a gamble. Each chip typically represents an appropriate amount of money such as $ 0.05 (five cents), $ 0.10 (tenths), or $ 0.25 (25 cents), even if it can represent any number of dollars. If the player wishes to bet more than his available chips, he can purchase additional chips through chip slot 18 (Figure 1). In this example, the player has a maximum bet of 5 (Table 1), so he fits into the bonus rounds discussed below. In response to the player (not shown) betting a 32-chip number, the processor 22 "issues" the starting round 34 of the card at positions 36a-36e, and causes the screen 12 to display this round of fire 12 200301148, in this example It's the box jack, box four, heart four, plum queen and plum four. More specifically, in response to a bet received via the input device 14, the processor 22 randomly selects 10 cards from a single deck as discussed above, and generates a random number between 0 and 1 to perform at The bonus rounds discussed below in conjunction with Figure 5 are discussed below. The processor 22 then issues the first 5 of the 10 selected cards to generate a starting round 34, and keeps the remaining 5 cards for the player to draw from them. Referring to Figure 4, the player (not shown) decides which cards to keep and which cards to replace, and assumes that the player is trying to get four identical numbers so that the processor 22 allows the machine 10 (Figure 1) to enter the bonus round of the gamble. More specifically, because the starting round 34 (Fig. 3) has three "4" s and assuming that the player wants to enter the bonus round, he uses the input device 14 (Fig. 1) to swap positions 36a and 36d for Jack and Queen, respectively. Alternatively, the player uses the input device 14 to keep several "4s" in the positions 36b, 36c, and 36e. The processor 22 can suggest on the screen 12 which cards the player should keep and which cards should be replaced, although the player is free to keep any card he wants to keep. Referring again to Figure 4, once the player (not shown) chooses which card to keep and which card to replace, the processor 22 causes the screen 12 to display "reserved" on the reserved card and sequentially selects from the five reserved cards. A replacement card is drawn for a replacement card to produce a result round 38. Because in this example one of the cards drawn (position 36d) is a spade four, the resulting result is a game of four with the same number (in this case, four "4s") and it is both a naked game and a bonus game. As a result, the processor 22 causes the screen 12 to display a bare 40 banner and a banner 42 to enter the bonus screen or a display like 13 200301148 to indicate entry to the bonus round. Referring to FIG. 5, because the generating round 38 (FIG. 4) is a bonus round, the processor 22 (FIG. 1) enters a bonus round and causes the screen 12 to display a bonus wheel 50 and optional banners 52 and 54. The wheel 50 includes a wedge-shaped section 56 in which each section is written with a bonus prize. In one embodiment, the wheel 50 has eight sections 56a-56h, which respectively indicate the following bonus prizes: ^ 125 "," 250 "," 400 "," 800 "," 1600 "," 3200 "," 3200 " 6400 "(these numbers indicate the number of prizes and bonuses), and" accumulated bets. " Because the minimum bonus prize is 125 chips, players will be naked at least as much as they deserve under the payout schedule in Table 1. Alternatively, the wheel 50 may have more or fewer sections than eight to indicate different bonus prizes. Moreover, a plurality of sections 56 may indicate the same bonus prize, and some sections may not indicate any bonus prize at all. After the processor 22 (Fig. 1) enters the bonus round, it "spins" the wheel 50, and then the player (not shown) is naked for the bonus prize identified by the section 56 pointed by the indicator 58 when the wheel is stopped. The processor 22 (FIG. 1) can rotate the wheel 50 automatically, or rotate the wheel 50 in response to the player's input through the input device 14. In any case, the screen 12 can display a screen that rotates the wheel People or other characteristics (not shown). The processor 22 stops the wheel 50 in a predetermined position generated by a random number, which is generated in the manner discussed above in conjunction with FIG. 3, and is programmed so that the bonus prizes of the wheel 50 individually have a desired winning rate. Referring again to FIG. 5, the processor 22 makes the machine 10 (FIG. 1) pay by increasing the number of available chips 30 (FIG. 4), dropping coins / tokens, sending a signal to the waiter, or in any other way 14 200301148 Player (not shown) winning prizes. Although the four prizes with the same number are discussed as standard payouts (ie no bonuses), the bonus prizes can be an additional bonus for standard payouts. For example, the machine 10 may pay 125 chips for four identical numbers, and the bonus wheel 50 may have 0 chips as the lowest prize. In addition, the progressive bet can be an independent progressive bet or a linked progressive bet. The amount of accumulated bets made independently is typically related to the funds collected by machine 10 (Figure 1), while the number of accumulated bets made in conjunction is typically related to the funds collected by several linked machines. Because machines at different locations can be connected electronically, the jackpot bets made in a link are typically larger than the jackpot bets made independently. For example, the former can grow by several million yuan while the latter can grow by several hundred yuan. Thus, although it typically has a much lower win rate, linked jackpots are typically more appealing to players than jackpot bets made independently, so they can add more machine receipts and profits than standalone jackpots. . Referring again to FIG. 5, collecting increased bonus rounds through the machine will generally increase the profit of the machine 10. As discussed above, the percentage of hold on the poker machine is predetermined and is about 4% for the payout schedule in Table 1. However, as the bonus round increases, the holding percentage will decrease; how much lower depends on the winning percentage of bonus prizes (a traditional payout for four of the same number) naked more than 125 chips. However, regardless of whether the holding percentage is reduced or not, the increase in player attractiveness based on the bonus round will increase the acquisition and increase the profit of the machine. And because the payout schedule does not have to change, the increase in profits is transparent to players (not shown). In addition, choosing four equal numbers as a bonus round can help players maximize their appeal. In particular, the odds of four with the same number are approximately one in every 15 200301148 423 innings. These win rates are high enough that the bait of bonus prizes and possible cumulative bets will entice players to try the same number, but they will not be too high and make the gambling boring because they enter the bonus round too often. Referring to Figures 1-5, an alternative embodiment of the video poker machine 10 is considered. For example, machine 10 may enter a bonus round in response to a bare round other than four with the same number, or enter a bonus round in response to more than one winning round. In addition, the machine 10 can randomly enter the bonus round regardless of whether the player has reached the winning or bonus round, and this random entry can be an additional entry for the bonus round. For example, in addition to the bonus round entering the bonus round, in terms of average number, the machine 10 can enter the bonus round once every 10,000 rounds (all rounds or rounds with only the largest digital chip bet). The machine 10 can execute this random bonus round by generating two random numbers, one of which is used to randomly enter the bonus round and the other used to randomly select the bonus prize. In addition, the bonus round may include a bonus indicator other than the bonus wheel 50. In addition, bonus rounds can be included in video poker machines that issue more or less than five cards, or in other poker games, such as table (non-machine) poker. In addition, when the number of bets is lower than the maximum number of chips, the machine 10 can enter the bonus round, and the bonus prizes can be changed according to the number of chips bet. [Schematic description] (a) Schematic part When referring to the following detailed description and considering it with the accompanying drawings, the foregoing aspects and many of the incidental advantages of the present invention will become easier to recognize and will become easier with 16 200301148. Understand 'Where: Figure 1 is a front view of a video poker machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the video poker machine of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a display screen in Fig. 1 showing the starting position of a card according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a display screen in Fig. 1 showing a card generating bonus board according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a display screen in Fig. 1 showing a bonus round of a gambling game according to an embodiment of the present invention. (2) Symbols of component 10 Video poker machine 12 Display TpC screen 14 Input device 16a-16e Button 18 Chip slot 20 Control circuit 22 Processor 24 Memory 30 Chip number 32 Bet number 34 Starting position 36a-36e 38 results round 200301148 40, 42, 52, 54 50 56a-56h 58 banner bonus wheel segment indicator 18