U.S. patent application number 11/541847 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-05 for method and apparatus for payouts based on community cards.
Invention is credited to Eric L. Abbott.
Application Number | 20070075494 11/541847 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37901154 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070075494 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Abbott; Eric L. |
April 5, 2007 |
Method and apparatus for payouts based on community cards
Abstract
An apparatus for playing a community card poker game and methods
of distributing house winnings responsive to a community card
outcome of the game are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment the
method of distributing house winnings to one or more players of the
game may be based on one or more rankings of a community card
outcome. In response to a community card outcome, one or more
players may receive a portion of the house winnings according to a
predetermined payout table. A portion of the house winnings may be
distributed to one or more players as a fixed payout or as a
progressively building payout. A fixed payout may depend on the
ranking of the hand formed from the community cards. A progressive
payout may provide a greater house winnings distribution resulting
from less frequent payouts by awarding a payout on a higher ranking
community card hand.
Inventors: |
Abbott; Eric L.; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEIDE & MILLER, LTD.
7251 W. LAKE MEAD BLVD.
SUITE 530
LAS VEGAS
NV
89128
US
|
Family ID: |
37901154 |
Appl. No.: |
11/541847 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60723080 |
Oct 3, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/274 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63F 1/00 20130101; G07F
17/3293 20130101; A63F 3/00157 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/274 |
International
Class: |
A63F 3/08 20060101
A63F003/08 |
Claims
1. A method of distributing house winnings accumulated during play
of a game having community cards, the method comprising: presenting
a game to one or more players, wherein presenting the game
comprises providing community cards and accepting wagers on a game
outcome, such that the community cards generate a community card
outcome; settling wagers with at least one player of the game based
on the game outcome; accumulating house winnings from at least a
portion of accepted wagers during play of the game; inspecting at
least one community card outcome; determining whether the community
card outcome merits a distribution of at least a portion of the
accumulated house winnings accumulated during play of the game; and
if the community card outcome merits a distribution, then
distributing at least a portion of the house winning to at least
one player of the game.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the game is played in a Class II
jurisdiction.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the game comprises Texas Hold'em
Bonus.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein distributing comprises
distributing all of the house winnings to at least one player and
the one or more players do not need to place a wager on the game to
be eligible for the distribution based on the community card
outcome.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether the community
card outcome merits a distribution comprises comparing the
community card outcome to a pay table to determine if the rank of
the community card outcome warrants a payout.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein distributing at least a portion
of the house winning comprises a progressive payout.
7. A method of offering a game in class II type game comprising:
dealing one or more cards to one or more players, wherein cards
dealt to a player are player's cards; dealing one or more community
cards; accepting one or more wagers from one or more players on
players respective player hands; reviewing one or more player
hands, wherein the one or more player hands are associated with a
player and are created from any combination of one or more player's
cards and one or more community cards; determining which of the one
or more player hands are winning hands and which of the one or more
player hands are losing hands; collecting wagers associated with
losing hands to create accumulated winnings from the wagers based
on player hands; providing an payout to players associated with
winning player hands; determining a community card outcome;
comparing the community cards outcome against a predetermined
community card outcome; and awarding at least a portion of the
accumulated winnings from wager to players based on the comparing
to thereby return at least a portion of accumulated winnings from
wager to players.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the game comprises Texas Hold'em
Bonus.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining a community card
outcome comprises generating a community card hand using community
cards.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein awarding comprises providing a
progressive payout.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein awarding comprises providing a
payout based on a payout table.
12. The method of claim 7, wherein awarding occurs after each round
of play.
13. A method of distributing house winnings of a game having
community cards, the method comprising: accepting one or more
wagers from one or more players; presenting a game to the one or
more players, the game including one or more community cards and
the game having an outcome and the community cards having a
community card result; determining if the outcome of the game is a
winning outcome as to each of the one or more players and, if so,
awarding winnings funded at least partially by the one or more
wagers accepted from the one or more players; generating a house
pool funded by the one or more wagers accepted from the one or more
players on the game; determining if the community card result is a
predetermined winning community card result and, if so,
distributing at least a portion of the house pool to at least one
of the or more players.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the game is played in a class
II jurisdiction and players do not wager on the community card
result.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the house pool is generated
from the one or more wagers from a single table.
16. The method of claim 13, wherein the house pool is generated
from the one or more wagers from multiple tables.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the distributing at least a
portion of the house pool is distributed on a progressive
basis.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the distributing at least a
portion of the house pool is distributed based on a pay table.
Description
1. PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority to Provisional Patent
Application No. 60/723,080 entitled Method and Apparatus for
Payouts Based on Community Cards which was filed on Oct. 3,
2005.
2. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to card games and, more
specifically, to games that utilize community cards, and methods of
returning house winnings to players based upon the outcome of
community cards.
3. RELATED ART
[0003] In the past, gaming establishments have offered a variety of
table games to players in gaming establishments in those States
commonly called Class II jurisdictions such as Oklahoma and
Florida. The phrase "commonly called" is used to not denote actual
legal status but the terminology used by those persons skilled in
the gaming industry. In Class II gaming jurisdictions the operator
(otherwise termed the house) of a table wagering game may not keep
all of the winnings derived from their position as the dealer or
house for the wagering activities associated with table game.
Instead, the house often accepts a per hand fee called a commission
or ante.
[0004] Although fee based gaming, such as a flat fee per hand, is
one potential option to facilitate play in Class II jurisdiction,
it suffers from numerous disadvantages. Monies won on the game
which need to be returned to the player by law are given back to
the player not on the game itself. For example, a casino may do
drawings for prizes such as clothing or motor vehicles. The
casino's revenue on each game is at least substantially based on
the time each player stays playing the game (hands per hour of the
game multiplied by the commission or ante). This invention is a
method which distributes the game winnings on the game which will
entice the player to stay on the game longer.
SUMMARY
[0005] In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a
method of distributing house winnings derived from a card game
utilizing community cards is disclosed. One example of a community
card poker game comprises Texas Hold'em Bonus.TM.. It is
contemplated that during play, of the game the community cards
generate at least one community card outcome. In one embodiment the
community card outcome is the rank of the hand formed from the
community cards.
[0006] As often occurs during game play, wagers may be received
from players of the game. As game play progresses, the players'
hands may be compared to the dealer and in view of the game rules
and, based on the comparison, players hand may be determined to be
a winning hand or losing hand. In accordance with game rules,
winning hands are awarded a payout based upon the wager, while the
house collects the wagers associated with losing hands. Wagers
collected by the house are referred to herein as house take or
simply take.
[0007] The house take may accumulate during play of the game, which
in Class II jurisdictions must be returned to the players. To
overcome the limitations of the prior art in Class II
jurisdictions, the house may distribute the house take back to the
players based on the outcome of the community cards, such as for
example the rank of the hand formed by the community cards. By way
of example, the dealer may determine whether the community card
outcome merits a distribution of at least a portion of the house
take to the players. As discussed below, the house take may be
distributed to the players, based on the outcome of the community
cards, in any of numerous various ways.
[0008] One embodiment disclosed herein is a method for distributing
house winnings of a game having community cards. The method
comprises presenting a game to one or more players such that the
game comprises providing community cards and accepting wagers on a
game outcome, such that the community cards generate a community
card outcome. During play of the game, wagers are settled with at
least one player of the game based on the game outcome and house
winnings are accumulated from at least a portion of accepted wagers
during play of the game. Then this method of play also inspects at
least one community card outcome and determines whether the
community card outcome merits a distribution of at least a portion
of the accumulated house winning. If the community card outcome
merits a distribution, then distributing at least a portion of the
house winning to at least one player of the game.
[0009] In one embodiment, the game is played in a Class II
jurisdiction and the game comprises Texas Hold'em Bonus. It is
contemplated that distributing may comprise distributing all of the
house winnings to at least one player. Alternatively, the
distribution may comprise comparing the community card outcome to a
pay table to determine if the rank of the community card outcome
warrants a payout. Or, the step of distributing may comprise
providing at least a portion of the house winning comprises a
progressive payout.
[0010] Also disclosed is a method of offering a game in class II
type game comprising dealing one or more cards to one or more
players, wherein cards dealt to a player are player's cards and
also dealing one or more community cards. The dealing may occur in
any order. Then one or more wagers are accepted from one or more
players and the one or more player hands are reviewed. In this
embodiment, the one or more player hands are associated with a
player and are created from any combination of one or more player's
cards and one or more community cards. Then, this method determines
which of the one or more player hands are winning hands and which
of the one or more player hands are losing hands and collects
wagers associated with losing hands to create accumulated winnings.
Then, an award is provided to players associated with winning
player hands and a determination is made regarding a community card
outcome. Then, this method compares the community cards outcome
against a predetermined community card outcome and awards at least
a portion of the accumulated winnings to players based on the
comparing.
[0011] In one embodiment the game comprises Texas Hold'em Bonus,
which may be offered for play in a class II jurisdiction. The step
of determining a community card outcome may comprise generating a
community card hand using community cards. It is contemplated that
the step of awarding may comprise providing a progressive payout.
The awarding may also comprise providing a payout based on a payout
table. Moreover, the step of awarding may occur after each round of
play.
[0012] Also disclosed herein is a method of distributing house
winnings of a game having community cards. This example method
comprises accepting one or more wagers from one or more players and
presenting a game to said one or more players such that the game
includes one or more community cards and the community cards having
a community card result. Then, this method of play determines if
the outcome of the game is a winning outcome as to each of the one
or more players and, if so, awards winnings funded at least
partially by the one or more wagers accepted from the one or more
players. This in turn generates a house pool funded at least partly
by the one or more wagers accepted from the one or more players. If
the community card result is a predetermined winning community card
result then this method of play involves distributing at least a
portion of the house pool to at least one of the or more
players.
[0013] In one variation, the house pool is generated from the one
or more wagers from a single table. In another variation, the house
pool is generated from the one or more wagers from multiple tables.
It is contemplated that the step of distributing at least a portion
of the house pool may comprise distributing on a progressive basis
or based on a pay table.
[0014] Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the
invention will be or will become apparent to one or ordinary skill
in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed
description. It is intended that all such additional systems,
methods, features and advantages be included within this
description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected
by the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale,
emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of
the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate
corresponding parts throughout the different views.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary gaming table layout
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top view showing a wagering area of the gaming
table layout of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of an example method of
distributing house winnings to players responsive to an outcome of
community cards.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Without limiting the present disclosure, an example
embodiment of a contemplated community card game may be Texas
Hold'Em Bonus Poker.TM.. In this disclosure of Texas Hold'em Bonus
Poker.TM., the term `cards` may denote one or more standard decks
of 52 playing cards with rankings as is well-known in the art.
Furthermore, it is contemplated that the ranking of playing card
hands of each player of Texas Hold'Em Bonus Poker.TM. is similar to
the ranking of playing card hands of Texas Hold'Em Poker as
commonly played in poker rooms or as may be defined by a
casino.
[0020] An exemplary embodiment of a gaming table layout 10 for
Texas Hold'Em Bonus Poker.TM. game is shown in FIG. 1. The Texas
Hold'Em Bonus Poker.TM. game is but one possible example of a game
utilizing community cards and is presented herein for purposes of
discussion. It is contemplated that any game may benefit from the
method for house winning distribution as described herein. As such,
the term `game` as used herein may denote any game that utilizes
community cards.
[0021] The gaming table layout 10 may comprise a dealer location 30
(denoted Dealer in FIG. 1), at least one player location 20
(denoted Player 1, Player 2 and so on in FIG. 1) and a wagering
region 22 for each player of the game. It is understood that the
designations Player 1, Player 2 and so on merely aid readability of
this disclosure and not any specific order of player locations 20.
A dealer (sometimes referred to as the `house` or the `banker`) may
be located in the general area of the dealer location 30. Without
any limitation, more than one player may play the game. It is
contemplated that a player may place a wager at any player location
20 that is not occupied by another player.
[0022] In this example embodiment of the game, the wagering region
22 includes at least an ante bet area 50 (see also FIG. 2) provided
for a service fee paid to the house. In one embodiment the ante bet
comprises an amount provided to the house to play in a hand of the
game. It is contemplated that in Class II jurisdictions, the house
may keep the ante, but not winnings from the game. The wagering
region 22 may further comprise a blind wager area 52 provided for a
first wager and a bonus wager area 60 provided for an optional
second wager (see also FIG. 2). Furthermore, the wagering region 22
may comprise a flop wager area 54 provided for a mandatory third
wager (to continue in the game), a turn wager area 46 provided for
an optional fourth wager and a river wager area 46 provided for an
optional fifth wager (see also FIG. 2). The flop wager, turn wager,
and river wager may be made in anticipation or in response to
community cards dealt by the dealer.
[0023] The gaming table layout 10 may further comprise a dealer
card area 32 and a community card area 40. The community card area
40 may comprise a flop card area 42 for one or more cards dealt
from the deck by the dealer. Also part of the community card area
40 is a turn card area 44 where a turn card may be dealt. Finally,
for this embodiment a river card area 46 is provided to accept a
river card dealt by the dealer. It is understood that the flop card
area 42, the turn card area 44 and the river card area 46 may be
located anywhere within the community card area 40. In addition, in
other embodiments or other games, different community cards may be
dealt or a different numbers of cards may be dealt for the flop,
turn, and river.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a top view showing an enhanced detail of the
wagering region 22 of the gaming table layout 10. It is understood
that the ante wager area 50, the blind wager area 52, the flop
wager area 54, the turn wager area 56, the river wager area 46 and
the bonus wager area 60 of the wagering region 22 may be located
anywhere within the wagering region 22.
[0025] In an exemplary method of play of the game, each player
located at each player location 20 may be dealt a two-card hand
face down (also known as hole cards) that can be used in
combination with the community cards (in area 40 of FIG. 1) to
create a poker hand. In one embodiment the two cards dealt to the
player are combined with three of the five community cards to
create a poker hand. The dealer located at the dealer location 30
may also be dealt a two-card hand face down. If the best possible
poker hand proves to be the five community cards dealt in the
community card area 40 (also termed the `board`), either the
players and/or the dealer may elect not to use their two-card hand
and instead may play the board by using all five community cards
instead. In an exemplary embodiment of the game, a player's face
down cards may not be viewable by any other player or the dealer.
Similarly a dealer's face down cards may not viewable by any of the
players of the game.
[0026] In an embodiment of the game, both the players and the
dealer may achieve a best (or also termed `highest ranking`)
five-card poker hand using any combination from their two-card hand
and the five community cards (board cards). In a further embodiment
of the game, no player-to-player competition occurs. Instead each
player's hand may be compared to the dealer's hand. In this respect
the game differs from Texas Hold'em as commonly played in poker
rooms. The game may be played `heads-up`, meaning each player plays
against the dealer. The best five-card poker hand comprising the
combination of each player's two-card hand and the five community
cards versus the combination of the dealer's two-card hand and the
five community cards may provide the winning hand. For this reason,
all wagers made by each player are made before each player views
cards dealt during each step of the game.
[0027] In an embodiment of a method of playing the game, the dealer
or house receives the ante amount as a service fee. The service fee
may be collected by the house for participation in each hand or
round of play. The service fee may alternatively be received by the
house on a one-time basis. Alternatively the service fee may be
received after the deck of cards is shuffled and a new game begins.
It is contemplated that an operator may vary the method of
receiving the service fee from the players
[0028] During play, and to participate in the game, a blind wager
may be placed by each player on the blind wager area 52.
Additionally, an optional bonus wager may be placed on the bonus
wager area 60. The bonus wager entitles the player to compete for a
`Bonus Jackpot` wherein players may compare their two-card hand to
a posted payout table to enhance their winnings. In one embodiment
of the game it is contemplated that the second wager plays solely
against the posted payout table and does not depend on the player
having the best poker hand as compared to any other player's hand
or the dealer's hand. In one exemplary embodiment of the game, a
wager of $1 on the bonus wager area 60 may return a $30 jackpot if
a player's hand comprises a pair of Aces. Other two-card hand
pairings may provide other winnings for a player's bonus wager. It
is contemplated that a player may receive winnings for their bonus
wager even though they may have lost all other aspect of the hand
or round.
[0029] In a further step of an exemplary embodiment of this method
of play, a player may forfeit any one or all of the service fee
(ante), the bonus wager and the blind wager to the dealer by
folding the player's two-card hand. The term `folding the player's
hand` means returning the player's two-card hand to the dealer. The
dealer may discard a player's folded two-card hand. When a player
folds the player may be considered out of the game for the
remainder of the round or hand.
[0030] A flop wager (FLOP wager) may be received from the player on
the flop wager area 54. In one embodiment the flop wager received
from the player must be twice the size of the blind wager. An
operator of the game may predetermine the size of the flop wager.
Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment a player may continue to
play the game without placing any further wagers.
[0031] After receiving flop wagers from each player, the dealer may
deal three community cards face up in the flop card area 42.
Because the community cards are dealt face up, each player may view
the three community cards, which may be used in combination with
each player's two-card hand to achieve a five-card poker hand.
[0032] In a further step, a player may elect to forgo placing any
further wagers, such as for example wagers on the turn card or
river card. This action by the player may be termed `check`. The
player also has the option to place a wager on the turn card, which
is dealt to the community card area 40. In one embodiment of the
method the amount of the turn wager may be the same as the blind
wager, or fixed in amount or in some relation to the flop
wager.
[0033] After receiving the check or the turn wager from the player,
the dealer may deal a fourth community card face up to the
community card area 40. In this game the fourth community card is
referred to as a turn card. Each player may view the fourth card
and combine the fourth card with both the flop cards and the
player's two-card hand to achieve a five-card poker hand.
[0034] In an exemplary embodiment of the method of play, a player
may elect to forgo placing yet further wagers. Alternatively, a
river wager may be received from the player in anticipation of the
river card, which is the fifth community card. In one embodiment
the size of the river wager may be the same as the size of the
blind wager, the flop wager or may be set at any fixed value.
[0035] After the player checks or places the river wager, the
dealer may deal a fifth card face up on the river card area 46 of
the community card area 40. Each player may view the fifth card and
may combine all viewable community cards and the player's two-card
hand to achieve a player's best five-card poker hand.
[0036] In one embodiment, the dealer may expose their cards at any
time. In the same manner as the players, the dealer may combine all
viewable community cards and the dealer's two-card hand to achieve
a dealer's (or house) best five-card poker hand.
[0037] In an exemplary embodiment of the method, the dealer may
sequentially turn each player's two card hand face up. Prior to
proceeding to a next player's two-card hand, the dealer may settle
the bonus wager with the player. The player may forfeit the bonus
wager if the player's two-card hand does not achieve a
predetermined ranking based on a payout table or other payout
scheme.
[0038] In a further step, the dealer may compare the combination of
the player's two-card hand and the five community cards with the
dealer's best five-card poker hand. In one embodiment, if the
player's best five-card poker hand has a lower ranking than the
dealer's best five-card poker hand, the player forfeits all of the
player's wagers except for the bonus wager as described above.
Alternatively if the dealer's best five-card poker hand has a lower
ranking than the player's five-card poker hand, the dealer pays or
awards the flop wager, the turn wager and the river wager to the
winning player according to a predetermined payout schedule.
[0039] In one such payout scheme, if the player's best five-card
poker hand achieves a ranking of three nines or better and the
player beats the dealer, then the dealer may pay the blind wager
even money. If the player beats the dealer, then the flop, turn and
river wagers may be paid even money regardless of the player's
hand.
[0040] When a player's best five-card poker hand has the same
ranking as the dealer's best five-card poker hand, the dealer may
return all wagers to the player. In this case, the service fee may
be retained by the dealer. If the dealer's hand beats the player,
then the dealer collects the blind, flop, turn and river
wagers.
Distribution of House Winnings in Class II Jurisdictions
[0041] As described above, in a Class II jurisdiction house
winnings from wager of a card game may not be kept by the house at
all or only a small percentage like 10% depending on the
jurisdiction. The following discussion presents numerous different
ways to distribute house winnings to the players participating in
the game.
[0042] In this application, the term `house winnings` is defined as
the total amount of wagers retained by the house after all wagers
are settled by paying winning wagers and collecting losing wagers
of the game. The distribution of house winnings in compliance with
Class II gaming establishment requirements may be varied in a
number of ways.
Distribution of House Winnings in Response to a Community Card
Outcome
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of a method of returning
house winnings to players responsive to an outcome of community
cards (see above description of a community cards) as may be dealt
during a game. In an exemplary method of distribution of house
winnings, a dealer of a game may retain all house winnings from the
game until a particular community card outcome occurs. Upon
occurrence of one or more particular community card outcomes, the
house winnings may be distributed to one or more players of the
game.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 3, in step 300 a dealer may deal and
optionally participate in play during one or more rounds of the
game with one or more players (see also the above description of
the game). In step 310, the dealer may receive house winnings from
each losing wager during one or more rounds of the game. For
example, in certain hands the player hand may win and be awarded a
payout, while in other hands, the dealer or house hand may win.
When the dealer or house hand wins, the dealer or house collects
and keeps the losing wagers. Of importance in step 310 is that the
house receives winnings from the players and a Class II
jurisdiction may not permit the house to retain at least most of
these winnings.
[0045] In step 320, dealer may inspect the community cards of a
round of the game. This may comprise forming the best possible
poker hand based on the community cards. Regardless of the number
of community cards, the community cards may be arranged in any
manner as specified by the house to generate an outcome that is
based on the community cards. Poker hand rankings are well known in
the art and as a result are not discussed herein.
[0046] In decision step 330 the dealer may inspect a predetermined
hand ranking list with associated payout table and compare the
outcome of the community cards to the hand ranking list of the
payout table. The comparison occurs to decide if the community card
outcome merits a distribution of house winnings to one or more
players. In one embodiment, if the community cards form a poker
hand with a certain rank, or better than a certain rank, then the
pay table may grant an award to the players. The award to the
players based on the outcome of the community cards provide a means
to return house winnings to the players, thereby allowing for play
in a Class II jurisdiction.
[0047] Accordingly, if at step 330 the community cards form a hand
having a rank sufficient to warrant a payout, then the operation
advances to step 340. Alternatively, if the dealer determines that
the outcome of the community cards, such as hand rank of the
community cards, does not achieve a hand of sufficiently high rank,
then the operation returns to step 300.
[0048] In step 340 the dealer may distribute either a portion or
the entire accumulated house winnings from previous rounds of the
game to one or more players of the game. Numerous methods or ways
of distributing house winnings to the players may be utilized and
several of which are discussed below.
Progressive Based Distribution
[0049] In one embodiment of the game house winnings may be
distributed after the house accumulates the house winnings based on
a progressive type payout system. House winnings would be pooled,
either on a per table basis, or a group of tables basis. Over time
the total amount of house winnings would build into a jackpot until
a particular community card outcome occurred. When a predetermined
community outcome is achieved, the dealer may award, to each player
at the table at which the community card outcome occurred, a
divided share of the total amount in the progressive jackpot.
[0050] The dealer may distribute the progressive jackpot house
winnings to one or more players responsive to the ranking of the
community cards irrespective of whether a player has a winning
five-card poker hand. For example, if the community card outcome
comprises a straight flush or better, all players of the game may
be paid all accumulated house winnings irrespective of whether a
player has a winning five-card poker hand. In an alternative
embodiment, the dealer may only pay accumulated house winnings to
selected players. It is understood that for a distribution of house
winnings on a progressive basis, those community card outcomes that
are deemed to generate a player award may be predetermined by the
house. It is contemplated that either a portion or the entire
accumulated house winnings may be distributed according to the
ranking of the community card outcome in the predetermined payout
table.
[0051] In one example embodiment, the house winning progressive
jackpot accumulates until the community cards outcome is a straight
flush or better. Because this is a relatively rare event outcome,
the jackpot may be quite large before this event is realized. Thus,
one advantage of a distribution of house winnings on a progressive
basis is that players are more likely to continue playing the game
in anticipation of a substantial house winnings distribution. As a
result, a gaming establishment may increase revenues when players
continue to play the game in an effort to secure the large
progressive jackpot payout. Consequently, gaming establishment
revenues from the game are increased due to increased collection of
the ante service fee described above.
[0052] It is understood that one or more players may leave the game
and may be replaced by one or more new players of the game. The one
or more new players of the game may participate in the distribution
of house winnings, which encourage new players to enter existing
games thereby becoming eligible to win a portion of the
progressively building jackpot.
Payout Table Based Distribution
[0053] In an alternative embodiment, the distribution of house
winnings to one or more players of the game may be a fixed payout
or a predetermined but variable payout amount. It is understood
that the distribution of house winnings may be to one or more
selected players and may be made regardless of whether the player
had a winning hand or a losing hand. For example, in one exemplary
embodiment if the community card outcome achieves a predetermined
rank or better, then the players of the game may be paid an award.
In one embodiment the amount of the award is based on a pay table
such that the higher the rank of the outcome, the larger the
payout. For example, a flush may have a higher payout than a pair
of Aces. Hence, the payout table may be adjusted to provide a
distribution of house winnings for higher or lower rankings of the
community cards.
[0054] It is contemplated that the players of the game may achieve
a house winning distribution in response to a community card
outcome of the game at any time of the game. Consequently, player
interest in the community game may be maintained because even
though a player may sustain losses during individual rounds of the
community game, they may still be eligible for an award if the
community cards generate an outcome that generates an award. It is
further contemplated that a gaming establishment may maintain and
increase player excitement in the game by selecting only certain
players that may receive a house distribution according to any
method decided by the gaming establishment.
Distribution of House Winnings After Each Round of Play
[0055] In an alternative and exemplary method of the distribution
of house winnings, the house winnings may be distributed after each
round of play of the game irrespective of the community card
outcome. In this method of distribution, one or more winning
players of a round of play of the game may receive a distribution
of house winnings in addition to their winnings from their wagers
during the round of play of the game as described above.
[0056] In a contemplated distribution of house winnings, the dealer
may distribute house profits equally to one or more winning players
only. For example, in the game described above, suppose each player
located at Player 1 position and at Player 6 position (see FIG. 1)
has a winning five-card poker hand versus the dealer's five-card
poker hand. Each winning player would be awarded a payout for their
wager according to any method described above. Losing players
located at Player 2 position to Player 5 position (see FIG. 1)
would forfeit their wagers to the dealer. In addition, the dealer
may distribute the house winnings of the round of play equally to
both winning players located at Player 1 position and at Player 6
position irrespective of which winning player has a higher ranking
five-card poker hand.
[0057] In another contemplated method for distribution of house
winnings, the dealer may distribute player's losses according to a
payout table based on the ranking of one or more winning players'
five-card poker hands. For example, suppose again each player
located at Player 1 position and at Player 6 position (see FIG. 1)
have a winning five-card poker hand versus the dealer's five-card
poker hand as described above. Instead of distributing house
winnings equally to the winning players located at Player 1
position and at Player 6 position, the dealer may distribute house
winnings from the round of play responsive to which winning player
has a higher five-card poker hand ranking. In this embodiment the
winning player with the highest ranking cards wins all the house
winnings of the round of play of the game.
[0058] Alternatively, the dealer may distribute all house winnings
from losing players according to a payout table responsive to a
ranking of a winning player's five-card poker hand. In this
embodiment, each winning player would receive a portion of all the
house winnings from the game according to the rankings of the
players' five card poker hand. For example, the player located at
Player 1 (see FIG. 1) may have a flush, while the player located at
Player 6 may have a straight. According to the payout table, the
player located at Player 1 may receive 60 percent of the house
winnings while the player at Player 6 may receive the balance of 40
percent of the house winnings.
[0059] In yet another embodiment of house winning distribution the
payout of house winnings to players of the game may be less than
all the house winnings of the round of play of the game. In this
way, during one or more subsequent rounds of play of the game, one
or more winning players may anticipate receiving an enhanced house
winning distribution on completion of the round of the game.
[0060] In yet another contemplated distribution of house winnings,
the house winnings may be distributed to both the winning and the
losing players of the round of play of the game. For example,
suppose players located at Player 1 position and Player 6 position
are winning players and players located at Player 2 position to
Player 5 position (see FIG. 1) are losing players. House winnings
may be distributed to both the winning and the losing players. Both
the winning and the losing players may be paid out equal amounts or
unequal amounts according to a payout table.
[0061] If no players win in a round of play, the house may
accumulate the house winnings. House winnings may be distributed to
players in one or more subsequent rounds of play of the game
according to each contemplated method of distribution of house
winnings as set forth above. Player interest in each round of play
may be enhanced since each player may have some return of their
wagers, even in the event the hand they are dealt is not a winning
hand.
[0062] It is further contemplated that accumulated house winnings
from two or more tables may be distributed to players at a
particular table upon the occurrence of a particular community card
outcome. Consequently, player excitement and interest in the games
may be substantially enhanced when a distribution of house winnings
is announced to a particular table and when the awarded jackpots
are substantial.
[0063] While various embodiments of the invention have been
described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible
that are within the scope of this invention. In addition, the
various features, elements, and embodiments described herein may be
claimed or combined in any combination or arrangement.
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