U.S. patent application number 11/591259 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for progressive side bet with variable wagers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Shuffle Master, Inc.. Invention is credited to Roger M. Snow.
Application Number | 20070111786 11/591259 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38041627 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070111786 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Snow; Roger M. |
May 17, 2007 |
Progressive side bet with variable wagers
Abstract
A casino wagering game is played with a progressive jackpot and
a second bonus event. At least one player places a wager to play a
casino wagering game. The at least one player places a second wager
that is optionally varying in amount wagered at the election of the
player. The second wager enters both the progressive jackpot event
and a second bonus event. The casino retains a portion of the
second wager to become part of the progressive jackpot, while the
second wager also is required to enter the at least one player in
the second bonus event.
Inventors: |
Snow; Roger M.; (Las Vegas,
NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Mark A. Litman & Associates, P.A.;York Business Center
Suite 205
3209 West 76th Street
Edina
MN
55435
US
|
Assignee: |
Shuffle Master, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
38041627 |
Appl. No.: |
11/591259 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10770613 |
Feb 2, 2004 |
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11591259 |
Oct 31, 2006 |
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10637380 |
Aug 7, 2003 |
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11591259 |
Oct 31, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/27 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/322 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3258 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/027 |
International
Class: |
G06F 19/00 20060101
G06F019/00 |
Claims
1. A method of playing a casino wagering game with a progressive
jackpot and a second bonus event comprising: at least one player
placing a wager to play a casino wagering game; the at least one
player placing a second wager that is varying in amount to enter
both the progressive jackpot event and an odds payout bonus hand
event; the casino retaining a portion of the second wager to become
part of the progressive jackpot, while the second wager enters the
at least one player in the odds payout bonus event.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the amount of the second wager may
be varied at the choice of the at least one player.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein a fixed percentage of the second
wager is dedicated to the progressive jackpot.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein a fixed amount of the second wager
is dedicated to the progressive jackpot.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second bonus event provides a
payout selected from the group: odds payout amount; an envy bonus,
a fixed bonus award, a bad beat payout and a non-monetary
award.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein a first pay table defines winning
hands and corresponding payout odds on an odds payout bonus
event.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein a second pay table defines winning
poker hands and corresponding progressive payout amounts on the
progressive jackpot event.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein an amount wagered by the at least
one player on the second wager may be varied within a range of
amounts predetermined by rules operating on play of the casino
wagering game.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined range of amounts
for the second wager includes at least wagers that may be selected
between $1.00 and $5.00.
10. The method of claim 6 wherein an amount wagered by the at least
one player on the second wager may be varied within a range of
amounts predetermined by rules operating on play of the casino
wagering game.
11. The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined range of
amounts for the second wager includes at least wagers that may be
selected between $1.00 and $5.00.
12. A method of playing a casino wagering game with a progressive
jackpot and a second bonus event comprising: at least one player
placing a wager to play a casino wagering game; the at least one
player placing a second wager that is varying in amount to enter
both the progressive jackpot event and a second bonus event; the
casino retaining a portion of the second wager to become part of
the progressive jackpot, while the second wager also is required to
enter the at least one player in the bonus event.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein an amount wagered by the at
least one player on the second wager may be varied within a range
of amounts predetermined by rules operating on play of the casino
wagering game.
14. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined range of
amounts for the second wager includes at least wagers that may be
selected between $1.00 and $5.00.
15. A method for playing a game of Pai Gow poker played by a dealer
and at least one player comprising: the at least one player making
a first wager on the game of Pai Gow poker; the at least one player
making an optional second wager to enter three distinct side bet
events, at least one of the three side bet events comprising a
progressive jackpot in which a portion of the second wager is used
to fund a jackpot in the progressive jackpot event.
16. The method of claim 15 wherein the amount of the optional
second wager may be selected by the player from within a range of
amounts for the second wager allowed by rules of the Pai Gow poker,
the range including more than a single value amount.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein after placing the optional
second wager, dealing seven cards to the dealer and seven cards to
the player, the player assembling a five card high hand and a two
card low hand, the high hand having a ranking according to the
ranking of hands of Poker greater than the low hand, and the dealer
forming a five card high hand and a two card low hand, said high
hand having a ranking according to the ranking of hands of Poker
greater than the low hand.
18. The method of claim 15 wherein the at least one player's hand
is exposed and resolved in comparison to the dealer's hands to
determine the outcome of the Pai Gow poker game.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS DATA
[0001] This Application is a continuation-in-part of each of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/770,613, filed Feb. 2, 2004 and
titled "SPECIAL MULTIPLIER BONUS GAME IN PAI GOW POKER VARIANT" and
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/637,380 filed Aug. 7, 2003 and
titled "SPECIAL BONUS GAME IN PAI GOW POKER VARIANT."
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to games of chance,
particularly card games of chance, and more particularly to bonus
games in casino table card games. The technology herein has
particular application to games with progressive jackpot wagers
where portions of the progressive wager contribute to the jackpot
value. The invention has a highly desirable embodiment for use with
the game of Pai Gow Poker as well as any game that has a
progressive jackpot feature in combination with other jackpot or
bonus features entered through a side bet wager. An example of the
present invention is an improved version of the game of Pai Gow
Poker that is intended to make the game more interesting and to
increase revenues for casinos. The game includes a bonus event with
a side wager.
[0004] 2. Background of the Art
[0005] One significantly attractive feature in gaming is the desire
to win a large amount of money or value without wagering a large
amount in each play of a game. The development of the progressive
jackpot based on contributory wagers has become an important
attraction in most aspects of gaming. One of the most successful
video or slot games has been the Wheel of Fortune.RTM. slot game,
in which a small portion of each underlying wager is added to a
progressively increasing jackpot. To enable contributions from the
single wager, the payout frequency and payout amounts from the
underlying game are reduced.
[0006] Caribbean Stud.RTM. poker invigorated variant poker games by
emphasizing a fixed side bet wager on a progressive jackpot. A
portion of the side bet wager is put into a progressive jackpot and
payments are made for particularly high ranking hands. All payments
on such hands are specifically withdrawn from a monitored jackpot
fund, and all contribution to the jackpot is made from a portion of
the side bet, after an initial staking of the jackpot with seed
money. All other payments on bonus level hands come out of the
underlying ante and play wagers, while retaining profits for the
casino. The success of these games has stimulated attempts at other
progressive and side bet wagers.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,863,041 (Boylan) describes a method of
playing a Pai Gow poker wagering game in which an Ante bet is
initially wagered and a Bonus bet is also wagered by at least one
player. Seven cards are then dealt to each player and the dealer,
and arranged into a two-card low hand and a five-card high hand.
The ante bet of each player is then paid off to in the usual manner
for Pai Gow poker. Thereafter, a best five out of seven card poker
hand is arranged by the dealer for each player from the seven cards
initially dealt to the player, and the bonus bet is paid off if the
best poker hand has a poker rank equal to or better than a first
predetermined rank (e.g., a straight) but less than a second
predetermined rank (e.g., a royal flush or five-of-a-kind in a wild
card game).
[0008] Next, the dealer determines whether the best poker hand of
each player has a poker rank better than or equal to the second
predetermined rank so that an auxiliary game of chance, such as
rolling three dice, is then played to determine whether the bonus
bet is paid off at a first payoff rate where the player is a loser
or at a second payoff higher than the first payoff rate when the
player is a winner in an auxiliary game. In addition, the dealer
then determines whether each player has made a bonus bet of a
predetermined minimum amount (exceeding the betting minimum), which
is then paid off to other players if any other player has a best
poker hand equal to or better than a third predetermined rank (four
of a kind) in an event called an "envy" bet. The preferred method
of play described in Boylan et al. includes three separate
potential payments to each player making appropriate wagers as
follows: 1) Standard Pai Gow Player versus Dealer; 2) Bonus Payment
on Side Bet for Poker Hand; and 3) an "Envy" Payout. Boylan et al.
therefore discloses a three-tier payout pai gow game in which there
are two distinct wagers. Those two wagers are a Pai Gow wager and
the bonus side bet wager. When the bonus side bet wager is of
sufficient size (more than a minimum payment), the side bet wager
enables both best 5-card poker hand bonuses and a bad beat bonus,
each bonus event having different minimum ranks, although those
ranks overlap.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,424 (Evers) describes a method, device
and system for playing a new game of Pai Gow Poker. For a push, the
player's high hand must have a higher ranking the dealer's and be
Jacks or better. All other hands are losses. The method provides
for greater payoffs if the player has one of a plurality of payoff
qualifying holdings. The device includes a processor programmed to
play the game according to the method. The system provides for
linking devices to amass a progressive jackpot should the player
obtain a qualifying holding. At least one pre-determined holding of
the player's high hand is designated as a qualifying "bad beat"
combination. If the player obtains the bad beat combination and
loses the hand, the player is paid an amount according to a payout
schedule.
[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,472 (Mostashari) describes an improved
game of Pai Gow which includes offering the player an optional
bonus wager. Should the tiles of the Player's hand match any
predetermined bonus outcome tile combination, the Player receives a
reward for their bonus wager regardless of whether or not the
Player has won their hand according to the rules of Pai Gow.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,876 (Ko) describes an improved game of
Pai Gow that includes offering the player an optional bonus wager.
Should the tiles of the Player's hand match any predetermined bonus
outcome tile combination, the Player receives a reward for their
bonus wager regardless of whether or not the Player has won their
hand according to the rules of Pai Gow. The game also provides the
option to make a tie wager.
[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 6,113,103 (Ko) teaches a variation of Pai Gow
Poker known as Dragon Poker. A player posts a wager and is dealt a
first four of seven cards face down. A bank is dealt a first a
first four of seven cards, three of which are dealt face up. The
player is then given an option of surrendering and receiving a
return of a portion of the wager. With the surrender, the player's
participation in the game is at an end. The player who does not
surrender is a surviving player who may be given an option of
increasing the wager. The surviving player and the bank are each
dealt three additional cards to enable formation of a player back
hand and a player front hand and formation of a bank back hand and
a bank front hand. After the hands are formed, the wager is
resolved.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,486 (Franklin) describes a method of
playing a game of Pai Gow poker comprising: a player placing a
first wager; a player placing a jackpot bet; and a dealer dealing
seven cards to himself and to said player. Each player arranges
his/her cards into a low hand including two of said seven cards and
a high hand including five of said seven cards. Each player
evaluates the cards and determines whether the cards comprise a
predetermined jackpot card holding of a low hand pair and a high
hand of one of (i) four aces and the joker, (ii) a royal flush,
(iii) a straight flush, (iv) four of a kind, (v) full house, (vi)
flush or (vii) straight. Players are paid a jackpot amount if the
player has a jackpot holding. The winner of the first wager is
determined by comparing a low hand of said dealer to said low hand
of said player and a high hand of said dealer to said high hand of
said player.
[0014] U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060084505 (Yoseloff et al.)
describes a multi-player platform that provides multiple player
positions for live players to engage in an interactive wagering
game with a virtual dealer and virtual cards comprising at least
two player positions that enable live players to place wagers on
the game. The game comprises the steps of: placing a wager on a Pai
Gow game using Pai Gow hands of seven cards; providing the player
in the Pai Gow game with the opportunity to place a side bet wager
wherein the outcome of the side bet wager depends on achieving at
least a predetermined minimum poker hand rank using the player's
seven cards in the Pai Gow hand; providing cards to the player and
the dealer to form the player's Pai Gow hand and the dealer's Pai
Gow hand, respectively; resolving the Pai Gow game according to the
rules of Pai Gow poker; determining the highest ranking poker hand
possible using the cards in the player's Pai Gow hand if the player
placed the side bet wager; comparing the highest ranking poker hand
with the predetermined minimum poker hand rank if the player placed
the side bet wager; and providing an award to the player if the
highest ranking poker hand is of equal or greater rank than the
predetermined minimum poker hand rank.
[0015] U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050269783 (Snow) describes a
method of playing a casino table wagering game with at least two
players comprises wagering on an underlying game where players may
receive a bonus for obtaining a player hand of at least a
predetermined rank; placing a side bet that at least one player of
the at least two players will obtain a player hand of at least a
predetermined rank; playing a hand of the casino table wagering
game to conclusion; determining if at least one of the at least two
players has obtained a player hand of said at least a predetermined
rank; if a player has not obtained a player hand of at least a
predetermined rank, but that player has placed the side bet that at
least one player of the at least two players will obtain a player
hand of at least a predetermined rank, and if another player has
obtained a player hand of at least a predetermined rank, awarding
that player a predetermined proportional share of the bonus for
obtaining a player hand of at least a predetermined rank.
[0016] U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050170875 (Snow) describes a
method of playing a Pai Gow Poker wagering card game. The method
includes the steps of: a) a player placing a wager on a Pai Gow
Poker game, b) players placing a second wager against a pay table
on a separate poker-type game that uses each player's best
five-card hands from each player, c) dealing seven-card hands from
a set of cards to six player positions and to one dealer position;
d) resolving the Pai Gow game and awarding bonuses to players
making the second wager that have a best five-card hand that
exceeds a predetermined rank; and e) awarding an additional bonus
to players with hands that exceed the predetermined rank if the
dealer's best five-card hand is equal to or less than a
predetermined rank. An optional envy hand event may be included
with the second wager or a special qualifying second or third
wager.
[0017] Another known modification of the Pai Gow poker game has
been played at "Harvey's Resort and Casino" in Tahoe, Nev. In this
modified game, a bonus bet is made (in addition to the ante bet in
the usual game for the five-card hand and two-card hand ranks to be
compared with those of the dealer). This bonus bet is won at odds
if the player has any five cards (best five-card poker hand of the
seven cards dealt) which together rank above a straight (with the
odds increasing for increasingly ranked hands). In addition, if a
player makes a bonus bet above $5 (5 times the minimum), that
player can additionally win a predetermined payoff if any other
player has any best five-card hand forms a poker rank above four of
a kind (with the payoff increasing for increasingly ranked hands).
This type of payout is referred to in the industry as an "envy
bonus". Envy bonuses are typically won on another player's hand,
not on one's own hand.
[0018] Although Pai Gow poker has achieved a level of success where
it is present in most card rooms, it is desirable to provide
additional features to the game that can make it even more
attractive and successful.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The underlying technology of the present disclosure is the
combination of two enabled events from a single wager, where one of
the events is a progressive jackpot event that receives funding
from the single wager and the other event may be a non-progressive
bonus event that is enabled by the placement of the same single
wager. Exemplary and non-limiting concepts within this technology
include at least combinations of wagering events such as a
progressive jackpot and one or more of: a bonus odds payout award,
an envy bet award, a fixed bonus payout, a bad beat award, a
non-monetary prize with a monetary value, and the like.
[0020] The underlying game may be any casino wagering event, such
as casino table card games, slot devices, video wagering devices,
card games, roulette games, dice games and the like. Additionally,
because the size of the event wager under some circumstances can
cause an increase in player payback, the size of the event wager
selected by a player may vary from a minimum amount to a maximum
amount, the range of variation predetermined by the casino or
administrator.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a playing surface of an example
of game play of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] In the play of any casino wagering system or game, where
there is the desire to include a progressive jackpot event with a
contributing wager, the jackpot contributing wager (e.g., referred
to herein generically as an "event wager" to distinguish it from
the ordinary underlying game wager) includes enablement of at least
one separate bonus event because of the jackpot contributing wager.
An amount or portion of the event wager is contributed to the
increasing of a progressive jackpot, a portion funds a separate
payout (fixed or odds payouts), and the remainder of the event
wager is retained by the house as part of the house economic
advantage in the game). This new technology described herein
differs from known progressive wagers that have been treated as
distinct and separate wagers in which placement of the progressive
wager has a portion of the progressive wager added to the
increasing progressive jackpot amount and the remainder is retained
by the house, without influencing any other game events.
[0023] To appreciate the significant impact and technical
distinction of this invention, the economic operation of wagers and
casino profits on games have to be examined. In the development of
games and wagers on games, the wagers allowed and the returns on
winning wagers have to be designed so that there is a built-in
house profit margin on average for each wager placed in a game. In
limited instances, wagers with no house advantage are allowed. For
instance, pot bets offer no house edge. In craps, the back-up odds
wager provides about the only even money wager in a casino. That
wager must be made after placement of the Come bet and the
combination of the two wagers provides the house with an average
return of about 0.18% on the average total wager. This is still the
best wager in the casino for the player.
[0024] Other games and wagers in casinos have average house
retention rates of about 1%, 5%, 10%, 20% and more on the average
wager placed. Players are enticed to make these (on an accounting
basis) higher household wagers because of the enjoyment of the game
or the potential for extraordinarily large payouts on a relatively
small wager. This is exactly one basis of enticement to play in the
Progressive Jackpot events associated with certain casino games or
machines. For example, in the play of Five-Card stud-type poker
games, a typical progressive wager of exactly $1.00 (or one
wagering unit, as in Europe, 1 Eurodollar) is wagered. Of that
dollar, anywhere from 40% to 60% of the one unit wager is typically
added to the progressive jackpot. Thus, without considering the
relatively small seeding contribution of the casino, the house
retains approximately 40% to 60% (respectively) of these wagers,
even though the jackpot must be eventually won. A significant
problem for the casino for this type of wager, even though it is
quite rewarding, is that the wager is always one unit. There is
absolutely no incentive for a player to place a larger Progressive
Jackpot wager, even if that were possible (most systems allow for
only a single unit wager), as the amount of the jackpot event
payout does not alter with any change in the amount of the jackpot
wager. The casino therefore earns a significant percentage on the
jackpot wager, but the total retention by the house is minimized
because the wager is relatively small (e.g., $1.00) compared to the
ordinary wagers that may be placed in the underlying game (e.g.,
$5.00 minimum to $1,000.00 maximum). It is therefore desirable to
find a way to increase the amount of and frequency of participation
in Progressive Jackpot wagering events.
[0025] The underlying technology of the present disclosure is the
combination of at least two enabled events from a single wager,
where one of the events is a progressive jackpot event that
receives funding from the single wager and the other event may be a
non-progressive bonus event that is enabled by the placement of the
single wager. Exemplary and non-limiting concepts within this
technology include at least combinations of wagering events such as
a progressive jackpot prize in combination with one or more of: a
bonus odds payout award, an envy bonus award, a fixed bonus payout,
a bad beat payout, a non-monetary prize with a monetary value, and
the like.
[0026] The underlying game may be any casino wagering event, such
as casino table card games, slot devices, video wagering devices,
roulette games, dice games, interactive multi-player gaming
machines and the like. In the play of slot or video machine
systems, a selection button or automatic inclusion in the event
wager may be provided. In table games, specific wagering positions
may be provided on the table, including wagering positions that
provide a signal (e.g., light or electronic signal) indicating the
presence of a wager on that position. The use of RFID technology,
proximity sensors, capacitive sensors, optical sensors or any other
bet position sensors may also be used to determine not only the
presence of the event wager and the specific player making that
wager, but also the time when that wager is placed, so that late
entry into such a wager may be prevented.
[0027] Additionally, because betting more on the event wager can
potentially cause an increase in player payback, the size of the
event wager selected by a player may vary from a minimum amount to
a maximum amount, the range of variation predetermined by the
casino or administrator. It is important to note that some wagers
are paid back specifically in proportion to the size of the initial
wager, as opposed to having a fixed jackpot. This proportional
payback is usually defined in a paytable. The paytable lists the
various bonus odds payouts for each winning hand. Typically, hands
that have the lowest probability of occurrence pay the highest
odds. For example, in typical 5-card poker paytables, the return on
a wager for specific ranked hands might be, by way of a
non-limiting example: TABLE-US-00001 HAND PAYOUT ODDS Royal Flush
1000:1 Straight Flush 500:1 Four-of-a-kind 250:1 Full House 12:1
Flush 8:1 Straight 6:1 Three-of-a-kind 3:1 Two pair 2:1 Pair
1:1
[0028] These types of payout odds may also be present in the event
wager. The event wager may pay back different odds and therefore
influence players to make higher wagers. Such a payout scheme is
also believed to attract more players. For example, in a poker
game, with the above paytable retained in the underlying game, the
paytable for the added event wager might add any of the following
paytables or alternative paytables: TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 1 HAND
PAYOUT ODDS Royal Flush 2000:1 Straight Flush 1500:1 Four-of-a-kind
500:1 Full House 25:1
[0029] By eliminating some of the lower payouts and increasing the
higher payouts on the highest hands, the payback and house
retention are balanced. TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 HAND PAYOUT ODDS
Royal Flush 500:1 Straight Flush 150:1 Four-of-a-kind 100:1 Full
House 12:1 Flush 10:1 Straight 8:1 Three-of-a-kind 4:1
Here, the paytables have been constricted on both high and low
ranking hands to make more commonly occurring hands pay better. A
paytable with higher mid-range payouts attracts higher wagers,
which still retain a significant house return on the event
wager.
[0030] The percentage of the contribution to the Jackpot event from
each event wager is also under the control of the casino and/or the
administrator. The range may be small to large, and may vary over
the life of the jackpot event. For example, a general contribution
range might be, at any time during the play of the jackpot event,
from 1-99% of the event wager. It is more likely that the
contribution to the jackpot event would lie within the ranges of
5-95%,10-80%, 10-70%,10-60%, 10-50%, 20-80%, 15-75%, 15-60%,
15-50%, 15-40%, 20-40% and the like. The contributions may be
higher at the opening of the jackpot event (e.g., 50%) to more
rapidly increase the initial size of the jackpot (which may be
seeded by the casino or administrator with an amount such as
$1,000, $5,000, $10,000, $20,000 or more), and then as the jackpot
reaches a higher level, the amount of contribution may be increased
or decreased to either attract more interest or increase the house
retention on the wager (e.g., by changing the 50% contribution to
20% or 65%).
[0031] Or, a fixed contribution amount (such as $1.00, for a $5.00
minimum wager, for example) of the minimum allowable bet is an
alternative contribution scheme for funding a jackpot.
[0032] One preferred form of the invention allows the player to
place a bet between a minimum and a maximum. The fixed contribution
amount guarantees that the progressive jackpot is funded, and the
house maintains an edge on the bet.
[0033] The wager event of the present technology is clearly
intended and enabled for use in a generic range of wagering events
in a casino, on the internet, on wagering systems, and in
inter-casino and intra casino gaming events, in televised wagering
game shows, including combining the jackpot event among different
games and events. The description emphasized below will discuss the
use of the wager event with Pai Gow poker as a way of simplifying
the discussion rather that detailing its application according to
the rules of the many and varied games available within casinos and
other gaming environments.
[0034] In connecting differing games, differing casinos or
differing media (e.g., a live casino and an internet wagering
connection), different percentages of the event wager may be
apportioned among the progressive jackpot and the other game
events. For example, the probability of a highest level jackpot
event in the play of Let It Ride.RTM. stud poker may be
significantly lower than the probability for the highest level
jackpot event in a progressive blackjack jackpot event (e.g., five
consecutive blackjack hands to a single player). To assure that
each game is contributing to the jackpot increase in a "fair"
apportionment, the blackjack game may contribute a higher
proportion of the event wager (e.g., 60%) or percent of a minimum
allowed wager, or fixed amount to the jackpot than does the Let It
Ride.RTM. stud poker side bet (e.g., 20%). The different events, or
even different locations (attempting to influence the location of
initial wagers) may be the same or different as the choice of the
game administrator.
[0035] The amount of the contribution to the progressive jackpot in
any game may be controlled by the administrator on the basis of the
desired rate of growth of the jackpot, the amount of house
retention on wagers desired, and the amount of increase in bonus,
fixed payouts, envy and/or bad beat payouts from the included
wager, each and every one of which events influences the amount
retained by the house from each wager in the event wager made by a
player.
[0036] A preferred side bet wager bonus event is disclosed in
pending U.S. Patent Publications 20050269783 (Snow) and 20050170875
(Snow), and are referred to as Fortune Pai Gow.TM. games. The
content of the two referenced published applications are
incorporated by reference in their entireties. All other variants
of bonus events useful in casino games, whether or not used in Pai
Gow poker may also be combined with or into the wager event of the
present technology. That event includes a side bet and
corresponding bonus event of the present invention, combined with
the traditional game of Pai Gow poker. The bonus event does not in
any way alter the strategy of play of the game. The bonus event
requires no additional cards, and adds interest to the game.
[0037] Each player may make a first side bet wager to enter the
bonus game, and may place a second side bet wager or a larger first
side bet wager to enter an "envy hand" game event. The bonus game
may be played and resolved before play of the Pai Gow game or after
play of the Pai Gow game, but is preferably done after the play of
the underlying Pai Gow game. The first side bet wager is made
against a pay table, rather then against direct competitive rank
play against other players and/or the house. The wager is made on
whether the player's hand will exceed a minimum rank and will be
paid according to the relative level of the rank achieved in a five
card, best-of-seven cards poker hand. The players place the bonus
bet or side bet in a designated area. After the basic game of Pai
Gow is resolved, the dealer forms a best-of-seven cards five-card
hand for each player, and payouts are made on the basis of those
five-card hands having at least a minimum poker rank. After the
five-card ranks are identified (and possibly after being paid), the
dealer's hand is reviewed with respect to the highest possible
five-card hand in the dealer's seven cards. If the dealer's
best-of-seven five-card hand rank is less than a predetermined
rank, e.g., an Ace-High Pai Gow (no hand of at least a rank of a
pair), player's having made the first side bet wager will not have
any bonus payout for a ranked hand multiplied or otherwise
increased. If a second side bet wager or if a required minimum
threshold amount for the first side bet wager has been made, then
an envy wager event will be played. In an envy event, for players
making the qualifying envy bet wager, the appearance in any
player's hand of a five-card hand of at least a second
predetermined rank will provide a basis for a special bonus to envy
bet player's, except for the player who obtains the five-card hand
of the at least second predetermined rank.
[0038] Among some of the features that can contribute to the unique
play of preferred bonus games of the present technology include one
or more of at least the following basic game play elements:
[0039] 1) The underlying game is a table version of Pai Gow poker
game.
[0040] 2) A mandatory Ante wager is placed to play in an underlying
Pai Gow poker game against the dealer's hands.
[0041] 3) An optional or mandatory first side bet is placed at any
time prior to the players viewing one or more cards to engage in a
separately paying, side-bet wagering game against a pay table. The
game is usually played with a standard deck without any jokers or a
53-card standard playing card deck with a single joker, as is the
conventional Pai Gow game. Winnings are determined in the first
side bet separate game by resolution of best-of-seven five-card
poker hands of each player making the first side bet against a
five-card poker ranking of hands in a pay table.
[0042] 4) The separately paying game on this first side bet does
not interfere with any underlying strategy in the play of the
underlying Pai Gow game.
[0043] 5) Before, after or during play of the game against the pay
table, a best-of-seven five-card hand is established for the
dealer.
[0044] 6) The separate first side bet game is preferably played out
after resolution of the underlying Pai Gow poker game. When the
dealer's best-of-seven five-card poker hand has a low rank beneath
or at a predetermined threshold (i.e., the dealer does not
qualify), awards provided by the paytable on the first side bet
game are increased, as by additive amounts, preferably a multiplier
effect, or a combination of additive amount and/or multiplier
effect.
[0045] The Pai Gow game is played to its normal conclusion, the
separate game on the first bet having no possible influence on the
Pai Gow game. The first side bet wager game against the pay table
is played out (including the dealer hand evaluation bonus event),
and when at least one player has made a qualifying or additional
wager in an envy bet event, envy bet events are resolved.
[0046] The bonus event of the present invention may be played in
connection with the above described Pai Gow game with first side
bet.
[0047] The present game may be more generally described as follows.
An underlying game of Pai Gow is played (with the side bets not
being considered in this underlying game). That underlying game of
Pai Gow is generally played in a manner similar to the following
steps:
[0048] Ante wagers are made by each player in the underlying Pai
Gow game. The wagers are made between a group of respective players
against a dealer. The outcome of the game is determined by randomly
ordered playing cards having various ranks and suits. Seven cards
are dealt to each player and to the dealer. The seven cards dealt
to each player are arranged or "set" by that player into a two-card
low hand and a five-card high hand (and the player may in some
instances actually seek advise from the dealer in arranging legally
proper hands). The seven cards dealt to the dealer are set by the
dealer into a two-card low hand and a five-card high hand, usually
according to house rules as to how hands must be arranged. The
respective five-card hands and two-card hands of each player and
the dealer are compared. The ante bet of each player is paid off
according to the rules of play of Pai Gow poker. A payout is made
to the respective player if both the two-card hand and the
five-card hand of the player have a higher poker rank than the
respective two-card hand and five-card hand of the dealer. The bet
is taken by the house if both the two-card hand and the five-card
hand of the player have a lower poker rank than the respective
two-card hand and five-card hand of the dealer. Bets are a push
when only one of the two-card hand and five-card hand of the player
has a higher poker rank than the respective two-card hand and
five-card hand of the dealer. This is the basic manner in which the
underlying game of Pai Gow is played. Other considerations in this
play include the fact that the house will require a payment from
each player that wins in the underlying game with the house rake or
commission typically based upon the size of the wager made by the
player in the underlying game.
[0049] In the modified Pai Gow poker game of the present invention,
there are additional, but simple steps that are performed. At the
beginning of the underlying Pai Gow poker game, the players have an
optional or mandatory bonus event side bet wager that is or can be
made. The amount of the side bet event wager may be independent of
the underlying wager in the Pai Gow poker game. For example, the
side bet wager may require a minimum of a $1.00 wager whether in a
$5.00, $10.00, or $25.00 minimum bet Pai Gow poker game. The amount
of this minimum wager may be varied according to the design of the
game, the target house hold, and variations in the game that may be
made by the house. In other forms of the invention, the minimum bet
on the bonus event and the basic game are equal.
[0050] Considering only a bonus event with odds payouts at this
time, the modified Pai Gow poker game of the invention would
proceed as follows. After the play of the underlying Pai Gow poker
game and the resolution of the game bets, the players (alone or
with the assistance of the dealer) would then examine their seven
cards and create a best five-card poker hand. This best five-card
poker hand might actually be different from the five-card hand
played during the Pai Gow poker game, because of strategy
considerations. For example, it is a common strategy to split a
Full House in Pai Gow poker to form a three-of-a-kind High Hand and
a pair for the Low Hand to increase the likelihood of a win. If the
best five-card hand exceeds a minimum rank (e.g., at least a
straight), the player holding that five-card hand that at least
exceeds the minimum rank is entitled to a bonus payout against a
pay table. This bonus payout is in addition to the win in the
underlying Pai Gow poker game. An example of a pay table for the
bonus win on the side bet could be: TABLE-US-00004 HAND PAYOUT ODDS
Royal Flush 100:1 Straight Flush 25:1 Four-of-a-Kind 10:1 Full
House 3:1 Flush 2:1 Three of a Kind 2:1 Straight 1:1.
[0051] At this time (that is, after the players have organized
their best five-card poker hands and compared them to the pay
table) or earlier in the play of the game, but after resolution of
the underlying Pai Gow poker wager, the dealer arranges the
dealer's seven cards into a best five-card poker hand. Where the
best five-card poker hand falls at or under a threshold of a rank
hand, that is has a rank equal to or less than a predetermined
rank, a further bonus consideration is made in the side bet wager
separate game.
[0052] A "Pai Gow" hand for purposes of this disclosure is defined
as a hand in which no pairs (or higher) can be made from all seven
cards in the hand. If the threshold for this additional bonus
consideration is set at the Pai Gow hand level (as opposed to a
pair of deuces or lower, a pair of 3's or lower, a pair of 4's or
lower, or a King-High Pai Gow (i.e., there are no pairs or higher
available and the highest card in the dealer's hand is a King,
excluding and Ace-High Pai Gow hand), or a Queen-High Pai Gow, or a
Jack-High Pai Gow, or a 10-High Pai Gow hand, etc.), the dealer's
hand is reviewed for its best 5-Card rank. If the dealer's hand
falls below or meets this threshold, an enhanced or additional
bonus is available to all players that have their own bonus hand.
For example, if the threshold dealer hand for the additional bonus
is a King-High Pai Gow hand, and the dealer's hand has no flush and
consists of Jack, 10, 9, 7, 5, 4, 2, the threshold has been met and
the player with a ranked bonus hand will have the bonus hand pay
out increased by means of an additive amount of a multiplier, or
both. For further illustration, if the player had a high and low
hand of a straight and a pair and had made an initial $10.00 Pai
Gow wager and 1 $1.00 side bet wager, in this circumstance the
player would be paid $10.00 (even money) less house commission
(e.g., $0.50) on the Pai Gow poker game wager (assuming a win),
would be entitled to $10.00 bonus for having the straight, and
because of the dealer's low threshold hand, the $10.00 bonus would
be multiplied to $20.00 (assuming 2 times for the additional bonus
effect for the dealer having a low hand). The player would
therefore receive his initial $10.00 wager and a return of $30.00
on both games, while losing the $1.00 side bet wager that is always
collected by the house.
[0053] This play offers some significant benefits to the player and
the house while increasing the potential for enjoyment by the
players. First, there are no additional implements needed to add a
bonus feature to Pai Gow poker, such as dice or a roulette-type
wheel. The game does not allow for any change in strategy in the
play of the underlying game. The bonus events may be quickly and
easily determined.
EXAMPLES
[0054] An example of a round of play of a Pai Gow poker game with
event wager side bet according to the present invention is
described as follows. To simplify the description, only four
players (1, 2, 3 and 4) are at the table in area 23, 24, 25 and 26
The table surface 10 is shown in FIG. 1. Six player hands and a
dealer hand are dealt, as with traditional Pai Gow poker, with four
residual cards. The jackpot event has been seeded by the casino
with a starting amount of $10,000.00, and is displayed on
progressive meter 32 located at the table by way of non-limiting
example. A game controller 34 records the wagers made on electronic
wagering sensors 26a-d, and increments the meter 32.
[0055] In a preferred form of the invention, side bet sensors such
as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,154 are used to register
bets. The specification of this patent is herein incorporated by
reference. Examples of suitable jackpot control hardware are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,364,104, the content of which is
hereby incorporated by reference.
[0056] Players 1, 2, 3 and 4 place $5.00 wagers on betting circle
24a-d, in the underlying Pai Gow game. Players 1 and 2 place wagers
of $1.00, Player 3 places a wager of $5.00, and Player 4 places no
wager, respectively, on areas 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d, the side bet
event wager game that includes both a progressive wager (with a 20%
of the minimum bet of $1.00, or $0.20 or event wager contribution
to the jackpot amount). From this wager, the initial jackpot amount
is increased by $0.20 per player. Player positions 21, 22, 23, 24,
and 25, and the dealer's position 28 are dealt seven cards each
from a starting deck of 53 cards (the standard 52-card playing deck
and a joker). Each player and the dealer set their high and low
hands and place them in the appropriate hand areas 34a-d and 33.
The presence of a bad beat event or envy bet event may or may not
be included in this game. The inclusion of these events might be
considered in adjusting, probably lowering, the contribution to the
jackpot amount from the event wager.
[0057] The normal play of Pai Gow poker is undertaken, and the
events of that play are immaterial to the play of the side bet
wager. The hands are left on the table. At the conclusion of the
Pai Gow game, the dealer reviews or arranges the players seven
cards to identify a best five-card poker hand. The dealer may also
arrange the dealer cards into a best five-card hand at this time,
or wait to arrange the dealer's hand. This is an insignificant
choice, as the dealer's hand is already fully exposed. The dealer
examines the best five-card hands of all players to determine if
any player entered into the first side bet wager game against
the-pay table has a qualifying hand, that is a hand of at least a
straight in the example of this game. The dealer's best five-card
hand cards are displayed by the dealer at a central position 33
(e.g., where the dealer's hand had been previously located).
[0058] It is assumed in this example that the Pai Gow game has been
resolved and the best five-card hands are Player 1--3-of-a-kind;
Player 2--straight; Player 3--two pair; and Player 4--Full House.
In this situation, Player 1 who entered the side bet pay table
game, gets no bonus payment, the player's hand being below the
threshold of a straight. Player 2 has a guaranteed bonus payout of
1:1 on the original Pai Gow wager because of the straight. Player 3
who entered the side bet pay table game, gets no bonus payment, the
player's hand being below the threshold of a straight. Player 4
gets no bonus for the Full House, because no side bet wager against
the pay table was made by Player 4. If there had been an envy wager
event included in the event wagers of Players 1, 2 and 3, the
players would respectively obtain (Player 1) a payback of 1.times.
the envy payment for a Full house, (Player 2) a payback of 1.times.
payment for a Full House and (Player 3) an envy payment of 5.times.
the envy payment for a Full House. As understood in the art, the
winning envy bonus hands may be the same hands that pay a bonus, a
subset of those hands, or even different hands.
[0059] The bonus event in this example of the invention pays all or
a portion of a progressive payout for certain winning hands, plus
an odds payout amount for one or more of the same winning hands. An
exemplary pay table shows the combinations of payouts possible by
practicing an exemplary bonus event of the present invention:
TABLE-US-00005 HAND PROGRESSIVE PAYOUT ODDS 7 Card Straight Flush
100% 1000:1 5 Aces 10% 500:1 Royal Flush 200:1 Straight Flush 50:1
4 of a Kind 25:1 Full House 5:1 Flush 4:1 Straight/3 of a Kind
2:1
Since Player 1 placed the event side bet of $1.00 and holds three
of a kind, he wins $2.00. Player 2 holds a straight and placed the
event side bet of $1.00 and wins $2.00. Player 3 placed a side bet
wager of $5.00 and holds two pair and does not win. Player 4 did
not place a side wager and does not win on this wager.
[0060] All of the apparatus, devices and methods disclosed and
claimed herein can be made and executed without undue
experimentation in light of the present disclosure. While the
apparatus, devices and methods of this invention have been
described in terms of both generic descriptions and preferred
embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
variations may be applied to the apparatus, devices and methods
described herein without departing from the concept and scope of
the invention. More specifically, it will be apparent that certain
elements, components, steps, and sequences that are functionally
related to the preferred embodiments may be substituted for the
elements, components, steps, and sequences described and/or claimed
herein while the same of similar results would be achieved. All
such similar substitutions and modifications apparent to those
skilled in the art are deemed to be within the scope and concept of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *