US 2003/0207707 A1 · Multi-stage multi-bet game, gaming device and method

Abstract

A game is comprised of a plurality of stages. Each operation of the game begins with the operation of a first stage. Depending on the outcome of the first stage the game may be over, or there may be an operation of a second stage. Depending on the outcome of the second stage, the game may be over or there may be an operation of another stage. This sequence continues until the game ends or until the final (nth) stage has been operated, at which time the game ends. Wagers are made on successive stages of the multi-stage game. Each stage of the game may typically have its own paytable or payout scheme, and its own expected return. A bet made on a stage of the game which is not played is lost in the preferred form of the invention. One embodiment is a three stage, multi-line, multi-coin video slot machine. The same game format (slots) with the same paytable is operated on three stages, with increasing payout multipliers at each stage providing an increasing amount to win at the higher stages. The “spin” at each stage is independent of the previous stages. The second embodiment is a multi-stage Five-Card Stud poker game. Each stage is again independent of the previous stage. A variation of this game is also shown which uses the same paytable on each stage, but combined with a mechanism to increase the “hit” rate. A third embodiment is a Draw poker game that combines the concepts of the Stud poker embodiment with the decisions and optimal play analysis that are integral to Draw poker. The fourth embodiment is a dice game which has been adapted to provide a high dependency between the first stage and the next stages.

Claims102

Dependent claims

A method of playing a wagering game having a number of stages to be wagered on, comprising:

a player making a wager according to a number of sequential stages desired to be played;
initiating play of a first stage of the game, wherein if a win is experienced on the first stage and if the second stage was wagered, play of the game advances to the second stage and a payout is earned, and wherein if a win is not experienced, the game is over and all wagers are lost;
initiating play of a second stage of the game, wherein if a win is experienced on the second stage and if the third stage was wagered, play of the game advances to a third stage and a payout is earned, wherein if a win on the second stage is not experienced, the game is over and all wagers, except the payout on the first stage win, are lost;
sequentially initiating play of any number of respective stages of the game after the second stage, the any number of stages comprising one of a final stage which is a pre-set maximum stage for the game, and a desired stage, the desired stage being a stage between the final and the second stage optionally selected by the player to be the utmost wagered stage, wherein if a win is sequentially experienced on each sequentially succeeding stage up to and including one of the final and desired stage, and if each succeeding stage up to and including the one of the final and desired stage was wagered, then a payout is earned on each sequential stage and play of the game advances sequentially up to and including one of the final and desired stage, wherein after the play of one of the final and desired stage, the game is then over, and wherein if a win is not experienced on any played stage after the first stage, the game is over and all wagers, except the payouts from any of the preceding stages, are lost.

1 more element

A method of playing a wagering dice game having a plurality of stages to be wagered against, each stage representing a roll of the dice, comprising:

a player making a wager according to a number of stages desired to be played, wherein the wager made on a stage creates an eligibility for playing that stage;
initiating play of a first stage of the game by rolling plural dice, wherein each different number appearing on each of the die becomes a respective point-to-match that is stored and displayed, wherein if all die numbers match, a win is experienced and a payout is earned, and wherein play advances to a second stage if the second stage was wagered, independent of whether a win was experienced;
initiating play of a second stage by rolling the dice;
determining whether any of the numbers appearing on a die from the second roll match the point(s)-to-match, wherein at least one match is considered a win and play advances to a third stage if the third stage was wagered, but the game is over and any remaining wagers are lost if there is no match, and further wherein for a point matched, a payout is earned, each point-to-match that matches at least one of the dice for the second stage remaining for a third stage, if a third stage was wagered upon;
initiating play of a third stage by rolling the dice;
determining whether any numbers appearing on a die from the third roll match the point(s)-to-match left from the second stage, wherein at least one match is considered a win and play advances to a fourth stage if the fourth stage was wagered, but the game is over and any remaining wagers are lost if there is no match, and further wherein for a point matched, another payout is earned, each point-to-match that matches at least one of the dice for the third stage remaining for a fourth stage if a fourth stage was wagered upon;
initiating play of a fourth through nth stage by rolling the dice in each respective stage;
and
making an identical determination for each respective fourth through nth stage as performed for the second and third stages in order to continue play up to the nth stage, or to end the game when no point(s)-to-match remaining from a preceding stage can be matched to the numbers appearing on the dice of a current stage.

6 more elements

A method for operating a processor-controlled gaming machine comprising the steps of:

(a) providing gameplay elements in a manner that can be visualized by a player;
(b) providing a mechanism for a wager input from the player;
(c) providing a mechanism for game operational input from the player;
(d) providing a first stage game of chance upon which a first wager is placed by the player;
(e) providing the player with a second stage game of chance upon which a second wager is placeable;
each said stage having an advancement condition and a terminating condition;
(f) displaying at least said first stage game using at least some of said gameplay elements;
(g) playing said first stage game;
(h) determining which of said advancement and terminating conditions is presented by said first stage game as played;
(i) if an advancement condition is presented by said first stage game as played, then advancing to said second stage game, but if a terminating condition is presented by said first stage game as played, the game is over and at least part of said second wager is lost;
(j) displaying said second stage game of chance using at least some of said gameplay elements if said second stage game is not already displayed and playing said second stage game if an advancement condition is presented at step (i) and a second wager has been placed;
(k) determining which of said advancement and terminating conditions is presented by said second stage game as played;
and
(l) providing a payout for an advancement condition.

11 more elements

A video card game comprising:

a video display device;
a cpu having a program;
a wager input mechanism which registers a wager placed by a player, said wager including an ability to register bets upon successive stages of the game;
a first deck of playing cards comprised of cards of suit and rank generated by said program, said program establishing a first array for display of a subset of said deck, said subset comprising a hand of cards randomly selected from said deck;
said program dealing a first stage hand of cards, and determining whether said hand of cards presents a winning condition based upon a preset hierarchical ranking of card arrangements relating to suit and rank;
said program dealing a second stage hand of cards provided a bet has been registered for said second stage and a winning condition is presented by said first stage hand as played, but if a losing condition is presented by said first stage hand as played, the game is over and at least a portion of bets on said first and second stage hands are lost;
said program including a payout output based upon said wager and predetermined values for said first and second stage hands according to a preset hierarchical ranking of card arrangements relating to suit and rank.

4 more elements

A video slot machine comprising:

a video display device;
a cpu having a program operating a slots game;
a wager input mechanism which registers a wager placed by a player, said wager including an ability to register bets upon successive stages of play of the machine;
a plurality of rotatable reels generated by said program, each of said reels being comprised of a plurality of different indicia, wherein each of said reels is caused by said program to appear to rotate and then randomly stop to thereby yield a display of certain indicia as a spin of said reels;
said program establishing a first stage spin, and determining whether said first stage spin presents a winning condition based upon a preset ranking of various indicia arrangements;
said program establishing a second stage spin if a bet has been registered for said second stage spin and a winning condition is presented by said first stage spin, but if a losing condition is presented by said first stage spin, the game is over and at least a portion of bets on said first and second stage spins are lost;
said program including a payout output based upon said wager and predetermined values for said first and second stage spins according to said preset ranking.

4 more elements

A slot machine comprising:

a wager input mechanism which registers a wager placed by a player, said wager input mechanism including a register of bets upon successive stages of play of the machine;
a plurality of rotatable reels, each of said reels having a plurality of different indicia thereon, wherein each of said reels is caused by a spin device to rotate and then randomly stop to thereby yield a display of certain indicia as a spin of said reels;
a spin mechanism actuated by a player to cause said spin device to operate;
a control apparatus which senses rest positions of said indicia on a spin and determines whether a spin presents an advancement condition based upon a preset ranking of various indicia arrangements used by said control apparatus;
said control apparatus permitting at least a first stage spin upon registration of a wager and actuation of said spin mechanism, and permitting a second stage spin if a bet has been registered for said second stage spin and an advancement condition is determined for said first stage spin, but if an advancement condition is not determined for said first stage spin, the game is terminated and at least a portion of bets on said first and second stage spins are lost;
a payout device yielding a payout according to said preset ranking.

3 more elements

A video dice game comprising:

a video display device;
a cpu having a program operating a dice game;
a wager input mechanism which registers a wager placed by a player, said wager including an ability to register bets upon successive stages of play of the game;
a set of differing gameplay element indicia, and a subset established from said set of gameplay element indicia of at least one match indicia against which representations of dice are to be matched in the course of play, said dice having a plurality of said gameplay element indicia thereon as facets of each die;
said program establishing a first stage dice toss, and determining whether said first stage toss presents an advancement condition based upon a match of at least one die indicium with a match indicium;
said program establishing a second stage toss if a bet has been registered for said second stage toss and a predetermined stage advancement condition is presented by said first stage toss, but if a stage advancement condition is not presented by said first stage toss, the game is over and at least a portion of bets on said first and second stage tosses are lost;
said program including a payout output based upon said wager and predetermined values for said first and second stage tosses according to a preset table.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Multi-stage multi-bet game, gaming device and method

Life of this patent

Multi-stage multi-bet game, gaming device and method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims102