US 9,311,785 B2Granted

Gaming system and method providng a multiplayer card game with multiple fold options and interrelated bonuses

AssigneeIgt

InventorAndreas C. Montano

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Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a multiplayer card game with multiple fold options and interrelated bonuses. In one embodiment, the gaming system enables a player to input either a first fold input or a second different fold input should the player desire to fold the player's hand during a play of the card game. If the gaming system receives the first fold input from the player, the gaming system: (a) folds the player's hand, (b) automatically removes the player from the virtual table, and (c) automatically assigns the player to a second different virtual table for at least one subsequent play of the card game. If, on the other hand, the gaming system receives the second fold input from the player, the gaming system folds the player's hand and does not remove the player from the virtual table.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A gaming system comprising:

a central controller operable with a plurality of gaming machines playable by a plurality of players, the central controller configured to:
(a) for each of a plurality of the plurality of gaming machines, assign the player of said gaming machine to a first one of a plurality of different virtual tables;
(b) for a first play of a card game for the players at the first virtual table:
(i) for each player at the first virtual table, randomly determine and cause the gaming machine of said player to display a hand of one or more cards;
(ii) for each player at the first virtual table, before termination of said first play of the card game, cause the gaming machine of said player to enable input of a fold input;
(iii) for each received fold input:
(1) fold the hand of the player who input said fold input;
and
(2) cause the gaming machine of the player who input said fold input to enable input of a change tables input;
(iv) for each received change tables input, remove the player who input said change tables input from the first virtual table before termination of said first play of the card game and assign said player to a second different virtual table for at least one subsequent play of the card game;
(v) determine an outcome for said first play of the card game;
(vi) cause the gaming machine of each remaining player at the first virtual table to display the determined outcome;
and
(vii) provide any awards associated with the determined outcome, wherein a credit balance is increasable based on any awards associated with the determined outcome, said credit balance being increasable via a deposit of funds having a monetary value equal to a monetary value of one or more physical items of currency, and decreasable via a cashout button;
and
(c) provide a second play of the card game at the first virtual table for at least each player remaining at the first virtual table following the first play of the card game.

13 more elements

A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) for each of a plurality of gaming machines, assigning, via a central controller, a player of said gaming machine to a first one of a plurality of different virtual tables;
(b) for a first play of a card game for the players at the first virtual table:
(i) for each player at the first virtual table, randomly determining, via the central controller, and causing, via the central controller, the gaming machine of said player to display a hand of one or more cards;
(ii) for each player at the first virtual table, before termination of said first play of the card game, causing, via the central controller, the gaming machine of said player to enable input of a fold input;
(iii) for each received fold input:
(1) folding, via the central controller, the hand of the player who input said fold input;
and
(2) causing, via the central controller, the gaming machine of the player who input said fold input to enable input of a change tables input;
(iv) for each received change tables input, removing, via the central controller, the player who input said change tables input from the first virtual table before termination of said first play of the card game and assigning, via the central controller, said player to a second different virtual table for at least one subsequent play of the card game;
(v) determining, via the central controller, an outcome for said first play of the card game;
(vi) causing, via the central controller, the gaming machine of each remaining player at the first virtual table to display the determined outcome;
and
(vii) providing, via the central controller, any awards associated with the determined outcome, wherein a credit balance is increasable based on any awards associated with the determined outcome, said credit balance being increasable via a deposit of funds having a monetary value equal to a monetary value of one or more physical items of currency, and decreasable via a cashout button;
and
(c) providing, via the central controller, a second play of the card game at the first virtual table for at least each player remaining at the first virtual table following the first play of the card game.

12 more elements

A gaming system comprising:

a central controller;
and
a plurality of gaming machines playable by a plurality of players, each gaming machine including:
(a) a housing;
(b) a display device;
(c) a plurality of input devices including an acceptor and a validator;
(d) a processor;
and
(e) a memory device that stores a plurality of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to:
(i) establish a credit balance for the player of said gaming machine based at least in part on a monetary value of a physical item received via the acceptor and validated via the validator;
and
(ii) thereafter, enabling the player of said gaming machine to be assigned to one of a plurality of virtual tables,
wherein the central controller is configured to:
(a) for each of a plurality of the plurality of gaming machines, assign the player of said gaming machine to a first one of the plurality of virtual tables;
(b) for a first play of a card game for the players at the first virtual table:
(i) for each player at the first virtual table, randomly determine and cause the gaming machine of said player to display a hand of one or more cards;
(ii) for each player at the first virtual table, before termination of said first play of the card game, cause the gaming machine of said player to enable input of a fold input;
(iii) for each received fold input:
(1) fold the hand of the player who input said fold input;
and
(2) cause the gaming machine of the player who input said fold input to enable input of a change tables input;
(iv) for each received change tables input, remove the player who input said change tables input from the first virtual table before termination of said first play of the card game and assign said player to a second different virtual table for at least one subsequent play of the card game;
(v) determine an outcome for said first play of the card game;
(vi) cause the gaming machine of each remaining player at the first virtual table to display the determined outcome;
and
(vii) provide any awards associated with the determined outcome;
and
(c) provide a second play of the card game at the first virtual table for at least each player remaining at the first virtual table following the first play of the card game.

25 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/669,778Filed 26 Mar 2015 · continuation
Priority: 3 Jul 2013
Published: US 2015/0018062 A116 Jul 2015
Granted: 12 Apr 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G07F 17/3223
Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof: architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal…
G07F 17/323
Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users: wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds,…
G07F 17/3262
Game play aspects of gaming systems: player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be…
G07F 17/3267
Game play aspects of gaming systems: game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher…

Family

Application13/934,972Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Jul 2013
US 2015/0199881 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Jul 2015
US 9,011,226 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2015/0018062 A1Published application
US 9,311,785 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.