Abstract: Wagering methods, devices, and systems that allow individual participants in a game of poker to opt-in or opt-out of a bad beat feature are presented. For each hand played at a given table, a participant may activate the bad beat feature. Once the feature is activated, the participant is eligible for winning at least part of a bad beat progressive jackpot. This jackpot may be funded by tokens purchased by the participant, a rake taken from the hand's wagers, or by some other means. Apportionment of the bad beat progressive jackpot may be triggered by the participant losing the hand despite having cards that provide the participant with a significant likelihood of winning the hand.

Abstract: Methods and devices are presented for facilitating anonymous gameplay in multi-state, multiplayer games, such as poker. A gaming server may allow players to anonymously join instances of a game. The gaming server may represent an anonymous player to himself or herself using a non-anonymous alias, while the gaming server may represent the anonymous player to the other players or entities using an anonymous alias. Additionally, the gaming server may record events occurring in the game, and provide similarly anonymized versions of these events to other players and entities.

Abstract: A computer system for playing multiplayer games comprises a first gaming server which runs multiple instances of a first game and to which is connected a first plurality of players, there being a minimum number of players and a maximum number of players for any instance of the first game; and a second gaming server which runs multiple instances of a second game and to which is connected a second plurality of players, there being a minimum number of players and a maximum number of players for any instance of the second game. The first gaming server is in communication with the second gaming server and through the second gaming server makes available instances of the first game for players from said second plurality of players to join. Thus, separate gaming servers can pool instances of games and players.

Abstract: Methods and devices are presented for facilitating anonymous gameplay in multi-state, multiplayer games, such as poker. A gaming server may allow players to anonymously join instances of a game. The gaming server may represent an anonymous player to himself or herself using a non-anonymous alias, while the gaming server may represent the anonymous player to the other players or entities using an anonymous alias. Additionally, the gaming server may record events occurring in the game, and provide similarly anonymized versions of these events to other players and entities.

Abstract: Wagering methods, devices, and systems that allow individual participants in a game of poker to opt-in or opt-out of a bad beat feature are presented. For each hand played at a given table, a participant may activate the bad beat feature. Once the feature is activated, the participant is eligible for winning at least part of a bad beat progressive jackpot. This jackpot may be funded by tokens purchased by the participant, a rake taken from the hand's wagers, or by some other means. Apportionment of the bad beat progressive jackpot may be triggered by the participant losing the hand despite having cards that provide the participant with a significant likelihood of winning the hand.

Abstract: Methods and devices are presented for facilitating anonymous gameplay in multi-state, multiplayer games, such as poker. A gaming server may allow players to anonymously join instances of a game. The gaming server may represent an anonymous player to himself or herself using a non-anonymous alias, while the gaming server may represent the anonymous player to the other players or entities using an anonymous alias. Additionally, the gaming server may record events occurring in the game, and provide similarly anonymized versions of these events to other players and entities.

Abstract: Methods, machines, and systems for additional movement of one or more symbols of a reel-type game after the reels are spun for a turn of the reel-type game, but before a next turn of the game, are described. The symbol(s) moved after the reels are spun may comprise a scatter symbol or a symbol other than a scatter symbol. A tip of an off-reel-display symbol positioned outside of a reel-display area may be visible within the reel-display area to notify a player of the reel-type game that additional movement of the off-reel-display symbol is imminent. The off-reel-display symbol may be moved, onto a symbol that is being displayed within the reel-display area, after payment of any award(s) earned for certain combinations of symbols occurring on paylines with the reel-display area and/or after payment of any awards earned for a prescribed number of scatter symbols being displayed within the reel-display area.

Abstract: A central gaming server communicates with a gaming workstation over a network, such as a local area network or wide area computer network. The gaming server makes an initial determination of payout percentage for an instance of a game engaged in by the workstation, and generates results of turns of the game in accordance with the initial payout percentage. In one embodiment, the payout percentage is dynamically changed by the gaming server, and it generates additional results of turns of the game using the new payout percentage. Triggers for determining a new payout percentage could be that a predetermined number of turns of play at the initial payout percentage have occurred, the elapsing of a certain amount of time, or the player logging off the game and then logging back on.

Abstract: A player of a card game, such as poker, is presented with opportunities to replace one or more of the cards in his or her hand. The first such replacement may be free, but the player may incur a cost for each subsequent replacement. This cost may be based on how much the player is expected to benefit from the replacement. Facilitating these subsequent replacements may allow the player to improve a poor hand, thus enhancing the player's excitement of playing the card game.

Abstract: Players in a multi-state card game, such as blackjack or baccarat, are presented with opportunities to exchange their cards for new cards when the card game is in one or more particular states. These opportunities may include offers to redeal the player's hand of cards or redeal the player's opponent's hand of cards. Additionally, when the player is dealt a new card to be added to the player's hand, the player may be offered options to discard the new card, replace the new card with another new card, or to redeal the player's hand and/or the opponent's hand. In this way, the player may be able to improve his or her position in the card game. At the same time, the game provider may charge the player for acceptance of these offers, thus improving the profit margin of the game provider.

Abstract: Machines, servers and reel-type games are disclosed which provide a player with a visible indication of progress being made towards award of a stacked or expanding symbol on a reel, thereby heightening anticipation and increasing excitement of the game. A trigger condition for appearance of the stacked or expanding symbol can be achieved (i.e. accumulated or collected) over multiple turns or spins of the game. Progress towards meeting the trigger condition is displayed to the player directly on the display of the game.

Abstract: Multi-level wager games are described in which play at higher levels in the game continues even if the player does not achieve a winning result for play at a given level. Such play at the higher levels may be completed automatically in an autocomplete mode, without any additional player interaction. A payout is awarded if the outcome of play at any of the higher levels is a winning result in accordance with a special pay table designed for such autocomplete mode. In one embodiment, the special pay table is constructed such that the odds of obtaining a winning result in the autocomplete mode are less than the odds of obtaining a winning result for play at the first level. For example, in a two level poker game, if the player loses in the first level with only a pair of sixes (pair of Jacks or better needed for a winning hand in the first level), the cards in the second hand are revealed and the player obtains a winning result for second level hand only if the hand is dealt a Royal Flush.

Abstract: Wagering systems with a payout percentage that exceeds 100% of wagers are presented. The payouts of these wagering systems may include unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits. Players may cash out unrestricted credits at virtually any point, but may be limited in when and/or how they can cash out or play restricted credits. By providing payouts in the form of unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits, players may find their experience with the wagering systems to be more engaging, enjoyable, and longer-lasting. Moreover, the limitations on the use of restricted credits may allow the casino operator to maintain a reasonable profit margin despite the increased duration of play.

Abstract: A central gaming server communicates with a gaming workstation over a network, such as a local area network or wide area computer network. The gaming server makes an initial determination of payout percentage for an instance of a game engaged in by the workstation, and generates results of turns of the game in accordance with the initial payout percentage. In one embodiment, the payout percentage is dynamically changed by the gaming server, and it generates additional results of turns of the game using the new payout percentage. Triggers for determining a new payout percentage could be that a predetermined number of turns of play at the initial payout percentage have occurred, the elapsing of a certain amount of time, or the player logging off the game and then logging back on.

Abstract: A central gaming server communicates with a gaining workstation over a network, such as a local area network or wide area computer network. The gaming server makes an initial determination of payout percentage for an instance of a game engaged in by the workstation, and generates results of turns of the game in accordance with the initial payout percentage. In one embodiment, the payout percentage is dynamically changed by the gaming server, and it generates additional results of turns of the game using the new payout percentage. Triggers for determining a new payout percentage could be that a predetermined number of turns of play at the initial payout percentage have occurred, the elapsing of a certain amount of time, or the player logging off the game and then logging back on.

Abstract: A method for playing a multiple-play poker game includes the step of displaying a pool hand comprising a plurality of face up cards. The pool hand is not played, subject to wager, or subject to poker hand rankings. The pool hand is provided solely as a means for designation of none, one or more of the cards of the pool hand as held cards. Preferably, at the time of display of the pool hand and designation of held cards, playing hands are not displayed, keeping the player focused on the selection process. The method continues with reproducing the held cards in a plurality of playing hands, completing the plurality of playing hands with new face up cards, if any, and determining a ranking of each of the completed playing hands.

Abstract: A player of a card game, such as poker, may be presented with opportunities to replace one or more of the cards in his or her hand. For example, the player may be dealt a first set of cards, and then offered a first opportunity to replace one or more cards in the first set. The player may also be dealt a second set of cards, and then offered a second opportunity to replace one or more cards in the second set. Preferably, the first set and the second set of cards, when combined, form the player's hand of cards. The player may accept at least one of these two offers and, in doing so, may incur a cost for accepting one or more of the offers. This cost may be based on the difference between a first return associated with hand of cards played without replacement, and an expected second return associated with the offer(s) the player accepted.

Abstract: Wagering systems with a payout percentage that exceeds 100% of wagers are presented. The payouts of these wagering systems may include unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits. Players may cash out unrestricted credits at virtually any point, but may be limited in when and/or how they can cash out or play restricted credits. By providing payouts in the form of unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits, players may find their experience with the wagering systems to be more engaging, enjoyable, and longer-lasting. Moreover, the limitations on the use of restricted credits may allow the casino operator to maintain a reasonable profit margin despite the increased duration of play.

Abstract: Wagering systems with a payout percentage that exceeds 100% of wagers are presented. The payouts of these wagering systems may include unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits. Players may cash out unrestricted credits at virtually any point, but may be limited in when and/or how they can cash out or play restricted credits. By providing payouts in the form of unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits, players may find their experience with the wagering systems to be more engaging, enjoyable, and longer-lasting. Moreover, the limitations on the use of restricted credits may allow the casino operator to maintain a reasonable profit margin despite the increased duration of play.

Abstract: A system (1) for conducting commercial transactions comprises an application server (2) that hosts a software application that can be accessed by users to conduct commercial transactions thereon, an application user database (7) of authorized users capable of accessing the application server (2), each authorized user in the application user database (7) being uniquely identifiable by means of corresponding login name and password, and a proxy server (10) communicable with the application server (2) and accessible by a plurality of registered users from respective mobile phones (9). The proxy server provides each one of the plurality of registered users with access to the application server (2) from that user's respective mobile phone (9). A proxy database (11) is associated with the proxy server (10), the proxy server (10) containing details of authorized user database (7) who are also registered to access the application (2) server through the proxy server from their respective mobile phones (9).