Abstract: A multi-player game includes both individual and bonus game aspects. Players play one or more individual games for a score. In one embodiment, game scores comprise an aggregate of scores from individual rounds of play in which indicia are displayed, held and replaced in an attempt to obtain the maximum number of matching indicia. One or more players are declared winners of the multi-player bonus event based upon game scores achieved during a predetermined interval of time. Prizes or winnings, such as all or part of a jackpot, is awarded to the winners of the bonus round. In one embodiment, players use portable devices such as cellular phones to play the game.

Abstract: A variety of methods of playing games using dice or other indicia and apparatus for implementing the games are disclosed. In one embodiment, the game involves the step of accepting a wager, displaying indicia such as images of the sides of dice and determining if identical indicia are connected. Winning combinations of indicia comprise two or more indicia located in adjoining or connecting relationship within the matrix. In one embodiment, a player's bet determines how many indicia are displayed in the matrix. In one embodiment a bonus or separate game comprises using the existing displayed indicia or displaying a new set of indicia and determining the maximum number of identical indicia. If the maximum number exceeds a predetermined number, the outcome is a winning outcome.

Abstract: A multi-player game includes both individual and bonus game aspects. Players play individual games for a score. In one embodiment, game scores comprise an aggregate of scores from individual rounds of play in which indicia are displayed, held and replaced in an attempt to obtain the maximum number of matching indicia. If a player achieves a sufficiently high score, the player is permitted to play the game in a bonus round for a bonus score. A pool of players is determined from the bonus scores of players who play during a predetermined interval of time. A jackpot is awarded to one or more of the players of the pool based upon their bonus scores, such as the players with the highest bonus scores. In one embodiment, players use portable devices such as cellular phones to play the game and the jackpot is funded from charges associated with air time.

Abstract: A gaming apparatus and a method of playing a game are disclosed. One embodiment of the invention comprises a method including the steps of providing at least sixty-five cards, or card symbols, the cards comprising the standard 52 cards comprising 13 cards of a first, a second, a third and a fourth suit, and 13 additional cards of a fifth suit; presenting at least five of the cards to a player, the cards comprising a hand; and determining if the hand comprises a winning combination of cards. In one embodiment, the method includes the step of presenting the cards on five reels of a gaming machine, each reel containing 13 cards from the five suits. In one embodiment, the cards or other indicia are arranged so that normal poker hand combinations can be received, with each card value (of any suit) appearing only once on a reel.

Abstract: A variety of methods of playing dice games and apparatus for implementing the games are disclosed. In one embodiment, the game involves the step of accepting a wager, displaying indicia such as images of the sides of dice, determining if identical indicia are connected, and providing a payout for winning combinations of connected dice. In one embodiment, a player places a bet and at least two indicia are displayed. If the indicia are the same, the player has the opportunity to have at least one additional indicia displayed, such as upon placing another bet. Play continues so long as the indicia match. If the player receives at least two matching indicia in sequence, the player may end play and be paid a winning. In another embodiment, a matrix of indicia positions is provided and indicia are displayed in one or more of the positions. Winning combinations of indicia comprise two or more indicia located in adjoining or connecting relationship within the matrix.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method facilitate single user and tournament play of wagering games on a computer-controlled machine. A player provides control input in order to control the game. The machine simulates the rolling of dice to obtain scoring combinations, and the player makes strategic gaming decisions concerning the holding, releasing and re-rolling of the dice, and the assignment of the resulting dice combinations to scoring categories. A game progresses as a player attempts to fill a plurality of scoring categories in order to achieve a high total score. A player wagers on each simulated roll of the dice, and is paid for winning assignments of combinations to categories. The computer-controlled slot machines are generally linked to a wide area network, facilitating tournament play among multiple players and progressive jackpots. Computer-controlled slot machines include machine-readable media reading and writing devices, allowing players to save and restore games in progress.

Abstract: A game having a bonus feature and a gaming apparatus for presenting the game are disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of a player placing a wager, spinning a plurality of first reels having indicia thereon, determining if indicia displayed by the plurality of first reels associated with a first pay line comprises a predetermined winning combination, and if so, paying a first award and then associating that first award with at least one bonus reel, spinning the at least one bonus reel, and determining if an award associated with the at least one bonus reel is associated with a second pay line, and if so, paying a bonus award. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes three first mechanical or video-generated reels for playing the first game, one second mechanical or video-generated reel for playing the bonus event, and associated mechanisms for accepting wagers, paying winnings, and associating win amounts from the first game with the at least one bonus reel.

Abstract: A game having a bonus feature and a gaming apparatus for presenting the game are disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of a player placing a wager, spinning a plurality of first reels having indicia thereon, determining if indicia displayed by the plurality of first reels associated with a first pay line comprises a predetermined winning combination, and if so, paying a first award and then associating that first award with at least one bonus reel, permitting a player to spin the at least one bonus reel or otherwise participate in the bonus event, and determining if an award associated with the at least one bonus reel is associated with a second pay line, and if so, paying a bonus award.

Abstract: A game having a bonus feature and a gaming apparatus for presenting the game are disclosed. One embodiment of the method comprises the steps of a player placing a wager, spinning a plurality of first reels having indicia thereon, determining if indicia displayed by the plurality of first reels associated with a first pay line comprises a predetermined winning combination, and if so, paying a first award and then associating that first award with at least one bonus game, permitting at one or more times the player to participate in the bonus event, and determining if the outcome of the bonus event is a winning outcome and if so, paying a bonus award. In one embodiment, the gaming device includes three first mechanical or video-generated reels for playing the first game, one second mechanical or video-generated reel for playing the bonus event, and associated mechanisms for accepting wagers, paying winnings, and associating win amounts from the first game with the at least one bonus reel.

Abstract: A multi-hand poker game is disclosed. In one embodiment, the game includes the steps of dealing a first hand of a predetermined plurality of cards, selecting cards from the first hand to be duplicated into a second hand, selecting cards to be held from the first hand, discarding cards from the first hand which are not held, replacing the discarded cards in the first hand to complete the first hand, adding cards to the second hand to complete the second hand of a predetermined plurality of cards, and determining if the first or second hands comprise a predetermined combination of winning cards. In one embodiment, none, one or more or all of the cards of the first hand may be duplicated in to the second hand, and none, one or more or all of the cards in the first hand may be held. The cards which are duplicated and the cards which are held may be different.