Abstract: A method of customizing a casino game of chance has the steps of depicting to the player, before the base game, information about a plurality of aspects for playing the bonus game and allowing the player to pre-select one of the aspects before the bonus play. The step of basing the play of the bonus game upon the pre-selected aspect of the bonus game is a step. The method allows for a question and answer bonus game with choices of answers about trivia. The method has the step of choosing one of a plurality of categories for questions or the difficulty and/or monetary awards of the questions.

Abstract: Providing, in a casino game, a time period for a player to provide a response to a query presented in the casino game or in a bonus game to the casino game. Paying a higher award for a correct response and a lower award for an incorrect response when the player answers within the time period. When no response is received, randomly choosing a response and paying the player based on the correctness of the response.

Abstract: A method for playing a stand-alone and a bonus casino poker dice having X dice, each of the X dice having F faces with a different symbol thereon so as to form a set {S} of symbols on each of the X dice. The method of the present invention includes the steps of placing a wager; rolling the dice; holding none, any, or all of the rolled dice; ending the casino poker dice game when the dice are all held or when re-rolling occurs Y times; paying any winning combinations of symbols based on the placed wager and in response to the step of ending the game; re-rolling the non-held dice when less than all the X dice are held; and repeating various of these steps until the game ends. Variations on this basic method are set forth for stand-alone games, bonus games, used in conjunction with underlying gaming machines, and playing a bonus game of the present invention in parallel with an underlying game so that a number of hands are played.

Abstract: A methods of and apparatus for playing table card games are provided wherein with multi token maximum level betting and displayed rankings of winning hands return enhanced pay out. A pay table matrix listing has the enhanced payments for ranked hands. The method and apparatus uses and has token acceptors and sensors for each player. The sensors are coupled to a count and computer for registering any maximum level bet that receives enhanced return for predetermined winning card combinations. The apparatus and its method, thus allow each player the opportunity to bet multiple tokens before the cards are dealt and to win enhanced amounts of money should specific predetermined card combinations be obtained.

Abstract: A method for playing a game has the steps of establishing a plurality of paths, each of which have a plurality of squares including a start square, an end square, and a plurality of value squares. Randomly traversing the paths to afford the possibility of two or more moves to reach the end square. Allowing a player to select one of the paths. Moving along the player selected path randomly, while awarding the player the values associated with squares landed upon. The randomness is by the steps of spinning a spinner, rolling a die or dice, employing a wheel, flipping a coin, or the use of a random number generator. The step of establishing a plurality of paths, each having a plurality of squares includes using a stop square, squares which cause additional movement. The steps of establishing intersecting paths or establishing one or more squares having a game associated with them are practiced. The method is in a casino game and a bonus game for a base game.

Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value during bonus casino game play, entry for which occurs during play of an underlying game of chance. A method of house apportionment awards the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adds the remainder of the bonus value to at least one account available to reward subsequent players such that the bonus value paid by the house is constant and the house advantage is fixed regardless of player proficiency in the bonus casino game. The bonus casino games include knowledge-based playing. The step of awarding in the bonus game is a function of the wager, the frequency that the bonus game occurs, the expected return in the game without the bonus and the expected bonus monitoring pay out value.

Abstract: An intelligent casino chip method. A method for promoting play of a live casino card game during a scheduled time event. A special casino chip is provided to a player in which a promotion is encoded into the transponder found within the casino chip. When this casino chip is placed by the player on the live casino card game, a computer system reads the promotion from the transponder and determines whether the scheduled time event exists in response to reading. If the scheduled time event exists, the player participates in the promotion.

Abstract: During operation of a casino game, a hint feature is displayed with a displayed decision-making game round under control of a processor. A memory may store a plurality of decision-making game rounds. A hint contains response information for a player to increase the player's odds in winning the game round The displaying of the hint feature may occur at a random statistical frequency, based upon player hesitation, or a prevailing position in the game round. The hint is stored with each game round or is dynamically determined for the displayed game round.

Abstract: A method for providing bonus jackpot payoffs during a bonus mode time period in a system of linked gaming machines interconnected to a controller. Eligible gaming machines are determined at the time the bonus time period starts. Once the bonus mode time period starts, a portion of the eligible gaming machines are randomly selected for multiple jackpot bonus payoff opportunities. The random selection determines the rate the opportunities are issued and the average length of the bonus mode time period. Once gaming machines are selected they are allowed to complete the game they are currently involved in and should the play result in a winning combination, then the game payoff is multiplied by a bonus multiplier. The underlying gaming machine is responsible, in a conventional fashion, for paying the game payoff and the controller then authorizes a further jackpot bonus payoff of the bonus multiplier less one times the game payoff. The bonus pool value is then decremented by the amount paid by the controller.

Abstract: A method is set forth for playing a bonus game in a secondary slot machine adjacent a primary slot machine. The primary slot machine issues a bonus qualifying signal to the secondary slot machine to start play of a bonus game when a bonus qualifying event occurs. The reels of the bonus game include value symbols, null symbols, and end game symbols which may be of two basic types: a lose game symbol and a stop game symbol. After the random spin, the values of any value symbols displayed on the payline of the secondary slot machine are accumulated into an accumulated winning value. The value symbols could include positive integer values, negative integer values, and multiples. The random spinning, determination of values of any value symbol and the accumulation of a winning value is repeatedly continued until an end of the bonus game occurs.

Abstract: A virtual matrix comprised of a plurality of grid elements is provided, on which a hidden pattern, comprised of a plurality of matrix entries, is randomly placed. A player views a gaming matrix having a plurality of visible positions, each visible position corresponding to one of the grid elements. The player chooses at least one of the plurality of visible positions on the gaming matrix, after which the game displays the corresponding grid element of the virtual matrix on the gaming matrix. Based on the correct number of guesses matching the pattern location, the player is awarded and a media presentation signals the player's success. If the player guesses incorrectly, a second media presentation signals the incorrect guess.

Abstract: A casino game and method having at least one hidden attribute for each of a finite number of icons and at least one additional hidden attribute for at least one of the finite number of icons. An initial number of player's picks known to the player are provided and any additional picks found, as a result of the additional hidden attributes, by the player are accumulated to prolong the casino game. The casino game ends when the player's picks are used up.

Abstract: A method for playing a base and bonus live card games with side betting. A video board is used for bonus game play if a predetermined arrangement of cards is dealt in the base game. When a player gets the predetermined arrangement the player can play the bonus game. The other players who made side bets, under one embodiment, are also awarded when the bonus game player wins the bonus game and, under another embodiment, when the bonus game player loses the bonus game. In other embodiments, side bets are not needed for the other players to be awarded based upon the bonus game being won or lost.

Abstract: A methods of and apparatus for playing table card games are provided wherein with multi token maximum level betting and displayed rankings of winning hands return enhanced pay out. A pay table matrix listing has the enhanced payments for ranked hands. The method and apparatus uses and has token acceptors and sensors for each player. The sensors are coupled to a count and computer for registering any maximum level bet that receives enhanced return for predetermined winning card combinations. The apparatus and its method, thus allow each player the opportunity to bet multiple tokens before the cards are dealt and to win enhanced amounts of money should specific predetermined card combinations be obtained.

Abstract: A method for playing a stand-alone and a bonus casino poker dice having X dice, each of the X dice having F faces with a different symbol thereon so as to form a set {S} of symbols on each of the X dice. The method of the present invention includes the steps of placing a wager; rolling the dice; holding none, any, or all of the rolled dice; ending the casino poker dice game when the dice are all held or when re-rolling occurs Y times; paying any winning combinations of symbols based on the placed wager and in response to the step of ending the game; re-rolling the non-held dice when less than all the X dice are held; and repeating various of these steps until the game ends. Variations on this basic method are set forth for stand-alone games, bonus games, used in conjunction with underlying gaming machines, and playing a bonus game of the present invention in parallel with an underlying game so that a number of hands are played.

Abstract: A method of playing a casino game by a player for monetary reward has steps including offering the player a plurality of choices, each of which has a probability of success and associated award. The method allows the player to make a choice and awards the player the associated award if the choice is successful. The steps of offering, allowing and awarding are repeated until the player successfully chooses all the choices. Alternately, the method of playing a casino game by a player for monetary reward, the method includes steps of offering the player a plurality of objects, each of which has a probability of success and associated award. The method repeats the steps of allowing the player to choose an object, awarding the player the associated award if the choice is successful and ending the bonus game if the plurality of objects have all been successfully chosen, otherwise randomly determining if the bonus game shall end until the bonus game ends.

Abstract: A cashless peripheral method interfacing with a gaming system. The gaming system issues a “cash-out” signal when a player quits playing and receives a “cash-in” signal when a player desires to play a game in the gaming system. A stack of unprinted tickets is stored in the interior of the device. A ticket printer prints a coded value, such as a bar code, on a ticket in response to a cash-out signal from the gaming system. A ticket reader reads the amount printed on the ticket. If the printed value corresponds to the value which should have been printed, a ticket-out transport delivers the printed ticket to the player cashing out from the gaming system. When a player inserts the printed ticket into the device a ticket-in transport senses the insertion and the ticket reader reads the coded value from the inserted printed ticket. The ticket reader issues a cash-in signal to the gaming system corresponding to the value read from the coded value on the inserted printed ticket.

Abstract: A method of house apportionment of a bonus value during bonus casino game play, entry for which occurs during play of an underlying game of chance. A method of house apportionment awards the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adds the remainder of the bonus value to at least one account available to reward subsequent players such that the bonus value paid by the house is constant and the house advantage is fixed regardless of player proficiency in the bonus casino game. The bonus casino games include knowledge-based playing. The step of awarding in the bonus game is a function of the wager, the frequency that the bonus game occurs, the expected return in the game without the bonus and the expected bonus monitoring pay out value.

Abstract: A cashless peripheral method interfacing with a gaming system. The gaming system issues a “cash-out” signal when a player quits playing and receives a “cash-in” signal when a player desires to play a game in the gaming system. A stack of unprinted tickets is stored in the interior of the device. A ticket printer prints a coded value, such as a bar code, on a ticket in response to a cash-out signal from the gaming system. A ticket reader reads the amount printed on the ticket. If the printed value corresponds to the value which should have been printed, a ticket-out transport delivers the printed ticket to the player cashing out from the gaming system. When a player inserts the printed ticket into the device a ticket-in transport senses the insertion and the ticket reader reads the coded value from the inserted printed ticket. The ticket reader issues a cash-in signal to the gaming system corresponding to the value read from the coded value on the inserted printed ticket.

Abstract: A method and equipment for playing a base and bonus games with side betting. A video board is used for bonus play if a predetermined arrangement of cards results in the base game. Side wagers allow bettors to win of the bonus with random selection. If a player gets the predetermined arrangement then chooses a sure win or playing an additional game. By chance that player can win a multiple of the side wager or may win nothing while other players win instead. Blackjack played with money, gaming chips, and/or credits pit players against a dealer at a table whereat cards are dealt and awards to one or more players are given for resolution of the bonus. Methods include each player placing a main eager to play, and a side wager optionally to play the bonus game.