Abstract: A method of playing a card game including steps of selecting a combination of cards in an at least apparently random manner, the combination including zero or more special cards (not a conventional wild card such as a joker), and determining whether the combination results in a win or lose state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for playing a game including steps of:

Abstract: Gaming apparatus has a group of gaming machines each playable separately linked through a control unit to a display which shows prizes different from those offered by the machines. Players of the machines are occasionally offered a chance to win prizes from the display, and they may have to qualify for this by obtaining a particular result from their gaming machines. Several or all the players can qualify and so they participate together in the selection of prizes from the display, using controls on their machines. There are various ways of distributing those prizes, from winner takes all to a proportional distribution determined randomly or in relation to the performance of the players in the participation mode.

Abstract: Gaming apparatus comprising a plurality of individually playable gaming machines. The machines are playable in self-contained and participation modes. In the self-contained mode each machine is played independently for its own prizes, whilst the participation mode allows players selected for participation (qualified players) to be awarded a prize distinct from any prize available from any, said machine in self-contained mode. The apparatus includes a participation mode display for displaying play of the apparatus during the participation mode.

Abstract: A method of playing a card game including steps of:

Abstract: The preferred games are based on poker, with the cards presented electronically on a screen and the stakes being electronically processed. Several hands are dealt, in one from one hand face up and the others face down. The player may choose to play the face up hand, by holding certain cards and drawing to replace the others. The held cards are replicated in the other hands, and the draw results in random changes to all the hands. But the player has the option to transfer to a second hand, which is then turned face up while the first goes face down, and hold and draw on that hand. And so on through the hands, incurring penalties as transfers are made. In another form, the hands are all face up. This can be played in a similar way, going from one hand to the next, or the player can select which hand to play at the start, held cards being replicated in other hands, and the draw producing different results in each hand.

Abstract: A number of gaming machines, such as fruit machines, are linked through a common control unit to a display which shows to all the players of the machines a range of prizes. When there is a special win on any machine, a selection is made from those prizes and the chosen one awarded to the player. As the prizes are won, so those on offer reduce, but once a star prize, of greater value than any of the others, is awarded, the full range may be restored. There can also be treasure chest keys on the display, and a winner of a key can try to open a treasure chest for a jackpot win. With only one out of many keys that will work, a very large jackpot is possible, and the amount, and the number of keys still available, can be part of the display.