Abstract: A device for and method of providing a poker game. In a broad aspect, the method is generally directed to a game in which, in a particular game instance, a hand is initially provided with a plurality of cards from which a user may select cards to be shifted from the hand and replaced with replacement cards. If at least one card is selected to be shifted from the hand by the user, the game is repeated for a subsequent game instance, with the hand initially provided in the subsequent game instance comprising cards corresponding to the cards that were selected to be shifted from the hand. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of cards is provided as a sequence of subsets of cards (e.g. five cards provided as a sequence of two initial cards followed by three individually-dealt supplementary cards), and in a particular game instance, the user decides whether or not to shift from the hand each card of a given subset in the sequence before the next subset of cards in the sequence is provided to the user.

Abstract: A system and method for providing side wagering in a wager-based game. Side wagers made by an observer of the wager-based game are accepted, where the side wager is associated with an event that is uncertain at the time the side wager is made. The event is associated with at least one player of the wager-based game. A payout based on the side wager is calculated and provided to the observer if the event occurs. In one embodiment of the invention, player ratings may also be provided to facilitate the making of side wagers.

Abstract: A multi-player on-line gaming method is disclosed where different players independently play different games on their computers in a common gaming environment. Each of the players sharing the common environment is presented with a similar display by the game server. In one embodiment, each player is presented with a display of four slot machines after registering with a server for an on-line gaming session. Each player selects, using a cursor pointing device, one of the four slot machines to play, and that machine is then associated with the player. The remote web-based game server controlling the game allows the player to see other on-line players playing on the other slot machines displayed on the same screen so the players share a common gaming experience as in a casino. The players may chat in real time by typing in their conversations via a keyboard on their home computer.

Abstract: A device for and method of providing a poker game. In a broad aspect, the method is generally directed to a game in which, in a particular game instance, a hand is initially provided with a plurality of cards from which a user may select cards to be shifted from the hand and replaced with replacement cards. If at least one card is selected to be shifted from the hand by the user, the game is repeated for a subsequent game instance, with the hand initially provided in the subsequent game instance comprising cards corresponding to the cards that were selected to be shifted from the hand. In one exemplary embodiment, the plurality of cards is provided as a sequence of subsets of cards (e.g. five cards provided as a sequence of two initial cards followed by three individually-dealt supplementary cards), and in a particular game instance, the user decides whether or not to shift from the hand each card of a given subset in the sequence before the next subset of cards in the sequence is provided to the user.

Abstract: A gaming system, device, and method of providing a slot machine game to a user on the gaming device, incorporating multiple jackpots, each specifically associated with at least one pay line. After a wager from a user to play at least one selected pay line is received, symbols are displayed on the gaming device. For each selected pay line, it is determined from the displayed symbols whether a jackpot condition is satisfied from the displayed symbols. Where the jackpot condition is satisfied, the user is awarded at least a portion of the jackpot specifically associated with the respective selected pay line.

Abstract: A method of playing a draw poker game includes the steps of placing a bet on at least one hand; receiving a deal of five playing cards from a standard 52-card deck; choosing which cards to hold and which cards to discard; drawing replacement cards; and receiving a payout. The amount of the payout is based on the poker hand ranking of each resulting hand. Unlike conventional draw poker, the discarded cards are placed back into the deck prior to the draw. The amount of the payout may also be based on whether any of the discarded cards is drawn as a replacement card. The game may be implemented as video poker on a computer network, wherein a server acts as the “house” and a player plays by using a client network terminal. The video poker game may enable a player to play multiple hands simultaneously.

Abstract: A system and method for providing side wagering in a wager-based game. Side wagers made by an observer of the wager-based game are accepted, where the side wager is associated with an event that is uncertain at the time the side wager is made. The event is associated with at least one player of the wager-based game. A payout based on the side wager is calculated and provided to the observer if the event occurs. In one embodiment of the invention, player ratings may also be provided to facilitate the making of side wagers.

Abstract: A gaming device, and a method of providing a slot machine game to a user on the gaming device. Reels comprising symbols are displayed, where each symbol is a partial image of a currency object. After a wager from a user to play at least one pay line is received, symbols on the display are rearranged and then displayed. It is determined whether a whole image of a currency object is displayed within a played pay line, and if so, an award is provided to the user, where the award is associated with the currency object.

Abstract: A multi-player on-line gaming method is disclosed where different players independently play different games on their computers in a common gaming environment. Each of the players sharing the common environment is presented with a similar display by the game server. In one embodiment, each player is presented with a display of four slot machines after registering with a server for an on-line gaming session. Each player selects, using a cursor pointing device, one of the four slot machines to play, and that machine is then associated with the player. The remote web-based game server controlling the game allows the player to see other on-line players playing on the other slot machines displayed on the same screen so the players share a common gaming experience as in a casino. The players may chat in real time by typing in their conversations via a keyboard on their home computer.