Casino game method

Abstract

A game utilizing a standard fifty-two card deck of playing cards plus a single Joker, or electronic representations thereof. Players wager on the outcome of the game by placing table card wagers and bonus wagers on a layout that indicates the outcomes that will result in a payoff for each wager. Five cards are dealt from a shuffled deck of cards designating a table hand from which a single table card is selected. Table card wagers are paid or collected based on the characteristics of the table card. Five card, bonus, wagers are paid or collected based on the characteristics of the five cards of the table hand.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/186,347 filed Nov. 4, 1998 and titled “Casino Game Method”

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to methods for playing casino games, whether played in a live gaming table format utilizing playing cards or using an electronic device adapted to generate electronic representations thereof and which are based upon the random selection of at least one playing card.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Roulette is a well-established gambling game across the world. Much of Roulette's popularity is due to the simplicity of the game. In single zero roulette, the roulette wheel contains thirty-seven segments numbered zero through thirty-six. An alternate embodiment contains thirty-eight slots and includes a double zero. The winning number is determined by spinning the wheel and allowing a ball to randomly drop into one of the numbered segments. Prior to spinning of the wheel and launching of the ball, players wager on the outcome of the game by wagering on the color, value (or sets of values) of the winning number or whether the winning number is odd or even.

[0004] Roulette, while popular, has remained unchanged over the years. Thus players, to some extent, have become bored with traditional Roulette. Furthermore, Roulette does not offer large jackpots since the payoffs to the players are dictated by the numbers available for wagering and the requirement that the casino have a vigourish in any proposition wagered upon by the player. Typically the highest payoff the player can obtain is 35 to 1 for wagering on a single number. Still further, the wagering opportunities are limited in traditional Roulette.

[0005] There is a need for a game which provides a degree of familiarity to Roulette, is easily learned, which provides for large jackpots and which provides players with numerous wagering opportunities all of which contribute to an exciting and entertaining game.

[0006] There is also a need for a game which uses the familiarity of playing cards and Poker rankings of Poker hands, which provides for Roulette-like wagering and provides the other features stated above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] There is, therefor, set forth according to the present invention, a method for playing a casino game which provides for large jackpots, multiple wagering opportunities for the player and which uses familiar representations of playing cards.

[0008] The method for playing the casino game according to the present invention utilizing playing cards includes the player making at least one of the following wagers,

[0009] (1) a card value and suit, excluding Kings

[0010] (2) a suit,

[0011] (3) a suit color, and/or

[0012] (4) groups of card values and suits.

[0013] From a standard deck of playing cards or preferably a standard deck of fifty-two cards with an additional Joker, a non-King playing card is randomly selected as the table card. The table card may, according to alternative embodiments, be any non-Queen, non-Jack, etc. card. After the table card has been selected, the propositions wagered upon by the player are compared to the table card. If the table card does not correspond to any card value and/or suit or suit color wagered upon by the player, the players wager is lost and if the table card corresponds to a card value and/or suit or suit color wagered upon by the player, the player is paid an amount based upon his wager.

[0014] The method further includes selecting the table card by dealing five cards face down and selecting the table card from those five cards. All five of the cards designate a bonus hand which may correspond to a bonus outcome, e.g. 4 of a Kind. The method provides for the player to make a bonus wager. If the bonus hand corresponds to a bonus outcome, the player is paid based upon their bonus wager. More than one bonus may be provided such as a King's Bonus when one or more Kings appear in the five card game hand.

[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide a game in which the player(s) are provided with numerous wagering opportunities, which provides for bonus jackpots to increase the players' excitement and entertainment. Another object of the present invention is to provide more varied wagering options than Roulette. Still a further object is to provide for player involvement in selecting the table card to increase the excitement of the game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] These and other features and advantages will become better appreciated as the same becomes understood with reference to the specification, claims and drawings wherein;

[0017] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the layout for playing the game according to the method; and

[0018] FIG. 2 shows a layout for the play of the game according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention including a location for the selected cards and the Bonus wagers.

DESCRIPTION

[0019] Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout. With reference to FIG. 1, the game is preferably played on a table having thereon a layout 10 providing various indicated areas for one or more players to place their wagering options. Alternatively, the game could be played on video machine or computer which displays a video representation of the layout 10. Players place their bets on the layout 10 wherein each designated area indicates the proposition being wagered upon according to the method of the present invention. When the game according to the method is played in a live table game format, a casino dealer stands at one side 12 of the layout 10 to oversee the game and deal the cards. About the layout 10 are positions for the players to occupy during the play of the game. With reference to FIG. 2 a bank and work area 20 is provided adjacent to the layout 10 for the dealer to stack and arrange checks.

[0020] To play the game according to the method of the present invention each player makes one or more selected wagers by placing their checks (also referred to as chips) in wagering areas on the layout 10 corresponding to their desired wager. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that numerous wagering opportunities are presented for the player, these wagering opportunities related to playing cards. These wagering opportunities will now be described.

[0021] 1. Single Card

[0022] With reference to the layout 10 there is seen representations of twelve playing cards, Ace-Queen for each suit of Hearts, Spades, Diamonds and Clubs.

[0023] Accordingly the layout 10 is divided into twelve card areas 22a-l each bearing a designation for a playing card value, e.g. a “Q” for a Queen, a “6” for a 6. Each of the aforesaid areas 22a-f is further divided into four quadrants 24a-d to designate the suit for each card value. As shown, 24a designates 24b designates 24c designates ⋄ and 24d designates Thus quadrant 24a in area 22a designates a Queen of Hearts (QThis sequence is replicated for each value of the cards represented on the layout 10. While the layout 10 does not include any areas for Kings, which according to the preferred embodiment are excluded from single card wagers (or multiple card wagers as hereinafter describer) it should be understood that the method could be embodied by excluding Queens, Jacks or any other selected card from the wagering layout 10.

[0024] Also included on the layout 10 is an area 26 designated as “Joker” by which the player may make a wager on the Joker.

[0025] Thus the player may wager upon one or more single cards by indicating a wager in the corresponding area. In the preferred embodiment and in the table game format the player would be issued distinguishing color chips (as in Roulette) and he would indicate his wager by placing his color chip(s) in the desired amount in the quadrant 24a-d for the area 22a-l. For example the player may place a chip in quadrants 24a,c in area 22a indicating wagers on a Queen of Hearts and Queen of Diamonds. The player may make as many single card wagers as he desires.

[0026] 2. Split

[0027] The player may also split a wager between two, three and four cards. For example to place a split wager for the ⋄ and Athe player would place their chip on the line between the areas 24c and 24a for the Queen and Ace areas 22a, 22g. The player has thus split their wager between two cards.

[0028] To wager on three cards, the only position on the table permitting a three-way wager is between the Joker area 26 and a selected and adjoining pair of cards at the Queen-Ace areas 22a, 22g. For example, by placing a chip at the intersection of the line between the Q⋄ and Aand at the line denoting the Joker area 26 the player would be wagering on the Joker, Q⋄ and A

[0029] For a four way split wager the player can place their wager at the intersection of four quadrants. For example, to wager on the Q⋄, QAAthe player would place their chip at the intersections of the quadrants 24c, 24d for the Queen and quadrants 24a, 24b for the Ace. Shown by chip 38.

[0030] 3. Red/Black/High/Low

[0031] With reference to the layout 10 there is seen color areas 28a,b which relate to the red and black colors of the suits of playing cards. Thus the player may wager that the table card selected in the manner described below will be of a suit of a certain color, i.e. red or black. To make such a wager the player placed their color chip in the color area 28a,b indicating the desired wager.

[0032] Also seen are high and low areas 30a,b. By placing a chip in the high area 30a the player is wagering that the table card will be of a value, regardless of suit, of 7-Queen. By making a low wager the player is wagering that the selected table card will be of a value, regardless of suit, of Ace-6.

[0033] 4. Suit Wager

[0034] Suit areas 32a-d are provided on the layout 10 for the player to wager that the table card will be of a particular suit, Hearts, Diamonds, Spades or Clubs, respectively.

[0035] 5. Section Wagers

[0036] On the layout 10 are provided section areas 34a-c which designate wagers on groups of four cards each of any suit. Thus a wager placed in section area 34a indicates a wager that the table card will be one of a Queen, Jack, Ace or 2 (any suit). Such a wager in effect covers sixteen individual cards.

[0037] 6. Column Wagers

[0038] The layout 10 includes column wager areas 36a-d which correspond to certain cards in the grid including the areas 22a-f. A wager placed in a column wager area 36a-d correspond to a wager that the selected table card will be one of a plurality of cards as described below: 1 Column Area Cards Wagered Upon 36a 7-Queen in Hearts or Spades 36b 7-Queen in Diamonds or Clubs 36c Ace-6 in Hearts or Spades 36d Ace-6 in Diamonds or Clubs

[0039] Thus each column wager embraces twelve individual cards.

[0040] 7. Street Wager

[0041] a. Single Street Wager

[0042] To make a Single Street wager, the player places his chip(s) at the end of a line of two adjacent areas 22a-l, i.e. areas 22a,g running toward the one side of the table and associated with suit colors red or black. For example, with reference to FIG. 1, a wager placed at 41 is a wager that the table card will be one of a Queen or Ace or ⋄ encompassing four cards.

[0043] b. Double Street Wager

[0044] A double street wager is a wager placed upon to adjacent “Streets”. For example, if the wager at position 41 were placed instead at 43, the player would be wagering that the selected card will be one of a Queen or Ace of any suit thus encompassing eight cards. A wager placed at position 45 would be a wager on the cards of QQAAJJ⋄, 2and 2⋄.

[0045] 8. Joker's 3-Way

[0046] This wager is wagering that the outcome will be a Joker or one of the cards of the adjacent areas, i.e. Joker or QQ⋄, or a Joker or AA⋄. In the preferred embodiment of the game two Jokers are used, hence the wager encompasses three outcomes.

[0047] 9. Corner

[0048] This wager is place at a corner and encompasses four cards. For example if the wager is placed at 38 the wager encompasses four cards Q⋄, QAA

[0049] 10. Six Cards

[0050] This wager is at the end of the table on the line between and includes the “Joker” (two Jokers) and the QQ⋄, Aand A⋄.

[0051] The above wagers illustrate the various and many wagering opportunities for the basic game according to the present invention. Additional wagers may be made by placing wagers at various intersections on the layout 10 grid.

[0052] In addition two bonus wager areas 65a, b are provided for the player to make a bonus wager as hereinafter described. To participate in bonus aspect of the game the player must make a Joker's Wild or Kings Bonus wager area 65a or b. The features of the bonus aspects of the game will now be described.

[0053] The Joker's Wild Bonus Wager

[0054] A wager by the player in the Joker's Wild jackpot area 65a is a wager by the player directed to the composition of the game hand. For this wager, the Joker is wild and can represent any other card in the deck to complete a jackpot outcome. For example, if the game hand includes a Joker and four 4s, the game hand would by a Five-of-a-Kind. The rankings and payoffs provided for a Joker's Wild Jackpot wager are based upon the rankings of hands of Poker and are as set forth in Table 1 below: 2 TABLE 1 Game Hand W/Joker W/O Joker 5 of a Kind 1000:1 Royal Flush  500:1 1000:1 Straight Flush  100:1  100:1 4 of a Kind  20:1  20:1 Full House  10:1  10:1 Flush   6:1   6:1 Straight   4:1   4:1 3 of a Kind   3:1   3:1 2 Pair   2:1   2:1 Pair or Qs or Better   1:1   1:1

[0055] The payoffs suggested above provide the casino with a 1.87% advantage. Of course the payoffs could be adjusted to provide a greater or lesser advantage. Thus if the player has placed a wager in area 65a and the five card game hand has one of the winning outcome combinations set forth in Table 1 the player would receive a payoff. Otherwise the player loses their wager.

[0056] As an alternative embodiment the game hand may be dealt to have seven cards with the outcome being the highest ranking five card Poker hand which can be assembled from those seven cards. In such as case the pay table of Table 1 would have to be adjusted accordingly. Still further the outcome could also be determined on a deuces wild format (where the 2s are wild) or a Jokers and deuces wild format. Again in such an instance the pay table of Table 1 would have to be adjusted to accommodate the higher likelihood that winning combinations can be obtained.

[0057] The Kings Bonus

[0058] By placing a wager in the Kings Bonus area 65b the player is wagering that the game hand will contain one or more Kings. The pay table for the Kings Bonus is set forth in Table 2 below. 3 TABLE 2 Game Hand Payoff 4 Kings 1000:1 3 Kings  70:1 2 Kings   6:1 1 King   1:1

[0059] If a player makes both bonus wagers they can win both, e.g. a game hand of four Kings and a Joker would be, for the Joker's Bonus, a five-of-a-kind and for the Kings Bonus a four-of-a-kind. Again, the game can be played with more cards in the game hand, e.g. seven or in a deuces wild or Joker's and deuces wild format and the pay table adjusted accordingly. For example, for the King's Bonus, the Joker(s) could be wild resulting in a pay out table as suggested below. Thus the Joker's can be wild for both the King's and Joker's Bonuses. 4 TABLE 3 (Kings Bonus-Jokers wild) Game Hand Payoff 5 Kings 1000:1 4 Kings  250:1 3 Kings  25:1 2 Kings   2:1 1 King   1:1

[0060] To select an outcome for the game the dealer, from a standard, shuffled, deck of playing cards and two Joker cards deals, face up, five playing cards 50a-e each into the dealt card area 52a-e on the layout 10 near the dealer position 12. The five cards 50a-e are randomly selected from the deck as by dealing and representing a five card table hand. In the preferred embodiment, the deck of cards is a standard fifty-two card deck plus two Jokers, however, it is contemplated that fewer or more Jokers could be used.

[0061] After the five cards 50a-e have been dealt, the dealer resolves any bonus wagers by the players. If any bonus outcome, Jokers or Kings Bonus, has been wagered upon and a qualifying outcome is represented by the game hand, any winning wagers are paid according to Tables 1 or 2 above. If the game hand does not result in a winning outcome for any bonus wager, any corresponding wagers are lost and such wagers are collected by the dealer and removed from the playing surface.

[0062] After both bonus wagers are resolved, a player is selected to select a table card from the cards of the game hand. This selection is done randomly. A method for selecting the table card is by the selected player using a shaker and a six sided die with the sides denoted 1-5 and “Pass”. Instead of using a shaker, a designated location may be provided on the table for the player to throw the die. Each player in turn has an opportunity to roll the die to select the table card from the five cards 50a-e. If a player at their turn rolls a Pass the die is passed to the next player in order. After a player has rolled the die to select an outcome. I.e. not a “Pass” outcome, the die is passed to the next player for the next hand of play. Alternatively the dealer can roll the die or a random number generator such as a computer can randomly select a number between one and five. A clock feature may also be provided to denote the time between selection of outcomes for the players to make their wagers.

[0063] After a random number between one and five is selected, the card 50a-e corresponding to that card as numbered from right to left for the players, becomes the table card. For example, if the player rolled a four, the table card would be a 10. It is to be noted that if the selected table card is a King value card, the card to the right from the player's perspective is selected until a non-King value table card is established defining a table card outcome for the game. A puck or other marker may be used to designate the outcome on the layout similar to that of Roulette.

[0064] With the table card revealed as an outcome the dealer pays and collects the wagers corresponding to that outcome. The payoff is according to the following schedule of Table 3: 5 TABLE 3 Wager Payoff Red/Black  1 to 1 High/Low  1 to 1 Section  2 to 1 Suit  3 to 1 Column  3 to 1 Double Street  5 to 1 Six Cards 7:1 Street 11 to 1 Four Card 11 to 1 Joker's 3-Way 15 to 1 Split 23 to 1 Joker/One Card 47 to 1

[0065] After all wagers have been paid or collected, the game hand is removed and the deck reshuffled for the play of the next hand.

[0066] While I have shown and described certain embodiments of the present invention it is to be understood that it is subject to many modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims set forth herein. For example the game, insofar as the bonus wager and winning table hand combinations is concerned could be played in a Joker/Deuces wild format with the payoffs adjusted accordingly. An alternate embodiment is contemplated in which a single player or multiple players play against a video machine or computer which displays the layout 10 and provides by touch screen or otherwise the various wagering opportunities, or a selected group thereof, for the player. In this embodiment, where a group of players play using a common outcome a timer is necessary and the video machine or computer deals electronic representations of five playing cards 50a-e and the selection of the table card when prompted by the player.

[0067] Still further, more than five cards may be selected to constitute the table hand, e.g. seven cards, with the best five cards used to form the highest table hand outcome for purposes of determining the bonus wagers.

Claims

1. A method for playing a game using representations of a deck of playing cards including at least one Joker comprising:

the player making at least one of the following wagers,

(1) a card value and suit, excluding Kings

(2) a suit,

(3) a suit color,

(4) groups of card values and suits,

randomly selecting a non-King playing card representation as the table card;

comparing the table card to the wager(s) made by the player, if the table card does not correspond to any card value and/or suit or suit color wagered upon by the player, collecting the player's wager and if the table card corresponds to a card value and/or suit or suit color wagered upon by the player, paying the player an amount based upon his wager.

2. The method of

claim 1 including the step of selecting the table card by the steps of, dealing a plurality of cards, randomly selecting one of cards as the table card and if the selected table card is a King, selecting another of said cards until a non-King value card is selected to represent the table card.

3. The method of

claim 2 including the steps of dealing five cards face up.

4. The method of

claim 3 including designating certain combinations of said cards as bonus outcomes, the player making a bonus wager, and if the five exposed cards correspond to a designated winning outcome paying the player based upon the combination and if the combination does not correspond to a bonus outcome, collecting the player's bonus wager.

5. The method of

claim 4 including designating the bonus outcomes in relation to the ranking of hands according to Poker.

6. The method of

claim 4 including paying the player for the bonus wager according to the following schedule wherein the Joker is deemed to be wild, 6 Outcome Payoff 5 of a Kind 1000:1 Royal Flush 500 to 1 Straight Flush 300 to 1 4 of a Kind  40 to 1 Full House  20 to 1 Flush  10 to 1 Straight  5 to 1 3 of a Kind  3 to 1 2 Pair w/o Joker  2 to 1 1 Pair 9s or Better  1 to 1

7. The method of

claim 1 including the player making at least one of the wagers set forth in Table 2,

Wager

Red/Black

High/Low

Section

Suit

Column

Double Street

Six Cards

Street

Four Card

Joker's 3-Way

Split

Joker/One Card

8. The method of

claim 7 including paying the player according to the following schedule, 7 Wager Payoff Red/Black  1 to 1 High/Low  1 to 1 Section  2 to 1 Suit  3 to 1 Column  3 to 1 Double Street  5 to 1 Six Cards 7:1 Street 11 to 1 Four Card 11 to 1 Joker's 3-Way 15 to 1 Split 23 to 1 Joker/One Card 47 to 1

9. The method of

claim 4 further including designating a bonus in relation to the number of Kings in the five cards.

10. The method of

claim 9 including paying the player for the bonus wager according to the following schedule wherein the Joker is deemed to be wild, 8 Game Hand Payoff 4 Kings 1000:1 3 Kings  70:1 2 Kings   6:1 1 King   1:1

11. A method for playing a wagering game using a deck of playing cards and a Joker comprising the steps of:

providing a wagering layout having designated areas for the player to make at least one wager of a card suit, a suit color, a card value and suit and the Joker;

the player making a wager in the selected designated area;

randomly selecting a non-King value playing card designated as the table card;

comparing each of the player's wagers to the value and/or suit of the table card; and

if the player's wager corresponds to the value and/or suit of the table card paying the player and if there is no correspondence, collecting the player's wager.

12. The method of

claim 11 including providing a layout having designated areas for the player to make at least one wager of groups of two or more card values and suits.

13. The method of

claim 12 including providing the layout having designated area for the player to make a high wager that the table card value will be a 7-Queen of any suit and a low wager that the table card will be Ace-6.

14. The method of

claim 11 including the step of randomly selecting the table card by selecting five cards and selecting the table card from said five cards.

15. The method of

claim 14 including providing said layout to have an area designated for a bonus wager, designating at least one combination of said five cards as a bonus outcome and, if the player has made a bonus wager and said five cards include said bonus outcome, paying the player based upon his bonus wager.

16. The method of

claim 15 including designating bonus outcomes based upon the ranking of hands of Poker.

17. The method of

claim 15 including designating bonus outcomes based upon the number of Kings.