Ultimate Outcome Dependant Upon Summation Of Plural Card Or Tile Values (e.g., Blackjack, Etc.) Patents (Class 463/12)
  • Patent number: 8814646
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for increasing potential payout opportunities using multiple card indicia representing multiple cards. One embodiment involves determining whether any one or more of a plurality of cards of a poker game having multiple poker hands are to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia representing multiple cards, presenting the plurality of cards of the poker hands, including the one or more of the plurality of cards determined to be randomly provided with multiple card indicia, and identifying a plurality of resulting hands for each of the multiple poker hands that include a multiple card indicia, where each of the plurality of resulting hands includes a different subset of a total of the indicia of the other cards in the respective poker hand and any cards provided with multiple card indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Inventors: Bradley Berman, Chad Shapiro, Jacob Lamb
  • Patent number: 8814166
    Abstract: A method, system, and device for conducting a game includes receiving a war base wager and a blackjack base wager. A player war hand and dealer war hand are dealt. The war base wager is resolved based on a comparison between the player war hand and dealer war hand. Optionally, the blackjack base wager may be supplemented by any war payout, or a portion thereof. An initial player blackjack hand and an initial dealer blackjack hand are dealt. Optionally, the initial player blackjack hand and/or initial dealer blackjack hand contain the player war hand and/or dealer war hand, respectively. Optionally, the blackjack base wager is resolved by forming a final player blackjack hand and a final dealer blackjack hand which are compared to one another and a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Casino War Blackjack, Inc.
    Inventor: David Nizgoda
  • Publication number: 20140235309
    Abstract: A gaming system having a game outcome generator separate from a gaming device, where the gaming device is wirelessly connected to the game outcome generator and, upon a game play request from a player, generates a request for a game play result. The game outcome generator generates a specific game outcome (won amount if the game play is a winning result, or a no-win, 0-value result) and sends it back to the gaming device. The gaming device uses the predetermined result to mimic or simulate a skill based game. The skill based game is designed to play just like an actual skill based game, which may result in poor players not getting the game to a state that has an equivalent value as that which is supposed to be awarded (equal to the predetermined game play). Each game includes a final game event, consistent with the game just played, which enables the game to make up any difference between the actual result of the skill based and the predetermined amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, JR., Loren Nelson
  • Patent number: 8801522
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include generating game history for each of a plurality of wagering games, associated with a first wagering game title, played by a first player via a wagering game system. The operations can also include randomly selecting, from the game history, a subset of the plurality of wagering games previously played by the first player, and generating a computer bot for the first player, based on the subset of the plurality of wagering games, to be used during a multiplayer wagering game competition to play for the first player. The operations can further include initiating, via the wagering game system, the multiplayer wagering game competition, replaying, during the multiplayer wagering game competition, the subset of the plurality of wagering games using the computer bot, and determining results of the multiplayer wagering game competition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew C. Guinn
  • Publication number: 20140213334
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer readable storage to implement a variation of a blackjack game with an improved splitting mechanism. In an embodiment, the player cannot split unless the player is dealt a qualifying pair. If the player is dealt a qualifying pair, then one (or both) of the initial player's cards is replaced and then the two cards are split and played out as separate hands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Chi Fat Au-Yeung
  • Publication number: 20140213335
    Abstract: A method is provided for playing a card game using a deck of cards with rules to define a value of the cards in the deck, in accordance with an example. The method may include distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer. A main wager may be received from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player and a side wager may be received from the player for a first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player. When the first two of the plurality of cards distributed to the player match a defined combination of cards, the player may be rewarded for the side wager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Inventor: Gene Squitieri
  • Patent number: 8784187
    Abstract: A gaming machine of the present invention has a memory for, after a predetermined number of cards have been extracted from among a plurality of cards, storing a plurality of predetermined values which serve as a condition for shuffling the plurality of cards. Then, a specific predetermined value is determined as a condition for shuffling a plurality of cards from among the plurality of predetermined values that are stored in the memory. In addition, a game is performed in such a manner that dealer cards and player cards which are used in a game are determined from among the plurality of cards and then the determined cards are compared with each other. Further, the number of cards that is used in the game is cumulatively counted and then the respective used cards are cumulatively stored as used cards in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Aruze Gaming America, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroki Munakata, Kenichi Fujimori
  • Patent number: 8777716
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for providing and conducting a side or secondary wagering game with the underlying game of Roulette, which includes receiving a wager relating to the secondary wagering game, wherein the wager is resolvable after a preset amount of random Roulette outcomes have been obtained, generating the preset amount of random Roulette outcomes, storing each random Roulette game outcome of the preset amount, comparing the stored outcomes with preset criteria relating to the appearance of a pattern of indicia associated with Roulette outcomes, providing a payout corresponding to the wager if the preset criteria is satisfied and collecting the wager if the preset criteria is not satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: David Lawrence Miller
  • Patent number: 8777714
    Abstract: During operation of a gaming machine, information about future game outcomes is provided to player-users. A processor of the machine determines outcome(s) of the one or more selected games; stores the outcome(s) on non-transient storage media of the machine; and relays information, through an output device of the machine, about at least one of said outcome(s), before one or more selected games has been played.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Ralph Thomas
  • Patent number: 8777727
    Abstract: An improved table game system includes a first shuffling machine for randomly selecting a first card from among a first defined set of cards. The system also includes a second shuffling machine for randomly selecting a second card from among a second defined set of cards. A first card reader is associated with the first shuffling machine for communicating with the selected card to obtain relevant information thereabout. A second card reader is associated with the second shuffling machine for communicating with the selected card to obtain information thereabout. The system includes a first display in communication with the first card reader to display the obtained information about the first card. The system also includes a second display in communication with the second card reader to display the obtained information about the second card. A computer is in communication with the first card reader to process the obtained information and communicate it to the first display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Inventor: Mark H. Jones
  • Patent number: 8777733
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system, gaming device, and gaming method disclosed herein includes an accumulation sequence and a competition sequence. In one embodiment, the gaming system includes competitor points which determine (i) a competitor's eligibility to participate in the competition sequence and (ii) the competitor's relative probability of success in the competition sequence. In this embodiment, a competitor (which is either representative of an actual player or a virtual, gaming system controlled player) accumulates competitor points during one or more point accumulation sequences which occur in association with designated events. For a subsequent competition sequence, the gaming system determines if a competitor will participate in the triggered competition sequence based on the competitor's accumulated competitor points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthiony J. Baerlocher, Alexandria Estella Ponte Sutich, Lance R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 8777710
    Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, methods, and computer-readable media are disclosed for detecting, storing, and retrieving information about the composition of present and past hands of cards in a casino table game. The method includes causing a card-handling device to substantially automatically generate a plurality of hands wherein each hand includes one or more cards. Card information is identified that includes a rank and a suit of each card as each card moves through the card-handling device. A play history is maintained of a card composition of more than one round wherein the card composition of each round includes the cards in each hand of each round. The card information of at least one hand from at least one round may be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: SHFL Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Grauzer, Feraidoon Bourbour, Mark L. Yoseloff
  • Patent number: 8771065
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes: a first memory that stores dealer images of a plurality of dealer characters; a display device that displays the dealer image of one of the dealer characters; a betting unit that receives a bet operation input by a player; a second memory that stores a total amount of game media that are provided to the player as awards in accordance with results of a plurality of rounds of a game that are performed based on the bet operation; and a controller that determines whether the total amount has reached a predetermined amount and controls the display device to change the dealer image of the displayed dealer character to another dealer character when determined that the total amount has reached the predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuo Okada
  • Patent number: 8771082
    Abstract: A gaming system includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, cause the gaming system to perform a plurality of operations. The operations include awarding a plurality of points to a player, and, in response to a predetermined number of the points being redeemed by the player, accessing or modifying wagering game content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Michael J. Blankstein, Rory L. Block, Allon G. Englman, McLaurin H. Files, Mark B. Gagner, Brian R. Gamache, Jeremy M. Hornik, Joel R. Jaffe, Larry J. Pacey, Shridhar P. Joshi, Alfred Thomas, Jamie W. Vann, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8764014
    Abstract: The conventional manner of play of Twenty-One is modified by having the two initial dealer cards comprising the dealer's initial hand dealt to the dealer position before any cards are dealt to any of the player positions. After the two initial dealer cards are dealt, a fifty card depleted deck is established comprising the original fifty-two card standard deck less the two cards dealt to the dealer position. The cards for each player position are then dealt from the fifty card depleted deck. After the player has received his final Twenty-One hand, the dealer's final hand is completed, also using the depleted fifty card deck. Winning and losing hands are determined according to the conventional manner of play of Twenty-One.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ernest Moody Revocable Trust
    Inventor: Ernest W Moody
  • Patent number: 8764536
    Abstract: A wagering card game, optionally electronically implemented, combines variations of Pai Gow and Blackjack. Player(s) and a dealer are each dealt five cards from a standard deck of 52 playing cards. The player and dealer arrange their respective five cards into a three-card high hand and a two-card low hand, provided the numerical sum of the high hand does not exceed 21. To win the game the player must have a higher numeric value in both their high and low hands as compared to the dealer's high and low hands. A special high rank is ascribed to a high hand having a sum of 21 achieved through the combination of two ten-valued cards and one Ace. An option side wager is won by the player if the numerical sums of the player's high and low hands match.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Score Gaming LLC
    Inventor: Merrill Sparago
  • Publication number: 20140171171
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an electronic, modified version of baccarat, comprises a user interface configured to detect receipt of a first bet from a game participant prior to commencement of a round of game play, a display for displaying visual information to the game participant, a data processing unit coupled to the user interface and the display, configured to, generate two electronic card values representing an initial player hand to the player position and two electronic card values representing an initial bank hand to the bank position, cause the display to present odds relating to a likelihood of the player position beating the bank position at the conclusion of the round of game play for purposes of the game player placing a second bet on an outcome of the round of game play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Inventor: Marcus Katz
  • Patent number: 8747203
    Abstract: The Applicants are providing a new process for playing Blackjack. The uses of, at least one fifty-two card deck, or modified decks are applied. This process is designed for an programmable gaming apparatus or “live action” table games, as accommodated for. Players, initially play via standardized Blackjack rules for their “Primary & Secondary ‘Base’ play action(s),” As such, all customarily engaged wagers of variable risk are in play against the Dealer's hand. However, Players can now move into an Alternative bypassing Strategy, and Secondary Decision-Propositions' process, where Proposition wagers are won or lost before the Dealer reveals their “Hole” card! While, its always the outcomes of 20 and 21 to win. This event can be regularly rebooked as an alternate card drawing strategy, or as a Multi-Down wagering event for an instant 20 or 21 win. Also, short-Win, Push and Mercy numbers typically engage the outcomes of: 17, 18 or 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Inventors: J. Richard Hedge, Jr., Aviva R. Hedge
  • Patent number: 8747204
    Abstract: A system, method and device for playing SNAG-IT© on an electronic device is provided. The device includes an electronic circuit, an input device and a display. The method includes receiving a selection of the number and location of human players, the number of computer players and the number of decks for the game, a selection of the personality type and urges for each computer player; by the electronic. Next, the cards are electronically shuffled and each player is dealt a predetermined number of cards. An electronic game board is generated and displayed, and the electronic circuit provides each player a game turn in succession, until a game ending event occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Pixel After Pixel, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Whitehurst, Duayne Whitehurst
  • Publication number: 20140155132
    Abstract: Forms of interaction with an electronic system, such as for games of chance, games of skill, and combinations thereof are described herein. A system is provided for effecting defined game play and prizing structure parameters in an electronic entertainment environment. The system may include an input for receiving the parameters, a memory coupled to the input for storing the parameters, a processing system coupled to the storage for generating game play to effect the defined parameters, storage for recording information regarding particular game play events and an interface for at least presenting game play events to users of the electronic entertainment system. In one mode of operation, one or more mandated parameters are externally imposed, and variable parameters are selected such that the mandated parameters are met globally, and such that the user experience is optimized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: MILESTONE ENTERTAINMENT LLC
    Inventors: RANDALL M KATZ, Gary Dawson
  • Publication number: 20140155131
    Abstract: A device and method for playing multi-hand baccarat is described. In one embodiment, the device comprises an electronic game configured to provide typical bank and player hands. In addition, the electronic game allows the game participant to place one or more initial bets relating to a bank and/or player hand provided to the participant by the electronic game. After initial bank and player hands are provided, the game machine may calculate odds of a future event occurring, such as whether one of the participant's hands will beat one of the typical bank or player hands, and display the odds to the participant. The participant may then make a second bet regarding the final outcome of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Marcus A. Katz
  • Patent number: 8740685
    Abstract: Certain examples provide gaming systems and methods. An example gaming system includes a display and a game controller arranged to: cause the display to display a plurality of game displays in which a plurality of games will be carried out; receive a player selection of a game of the plurality of games; carry out the plurality of games in their respective game displays; and make an award upon a comparison of an outcome of the player selected game with an outcome of a non-selected game or games satisfying an award criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Stevens, Nicholas Luke Bennett, Philippa Alice Graham
  • Publication number: 20140148230
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer programs are presented for enhancing social collaboration in an online casino game. One method includes an operation for receiving bets from players playing in a first gambling mode in an online gambling room. The method also includes an operation for determining contributions to a community metric based on the outcomes of the bets, where all players in the online gambling room contribute towards the community metric. After detecting that the community metric reaches a predetermined goal, the online casino game enters all players in the online gambling room into a second gambling mode to achieve a room goal, where the value of the community metric does not change while players are in the second gambling mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: Josh Guase, Nimai Malle, Nathan Ratcliffe
  • Patent number: 8727851
    Abstract: A gaming device provides a single player poker game including one or more opportunities for forming player hands. In one embodiment, for a play of the poker game, a player places a wager on each of a plurality of player hands. The gaming device provides the player with one or more opportunities to fold one or more of the player hands and withdraw the wager associated with the folded hand. A number of community cards are dealt. The gaming device determines and provides any awards associated with a ranking of each of the remaining player hands according to a paytable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Paul Baker Stroube, Steven Joseph Bazyl
  • Patent number: 8720891
    Abstract: The present invention features a playing card shuffling device, which through the use of a small image capturing means, captures an image of a face value of each card and stores the image in memory. This image is sorted in the format of a bitmap image. An operator of the device would be able to recall, through the use of a keypad, the images of the cards that comprised individual hands in the previous game. This feature allows for verification of a winning hand after a game has been completed. Thereby, a quick recheck of hands before playing a winning hand is performed. The face value of each card is determined by character recognition software. These card values would be stored in memory for archival access for use in monitoring the randomness of the game and determining the number of winnings hands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: SHFL Entertainment, Inc.
    Inventors: Lynn Hessing, Daniel Mahoney, Steven J. Blad, Thomas Baker
  • Patent number: 8721416
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and products for self-contained casino gaming haptics are disclosed. For example, one disclosed system for casino gaming haptics includes a touch-sensitive input device configured to sense a contact from a user; an actuator coupled to the touch-sensitive input device, the actuator configured to output a haptic effect to the touch-sensitive input device; and a processor in communication with the touch-sensitive input device and the actuator, the processor configured to: generate a display signal configured to cause an image associated with a casino game to be displayed; receive an input signal from the touch-sensitive input device associated with the contact; determine an interaction between the contact and the image; and generate an actuator signal associated with the interaction, the actuator signal configured to cause the actuator to generate a haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Danny A. Grant, Gregory M. G. Belaus, Neil T. Olien, Henrique da Costa, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez
  • Patent number: 8715063
    Abstract: A wagering game having a primary game and a secondary game. In one embodiment, an intermediate game outcome for the primary game is first determined. The intermediate game outcome provides the player with an indication of the probability of receiving a winning primary game outcome. The player may then use this indication for determining whether to play the secondary game. The optional secondary game, if won, modifies the play of the primary game to the advantage of the player. Consequently, the intermediate game outcome is resolved to determine the primary game outcome in accordance with the modified primary game. If the secondary game outcome is lost, the immediate game outcome is resolved to determine the primary game outcome without modifying the primary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Primo Innovo, LLC
    Inventor: Michael L. White
  • Patent number: 8715067
    Abstract: In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium or otherwise provided to a player. The player may either view the outcomes via a traditional gaming device interface (e.g., via a representation of slot reels) and as discreet outcomes, or view a video that depicts a continuous event, as determined by the discreet outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Robert C. Tedesco, James A. Jorasch, Michael W. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8708793
    Abstract: This embodiment of our Modified Blackjack Game Method provides predetermined rules that allow a player to compete against other players on a table, and against the “house” on an electronic video gaming device, in much the same way as the traditional game of blackjack has always been played throughout history, except that it also provides predetermined rules that cause one suit to subtract from player totals instead of adding to them. It also provides predetermined rules that describe winning hands that are not used in other forms of blackjack, as well as providing predetermined rules for comparing negative value hands with positive values hands. These predetermined rules present unexpected challenges to, and require new winning strategies from, even the most experienced player. Further features will be described and become apparent in the detailed description in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventors: Allan Osman, Adam Osman, Reagan Pfifer
  • Patent number: 8708792
    Abstract: A card game in which players compete against a dealer to obtain a poker hand and a 31-point blackjack hand that beats the dealer without busting by exceeding 31 points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Two Black Nines, LLC
    Inventor: Peter Costa
  • Patent number: 8702519
    Abstract: A video gaming device includes a game computer which is connected to a central computer and a plurality of player stations connected to the game computer. Connection of the player stations may be effected using an interface device which includes at least one serial port which has a transmit line for transmitting data to a player station and a receive line for receiving data from a player station, input port means and output port means for communication with the game computer, and processing means for routing data between the said serial port and the input and output port means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Vegas Amusement, Inc.
    Inventors: Julian J. Kennedy, Michael A. Morris, Douglas E. Morris
  • Patent number: 8695982
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing, conducting and modifying an underlying wagering game involving standard playing cards, comprising the steps of providing one or more randomly ordered decks of playing cards; receiving a wager on the final outcome of the underlying game; dealing the playing cards according to the rules of the underlying game; comparing each playing card dealt with a preset criteria, wherein the preset criteria includes at least one identifiable characteristic associated with at least one card of the standard playing cards; and applying a game feature responsive to the satisfaction of the preset criteria, wherein the game feature immediately advances the game to a final outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Lubin-Jones, LLC
    Inventor: Steven A. Jones
  • Publication number: 20140094236
    Abstract: Game wagers are received without designating the hand used to resolve the game wager. At least two hands are dealt. A portion of the playing cards among those dealt to the hands are exposed. The exposed playing cards may come entirely from one hand or may come from multiple hands. After exposing a portion of the cards, a designation wager is received along with a designation of one of the hands for resolution of the designation wager and game wager. Hands are completed according to the rules of baccarat or a baccarat variation. After the hands are completed, a determination is made whether the designated hand is a winning hand and wagers are resolved. Optionally, designation wagers are paid and game wagers are returned when the designated hand is a winning hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Ofir Ventura
  • Publication number: 20140094237
    Abstract: A method to implement a blackjack variation which combines elements of blackjack and baccarat. The player is dealt two cards and can draw an optional third card. The dealer is dealt two cards and would draw a third card based upon predetermined rules. Both hands are scored using baccarat scoring, and the best (highest) hand wins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventors: April Massie, Gordon Massie
  • Publication number: 20140094238
    Abstract: A card game is described in which two hands of cards are dealt, and players are invited to wager on whether one hand or the other will win, or whether the hands will tie. The hands may initially be formed from two cards each, and further cards may be added to the hands on the basis of a predetermined dealing tableau. Determination of the winner may be on the basis of a modified blackjack scoring system which provides for a winner even if both hands have totals over 21. In an alternative embodiment, the initial hands are formed from five cards each and the winning hand is determined by determining ascribing a rank value to the five-card combination and determining that the winning hand is the hand with the higher rank value. In some embodiments, the rank value may represent the highest-ranking poker hand which can be formed from the cards of each hand, and the winner will be the hand from which the higher-ranking poker hand can be formed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: TCS John Huxley Europe Ltd.
    Inventors: Justin Robert Huxley, Simon Witty
  • Publication number: 20140094235
    Abstract: Game wagers are received on a hand. At least two hands are dealt and completed according to an underlying game of baccarat or baccarat variation. A bonus wager is received. After the hands are completed, a determination is made whether an end-bonus condition is met. If not, a determination is made whether a bonus-eligible sum has been obtained in a designated hand. Bonus-eligible hand sums may include designated hand sums in a player hand, a banker hand, a player hand or banker hand, and/or a player hand and banker hand. Bonus-eligible hand sums may also be hand sums closer to a target value in a designated hand. When bonus-eligible sums have been obtained in a threshold quantity of bonus triggering games, without obtaining an end-bonus condition, an award is issued on the bonus wager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Inventor: Ofir Ventura
  • Publication number: 20140087801
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system of the present disclosure is configured to operate a card game. For a play of the card game, the gaming system receives a wager, determines a plurality of player cards from a plurality of cards, displays the player cards face up, determines a plurality of dealer cards from the plurality of cards, and displays at least one of the dealer cards face up. The gaming system determines an outcome of the play by comparing the player and the dealer cards. If the outcome is a designated outcome, the gaming system funds a supplemental pool with the received wager. If a supplemental pool payout condition is met, the gaming system provides the supplemental pool to a player. If a supplemental pool reset condition other than the player winning the supplemental pool is met, the gaming system resets the supplemental pool to an initial value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Leandro Basallo, Timothy L. Isaacson, Ricky J. Lew
  • Patent number: 8678392
    Abstract: A card game and methods for playing a card game are provided played by a plurality of players. A pre-determined number of cards are included in the card deck of the card game. Upon a determination of a dealer, a preset number of cards from the card deck are dealt to each player. Each card has a face with a number, picture/icon, special character, or combination number with picture/icon. An object of embodiments of the card game is to gain a pre-determined total of points, a designated winning sum, based on the numeric value of cards of a player with consideration to the operations and/or instructions of non-numeric cards that will adjust the numeric value of a player's cards. Once one player obtains the pre-determined total of points corresponding to the designated winning sum and has a winning combination of cards, that player wins and the game is over.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Inventor: Hebah Abdullah Alhazza
  • Patent number: 8668564
    Abstract: A method and system for playing jackpot and casino games are provided, comprising dealing cards to a player hand and a bank hand according to a set of conventional casino game rules, allowing at least a first player to place a bet on the casino game, granting a right of first refusal to place a bet on jackpot to the first player by virtue of the first player's bet on the casino game, allowing the first player to exercise the right of first refusal to bet on the jackpot or at least a second player to place a bet on the jackpot if the first player declines the right to place a bet on the jackpot, determining the outcome of the live casino game according to the set of conventional casino game rules, and determining the outcome of the jackpot according to a combination of cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Jay Chun
  • Patent number: 8668202
    Abstract: A method of playing a card game in which at least one player plays her own hand against a banker's hand, using at least one deck of conventional playing cards, wherein Kings, Queens, Jacks, and tens have a value of zero, Aces have a value of one, and all other cards have a value equal to their numeric face value, wherein, when the total value of the cards in a hand equals ten or more, only the right-hand digit is considered, and wherein the rank of the hands, from highest to lowest rank, starts with a Natural 9 hand, which is a two-card hand having a value of nine, followed by a three-card hand having a value of nine, and continues with an eight-through-zero hand, which is a two or three card hand that has a value of eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one or zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Tu Thien Phan
  • Publication number: 20140066156
    Abstract: A method is provided for playing a card game using cards with rules to define a value of the cards, in accordance with an example. The method may include distributing a plurality of cards to a player and a dealer. A main wager may be received from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the player and a side wager may be received from the player for the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer. The plurality of cards distributed to the dealer may be revealed when a total value of the plurality of cards distributed to the player is less than or equal to a predetermined value. The player may be rewarded for the side wager when a total of the value of the plurality of cards distributed to the dealer equals the predetermined value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Gene Squitieri
  • Publication number: 20140066155
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing, conducting and modifying an underlying wagering game involving standard playing cards in which a player hand competes against a dealer hand, comprising the steps of: providing one or more randomly ordered decks of playing cards; receiving a game wager; dealing the playing cards to form a player hand and two dealer hands according to the rules of the underlying game, wherein at least one card from one of the dealer hands is revealed to the player; comparing the player hand with a preset criteria; receiving a second wager responsive to the satisfaction of the preset criteria; resolving the outcome of the game wager and second wager based on a comparison of the respective hand values of the player hand and the second dealer hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Frederick D. Noyes
  • Patent number: 8663018
    Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments enabling a saved state of an application to be stored at a central location and to be retrieved by multiple computing devices executing the application. Accordingly, saved states of applications and interfaces are also enabled to follow a user from one personal computing device to the next.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Anthony Frazzini, Ethan Z. Evans
  • Patent number: 8662978
    Abstract: Embodiments related to conducting a wagering game according to the rules of a base game includes defining a finite set of game indicia. In some embodiments the player plays multiple sequential game hand by placing a wager, receiving game indicia from the finite set cumulatively excluding any game indicia previously dealt, playing the game hand to completion, collecting the game indicia from the player and excluding the dealt game indicia from further play, and displaying at least the excluded game indicia or any winning combinations precluded by the excluded game indicia. In some embodiments the game hands continue in sequence until a restoration event, which may include a manually triggered restoration or an automatic restoration event, that restores the excluded game indicia. Other embodiments are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventor: Mark A Miller
  • Patent number: 8662988
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and program products relating to a multi-mode game play. A player places a bet through a player station to commence play in a first play mode of a multi-mode game. The first play mode may award a prize specified as a number of plays at a different (“second”) play mode. The second play mode has a different associated prize structure and a higher expected net value per play as compared to the first play mode. Once the player has played the specified number of plays at the second play mode the game switches back to the first play mode for additional plays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Multimedia Games, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon Thomas Graves
  • Publication number: 20140057690
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus for providing, hosting and conducting a wagering game associated with Blackjack, which includes steps and/or components configured for generating a random initial hand of playing cards in the underlying game to form an initial player hand and an initial dealer hand; comparing the random initial player hand of playing cards with a preset qualifying criteria comprising the initial player hand being composed of playing cards which are consecutively ranked; conducting the Blackjack game until a final outcome is achieved; determining a payout award which is at least partially determined by the number of consecutively ranked playing cards in the final player hand if the preset qualifying criteria is satisfied by the initial player hand; and providing the determined payout award or collecting the wager if the preset qualifying criteria is not satisfied.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventor: Steven G. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8657680
    Abstract: Systems and methods for incorporating online user generated media content (e.g., videos) into an interactive video gaming environment are provided. Media assets that are associated with different measures of quality generated by users are stored on a remote server. A player action is received by the remote server. A determination is made as to which one of the plurality of levels of the interactive video gaming environment corresponds to the action. One of the videos associated with one of the measures of quality is selected based on the determination of the level corresponding to the action. The selected video is transmitted to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: United Video Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: David D. Chung, Walter R. Klappert
  • Patent number: 8657657
    Abstract: A table game system includes a dealer's game table for performing a table game. A movable capturing part captures game media used in the table game, and allows at least changing of a capturing direction of the movable capturing part. An operating part is arranged in a game player space provided at a position distant from the dealer's game table, and can change the capturing direction of the movable capturing part. A display part can display an image of the game media captured by the movable capturing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kyoraku Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoyuki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8657687
    Abstract: Described are one or more embodiments that include a browser application (“browser”) with a first part (e.g., a toolbar, a dropdown, a pop-up, a widget, etc.) that presents first content associated with one or more wagering games and a second part (e.g., a main content display area) that concurrently presents second content independently from presentation of the first content in the first part of the browser. In some embodiments, the first content and second content are from separate content providers. Some embodiments are directed to determining, based on concurrent presentation of the first content and the second content, that one or more awards are available from a first of the content providers conditional upon performance of one or more activities indicated by a second of the content providers, and the browser application presents one or more indicators to indicate the one or more awards and/or the one or more activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Brian J. Barclay, Allon G. Englman, Andrew C. Guinn, Daniel P. Louie, Brian D. Manning, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8657292
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing an electronic, modified version of baccarat, comprises a user interface configured to detect receipt of a first bet from a game participant prior to commencement of a round of game play, a display for displaying visual information to the game participant, a data processing unit coupled to the user interface and the display, configured to, generate two electronic card values representing an initial player hand to the player position and two electronic card values representing an initial bank hand to the bank position, cause the display to present odds relating to a likelihood of the player position beating the bank position at the conclusion of the round of game play for purposes of the game player placing a second bet on an outcome of the round of game play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Marcus A. Katz