[0001] The present invention is directed to games and, more particularly, to novel games
which provide a player with the opportunity to reserve a "wild" indicia from one play
for use in a subsequent play.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Games utilizing playing cards are popular throughout the world. Many people get hours
of enjoyment and relaxation from playing cards. In certain parts of the world, wagering
adds an additional dimension of excitement to the game. Whether in "card room" games
where the players play against each other or in a traditional "casino" game environment
where an employee of the house acts as a banker, wagering adds excitement to many
forms of card games.
[0003] Players involved in card games with wagering often enjoy new games with relatively
simple rules that can readily be learned by a beginner or casual player.
[0004] Typical card games involve a dealer providing a plurality of cards to each player.
Each player then gathers the cards and tries to form the best possible hand according
to some pre-determined hierarchy of hand values. For example, a standard poker hierarchy
is, in descending order, Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House,
Flush, Straight, Three of a Kind, Two Pair, One Pair, and High Card. In some games,
players are permitted to discard certain cards and receive new cards in an effort
to form a better hand.
[0005] It is also common to designate one or more cards as "wild" cards which can have any
one of a predetermined number of values at the option of the player(s) receiving such
wild cards. In this manner, the designation of wild cards within a deck can significantly
increase the chances of a player attaining a particular hand. In known games which
utilize wild cards, players must use the wild card in the hand in which the wild card
is received. Therefore, if a player has a card hand of low or no value, the wild card
may not be sufficient to allow that player to form a winning hand. For example, if
the payout schedule for a given game starts at a pair of jacks, and the player has
the following hand: 2, 4, 5, 10 of different suits and a wild card, the best poker
hand that the player could form with one wild card would be a pair of 10's. This hand
would not qualify for a winning payout.
[0006] It is therefore desirable to provide a card game which increases the players' excitement
and enjoyment, as well as the level of player participation by providing a player
with an opportunity to maximize the impact of receiving a wild card.
[0007] It is also desirable to provide wagering games other than cards with an exciting,
new feature which comprises a wild indicia and novel methods of using that wild indicia.
[0008] It is also desirable to provide novel games readily adaptable to wagering which are
relatively simple to learn for a new players.
[0009] It is also desirable to provide games which provide one or more players with opportunities
to modify the player's winning payout by using such a wild indicia, received during
one play, with a subsequent play.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The various embodiments of the present invention are directed to providing a player
who has received at least one wild indicia during one play, with the opportunity to
reserve that wild indicia for use in a subsequent play. The advantages of the present
invention are applicable to a wide variety of games including "card" games, and other
conventional games of chance or skill including keno, bingo, gaming devices, such
as reel slots, dice games and lotto. As used herein, the term "card game", is intended
to include conventional table/board type games wherein one or more persons deal actual
playing cards to one or more players, as well as any types of mechanical or electronic
devices which display indicia of playing cards.
[0011] The wild indicia of the present invention may take any forms desired by the players
or the establishment conducting the game. For example, when playing a card game, the
wild indicia will typically comprise a wild card. While jokers may be utilized to
indicate a wild card, it is also within the scope of the present invention to use
one or more other indicia such as one of the other cards of a deck or nonconventional
indicia to indicate a wild card. Similarly, in games other than card games any form
of wild indicia may be utilized. In all forms of the present invention, a player is
provided with the possibility of utilizing a wild indicia when it is most advantageous
for the player to do so, i.e. when the player will maximize a winning payout. When
a player receives a wild indicia, the player can use that wild indicia immediately
or may reserve the wild indicia for use in a subsequent play. For example, a player
may use a wild card in a subsequent hand or may use a wild indicia received during
the play of one game of bingo in a subsequent game.
[0012] One preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a gaming device having
an electronic touch-sensitive screen which is controlled, at least in part, by a player
touching images on the screen.
[0013] Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a gaming device wherein input
from a player is supplied to a device through actuation buttons.
[0014] A still further embodiment of the present invention comprises a game table designed
for use by a dealer and a plurality of players. Along with conventional indicia on
the game table including betting areas for each player, each player area is also provided
with a reserve area wherein a player may place a wild card if that player decides
not to use the wild card in the hand in which he receives the wild card and prefers
to use the wild card in a later hand.
[0015] Each of the embodiments of the present invention provide one or more players with
opportunities to maximize the beneficial effect of a wild indicia.
[0016] These and other embodiments are described in greater detail with reference to the
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a gaming device embodiment of the present invention comprising
a touch screen.
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a touch screen used with the embodiment of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 3 illustrates a gaming device of another embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 4 illustrates a board game embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The various embodiments of the present invention increase the level of player input,
increase the likelihood of a winning payout, provide at least one player with the
possibility to maximize the amount of a winning payout, and increase the overall level
of enjoyment to a game which utilizes at least one wild indicia. The present invention
achieves these desirable results by providing a player who receives a wild indicia
during the play of one game with the option of reserving that wild indicia for use
in a subsequent game.
[0022] While the various embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in conjunction
with a game of five-card draw poker, the advantages of the present invention are equally
applicable to a wide variety of other games of skill or chance.
[0023] According to the illustrated embodiments, five indicia of playing cards are displayed
to a player. The player is provided with the opportunity to discard one or more of
the cards and, if the player has received a wild card, to place that wild card in
a reserve area for use with a later hand. To the extent that the player has discarded
any cards or moved a wild card from his hand to a reserve area, the player is provided
with replacement cards. Furthermore, a player may be provided with the option of reserving
a wild card even if that player received the wild card as a draw card, i.e. as a replacement
to one of the first indicia of playing cards displayed to that player. A winning payout
is then provided to either the player with the highest hand or to any players which
have attained a winning hand as determined by a predetermined payout schedule.
[0024] According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a first plurality
of playing card indicia which are displayed to a player are selected from a collection
which does not include a wild card. In this manner, the game can be controlled so
that the first plurality of card indicia displayed to a player never contains a wild
card. The cards remaining after making the first display can then be reshuffled along
with one or more wild cards to form a second collection of cards from which additional
cards are selected. The first plurality of playing card indicia may comprise a number
of cards sufficient to form a complete hand or some lower number of cards. For example,
the first three cards displayed to a player in a five-card poker hand may be selected
from the first collection which does not include any wild cards while all remaining
cards may be selected from collections to which at least one wild card indicia has
been added. Similarly, wild card indicia may be placed in a first collection of cards
from which the player's first card indicia are selected and then wild card indicia
not displayed to one or more players as of a certain point in a hand may be removed
so that no further wild cards are displayed. For example, in a five-card draw poker
game, each player's first five cards may be selected from a first collection comprising
one or more wild cards while draw cards may be selected from a second collection from
which wild cards have been removed.
[0025] From the present description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the odds
of a player attaining a successful hand may be modified by modifying certain parameters
of a game including the number of wild cards used, the number of indicia displayed
from collections comprising one or more wild indicia, and the timing of when indicia
are selected from collections comprising wild indicia. These and other parameters
may be modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0026] Further limitations can be placed upon one or more of the games of the present invention
by limiting the number of plays for which a player may reserve a wild indicia. For
example, in a game of bingo, a player may be provided with the opportunity of reserving
a wild indicia for ten bingo games. In such instances, if the player does not use
the reserved wild indicia within ten games after the wild indicia was displayed, the
wild indicia would be forfeited. Similarly, in a card game, a player may be limited
to utilizing a wild indicia in a certain number of hands following receipt of that
wild indicia. By so limiting the use of a wild indicia, a player's chances of achieving
a very high payout can be controlled. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate
that the chances of displaying a wild indicia to a player can be controlled by controlling
the total number of playing indicia in the collection from which cards are selected,
by controlling the number of wild indicia added to the collection, as well as by keeping
the wild indicia out of the collection until a predetermined number of indicia have
been displayed.
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present invention in the form of a gaming
device 10 having a pressure-sensitive touch screen 20, a coin slot 60, a bill validator
70, a credit card receiver/terminal 75, flashing light 80, payout schedule 85, coin
chute 90 and coin trough 95. This embodiment of the present invention can be activated
by a player inserting an item of monetary value including coins, paper currency, tokens,
or some form of credit indicator, such as a credit card. Suitable instructions are
provided in instruction window 22 to guide a player through the initial steps necessary
to start the game, as well as through subsequent steps. If a player has inserted more
than the amount of the minimum wager, the player will be required to designate the
amount of his wager by touching the corresponding wager area 24 under the designation
"SELECT WAGER". The amount wagered will then be displayed in wager window 26. If the
player had inserted an amount greater than the amount wagered, the player's remaining
credits will appear in credit window 28. Wagers for subsequent hands can then be automatically
drawn from the player's credits in a manner which is now well known in the art.
[0028] After a player has selected an amount for an initial wager, a plurality of indicia
of playing cards 30 are displayed on the screen. Following instructions and prompts
provided in instruction window 22, the player may opt to hold one or more of the cards
by simply touching the image of the card on screen 20. An actuator may also be provided
for this and other player input on a button panel. If the player receives a wild card,
the player may also opt to reserve the wild card for use in a subsequent hand by touching
the "RESERVE WILD CARD" area 32. When a player reserves a wild card, the player is
preferably provided with an image of the wild card in reserve area 34. In this and
other embodiments of the present invention, a player may or may not be permitted to
utilize a wild indicia in the same hand or game in which the player designated that
the wild indicia be reserved. Such rules are preferably set by the house or other
rulemaker prior to play. Furthermore, as stated above, a player may receive a wild
indicia either in an initial display or in a subsequent display, such as cards drawn
after a discard.
[0029] If the player has discarded any cards and/or reserved a wild card, replacement cards
are provided to the player's hand and displayed in display area 30. If the resulting
display comprises one of a predetermined plurality of winning card hands, the player
is provided with a winning payout. Particularly high winning payouts may be accompanied
by discernable signals such as a flashing light 80 and audible sirens from a speaker
(not shown). The amount that the player has won is then preferably added to the amount
shown in the "CREDITS" window 28.
[0030] As an example, the hand shown in card display area 30 of FIG. 2 indicates a hand
in which a player would want to utilize a wild card previously held in RESERVE area
34. Those familiar with poker will appreciate that by replacing the 3 of diamonds
with the wild card, the player will have attained a Royal Flush and, typically, a
large payout.
[0031] Since the present invention can be played with a wide variety of games, the winning
payouts for a winning hand can vary widely. As an example, with the five-card draw
poker game described above, the payout schedule could be as follows:

[0032] An alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 3 in the
form of a gaming device. This embodiment of the present invention differs from the
embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that decisions are input to the machine
by the player depressing one or more buttons on a button panel 125. Button panel 125
comprises a "DEAL/DRAW" button 126, "BET ONE" button 128, a "BET MAX" button 127,
a plurality of "HOLD" buttons 132, a "RESERVE WILD CARD" button 133, a "CASH/CREDIT"
button 136, a change button 137 and a "COLLECT WINNINGS" button 138. According to
this embodiment of the present invention, after a player has input monetary value
into coin slot 160 or bill validator 170, he can select the amount that he wants to
wager on the present hand by depressing "BET ONE" button 128 the number of times needed
to properly show his wager in the wager window on screen 120 or BET MAX button 127.
The remaining portion of the player's credits will be indicated in credit window 129.
The player then depresses "DEAL/DRAW" button 126 in order to receive a first plurality
of cards. The player may then select which cards to hold by depressing corresponding
"HOLD" buttons 132 which are most preferably aligned with the indicia of playing cards
130 appearing on screen 120. If the player has received a wild card that he wishes
to reserve for use in a subsequent hand, the player then depresses "RESERVE" button
133 which will move the wild card up into wild card reserve area 134 on screen 120.
[0033] When the player has made his selection regarding which cards to hold and/or reserve,
he must then again press "DEAL/DRAW" button 126 in order to receive replacement cards.
According to this illustrated embodiment, after the player has received any necessary
replacement cards the gaming device 100 automatically evaluates whether the player
has received a winning hand and, if he has, provides a winning payout according to
payout schedule 185 and increases the player's credits shown in credit window 129
accordingly. When a player has finished playing and wishes to withdraw any credits
shown in credit window 129, the player can simply depress "COLLECT WINNINGS" button
138 in order to receive his money and/or credits. As illustrated, button panel 125
is also provided with "CHANGE" button 137 which will alert a casino attendant that
a player requires change.
[0034] Another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein a gaming
table 200 is provided with a playing surface 210, chip rack 220, card shoe 230 and
discard tray 240. A plurality of player stations are located around the playing surface.
According to this embodiment of the present invention, each playing area comprises
a wager area 250, a card area 260 and a wild card reserve area 270. According to this
embodiment of the present invention, when a player wishes to reserve a wild card for
subsequent use, the reserved wild card is placed in a "wild card reserve area" 270.
[0035] While the present embodiments have been described as providing a player with an option
of reserving a wild card when that player receives such a wild card during the initial
deal, the various embodiments of the present invention can also provide a player with
the option of reserving a wild card for use in a subsequent hand even if that player
receives one or more wild cards as replacement cards for those which he had originally
discarded or reserved. Furthermore, a player may be provided with the option of retrieving
a wild indicia from a wild indicia reserve area for use in the same game that the
wild indicia was received, either between or after the player has received or seen
additional playing indicia.
[0036] As a further enhancement to the excitement provided by the games of the present invention,
it is also within the scope of the present invention to provide a higher or lower
payout when the player uses a wild indicia.
[0037] The present invention is readily adapted for use with a wide variety of wagering
games of chance or skill including blackjack, other forms of poker, keno, bingo, lotto,
as well as with video slots and/or a reel slot. For example, other card games such
as blackjack may be similarly played wherein one or more wild card indicia are displayed
to players either in a physical form, such as in a table version, or as an image on
a screen in a video version.
[0038] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be modified
for use in other games with or without additional restrictions. For example, in a
bingo game, a wild indicia received during one game may be utilized in subsequent
games to cover whatever spot that a player chooses. In a lotto game, a player might
utilize a wild indicia for use as any number in a subsequent play. Still further embodiments
may comprise placing a wild indicia on one or more faces of a die for use in a dice
game. Therefore, it is within the scope of the present invention to utilize the traveling
wild indicia of the present invention in games of craps. In a keno game, a keno game
could be limited to permit a player to use a reserved wild indicia in subsequent plays
only if the player was using an identical wager in an identically played game. The
use of the wild indicia may be restricted to a predetermined number of hands following
the receipt of the wild indicia by the player. These and other restrictions may or
may not be imposed on other wagering games of chance or skill.
[0039] According to further embodiments of the present invention, a wild indicia may have
limitations. For example, the wild indicia may be completely wild in that it can be
used as a substitute to any indicia in the game. Alternatively, the wild indicia may
be restricted so that it can only be played as certain other symbols.
[0040] Furthermore, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the mere
receipt of a wild indicia can provide a player with one or more winning advantages.
For example, a wild indicia may act as a multiplier in order to modify the payout
schedule. Alternatively, the receipt of a wild indicia may provide or qualify the
player for a super jackpot. Still furthermore, a player may be provided with an opportunity
to increase the amount of a payout by some percentage e.g. 25% or even by a multiplier
of two or three. Still furthermore, the wild indicia could also provide opportunities
for a player to qualify for other opportunities. For example, in a card game if a
wild card was utilized to form a royal flush, that winning player could be entered
into a super-jackpot prize drawing. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that
these embodiments may be achieved without departing from the scope of the present
invention.
1. Game-playing apparatus comprising means for:
designating at least one indicia as a travelling wild indicia;
displaying at least one indicia of playing indicia to at least one player which indicia
is randomly selected from a first collection of playing indicia;
during the play of said game, providing said at least one player with the option of
reserving said travelling wild indicia for use in a subsequent game if said at least
one player has been displayed a travelling wild indicia.
2. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of playing indicia
are displayed to said player.
3. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said game is selected from the
group consisting of poker, blackjack, keno, reel slots, video slots, dice, bingo and
lotto.
4. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said at least one player is provided
with the option of only using a reserved travelling wild indicia in one of a predetermined
number of subsequent games.
5. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one player is provided
with the option of only using a reserved travelling wild indicia in one of a predetermined
number of subsequent games.
6. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said game is a card game.
7. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said at least one player receives
a replacement card if said at least one player reserved said travelling wild card
for subsequent use.
8. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising the steps of requiring
said player to decide whether the player will use the travelling wild indicia in a
given hand before receiving replacement cards in that hand.
9. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first collection comprises
at least one wild indicia.
10. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first collection does not
contain a wild indicia.
11. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising at least one subsequent
collection and wherein said subsequent collection comprises at least one indicia.
12. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said playing indicia are selected
utilizing at least some input from said player.
13. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said player input comprises rolling
at least one die.
14. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said player input comprises said
player selecting at least one indicia before said player is informed of winning indicia.
15. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said at least one player receives
a replacement indicia if said at least one player reserved said travelling wild indicia
for subsequent use.
16. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 14 further comprising the steps of requiring
said player to decide whether the player will use the travelling wild indicia in a
given hand before receiving replacement indicia.
17. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising the step of providing
at least one player with the opportunity to place at least one wager.
18. Game-playing apparatus comprising means for:
designating at least one indicia as a wild indicia;
displaying at least one indicia of playing indicia to at least one player which indicia
is at least periodically selected from a collection of playing indicia comprising
said wild indicia; and
providing said player with a winning advantage if said player receives said wild indicia.
19. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said winning advantage comprises
a winning payout.
20. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said winning advantage comprises
qualifying said player for a super jackpot.
21. Game-playing apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said winning advantage comprises
providing said player with a more favorable payout schedule.
22. Game-playing apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as
illustrated by any appropriate combination of the accompanying drawings.