IP Library Patent Application 13631821
Patent Application
App. No. 13/631,821

Four Card Poker game with Variable Wager

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
13/631,821
Filed
Sep 28, 2012
Art Unit
3711
USPC
273/292
Abstract

A casino game utilizes at least one deck of playing cards, the game comprising: each player placing at least one wager to participate in the casino game; dealing a first number of cards to a dealer, the first number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for the dealer; dealing a second number of cards to each player, the second number of cards being greater than the number of cards to be used in determination of a poker rank hand for each player; the dealer discarding at least one card to form a resulting single dealer hand; each player discarding at least one card to form a resulting player's hand for each player, wherein the number of cards in resulting player's hands and the resulting dealer's hand are equal; and resolving each player hand against the dealer's hand according to predetermined game rules. The initial player's wagers must be at least matched with a Game Bet (or play bet) to remain in the game after players have received their cards. The Game Bet may be multiples of the initial player's wagers, for example, 1× to 5× the initial wager, or more.

Claims (28)

1 . A method of playing a four-card wagering game, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a processor from a user device, an ante wager and a bonus wager associable with a player, wherein the ante and bonus wager are equal amounts;

dealing, by the processor, five cards to form a dealer's hand and five cards associable with the player to form a player hand;

providing, by the processor, the player hand to the user device;

determining a player hand rank based on the best four-card poker hand that can be achieved from the player hand;

receiving, by the processor from the user device, a variable play wager associable with the player from the user device, wherein the variable play wager is an integer multiple of the ante wager or a fold associable with the player, wherein the variable play wager is 1× the ante wager or may be 3× the ante wager when the player hand rank exceeds a triple down threshold ranking;

determining a dealer hand rank based on the best four-card poker hand that can be achieved from the dealer hand;

determining whether the player hand wins, ties, or loses based on a comparison of the player hand rank to the dealer hand rank; and

when the player hand wins, paying ante and play wager;

if the player hand rank is higher than a bonus threshold, paying the bonus wager according to a bonus pay table.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the ante wager is only paid if the dealer hand rank dealer meets a qualification threshold.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the qualification threshold is a king-high or better.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the triple down threshold ranking is a pair of aces.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the bonus threshold is a straight.

6 . A method of playing a four-card wagering game, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a processor from a user device, an ante wager and a bonus wager associable with a player, wherein the ante and bonus wager are equal amounts;

receiving, by the processor from a card sensor, five cards to form a dealer's hand and five cards associable with the player to form a player hand;

providing, by the processor, the player hand to the user device;

determining a player hand rank based on the best four-card poker hand that can be achieved from the player hand;

receiving, by the processor from the user device, a variable play wager associable with the player from the user device, wherein the variable play wager is an integer multiple of the ante wager or a fold associable with the player, wherein the variable play wager is 1× the ante wager or may be 3× the ante wager when the player hand rank exceeds a triple down threshold ranking;

determining a dealer hand rank based on the best four-card poker hand that can be achieved from the dealer hand;

determining whether the player hand wins, ties, or loses based on a comparison of the player hand rank to the dealer hand rank; and

when the player hand wins, paying ante and play wager;

if the player hand rank is higher than a bonus threshold, paying the bonus wager according to a bonus pay table.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the ante wager is only paid if the dealer hand rank dealer meets a qualification threshold.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , wherein the qualification threshold is a king-high or better.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the triple down threshold ranking is a pair of aces.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the bonus threshold is a straight.

Assignments (14)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE NUMBERS LISTED PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051641 FRAME: 0588. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063122/0355 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; DON BEST SPORTS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059756/0397 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 18, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051641/0588 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES REEL/FRAME 034530/0318) Recorded Nov 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.
Reel/Frame 047924/0701 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045909/0513 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044889/0662 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES RF 031744/0825) Recorded Jul 25, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.,FORMERLY KNOWN AS SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 043326/0668 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: BALLY GAMING, INC; SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC; WMS GAMING INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034530/0318 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 3, 2014
From: BALLY GAMING, INC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034535/0094 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC; ARCADE PLANET, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC; BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
Reel/Frame 034501/0049 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 9, 2014
From: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 033272/0343 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2013
From: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC., FORMERLY KNOWN AS SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031744/0825 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME FROM "SHUFFLE MASTER, INC." TO "SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC." PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 029204 FRAME 0582. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE TRANSFER OF ASSIGNOR'S RIGHT, TITLE AND INTEREST IN AND TO ALL IMPROVEMENTS DISCLOSED IN APPL. NO. 13/631,821. Recorded Dec 21, 2012
From: SNOW, ROGER M.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC.
Reel/Frame 029531/0165 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2012
From: SNOW, ROGER M.
To: SHUFFLE MASTER, INC.
Reel/Frame 029204/0582 →