Patent Application
20120309481
The following disclosure relates to machine-implemented games, and in particular, to machine-implemented games implementing “Bad Beat,” “Big Hand” or similar jackpots that enable a player to win a jackpot with a losing hand or position or with a sufficiently strong or high hand or position.
Machine-based game machines such as slot machines and video games are well known and widely used in casinos and similar establishments. The popularity of such machines is due to the entertainment value of the game machine along with the expectation of human players that they have an opportunity to win awards or pots in excess of their wager or wagers. Human players tend to play game machines that are simple, but interesting, and offer different features and greater entertainment value along with the perception that there is a significant probability that the player may win an award substantially greater than their wagers. This perception may be enhanced when a game played on a game machine provides multiple ways that a human player may win.
The popularity of poker-type games has increased substantially over the last few years, especially in connection with a particular poker game known as Texas Hold'em. Poker-type games, including Texas Hold'em, are offered on game machines in casinos and similar establishments. Typically, the games are heads-up, two player games, i.e., the human player vs. the game machine. In most instances, the human player will make one or more wagers during the course of the game and the human player wins a pot based on a pay-out table if he or she has a superior hand at the completion of the game.
Most poker players have experience of a “bad beat.” A “bad beat” occurs when a player is dealt a hand or position that would normally win and is, however, beaten by a superior hand or position. In order to make the game more appealing to human players, there is disclosed herein a system and method for enabling a human player to win a pot if he or she has a hand or position that would normally win, but is nevertheless beaten by a superior hand or position “dealt” to the game machine. Further, there exists a need to make machine-based games, such as poker-style games more interesting and entertaining. There also exists a need to enhance the perception of the human player that he or she has a chance of winning if dealt a high-value hand or position. The method and system described herein addresses these needs.
In one embodiment, a method of operating an electronic gaming system includes the steps of: a) receiving value from a human user of an electronic gaming machine in the form of a wager on the outcome of the game, b) initiating a machine-implemented game on the electronic gaming machine and displaying indicia prompting the human user to select a game option whereby the human may receive a jackpot if the human user's position at the end of the game is greater than a predetermined criteria regardless of the position of the machine-implemented game, d) receiving input from the human user via a user interface associated with the electronic gaming machine whereby the human user selects the game option, e) determining an outcome of the game and one of: i) if the human user wins the game, transferring value from the electronic gaming machine to the human user, and ii) comparing the human user's position at the end of the game to the predetermined criteria and if the human user's position is equal to or exceeds the predetermined criteria, transferring value in the amount of the jackpot from the electronic gaming machine to the human user.
In one embodiment the machine-implemented game is poker and the predetermined criteria is a poker hand of having a given value rank to other poker hands, for example, at least four of a kind In different variations, the value of the jackpot is funded from deductions from wagers placed by human users of the electronic gaming machine. The predetermined criteria is selected prior to initiation of the game by a human user and may change during the course of a game. In some variations, the machine-implemented game is symmetric and the electronic gaming machine may use artificial intelligence to determine actions taken during the course of the game. Instructions and programs for executing the machine-implement game may be stored on a central processor linked to a plurality of electronic gaming machines or user devices by means of a public or private network.
In another variation, an electronic gaming system includes a central processor operative to control a plurality of user devices to enable a human user to play a machine-implemented electronic game. The machine-implemented electronic game includes a game option whereby the human user may receive a jackpot if the human user's position at the conclusion of the machine-implemented game is greater than a predetermined criteria regardless of the position of the machine-implemented game.
A display associated with the user devices, displays indicia prompting the human user to select the game option and an interface associated with the user device is operable to receive input from the human user whereby the human user selects the game option, initiates the machine-implement game, and plays the game to completion. The central processor is operable to determine an outcome of the game and, if the human user loses the game, compare the human user's position at the end of the game to the predetermined criteria and transfer the value of the jackpot to the human user if the human user's position is equal to or exceeds the predetermined criteria. The system may include a data storage device connected to the central processor with instructions for enabling human users to play the machine-implemented game with the user devices. In some embodiments the machine-implemented electronic game is a two player symmetric game such as Texas Hold'em and the electronic game utilizes artificial intelligence to determine and take actions during the course of the game.
In yet another variation, according to method of operating an electronic gaming system value is received from a human user of a machine-implemented electronic game in the form of a wager on the outcome of the game. The machine-implemented electronic game may by a two player symmetric game between the human user and the machine-implemented electronic game. Indicia prompting the human user to select a game option is displayed to the human user. Input from a human user is received via a user interface associated with a user device whereby the human user selects the game option and may receive a jackpot if the human user's position at the conclusion of the machine-implemented game is greater than a predetermined criteria regardless of the position of the machine-implemented game. The system is configured to transfer value to the human user if the human user wins the machine-implemented electronic game or if the human user's position at the conclusion of the game is equal to or greater than the predetermined criteria.
In different variations, the machine-implemented game is one of Texas Hold'em poker, stud poker and liar's poker. In one variation, the machine-implemented game is Texas Hold' em poker wherein the machine-implemented electronic game and the human user are dealt private cards and public cards and wherein the private cards must be used to make a hand that is equal to or exceeds the predetermined criteria. The game may be symmetric, and during the course of the game, the machine-implemented electronic game may use artificial intelligence to determine actions taken during the course of the game.
For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings in which:
Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
CPU 104 may download games or similar information stored on data storage unit 106 via data link 103 and network 110 to game machines 112. CPU 104 of central office 102 may also upload information from game machines 112 via network 110 and data link 103. CPU 104 may also provide monitoring functions for monitoring the activity on game machines 112 in realtime or at periodic intervals. In one embodiment, CPU 104 implements one or more game engines schematically represented as 105 for controlling and monitoring games played by patrons on game machines 112. In some embodiments, games played on game machines 112 that implement a “Bad Beat” or “Big Hand Jackpot” feature will be part of a symmetric game portfolio, in which the game machine and the human player play by the same rules, and wherein the game machine makes strategic decisions determined by artificial intelligence. For example, actions by the game machine may be determined with an algorithm based on the different probabilities associated with the particular game state at that time.
Game machine 112 also includes a bank module 212. Bank module 212 includes a payment input/output device 214 that enables a player to input, for example, a credit card, a debit card, smart card, bar coded ticket or other stored value card for maintaining a balance to draw from during play. Alternatively, payment input device 214 may be a currency reader. In one embodiment, bank module 212 may include a cash, ticket or token dispenser 216 for making cash payments or dispensing tokens or tickets to a player. Many game systems, however, use a stored value card that allows a player to move from game to game and maintains the player's balance on the card. In this case, bank module 212 may be eliminated and a card read/write device 220 may be utilized to debit and credit a player's balance on a stored value card.
The “Bad Beat Jackpot” is a feature that enables a player to win under unusual circumstances in which the player has a relatively high hand or position, e.g., four eights, and is still beaten by the game machine 112, which has drawn a straight flush. Typically, the “Bad Beat Jackpot” and “Big Hand Jackpot” features are implemented in connection with a machine implemented heads-up poker-type game, for example, Texas Hold'em, various types of stud poker and liar's poker. Typically, in the case of poker games such as Texas Hold'em where both the machine and the player are dealt “hole” or private cards and public cards, the private cards must be used to make a hand that qualifies for the “Bad Beat” or “Big Hand” jackpots.
Variations on the different games are possible. For example, in the case of a machine-implemented liar's poker game (played with integers), a jackpot may be determined by combining both the machine's and the player's hands. In this case, a hand might not be restricted to five numbers. In one embodiment, wherein the machine-implemented game is liar's poker, the machine and the player may each hold up to eight numbers. However, the “Bad Beat Jackpot” and “Big Hand Jackpot” features may be offered with other types of machine-implemented games.
In the case of the “Bad Beat Jackpot,” a player may win the jackpot even if game machine 112 has a superior position or hand if the player's position or hand is high enough. For example, a player in a machine-implemented poker game may draw four of a kind, normally a winning hand. However, the player may still be beaten if the machine has a superior hand, for example, a straight flush. However, if the player has elected the “Bad Beat Jackpot” feature, the player may still win the jackpot even with an inferior hand.
In this case, the player has a relatively high hand, i.e., four eights. However, the machine has a superior hand—a straight flush (a four, five, six, seven and eight of hearts). Normally, the player would lose the hand and would receive nothing. However, if the player had selected the “Bad Beat Jackpot” feature, the player would be entitled to receive the “Bad Beat Jackpot” since the player's hand was equal to or greater than the predetermined minimum hand or position required to qualify for the jackpot. In this case, four of a kind The value of a qualifying hand may be arbitrarily set, for example, a full house or four of a kind, when the game or games featuring the “Bad Beat Jackpot” are initiated. In one embodiment, the value of a qualifying hand may increase progressively as the jackpot increases.
The “Bad Beat Jackpot” (and “Big Hand”) jackpots may be funded or accumulated in a variety of ways. Typically, the jackpot is funded by small deductions from pots won by a player or wages made by a player. In some instances, the owner/operator of the game machine may partially fund the jackpot and/or guarantee some minimum payout. In one embodiment, the jackpot payouts are drawn from an accumulated pot, as opposed to being determined by a pay table. The pot may be machine specific, casino-game specific, or possibly specific to games in several networked casinos. In one embodiment, if a player selects the “Bad Beat Jackpot” at the beginning of a game session, a small amount may be deducted from each pot that the player wins.
In other embodiments, a small amount may be deducted from each wager or wagers that the player makes during the game. The deductions from the pots that the player wins or from the player's wager or wagers may be accumulated over a period of time to fund the jackpot. In one embodiment, the “Bad Beat Jackpot” is funded solely upon games played on a single machine. In other embodiments, the jackpot may be funded from games played on linked machines such as illustrated in
If the player does not win the hand, at step 518 a determination is made as to whether the player has previously selected the “Bad Beat Jackpot” feature at step 504. If the player did not select the feature, the process ends at step 516. If the player did select the “Bad Beat Jackpot” feature at decision block 520 a determination is made as to whether the player has a qualifying hand or position, i.e., a high enough hand or position to qualify for the “Bad Beat Jackpot.” If the player has a qualifying hand or position, at step 522 a percentage of the jackpot may be received by the house or game owner/operator. At step 524, the value of the “Bad Beat Jackpot,” less the house percentage, is dispensed to the player after which the process ends at step 526.
In addition to the “Bad Beat Jackpot” feature, a “Big Hand Jackpot” option may also be incorporated into a game such as machine-implemented poker. The “Big Hand Jackpot” is awarded to a player that receives or is dealt a qualifying hand or position, e.g., equal to or superior to a predetermined hand or position, for example, four deuces. The “Big Hand Jackpot” may be awarded to a player regardless of whether the player wins or loses the hand. The “Big Hand Jackpot” is typically awarded to the player at the completion of the hand or game or at the time the player receives or is dealt a hand or position that qualifies for the jackpot.
The game is played to completion at step 610 after which the determination is made as to whether the player won at step 612. If the player won the game, at step 614 the value of the pot is dispensed to the player after which the process moves to decision block 616. Alternatively, if the player did not win the pot, the process loops to decision block 616 to determine whether the player selected the “Big Hand Jackpot” option at decision block 606. If the player did not select the “Big Hand Jackpot” option, the process ends at step 618. If the player previously selected the “Big Hand Jackpot” option, at decision block 620 a determination is made as to whether the player has a qualifying hand, e.g., a hand or position superior to the predetermined hand or position required to qualify for the jackpot. If the player's hand or position does not qualify, the process ends at step 622. Alternatively, if the player has a qualifying hand, at step 624, the value of the jackpot, less any deduction for the house, is dispensed to the player and the process ends at step 626.
As will be appreciated, the method and system disclosed herein is particularly suitable to two-player (machine and human) machine-implemented poker-type games. The method and system make such games more appealing insofar as the human player is afforded an opportunity to win a jackpot with a losing hand or position, assuming the human's losing hand is sufficiently high or strong to qualify for the jackpot. The method and system also makes the game more interesting and enhances the entertainment value of the game.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that this machine-implemented gaming system with “Bad Bead” and “Big Hand Jackpot” provides a means of enhancing the perception of a human player that he or she may win a jackpot, which makes the machine-implemented game more interesting and entertaining It should be understood that the drawings and detailed description herein are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive manner, and are not intended to be limiting to the particular forms and examples disclosed. On the contrary, included are any further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope hereof, as defined by the following claims. Thus, it is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such further modifications, changes, rearrangements, substitutions, alternatives, design choices, and embodiments.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/491,527, filed May 31, 2011, entitled GAMING SYSTEM WITH BAD BEAT AND BIG HAND JACKPOT (Atty. Dkt. No. BRGM-29994), the specification of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61491527 | May 2011 | US |
