Abstract:
One method of conducting a game includes steps: (a) providing first and second decks of cards; (b) accepting a predetermined number of uniform wagers from players; (c) associating with each wager a predetermined number of cards from the first and second decks; (d) after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted, selecting the predetermined number of cards from the first and second decks; (e) determining whether the cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted matches exactly the cards associated with any wager; (f) performing steps (d) and (e) without further wagering until cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted matches the cards associated with any wager; and (g) awarding a payout dependent on the number of wagers accepted, the amount of each wager, and the number of players having cards that match the cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/329,409, filed Apr. 29, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Lotteries come in many popular formats ranging from instant games using lottery tickets known as “scratch cards”; to periodic, long-odds, large jackpot games such as Powerball® games. While the purchase of a lottery ticket is considered irrational from the perspective of classical economics, it clearly enables some purchasers to experience the thrill of the chance of winning a large “jackpot” prize and to indulge in the fantasy of “becoming wealthy”. Even though many lotteries pay lesser prizes for matching just some of the winning numbers (to increase the odds of players winning at least something), the reality is that each lottery ticket or card typically has only one chance of winning per individual lottery game, the odds of winning the lottery “jackpot” prize are extremely poor, most large jackpot lottery games are periodic with limited play each week, and most individual lottery games do not produce a “jackpot” winner. 
     Keno is a lottery-like or bingo-like game played in many casinos and also offered in some state lottery systems. Players are paid based on: (a) how many numbers on their ticket, if any, match the numbers drawn; and (b) the paytable selected and the amount wagered. While keno games also pay lesser prizes for matching just some of the numbers drawn, the odds of winning any of the “large prizes” are extremely poor and most keno games do not produce a “large prize” winner. 
     A card game is any game using “playing cards”, be they traditional or game-specific, as the primary medium with which the game is played. Card games typically involve the “shuffling”, “dealing”, and/or “drawing” of these playing cards, and many of them use a “dealer”. Popular casino card games include games such as “Poker” where players compete against each other to win the “pot”, and games such as “Blackjack” where players compete against the “house” to win. In each “play” of each of these card games, while the “maximum amount” a player can win varies according to his wager(s), there is always a “winner” of that “maximum amount”, or multiple “winners” splitting that “maximum amount”. 
     Most card games strictly limit the number of players allowed per game, while others are self-limiting due to the total number of cards available for play; accordingly, most card games accommodate 10 or fewer players. Because of the limited number of players, the “maximum amount” available to win in each game is often much less than the large “jackpots” typically seen in most lottery games. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Games and methods and systems of implementing the games are provided. One method of conducting a game includes the steps: (a) providing a first set of choices; (b) providing a second set of choices; (c) accepting a predetermined number of wagers from a plurality of players; (d) associating with each wager a predetermined number of elements from the first set and a predetermined number of elements from the second set; (e) after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted, selecting the predetermined number of elements from the first set and the predetermined number of elements from the second set; ( 0  determining whether the elements selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted matches exactly the elements associated with any wager; (g) performing steps (e) and ( 0  without further wagering until the elements selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted matches exactly the elements associated with any wager; and (h) awarding a prize to at least one player having elements that exactly match the elements selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted. 
     Another method of conducting a game includes the steps: (a) providing a first deck of cards; (b) providing a second deck of cards; (c) accepting a predetermined number of uniform wagers from a plurality of players; (d) associating with each wager a predetermined number of cards from the first deck and a predetermined number of cards from the second deck; (e) after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted, selecting the predetermined number of cards from the first deck and the predetermined number of cards from the second deck; (f) determining whether the cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted matches exactly the cards associated with any wager; (g) performing steps (e) and (f) without further wagering until the cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted matches the cards associated with any wager; and (h) awarding a payout dependent on the number of wagers accepted, the amount of each wager, and the number of players having cards that match the cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted. 
     One method of playing a game includes a plurality of people. Each person selects a first number of cards from a first deck of cards, selects a second number of cards from a second deck of cards, and places a wager associated with the cards selected from the first and second decks. After a predetermined number of wagers are placed, the first number of cards are selected from the first deck and the second number of cards are selected from the second deck without delay until at least one of the people has matching cards. 
     In one embodiment, a computer has a processor in data communication with an electronic memory, an input device, an output device, and programming for implementing a game. The programming causes the processor to implement steps: (a) providing a first deck of electronic cards; (b) providing a second deck of electronic cards; (c) accepting a predetermined number of uniform wagers from a plurality of players; (d) associating with each wager a predetermined number of cards from the first deck and a predetermined number of cards from the second deck; (e) after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted, selecting the predetermined number of cards from the first deck and the predetermined number of cards from the second deck; (f) determining whether the cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted matches exactly the cards associated with any wager; (g) performing steps (e) and (f) without accepting further wagering until the cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted matches the cards associated with any wager; and (h) awarding a payout dependent on the number of wagers accepted, the amount of each wager, and the number of players having cards that match the cards selected after the predetermined number of wagers are accepted. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a game according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart showing an exemplary implementation of the game of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows an exemplary system for implementing the game of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart showing another exemplary implementation of the game of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 5-11  show exemplary screen shots of the implementation of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present invention provide games and methods and systems of implementing the games. In one embodiment, a game  100  ( FIG. 1 ) includes a first plurality (or “deck”) of cards  110   a  and a second plurality (or “deck”) of cards  110   b  that may differ from the cards  110   a . A plurality of players make wagers, and each player selects a predetermined number of cards from the first deck  110   a  and a predetermined number of cards from the second deck  110   b . To allow multiple players to obtain the same or similar selections, either the selections of each player are memorialized (e.g., written, input into a computer for saving and/or printing, et cetera), or multiple decks  110   a ,  110   b  are used. If multiple decks are used, marking may be included that identify the different decks to ensure that selections are not altered through trading between players. After all player selections are made, a dealer selects the predetermined number of cards from the first deck  110   a  and the predetermined number of cards from the second deck  110   b . If the dealer&#39;s selections match those of a player, the player wins all (or a portion of) the wagers that were made. If the dealer&#39;s selections do not match those of a player, the dealer re-selects the predetermined number of cards from the first deck  110   a  and the predetermined number of cards from the second deck  110   b , and the dealer continues this routine until the dealer&#39;s selections match those of a player. If multiple players have selections that match those of the dealer, those players share in winning at least a portion of the wagers that were made. 
     One exemplary implementation  200  of the game  100  is shown in the flowchart of  FIG. 2 . In a gaming establishment (referred to herein as a “casino”), the first deck of cards  110   a  is provided as a standard 52-card poker deck (with four suits each having nine numbered cards and four face cards), and the second deck of cards  110   b  is provided as a set of four cards. At step  201 , the casino accepts a wager from a player, and the method proceeds to step  202 . At step  202 , the player who wagered either selects five cards (the predetermined number in the current example) from the first deck  110   a  or accepts five cards from the first deck  110   a  that are selected by the casino. The method then proceeds to step  203 , where the player who wagered either selects one card (the predetermined number in the current example) from the second deck  110   b  or accepts one card from the second deck  110   b  that is selected by the casino. Some embodiments may allow the player to know what cards are being selected as the cards are actually selected at steps  202 ,  203 , while other embodiments may place the cards “face down” or take other actions to hide the identity of the cards as their selection is made. And, as discussed above, the selections may be memorialized such that all players use the same decks  110   a ,  110   b , or multiple decks  110   a ,  110   b  may be used to allow the players to hold the selected cards without reducing the number of cards subsequently available for selection. 
     From step  203 , the method  200  advances to step  204 , where the casino determines whether enough players have wagered to proceed to step  210 . If not, the method  200  returns to step  201  to accept another wager. If enough players have wagered, the method proceeds from step  204  to step  210 . 
     At step  210 , the casino selects five cards from the first deck  110   a  and selects one card from the second deck  110   b  (again, the predetermined numbers in the current example). The method  200  continues to step  220 , where the casino determines if any players have selections that match those of the casino and identifies any players with matching selections. So if, for example, the casino selected queen and ace of spades, six of hearts, ace of diamonds, ten of clubs, and a first of the four cards in deck  110   b , the casino would determine if any players selected queen and ace of spades, six of hearts, ace of diamonds, ten of clubs, and the first card in deck  110   b . If no player has matching selections, the method  200  immediately returns to step  210  to again select five cards from the first deck  110   a  and one card from the second deck  110   b.    
     If at least one player does have matching selections, the method  200  advances from step  220  to step  230 , where the casino determines how many players were identified in step  220  as having matching selections and calculates a payout for each player having matching selections. In calculating payout(s) at step  230 , the casino may for example deduct a percentage or a set amount from the total amount wagered to be allocated to such things as operating expenses and revenue, and the remainder may be divided evenly between the winning players. If the casino only proceeds to step  210  when a preselected number of players have wagered, the players may know a payout schedule in advance of wagering at step  201 , with different payouts being identified for different numbers of winners. 
     The method finally ends at step  240 , where payouts are made in accordance with the determinations at step  230  and any deducted amount is properly deposited. While steps have been described as being performed in a particular order, various embodiments may utilize different sequences and/or different steps. For example, in some embodiments, steps  202 ,  203  may be performed before step  201 ; and in some embodiments, the game  100  may be implemented without any wager or payment. 
     While some embodiments may require the players to remain present from the wager to the identification of a winner, other embodiments may not require such attendance. It may be particularly desirable to not require players to remain present if the dealer does not make a selection until many players make wagers. 
       FIG. 3  shows a system  300  that allows the game  100  to be played electronically by people at different locations and/or times. The system  300  includes a primary station  310  and a plurality of secondary stations  330 . While two secondary stations  330  are shown in  FIG. 3 , it should be understood that the system  300  may include three or more secondary stations  330 , or only one secondary station  330 . And different embodiments may omit all secondary stations  330 , in which case the functionality described for the secondary stations  330  is incorporated into the primary station  310 . 
     In embodiment  300 , the primary station  310  has a processor  312  in data communication with a storage unit  314 , a computer memory  316 , an input device  318 , an output device  319 , a networking device  320 , and a currency output device  321 . The storage unit  314  may be, for example, a disk drive that stores programs, and the storage unit  314  is illustratively shown storing a program  325  embodying steps and methods to implement the game  100 . It should be understood that the program  325  could be broken into subprograms and stored in multiple storage units of one or more computers and that data could be transferred between those storage units using methods known in the art. A dashed outline within the computer memory  316  represents the software program  325  loaded into the computer memory  316  and executed by the processor  312 , and a dashed line between the storage unit  314  and the computer memory  316  illustrates the transfer of the program  325  between the storage unit  314  and the computer memory  316 . The input device  318  may be any desirable input device(s), such as a keyboard, a touch screen, a scanner, et cetera, and the output device  319  may be any desirable output device(s), such as a display, an audible output device, a printer, et cetera. The currency output device  321  may, for example, be a device for dispensing paper currency, coins, making electronic transfers of funds, et cetera. 
     The secondary stations  330  may be gaming stations inside a casino or other establishment, or may be located in multiple casinos or other establishments. In some embodiments, personal computers or mobile Internet devices (e.g., iPad™ and other tablet devices, smart phones, laptop computers, and other wireless devices now in existence or later developed—including those that use networks besides the Internet) may be secondary stations  330 . Each secondary station  330  shown in  FIG. 3  includes a processor  332  in data communication with a storage unit  334 , a computer memory  336 , an input device  338 , an output device  339 , a networking device  340 , and a currency input device  341 . The storage unit  334  may be, for example, a disk drive that stores programs, and the storage unit  334  is illustratively shown storing a program  345  embodying steps and methods to implement the game  100 . As with the program  325 , it should be understood that the program  345  could be broken into subprograms and stored in multiple storage units of one or more computers and that data could be transferred between those storage units using methods known in the art. A dashed outline within the computer memory  336  represents the software program  345  loaded into the computer memory  336  and executed by the processor  332 , and a dashed line between the storage unit  334  and the computer memory  336  illustrates the transfer of the program  345  between the storage unit  334  and the computer memory  336 . The input device  338  may be any desirable input device(s), such as a keyboard, a touch screen, a scanner, et cetera, and the output device  339  may be any desirable output device(s), such as a display, an audible output device, a printer, et cetera. The currency input device  341  may, for example, be a device for accepting paper currency, coins, debit cards, credit cards, or other electronic transfers of funds, et cetera. 
     The programs  325 ,  345  allow the game  100  to be implemented electronically using the primary and secondary stations  310 ,  330 , and the networking devices  320 ,  340  allow communication between the primary and secondary stations  310 ,  330 . So, with reference again to  FIG. 2  to provide another example, the deck of cards  110   a ,  110   b  may be electronic instead of physical. A player may approach one of the secondary stations  330 , and the wager may be made at step  201  using the secondary station&#39;s currency input device  341 . The programs  325 ,  345  may allow the player to select cards at steps  202 ,  203  using the input device  338 , and the selections may be input into the storage units  314 ,  334 , and record of the selections may be output (e.g., printed) using the output device  339 . Using the programming  325 , the processor  312  may make the determination at step  204 , may make the selections at step  210 , may make the determinations and calculations at steps  220 ,  230 , and may make the payouts at step  240 . 
     Notably, electronic implementation of the game  100  may allow large numbers of players to compete in a card game which begins play based upon player demand rather than a set, periodic schedule, and in which each play, upon its completion, pays out a guaranteed prize that is split if there are multiple winners. Aspects such as odds of winning, wager amount, number of players, and portion of wagers to be paid out can clearly be adjusted to provide different game experiences. 
       FIGS. 4 through 11  illustrate another implementation  400  of the game  100  and the system  300 , with personal computers and/or mobile Internet devices being some or all of the secondary stations  330 . At step  401 , a player accesses the primary station  310  using a personal computer  330  (via the networking devices  320 ,  340 ) and accesses or creates an account that identifies the player to the primary station  310  and associates a particular method of paying (e.g., credit card information) with the player. 
     The method proceeds from step  401  to step  402 , where a display  339  of the personal computer  330  presents the player with the option of making his own selections or having his selections be randomly generated. Exemplary screen shot  402   a , illustrating step  402 , is shown in  FIG. 5 . If the player chooses (using the input device  338 ) to make his own selections, the method continues to step  404 . If the player instead chooses (using the input device  338 ) to have his selections be randomly generated, the method moves from step  402  to step  406 . 
     At step  404 , the player selects five cards (the predetermined number in the current example) from the electronic first deck  110   a  and one card (the predetermined number in the current example) from the electronic second deck  110   b .  FIG. 6  shows an exemplary screen shot  404   a  illustrating step  404 , with the selected cards underlined. 
     From step  404 , the method  400  proceeds to step  405 , where the selected cards are displayed by the computer display  339 . The player is presented with the option of accepting the selections made in step  404  and placing a wager or rejecting the selections made at step  404 .  FIG. 7  shows an exemplary screen shot  405   a  illustrating step  405 . If the selections are accepted, the method proceeds to step  410 ; if the selections are rejected, the method returns to step  402 . 
     Returning now to discuss step  406 , the program  325  and/or the program  345  randomly selects five cards (the predetermined number in the current example) from the electronic first deck  110   a  and one card (the predetermined number in the current example) from the electronic second deck  110   b.    
     The method  400  continues from step  406  to step  407 , where the cards selected at step  406  are displayed by the computer display  339 . The player is presented with the option of accepting the selections made in step  406  and placing a wager or rejecting the selections made at step  406 .  FIG. 8  shows an exemplary screen shot  407   a  illustrating step  407 . If the selections are accepted, the method  400  proceeds to step  410 ; if the selections are rejected, the method returns to step  402 . 
     At step  410 , a receipt is generated from program  325 , providing a record of the accepted selections and the wager made.  FIG. 9  shows an exemplary screen shot  410   a  illustrating step  410 . The method  400  then continues to step  412 , where the processor  312  determines whether enough wagers have been made to proceed to step  414 . If not, the method  400  returns to step  401  to allow the same player or another player to make a subsequent wager. If enough wagers have been made, the method proceeds from step  412  to step  414  and the system  300  does not accept any further wagers. 
     At step  414 , the processor  312  selects five cards from the electronic first deck  110   a  and selects one card from the electronic second deck  110   b  (again, the predetermined numbers in the current example) using the program  325 .  FIG. 10  shows an exemplary screen shot  414   a  illustrating selections made at step  414 . The method  400  continues to step  416 , where the processor  312  determines if any players have selections that match those made in step  414  and identifies any players with matching selections. 
     If no player has matching selections, the method  400  immediately returns to step  414  to again select five cards from the electronic first deck  110   a  and one card from the electronic second deck  110   b .  FIG. 11  shows an exemplary screen shot  414   b  illustrating selections made a subsequent (in this example, a fifth) time at step  414 . 
     If at least one player does have matching selections, the method  400  advances from step  416  to step  420 , where the processor  312  determines how many players were identified in step  416  as having matching selections and notifies the winning players.  FIG. 11  further illustrates that the winning player(s) may be shown along with the selections made at step  414 , though it may be desirable to have some interval of time between showing the selections and winners. 
     The method finally ends at step  422 , where payouts are made to the winning player(s). While steps have been described in the method  400  as being performed in a particular order, various embodiments may utilize different sequences and/or different steps. 
     Many different arrangements of the various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and alternative embodiments that do not depart from the invention&#39;s scope will become apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, while predetermined decks of cards have been primarily used to illustrate the inventive games and methods of implementation, a person skilled in the art would appreciate that the sets of choices  110   a  and  110   b  may each instead include a plurality of numbered balls, a ticket displaying a plurality of unique symbols, et cetera. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.