Abstract:
A wagering game combining the attributes of keno and video poker is disclosed. First, players place wagers and select one or more cards from a plurality of face-up cards. One or more cards from the plurality of cards are then randomly identified. Players receive awards based on the number of randomly identified cards which match player selected cards and/or the strength of a poker hand formed by the randomly identified cards. Players may also be provided an option to replace one or more of the randomly identified cards with new randomly identified cards. An optional bonus award is directed to the position of the randomly identified cards. For example, if two or more of the randomly identified cards are arranged adjacent to one another or in a pre-determined card display pattern, a bonus ward is paid. The game may also be played in a live table game version or stand alone version similar to conventional keno.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The embodiments of the present invention relate to a casino wagering game. More particularly, the embodiments relate to a wagering game combining aspects of keno and poker.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     As the popularity of legalized gaming continues to increase, the desire for new games of chance increases as well. Therefore, significant numbers of new wagering games are being developed and promoted. However, a large number of the new wagering games are destined to fail. Reasons for failure include complexity, unfamiliar rules and a large house edge associated with the games. Thus, new games of chance which incorporate common themes and provide an acceptable house edge stand a better chance of success.  
         [0003]     Accordingly, the embodiments of the present invention combine the games of poker and keno. In fact, poker is the most popular wagering card game in the world. Poker comprises the use of playing cards to form the highest poker hand pursuant to pre-established poker hand rankings. On the other hand, keno is a very popular casino numbers game wherein players select one to fifteen numbers from a pool of eighty numbers. Thereafter, twenty of the numbers from the pool of eighty numbers are randomly selected. Players are paid based on the number of matches between their selected numbers and the randomly selected twenty numbers.  
         [0004]     Although poker and keno are popular in their own right, each game has been around for a long time and could use an infusion of excitement. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention combine aspects of both games into a single exciting wagering game.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0005]     Accordingly, a first embodiment of the present invention comprises an electronic gaming device (e.g., video poker machine or keno machine) displaying fifty-two playing cards from a standard deck of playing cards. Optionally, the deck may incorporate jokers which may act as wild cards. The playing cards are displayed face up. An infinite number of card arrangements are possible but the final arrangement is not critical to practicing the embodiments of the present invention. Once the cards are displayed, a player is able to select one or more of the cards. Then, one or more cards are randomly selected or identified by the gaming device. The player is first paid for the number of matches between the player selected cards and the randomly selected cards. Second, the player is provided a payout for pre-established poker hands formed by the randomly selected cards. Thus, the first embodiment provides multiple ways to win. In alternative embodiments, the player may be paid either for the number of matches or the formation of pre-established poker hands rather than both.  
         [0006]     In another embodiment, players place a side wager based on predicting the upcoming specific poker hand, if any, which will be formed by the randomly selected cards. In yet another embodiment, the player is able to replace one or more randomly selected cards with new randomly selected cards.  
         [0007]     While the embodiments of the present invention are ideal for electronic gaming devices, the embodiments may also be practiced in a live setting akin to live keno or may be practiced using a more restricted live gaming table.  
         [0008]     These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent from the details of the construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  shows a gaming device of the type for facilitating an electronic embodiment of the game;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  shows a gaming device display screen displaying fifty-two playing cards;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  shows a gaming device display screen highlighting five player selected cards;  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  shows a gaming device display screen once five random cards have been selected;  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a gaming device display screen depicting a bonus award outcome;  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a flow chart detailing play of one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a table layout for a multi-player live game embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]     The operation of electronic gaming machines, including video poker and keno machines, is well known in the industry so that the minute details are not set forth herein. In general terms, video poker and keno machines are controlled by processors including, or in communication with, a random number generator. The random number generator generates the machine&#39;s outcomes. A display in communication with the processor provides visual information to players.  
         [0017]     Reference is now made to the figures wherein like parts are referred to by like numerals throughout.  FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of a video poker or keno type gaming machine for facilitating the embodiments of the present invention and is generally denoted by reference numeral  100 . The general external features of the video poker machine  100  include a display  110 , coin slot  120 , a bill reader  130 , a card reader  140  and a credit display  150 . The gaming machine  100  also includes several player buttons which act as interfaces between the player and the machine processor. Player buttons include directional buttons  160 - 1  through  160 - 4 , a card selection button  170 , a one coin wager button  180 , a maximum coin wager button  190  and a start button  200 . The directional buttons  160 - 1  through  160 - 4  comprise an up, down, right and left directional button for highlighting player cards which are then selected by depressing the card selection button  170 . While not shown, the machine  100  may also incorporate a ticket dispenser for printing tickets for redemption at a cashier window. Such cashless systems are becoming increasingly popular in most gaming jurisdictions. It is noted that any of the functions facilitated by the gaming machine buttons  160 - 200  can be accomplished using a display employing touchscreen technology.  
         [0018]     In a first embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a display screen  300  displays fifty-two cards  220  from a standard deck of playing cards. As shown, the fifty-two cards  220  are arranged in four rows  230 - 1  through  230 - 4  wherein each row  230 - 1  through  230 - 4  represents one of the four card suits (i.e., spades, hearts, clubs and diamonds). Countless other card arrangements, such as four columns wherein each column represents a suit or random arrangements are possible. Optionally, jokers may be added to the deck to create additional game variations, including wild card games.  
         [0019]     After causing a wager to be placed, a player is able to select one or more of the displayed cards. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the player has selected five cards comprising the A           220 - 1 , A♦  220 - 2 , 4           220 - 3 , 8♥  220 - 4  and 2♥  220 - 5 . The selection is made using the directional buttons  160 - 1  through  160 - 4  or by touching the cards  220 - 1  through  220 - 5  on the display screen  300  wherein the screen  300  incorporates touchscreen technology. Once selected, the cards  220 - 1  through  220 - 5  or their borders are highlighted by changing color, illumination and/or brightness. Also, selected cards may blink or otherwise be highlighted to denote their selection. Once the cards  220 - 1  through  220 - 5  are selected, the player depresses the start button  200  or its touchscreen equivalent to cause the gaming machine  100  to select a pre-determined number of random cards from the displayed cards. In this example, and as shown in  FIG. 4 , five cards comprising the A           240 - 1 , A♦  240 - 2 , J♥  240 - 3 , 2♥  240 - 4  and 6           240 - 5  have been randomly selected by the machine. As shown, the three randomly selected cards comprising the A           240 - 1 , A♦  240 - 2  and 2♥  240 - 4  match three of the player selected cards, namely the A           220 - 1 , A♦  220 - 2  and 2♥  220 - 5 . Also, the five randomly selected cards  240 - 1  through  240 - 5  comprise a pair of Aces.  
         [0020]     In the first embodiment of the present invention, the player receives awards based on both the number of player selected cards  220 - 1  through  220 - 5  which match the randomly selected cards  240 - 1  through  240 - 5  and the strength of the poker hand formed by the randomly selected cards  240 - 1  through  240 - 5 . In this example the player has matched three of the five selected player cards and has received a pair of Aces formed by the randomly selected cards. Like keno, the more player selected cards which match the randomly selected cards, the greater the payout. Also, like video poker, a pre-established pay table based on winning five card poker hands provides a list of payouts corresponding to final poker hands. The pay table may be modified to account for the random selection of more or less than five cards. For example, randomly selecting less than five cards requires the creation of two, three and four-card poker hands and corresponding alternative payouts. Similarly, randomly selecting more than five cards results in increased chances of achieving winning five-card poker hands (or seven-card poker hands). The random selection of a single card may be paid according to the rank of the single card. Consequently, an Ace is the most valuable card selection followed by a King and so on.  
         [0021]     In an alternative embodiment, after the first random selection of cards, the player is provided with the opportunity to discard one or more of the randomly selected cards in favor of randomly selected replacement cards. Depending on the game, player decisions regarding holding and discarding are based on matching more cards and/or increasing the strength of the resultant poker hand. With the draw feature, corresponding payouts are likely reduced based on the increased chances of achieving pre-established winning results.  
         [0022]     In alternative embodiments, players receive payouts solely for matching player selected cards with randomly selected cards or the strength of one or more poker hands formed by the randomly selected cards. These embodiments may also incorporate the draw feature.  
         [0023]     In another embodiment, players place side wagers related to specific poker hands being formed by the randomly selected cards. In this manner, players may wager that a specific hand (e.g., four Aces) or general hand (e.g., four of a kind) is going to be formed with the randomly selected cards. The payouts for wagers on the specific hands are larger than for corresponding general hands. The side wagers may also be based on the resultant poker hand subsequent to a draw.  
         [0024]     A bonus feature applicable to any embodiment of the present invention comprises a payout for positions of, or patterns formed by, the randomly selected cards. Referring to  FIG. 5  for example, the random selection of the cards comprising the 4           230 - 6 , 4♥  230 - 7 , J           230 - 8 , 4           230 - 9  and 5           230 - 10  results in one or more bonus outcomes. That is, cards  230 - 6  and  230 - 7  and cards  230 - 9  and  230 - 10  are arranged adjacent to one another, respectively. Accordingly, a player is entitled to a pre-established bonus award. Bonus awards may also be based on card patterns such as four corners, columns, etc. An alternative bonus scheme involves a secondary or bonus game triggered by one or more primary game outcomes. For example, a bonus game may be triggered in response to a player selecting a joker and the joker also being randomly selected by the machine. The bonus game may comprise any mechanism, including spinning wheels, video outputs or mechanical devices, for providing the player with a bonus award or a chance at a bonus award.  
         [0025]     Now referring to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart  400  details play of one embodiment of the present invention facilitated by an electronic gaming machine. At step  410 , a player causes a game wager and any side wagers to be placed. The wagers may be taken from a machine credit or may be inserted by the player. Then, at step  420 , the player selects one or more player cards. Once the player cards have been selected, at step  430 , the player causes the machine to randomly generate and identify one or more cards. In a non-draw embodiment, the player is paid based on the number of matches between the player selected cards and the randomly selected cards and/or the strength of the poker hand of the five randomly selected cards. However, with the draw option, at step  440 , the player holds or discards each of five randomly selected cards. At step  450 , any discards are replaced with new randomly selected cards. Next, at step  460 , the machine determines whether the player is entitled to an award for the game wager or any side wagers. If so, the player is paid at step  470 . Optionally, at step  470 , the player may receive a bonus award for randomly selected cards being arranged in a pre-established winning fashion. At step  480  the game ends.  
         [0026]     The embodiments of the present invention may also be practiced in a live gaming environment. In one such embodiment, players select cards via a paper ticket. The ticket is then provided to casino personnel or fed into a keno kiosk. In return, the player receives a record of the payer selected cards. At a certain time, random card ranks are selected. The random selection may be facilitated by a container of air-agitated balls having a card ranked depicted thereon. The container is in contact with a tube which randomly draws in the pre-established number of balls and corresponding card ranks. A random number generator may also select the cards. Players receive awards based on a number of matches between player selected cards and the randomly selected cards and the strength of a poker hand formed by the one or more randomly selected cards. Any number of players may participate in such an embodiment.  
         [0027]     Alternatively, a table game facilitates a more restricted play of the game. In this embodiment, a gaming table layout (not shown) incorporates a plurality of player card selection grids and a plurality of player markers for players to temporarily mark their player cards on the grid. Once each player has placed a wager and marked or selected his or her cards on his or her grid, a dealer deals face-up one or more cards from a deck of playing cards. A random number generator in communication with a display device may also act to randomly select cards. The dealer then resolves player wagers based on the number of matches between player selected cards and the dealt cards and/or the strength of the poker hand formed by the one or more randomly selected cards.  
         [0028]      FIG. 7  shows a multi-player embodiment facilitated by a table layout  500  providing means for a plurality of player to place wagers. In a manner similar to live roulette, multiple players place wagers on the single table layout  500 . Once all wagers are placed, a dealer deals five cards and resolves all wagers. The layout  500  comprises a series of wagers based on single cards, multiple card combinations and/or card colors. Single card wagers are depicted as replicas of playing cards  510 . Below each aligned card rank there are wagers  520  dependent on the exact number of specific card ranks. Players may also wager on entire rows of exactly one, two, three or four specific card ranks  530  appearing in the five dealt cards. Next to the rows of cards  510  players may place wagers on zero, one, two, three or four specific suits  540 . Next to the suit wagers  540 , players may place wagers on the entire row of identified suit wagers  550  appearing in the five dealt cards. Above the playing cards  510  there are poker hand wagers  560  which include wagers on poker hands comprising any two pair up to, and including, a royal flush. Wagers  570  allow players to wager on different color card outcomes. For player convenience, the layout  500  also depicts illustrative payouts corresponding to the numerous wagers. It is also conceivable to include jokers in the standard deck. The jokers may act as wild cards and tend to create more game versatility.  
         [0029]     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.