Patent Publication Number: US-2010124961-A1

Title: Card game and method of playing same

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Novel games of chance are important economic engines and are enjoyable by many individuals and associations the world over. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is a system comprising: at least a plurality of movable cards; at least one betting location corresponding to a fixed card having a identical designation selected from the group consisting of suit, face, number, ace, and casino designations; and at least one side bet location. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention is a system comprising: at least a plurality of movable cards; at least a plurality of betting locations corresponding to at least a plurality of fixed cards having an identical designation selected from the group consisting of suit, face, number, ace, and casino designations; and at least one side bet location. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises at least a plurality of betting locations corresponding to at least a plurality of fixed playing cards having an identical face, number, ace, and/or suit. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention comprises at least one potential side bet location. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises at least one potential poker betting location. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises at least one potential side bet location is capable of receiving a placed bet on at least a plurality of side bet locations. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises at least one potential individual fixed card betting locations. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises at least one potential multiple fixed card betting locations. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises a method of conducting a card game having one or more betting rounds comprising: Placing at least one first bet by at least one corresponding bettor; Dealing at least a first movable card to a dealer location; Awarding one or more bettors placing a first bet a first payout based on the bet payout profile of the first bet placed on a betting location by at least one corresponding bettor with a current card outcome based on the first movable dealt card. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises the steps of: Placing at least one second bet by at least one corresponding bettor; Dealing at least a second movable card to a dealer location; Awarding one or more bettors placing a first or second bet a second payout based on the bet payout profile of at least one first or second bet placed by at least one corresponding bettor with a current card outcome based on the first and second movable dealt cards. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises the steps of: Placing at least one third bet by at least one corresponding bettor; Dealing at least a third movable card to a dealer location; Awarding one or more bettors placing a first, second and/or third bet a third payout based on the bet payoff profile of at least one first, second or third bet placed by at least one corresponding bettor with a current card outcome based on the first, second, and third movable dealt cards. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises the steps of: Placing at least one fourth bet by at least one corresponding bettor; Dealing at least a fourth movable card to a dealer location; Awarding one or more bettors placing a first, second, third and/or fourth bet a fourth payout based on the bet payout profile of at least one first, second, third and/or fourth bet placed by at least one corresponding bettor with a current card outcome based on the first, second, third, and fourth movable dealt cards. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises a poker bet placed by a corresponding poker bettor; and further comprises the steps of: Dealing at least a fifth movable card to a poker bet location corresponding to the poker bet made by the corresponding poker bettor; and Awarding one or more poker bettors a payout based on the corresponding bet payout profile of at least one poker bet placed by at least one poker bettor with a current card outcome based on the first, second, third, fourth movable dealt cards dealt to a dealer location and fifth movable dealt card dealt to a poker bet location corresponding to a poker bettor. 
     In another embodiment, the present invention further comprises a computer implemented method relating to one through n betting entities, comprising: receiving, via a computer system, data regarding at least one first bet placed by each of the one through n bettors at a betting location, wherein n is an integer; dealing at least one movable card through a manual and/or electronic dealing system to a dealer location; aggregating, with the computer system, the bets made at a betting location by each of the one through n bettors with the at least one dealt movable card to generate an bet payout profile for each entity; calculating, with the computer system, a payout value payable to each bettor by utilizing at least at least one of the following factors: the bet payout profile; an integer of the number of players playing; and the aggregate amount of monies bet by all betting entities; and paying out a payout value to at least one bettor based on the calculations of previous steps and/or the bettor payoff profile applicable. 
     For the purposes of the instant patent application, the following terms shall have the following designated meaning: 
     “Awarding” means: payment of value in response to a successful bet by a bettor. 
     “Bet” means: the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods. 
     “Bet Payout Profile” means: The amount of award paid out on a successful bet by a bettor, typically some fraction or multiple of the amount of money bet by the bettor on the likelihood of a particular card outcome occurring, and may or may not further include return of the original amount of money bet to the bettor. Generally, the less likely the likelihood of a particular card outcome occurring during the course of any game, the higher the bet payout profile as a function of the initial bet made. In one embodiment, the bet payout profile may equal zero. 
     “Betting Location” means: Any of a plurality of locations where a bettor may place a bet. 
     “Bettor” means: An entity placing a bet on a particular game. 
     “Casino Card” or “Joker” means: a fixed card and/or corresponding fixed casino card bet location depicting a joker or casino movable card. 
     “Current Card Outcome” means the dealt movable card, series of dealt movable cards, aggregate total of movable cards and/or any combination or subcombination thereof dealt in a particular game. 
     “Dealer” means an entity that places movable playing cards in view of players and into consideration for the game. 
     “Dealing” means the act of placing movable playing cards in view of players and into consideration for the game. 
     “Face” means any designation of a fixed or movable playing card selected from the group consisting of king, queen, and/or jack. 
     “Fixed Card” means a playing card or card representation that is fixed in a particular location and is exclusive of any location where the dealer may subsequently place a movable playing card. 
     “Fixed Card Betting Location” means a playing card or card representation that is fixed in a particular location and is exclusive of any location where the dealer may subsequently place a movable playing card, and on which a bettor may place a bet as to the likelihood of the corresponding movable card being dealt during a particular game. 
     “Full House” means: A hand consisting of three cards of one rank and two cards of another rank. AAA33 is aces full of threes, often abbreviated to “aces full.” To fill up is to draw to and make a full house. Also called a boat. 
     “Individual Fixed Card Betting Location” means: a location where a bettor may bet on the likelihood of an individual corresponding movable card being dealt during a particular game. 
     “Jackpot” means: a high bet payoff profile corresponding to a comparatively unlikely series of dealt movable cards appearing in a particular game. 
     “Movable Cards” means playing cards such as those known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The movable cards may be held by the dealer at the outset of a game, and may be sequentially placed by the dealer at one or more locations upon commencement of a game of the instant invention. 
     “Multiple Fixed Card Betting Location” means: a location where a bettor may simultaneously bet on the likelihood of any of a number of individual corresponding movable cards being dealt during a particular game. 
     “Natural” means: A hand consisting of two cards whose numeric value equals nine. 
     “Number” means an Arabic numeral designation (e.g., 1, 2, . . . ) 
     “Payout” means: a payment of money to a bettor according to a corresponding bet payout profile. 
     “Point” means: A hand consisting of two cards whose numeric designation is identical. In one embodiment, the dealer&#39;s first dealt movable card must match any subsequent movable cards dealt. 
     “Poker” means: Any of a number of card games known to one of ordinary skill in the art awarding relative strength to a particular combination of cards held by the bettor simultaneously in the course of a game. 
     “Poker Bet” means: A bet made as to the likelihood that a 5 card sequence dealt with relation to a particular bettor will result in a certain combination of cards. 
     “Poker Bet Location” means: A location where a discrete bet may be placed on the likelihood of a combination of cards dealt to a dealer location and/or poker bet location corresponding to a particular bet payout profile. 
     “Poker Bettor” means: A bettor placing a poker bet. 
     “Royal Flush” means: An ace high straight flush 
     “Side Bet” means: Any bet as to the likelihood of any individual or combination of cards being dealt that have particular characteristics. In one embodiment, a side bet may be made on the likelihood of the first 2 movable cards dealt resulting in blackjack. In another embodiment, a side bet may be placed on the likelihood of a subsequent movable dealt card being a face card. 
     “Straight” means: A hand consisting of five cards of consecutive ranks, but different suits. 
     “Straight Flush” means: A hand consisting of five cards of consecutive ranks of the same suit. A straight flush is the strongest possible hand. Of two straight flushes, the one with the highest high card is better. An ace high straight flush is often called a royal flush or a royal straight flush, or just a royal. 
     “Suit” means: any of hearts, diamonds, clubs, or spades. 
     “Wild card” means: A card that may function as any numerical and/or pictorial designation not found on the face of the card. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The patent or application contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee. 
       The present invention will be further explained with reference to the attached drawings, wherein like structures are referred to by like numerals throughout the several views. The drawings shown are not necessarily to scale, with emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  depicts one embodiment of a system of the instant invention. 
         FIG. 2  depicts a flowchart depicting one example of an embodiment of a game as played using the methods and systems of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  shows an electronic gaming device  405  of the type that may facilitate the embodiments of the present invention. The device  405  includes a display  410 , coin input  420 , bill and/or coupon validator  430 , player card reader  440 , credit display  450 , additional betting buttons  460 , bet one unit button  470 , bet max units button  480 , deal button  490  and cash out button  500 . Alternatively or additionally, the functions of buttons  460 - 500  may also be facilitated by touch screen technology. With the electronic gaming device  405 , a player may, in one embodiment plays the poker game against a pre-established pay table derived from one or both of a bettor payoff profile and an assessment of the amounts of money bet in the course of a particular game, the number of players of a particular game, etc. The pay table includes payouts for certain current card outcomes including, in some embodiments, jackpot payments. 
     
    
    
     While the above-identified drawings set forth presently disclosed embodiments, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the discussion. This disclosure presents illustrative embodiments by way of representation and not limitation. Numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of the presently disclosed invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Further, the figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. In addition, any measurements, specifications and the like shown in the figures are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Moreover, “locations” as described herein are not limited as to location (vertical, horizontal) or relative location as to other locations but may be located in any orientation or relations as to the described system and method. Further, any combination or subcombination of locations disclosed in  FIG. 1  and elsewhere herein may be utilized in the claimed system and method. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
     In one example, a dealer location  1  is depicted. In one embodiment, such a dealer location is capable of holding at least one movable card. In another embodiment, such a dealer location is capable of holding at least 4 movable cards. In another embodiment, movable cards are placed sequentially by a dealer onto the dealer location. A betting location  2  is further depicted wherein a player may place a bet on the likelihood of any particular movable card of a number, pictorial, and/or ace designation being dealt by the dealer to the dealer location and/or to one or more poker bet locations. Each location on the betting row may correspond to one or more fixed locations depicted (by an actual playing card and/or by an image or representation of a playing card) as corresponding to a playing card of a particular number or pictorial designation. In an alternate embodiment, an additional betting location is provided wherein players may place a bet of the likelihood of the dealer dealing a movable wild or casino card during the course of the game  8 . In one embodiment, bets may only be placed on a particular betting location at a certain time during the course of a game. For example, in one embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals any movable cards. In another embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals a second movable card. 
     A further betting location  3  is depicted wherein a player may place a bet on the likelihood of any particular card of a particular suit being dealt by the dealer to the dealer location and/or to one or more poker bet locations. Each location on the betting column corresponds to one or more fixed locations depicted (by an actual playing card and/or by an image or representation of a playing card) as corresponding to a playing card of a particular number or pictorial designation and further corresponding to a particular suit. In one embodiment, bets may only be placed on a particular betting location at a certain time during the course of a game. For example, in one embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals any movable cards. In another embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals a second movable card. 
     A side bet location  4  is further depicted wherein a player may place a bet on the likelihood of the dealer dealing a subsequent movable card or series of movable cards leading to a particular current card outcome. In one example, a bettor may utilize the side bet location to bet on the likelihood of a dealer subsequently dealing current card outcomes corresponding to an individual movable face card ( 4   a ); an individual movable odd-numbered card ( 4   b ); an individual movable even-numbered card ( 4   c ); an individual movable card with black printing (e.g., a club or spade suit card) ( 4   d ); an individual movable card with red printing (e.g., a heart or diamond suit card) ( 4   e ); and/or the likelihood of a second and subsequent movable card matching any prior or subsequent card dealt by the dealer to the dealer location during a given game. In one embodiment, a bettor may place a bet on any of locations  4   a - 4   e  at any time from prior to dealing of the first movable card to the time at which the dealer deals a fourth movable card. In one embodiment, bets may only be placed on a particular betting location at a certain time during the course of a game. For example, in one embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals any movable cards. In another embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals a second movable card. 
     The side bet location  4  may also facilitate placement of a bet on the likelihood of the dealer dealing a series of movable cards leading to a desired current card outcome. In one example, a bettor may utilize the side bet location to bet on the likelihood of the dealer dealing two consecutive movable cards with a numerical cumulative value of 21 or “blackjack” ( 4   g ); or dealing two consecutive movable cards with a numerical cumulative value of 9 or “natural” ( 4   h ). In one embodiment, a bettor may place a bet on any of locations  4   g - 4   h  at any time prior to dealing of the first movable card. In one embodiment, bets may only be placed on a particular betting location at a certain time during the course of a game. For example, in one embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals any movable cards. In another embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals a second movable card. 
     A poker bet location  5  is further depicted wherein a player may optionally place a bet on the likelihood of the dealer&#39;s 4 dealt movable cards plus an additional movable card dealt to the player resulting in a given combination. In one example, a player may place a poker bet at location  5   a  at any time prior to the dealer dealing the first movable card of a particular game. After dealing a plurality of movable cards to the dealer location (in one example, 4 cards), the dealer may then deal a fifth movable card to any player (for example, to location  5   b ) who had previously placed a bet at a corresponding poker bet location, for example  5   a.  Depending on the particular combination of movable cards resulting from the plurality of cards dealt to the dealer and the movable card dealt to the corresponding location where a player placed a poker bet, the player may be able to collect a payoff or progressive jackpot payout based on the particular combination of movable cards. In one embodiment, bets may only be placed on a particular betting location at a certain time during the course of a game. For example, in one embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals any movable cards. In another embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals a second movable card. 
     In another example, a player may place a bet on the likelihood of a particular movable card being dealt to a dealer or player location by placing a bet directly on a fixed card corresponding to that card, for example as shown at  6 . In another example, a player may place a bet on the likelihood of any of a plurality of particular movable cards being dealt to a dealer or player location by placing a bet in contact with fixed representations of multiple cards, for example as shown at  7 . In one embodiment, bets may only be placed on a particular betting location at a certain time during the course of a game. For example, in one embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals any movable cards. In another embodiment, a particular betting location must be utilized before the dealer deals a second movable card. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart  100  detailing one method of play of one live bettor versus dealer embodiment of the present invention. The method of the instant invention may utilize any number of betting and/or dealing rounds. In one embodiment, 5 dealing and/or betting rounds are utilized; however, any number of rounds greater or less than 5 may be utilized. At least one bettor places at least one initial bet  110 . The initial bet may be on the poker bet location  5   a  or may be on any of the other bet locations  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  6 , and/or  7  of the instant invention. In one embodiment, a poker bet may be placed only prior to dealing of an initial card  120 . In one embodiment, “bettor” may be broadly defined to include any entity placing any type of bet at any time during the course of the game, regardless of whether that entity placed a poker bet. 
     Subsequent to placement of an initial bet, the dealer deals a first movable card  120 . Subsequent to the dealer dealing the first movable card, an initial payout may be made based on a bettor payout profile  130  to any bettor whose bet in the initial bet step  110  corresponds to the current card situation of the initial card or cards dealt. In one embodiment, bets made as to the dealing of an individual card corresponding to a particular current card situation in the initial dealing step  120  are then removed from the board. In another embodiment, bets made as to the dealing of an individual card corresponding to a particular current card situation in the initial dealing step  120  remain on the board through dealing of some and/or all of subsequent cards. 
     Subsequent to collection on initial payouts in accordance with a bet payout profile, bettors may then place a second bet  140 . 
     In another embodiment, the dealer may then deal a second card  150 . Subsequent to the dealer dealing the second card, a second payout may be made based on a bettor payout profile  160  to any bettor whose bet in the initial or second bet steps  110 ,  140  corresponds to any current card profile of the initial and/or second card dealt. In one embodiment, bets based on the current card profile having characteristics equaling 21 (blackjack;  4   g ) or natural ( 4   h ) may now be paid off. In one embodiment, bets made as to the dealing of an individual card with particular characteristics in the second dealing step  150  are then removed from the board. In another embodiment, bets made as to the dealing of an individual card with particular characteristics in the second dealing step  150  remain on the board through dealing of some and/or all of subsequent cards. 
     In another embodiment, third bets  170  may now be placed prior to the dealer dealing a third card  180 . Subsequent to the dealer dealing the third card, a third payout may be made based on a bettor payout profile  190  to any bettor whose bet in the third bet step  170  corresponds to current card outcome. In one embodiment, bets made as to the dealing of an individual card relating to a current card outcome in the third dealing step  180  are then removed from the board. In another embodiment, bets made as to the dealing of an individual card corresponding to a particular current card profile in the third dealing step  180  remain on the board through dealing of some and/or all of subsequent cards. 
     In another embodiment, fourth bets  200  may now be placed prior to the dealer dealing a fourth card  210 . Subsequent to the dealer dealing the fourth card, a fourth payout may be made based on a bettor payout profile  220  to any bettor whose bet in the fourth bet step  200  corresponds to any current card profile of the four cumulative cards or individual fourth card dealt. In one embodiment, bets made as to the dealing of an individual card corresponding to a particular current card profile in the fourth dealing step  210  are then removed from the board. In another embodiment, bets made as to the dealing of an individual card with particular characteristics corresponding to a particular current card profile in the fourth dealing step  210  remain on the board through dealing of some and/or all of subsequent cards. 
     In another embodiment, the dealer may deal a fifth card  240  to any bettor who has previously placed a poker bet in the original wager step ( 110 ). Subsequent to the dealer dealing the fifth card to any entities who had previously placed a corresponding poker bet, various payouts may be made based on a bettor payout profile  260 ,  270  to any bettor whose bet in the poker bet step  110  corresponds to any particular current card profile characteristic of the combination or subcombination of four cards dealt to the dealer and one card dealt to the individual bettor subsequent to the poker bet. In one embodiment, a jackpot may be paid out to an individual bettor placing a poker bet whose combination of card received subsequent to the poker bet and four cards dealt to the dealer yields this combination. In one embodiment, a jackpot payout corresponds to a flush or royal flush. In another embodiment, any number of graduated payouts may be made to any bettor whose combination of card received subsequent to the poker bet and four cards dealt to the dealer yields any of a variety of possible combinations, including 2 of a kind; 3 of a kind; straight; flush; and/or full house. 
     In another embodiment, the deck of cards utilized by the dealer may include one or more wild or casino cards. In one embodiment, if the dealer deals one of these wild cards to the dealer location, any player placing a poker bet whose fifth received card counts the wild card dealt to the dealer as identical to the designated card dealt to the player; for example, if the player receives an 8 card, then the dealer&#39;s dealt wild card is considered an eight card as to that player. In another embodiment, if the dealer deals both wild cards to the dealer location, both cards are considered to match the designated card dealt to the player; for example, if the player receives an 8 card, then the dealer&#39;s dealt wild cards are considered two additional eight cards as to that player. In another embodiment, if the player receives a wild card as that player&#39;s received fifth card subsequent to a poker bet, the player is able to count the received wild card as any designation. 
     For purposes of payout, the dealer may pay out a certain ratio of winnings to the amount and nature of bet made, previously discussed as a bet payout profile. For example, in one embodiment the payout for a $1.00 bet made on the likelihood of a particular card (say a five of diamonds) being dealt as one of the four movable dealer cards is $2.00. In another embodiment, the amount and ratio of bet to payout may be adjusted as to the likelihood of a given event occurring within a 4 or 5 card sequence dealt by a dealer and/or varied with the number of entities participating in a particular game. Such varieties in bet payout profiles may be achievable through use of a computer-programmable medium (especially when combined with additional characteristics such as, for example, length of time that particular players have been playing a game at a particular location; skill of players; total amount of bettors and/or bets made during a particular game) or may be within the skill of those of ordinary skill in the relevant art. 
     In one embodiment, a progressive jackpot is used. In one embodiment, such a progressive jackpot is comprised of 100% of the poker bets made through multiple rounds of a game played using the method and system of the instant invention. In another embodiment, 80% of the progressive jackpot is paid out if a betting entity achieves a certain combination of cards derived from the plurality of cards dealt to the dealer and single card dealt to the poker betting entity (for example, a royal flush), with 20% “rolled over” to a future progressive jackpot. In another embodiment, 10% of the monies placed on poker bets are given to the entity owning and/or controlling the game, with the remaining 90% of poker bet money going to current and/or future jackpots. 
     For the purposes of this disclosure, a computer readable medium is a medium that stores computer data in machine readable form. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer readable medium can comprise computer storage media as well as communication media, methods or signals. Computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other solid state memory technology; CD-ROM, DVD, or other optical storage; cassettes, tape, disk, or other magnetic storage devices; or any other medium which can be used to tangibly store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computer. 
     Further, the present invention may, of course, be implemented using any appropriate computer readable medium, computer hardware and/or computer software. In this regard, those of ordinary skill in the art are well versed in the type of computer hardware that may be used (e.g., a mainframe, a mini-computer, a personal computer (“PC”), a network (e.g., an intranet and/or the Internet)), the type of computer programming techniques that may be used (e.g., object oriented programming), and the type of computer programming languages that may be used (e.g., C++, Basic). The aforementioned examples are, of course, illustrative and not restrictive. 
     In one embodiment, the operation of electronic gaming devices (e.g., slot machines and video poker machines) is controlled by microprocessors which communicate with internal memory devices and the external features of the devices. The microprocessors also incorporate, or communicate with, a random number generator which ensures the randomness of the device&#39;s outcomes. In the embodiments of the present invention, one or more processors, along with memory and related devices, control the new applications disclosed herein. Therefore, the embodiments of the present invention, along with the corresponding odds, may be programmed into the processor or associated software. Since the technology for operating and controlling electronic gaming devices (“computer system”) is well known to those skilled in the art, the subtle details are not described herein. 
     With the electronic gaming device  405 , the player places an initial wager. Then, in response to pressing the deal button  490 , the display  410  shows an initial, dealt card to a dealer location. The player may now place any number of wagers such as those denoted at  2 - 7  of  FIG. 1  and described more fully herein. The player may then press the deal button  490 , wherein the display  410  shows an second, dealt card to a dealer location, and a corresponding payout may be made to a player providing that the player&#39;s wager corresponds to a characteristic also found alone or in combination with one or more of the dealer dealt cards. The player may now place any number of wagers such as those denoted at  2 - 7  of  FIG. 1  and described more fully herein. The player may then press the deal button  490 , wherein the display  410  shows a third, dealt card to a dealer location, and a corresponding payout may be made to a player providing that the player&#39;s wager corresponds to a favorable bet payout profile. The player may now place any number of wagers such as those denoted at  2 - 7  of  FIG. 1  and described more fully herein. The player may then press the deal button  490 , wherein the display  410  shows a fourth, dealt card to a dealer location, and a corresponding payout may be made to a player providing that the player&#39;s wager corresponds to a characteristic also found alone or in combination with one or more of the dealer dealt cards. The player may now place any number of wagers such as those denoted at  2 - 7  of  FIG. 1  and described more fully herein. The player may then press the deal button  490 , wherein the display  410  shows a fifth, dealt card to a player location (in one embodiment, such fifth deal will be made only if the player has made a poker bet prior to dealing the first card), and a corresponding payout may be made to a player providing that the player&#39;s wager corresponds to a characteristic also found alone or in combination with one or more of the dealer dealt cards. 
     At each step described above, the device  405  may evaluate all combinations of the dealt cards and the bets made by one or more players. If the bets made by one or more players are of sufficient rank, the player is provided a corresponding award based on the wager amounts and the rank of the bets. If not, the player loses his or her bets. Ideally, only the best bets trigger a payout obligation. Conventional and progressive jackpots may be associated with particularly strong bets (e.g., Royal Flush). 
     While a number of embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that these embodiments are illustrative only, and not restrictive, and that many modifications may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, certain methods may be “computer implementable” or “computer implemented.” In this regard, it is noted that while such methods can be implemented using a computer, the methods do not necessarily have to be implemented using a computer. Also, to the extent that such methods are implemented using a computer, not every step must necessarily be implemented using a computer. Further, any steps described herein may be carried out in any desired order (and any steps may be added and/or deleted). Further, while a number of embodiments of the present invention have been described, it is understood that these embodiments are illustrative only, and not restrictive, and that many modifications and/or alternative embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, any steps may be performed in any desired order (and any desired steps may be added and/or any desired steps may be deleted). Therefore, it will be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and embodiments that come within the spirit and scope of the present invention.