Game of Chance and a Method of Awarding a Bonus Prize in a Game of Chance

Abstract

A method of playing a game of chance, such as poker, using a plurality of cards, the game having a bonus feature, the method including the steps of: (a) designating one or more of the cards as a bonus trigger; (b) dealing one or more cards to each player's hand; (c) evaluating each player's hand to determine if it is a winning hand; (d) determining if the or each winning hand is participating in the bonus feature; (e) determining if any winning hand includes a bonus card; (f) awarding a bonus to the or each winning hand which was participating in the bonus feature and which includes a bonus card. Players can elect to participate in the bonus feature by placing a side bet.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to a game of chance and skill, a method of awarding a bonus prize in a game of chance and apparatus for enabling the game. In particular, the invention can be applied to a card game which is suited for use in a casino and which can be played either as a table game or on an electronic gaming machine (EGM) or the like.[0002]In this specification, the term “game of chance” is used to denote both games in which the result is determined randomly and games in which the player places value at risk (as in a bet or wager) and may exercise some skill or judgment but in which the outcome is influenced to some degree by chance. Most common casino table and wagering card games such as poker and other games including those referred to in the specification are considered to be games of chance for the purpose of this specification.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]In this specification unless the contrary is expressly stated, where a document, act o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The preferred embodiment of this invention introduces a bonus feature to card games that can be used in table card games, slot machine Draw Poker games (played against a paytable), games played against paytable and dealer, such as 3 Card Poker® games, 4 Card Poker™ games, and the like, and traditional Blackjack games that play mainly against a dealer but include some different pay events as bonus type elements (Insurance, Blackjack, pairs, streaks of cards, consecutive blackjack wagers, etc.). These latter games may take the form of traditional table games, mixed physical games and electronic inputs or fully electronic table games, known as multi-terminal games or Multiplayer Platforms. The invention creates variety in payout events and allows one card from the deck to be selected as having more significance or importance than others.

Problems solved by technology

Card games that involve playing against a dealer, playing against a paytable or both are limited in the variety they can offer.

However, conventional-rules, player-versus-player poker is not particularly well suited for use in a casino.

Traditional poker games are not particularly favoured by casinos because the casino does not make as much money acting as a landlord as it would if it were an active participant in the game.

Similarly, from the standpoint of the gaming public, traditional poker has some disadvantages which have tended to make it less desirable as a casino game.

Second, when an individual wins at traditional poker, it is at the expense of the other players / participants.

Finally, traditional poker does not offer the excitement associated with “jackpot” type games.

That is, a royal flush in traditional poker—as improbable as that card combination is—will result in winning only the amount in the pot and nothing more.

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