Apparatus and method for playing an electronic poker game

Patent 5332219 Issued on July 26, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 8, 2012. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventor: Weingardt

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Issued on: 03/31/1992
Inventor: Fulton

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Patent #: 5141234
Issued on: 08/25/1992
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Issued on: 02/23/1993
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Inventors

Assignee

Rio Properties, Inc.

Application

No. 957772 filed on 10/08/1992

US Classes:

463/13, Ultimate outcome dependant upon relative odds of a card or tile combination (e.g., poker, etc.)463/25Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation (e.g., game entry, betting, prize level, etc.)

Examiners

Primary: Millin, V.
Assistant: Owens, Terry J.

Foreign Patent References

2169736 GB 07/13/1986

International Class

A63F 001/00

Abstract

An electronic poker game apparatus (10) including user-actuated input members (22) and an electronic game control device (42) electrically connected to input members (22) and responsive to user input to simulate play of a poker game. The game control device (42) generates a plurality of signals representing randomly selected cards from a deck of cards to create a poker hand. A bonus signal generator (52) electrically communicates with the game control device (42) and responds to the selection of a predetermined signal representing a predetermined card to randomly effect one of: (i) replacing the predetermined signal with a bonus signal and (ii) retaining the predetermined signal in accordance with odds less than unity. A display screen (16), which is electrically connected to the game control device (42), displays card symbols corresponding to the randomly selected signals and the bonus signal, if present, to indicate progress of the poker game.