AU2012202168A1 - A gaming method and a gaming system - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract: The invention provides a method of gaming and a game controller and gaming system for implementing the method. 5 The method includes selecting at least one symbol to form at least one player hand comprised of a plurality of symbols, selecting at least one symbol to form a jackpot hand comprised of a plurality of symbols, and making a jackpot award to the player if the player hand corresponds 10 to the jackpot hand. 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU 2 13/04/12 Select at least one symbol to form at least one player hand Select at least one symbol to form at least one jackpot hand Make a jackpot award to the player if the player hand corresponds to the jackpot hand73 Figure 7

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Standard Patent Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited Invention Title: A GAMING METHOD AND A GAMING SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method for performing it known to me/us: -2 Title A GAMING METHOD AND A GAMING SYSTEM 5 Related Application This application is a divisional application of Australian application no. 2009201970, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 10 Field The present invention relates to a method of gaming and a gaming system. 15 Background Current gaming systems allow a player to place a wager or bet, in return for which a game round of a game is 20 conducted. Many gaming systems implement a jackpot award as an additional feature to the game round played so that the player can be awarded a jackpot based on the result of the game round. 25 While such gaming systems provide users with enjoyment, a need exists for alternative gaming systems in order to maintain or increase player enjoyment. Summary of the Invention 30 In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming comprising: selecting a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least one player hand and allocating 35 each player hand to a player for play of a base game; selecting a plurality of symbols from a second set of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315 AU.2 13/04/12 - 3 hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game; and awarding a jackpot prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the 5 jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game. In an embodiment, the jackpot hand is unique to each player hand. 10 In an embodiment, the symbols correspond to cards in a game round of poker and the symbols comprise playing card symbols. 15 In an embodiment, the playing card symbols forming the player hand are selected from one set of 52 playing card symbols and the symbols forming the jackpot hand are selected from another set of the same 52 playing card symbols. 20 In an embodiment, five cards form the player and jackpot hands. In an embodiment, the method comprises: 25 conducting the game round of poker in response to the player placing a wager; and conducting the jackpot game in response to the player placing a jackpot wager. 30 In an embodiment, the method comprises: conducting the game round of poker in response to the player placing a wager; and conducting the jackpot game in response to a percentage of the game round wager. 35 In an embodiment, the game round of poker comprises: selecting two cards to be player hole cards; 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU 2 13/04/12 -4 selecting five cards to be community cards; and forming the player hand by combining at least one hole card and a number of community cards. 5 In an embodiment, a larger portion of the jackpot award is made to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand formed with two hole cards than to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand formed with one hole card. 10 In an embodiment, the jackpot wager and a percentage of the game round wager contribute to a progressive jackpot. In an embodiment, the method comprises conducting a 15 decider round to make the jackpot award to one player if more than one player hand corresponds to the jackpot hand. In a second aspect, the invention provides a game controller comprising: 20 a symbol selector arranged to: select a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least one player hand and allocating each player hand to a player for play of a base game; and select a plurality of symbols from a second set 25 of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game; and an outcome evaluator arranged to award a jackpot prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand 30 corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game. In an embodiment, the symbol selector is further arranged 35 to select symbols to be displayed in a set of display positions to the player. 32931251 (GHMetters) P77315.AU.2 13/04112 - 5 In a third aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising: a display arranged to display a plurality of symbols in a set of display positions to a player; 5 a symbol selector arranged to: select a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least one player hand and allocating each player hand to a player for play of a base game; and select a plurality of symbols from a second set 10 of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game; and an outcome evaluator arranged to award a jackpot prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand 15 corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game. In an embodiment, the gaming system comprises a credit 20 mechanism operable by the player to place a wager to be bet in the game round of poker and a wager to be bet in a jackpot game. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system 25 comprising: means for selecting a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least one player hand and allocating each player hand to a player for play of a base game; 30 means for selecting a plurality of symbols from a second set of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game ; and means for awarding a jackpot prize in the jackpot 35 game in response to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 -6 the base game. In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a gaming system comprising: 5 at least one player interfaces each comprising a game play mechanism mounted to a cabinet and a display mounted within the cabinet, and a game controller disposed within the cabinet comprising a processor and a memory storing game control instructions which enable the game controller 10 to operate in response to operation of a respective at least one game play mechanism by a player, the game controller comprising: a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least 15 one player hand and allocating each player hand to a player for play of a base game, and select a plurality of symbols from a second set of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game; and 20 an outcome evaluator arranged to award a jackpot prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game. 25 In a sixth aspect, the invention provides computer program code which when executed implements the above method. In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a computer 30 readable medium comprising the above program code. In an eighth aspect, the invention provides a data signal comprising the above program code. 35 In a ninth aspect, the invention provides transmitting or receiving the program code. 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315 AU.2 13104/12 - 7 Brief Description of Drawings An exemplary embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in 5 which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of the core components of a gaming system; 10 Figure 2 is a perspective view of a stand alone gaming machine; Figure 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gaming machine; 15 Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional components of a memory; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a network gaming 20 system; Figure 6 is a further block diagram of a gaming system; Figure 7 is a flow chart of an embodiment; and 25 Figure 8 is a block diagram of an embodiment. Detailed Description 30 Referring to the drawings, there is shown a method and gaming system having a game controller arranged to implement a game wherein a jackpot award is made to a player with a player hand corresponding to a jackpot hand. 35 General construction of gaming system The gaming system can take a number of different forms. In 3293125_1 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 8 a first form, a stand alone gaming machine is provided wherein all or most components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine. 5 In a second form, a distributed architecture is provided wherein some of the components required for implementing the game are present in a player operable gaming machine and some of the components required for implementing the game are located remotely relative to the gaming machine. 10 For example, a "thick client" architecture may be used wherein part of the game is executed on a player operable gaming machine and part of the game is executed remotely, such as by a gaming server; or a "thin client" architecture may be used wherein most of the game is 15 executed remotely such as by a gaming server and a player operable gaming machine is used only to display audible and/or visible gaming information to the player and receive gaming inputs from the player. 20 However, it will be understood that other arrangements are envisaged. For example, an architecture may be provided wherein a gaming machine is networked to a gaming server and the respective functions of the gaming machine and the gaming server are selectively modifiable. For example, 25 the gaming system may operate in stand alone gaming machine mode, "thick client" mode or "thin client" mode depending on the game being played, operating conditions, and so on. Other variations will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. 30 Irrespective of the form, the gaming system comprises several core components. At the broadest level, the core components are a player interface 50 and a game controller 60 as illustrated in Figure 1. The player interface is 35 arranged to enable manual interaction between a player and the gaming system and for this purpose includes the input/output components required for the player to enter 3293125_1 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13104/12 -9 instructions and play the game and observe the game outcomes. Components of the player interface may vary from 5 embodiment to embodiment but will typically include a credit mechanism 52 to enable a player to input credits and receive payouts, one or more displays 54, a game play mechanism 56 including one or more input devices that enable a player to input game play instructions (e.g. to 10 place a wager), and one or more speakers 58. The game controller 60 is in data communication with the player interface and typically includes a processor 62 that processes the game play instructions in accordance 15 with game play rules and outputs game play outcomes to the display. Typically, the game play instructions are stored as program code in a memory 64 but can also be hardwired. Herein the term "processor" is used to refer generically to any device that can process game play instructions in 20 accordance with game play rules and may include: a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic device or other computational device, a general purpose computer (e.g. a PC) or a server. 25 A gaming system in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 is illustrated in Figure 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12 having a display 14 on which are displayed representations of a game 16 that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10 30 houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with the gaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 also houses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coin input chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input 35 mechanisms may also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smart card, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module (not shown) having a 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU-2 13/04/12 - 10 reading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a player tracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The player tracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any other portable storage 5 medium capable of being read by the reading device. A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables and details of bonus awards and other information or images relating to the game. Further 10 artwork and/or information may be provided on a front panel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the front panel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10. 15 The display 14 shown in Figure 2 is in the form of a video display unit, particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, the display 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any other suitable video display unit, or the visible portion of an 20 electromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include a display, for example a video display unit, which may be of the same type as the display 14, or of a different type. 25 Figure 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gaming machine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine of Figure 2. The gaming machine 100 includes a game controller 101 30 having a processor 102. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 102 are stored in a memory 103, which is in data communication with the processor 102. Typically, the gaming machine 100 will include both volatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each 35 type of memory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory 103. 3293125_1 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 11 The gaming machine has hardware meters 104 for purposes including ensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, an input/output (I/0) interface 105 for communicating with peripheral devices of the gaming 5 machine 100. The input/output interface 105 and/or the peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memory for storing associated instructions and data for use with the input/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random number generator module 113 generates 10 random numbers for use by the processor 102. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference to random numbers includes pseudo-random numbers. In the example shown in Figure 3, a player interface 120 15 includes peripheral devices that communicate with the game controller 101 comprise one or more displays 106, a touch screen and/or buttons 107 (which provide a game play mechanism), a card and/or ticket reader 108, a printer 109, a bill acceptor and/or coin input mechanism 110 and a 20 coin output mechanism 111. Additional hardware may be included as part of the gaming machine 100, or hardware may be omitted as required for the specific implementation. 25 In addition, the gaming machine 100 may include a communications interface, for example a network card 112. The network card may, for example, send status information, accounting information or other information to a central controller, server or database and receive 30 data or commands from the central controller, server or database. Figure 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplary memory 103. The memory 103 includes RAM 35 103A, EPROM 103B and a mass storage device 103C. The RAM 103A typically temporarily holds program files for execution by the processor 102 and related data. The 3293125_1 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13104/12 - 12 EPROM 103B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or game related code. The mass storage device 103C is typically used to store game programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/or authenticated by 5 the processor 102 using protected code from the EPROM 103B or elsewhere. It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine 100 to be distributed, for example 10 input/output devices 106,107,108,109,110,111 to be provided remotely from the game controller 101. Figure 5 shows a gaming system 200 in accordance with an alternative embodiment. The gaming system 200 includes a 15 network 201, which for example may be an Ethernet network. Gaming machines 202, shown arranged in three banks 203 of two gaming machines 202 in Figure 5, are connected to the network 201. The gaming machines 202 provide a player operable interface and may be the same as the gaming 20 machines 10,100 shown in Figures 2 and 3, or may have simplified functionality depending on the requirements for implementing game play. While banks 203 of two gaming machines are illustrated in Figure 5, banks of one, three or more gaming machines are also envisaged. 25 One or more displays 204 may also be connected to the network 201. For example, the displays 204 may be associated with one or more banks 203 of gaming machines. The displays 204 may be used to display representations 30 associated with game play on the gaming machines 202, and/or used to display other representations, for example promotional or informational material. In a thick client embodiment, game server 205 implements 35 part of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 implements part of the game. With this embodiment, as both the game server and 3293125_1 (GHMatters) P77316.AU.2 13/04/12 - 13 the gaming device implement part of the game, they collectively provide a game controller. A database management server 206 may manage storage of game programs and associated data for downloading or access by the 5 gaming devices 202 in a database 206A. Typically, if the gaming system enables players to participate in a Jackpot game, a Jackpot server 207 will be provided to perform accounting functions for the Jackpot game. A loyalty program server 212 may also be provided. 10 In a thin client embodiment, game server 205 implements most or all of the game played by a player using a gaming machine 202 and the gaming machine 202 essentially provides only the player interface. With this embodiment, 15 the game server 205 provides the game controller. The gaming machine will receive player instructions, pass these to the game server which will process them and return game play outcomes to the gaming machine for display. In a thin client embodiment, the gaming machines 20 could be computer terminals, e.g. PCs running software that provides a player interface operable using standard computer input and output components. Servers are also typically provided to assist in the 25 administration of the gaming network 200, including for example a gaming floor management server 208, and a licensing server 209 to monitor the use of licenses relating to particular games. An administrator terminal 210 is provided to allow an administrator to run the 30 network 201 and the devices connected to the network. The gaming system 200 may communicate with other gaming systems, other local networks, for example a corporate network, and/or a wide area network such as the Internet, 35 for example through a firewall 211. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that in 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 14 accordance with known techniques, functionality at the server side of the network may be distributed over a plurality of different computers. For example, elements may be run as a single "engine" on one server or a 5 separate server may be provided. For example, the game server 205 could run a random generator engine. Alternatively, a separate random number generator server could be provided. Further, persons skilled in the art will appreciate that a plurality of game servers could be 10 provided to run different games or a single game server may run a plurality of different games as required by the terminals. Further detail of gaming system 15 Referring to Figure 6, the player operates the game play mechanism 56 to play a game implemented by the gaming system. In one embodiment, the game play mechanism 56 is operated to play a game round of the game. The game played 20 includes a jackpot feature to provide increased levels of player enjoyment. The game may be implemented on a single player system or a multi-player system. In one embodiment, display 54 displays to a player at 25 least one unique symbol forming a player hand, which is formed from a plurality of symbols. That is, in some embodiments it is possible for there to be more than one of the same symbol forming all or part of the player hand. The display also displays at least one symbol forming a 30 jackpot hand, which is also formed from a plurality of symbols. In an example of the gaming system, both the player and jackpot hands can be formed using repeated symbols. For example, if two sets of the same set of symbols are used to form a jackpot and a player hand, it 35 is possible that the jackpot or player hand is formed with two identical symbols. In a further example of the gaming system, both the player and jackpot hands have a total of 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04112 - 15 five symbols. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to gaming systems where the game is a game of poker and the 5 symbols comprise playing card symbols. For example, in a game round of poker, the usual rules of poker are applied and there are 52 playing card symbols from which the player and jackpot hands are selected. In one embodiment, the player and jackpot hands are selected from two sets of 10 the same 52 playing card symbols. Other embodiments are envisaged where, for example, multiple sets, or decks, of the 52 playing card symbols are used to form either the player or jackpot hands. Also, the set of symbols need not be limited to a traditional 52 playing card deck. Other 15 embodiments utilising a different number of symbols are envisaged including the use of wild cards or jokers in addition to the 52 card deck and the removal of cards from the 52 card deck, such as the removal of the 'ten' cards in the game of pontoon. 20 The game controller 60 is shown in further detail in Figure 6 and incorporates a processor 62 and memory 64. The processor implements a number of modules including a random number generator 621, an outcome generator 622, an 25 outcome evaluator 623 and a display controller 624. The memory 64 includes a set of symbols 641 selected to form player and jackpot hands and, in the above described embodiment, the symbols 641 are a set of 52 playing card symbols. Also included in the memory 64 are the game rules 30 642, for example the game rules for a game of poker, the game round prize data 642A, meter data 643, jackpot data 644 and hand data 645. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of these modules could be provided in other ways, for example by a dedicated 35 circuit. In one embodiment, the outcome generator 622 includes a 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU-2 13/04/12 - 16 player hand former 622B and a jackpot hand former 622C, each of which employs a symbol selector 622A to select a number of symbols specified by the game rules 642 from the set of symbols 641. The symbol selector 622A employs the 5 random number generator 621 to randomly select symbols from the set 641 to form the player hand and the jackpot hand. The formed hands are stored as hand data 645. For example, in one variation of the game of poker, the symbol selector selects symbols from the set of 52 playing card 10 symbols to form a player hand comprised of 5 cards. The symbol selector also selects symbols from another set of 52 playing card symbols to form a jackpot hand comprised of 5 cards. The jackpot hand can be formed from a different set of 52 cards for each player in a multi 15 player embodiment. The symbol selector 622A selects symbols from the symbol set 641 for display to the player on the display 54, at a set of display positions, via the display controller 624. 20 In one embodiment, the outcome evaluator 623 evaluates the symbols selected by the symbol selector 622A to form the player and jackpot hands and determines whether to make a jackpot award to the player of the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand. In a multi-player 25 example, each player has a unique jackpot hand selected by the symbol selector 622A and displayed only to the player. Alternatively, a common jackpot hand is used but is only visible to an individual player and is displayed on each player's display 54. The common jackpot hand is used to 30 determine whether to make a jackpot award to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand. The outcome evaluator 623 also evaluates the player hand against other player hands in the multi-player embodiment 35 or a simulated opponent hand or pay table in the case of a single player embodiment, according to the game rules 642. For example, for the game of poker, the player is awarded 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04112 - 17 a win, and a prize, if the player hand is ranked the highest according to a predetermined set of game rules 642 and the win or prize value corresponds to the amount bet by the or each player. In one embodiment, prize data 642A 5 contains a set of predetermined prizes to be awarded according to the combination of symbols forming the player hand. A person skilled in the art would appreciate that either one or both of these methods of awarding a prize may be performed by the outcome evaluator 623 in a game. 10 The outcome evaluator 623 also updates meter data 643 and displays the prize on display 54 on the player interface 50. The amount bet, or wagered, is initially inputted by the 15 player via the credit mechanism 52 and, in the game of poker, the player can continue to wager throughout the game round in accordance with the rules. In one embodiment, the player inputs a jackpot wager and a game round wager. A jackpot game is then conducted by the 20 outcome evaluator 623 in response to the jackpot wager. An alternative example is envisaged where the jackpot game is conducted by the outcome evaluator 623 in response to a percentage of the game round wager. Also, in a further example, the jackpot wager and a percentage of the game 25 round wager contribute to a progressive jackpot. The outcome evaluator 623 updates jackpot data 644 which contains the current value of the jackpot award to be made. 30 In one embodiment, the jackpot award is made to all players with a player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand. However, in a further embodiment, if more than one player has a player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand, the outcome evaluator 623 can be arranged to 35 determine whether to make the jackpot award to only one player. An example of one method of achieving this is for the symbol selector 622A to select cards randomly using 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13104/12 - 18 the random number generator 621 for each player and the player's card, or cards, with the highest rank according to the rules of poker is the winner. 5 A method of gaming 700 is summarised in Figure 7 and involves selecting 710 at least one symbol to form at least one player hand comprised of a plurality of symbols, selecting 720 at least one symbol to form a jackpot hand also comprised of a plurality of symbols, and making 730 a 10 jackpot award to the player if the player hand corresponds to the jackpot hand. Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of the embodiment could be embodied in program 15 code. The program code could be supplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium, such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part of memory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by downloading it from a server). 20 Figure 8 shows a multi-player embodiment of a gaming system implementing a game. A gaming table 800 is arranged to include a number of gaming systems to enable a number of players to place a wager or bet in return for a game 25 round of the game. In the illustrated embodiment, each player has a player interface, 50A, 50B, 50C, 50D, 50E and 50F, to enable the player to interact with the gaming system. For this purpose, each player interface has a display, 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, 54E and 54F, and a game play 30 mechanism 56A, 56B, 56C, 56D, 56E and 56F, to play the game. In one embodiment, each player is situated around a physical table and physically dealt a player hand and a jackpot hand displayed only to the respective players. 35 Each display 54A, 54B, 54C, 54D, 54E and 54F shown in Figure 8 enables a selected player hand and a jackpot hand to be displayed to each respective player. For example, 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU 2 13/04fl2 - 19 for a player using player interface 50A to play a game round of poker, a jackpot hand is selected and displayed to the player on display 54A, which is unique to the player. The player can then operate the game play 5 mechanism 56A to form a player hand by combining cards displayed on the display 54A. The player can combine cards and place wagers depending on their perceived likelihood of forming the highest ranked combination of cards according to the game rules of poker. The player can also 10 combine cards to form a player hand corresponding to the displayed unique jackpot hand to receive a jackpot award. In one embodiment, the common display 810 displays information public to each player, and any observer, such 15 as community cards, the amount of credit each player has left, the last winner of a game round and the amount of the win, the last winner of the jackpot and the amount of the jackpot award, and the current size of the jackpot. 20 A particular advantage of this embodiment is that because each player has their own jackpot hand, the triggering of a jackpot prize will not reveal anything about a player's hand to other players. 25 Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that other game rules of poker may be used to implement the above described gaming system. In such embodiments player hand former 622B may be arranged to allow a player to re-form their hand in accordance with game rules which allow a 30 player to discard and re-draw cards. Example 1 In an example of a game to which the invention is applied, 35 the symbol selector 622A selects two cards to be player hole cards and five cards to be community cards for display to the player. The player hand is formed, using 3293125_1 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 20 the player hand former 622B, by combining at least one hole card and a number of community cards, for example to select the highest ranked hand. The jackpot hand former 622C employs the symbol selector 622A to select cards to 5 form the jackpot hand. The player may operate the game play mechanism 56 to select the displayed cards using at least one of the hole cards and a number of the community cards to form the highest ranked combination of cards according to the game rules 642 or to form the jackpot 10 hand. For example, the player operates the game play mechanism 56 to select two hole cards and three community cards from the displayed cards. The outcome evaluator 623 is arranged to evaluate the player hand against either a simulated opponent hand, or pay table, in a single player 15 embodiment or against other player hands in a multi-player embodiment, to evaluate whether the combination of cards is ranked the highest. The outcome evaluator 623 also evaluates the player hand 20 against the jackpot hand to determine whether to make the jackpot award. The outcome evaluator 623 makes a larger portion of the jackpot award to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand formed with two hole cards than to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot 25 hand formed with only one hole card. For example, if all five jackpot cards correspond to the five player cards formed with two hole cards and three community cards, a major jackpot award is made. If four of the five jackpot cards correspond to four of the five player cards formed 30 with two hole cards and two community cards, a minor jackpot award is made. If four of the five jackpot cards correspond to four of the five player cards formed with one hole card and three community cards, a mini jackpot award is made. In the example, the game is multi-player 35 Texas Hold 'Em including a game round and a jackpot game. In the example, the rules of the game round of Texas Hold 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 21 'Em game specify that: 1. Players can bet from 1 to 100 credits per wager. 2. Maximum of 10 players per game. 3. Cards for the main game round are randomly selected 5 from a 52 card deck. 4. Players place a wager then two hole cards are dealt to each player. The hole cards are only displayed to the player. 5. Players can place a further wager then three community 10 cards are dealt and displayed to all players. 6. Players can place a further wager then one additional community card is dealt and displayed to all players. 7. A percentage of all moneys bet is put to the jackpot. 15 In the example, the rules of the jackpot game specify that: 1. Eligibility for the jackpot requires the player to wager a minimum of 5 credits on a game round. 2. The price for the jackpot wager is 5 credits. 20 3. The jackpot wager is placed at the commencement of the game. 4. When the game is commenced, a jackpot hand is selected for each player. 5. The jackpot hand is dealt randomly from a 52 card 25 deck, separate to the deck used for the game round. 6. The jackpot hand can be unique to each player and drawn from one deck. 7. A jackpot award is made if the player's two hole cards and three of the community cards match the jackpot 30 hand dealt to the player. An example of the above game being played is as follows: 1. The player places a 5 credit wager for the game and a 5 credit wager for the jackpot (total wager = 10 35 credits). A percentage of the wager is put into the jackpot. 2. The game round of poker commences. 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 22 3. From a 52 card game deck, the symbol selector 622A randomly selects hole cards for all players. The hole cards are displayed on the display 54 by the display controller 624. 5 4. From a separate 52 card jackpot deck, five random cards are selected by the symbol selector 622A and displayed on each separate display 54 by the display controller 624 for each player. 5. The player places a second wager of 10 credits and a 10 percentage of the wager is put into the jackpot. 6. From the remaining cards in the main game deck, three community cards are dealt and displayed to all players. 7. The player places a third wager of 2 credits. A 15 percentage of the wager is put into the jackpot. 8. From the original deck, one community card is displayed to all players. 9. The player places a fourth wager of 10 credits. A percentage of the wager is put into the jackpot. 20 10. From the original deck, one community card is dealt and displayed to all players. 11. The cards are evaluated by the outcome evaluator 623 for the main game. 12. The cards are evaluated by the outcome evaluator 623 25 for the jackpot game. 13. The jackpot award is made to the player with the corresponding jackpot hand. It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the 30 invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent that certain features of the invention can be combined to form further embodiments. 35 It is to be understood that, the reference to prior art herein does not constitute an admission that the prior art forms a part of the common general knowledge in any 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 23 country. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context 5 requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further 10 features in various embodiments of the invention. 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12

Claims (39)

1. A method of gaming comprising: selecting a plurality of symbols from a first set of 5 symbols to form at least one player hand and allocating each player hand to a player for play of a base game; selecting a plurality of symbols from a second set of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game ; and 10 awarding a jackpot prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game. 15

2. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jackpot hand is unique to each player hand.

3. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, wherein the 20 symbols correspond to cards in a game round of poker and the symbols comprise playing card symbols.

4. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 3, wherein the playing card symbols forming the player hand are selected 25 from one set of 52 playing card symbols and the symbols forming the jackpot hand are selected from another set of the same 52 playing card symbols.

5. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 3, wherein 30 five cards form the player and jackpot hands.

6. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: conducting the game round of poker in response to the 35 player placing a wager; and conducting the jackpot game in response to the player placing a jackpot wager 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04112 - 25

7. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: conducting the game round of poker in response to the 5 player placing a wager; and conducting the jackpot game in response to a percentage of the game round wager.

8. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 3, wherein the 10 game round of poker comprises: selecting two cards to be player hole cards; selecting five cards to be community cards; and forming the player hand by combining at least one hole card and a number of community cards. 15

9. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 8, wherein a larger portion of the jackpot award is made to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand formed with two hole cards than to the player hand corresponding to the 20 jackpot hand formed with one hole card.

10. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 6, wherein the jackpot wager and a percentage of the game round wager contribute to a progressive jackpot. 25

11. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, further comprising conducting a decider round to make the jackpot award to one player if more than one player hand corresponds to the jackpot hand. 30

12. A game controller comprising: a symbol selector arranged to: select a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least one player hand and allocating 35 each player hand to a player for play of a base game; and select a plurality of symbols from a second set of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13104/12 - 26 jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game; and an outcome evaluator arranged to award a jackpot prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand 5 corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game.

13. A game controller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the 10 jackpot hand is unique to each player hand.

14. A game controller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the symbol selector is further arranged to select symbols to be displayed in a set of display positions to the player. 15

15. A game controller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the symbols correspond to cards in a game round of poker and the symbols comprise playing card symbols. 20

16. A game controller as claimed in claim 15, arranged to receive a wager from the player to be bet in the game round of poker and a wager to be bet in a jackpot game.

17. A game controller as claimed in claim 16, wherein the 25 outcome evaluator is further arranged to conduct the game round of poker and to determine whether to make the jackpot award to the player in response to the jackpot wager. 30

18. A game controller as claimed in claim 16, wherein the outcome evaluator is further arranged to conduct the game round of poker and to determine whether to make the jackpot award to the player in response to a percentage of the game round wager. 35

19. A game controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein the game round of poker comprises: 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315 AU.2 13/04/12 - 27 selecting two cards to be player hole cards; selecting five cards to be community cards; and forming the player hand by combining at least one hole card and a number of community cards. 5

20. A game controller as claimed in claim 19, wherein the outcome evaluator is further arranged to make a larger portion of the jackpot award to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand formed with two hole 10 cards than to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand formed with one hole card.

21. A game controller as claimed in claim 12, wherein the outcome evaluator is further arranged to conduct a decider 15 round to make the jackpot award to one player if more than one player hand corresponds to the jackpot hand.

22. A gaming system comprising: a display arranged to display a plurality of symbols 20 in a set of display positions to a player; a symbol selector arranged to: select a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least one player hand and allocating each player hand to a player for play of a base game; and 25 select a plurality of symbols from a second set of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game; and an outcome evaluator arranged to award a jackpot 30 prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game. 35

23. A gaming system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the symbol selector selects symbols forming the jackpot hand unique to the or each player hand. 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 28

24. A gaming system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the symbols correspond to cards in a game round of poker and the symbols comprise playing card symbols. 5

25. A gaming system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the symbol selector selects playing card symbols forming the player hand from one set of 52 playing card symbols and selects playing card symbols forming the jackpot hand from 10 another set of the same 52 playing card symbols.

26. A gaming system as claimed in claim 25, wherein five cards form the player and jackpot hands. 15

27. A gaming system as claimed in claim 24, further comprising a credit mechanism operable by the player to place a wager to be bet in the game round of poker and a wager to be bet in a jackpot game. 20

28. A gaming system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the outcome evaluator is further arranged to determine whether to make the jackpot award to the player in response to the jackpot wager. 25

29. A gaming system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the outcome evaluator is further arranged to make the jackpot award to the player in response to a percentage of the game round wager.

30 30. A gaming system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the jackpot wager and a percentage of the game round wager contribute to a progressive jackpot.

31. A gaming system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the 35 symbol selector is further arranged to: select two cards to form hole cards; select five cards to form community cards; and 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04/12 - 29 form the player hand from at least one hole card and a number of community cards.

32. A gaming system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the 5 outcome evaluator is further arranged to determine whether to make a larger portion of the jackpot award to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand formed with two hole cards than to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand formed with one hole card. 10

33. A gaming system as claimed in claim 22, wherein the outcome evaluator is further arranged to determine whether to make the jackpot award to one player if more than one player hand corresponds to the jackpot hand. 15

34. A gaming system comprising: means for selecting a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least one player hand and allocating each player hand to a player for play of a base 20 game; means for selecting a plurality of symbols from a second set of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game ; and 25 means for awarding a jackpot prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game. 30

35. A gaming system comprising: at least one player interface each comprising a game play mechanism mounted to a cabinet and a display mounted within the cabinet, and a game controller disposed within 35 the cabinet comprising a processor and a memory storing game control instructions which enable the game controller to operate in response to operation of a respective at 32931251 (GHMatters) P77315.AU-2 13/04/12 - 30 least one game play mechanism by a player, the game controller comprising: a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a first set of symbols to form at least 5 one player hand and allocating each player hand to a player for play of a base game, and select a plurality of symbols from a second set of symbols to form a jackpot hand and allocating each jackpot hand to the same player for play of a jackpot game; and 10 an outcome evaluator arranged to award a jackpot prize in the jackpot game in response to the player hand corresponding to the jackpot hand, wherein if eligible, the jackpot prize in the jackpot game is awarded irrespective of the outcome of the base game. 15

36. Computer program code which when executed implements the method of any one of claims 1 to 11.

37. A computer readable medium comprising the program 20 code of claim 36.

38. A data signal comprising the program code of claim 37. 25

39. Transmitting or receiving the program code of claim 38. 3293125_1 (GHMatters) P77315.AU.2 13/04112