JPH082384B2 - Progressive jackpot game device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to casino or card room games that include progressive jackpots. In particular, the present invention relates to progressive jackpots that are available for players to play in various casino or card room table games.

Providing progressive jackpot elements in connection with electronic or mechanical gaming devices such as slot machines, video poker machines or keno machines is a common practice in the game arena. Usually, a plurality or set of machines are electronically interconnected to a common progressive jackpot meter. As game coins are placed in each machine, the amount shown on the jackpot meter is progressive until one lucky player places a winning combination, such as three or four sevens, on the same row of the slot machine. To increase. In video poker, the Royal Flush always wins the jackpot, but in one variation, players play from left to right in the exact order, such as AK-Q-J-10, or in a particular set, such as spades. , Must fulfill the Royal Flush. At Video Keno, players typically have to combine numbers from 15 to 15 to win a progressive jackpot.

One object of the present invention is to provide a device that is useful in providing progressive jackpot elements to casino or card room table games such as poker or "21".

One feature of the present invention is that each player can participate in a progressive jackpot element at their play position by betting game coins that automatically activate a player participation indicator and increment a progressive jack port meter. Thus, electronically connecting the progressive jackpot meter to one or more game tables.

One advantage of the present invention is that the device allows each player to easily participate in the progressive jackpot elements of a game.

The methods of the present invention generally relate to standard casino or card room games modified to include progressive jackpot elements. For example, during play of the "21" game, the player will have the option of making additional bets in addition to his regular bet, which will be part of the progressive jackpot and will allow the player to win it. If the player's "21" hand contains a particular, predetermined card arrangement, the player will win all or part of the amount shown in the progressive jackpot. The progressive jackpot feature can be applied to any other casino or card room game, such as draw poker, stud poker, lowball poker or caribean stud poker.

The apparatus used to carry out the present invention includes a "21" that is modified by the addition of a coin acceptor that is electronically connected to a progressive jackpot meter or game table such as that used for poker. When a player inserts a coin into the coin acceptor, a lamp is activated at the player's position indicating that the player is participating in the progressive jack point element of the game in his hand. At the same time, a signal from the coin acceptor is sent to the progressive meter to increment the amount shown on the progressive meter. At the end of playing each hand, the coin acceptor is reset for the next hand. When a player wins all or part of a progressive jackpot, the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter is reduced by the amount won by the player. 1
You can connect any number of game tables to one progressive jackpot meter.

As shown in FIG. 1, the casino game table 10 includes a plurality of play positions 12 of players who are participating in a game being played, such as "21". The dealer is placed at the handing position 14 adjacent to the chip rack 16. Adjacent to each player position 12 is a coin acceptor 20. Each coin acceptor 20 is electronically connected to the main control board 40, and a large number of odometer counters 42 corresponding to the number of play positions 12 provided on the game table 10 are connected to the main control board 40. . As shown in FIG. 1, seven play positions 12 are preferably provided, but the number of play positions may be more or less than seven.
A reset switch 50 is located adjacent to the dealer's position 14 and is electronically connected to the main control board 40 to provide a means by which the dealer can reset the coin acceptor 20 before the start of play of each hand. Lockout switch 55 is also in dealer position
Located adjacent to 14, this switch is actuated by the dealer to prevent late bets, as will be described in detail below.

The main control board 40 is electronically connected to a progressive jackpot control box 60 which receives signals from each coin acceptor 20 and increments the progressive jackpot meter 70 in response to these signals, as will be described in detail later. . A jackpot reset controller 80, also electronically connected to the progressive control box 60, resets the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter whenever the player wins all or part of the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter 70. Provide the means.

In operation, the invention operates as follows. Conventional "2
The 1 "game is played on game table 10. At the start of each hand, each player may place his or her usual bet on the play of the “21” hand, as well as make additional bets to participate in the progressive jackpot component of the game during that hand. . To do so, the player inserts game coins into the conceptor 20 associated with that player's particular play position 12. As will be described in more detail below, the coin acceptor 20 recognizes that a game coin has been placed therein and also preferably has an indicator signal 22 which is a lamp adjacent to the coin acceptor 20.
Is activated indicating that a particular player participates in the progressive jackpot element of the game during play of that hand.

While activating the indicator signal 22, the coin acceptor 20 also sends an electronic signal to the main control board 40. This signal is sent by the main control board 40 to the odometer type counter 42 corresponding to the specific play position, and the specific coin acceptor 20
Keep a continuous count of the number of game coins that can be put into.

The main control panel 40 is a progressive jackpot meter.
Progressive jackpot control box that controls 70 in sequence
Also activate 60. When each game coin is inserted into the coin acceptor 20, the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter is increased by a predetermined amount. If, for example, each game coin has a value of $ 1, then the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter is increased by any amount up to $ 1 for game coins placed in coin acceptor 20. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the progressive jackpot is increased by 93% -97% of the amount of each game coin bet, the difference representing the store's share to provide the progressive jackpot component of the game.

When each player has a valid opportunity to place a progressive jackpot bet, the dealer activates a lockout switch 55 that deactivates each coin acceptor 20. When lockout switch 55 is actuated, no coins placed in coin acceptor 20 are recorded.

The amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter will continue to increase for each game coin bet until a player wins. The preselected winning hand brings to the player all or part of the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter. In the preferred embodiment, the preselected wins and payouts for the "21" game are as follows:

Amount of winning jackpot 4 5 and 1 1 100% 2,3,4,5 and 6 4% Same set 6,7 and 8 coins 100 coins 3 7 coins 50 coins The winning combinations are not limited to the above specific combinations or payment amounts, and other winning combinations or payment amounts may be used.

When the player achieves a winning hand, the jackpot reset controller 80 is manually activated by pressing the button corresponding to the type of hand the player has achieved. The amount won by the player is thus electronically deducted from the amount shown on the progressive jackpot meter.

When a particular hand is completed on the game table 101, the dealer presses the reset switch 50 which deactivates the indicator signal 22. The lockout switch 55 can also be manually deactivated by the dealer. The coin acceptor 20 is thus ready to receive another game coin for the next move.

The progressive jackpot element of the present invention may also be used with other forms of casino games, such as Caribbean stud poker, which is the subject of US Patent Application No. 182,374, filed April 18, 1988. The Caribbean Stud Voca is a variation of the traditional Five Card Stud Poker, where each player makes wagers and the dealer deals 5 cards to each player and himself. The player's cards are dealt face down and the dealer's cards are dealt four face up and one face up. Each player sees his or her hand and decides whether to continue playing with additional bets or to exit the game and lose bets. The dealer then reveals his entire hand, and if the dealer's hand does not have at least the ace-king poker value, the dealer is not allowed to continue playing. In that case, the dealer pays the remaining players' stakes in equal amounts and returns the stakes to the players. If the dealer's hand has an ace king or better poker value, then the dealer compares his or her hand to the player's hand and pays or collects bets as appropriate. Depending on the premium payment schedule, the dealer may also pay a fractional amount over two equal or better hands for each winning player. This game can be played using the game table shown in FIG. Each player makes a progressive jackpot bet by inserting a game coin into the coin acceptor 20 that allows the player to participate in the progressive jackpot amount shown on the meter 70. It is desirable that the winning hands and the amount of money relating to the Caribbean stud poker are as follows.

Hand Amount Royal Flush 100% Straight flush 10% Fore card 1% 50 sheets Full House coins flash coin 25 sheets Again, the present invention is not limited to the specific combination or payments hand, the combination of the other hand Or you can use the payment amount.

The present invention can be applied to other casino or card room poker games such as stud poker, draw poker or lowball poker. The game table 100 used to play each of these games is modified by adding a coin acceptor 120 and an indicator signal 122 to each player position 112 shown in FIG. The electronic device is the same as that shown in FIG.
140, an odometer counter 142, a progressive jackpot control box 160, a progressive jackpot meter 170 and a jackpot reset controller 180. Reset switch 150 and lockout switch 1
The 55 is placed adjacent to the dealer's location 114 adjacent to the tip rack 116.

The progressive jackpot meter 170 is incremented by each player who inserts game coins into the coin acceptor 120, as described with respect to FIG.

The winning hand and the payout amount are appropriately preselected depending on the type of game played. In the preferred embodiment, the winnings and payout amounts are as follows:

I. Five Card Draw poker hand Amount Royal Flush 100% Straight Flush 10% fore card coin 100 sheets Full House coin 25 sheets II. Five Card stand poker hand 10% Amount Royal Flush 100% Straight Flush fore card coin 100 sheets Full House coin 25 sheets III. Seven card stud poker hands 10% amount Royal flush 100% straight flush fore card coin 100 sheets Full House coin 25 sheets IV. low ball poker hand amount 5-4-3-2-1 100% 6-4- 3-2-1 5% 6-5-3-2-1 100 coins 7-4-3-2-1 25 coins The above winning hands and payment amounts are merely preferred examples, and the present invention Can be implemented using any suitable combination of winning and paying amounts.

As one alternative, the progressive jackpot element of the game may be utilized as a disappointing prize payment for a player who would otherwise be lost during regular gameplay. For example, suppose the regular game being played is Five Card Stud. Players A and B are both eligible for progressive jackpot amounts because each player has inserted a game coin into the coin acceptor before the start of hand play. Player A holds a hand holding a forecard. Player B holds a full house. Player A
Player A wins the stakes placed on the Five Card Stud game, as the player's hand is higher due to the customary poker hand ranking priority. However, player B receives the amount of payment, for example 25 coins, from the progressive jackpot for his full house as a disappointing prize. Player A does not receive the payment from the progressive jackpot because Player A has already won the bet from the regular five card game. Thus, in this alternative embodiment, only one player is paid out of the progressive jackpot if both players have a preselected form of hand and lose the higher hand of the game being played. .

In another variation, there are two players involved in the amount of progressive jackpot, and a player with a preselected shape of hand receives some percentage of the progressive jackpot and a player with a higher poker hand. Receives the rest of the progressive jackpot amount. For the example above, player B receives 80% of the amount of progressive jackpot for full house and player A receives 20% of the amount of progressive jackpot for full house.

FIG. 3 shows the operation of the invention in block diagram form. At each play position is a coin acceptor 210, in which the player inserts game coins therein to qualify for participation in the progressive jackpot. When all players have sufficient time in their hands to decide whether or not to participate in the progressive jackpot, the dealer activates a lockout switch 220 that prevents late bets. Each game coin placed in coin acceptor 210 energizes progressive jackpot output controller 230 which sequentially activates three separate devices. The integrated circuit timer 240 is activated and the indicator lamp 250 is lit on the coin acceptor in front of the player. This gives the dealer a visual indication that the player is participating in a progressive jackpot while playing that hand.

The signal from the progressive jackpot output controller 230 also activates an odometer counter 255 which increments by one unit for each game coin bet through the coin acceptor. This allows the gaming facility to maintain an accurate count of the number of bets placed in a progressive jackpot.

The third signal from the progressive jackpot output controller 230 goes directly to the progressive jackpot meter 270. Progressive Jackpot Meter 270
Indicates the total amount that can be won by the player to get one of the pre-selected winning hands. The amount of money in the progressive jackpot meter 270 automatically increases by a predetermined amount for each game coin inserted in the coin acceptor. Progressive Jackpot Meter 270
Is programmed to increase a predetermined percentage of the amount bet on coin acceptor 210. In the preferred embodiment, the progressive jackpot meter is approximately 93% to 97% of the amount bet on coin acceptor 210.
Increased by%.

The dealer then deals cards to each player and their hands are played (280). If a player has a pre-selected winning hand, that player is paid an amount corresponding to his winning hand form. Manual activation of the jackpot reset controller 290 results in a payment amount that is automatically deducted from the amount displayed on the progressive jackpot meter 270.

After the winning player has been paid, the dealer activates the reset switch 295 to stop the integrated circuit timer 240 and extinguishes the indicator lamp 250, and the dealer also deactivates the lockout switch 297, which causes the coin acceptor 210 to move to the next step. Operates for the hands of.

FIG. 4, in the form of a connection diagram, shows the electronic circuitry for operating the device of the invention. The coil acceptor circuit 300 is activated when a game coin is dropped into the slot of the game table where the coil acceptor is placed. Game coins pass between the UV transmitter DSI and the light receiver Q1 (model # MRD300 transistor). This causes a pulse to pass from the collector of Q1 to the base of receiver Q2. Q2 is a model # 2N3906 transistor, which acts as an emitter follower and transmits the pulses received by the integrated circuits 322,324 of the main control board 320. Integrated circuits 322 and 324 are model #L
It is an M-556 timer. The pulse from Q2 is received at pin 325 in the lower portion 324 of the integrated circuit, which causes pin 326 in the lower portion 324 to go high, causing the diode DS2 (model P
36 diode) is activated. This diode DS2 is the indicator lamp 22 shown in FIG. 1 and this indicator lamp 22 remains lit until the end of the hand play.

The pulse from Q2 is received by pin 323 of the upper portion 322 of the integrated circuit, which creates a pulse on pin 327 of the upper portion 322, which turns on transistor Q3 (Model # T1P / 20), then Turned off for the duration of the pulse created on pin 327. The transistor Q3 is turned on and off by turning on the odometer type counter 42 shown in FIG.
Increase digit. The odometer counter 330 is a 6-digit non-reset electronic 12VDC counter, WICO model 31-443400.

The pulse produced on pin 327 of the upper portion 322 of the integrated circuit also goes to the opto-isolator 340, which is a model # H11A16E opto-isolator. Optoisolator 340 passes this pulse to the base of transistor Q4 (Model # 2N3906 transistor), which causes transistor Q4 to be turned on for the duration of the pulse. When transistor Q4 is turned on, its pulse is passed to progressive jackpot display meter 350, where the amount shown on display meter 350 is increased by a predetermined percentage of the value of the game coins placed in coin acceptor 300. It A progressive jackpot display meter 350 is typically 44 inches long (approximately 1
11.76 cm) can be a game technology model with a 3 inch LED character appearing on a single progressive indicator.

After all bets have been placed, the dealer manually pushes the lockout switch 360 to clamp the output of transistor Q2 low, thereby ensuring that the bets placed through coin acceptor 300 are not delayed. Once the output of transistor Q2 is clamped low, the game coins placed in coin acceptor 300 will not pulse the rest of the circuit.

The game is then played, and once the game is complete, the dealer manually presses the reset switch 370 to pin 3
A reset pulse is generated to activate 28, resetting the lower portion 324 of the integrated circuit. This reset action is Pin 3
Drive 26 low to deactivate diode DS2, which turns off the indicator light 22 on the game table.

The dealer also manually pushes lockout switch 360 to open the circuit and remove the clamp on the emitter of transistor Q2 to allow another hand play. The player initiates the next move by inserting a game coin into coin acceptor 300 and the process is repeated.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various resistors and capacitors are provided to complete the circuit.
The specifications of the resistors and capacitors shown in FIG. 4 are as follows.

Although the invention has been described with respect to several specific embodiments,
These examples should be considered illustrative rather than limiting. Many variations and additions are possible and will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the present invention should not be limited by the above description, but rather should be defined only by the claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus of the present invention which uses a casino game table having a coin acceptor at each play position electronically connected to a progressive jackpot meter, and FIG. 2 shows a coin acceptor at each play position electronically connected to a progressive jackpot meter. Another embodiment of the present invention using a card room game table having, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the operation of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a connection diagram of the electronic circuit of the present invention. Explanation of code: 10,100 …… Casino game table, 12,112 …… Play position, 14,114 …… Bid position, 16,116 …… Chip rack, 2
0,120 …… Coin acceptor, 22,122 …… Indicator signal, 40,140 …… Main control panel, 42,142 …… Odometer counter, 50,150 …… Reset switch, 55,155 …… Lockout switch, 60,160 …… Progressive jackpot control box, 70,170… … Progressive Jackpot Meter, 80,180 …… Jackpot Reset Controller

Claims (19)

[Claims] 1. A game device including a jackpot element in a live casino table game, a game table having a plurality of player positions, and a game coin for combining with each player position to participate in the jackpot element. A device for receiving the jackpot amount, a device for displaying the amount of jackpot on the jackpot meter, a device for increasing the amount indicated on the jackpot meter by a preselected amount for each bet game coin, and a jackpot meter for And a device for reducing the indicated amount by the amount won by the player. 2. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising an indicator signal device associated with each play position for indicating that a game coin has been bet. 3. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising a lockout switch device for preventing a delayed bet. 4. The game device according to claim 1, further comprising a reset switch device for resetting the device at the end of the hand. 5. A game device including a jackpot element in a live casino table game, wherein a player plays at least one first stake and participates in the live casino table game, and a player. Is a coin acceptor for engaging at least one second stake and participating in the jackpot element, and the player's hand includes a predetermined array of cards after the dealer has handed the player a play card. Is a game device including a control device for obtaining a predetermined amount of money. 6. The game device according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined array of cards includes three sevens. 7. The game device according to claim 5, wherein the predetermined array of cards includes three 7s of the same set. 8. The game device of claim 5, wherein the predetermined array of cards includes at least one 7. 9. The game device according to claim 5, wherein the live casino table game includes “21”. 10. The game device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined array of cards includes three sevens. 11. The game device according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined array of cards includes three 7s of the same set. 12. The predetermined array of cards is at least one.
10. The game device according to claim 9, including seven 7. 13. A game device including a jackpot element as an additional feature of a live casino table game, the game table having a plurality of play positions, and participating in the jackpot element in association with each play position. A coin acceptor that accepts game coins, a jackpot meter, and a jackpot amount displayed on the jackpot meter, and the amount indicated on the jackpot meter is a predetermined amount for each multiplied game coin. And a controller for increasing the amount and decreasing the amount indicated on the jackpot meter by the amount won by the player. 14. The device of claim 13, further comprising a display associated with each player position to indicate that a game coin has been hung. 15. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a lockout switch for preventing a delayed application. 16. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a reset switch for resetting the device when the hand ends. 17. The game device of claim 13, further comprising a plurality of the game tables electronically interconnected to a common jackpot element. 18. The device according to claim 13, wherein the coin acceptor includes a sensor that recognizes how to hang a game coin. 19. The device according to claim 13, wherein the coin acceptor includes an optical sensor that recognizes how to hang a game coin.