US 12,293,642 B2
Systems, apparatuses and methods enhancing gaming outcome opportunities
Bradley Berman, Minnetonka, MN (US); and Chad Shapiro, Plymouth, MN (US)
Filed by KING SHOW GAMES, INC., Minnetonka, MN (US)
Filed on Apr. 5, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/628,492.
Application 18/628,492 is a continuation of application No. 17/666,147, filed on Feb. 7, 2022, granted, now 11,954,980.
Application 17/666,147 is a continuation of application No. 16/505,209, filed on Jul. 8, 2019, granted, now 11,244,540, issued on Feb. 8, 2022.
Application 16/505,209 is a continuation of application No. 15/495,593, filed on Apr. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,347,087, issued on Jul. 9, 2019.
Application 15/495,593 is a continuation of application No. 14/923,425, filed on Oct. 26, 2015, granted, now 9,633,514, issued on Apr. 25, 2017.
Application 14/923,425 is a continuation of application No. 14/310,911, filed on Jun. 20, 2014, granted, now 9,171,424, issued on Oct. 27, 2015.
Application 14/310,911 is a continuation of application No. 13/798,076, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, granted, now 8,771,049, issued on Jul. 8, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/609,932, filed on Mar. 12, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2024/0249601 A1, Jul. 25, 2024
Int. Cl. G07F 17/00 (2006.01); G07F 17/32 (2006.01); G07F 17/34 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 17/3293 (2013.01) [G07F 17/32 (2013.01); G07F 17/3211 (2013.01); G07F 17/3246 (2013.01); G07F 17/3262 (2013.01); G07F 17/34 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A video poker gaming device comprising:
a gaming machine body;
a video display device mount in the game machine body, the video display device configured to display a plurality of card positions;
a player interface attached to the gaming machine body, the player interface including a plurality of mechanical buttons;
a wager input device attached to the gaming machine body, the wager input device structured to receive a physical item associated with currency, the physical item establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable or decreasable based at least on wagering activity;
a memory housed in the gaming machine body, the memory configured to store the credit balance, a plurality of virtual playing cards, and a paytable; and
a processor housed in the game machine body and connected to the video display device, player interface, wager input device, and memory, the processor configured to:
receive a signal from the player interface to initiate a poker game in response to placement of a wager, the wager decreasing the credit balance;
determine a plurality of possible game outcomes with the processor;
determine if one or more of the plurality of possible game outcomes satisfies a predefined condition with the processor prior to displaying any cards associated with the determined game outcomes;
if it is determined that one or more of the plurality of possible game outcomes satisfies the predefined condition, automatically select one of the plurality of possible game outcomes as a selected poker hand to play;
if it is determined that none of the plurality of possible game outcomes satisfy the predefined condition, select a first one of the plurality of possible game outcomes as the selected poker hand to play;
display the selected poker hand on the video display device;
evaluate the selected poker hand using the paytable stored in the memory to determine if the combination of cards in the selected poker hand is associated with an award, and
increase the credit balance stored in the memory by an amount of any award determined in the evaluation of the selected poker hand.