US 11,776,364 B2
Gaming device having poker lock and improve feature
Bradley Berman, Minnetonka, MN (US)
Filed by KING SHOW GAMES, INC., Minnetonka, MN (US)
Filed on Dec. 6, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/543,532.
Application 17/543,532 is a continuation of application No. 16/694,163, filed on Nov. 25, 2019, granted, now 11,195,381.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/771,018, filed on Nov. 23, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/771,017, filed on Nov. 23, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/771,020, filed on Nov. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0092946 A1, Mar. 24, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G07F 17/32 (2006.01)
CPC G07F 17/3293 (2013.01) [G07F 17/3211 (2013.01); G07F 17/3258 (2013.01); G07F 17/3262 (2013.01); G07F 17/3267 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
18. A gaming device comprising:
a game display including a video screen having a poker game play grid showing at least a first poker hand, a second poker hand, and a third poker hand, where each of the first poker hand, the second poker hand, and the third poker hand include a respective plurality of card positions;
a player interface including at least one button, the button configured to generate a signal in response to being activated;
a memory configured to store a virtual deck of cards and a credit amount;
a wager input device structured to receive physical items associated with currency values; and
a processor operable to:
receive a signal indicating receipt of a physical item associated with a currency value;
increase the credit amount stored in the memory based on the currency value associated with the received physical item;
receive a primary game initiation signal including a wager amount, the wager amount deducted from the credit amount stored in the memory;
randomly deal cards from the virtual deck of cards to the first poker hand on the poker game play grid of the display;
receive signals indicating cards to be held from the dealt cards in the first poker hand;
copy any cards held in the first poker hand to associated card positions in the second poker hand and the third poker hand;
randomly provide replacement cards from the virtual deck of cards to replace any cards that were not held in the first poker hand;
randomly draw cards to complete any empty card spots in the second poker hand and the third poker hand;
determine a number of card positions associated with the first poker hand, the second poker hand, and the third poker hand are associated with bonus sub-symbols;
when the determined number of bonus-sub symbols associated with the card positions is greater than a predefined threshold, initiate a bonus feature that includes:
(a) initialize a bonus spin meter with a predetermined starting number of bonus spins, the bonus spin meter being displayed on the gaming display and showing a number of currently remaining bonus spins;
(b) lock the bonus sub-symbols in their respective card positions;
(c) randomly determine whether each of the remaining card positions is to be associated with a bonus sub-symbol;
(d) decrement the number of currently remaining bonus spins shown on the bonus spin meter; and
(e) repeat processes (b), (c), and (d) until the number of currently remaining bonus spins is zero;
evaluate the first poker hand, the second poker hand, and the third poker hand for poker awards;
when the bonus feature was triggered, determine a final bonus award from the bonus sub-symbols; and
increase the credit amount stored in the memory by any poker awards and the bonus award.