Apparatus and method for playing an electronic poker game

[54] APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PLAYING AN ELECTRONIC POKER GAME

[75] Inventors: Anthony A. Marnell, II; Cary A.

Rehm, both of Las Vegas, Nev.

[73] Assignee: Rio Properties, Inc., Las Vegas, Nev.

[21] Appl. No.: 957,772

[22] Filed: Oct. 8,1992

[51] Int. CI.' A63F 1/00

[52] U.S. CI 273/138 A; 273/85 G;

273/85 CP; 364/412 [58] Field of Search 273/85 CP, 85 G, 138 A,

273/262, 269; 364/412

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,314,336 2/1982 Bernstein et al 273/85 CP

4,570,934 2/1986 Smyth 273/138 A

4,799,683 1/1989 Bruner, Jr 273/138 A

4,948.134 8/1990 Suttle et al 273/85 CP

5,019,973 5/1991 Wilcox et al 364/412

5,042,818 8/1991 Weingardt 273/292

5,100,137 3/1992 Fulton 273/85 CP

5,141,234 8/1992 Bovlan et al 273/306

5,188,363 2/1993 Marnell, II et al 273/85 CP

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

2169736 7/1986 United Kingdom 273/85 CP

Primary Examiner—V. Millin
Assistant Examiner—Kerry Owens

[57] 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.

8 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets