Method of playing a wagering game and apparatus therefor

Abstract

A method of playing a wagering game and apparatus includes a racing format playing area ( 20 ) having four lanes ( 22 ) labeled with four different symbols ( 24 ). The lanes ( 22 ) are partitioned into a number of stations ( 26 ) which correspond to a unit of length (such as a furlong for horse races). Players place a wager on a lane ( 22 ) which they believe will win the race. Playing pieces are sequentially dealt from a set of playing pieces ( 40 ) which contain equal number of each symbol ( 24 ). Each time a symbol ( 24 ) is dealt, a marker ( 36 ) for the corresponding lane ( 22 ) is moved forward one station ( 26 ) until one marker ( 36 ) reaches a finish position ( 30 ). Players who have placed a wager on the winning lane ( 22 ) win a payoff. Then, additional playing pieces are dealt on playing piece receiving stations ( 38 ). The player wins a bonus payoff depending upon how many of these additional playing pieces match the symbol ( 24 ) of the winning lane ( 22 ).

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method of playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 (a) providing a playing area, said playing area including: 
 a plurality of side-by-side lanes, each said lane labeled with a different symbol, each said lane including a number of stations, and each said lane having a starting position and a finish position;  
 a plurality of movable markers wherein one marker is associated with each said lane and movable thereon;  
 at least one playing piece-receiving station;  
   (b) providing a set of playing pieces, said set of playing pieces having equal numbers of each said symbol;    (c) providing a dealer and a bank;    (d) randomizing said playing pieces;    (e) placing said plurality of markers on said starting position of each said lane;    (f) a player placing a wager upon a said lane;    (g) said dealer dealing a playing piece from said set of playing pieces and placing said playing piece face up on said playing area;    (h) observing said symbol of said playing piece of step (g), and moving said marker of said corresponding lane forward one said station;    (i) repeating steps (g) and (h) until one of said markers reaches said finish position;    (j) said player receiving a payoff from said bank if said wager was placed on said lane whose marker reached said finish position in step (i);    (k) said dealer dealing a playing piece on each said playing piece-receiving station of step (a); and,    (l) if said player received a payoff in step (j), said player conditionally receiving a supplemental payoff from said bank, said supplemental payoff being a function of a number of playing pieces dealt in step (k) which match said symbol of said marker which reached said finish position in step (j).    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (a), said plurality of lanes being four.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further including: 
 wherein one said lane is labeled with the suit of diamonds, one said lane is labeled with the suit of clubs, one said lane is labeled with the suit of spades, and one said lane is labeled with the suit of hearts.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (a), wherein said number of stations is eight.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (a), a number of said playing piece-receiving stations being five.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including: 
 said playing piece-receiving stations arranged in a lane running alongside said side-by-side lanes.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (a), said starting position disposed behind a starting line.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (a), said finish position disposed one of (1) immediately behind a finish line, and (2) immediately in front of a finish line.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further including: 
 a movable finish marker disposable upon said playing area to define said finish line.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (a), said playing area being disposed upon any of a game board, a casino gaming table, a playing cloth, a video game, a playstation, a bar top game, a slot machine, a tv set, a computer monitor, a lottery scratch ticket, and a portable hand held game.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (b), said set of playing pieces including a conventional deck of playing cards.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (b), said set of playing pieces including a forfeit playing piece for each symbol; and,    in step (g), if a said forfeit playing piece is dealt, said lane corresponding to said symbol of said forfeit playing piece is disqualified and all said wagers placed upon said disqualified lane are taken by said bank.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further including: 
 in step (b), said set of playing pieces including a conventional deck of playing cards wherein said forfeit piece is a jack of each suit.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further including: 
 in step (k), if a said forfeit playing piece is dealt in a said playing piece-receiving station, said forfeit playing piece is considered to be a conventional playing piece with no disqualification.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (b), said set of playing pieces including a conventional deck of playing cards plus a joker which is designated as a forfeit playing piece; and,    in step (g), if said joker is dealt, then said lane corresponding to said symbol of said next playing piece dealt in step (g) is disqualified and all said wagers placed upon said disqualified lane are taken by said bank.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further including: 
 in step (b), said set of playing pieces including a second joker;    in step (c), providing a banker;    in step (g), if two jokers are dealt, then said banker changes for a next round of play.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (c), providing a banker;    said banker being one of (1) a non-participating banker, and (2) a participating banker, wherein said banker can place a wager in step (f).    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (e), establishing a race length as a predetermined number of stations, and defining said finish position to correspond with said race length.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further including: 
 a banker establishing said race length.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further including: 
 said race length being one of five, six, seven, and eight stations.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (f), said player optionally placing a wager on at least one additional said lane.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (a), said finish position disposed one of (1) immediately behind a finish line, and (2) immediately in front of a finish line; and,    in step (i), reaches said finish position being defined as one of (1) occupying said station immediately behind said finish line, and (2) crossing said finish line.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (j), said payoff being a function of a margin of victory in step (i).    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further including: 
 in step (j) said payoff being:    one times said wager for a one station victory;    three times said wager for a two station victory;    five times said wager for a three station victory;    20 times said wager for a four station victory; and,    60 times said wager for a five station victory.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (k), said playing pieces being dealt face up.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 performing step (k) before step (f), wherein in step (k) said playing pieces are dealt face down.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (l), said supplemental payoff being: 
 none, if no playing pieces in said playing piece-receiving stations match said symbol of said marker which reached said finish position in step (i);  
 one times said wager, if one playing piece in said playing piece-receiving stations matches said symbol of said marker which reached said finish position in step (i);  
 six times said wager, if two playing pieces in said playing piece-receiving stations match said symbol of said marker which reached said finish position in step (i);  
 25 times said wager, if three playing pieces in said playing piece-receiving stations match said symbol of said marker which reached said finish position in step (i);  
 80 times said wager, if four playing pieces in said playing piece-receiving stations match said symbol of said marker which reached said finish position in step (i); and,  
 200 times said wager, if five playing pieces in said playing piece-receiving stations match said symbol of said marker which reached said finish position in step (i).  
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , further including: 
 in step (a), said plurality of lanes being four, wherein one said lane is labeled with the suit of diamonds, one said lane is labeled with the suit of clubs, one said lane is labeled with the suit of spades, and one said lane is labeled with the suit of hearts;    in step (a), wherein said number of stations is eight;    in step (a), a number of said playing piece-receiving stations being five, said playing piece-receiving stations arranged in a lane running alongside said side-by-side lanes;    in step (a), said starting position disposed behind a starting line.    in step (a), said finish position disposed one of (1) immediately behind a finish line, and (2) immediately in front of a finish line;    in step (a), said playing area being disposed upon any of a game board, a casino gaming table, a playing cloth, a video game, a playstation, a bar top game, a slot machine, a tv set, a computer monitor, a lottery scratch ticket, and a portable hand held game;    in step (b), said set of playing pieces including a conventional deck of playing cards;    in step (b), said set of playing pieces including a forfeit playing piece for each symbol, and in step (g), if a said forfeit playing piece is dealt, said lane corresponding to said symbol of said forfeit playing piece is disqualified and all said wagers placed upon said disqualified lane are taken by said bank;    in step (k), if a said forfeit playing piece is dealt in a said playing piece-receiving station, said forfeit playing piece is considered to be a conventional playing piece with no disqualification;    in step (c), said banker being one of (1) a non-participating banker, and (2) a participating banker, wherein said banker can place a wager in step (f);    in step (e), establishing a race length as a predetermined number of stations, and defining said finish position to correspond with said race length;    said race length being one of five, six, seven, and eight stations;    in step (f), said player optionally placing a wager on at least one additional said lane.    in step (a), said finish position disposed one of (1) immediately behind a finish line, and (2) immediately in front of a finish line;    in step (i), reaches said finish position being defined as one of (1) occupying said station immediately behind said finish line, and (2) crossing said finish line;    in step (j), said payoff being a function of a margin of victory in step (i); and,    in step (k), said playing pieces being dealt face up.    
     
     
         29 . Apparatus for playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 a playing area, said playing area including: 
 a plurality of side-by-side lanes, each said lane labeled with a different symbol, each said lane including a number of stations, and each said lane having a starting position and a finish position;  
 a plurality of movable markers wherein one marker is associated with each said lane and moveable thereon;  
 at least one playing piece-receiving station;  
   a set of playing pieces, said set of playing pieces having equal numbers of each said symbol, said playing pieces placeable upon said playing area;    
     
     
         30 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 said plurality of lanes being four.    
     
     
         31 . Apparatus according to  claim 30 , further including: 
 wherein one said lane is labeled with the suit of diamonds, one said lane is labeled with the suit of clubs, one said lane is labeled with the suit of spades, and one said lane is labeled with the suit of hearts.    
     
     
         32 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 said number of stations being eight.    
     
     
         33 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 a number of said playing piece-receiving stations being five.    
     
     
         34 . Apparatus according to  claim 33 , further including: 
 said playing piece-receiving stations arranged in a lane running alongside said side-by-side lanes.    
     
     
         35 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 said starting position disposed behind a starting line.    
     
     
         36 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 said finish position disposed one of (1) immediately behind a finish line, and (2) immediately in front of a finish line.    
     
     
         37 . Apparatus according to  claim 36 , further including: 
 a movable finish marker disposable upon said playing area to define said finish line.    
     
     
         38 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 said playing area being disposed upon any of a game board, a casino gaming table, a playing cloth, a video game, a playstation, a bar top game, a slot machine, a tv set, a computer monitor, a lottery scratch ticket, and a portable hand held game.    
     
     
         39 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 said set of playing pieces including a conventional deck of playing cards.    
     
     
         40 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 said set of playing pieces including a forfeit playing piece for each symbol, wherein if a said forfeit playing piece is dealt, said lane corresponding to said symbol of said forfeit playing piece is disqualified and all wagers placed upon said disqualified lane are taken by a bank.    
     
     
         41 . Apparatus according to  claim 29 , further including: 
 said plurality of lanes being four, wherein one said lane is labeled with the suit of diamonds; one said lane is labeled with the suit of clubs, one said lane is labeled with the suit of spades, and one said lane is labeled with the suit of hearts;    said number of stations being eight;    a number of said playing piece-receiving stations being five;    said playing piece-receiving stations arranged in a lane running alongside said side-by-side lanes;    said starting position disposed behind a starting line;    said finish position disposed one of (1) immediately behind a finish line, and (2) immediately in front of a finish line;    said playing area being disposed upon any of a game board, a casino gaming table, a playing cloth, a video game, a playstation, a bar top game, a slot machine, a tv set, a computer monitor, a lottery scratch ticket, and a portable hand held game;    said set of playing pieces including a conventional deck of playing cards; and,    said set of playing pieces including a forfeit playing piece for each symbol, wherein if a said forfeit playing piece is dealt, said lane corresponding to said symbol of said forfeit playing piece is disqualified and all wagers placed upon said disqualified lane are taken by a bank.