Poker gaming devices and methods of playing multiple hand poker games

Abstract

Video poker games and methods of playing multiple hand poker games wherein a player's success is typically determined by comparing the player's hands to a payout table. A player is provided with a plurality of poker hands and enhanced payouts are provided to players receiving identical hands. For example, players are provided with enhanced payouts if two or more of the player's hands are high value winning hands, e.g., if the player obtains at least two ROYAL FLUSHES or two STRAIGHT FLUSHES.

1 . A video poker game comprising: 
 means for displaying indicia of cards for at least two poker hands wherein the indicia of at least one hand is selected independently of the indicia of at least one other hand;    a first payout display comprising a plurality of predetermined winning poker hands;    a second payout display comprising at least one enhanced payout which is payable when a plurality of predetermined identical winning hands are displayed; and    a payout device which provides a payout to a player who received at least one winning display.    
     
     
         2 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said displaying means selects indicia for said at least two poker hands from separate card decks.  
     
     
         3 . A video poker game according to  claim 2  wherein said separate decks are standard card decks.  
     
     
         4 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said displaying means displays more than two poker hands.  
     
     
         5 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said displaying means displays at least four poker hands.  
     
     
         6 . A video poker game according to  claim 5  wherein said payout device provides payouts corresponding to said first payout table for one or more displayed winning hands.  
     
     
         7 . A video poker game according to  claim 5  wherein said payout device provide payouts corresponding to said first payout table only when said hands do not qualify for an enhanced payout from said second payout display.  
     
     
         8 . A video poker game according to  claim 5  wherein said payout device provides payouts corresponding to said second payout display.  
     
     
         9 . A video poker game according to  claim 5  wherein said payout device only provides payouts for the highest payout.  
     
     
         10 . A video poker game according to  claim 5  wherein said payout only provides payouts for the highest payout when an enhanced payout is provided.  
     
     
         11 . A video poker game according to  claim 3  wherein said payout device provides payouts corresponding to said first payout table for one or more displayed winning hands.  
     
     
         12 . A video poker game according to  claim 3  wherein said payout device provide payouts corresponding to said first payout table only when said hands do not qualify for an enhanced payout from said second payout display.  
     
     
         13 . A video poker game according to  claim 3  wherein said payout device provide payouts corresponding to said second payout display.  
     
     
         14 . A video poker game according to  claim 3  wherein said payout device only provides payouts for the highest payout.  
     
     
         15 . A video poker game according to  claim 3  wherein said payout device only provides payouts for the highest payout when an enhanced payout is provided.  
     
     
         16 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said payout device provides payouts corresponding to said first payout table for one or more displayed winning hands.  
     
     
         17 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said payout device provide payouts corresponding to said first payout table only when said hands do not qualify for an enhanced payout from said second payout display.  
     
     
         18 . A video poker game according to  claim 5  wherein said payout device provide payouts corresponding to said second payout display.  
     
     
         19 . A video poker game according to  claim 5  wherein said payout device only provides payouts for the highest payout.  
     
     
         20 . A video poker game according to  claim 5  wherein said payout device only provides payouts for the highest payout when an enhanced payout is provided.  
     
     
         21 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said second payout display comprises a plurality of enhanced payouts.  
     
     
         22 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said second payout display comprises at least four enhanced payouts.  
     
     
         23 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said second payout display comprises at least one enhanced payout for totally identical hands.  
     
     
         24 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein at least one enhanced payout is at least 25,000 times a player's wager on one hand.  
     
     
         25 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein at least one enhanced payout is at least 250,000 times a player's wager on one hand.  
     
     
         26 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein at least one enhanced payout is at least 1,000,000 times a player's wager on one hand.  
     
     
         27 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein least one enhanced payout is provided from a predetermined jackpot.  
     
     
         28 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein at least one enhanced payout is provided from a progressive jackpot.  
     
     
         29 . A video poker game according to  claim 1  wherein said payout device provides a payout corresponding to the greater of 1) the sum of winning payouts from the first payout display for all winning hands displayed and 2) the greatest payout from the second payout display for the identical winning hands displayed.  
     
     
         30 . A method of playing video poker comprising the steps of: 
 displaying indicia of cards for at least two poker hands wherein the indicia of at least one hand is selected independently of the indicia of at least one other hand;    displaying a first payout table comprising a plurality of predetermined winning poker hands;    displaying a second payout display comprising at least one enhanced payout payable when a plurality of identical hands are displayed; and    providing a payout to a player who was displayed one or more winning displays.    
     
     
         31 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  further comprising the step of permitting a player to discard at least one card from at least one of said hands.  
     
     
         32 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  further comprising the step of permitting a player to discard cards from each of said hands and receive replacement cards.  
     
     
         33 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  wherein said indicia of cards for said poker hands are randomly selected from separate collections of card indicia.  
     
     
         34 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 33  wherein said separate collections of card indicia are standard card decks.  
     
     
         35 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  wherein more than two poker hands are displayed.  
     
     
         36 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  wherein a player is provided with an opportunity to change at least one of said hands.  
     
     
         37 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  further comprising the step of providing payouts corresponding to said first payout table for one or more displayed winning hands.  
     
     
         38 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  further comprising the step of providing payouts corresponding to said first payout table only when said hands do not qualify for an enhanced payout from said second payout schedule.  
     
     
         39 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  further comprising the step of providing payouts corresponding to said second payout schedule.  
     
     
         40 . A method of playing video poker according to  claim 30  further comprising the step of only providing payouts for the highest payout when an enhanced payout is provided.  
     
     
         41 . A method of playing a multiple hand poker game comprising the steps of: 
 providing a player with an opportunity to place wagers on a plurality of poker hands;    providing said player with a plurality of poker hands;    providing a payout if a player receives at least one predetermined winning hand; and    providing an enhanced payout if the player receives at least two identical winning card hands which are of some predetermined value.    
     
     
         42 . A video poker game according to  claim 41  wherein at least one enhanced payout is at least 25,000 times a player's wager on one hand.  
     
     
         43 . A video poker game according to  claim 41  wherein at least one enhanced payout is at least 250,000 times a player's wager on one hand.  
     
     
         44 . A video poker game according to  claim 41  wherein at least one enhanced payout is at least 1,000,000 times a player's wager on one hand.  
     
     
         45 . A video poker game according to  claim 41  wherein least one enhanced payout is provided from a predetermined jackpot.  
     
     
         46 . A video poker game according to  claim 41  wherein at least one enhanced payout is provided from a progressive jackpot.  
     
     
         47 . A video poker game according to  claim 41  wherein said payout device provides a payout corresponding to the greater of 1) the sum of winning payouts from the first payout display for all winning hands displayed and 2) the greatest payout from the second payout display for the identical winning hands displayed.  
     
     
         48 . A method of playing a multiple hand poker game comprising the steps of: 
 providing said player with an opportunity to change at least one of said hands by discarding up to a predetermined number of cards from each hand and receiving replacement cards.    
     
     
         49 . A method of playing a multiple hand poker game according to  claim 48  wherein said step of providing an enhanced payout replaces said step of providing a payout when the predetermined winning hands are also said identical winning hands.