Wagering game having draw-purchasing feature

Abstract

In one aspect, a method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine includes the steps of receiving an initial wager from a player and dealing a set of initial game elements. The player is provided with an option to purchase an additional game element. In response to player input, none or more of the initial game elements are replaced with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, the method also includes dealing the additional game element to form a set of final game elements. The method further includes a step of evaluating the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule.

1 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising: 
 receiving an initial wager from a player;    dealing a set of initial game elements;    providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element;    in response to player input, replacing none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, also dealing the additional game element to form a set of final game elements; and    evaluating the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule.    
   
   
       2 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element is provided before the dealing step.  
   
   
       3 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the game elements are randomly selected.  
   
   
       4 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the game elements comprises a standard deck of 52 playing cards.  
   
   
       5 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the game elements is designated as a wild game element.  
   
   
       6 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element is provided after the dealing step.  
   
   
       7 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element includes an option to purchase a plurality of additional game elements, and wherein the purchase price of each successive additional game elements is higher than that of the preceding additional game element.  
   
   
       8 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the set of initial game elements comprises five game elements.  
   
   
       9 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional game element occurs prior to a reveal of any of the game elements to the player.  
   
   
       10 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine, comprising: 
 receiving an initial wager from a player;    dealing a set of initial playing cards from a deck;    providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck;    in response to player input, replacing none or more of the initial cards with respective draw cards from the deck and, if the player exercised the option, also dealing the additional draw card to form a set of final playing cards; and    evaluating the final set of playing cards relative to an award schedule.    
   
   
       11 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck is provided before the dealing step.  
   
   
       12 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck is provided only prior to the reveal of the initial playing cards.  
   
   
       13 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the cards are randomly selected.  
   
   
       14 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the deck comprises a standard deck of 52 playing cards.  
   
   
       15 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the deck comprises at least one card designated as a wild card.  
   
   
       16 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the deck comprises at least one wild Joker in addition to the 52 playing cards of the standard deck.  
   
   
       17 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck is provided for an additional wager.  
   
   
       18 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the step of providing the player with an option to purchase an additional draw card from the deck includes providing the player with an option to purchase additional draw cards for successively higher additional wagers.  
   
   
       19 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the set of initial cards includes five cards.  
   
   
       20 . A method of conducting a draw poker game on a gaming machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the evaluating act comprises providing awards for an award schedule including at least one of a straight flush, four-of-a-kind, full house, straight, three-of-a-kind, two pair, and a pair.  
   
   
       21 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising. 
 a display;    an input device for receiving an initial wager from a player, and    a controller configured, upon execution of associated instructions, to 
 display a deal of a set of initial game elements following receipt of the initial wager from the player,  
 provide the player with an option to purchase an additional game element,  
 in response to player input, replace none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements and, if the player exercised the option, also dealing the additional game element to form a set of final game elements, and  
 evaluate the final set of game elements relative to an award schedule.  
   
   
   
       22 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game according to  claim 21 , wherein the controller is configured, upon execution of associated instructions, to provide the player with the option to purchase the additional game element before the deal.  
   
   
       23 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game according to  claim 22 , wherein the game elements comprise a standard deck of 52 playing cards.  
   
   
       24 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game according to  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the game elements is designated as a wild game element.  
   
   
       25 . A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game according to  claim 22 , wherein the option to purchase an additional game element requires a first amount, and wherein the purchase of successive game elements requires at least a second amount equal to or greater than the first amount.  
   
   
       26 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising: 
 receiving an initial wager from a player;    comparing the initial wager to a minimum wager required to initiate an option to purchase an additional game element;    enabling said option if the initial wager is not less than the minimum wager required;    dealing a set of initial game elements;    replacing, in response to player input, none or more of the initial game elements with respective replacement game elements;    dealing at least one additional game element if said option is enabled in said enabling step; and    evaluating the combination of game elements resulting from the dealing and replacing steps relative to an award schedule.    
   
   
       27 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 26 , wherein the game elements comprise cards randomly selected from at least one standard deck of playing cards.  
   
   
       28 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 26 , wherein the deck comprises at least one card designated as a wild card.  
   
   
       29 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine according to  claim 27 , wherein the wagering game comprises a draw poker game.