Wireless bet withdrawal gaming system

Abstract

A system for wireless gaming comprises a central game processor having wireless transmission and reception ability. The game processor has a device server and a local game server. Multiple user input devices having a visual display and wireless transmission and reception ability are provided. The wireless devices are used to play a game in which a player places a multiple part wager comprising at least two distinct wagers to participate in a game. At least a partial hand of cards is provided to each player, and at least one common card is provided. Players are given an opportunity to withdraw a portion of the wager after viewing the player cards. The at least one common card is revealed and play is resolved. All wagers not withdrawn by the player are resolved

1 . A gaming system, comprising:
 an interactive multi-player computer-based wagering game platform, the platform comprising an external game server and multiple physical player stations for playing the multi-player game;   multiple wireless devices capable of communicating with the secure wireless network, receiving wager commands and displaying communal game outcomes, wherein the external game server performs game steps comprising:   each player placing a multipart wager to participate in the game;   dealing cards to each player and at least one common card, all the common cards being dealt face down;   giving each player a chance to examine the cards received by that player and to withdraw a part that is less than all of the multipart wager and the player electing to withdraw the part or not;   showing the at least one common card, thereby providing a hand for each player, each player's hand comprising the shown at least one common card and the cards each player was dealt; and   resolving each player's remaining wager from the multipart wager which was not withdrawn based on the rank of that player's hand.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the multipart wager comprises at least three parts. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the quantity of cards dealt to each player is three, there are two common cards, and the multipart wager comprises three parts. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein all parts of the multipart wager are equal. 
     
     
         5 . A system for providing wireless play of a game comprising:
 a central game processor having wireless transmission and reception ability;   multiple user input devices having visual display ability and wireless reception and wireless transmission ability to the central game processor;   each of the multiple user input devices enabling user input of at least one of wagers, wager amounts and decisions made during play of a game having steps comprising:   a) a player placing a wager comprising at least two distinct wagering parts;   b) providing to the player at least a portion of the player's playing cards so that partial information or a game outcome is provided,   c) giving the player at least one opportunity, before the player's final game outcome is determined with a player's final hand of playing cards, to withdraw from engagement in the game at least one wagering part of the at least two wagering parts, but less than all of the at least two wagering parts,   d) continuing play of the game with additional playing cards used to form a hand of cards for the player are displayed to the player, and   e) resolving all wagers not withdrawn by the player from the at lest two wagering parts.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the at least a portion of the player's playing cards comprises three cards. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein community cards are used to display the additional playing cards. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  wherein two community cards are used to display the additional playing cards. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the multipart wager comprises at least three parts. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the quantity of cards dealt to each player is exactly three, there are exactly two common cards, and the multipart wager comprises three parts. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein all parts of the multipart wager are equal. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the game comprises a poker game. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein awards are made for predetermined ranks of hands in the card game against a paytable. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the steps of the game comprise:
 each player placing a wager to participate in the game;   dealing three cards to each player and two common cards face down;   giving each player the chance examine the three card received by that player and to withdraw part of the wager;   showing only one of the common cards;   giving each player another chance to withdraw another part of the wager;   showing the second of said two common cards, thereby providing a five card hand for each player, each player's five card hand comprising the two showing common cards and the three cards each player was dealt; and   resolving each player's remaining wager, which was not withdrawn based on the poker ranking of that player's five card hand against a paytable.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14  wherein the wager is divided into three equal parts and wherein at least one of the three parts may not be withdrawn. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein player cards are communal cards for all players playing a single round of play. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A gaming system, comprising:
 an interactive communal computer-based wagering game platform having an external game server executing a communal game, and a plurality of player stations communicating with the external game server to enable a player at each player station to play said communal game executed by said external game server; and   the wireless gaming devices communicating over a secure wireless network to enable a mobile player operating each corresponding wireless gaming device to play said communal game executed by said game server,   
       wherein the external game server performs game steps comprising:
 each player placing a multipart wager to participate in the game; 
 dealing cards to each player and at least one common card, all the common cards being dealt face down; 
 giving each player a chance to examine the cards received by that player and to withdraw a part that is less than all of the multipart wager and the player electing to withdraw the part or not; 
 showing the at least one common card, thereby providing a hand for each player, each player's hand comprising the shown at least one common card and the cards each player was dealt; and 
 resolving each player's remaining wager from the multipart wager which was not withdrawn based on the rank of that player's hand. 
 
     
     
         19 . A method of playing an interactive communal game on the system of  claim 5 , wherein the communal game is one in which all players wager on a common outcome and in which player decisions are limited to selecting and placing a wager in a predetermined time period that is fixed for all players playing the communal game, said method comprising:
 executing said communal game on a game server;   enabling a player at each of a plurality of stationary player stations to play said communal game executed by said game server; and   allowing a plurality of wireless gaming devices to wirelessly communicate with said game server so as to enable a mobile player operating each corresponding wireless gaming device to play said communal game executed by said game server and also played by players at said stationary player stations.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the input devices are selected from the group consisting of a wireless hand-held gaming device, a cell phone, a PDA, a blackberry and iPhone and a laptop computer. 
     
     
         21 . A system for providing wireless play of a game comprising:
 a central game processor having wireless transmission and reception ability;   multiple user input devices selected from the group consisting of cellular phones and PDAs having visual display ability and wireless reception and wireless transmission ability to the central game processor;   each of the multiple user input devices enabling user input of at least one of wagers, wager amounts and decisions made during play of a game having steps comprising:   a) a player placing a wager comprising at least three distinct wagering parts;   b) providing to the player at least a three-card portion of the player's playing cards so that partial information or a game outcome is provided,   c) giving the player at least one opportunity, before the player's final game outcome is determined with a player's final hand of playing cards, to withdraw from engagement in the game at least one wagering part of the at least three wagering parts, but less than all of the at least three wagering parts,   d) continuing play of the game with additional community playing cards used to form a hand of cards for the player are displayed to the player, and   e) resolving all wagers not withdrawn by the player from the at lest three wagering parts.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  wherein two community cards are used to display the additional playing cards. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the quantity of cards dealt to each player is exactly three, there are exactly two common cards, and the multipart wager comprises three parts, all parts of the multipart wager are equal, and the game comprises a poker game wherein awards are made for predetermined ranks of hands in the card game against a paytable. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the steps of the game comprise:
 each player placing at least a three-part wager to participate in the game;   dealing three cards to each player and two common cards face down;   giving each player the chance examine the three card received by that player and to withdraw a first part of the wager;   showing only one of the common cards to the player;   giving each player another chance to withdraw a second part of the three-part wager;   showing the second of said two common cards, thereby providing a five card hand for each player, each player's five card hand comprising the two showing common cards and the three cards each player was dealt; and   resolving each player's remaining wager, which was not withdrawn based on the poker ranking of that player's five card hand against a paytable.   
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein the system also comprises multiple player terminals in which individual players enter wagers on the game. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein the multiple player terminals are linked to a communal game play system and multiple players wager on a same set of three cards dealt to a player and the common cards. 
     
     
         27 . A method for playing a wagering game with wireless player input comprising:
 providing at least one player with a wireless communication input device that can communicate with a central game processor, the multiple user input devices selected from the group consisting of cellular phones and PDAs having visual display ability;   a central game processor receiving information from a wireless transmission from the at least one player wireless communication input device;   at least one player inputting at least one of wagers, wager amounts and decisions made during play of a game, the game having steps received and/or performed on the central game processor comprising:   a) the at least one player placing a wager comprising at least three distinct wagering parts;   b) providing to the player at least a virtual three-card portion of the player's playing cards so that partial information or a game outcome is provided,   c) giving the player at least one opportunity, before the player's final game outcome is determined with a player's final hand of playing cards, to withdraw from engagement in the game at least one wagering part of the at least three wagering parts, but less than all of the at least three wagering parts,   d) continuing play of the game with additional virtual community playing cards used to form a hand of cards for the player are displayed to the player, and   e) resolving all wagers not withdrawn by the player from the at lest three wagering parts.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein two virtual community cards are used to display the additional playing cards. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the quantity of virtual cards dealt to each player is exactly three, there are exactly two common cards, and the multipart wager comprises three parts, all parts of the multipart wager are equal, and the game comprises a poker game wherein awards are made for predetermined ranks of hands in the card game against a paytable. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the wagers are not collectible or chargeable funds, but rather the at least one player may play the game with a play or practice charge and virtual winnings and losses are provided in a non-monetary account on the wireless system.