Poker gaming device having variable speed of play

Abstract

This concept is directed to poker gaming devices configured to vary the speed of game play, as well as method of operating poker gaming devices to vary the speed of play. In some examples of the this concept, a poker gaming device may be configured to include a game initiating button that when pressed by a player triggers a game processor to display a dealt hand for a first predetermined amount of time when the dealt hand meets a predetermined criteria and to display the dealt hand for a second predetermined amount of time when the dealt hand does not meet a predetermined criteria.

1 . A method of operating a video poker gaming device, the method comprising:
 displaying credits available to a player for wagering on the gaming device;   receiving a player input to activate a first poker gaming event on the video poker gaming device;   determining if a dealt poker hand in the first poker gaming event meets a predetermined criteria;   displaying the dealt poker hand for a first predetermined time and receiving player input to hold cards of the first poker gaming event when the dealt poker hand meets the predetermined criteria; and   displaying the dealt poker hand for a second predetermined time when the dealt poker hand does not meet the predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first predetermined time is longer than the second predetermined time. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying a final poker hand in the first poker hand for a third predetermined time when the final poker hand is a preferred outcome; and   displaying the final poker hand in the first poker hand for a fourth predetermined time when the outcome final poker hand is not a preferred outcome.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically initiating a second poker gaming event when the dealt poker hand does not meet the predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising automatically initiating a second poker gaming event with the final poker hand is not a preferred outcome. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a preferred outcome is an outcome with an award associated with the outcome. 
     
     
         7 . A video poker gaming device comprising:
 a gaming display to display video poker gaming events on the video poker gaming device to a player;   a player interface panel including a speed poker game initiating button configured to initiate a speed poker gaming session; and   a game processor configured to operate the speed poker gaming session by determining if a dealt poker hand in a first poker gaming event meets a predetermined criteria, displaying the dealt poker hand for a first predetermined time if the dealt poker hand meets the predetermined criteria, and displaying the dealt poker hand for a second predetermined time if the dealt poker hand does not meet the predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         8 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the player interface panel further includes a single-game game initiating button to initiate a single poker game event. 
     
     
         9 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the game processor is further configured to receive player inputs to hold cards of the dealt poker hand and display a final poker hand when the dealt poker hand meets the predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         10 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 8 , further comprising a memory to store a plurality of poker game paytables, wherein the game processor utilizes a first poker game paytable during a speed poker gaming session and utilizes a second poker game paytable during a single poker game event. 
     
     
         11 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 10 , wherein the first game paytable has a payback percentage that is higher than a payback percentage of the second game paytable. 
     
     
         12 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the speed poker game initiating button is operable to stop a speed poker gaming session during the speed poker gaming session. 
     
     
         13 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the player interface panel further includes a speed poker game stopping button that is operable to stop a speed poker gaming session during the speed poker gaming session. 
     
     
         14 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the game processor is further configured to automatically initiate a second poker gaming event when the dealt hand of the first poker gaming event does not meet the predefined criteria. 
     
     
         15 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 14 , wherein the player interface panel further includes a speed knob configured to be operable by the player to adjust the speed at which the game processor displays a dealt poker hand and automatically initiates a second poker game when the dealt hand of the first poker gaming event does not the predefined criteria. 
     
     
         16 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the player interface panel further includes a plurality of speed poker game initiating buttons, each speed poker game initiating button associated with a wager amount. 
     
     
         17 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the gaming display includes at least one speed poker game initiating soft buttons. 
     
     
         18 . The video poker gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the gaming display is configured to display multiple video poker gaming events substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a video poker gaming device, the method comprising:
 receiving an amount wagered from credits available for wagering on the video poker gaming device for a speed poker gaming session;   displaying a first dealt poker hand;   determining if the first dealt poker hand meets a predetermined criteria;   allowing the player to hold cards and draw cards when it is determined that the first dealt poker hand meets the predetermined criteria; and   deducing a fee from the available credits and automatically displaying a second dealt poker hand when the first dealt poker hand does not meet the predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the fee deducted is less than the amount wagered. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined criteria includes receiving a dealt poker hand with a percentage chance greater than a predetermined threshold percentage chance of being a large poker win. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined criteria includes receiving a dealt poker hand that meets one of plurality of pre-identified poker hands. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined criteria includes receiving a dealt poker hand that requires only one card on a subsequent draw to complete one of a plurality of pre-identified large winning poker hands. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the predetermined criteria includes receiving a dealt poker hand that requires two cards on a subsequent draw to complete one of a plurality of pre-identified large winning poker hands.