Virtual card game with simultaneous slot machine game

Abstract

Virtual card game with simultaneous slot machine game. In one implementation, an electronic game table platform executes gambling card games, for example, poker or blackjack, played with virtual playing cards that may also have slot symbols included on the virtual playing cards. A player can win slot machine payouts from a hand of virtual playing cards currently in play in a game of poker or blackjack. The electronic game table systems have changeable displays which portray virtual playing cards and the various symbols to live participants. Shuffling, cutting, dealing and return of virtual playing cards are accomplished using data processing functions within an electronic game processor or processors which enable these functions to be performed quickly and without manual manipulation of playing cards. The invention allows casinos to speed play and reduce the risk of cheating while maintaining the attractive ambiance of a live table game. The systems can also be multi-user slot machines using the processor to associate or assign one or more symbols either with the virtual playing cards or as slot symbols in participant subsets. The participant subsets are compared to a predetermined list so that payoffs can be awarded on the basis of winning symbols or combinations of symbols.

1 . A system for playing a card game simultaneously with a slot machine game, comprising:
 one or more participant video displays providing a multiplicity of changeable participant display images;   a deck of virtual playing cards, each virtual playing card bearing a suit and a rank;   slot symbols which vary during play of the slot machine game, the slot symbols being presented to each participant via a respective one of the one or more participant video displays to provide participant slot symbol groups which vary between winning slot symbol groups and losing slot symbol groups when slot symbols are assigned to each of the plurality of live participants during play of the slot machine game;   wherein each individual slot symbol is added to an individual virtual playing card bearing a suit and rank during at least part of the play of the card game;   at least one game processor for processing data to perform at least the following acts:
 providing game rules which at least partially administer play of the virtual card game and the slot machine game; 
 selecting a subset of slot symbols from a total set of slot symbols which are available for selection; 
 associating the subset of slot symbols with a live participant via the virtual playing cards that each have the suit and the rank; 
 iterating selecting and associating until each live participant has a respective subset of slot symbols; 
 instructing the participant video displays to display at least any slot symbols and any slot symbol group images indicating the slot symbols and slot symbol groups assigned to a participant; 
 displaying, via at least one of the participant video displays, any new participant slot symbols assigned to each of the participants during play of the slot machine game; and 
 indicating when a participant may receive a jackpot in response to receiving a winning slot symbol group. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the slot symbols for a current player are collected from the virtual playing cards of the player and displayed on a slot symbol display that includes a pay line display; and
 wherein the slot symbol display is separate from player displays and a dealer display.   
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the slot symbols are added only to the virtual playing cards of a player who has placed an optional ante bet. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a size of the total set of slot symbols is selectable to determine the odds of the slot machine game. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the size of the total set of slot symbols is selectable by a game participant. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the slot machine game is integrated with a card game comprising one of poker or blackjack. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one dealer control which includes at least one dealer control sensor which is activated by the dealer to control action of the virtual card game and slot machine game.