Method of playing a poker game using cards with randomly generated bonus inititator indicia

Abstract

A video poker game using a traditional deck of fifty-two cards plus a Joker card with randomly generated diamond-shaped indicia. In the base game, the appearance of diamond-shaped indicia initiates a free games bonus event. In the bonus event, the appearance of diamond-shaped indicia affects the value of winning poker hands achieved during the free games.

1 . A method of playing a card game in which a player makes a wager to participate in the card game comprising:
 a) providing a modified deck of playing cards having a standard fifty-two card deck and one or more wildcards;   b) providing a pay table in which payouts are based on predetermined combinations of poker hand rankings;   c) shuffling the modified deck of cards and dealing an initial hand of cards to the player;   d) if a wildcard appears in the initial hand of cards, randomly determining if an indicia will display on said wildcard;   e) selecting none, one or more of the cards as cards to be held;   f) discarding the cards that were not selected to be held and replacing each of those cards with another card to make a final hand;   g) if a wildcard did not appear in the initial hand of cards but appears in the final hand of cards, randomly determining if an indicia will display on said wildcard;   h) determining the poker hand ranking of the final hand;   i) awarding pay outs for final hands in accordance with the pay table; and   j) if a wildcard displayed an indicia in the initial or final hand of cards, initiating a bonus event.   
   
   
       2 . A method of  claim 1  which uses a weighted probability table to determine if a wildcard displays indicia. 
   
   
       3 . A method of  claim 1  which uses a bonus event providing one or more free games to the player.