Games and gaming devices utilizing game cards with bonus symbols

Abstract

A game utilizes cards or similar game elements having at least primary indicia or symbols and in some instances at least a secondary or bonus indicia or symbol. The primary indicia may comprise card rank and suit indicia. The cards may include a secondary slot or bonus symbol. A deck of cards may comprise multiple cards having primary indicia with one or more or all of the cards including a secondary or bonus symbol. The primary indicia may be evaluated in the play of a primary game such as a poker game, while the secondary symbols may be used in a secondary slot game or may trigger one or more bonus events. In other embodiments, the game cards may include game symbol primary indicia, game suit secondary indicia and slot line tertiary indicia. A deck of slot cards may be formed from individual cards each bearing unique combinations of the indicia. In game play, slot cards may be dealt in a row and, after any discard and replacement, the resulting slot cards may be evaluated against a pay table which defines winning combinations of slot cards and associated awards.

1 . A deck of playing cards, said deck comprising a plurality of playing cards, each playing card bearing unique combination of rank and suit indicia, and one or more of said playing cards bearing at least one secondary bonus symbol selected from a set of secondary bonus symbols. 
     
     
         2 . The deck in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said playing cards are printed cards having a front and a back, said rank and suit indicia and any secondary bonus symbols being printed on said front of said playing cards. 
     
     
         3 . The deck in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said deck comprises 52 playing cards bearing the combinations of the ranks A, 2-10, J, Q and K in the suits hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades. 
     
     
         4 . The deck in accordance with  claim 3  wherein at least two of said playing cards bear secondary bonus symbol. 
     
     
         5 . The deck in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said playing cards are electronically generated images of cards. 
     
     
         6 . The deck in accordance with  claim 5  wherein a plurality of said playing cards are randomly selected and at least one secondary bonus symbol is associated with each of said selected cards. 
     
     
         7 . The deck in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said of said plurality of playing cards bears a secondary bonus symbol selected from a set of bonus symbols comprising at least two different bonus symbols. 
     
     
         8 . A method of playing a game comprising:
 providing a plurality of game cards, each of said plurality of game cards bearing a unique combination of rank and suit indicia, and one or more but not all of said playing cards bearing at least one bonus symbol;   utilizing one or more of said plurality of game cards in the play of a base game;   determining an outcome of said base game based upon the rank and suit indicia of said playing cards used in said base game; and   determining if said playing cards used in said base game include a predetermined configuration of bonus symbols and, if so, presenting a bonus game.   
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said plurality of playing cards comprises a deck of 52 cards and said base game comprises a game of poker comprising dealing at least 5 of said 52 cards to a player. 
     
     
         10 . The method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said at least one bonus symbol comprises a slot game symbol. 
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said game cards are printed cards having a front and a back. 
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with  claim 8  wherein said game cards are electronic images presented at a wagering game machine. 
     
     
         13 . A method of playing a game comprising:
 providing a plurality of game cards, each of said plurality of game cards bearing a unique combination of rank and suit indicia and each of said plurality of game cards bearing at least one slot game symbol;   utilizing a group of said plurality of game cards in the play of a card and slot game;   determining an outcome of said card game based upon the rank and suit indicia of said group of playing cards; and   determining an outcome of said slot game based upon a combination of slot game symbols of said group of playing cards.   
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said group of game cards comprises five of said plurality of game cards. 
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 14  further comprising the step of permitting a player to discard one or more or all of said five game cards and obtain replacement cards and wherein said steps of determining an outcome are made with reference to said cards after any replacement. 
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 13  wherein said plurality of game cards comprise 52 game cards.