Multi-Stage Multi-Bet Game, Gaming Device, and Method

Abstract

A game is comprised of a plurality of stages. Each operation of the game begins with the operation of a first stage. Depending on the outcome of the first stage the game may be over, or there may be an operation of a second stage. Depending on the outcome of the second stage, the game may be over or there may be an operation of another stage. This sequence continues until the game ends or until the final (n th ) stage has been operated, at which time the game ends. Wagers are made on successive stages of the multi-stage game. Each stage of the game may typically have its own paytable or payout scheme, and its own expected return. A bet made on a stage of the game which is not played is lost in the preferred form of the invention. One embodiment is a three stage, multi-line, multi-coin video slot machine. The same game format (slots) with the same paytable is operated on three stages, with increasing payout multipliers at each stage providing an increasing amount to win at the higher stages. The “spin” at each stage is independent of the previous stages. The second embodiment is a multi-stage Five-Card Stud poker game. Each stage is again independent of the previous stage. A variation of this game is also shown which uses the same paytable on each stage, but combined with a mechanism to increase the “hit” rate. A third embodiment is a Draw poker game that combines the concepts of the Stud poker embodiment with the decisions and optimal play analysis that are integral to Draw poker. The fourth embodiment is a dice game which has been adapted to provide a high dependency between the first stage and the next stages.

1 . A method of playing a video dice game having a plurality of stages to be wagered against, each stage representing a roll of the dice, comprising:
 the video dice game receiving a wager input at the outset of the game according to a number of stages desired to be played, wherein a wager on a stage creates an eligibility for playing that stage;   the video dice game initiating play of a first stage of the game by rolling plural dice, wherein each different number appearing on each of the die becomes a respective point-to-match that is stored and displayed, wherein if all die numbers match, a win is experienced and a payout is earned, and wherein play advances to a second stage if the video dice game received a second stage wager input at the outset of the game, independent of whether a win was experienced;   the video dice game initiating play of a second stage by rolling the dice;   the video dice game determining whether any of the numbers appearing on a die from the second roll match the point(s)-to-match, wherein at least one match is considered a win and play advances to a third stage if the video dice game received a third stage wager input at the outset of the game, but the game is over and any remaining wagers are lost if there is no match, and further wherein for a point matched, a payout is earned, each point-to-match that matches at least one of the dice for the second stage remaining for a third stage, if the video dice game received a third stage wager input at the outset of the game;   the video dice game initiating play of a third stage by rolling the dice;   the video dice game determining whether any numbers appearing on a die from the third roll match the point(s)-to-match left from the second stage, wherein at least one match is considered a win and play advances to a fourth stage if the video dice game received a fourth stage wager input at the outset of the game, but the game is over and any remaining wagers are lost if there is no match, and further wherein for a point matched, another payout is earned, each point-to-match that matches at least one of the dice for the third stage remaining for a fourth stage if the video dice game received a fourth stage wager input at the outset of the game;   the video dice game initiating play of a fourth through nth stage by rolling the dice in each respective stage; and   the video dice game making an identical determination for each respective fourth through nth stage as performed for the second and third stages in order to continue play up to the nth stage, or to end the game when no point(s)-to-match remaining from a preceding stage can be matched to the numbers appearing on the dice of a current stage.