Gaming system with bad beat and big hand jackpot

Abstract

In a method of operating an electronic gaming system including a machine-implemented two player symmetric game, value is received from a human user of a machine-implemented electronic game in the form of a wager on the outcome of the game. The human user is prompted to select a game option which is received via a user interface associated with a user device. The human user selects the game option such that the human user may receive a jackpot if the human user's position at the conclusion of the machine-implemented game is greater than a predetermined criteria regardless of the position of the machine-implemented game, the game is played, an outcome determined, and value transferred to the human user if the human user wins the game or if the human user's position at the conclusion of the game is equal to or greater than the predetermined criteria.

1 . A method of operating an electronic gaming system comprising:
 a) receiving value from a human user of an electronic game machine in the form of a wager on the outcome of the game;   b) initiating a machine-implemented game on the electronic gaming machine and displaying indicia prompting the human user to select a game option whereby the human may receive a jackpot if the human user's position at the end of the game is greater than a predetermined criteria regardless of the position of the machine-implemented game;   d) receiving input from the human user via a user interface associated with the electronic gaming machine whereby the human user selects the game option;   e) determining an outcome of the game and one of:
 i) if the human user wins the game, transferring value from the electronic gaming machine to the human user; and 
 ii) comparing the human user's position at the end of the game to the predetermined criteria and if the human user's position is equal to or exceeds the predetermined criteria, transferring value in the amount of the jackpot from the electronic gaming machine to the human user. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting the predetermined criteria prior to initiation of the game by a human user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the predetermined criteria is changed during the course of a game initiated by a human user. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the machine-implemented game is a poker game. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the machine-implemented game is symmetric and the electronic gaming machine uses artificial intelligence to determine actions taken during the course of the game. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the value of the jackpot is funded from deductions from wagers placed by human users. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of game machines, each configured to provide a human user with the game option are linked to a central processor. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein instructions and programs for executing the machine-implemented game are stored on a central processor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the central processor executes instructions to play the machine-implemented game via the electronic gaming machines. 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating an electronic gaming system comprising:
 a) receiving value from a human user of a machine-implemented electronic game in the form of a wager on the outcome of the game, wherein the machine-implemented electronic game is a two player symmetric game between the human user and the machine-implemented electronic game;   b) displaying indicia prompting the human user to select a game option whereby the human user may receive a jackpot if the human user's position at the conclusion of the machine-implemented game is greater than a predetermined criteria regardless of the position of the machine-implemented game;   c) receiving input from the human user via a user interface associated with a user device whereby the human user selects the game option;   d) initiating the machine-implemented game on the user device;   e) determining an outcome of the game; and   f) if the human user loses the game, comparing the human user's position at the end of the game to the predetermined criteria and transferring the value of the jackpot to the human user if the human user's position is equal to or exceeds the predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the machine-implemented game is one of Texas Hold' em poker, stud poker and liar's poker. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the machine-implemented game is poker and the machine-implemented electronic game uses artificial intelligence to determine actions taken during the course of the game. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the machine-implemented game is Texas Hold'em poker and wherein the machine-implemented electronic game and the human user are dealt private cards and public cards and wherein the private cards must be used to make a hand that is equal to or exceeds the predetermined criteria. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising selecting the predetermined criteria prior to initiation of the game by a human user. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the jackpot is funded by deductions from wagers by, or winnings of, human players over time. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the value of the jackpot is variable, depending upon the value of the human user's position. 
     
     
         17 . An electronic gaming system comprising:
 a) a central processor operative to control a plurality of user devices, the user devices operative to enable a human user to play a machine-implemented electronic game including a game option whereby the human user may receive a jackpot if the human user's position at the conclusion of the machine-implemented game is greater than a predetermined criteria regardless of the position of the machine-implemented game;   b) a display associated with the user devices, the display operative to display indicia prompting the human user to select the game option;   c) an interface associated with the user device operable to receive input from the human user whereby the human user a game selects the game option, initiates the machine-implement game, and plays the game to completion; and   wherein, the central processor is operable to determine an outcome of the game and, if the human user loses the game, compare the human user's position at the end of the game to the predetermined criteria and transfer the value of the jackpot to the human user if the human user's position is equal to or exceeds the predetermined criteria.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein a data storage device connected to the central processor includes instructions for enabling human users to play the machine-implemented game with the user devices. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the machine-implemented electronic game is a two player symmetric game. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the value of the jackpot is funded from deductions from wagers placed by human users.