Ideas on a new video poker game.

This thread is a concept thread for comments and suggestions about a potential video poker game. Here is the idea:

PICK YOUR PAY TABLE VIDEO POKER:

Obviously a lot of math needs to go into this, but subject to certain limitations on the pay table I believe this game could be feasible. Casinos seem to be interested in giving players more control over the games they play so it could be attractive on that level. First, you would pick a video poker game, for example lets say Deuces Wild. Then the person would change the pay table using (-) or (+) for each hand. Here is where it gets complicated: Lets say a person was willing to receive a payout of 0 coins for a royal flush. How much could he/she change the rest of the payouts on the machine to keep the house edge around 1%-2%? What if a person was willing to fore go any return on 3 of kind, a loss of 5 credits, how much could he change the payout for royal flush or for four deuces by doing this? Obviously there are many different combinations behind every given game, but subject to certain limitations I think it could be possible. When I say limitations I mean, 3 of kind could never return more than 15 credits, just throwing that number out there, it may be much smaller or it could be greater, I just don't know the math behind it or even where to start.

Any suggestions?

There are several games which allow the player to adjust the paytable. Here's one:
US Pat. No. 7559838 to Walker et al.
See column 49 starting with "Video Poker Embodiments".

BTW, in the future, if you think you have a new potential video poker game idea and you don't want to dedicate it to the public domain, don't talk about it in a public forum before talking to an IP attorney and assessing its patentability.

Thanks for the information. I did a couple google searches but couldn't really find anything. If someone in the forum wants to use any of my ideas I would be fine with that. Maybe they will hire me to be their attorney in the future for business law matters.

I review a lot of gaming patents as part of my consulting practice. I remember seeing that one before; I can't remember if it was part of a case or if it was cited against me (probably the latter).

However, "using your ideas" isn't exactly how the IP process works, at least if you're trying to obtain patent protection. Someone else can't come along and just file a patent on what you invented - the "true inventors" must be listed on a patent application, so if that's you, you have to be the one to file for the patent. It's a different story if you just want to donate your ideas to the public. Then anyone can use them.

ME -

Since the original post only had a relatively vague concept, does that really mean another person can't patent it?

Based on what you wrote, the answer is no.

But what if the new person did some work, fleshed it out, calculated the odds (or paid for math), etc.

Couldn't this new person then make a claim and patent it?


This isn't meant to challenge you. I truly don't know.

You'd have to make a case that the alleged invention was not obvious in view of the prior art, which would include the post in question. Obviousness under 35 USC 103 is a very big part of patent prosecution and litigation.

Quote: MathExtremist

You'd have to make a case that the alleged invention was not obvious in view of the prior art, which would include the post in question. Obviousness under 35 USC 103 is a very big part of patent prosecution and litigation.

I was taught that the difference can't be obvious (undefined term) and it must be significantly(undefined) different.