Systems and methods for facilitating play using reversed payout tables

• US 20030211878A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 11/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US10/420,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20030211878A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/13
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method for facilitating play of a gaming device is presented, in which the method comprises enabling a reverse payout mode of play of the gaming device and displaying an indication that play of the gaming device is to be provided in accordance with the reverse payout mode of play. In some embodiments, the indication may include a display on an overlay device. In some embodiments, the indication may include a display on or over at least one reel (electronic, mechanical, or otherwise) of a slot machine.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an initial hand of a poker game;

displaying a representation of the initial hand to a player;

after displaying the representation of the initial hand to the player,

receiving a request by the player to continue play of the poker game in accordance with a reverse payout mode;

determining a highest expected value play based on the initial hand;

determining a final hand based on the highest expected value play; and

in accordance with the reverse payout mode, determining a payout amount based on the final hand.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting an offer to the player to continue play of the poker game in accordance with the reverse payout mode.

3. The method of claim 2, in which the request by the player comprises an acceptance of the offer.

4. The method of claim 1, in which determining the final hand comprises:

determining a number of cards to discard from the initial hand based on the highest expected value play; and

replacing the number of cards, thereby completing the final hand.

5. A method comprising:

storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of a plurality of possible outcomes, wherein each possible outcome has one of said first plurality of payout amounts associated therewith;

storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes,

wherein each possible outcome has one of said second plurality of payout amounts associated therewith,

wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with a first particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said first plurality of payout amounts for the first particular outcome is zero, and

wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said second plurality of payout amounts for the second particular outcome is zero;

displaying a representation of the first payout table;

displaying a representation of the second payout table while displaying the representation of the first payout table;

selecting which of said first payout table and said second payout table a gaming device is to access for a play, thereby determining an active payout table for the play and an inactive payout table for the play; and

displaying an indication of which of said first payout table and said second payout table is the active payout table for the play.

6. The method of claim 5, in which indicating the active payout table for the play comprises at least one of:

increasing a size of the active payout table;

displaying the active payout table at a maximum brightness;

displaying the active payout table as including text that is flashing;

displaying the active payout table using a first font size that is larger than a second font size of the inactive payout table;

displaying the active payout table as in motion; and

displaying a message across at least a portion of the active payout table.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying an indication of which of said first payout table and said second payout table is the inactive payout table for the play.

8. The method of claim 5, in which indicating the inactive payout table for the play comprises at least one of:

decreasing a size of the inactive payout table;

displaying the inactive payout table at a minimum brightness;

displaying the inactive payout table as including text that is static;

displaying the inactive payout table using a first font size that is smaller than a second font size of the active payout table; and

displaying a message across at least a portion of the inactive payout table.

9. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that a gaming device is to access a reverse payout table for at least one play; and

at a display device through which at least one physical reel of a gaming device is viewable by a player,

displaying an indication that the reverse payout table is to be accessed by the gaming device for the play.

10. The method of claim 9, in which the indication comprises at least one of:

a text message, and

an image displayed over the at least one physical reel.

11. The method of claim 9,

in which a first payout table includes a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of a plurality of possible outcomes, wherein each possible outcome has one of said first plurality of payout amounts associated therewith, and

in which the reverse payout table includes a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes,

wherein each possible outcome has one of said second plurality of payout amounts associated therewith,

wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with a first particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said first plurality of payout amounts for the first particular outcome is zero, and

wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said second plurality of payout amounts for the second particular outcome is zero.

12. A method comprising:

on at least one reel of a slot machine,

indicating that the slot machine is to access a reverse payout table for at least one play of the slot machine.

13. The method of claim 12, in which the at least one reel is a video reel.

14. The method of claim 12, in which the at least one reel is a physical reel.

15. The method of claim 12, in which indicating comprises:

displaying a message on at least one reel of the slot machine.

16. The method of claim 12, in which indicating comprises:

displaying a symbol on the at least one reel of the slot machine,

the symbol indicating that the slot machine is to access the reverse payout table.

17. A method comprising:

enabling a first mode of play of a gaming device,

in which at least one first outcome of a plurality of possible outcomes is associated with a first non-zero payout amount, and

in which at least one second outcome of the plurality of possible outcomes is not associated with a non-zero payout amount;

enabling a second mode of play of the gaming device;

in which the at least one first outcome is not associated with a non-zero payout amount, and

in which the at least one second outcome is associated with a second non-zero payout amount;

receiving an indication of a request by a player to play the gaming device in accordance with the second mode;

initiating play of the gaming device in accordance with the second mode; and

indicating to the player that play is being provided in accordance with the second mode of play, in which indicating comprises at least one of;

displaying a warning;

displaying a second set of at least one reel symbol that is associated with the second mode of play,

in which the second set is different from a first set of at least one reel symbol that is associated with the first mode of play;

transmitting an audio message; and

highlighting a payout table that is associated with the second mode of play.