Method and system for increasing player participation of a gaming device

• US 20050181865A1
• Filed: 04/01/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sierra Design Group (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Luciano, Robert Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,320,641 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A system and method are set form for increasing a players participation and entertainment value in the play of a gaming device such as a slot machine. The system and method includes offering a prize award such as a product or service for the player obtaining a predetermined outcome such as a jackpot. The prize has an acquisition cost (A) to the game operator who assigns to the prize a pay table value (B) for calculation and configuring the performance of the gaming device. The player attributes a value (C) to the prize. The system and method are configured such that (A)≦(B)<(C).

Claims

1. A method for increasing player participation in a gaming device, comprising:

providing a game having a hit frequency for each winning outcome;

assigning a non-monetary prize to each winning outcome, the prize having a player perceived value greater than an acquisition cost of the prize, and wherein the player perceived value is a monetary value the player associates with the non-monetary prize; and

configuring the gaming device to increase player participation in the gaming device, wherein the player-perceived performance value of the gaming device is greater than a device performance value of the gaming device, wherein the player-perceived performance value is a sum of a product of the hit frequency for each winning outcome, and the player perceived value and the device performance value is a sum of a product of the hit frequency for each winning outcome and an assigned pay table value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a means for dispensing to the player the non-monetary prize or a voucher redeemable for the non-monetary prize.

2. The method of claim 2, further comprising assigning the pay table value to the non-monetary prize.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the assigned pay table value is greater than the acquisition cost of the non-monetary prize, and the player perceived value is greater than the assigned pay table value.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the assigned pay table value is greater than or equal to the acquisition cost of the non-monetary prize, and the player perceived value is greater than the assigned pay table value.

6. A method for increasing player participation in a gaming device, comprising:

providing a game having a hit frequency for each winning outcome;

assigning a non-monetary prize to each winning outcome, the prize having an acquisition value less than or equal to a pay table value, and a player perceived value greater than the pay table value; and

configuring the gaming device to increase player participation in the gaming device, wherein a player-perceived performance value of the gaming device is greater than a device performance value of the gaming device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the player-perceived performance value is a sum of a product of the hit frequency for each winning outcome and the player perceived value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the device performance value is a sum of a product of the hit frequency for each winning outcome and the assigned pay table value.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing a means for dispensing to the player the non-monetary prize or a voucher redeemable for the non-monetary prize.

10. A method for increasing player participation in a gaming device, comprising:

providing a game having a hit frequency for each winning outcome;

assigning a non-monetary prize to at least one winning outcome,

setting an acquisition value and an assigned pay table value for the non-monetary prize, wherein the player perceived value of the prize is a monetary value the player associates with the non-monetary prize, and wherein the player perceived value is greater than the acquisition value and the assigned pay table value;

configuring the gaming device to increase player participation in the gaming device, wherein a player-perceived performance value of the gaming device is greater than a device performance value of the gaming device; and

providing a means for dispensing to the player the non-monetary prize or a voucher redeemable for the non-monetary prize.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the player-perceived performance value is a sum of a product of the hit frequency for each winning outcome and the player perceived value.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the device performance value is a sum of a product of the hit frequency for each winning outcome and the assigned pay table value.