GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF

• US 20060217188A1
• Filed: 06/06/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Magdalena M. Fincham
• Original Assignee: Geoffrey M. Gelman, James Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Magdalena M. Fincham
• Inventors: GELMAN, Geoffrey M., JORASCH, James A., WALKER, Jay S., FINCHAM, Magdalena M.
• Application Number:
  US11/422,519
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217188A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming device such as a video based gaming device provides a player the ability to modify at least one element of the gaming device. The gaming device may then modify other elements to ensure a desired house advantage. The probability of occurrence for one or more outcomes, the payout corresponding to one or more outcomes, and the wager amount required to play a game, may be modified by a player. The gaming device may then automatically determine changes in the values of other elements in order to maintain a constant house advantage. The player may also impose constraints on the value of one or more elements so that the gaming device cannot change the constrained elements in maintaining the house advantage. Software running on the gaming device may use an equation that takes into account pertinent elements such as the size of the jackpot, the size of the wager needed to play each game, and probability of hitting the jackpot during a game. Based on the equation, the software may adjust elements other than the element(s) specified by the player so that, for example, the house advantage remains constant with each game. A player interface provides an easy to use method of modifying selected elements.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a player to modify a value of a first element of a gaming device from a first value to a second value;

modifying, in response to the request from the player, the value of the first element from the first value to the second value;

determining a second element of the gaming device,

wherein the second element corresponds to a third value; and

determining a fourth value for the second element based on at least one of the first value of the first element, the second value of the first element, and the third value of the second element.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the first element is the probability of occurrence of the outcome “

bar-bar-bar”

on the gaming device;

wherein the second element is the minimum amount that must be wagered for a single game on the gaming device;

wherein the first value of the first element is 0.001;

wherein the second value of the first element is 0.002;

wherein the third value of the second element is $0.50; and

wherein the fourth value of the of the second element is $0.55.

3-40. -40. (canceled)