GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD PROVIDING A NEAR MISS INSURANCE POOL OR FUND

• US 20070060254A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Muir, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,585,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 having a game that includes several nearly missed outcomes associated with a designated outcome, where the player is provided an award for achieving a nearly missed outcome. If the player obtains the nearly missed outcome, the award is provided from a near miss insurance pool. Therefore, when a player nearly misses achieving a large jackpot, the gaming device provides the player with insurance payoff. In general, the near miss insurance pool is funded from a portion of each wager, and may be funded by several linked gaming devices.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device controlled by the processor;

a game controlled by the processor and adapted to be displayed by the display device, said game operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of different outcomes in the game, the outcomes including;

(a) a plurality of winning outcomes, each winning outcome associated with one of a plurality of awards, one of the awards provided to the player for each winning outcome,

(b) a plurality of losing outcomes,

(c) at least one designated outcome that includes a predetermined number of symbols arranged in predetermined positions, and

(d) at least one near miss outcome associated with said designated outcome, wherein the near miss outcome includes all but one of the symbols of the designated outcome arranged in the predetermined positions necessary to form the designated outcome;

a designated award provided to the player according to a paytable if a play of the game results in the designated outcome; and

a near miss award provided to the player if the play of the game generates the near miss outcome, wherein at least a portion of the near miss award is provided by or funded by a near miss insurance pool associated with the near miss outcome and is independent from the paytable.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the symbol not in the predetermined position necessary to form the designated outcome is one position away from said predetermined position.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the designated outcome includes at least three symbols arranged in the predetermined positions.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part from a portion of the wagers on plays of the game.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part by a portion of the wagers on a plurality of gaming devices linked through a network.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part by a gaming establishment.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the near miss award is a quantity of free plays of the game, said quantity being at least one.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the near miss award is an award of credits.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the near miss award is at least one additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome in the game, wherein the processor provides an award of credits if the gaming device generates the designated outcome from the additional opportunity.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the game includes a plurality of reels, and the additional opportunity includes re-spinning the reel having the symbol not in the predetermined position.

11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the game includes at least one payline occurring across a plurality of reels, and the additional opportunity includes modifying the shape of the payline to occur across at least one different reel position on the reel having the symbol not in the predetermined position.

12. The gaming device of claim 9, which includes an option for the player to exchange the additional opportunity for a consolation award, wherein the value of the consolation award is less than the value of the award associated with the designated outcome.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in one of the predetermined positions having an incorrect suit.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in one of the predetermined positions having an incorrect rank.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in one of the predetermined positions having an incorrect suit or an incorrect rank.

16. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the designated outcome includes a first plurality of symbols arranged in the predetermined positions, the near miss outcome includes a second plurality of symbols arranged in the predetermined positions, wherein one of the symbols in the second plurality of symbols is different from one of the symbols in the first plurality of symbols.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the game is a video based poker game.

18. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein the first plurality of symbols are player determined and the second plurality of symbols are randomly determined by the processor.

19. The gaming device of claim 18, wherein the game is a keno game.

20. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a plurality of reels each having a plurality of stop positions, at least one payline across said reels, and a plurality of symbols generated on said reels, the designated outcome including a first plurality of symbols generated on the payline.

21. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the near miss outcome is a plurality of symbols located at a plurality of positions on the reels where one of said symbols is located in an incorrect position, said incorrect position being at least one reel stop position away from the payline.

22. A gaming device operable under control of a processor,

said gaming device comprising:

a game controlled by the processor and adapted to be displayed by the display device, said game operable upon a wager by a player;

a plurality of different outcomes in the game, the outcomes including;

(a) a plurality of winning outcomes, each winning outcome associated with one of a plurality of awards, one of the awards provided to the player for each winning outcome,

(b) a plurality of losing outcomes,

(c) at least one designated outcome that includes a predetermined number of symbols arranged in predetermined positions, and

(d) least one near miss outcome associated with said designated outcome, wherein the near miss outcome includes all but one of the symbols of the designated outcome in the predetermined positions necessary to form the designated outcome;

an optional qualifying wager;

a designated award associated with a paytable; and

a near miss award provided to the player, wherein at least a portion of the near miss award is provided by or funded by a near miss insurance pool associated with the near miss outcome and is independent from the paytable;

wherein the processor is operable with said display device to control a play of the game by;

(a) enabling the player to place the primary wager;

(b) enabling the player to place the optional qualifying wager;

(c) generating one of the plurality of outcomes;

(d) if the generated outcome is one of said designated outcomes, providing the player with the designated award according to the paytable; and

(d) if the generated outcome is one of said near miss outcomes and if the player has placed the optional qualifying wager, providing the player with the near miss award.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect suit.

24. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect rank.

25. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect suit or an incorrect rank.

26. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the designated outcome includes at least three symbols arranged in the predetermined positions.

27. The gaming device of claim 26, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part from a portion of the wagers on plays of the game.

28. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part by a portion of the wagers on a plurality of gaming devices linked through a network.

29. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part by a gaming establishment.

30. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part by at least a portion of the optional qualifying wager.

31. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the near miss award is an award of credits.

32. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the near miss award is a quantity of free plays of the game, said quantity being at least one.

33. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the near miss award is at least one additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome in the game, wherein the processor provides an award of credits if the gaming device generates the designated outcome from the additional opportunity.

34. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein the game includes a plurality of reels and the additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome includes re-spinning the reel having the symbol not in the predetermined position.

35. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein the game includes a payline associated with the plurality of symbols and the additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome includes modifying the shape of the payline to include at least one other symbol not on the original payline.

36. The gaming device of claim 33, wherein the game includes at least one payline occurring across a plurality of reels, and the additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome includes moving at least one of the symbols required for said designated outcome to a different stop position on the reel having the symbol not in the predetermined position.

37. The gaming device of claim 33, which includes an option for the player to directly purchase the additional opportunity, wherein the option is selected from the group consisting of:

an option prior to the game;

an option during the game; and

an option at the end of the game.

38. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the symbol not in the predetermined position necessary to form the designated outcome is one position away from said predetermined position.

39. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

enabling the player to place a wager;

generating one of a plurality of different outcomes, the outcomes including;

(a) a plurality of winning outcomes, each winning outcome associated with one of a plurality of awards, one of the awards provided to the player for each winning outcome,

(b) a plurality of losing outcomes,

(c) at least one designated outcome that includes a predetermined number of symbols arranged in predetermined positions, and

(d) at least one near miss outcome associated with said designated outcome, wherein the near miss outcome includes all but one of the symbols of the designated outcome in the predetermined positions necessary to form the designated outcome;

providing the player with a designated award according to a paytable if a play of the game results in the designated outcome; and

providing a near miss award to the player if the generated outcome is the near miss outcome, wherein at least a portion of the near miss award is provided by or funded by a near miss insurance pool associated with the near miss outcome and is independent from the paytable.

40. The gaming device of claim 39, wherein the symbol not in the predetermined position necessary to form the designated outcome is one position away from said predetermined position.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the designated outcome includes at least three symbols arranged in the predetermined positions.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part from a portion of the wagers on a play the game.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part by a portion of wagers on a plurality of gaming devices linked through a network.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the near miss insurance pool is funded at least in part by a gaming establishment.

45. The method of claim 39, wherein the near miss award is a quantity of free plays of the game, said quantity being at least one.

46. The method of claim 39, wherein the near miss award is an award of credits.

47. The method of claim 39, wherein the near miss award is at least one additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome in the game, and includes providing an award of credits if the processor generates the designated outcome on the additional opportunity.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the game includes a plurality of reels, and wherein the additional opportunity includes re-spinning the reel having the symbol not in the predetermined position.

49. The method of claim 47, including enabling the player to exchange the additional opportunity for a consolation award, wherein the value of the consolation award is less than the value of the award of credits associated with achieving the designated outcome.

50. The method of claim 39, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect suit.

51. The method of claim 39, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect rank.

52. The method of claim 39, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect suit or an incorrect rank.

53. The method of claim 39, wherein the designated outcome includes a first plurality of symbols, the near miss outcome includes a second plurality of symbols, wherein one of the symbols in the second plurality of symbols is different from one of the symbols in the first plurality of symbols.

54. The method of claim 53, including enabling the player to pick the first combination of symbols and randomly determining the second combination of symbols.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the game is a keno game.

56. The method of claim 39, wherein the game includes a plurality of reels each having a plurality of stop positions, at least one payline occurring across said reels, and a plurality of symbols generated on said reels, the designated outcome including a first plurality of symbols generated on the payline.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the near miss outcome is a plurality of symbols located at a plurality of positions on the reels where one of said symbols is located in an incorrect position, said incorrect position being at least one reel stop position away from the payline.

58. The method of claim 39, which is provided through a data network.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein the data network is an internet.

60. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

providing a game operable on a primary wager;

enabling the player to place an optional qualifying wager;

generating one of a plurality of outcomes, the outcomes including;

(a) a plurality of winning outcomes, each winning outcome associated with one of a plurality of awards, one of the awards provided to the player for each winning outcome,

(b) a plurality of losing outcomes,

(c) at least one designated outcome that includes a predetermined number of symbols arranged in predetermined positions, and

(d) at least one near miss outcome associated with said designated outcome, wherein the near miss outcome includes all but one of the symbols of the designated outcome in the predetermined positions necessary to form the designated outcome;

providing the player with a designated award according to a paytable if the designated outcome is generated; and

providing a near miss award to the player if the generated outcome is the near miss outcome and if the player has placed the optional qualifying wager, wherein at least a portion of the near miss award is provided by or funded by a near miss insurance pool associated with the near miss outcome and is independent from the paytable.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect suit.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect rank.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the symbols include a suit and a rank, and wherein the near miss outcome further includes one of said symbols in the predetermined positions having an incorrect suit or an incorrect rank.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the designated outcome includes at least three symbols arranged in the predetermined positions.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the symbol not in the predetermined position necessary to form the designated outcome is one position away from said predetermined position.

66. The method of claim 60, which includes funding the near miss insurance pool, at least in part, from a portion of wagers on plays of said game.

67. The method of claim 60, which includes funding the near miss insurance pool, at least in part, by a portion of every wager on a plurality of gaming devices linked through a network.

68. The method of claim 60, which includes funding the near miss insurance pool, at least in part, by a gaming establishment.

69. The method of claim 60, which includes funding the near miss insurance pool, at least in part, by at least a portion of an optional qualifying wager.

70. The method of claim 60, wherein the near miss award is an award of credits.

71. The method of claim 60, wherein the near miss award is a quantity of free plays of the game, said quantity being at least one.

72. The method of claim 60, wherein the near miss award is at least one additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome in the game, and providing a monetary award if the game generates the designated outcome on said additional opportunity.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein the game includes a plurality of reels, and wherein the additional opportunity includes re-spinning the reel having the symbol not in the predetermined position.

74. The method of claim 72, including a payline associated with the plurality of symbols and the additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome includes modifying the shape of the payline to include at least one other symbol.

75. The method of claim 72, including a plurality of symbols on a plurality of reels and a payline associated with the plurality of symbols, and the additional opportunity to obtain the designated outcome includes moving at least one of the symbols required for said designated outcome to a different stop position on the reel.

76. The method of claim 72, including providing the player with an option to directly purchase the additional opportunity, wherein the option is selected from the group consisting of:

an option prior to the game;

an option during the game; and

an option at the end of the game.

77. The method of claim 60, which is provided through a data network.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the data network is an internet.