Methods of Conducting Games of Chance And Gaming Devices With Multiple Pay Lines

• US 20070111782A1
• Filed: 01/02/2007
• Published: 05/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Adams, William, Hettinger, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,329,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Methods of playing games of chance and gaming devices comprising multiple wagering options. In one aspect, a single wagering unit activates a plurality of pay lines. In another aspect, at least one wager is randomly assigned to at least one pay line. Other aspects include novel arrangements of pay lines and wagering options to add excitement and enjoyment to the gaming experience. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, one or more indicia for a particular pay line are received for display thereon from at least one other gaming device.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices,

each gaming device comprising a display comprising an image of a plurality of reels, each of said reels comprising a plurality of indicia positions;

each gaming device comprising at least one pay line defining a combination of the indicia positions;

each gaming device comprising a control device;

the control device of at least one of the plurality of gaming devices programmed to determine if a wager has been received;

the control device of the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices programmed to receive at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices and to randomly generate a plurality of indicia associated with the indicia positions other that the at least one of the indicia positions; and

the control device of the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices programmed to evaluate the plurality of indicia in the combination of indicia positions of the at least one pay line against a criterion for a winning combination of indicia.

2. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the control device of at least one of the plurality of gaming devices is programmed to receive at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices and to randomly generate a plurality of indicia associated with the indicia positions other that the at least one of the indicia positions if at least one of the indicia positions appears along the at least one pay line of the at least one of the plurality of gaming machines.

3. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein a blank indicia is initially displayed in the at least one of the indicia positions, and the at least one indicia received from the at least another of the plurality of gaming devices is subsequently displayed in the at least one of the indicia positions.

4. The gaming system according to claim 3, wherein the blank indicia is one of an empty position, a question mark or another symbol not associated with any possibility of a winning combination of indicia.

5. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the at least another of the plurality of gaming devices operates independently of any player.

6. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the at least another of the plurality of gaming devices is a centrally located gaming device.

7. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the at least another of the plurality of gaming devices is a peripherally located gaming device.

8. The gaming system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of gaming devices are networked.

9. The gaming system according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of gaming devices are connected by a local area network, a wide area network or the Internet.

10. The gaming system according to claim 1, comprising another display on which the at least one indicia is displayed to more than the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices.

11. A gaming method comprising:

receiving a wager;

displaying an image at each of a plurality of gaming devices, the image of a plurality of reels, each of the reels comprising a plurality of indicia positions;

providing at least one pay line at each of the plurality of gaming devices, the at least one pay line defining a combination of the indicia positions;

receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices;

randomly generating a plurality of indicia associated with the indicia positions other that the at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices; and

evaluating the plurality of indicia in the combination of indicia positions of the at least one pay line against a criterion for a winning combination of indicia.

12. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising triggering an award upon receipt of a predetermined indicia from the at least another of the plurality of gaming devices.

13. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices at random.

14. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices according to a predetermined sequence.

15. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices upon each spin.

16. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices only when certain indicia positions which may receive the at least one indicia are in a predetermined configuration.

17. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices according to a substantially contemporaneous spin or other activation of the at least another of the plurality of gaming devices.

18. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices upon a request from the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices to the at least another of the plurality of gaming devices.

19. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising automatically receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices.

20. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising receiving at least one indicia associated with at least one of the indicia positions for the at least one of the plurality of gaming devices from at least another of the plurality of gaming devices operate independently of any player.