METHOD OF GAMING, A GAMING SYSTEM AND A GAME CONTROLLER

• US 20090209315A1
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Hall, Naomi
• Granted Patent: US 9,679,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

There is disclosed a gaming system and method of gaming for playing a game, wherein in response to receipt of an additional bet from a player, the player is able to obtain at least one additional outcome in relation to which an additional prize is awarded. It is determined independently of whether the player has placed the additional bet, whether to award the additional prize to the player based on an amount bet by the player.

Claims

1. A method of gaming comprising the steps of:

providing a game having prizes for awarding to players of the game based on base outcomes of the game;

enabling, in response to receipt of an additional bet from the player, the player to obtain at least one additional outcome in relation to which an additional prize is awarded; and

determining independently of whether the player has placed the additional bet, whether to award the additional prize to the player based on an amount bet by the player.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is determined whether an amount bet by a player meets a trigger condition for the additional prize.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the amount bet is proportional to a chance of the player being randomly awarded the additional prize.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the trigger condition is based on a proscribed return to player (RTP) for the additional prize.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the one or more additional outcomes is an outcome of a feature game for which an additional prize can be awarded.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the trigger condition is determined based on the probability of the prize being awarded for the feature game and a cumulative bet amount.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the trigger condition is a cumulative bet amount reaching a threshold value.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the threshold value is determined using the equation:

$T=\frac{V}{\mathrm{RTP}}$

where T is the threshold value, V is the prize value and RTP is the return to player for the prize and RTP is based on the probability of the additional prize being awarded for a feature game.

9. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein for each game, the method further includes the steps of:

selecting a set of random numbers for a player, wherein the size of the set is based on the amount bet by the player;

selecting a random trigger number for the game; and

if the trigger number matches a number in the player'"'"'s set of numbers, awarding the additional prize to the player.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the trigger number is selected based on the proscribed RTP for a mystery prize automatically and independently of the player number set selection.

11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one additional prize is a progressive prize.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one additional prize is a fixed prize.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fixed prize is one of a predetermined credit amount, a predetermined cash amount, goods or services.

44. A method according to claim 1 and further including computer program code which when executed by a computer implements the method of claim 1.

45. A method according to claim 44 and further including transmitting said computer program code.

46. A method according to claim 1 and further including a computer readable medium storing a set of computer readable instructions which when executed by a computer implements the method of claim 1.

47. A method according to claim 1 and further including a data signal comprising a set of computer readable instructions which when executed by a computer implements the method of claim 1.

14. A game controller arranged to control play of a game and, in response to an additional bet being placed by the player, enable the player to obtain at least one additional outcome in relation to which an additional prize is awarded, and the game controller including a prize manager arranged to:

award prizes for the game based on outcomes of the game including the at least one additional outcome; and

determine independently of whether the player has placed an additional bet, whether to award the additional prize to the player based on the amount bet by the player.

15. A game controller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the prize manager determines whether an amount bet by a player meets a trigger condition for the additional prize.

16. A game controller as claimed in claim 14, wherein the amount bet is proportional to a chance of the player being randomly awarded the additional prize.

17. A game controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein the trigger condition is based on a proscribed return to player (RTP) for the additional prize.

18. A game controller as claimed in claim 17, wherein each of the one or more additional outcomes is an outcome of a feature game for which an additional prize can be awarded.

19. A game controller as claimed in claim 18, wherein the trigger condition is determined based on the probability of the prize being awarded for a feature game and a cumulative bet amount.

20. A game controller as claimed in claim 19, wherein the trigger condition is a cumulative bet amount reaching a threshold value.

21. A game controller as claimed in claim 20, wherein the threshold value is determined using the equation:

$T=\frac{V}{\mathrm{RTP}}$

where T is the threshold value, V is the prize value and RTP is the return to player for the prize and RTP is based on the probability of the prize being awarded for a feature game.

22. A game controller as claimed in claim 15, wherein for each game, a set of random numbers is selected for a player, wherein the size of the set is based on the amount bet by the player, a random trigger number is selected for the game, and if the trigger number matches a number in the player'"'"'s set of numbers, the additional prize is awarded to the player.

23. A game controller as claimed in claim 22, wherein the trigger number is selected based on the proscribed RTP for a mystery prize automatically and independently of the player number set selection.

24. A game controller as claimed in claim 14, implemented at least in part by a processor arranged to execute program code stored in a memory.

25. A game controller as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one additional prize is a progressive prize.

26. A game controller as claimed in claim 14, wherein at least one additional prize is a fixed prize.

27. A game controller as claimed in claim 26, wherein the fixed prize is one of a predetermined credit amount, a predetermined cash amount, goods or services.

28. A gaming system comprising:

a player interface arranged to enable a player to enter instructions to play a game, the instructions including bet instructions for a base bet and an optional additional bet;

a game controller arranged to control play of a game and, in response to the additional bet being placed by the player, enable the player to obtain at least one additional outcome in relation to which an additional prize is awarded; and

a prize manager arranged to;

award prizes for the game based on outcomes of the game including the at least one additional outcome; and

determine independently of whether the player has placed an additional bet, whether to award the additional prize to the player based on the amount bet by the player.

29. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28, wherein it is determined whether an amount bet by a player meets a trigger condition for the additional prize.

30. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the amount bet is proportional to a chance of the player being randomly awarded the additional prize.

31. A gaming system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the trigger condition is based on a proscribed return to player (RTP) for the one or more additional prizes.

32. A gaming system as claimed in claim 31, wherein each of the one or more additional outcomes is an outcome of a feature game for which an additional prize can be awarded.

33. A gaming system as claimed in claim 32, wherein the trigger condition is determined based on the probability of the prize being awarded for a feature game and a cumulative bet amount.

34. A gaming system as claimed in claim 33, wherein the trigger condition is a cumulative bet amount reaching a threshold value.

35. A gaming system as claimed in claim 34, wherein the threshold value is determined using the equation:

$T=\frac{V}{\mathrm{RTP}}$

where T is the threshold value, V is the prize value and RTP is the return to player for the prize and RTP is based on the probability of the prize being awarded for a feature game.

36. A gaming system as claimed in claim 29, wherein for each game, a set of random numbers is selected for a player, wherein the size of the set is based on the amount bet by the player, a random trigger number is selected for the game, and if the trigger number matches a number in the player'"'"'s set of numbers, the additional prize is awarded to the player.

37. A gaming system as claimed in claim 36, wherein the trigger number is selected based on the proscribed RTP for a mystery prize automatically and independently of the player number set selection.

38. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28, comprising a processor and memory storing program code for execution by the processor to implement the game controller and the prize manager.

39. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28, wherein at least one additional prize is a progressive prize.

40. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28, wherein at least one additional prize is a fixed prize.

41. A gaming system as claimed in claim 40, wherein the fixed prize is one of a predetermined credit amount, a predetermined cash amount, goods or services.

42. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the gaming system is implemented as a stand alone gaming machine.

43. A gaming system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the gaming system is implemented across a network.