SELECT AND DRAG METHOD FOR A GAMING MACHINE

• US 20090275376A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Frank, Kruczynski, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 8,267,763 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 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

The present invention generally is directed to a method for playing a casino gaming device including a select and drag feature. In one embodiment, a player selects values for multiple positions or spots on a game of chance, such as a lottery style game. The player initially selects a value in one of the game positions. The player touches a touch-screen display or other input device located above the game position displaying the initially selected value, and then touches any other game position to copy the initially selected value into the other game positions. In one method, the player touches the touch-screen display located above the touch-screen display, and then drags the initially selected value across the remaining game positions with his finger to set the values for the remaining game positions to the initially selected value. This select and drag feature increases the rate of play for players selecting the same value for multiple game positions.

Claims

1. A method for playing a casino gaming device, the method comprising:

applying credit to a gaming device having a random number generator and a touch-screen display, the gaming device enabling play of a game of chance, wherein the game of chance displays multiple game positions for inserting values related to the game of chance;

selecting an initial value in one of the game positions; and

touching the touch-screen display located above the game position displaying the initially selected value and dragging the initially selected value across the remaining game positions, thereby setting the values for the remaining game positions to the initially selected value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the random number generator generates winning values, and wherein the gaming device compares the winning values to the selected values for the multiple gaming positions.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving a prize for matching a sufficient amount of winning values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein dragging and setting the values for the remaining game positions includes using an algorithm associated with the gaming device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device enables play of a lottery game.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the lottery game displays six game positions from a first game position to a sixth game position displayed horizontally in order on the touch-screen display.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting the initial value of the first game position and touching the touch-screen display located above the first game position and dragging the initially selected value across the touch-screen display from the first game position to the sixth game position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the values are numbers.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the values are symbols.

10. A method for playing a lottery game, comprising:

enabling play of a lottery game on a gaming device, the gaming device having a random number generator and a touch-screen display, and the lottery game displaying multiple positions, wherein a player selects one number in each position;

receiving the player input for selecting a first number using the touch-screen display of the gaming machine; and

detecting the player'"'"'s touch on the touch-screen display located above the first selected number and populating one or more game positions with the first selected number as the detected player'"'"'s touch moves across the remaining positions on the touch-screen display.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising using the random number generator to generate winning values;

and comparing the winning values to the selected numbers in the multiple positions.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising awarding a prize for matching a sufficient amount of winning values.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein populating one or more game positions with the first selected number includes using an algorithm associated with the gaming device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the lottery game displays six positions from a first game position to a sixth game position displayed horizontally in order on the touch-screen display.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the player'"'"'s input for selecting the first number at the first game position and detecting the player'"'"'s touch on the touch-screen display located above the first game position and populating all gaming positions with the first selected number from the first game position to the sixth game position.

16. A method for playing a lottery game, comprising:

enabling play of a lottery game on a gaming device, the gaming device having a random number generator and a touch-screen display, and the lottery game displaying multiple number positions from a first number position to a last number position;

receiving input from the touch-screen display of an initial number in one of the multiple number position;

detecting a touch on touch-screen display located above the number position with the initially selected number and detecting a touch on the touch-screen display located above any of the other multiple number positions; and

using an algorithm to set the detected touched number positions to the initially selected number.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving input from the touch-screen display located at the first number position.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein detecting the touch on the touch-screen display located above the number positions in order from the first number position to the last number position.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein there are six number positions.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising using the random number generator to generate willing values;

and comparing the winning values to the selected numbers in the multiple number positions.