GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF GAMING

• US 20130184057A1
• Filed: 01/10/2013
• Published: 07/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Bramble, Paul Francis Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,208,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/21
• 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

Abstract

A method of gaming, game controller and gaming system wherein an amount wagered on a game is determined and symbols selected from a symbol set to display in designated symbol positions, the resulting symbols used to determine a first game outcome. Symbols are re-selected for at least one of the designated symbol positions a number of times depending on the amount wagered, to provide a corresponding number of further game outcomes in which a jackpot prize is eligible to be awarded.

Claims

1. A method of gaming comprising the steps of:

determining an amount wagered on a game;

spinning a plurality of reels to determine a first game outcome; and

re-spinning at least one of the reels a number of times based on the wagered amount so as to determine a corresponding number of further game outcomes in which a jackpot prize is eligible to be awarded.

2. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the number of reels and number of times that the reel(s) are re-spun is selected so as to affect the probability of winning the jackpot prize in the game.

3. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 2, comprising the further step of selecting the number or reel re-spins such that a probability of awarding the jackpot prize is proportional to the amount wagered.

4. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, wherein non-jackpot prizes are ineligible from being awarded in the further game outcomes.

5. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of triggering a secondary game upon an award criterion being met in any of the reel spins, such that during the secondary game a determination is made as to whether to award the jackpot prize.

6. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 5, wherein the award criterion is that a particular symbol, or symbol combination, is displayed resulting from the reel spins.

7. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of selecting which reel(s) to re-spin based on reel re-spin criteria.

8. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 7, wherein the selection is based on at least one of the presence and location of special symbols.

9. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of allocating a percentage of each wager placed in the game to a jackpot prize pool which funds the jackpot prize.

10. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, wherein symbols available for selection in the first reel spin and also available for selection in the reel re-spins.

11. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, wherein for a wager of n credits, the method comprises re-spinning the at least one reel n−

1 times.

12. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 1, wherein for a wager of n credits by m pay lines, the at least one reel is re-spun n×

m−

1 times.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of re-spinning different reels to determine each further game outcome.

14. A method of gaming comprising the steps of:

determining an amount wagered on a game;

selecting symbols from a symbol set to display in designated symbol positions, the resulting symbols used to determine a first game outcome; and

re-selecting symbols for at least one of the designated symbol positions a number of times depending on the amount wagered, to provide a corresponding number of further game outcomes in which a jackpot prize is eligible to be awarded.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first game outcome provides a first opportunity to award a jackpot prize and the further game outcomes each provide further opportunities to award the jackpot prize.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the number of times symbols are re-selected is selected such that a probability of awarding the jackpot prize is proportional to the amount wagered in the game.

17. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 14, wherein non-jackpot prizes are ineligible from being awarded in the further game outcomes.

18. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 14, comprising the further step of triggering a secondary game upon an award criterion being met in any of the game outcomes, such that during the secondary game a determination is made as to whether to award the jackpot prize.

19. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 14, wherein for a wager of n credits, the method comprises performing the step of re-selecting symbols n−

1 times.

20. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 14, wherein the game is a card game, such that the step of re-selecting symbols comprises re-drawing one or more cards displaying the symbols.

21. A method of gaming as claimed in claim 14, wherein the game is a dice game, such that the step of re-selecting symbols comprises re-rolling one or more dice and displaying the symbols.

22. A game controller for a gaming device operable to display play of a reel game, the game controller comprising:

a wager determination module arranged to determine an amount wagered on a game;

an outcome determiner operable to;

determine a first outcome resulting from a reel spin of a plurality of reels; and

determine a number of further game outcomes in which a jackpot prize is eligible to be awarded, the further game outcomes resulting from a corresponding number of selected reel re-spins dependent on the determined wager amount.

23. A game controller as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least one of the number of reels and number of times that the reel(s) are re-spun is selected so as to affect the probability of winning the jackpot prize in the game.

24. A game controller as claimed in claim 23, wherein the number or reel re-spins is selected such that a probability of awarding the jackpot prize in the game is proportional to the amount wagered.

25. A game controller as claimed in claim 22, wherein non-jackpot prizes are ineligible from being awarded in the further game outcomes.

26. A game controller as claimed in claim 22, further arranged to initiate play of a secondary game upon an award criterion being determined in the first or further game outcomes, such that during the secondary game a determination is made as to whether to award the jackpot prize.

27. A game controller as claimed in claim 26, wherein the award criterion is that in a particular symbol, or symbol combination, is determined.

28. A game controller as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a re-selection module arranged to select which reel(s) to re-spin based on determining at least one of the presence and location of a special symbol in any of the game outcomes.

29. A game controller as claimed in claim 22, further comprising a symbol selector arranged to randomly select symbols to display in the first and further game outcomes, wherein symbols available for selection in the first reel spin and also available for selection in the reel re-spins.

33. A game controller as claimed in claim 22 comprising a computer program having instructions for controlling said game controller.

34. A game controller as claimed in claim 33 comprising a tangible computer readable medium storing said computer program.

30. A game controller comprising:

a wager determination module arranged to determine an amount wagered on a game;

a symbol selector arranged to;

select symbols from a symbol set to display in symbol positions, the resulting symbols used to determine a first game outcome; and

re-select symbols for at least one of the symbol positions a set number of times depending on the amount wagered, to provide a corresponding number of further game outcomes in which a jackpot prize is eligible to be awarded.

31. A game controller as claimed in claim 30, wherein the first game outcome provides a first opportunity to award a jackpot prize and the further game outcomes each provide further opportunities to award the jackpot prize.

32. A gaming system comprising a game controller, the game controller comprising:

a wager determination module arranged to determine an amount wagered on a game;

an outcome determiner operable to;

determine a first outcome resulting from a reel spin of a plurality of reels; and

determine a number of further game outcomes in which a jackpot prize is eligible to be awarded, the further game outcomes resulting from a corresponding number of selected reel re-spins dependent on the determined wager amount; and

at least one gaming device providing a display arranged to display play of the game.