Game of chance

• US 5,695,402 A
• Filed: 04/10/1996
• Issued: 12/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bob Stupak
• Original Assignee: Bob Stupak
• Inventors: Stupak, Bob
• Primary Examiner(s): LAYNO, BENJAMIN
• Application Number:
  US08/632,726
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143 R, 273/138 A, 273/387, 273/274, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 463/20, 463/26
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A game of chance and a gaming machine for playing the game are disclosed. The gaming machine preferably comprises a slot or video machine which has been modified to include a successive loss counter and a loss indicator, and to pay a jackpot amount if the results of a predetermined number of successive games played on the machine are losing results. In accordance with the method, a player activates the machine by placing a bet and then plays the game. If the result of the game is a predetermined losing combination, the loss indicator is illuminated. If the particular loss results cumulatively in a predetermined number of successive losing games played on the machine, the player is paid a winning jackpot amount.

Claims

1. A gaming machine providing a game in which a jackpot amount is paid upon achievement of a predetermined number of successive losing spins, said machine comprising multiple game indicia displays which randomly display a winning or losing combination of indicia, means for accepting an initial bet of a number of credits at least equal to the predetermined number of successive losses required for a jackpot win multiplied by a minimum wager amount required for each spin, means for decrementing at least said minimum wager prior to each spin of the game, means for paying winnings, counting means for counting successive losing games, display means for displaying the number of successive losing spins of the game, and means for paying a jackpot amount of at least 100 credits upon achievement of said successive number of losing spins,

means for actuating each spin of the machine in succession and decrementing said initial bet at least said minimum wager for each spin,

means for determining if the result of each spin is a winning or a losing combination and for paying winnings and returning any unused credits of said initial bet to the player if the result of any spin is a winning result, said jackpot paid if the player obtains at least five consecutive losing combinations, and

means for fixing the probability of winning each spin within the game according to a predetermined probability schedule in which the probabilities of winning successive spins differ.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the machine has means for paying a jackpot amount of at least 500 times the initial bet upon achievement of at least eight successive losing spins.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the machine has means for paying a jackpot amount of at least 1000 times the initial bet upon achievement of at least ten successive game results.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1 wherein the probabilities of winning each game are identical.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said gaming machine comprises a video poker machine.

6. A method of playing a game of chance comprising selecting as a game a set of a predetermined number of spins, paying a jackpot amount upon achievement of a predetermined number of successive losing spins of the set, establishing probabilities of obtaining a winning result such that the probabilities for each spin in the succession of losing spins are not equal but the probability of obtaining a winning result from each game set is the same, said method including

inserting a number of credits into the machine at least equal to the predetermined number of successive loses required for a jackpot win,

actuating a first spin of the set using the first unit of credits, the machine randomly displaying either a winning or a losing result according to said probabilities,

if the result of the first spin is a winning result, paying the player for obtaining the winning result and returning remaining unused credits to the player, in which case the game set is over,

if the result of the first spin is a losing result, the player actuating a second spin of the game set using a second unit of credits,

if the result of the second spin is a winning result, paying the player for obtaining the winning result and returning remaining unused credits to the player, in which case the game set is over,

if the result of the second spin is a losing result, the player actuating a third spin with a third unit of credits,

continuing to play the game set by decrementing unused credits for each successive spin until either a winning result is achieved or the predetermined number of successive losing spins of the game set is achieved, and

paying a jackpot amount if the predetermined number of successive losing spins of the game set is achieved.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined number of successive spins of the game set required to win the jackpot amount is at least five.

8. If the method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined number of successive spins of the game set required to win the jackpot amount is at least eight.

9. If the method of claim 6 wherein the predetermined number of successive spins of the game set required to win the jackpot amount is at least ten.

10. The method of claim 6 in which the jackpot amount is at least 100 credits.

11. The method of claim 6 in which the jackpot amount is at least 500 credits.

12. The method of claim 6 in which the jackpot amount is at least 1000 credits.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the probability of winning on some of the spins in the sequence of successive spins is greater than 50%, and the probability of winning on some of the spins in the succession of losing spins is less than 50%.

14. An improved gaming machine for providing a jackpot when a player obtains a set consisting of a predetermined number of consecutive losing outcomes comprising:

(i) means for generating a game outcome each time the machine is initiated, certain outcomes designated as winning outcomes and the remainder of the outcomes designated as losing outcomes;

(ii) a display for displaying the outcome;

(iii) means for accepting a bet from the player in at least an amount equal to said predetermined number of consecutive losing outcomes multiplied by a preselected minimum wager per outcome and for debiting from the bet said wager before for each outcome is generated;

(iv) means for initiating the outcomes in succession, and

(v) means for paying the player according to the following,

(a) if the player obtains a winning outcome before completing the set of outcomes, paying the player an amount determined by said winning outcome and the balance of the player'"'"'s bet,

(b) if the player obtains the predetermined number of losing outcomes, paying the player a jackpot.

15. The machine of claim 14 wherein the outcome generating means are adapted to (i) generate different probabilities of obtaining a winning outcome for at least several outcomes of the set and (ii) generate the same probabilities of obtaining a winning outcome for each set of outcomes.

16. The machine of claim 14 or 15 wherein the set is at least five outcomes.

17. The machine of claim 14 or 15 wherein the set is at least ten outcomes.

18. A method for playing a game of chance using a gaming machine of the type which accepts a minimum wager (W) per spin, generates for each spin an outcome, certain of said outcomes designated as winning outcomes for which an amount is paid to the player and the remainder of said outcomes designated as losing outcomes, the method comprising:

providing a set of spins;

selecting a predetermined number of consecutive spins of losing outcomes (N) of the set as a consecutive loss win;

the player initially betting a block amount to play a set of spins at least equal to N×

W;

the player initiating the machine for each spin, the machine for each spin debiting W from the block amount; and

if the outcome of any of the spins played of the set is a winning outcome, the machine paying the player a corresponding amount for said outcome and returning the balance of said block amount remaining and if the player obtains N consecutive spins of losing outcomes, paying the player a consecutive loss jackpot.

19. The method of claim 18 including providing the machine such that the probability of winning each spin in the set is predetermined and increases for games played in the set.

20. The method of claim 19 providing the machine such that the probability of obtaining a winning outcome for each set of spins is the same.

21. The method of claim 18 including selecting N as at least five consecutive losing outcomes.

22. The method of claim 18 including selecting N as at least ten consecutive losing outcomes.

23. The method of claim 18 further including providing an indicator to indicate the number of consecutive loses for the player to see.