Method of playing game and gaming device with an additional payout indicator

• US 5,823,874 A
• Filed: 03/25/1996
• Issued: 10/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Anchor Gaming (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Adams, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MANUEL, GEORGE C
• Application Number:
  US08/622,430
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17, 463/21, 463/22, 463/23, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

Gaming devices comprising a standard gaming unit, e.g., three reels, and a discernible additional payout indicator, e.g., a rotatable wheel. A preferred bonus payout indicator is clearly visible by the player and is actuatable when the reels of the slot machine stop on certain predetermined indicia. A preferred embodiment further comprises a payout multiplier which displays a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a first, standard gaming unit for displaying a randomly selected combination of indicia, said displayed indicia selected from the group consisting of reels, indicia of reels, indicia of playing cards, and combinations thereof;

means for generating at least one signal corresponding to at least one select display of indicia by said first, standard gaming unit;

means for providing at least one discernible indicia of a mechanical bonus indicator, said discernible indicia indicating at least one of a plurality of possible bonuses, wherein said providing means is operatively connected to said first, standard gaming unit and becomes actuatable in response to said signal.

2. A gaming device according to claim 1 wherein said discernible indicia comprises a wheel.

3. A gaming device according to claim 2 wherein said wheel is rotatable.

4. A gaming device according to claim 1 wherein said first, standard gaming unit comprises indicia of reels.

5. A gaming device according to claim 4 wherein said discernible indicia comprises at least one reel.

6. A gaming device according to claim 1 wherein said first, standard gaming unit comprises indicia of reels.

7. A gaming device according to claim 1 wherein said first, standard gaming unit comprises indicia of playing cards.

8. A gaming device according to claim 1 further comprising means for generating at least one discernible indicia of a payout multiplier.

9. A gaming device according to claim 8 wherein said multiplier generating means broadcasts a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

10. A gaming device according to claim 8 wherein said multiplier generating means broadcasts at least one message other than a multiplier by which a payout may be multiplied.

11. A gaming device according to claim 8 wherein said multiplier generating means is randomly controlled.

12. A gaming device according to claim 8 wherein said multiplier generating means is controlled, at least in part, by a player'"'"'s skill.

13. A gaming device according to claim 8 wherein said multiplier generating means comprises a device for shooting projectiles.

14. A gaming device according to claim 13 wherein said projectiles are coins.

15. A gaming device according to claim 1 further comprising means for receiving player input,

said input receiving means is operatively connected to said providing means for actuating said providing means, and

wherein said input receiving means receives said signal.

16. A gaming device according to claim 15 further comprising means for generating at least one discernible indicia of a payout multiplier.

17. A gaming device according to claim 16 wherein said multiplier generating means broadcasts a plurality of values by which a bonus payout may be multiplied.

18. A gaming device according to claim 16 wherein said multiplier generating means broadcasts at least one message other than a multiplier by which a bonus payment may be multiplied.

19. A gaming device according to claim 16 wherein said multiplier generating means is randomly controlled.

20. A gaming device according to claim 16 wherein said multiplier generating means is controlled, at least in part, by a player'"'"'s skill.

21. A gaming device according to claim 1 wherein said providing means comprises a video screen.

22. A gaming device according to claim 21 wherein said providing means comprises an audio speaker.

23. A gaming device according to claim 1 wherein said providing means comprises an audio speaker.

24. A gaming device comprising:

a first, standard gaming unit for displaying a randomly selected combination of indicia, said displayed indicia selected from the group consisting of reels, indicia of reels, indicia of playing cards, and combinations thereof;

means for generating at least one signal corresponding to at least one select display of indicia;

means for providing at least one discernible indicia of a mechanical payout indicator, said providing means indicating at least one of a plurality of possible additional payouts, wherein said providing means is operatively connected to said first, standard gaming unit and actuatable in response to said signal; and

means for generating at least one discernible indicia of a payout multiplier.

25. A gaming device according to claim 24 wherein said multiplier generating means broadcasts a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

26. A method of conducting a wagering game of chance comprising the steps of:

providing a player with an opportunity to place a wager;

displaying a randomly selected combination of indicia, said displayed indicia selected from the group consisting of reels, indicia of reels, indicia of playing cards, and combination thereof;

generating at least one signal corresponding to at least one select display of said indicia;

providing at least one discernible indicia of a mechanical bonus indicator, said bonus indicator indicia indicating at least one of a plurality of possible bonuses, wherein said bonus indicator indicia is in the form of a wheel or reel and is actuatable in response to said signal.

27. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 26 wherein said displaying step comprises displaying a plurality of reels.

28. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 27 wherein said providing step comprises displaying a plurality of bonus indicia on a wheel.

29. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 26 wherein said providing step comprises displaying a plurality of bonus indicia on a wheel.

30. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 26 further comprising the step of displaying at least one value by which a payout may be multiplied.

31. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 26 further comprising the step of displaying a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

32. A gaming device comprising:

a first, standard gaming unit for displaying a randomly selected combination of indicia, said displayed indicia selected from the group consisting of reels, indicia of reels, indicia of playing cards, and combinations thereof;

means for generating at least one signal corresponding to at least one select display of indicia by said first, standard gaming unit;

means for indicating an additional possible payout, said additional payout indicating means continuously displaying a plurality of possible additional payouts and comprising means for indicating whether at least one of said plurality of additional payouts will be provided to a player, wherein said additional payout indicating means is operatively connected to said first, standard gaming unit and becomes actuatable in response to said signal.

33. A gaming device according to claim 32 wherein said payout indicating means further comprises indications that a player will receive a reduced payout.

34. A gaming device according to claim 32 wherein said payout indicating means further comprises indications that a player will not receive a payout.

35. A gaming device according to claim 32 further comprising means for generating at least one discernible indicia of a payout multiplier.

36. A gaming device according to claim 35 wherein said multiplier generating means broadcasts a plurality of values by which a payout may be multiplied.

37. A gaming device according to claim 35 wherein said multiplier generating means broadcasts at least one message other than a multiplier by which a payout may be multiplied.

38. A gaming device according to claim 35 wherein said multiplier generating means is randomly controlled.

39. A gaming device according to claim 35 wherein said multiplier generating means is controlled, at least in part, by a player'"'"'s skill.

40. A gaming device according to claim 35 wherein said multiplier generating means comprises a device for shooting projectiles.

41. A gaming device according to claim 40 wherein said projectiles are coins.