Gaming method and apparatus having a proportional payout

• US 6,213,877 B1
• Filed: 10/08/1997
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US08/947,243
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/143.R, 273/148.A, 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/23, 463/21, 463/27, 463/25, 463/26, 463/29, 463/31, 463/42, 463/22, 463/7, 700/232, 700/91, 700/90, 700/92, 700/93, 700/231, 700/1, 700/2, 705/16, 705/17, 705/20, 705/21
• US Class Current: 463/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming machine such as a slot machine is provided having a payout proportional to a wager value. The gaming machine provides a player with the ability to flexibly and automatically increase and decrease wagers, thereby allowing the player to press his bets when he feels lucky, and to decrease his bets when he feels unlucky. Different proportional payout tables are provided for different levels of wagers.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus providing a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to said processor;

said memory storing

a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome, and

a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

said processor operative to

determine a wagered amount,

select, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome,

select from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome, and

determine a payout amount based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wagered amount, said payout amount being greater than said wagered amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, and said payout amount being less than said wagered amount but greater than zero if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome.

2. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said series of proportional payout multipliers includes at least one winning multiplier and at least one losing multiplier, each said winning multiplier corresponding to one said winning outcome, and each said losing multiplier corresponding to one said losing outcome.

3. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein each said winning multiplier has a value greater than 1, and each said losing multiplier has a value less than 1 but greater than zero.

4. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said series of outcomes includes a series of winning outcomes, and said series of proportional payout multipliers includes a series of winning multipliers, each of said winning multipliers corresponding to one of said winning outcomes.

5. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 4, wherein said series of outcomes also includes a series of losing outcomes, and said series of proportional payout multipliers also includes a series of losing multipliers, each of said losing multipliers corresponding to one of said losing outcomes.

6. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a coin acceptor coupled to said processor, said processor operative to determine said wagered amount based on signals generated by said coin acceptor.

7. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a card reader coupled to said processor, said processor operative to determine said wagered amount based on a credit balance stored on a card in said reader.

8. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a network controller coupled to said processor, said processor operative to determine said wagered amount based on signals downloaded via said network controller.

9. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processor is operative to determine said payout amount by multiplying said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wagered amount.

10. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processor is further operative to

determine an updated wagered amount based on said payout amount,

select, from said series of outcomes, an updated resulting outcome,

select from said series of proportional payout multipliers an updated resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said updated resulting outcome, and

determine an updated payout amount based on said updated resulting proportional payout multiplier and said updated wagered amount.

11. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein said processor is operative to determine said updated wagered amount by setting said updated wagered amount equal to said payout amount.

12. A gaming apparatus providing a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to said processor;

said memory storing

a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome, and

a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

said processor operative to

(a) determine a wagered amount,

(b) receive an initiation signal to initiate a game play,

(c) receive a random number for said game play,

(d) select, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome, said resulting outcome based on said random number,

(e) select from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome,

(f) determine a payout amount based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wagered amount, said payout amount being greater than said wagered amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, and said payout amount being less than said wagered amount but greater than zero if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome,

(g) update said wagered amount based on said payout amount, and

(h) repeat operations (b) through (g).

13. A gaming apparatus providing a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to said processor;

said memory storing

a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome, and

a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

said processor operative to

determine a starting credit balance,

receive an input signal,

determine a wager amount based on said starting credit balance and said received input signal, said wager amount being in a range between some to all of said starting credit balance as selected by said input signal,

select, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome,

select from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome, and

determine a new credit balance based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier, said starting credit balance and said wager amount, said new credit balance being greater than said starting credit balance if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, and said new credit balance being less than said starting credit balance but greater than said starting credit balance less said wager amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome.

14. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 13, further comprising an input device for generating said input signal used to select said wager amount.

15. A gaming apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein said processor is operative to determine said new credit balance by using the product of said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wager amount, and applying the difference between the product and the wager amount to said starting credit balance.

16. A method of operating a gaming apparatus to provide a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising the steps of:

providing a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome;

providing a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

determining a wagered amount;

selecting, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome;

selecting from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome; and

determining a payout amount based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wagered amount, said payout amount being greater than said wagered amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, and said payout amount being less than said wagered amount but greater than zero if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said step of determining a wagered amount includes receiving signals generated by a coin acceptor.

18. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said step of determining a wagered amount includes reading a credit balance from a card in a reader.

19. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said step of determining a wagered amount includes downloading a credit balance from a network.

20. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein said step of determining a payout amount is performed by multiplying said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wagered amount.

21. A method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising the steps of

determining an updated wagered amount using said payout amount,

selecting, from said series of outcomes, an updated resulting outcome,

selecting from said series of payout multipliers an updated resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said updated resulting outcome, and

determining an updated payout amount based on said updated resulting proportional payout multiplier and said updated wagered amount.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein said step of determining an updated wagered amount includes setting said updated wagered amount equal to said payout amount.

23. A method of operating a gaming apparatus to provide a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome;

(b) providing a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

(c) determining a wagered amount;

(d) receiving an initiation signal to initiate a game play;

(e) receiving a random number for said game play;

(f) selecting, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome, said resulting outcome based on said random number;

(g) selecting from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome;

(h) determining a payout amount based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wagered amount, said payout amount being greater than said wagered amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, and said payout amount being less than said wagered amount but greater than zero if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome;

(i) updating said wagered amount based on said payout amount; and

(j) repeating steps (d) through (i).

24. A method of operating a gaming apparatus to provide a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising the steps of:

providing a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome;

providing a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

determining a starting credit balance;

receiving an input signal;

determining a wager amount based on said starting credit balance and said received input signal, said wager amount being in a range between some to all of said starting credit balance as selected by said input signal,

selecting, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome,

selecting from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome, and

determining a new credit balance based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier, said starting credit balance and said wager amount, said new credit balance being greater than said starting credit balance if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, and said new credit balance being less than said starting credit balance but greater than said starting credit balance less said wager amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome.

25. A gaming apparatus providing a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising:

means for providing a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome;

means for providing a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

means for determining a wagered amount;

means for selecting, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome;

means for selecting from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome; and

means for determining a payout amount based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wagered amount, said payout amount being greater than said wagered amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, and said payout amount being less than said wagered amount but greater than zero if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome.

26. A gaming apparatus providing a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising:

(a) means for providing a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome;

(b) means for providing a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

(c) means for determining a wagered amount;

(d) means for receiving an initiation signal to initiate a game play;

(e) means for receiving a random number for said game play;

(f) means for selecting, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome, said resulting outcome based on said random number;

(g) means for selecting from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome;

(h) means for determining a payout amount based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier and said wagered amount, said payout amount being greater than said wagered amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, said payout amount being less than said wagered amount but greater than zero if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome;

(i) means for updating said wagered amount based on said payout amount; and

(j) means for repeating said functions of means (d) through (i).

27. A gaming apparatus providing a proportional payout which is proportional to an amount being wagered, comprising the steps of:

means for providing a series of outcomes, said series of outcomes including at least one winning outcome and at least one losing outcome;

means for providing a series of proportional payout multipliers, each corresponding to an outcome of said series of outcomes;

means for determining a starting credit balance;

means for receiving an input signal;

means for determining a wager amount based on said starting credit balance and said received input signal, said wager amount in a range between some to all of said starting credit balance as selected by said input signal,

means for selecting, from said series of outcomes, a resulting outcome,

means for selecting from said series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to said resulting outcome, and

means for determining a new credit balance based on said resulting proportional payout multiplier, said starting credit balance and said wager amount, said new credit balance being greater than said starting credit balance if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one winning outcome, and said new credit balance being less than said starting credit balance but greater than said starting credit balance less said wager amount if said resulting outcome is one of said at least one losing outcome.