Method and apparatus for controlling the cost of playing an electronic gaming device

• US 6,254,483 B1
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 07/03/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Acres Gaming Incorporated (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US09/086,964
• Time in Patent Office: 1,131 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/17, 463/18, 463/19, 463/20, 463/23, 463/25, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

Electronic gaming machines, such as slot machines or video poker machines are interconnected by a computer network. The behavior of each machine is controlled by configuring selected parameters such as game speed, payback percentage, or game appearance. As the machines are played, any of the selected parameters may be changed responsive to commands issued over the network. The commands are issued in response to predetermined changes in variables such as rate of play, player status, and the time of the day, week, or month. The payback percentage may be changed by implementing a new pay table at the selected machine or machines or by implementing a bonus period during which a percentage of all money played on the selected machines accrues in a bonus pool. During the bonus period, the selected machines are eligible for bonus awards that may be random or related to jackpots paid based on the pay tables in the selected machines.

Claims

1. A method of configuring electronic gaming machines interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:

implementing selected configuration parameters at each machine;

monitoring a plurality of variables related to play on the gaming machines, including whether a player of one of said machines is recognized by a player-tracking system operated on the network;

permitting play to occur at the machines;

selecting one of the machines when a player thereof is recognized by the player-tracking system;

issuing a computer command from the host computer; and

changing a configuration parameter of the selected machine responsive to the command.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the changed configuration parameter comprises game speed.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the changed configuration parameter comprises payback percentage.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the changed configuration parameter comprises game appearance.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said method further comprises:

setting the payback percentage to a first level when the player is not recognized; and

setting the payback percentage to a second level when the player is recognized.

6. A method of configuring electronic gaming machines interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:

permitting play to occur at the machines;

selecting a plurality the machines;

issuing a computer command from the host computer;

tracking the amount of money wagered on the interconnected electronic gaming machines;

establishing a predetermined criterion relating to the level of tracked money; and

changing the game speed of the selected machines when the level of tracked money satisfies the predetermined criterion.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein establishing a predetermined criterion relating to the level of tracked money comprises establishing a predetermined criterion relating to the rate of money wagered.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said method further comprises decreasing the playing speed responsive to a first rate of money wagered and increasing the speed responsive to a second rate of money wagered.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said method further comprises:

tracking the time;

establishing a predetermined criterion that is a function of the level of tracked money and the time; and

changing the game speed of a plurality of the interconnected gaming machines when the level of tracked money and the time satisfies the predetermined criterion.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of tracking the time comprises tracking the time of day.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of tracking the time comprises tracking the day of the week.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of tracking the time comprises tracking the date of the year.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein said method further comprises:

tracking a player of the gaming machines;

establishing a predetermined player criterion; and

changing said game speed at each gaming machine where a player meets the criterion.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the criterion comprises whether the player is recognized by a player-tracking system operated on the network.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the criterion comprises determining whether the player is wagering at a predetermined rate.

16. A method of configuring electronic gaming machines interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:

defining a first time period;

defining a second time period;

storing data representative of the first and second periods in the computer;

issuing a first computer command from the host computer at the start of the first period;

implementing a first payback percentage for one of the gaming machines responsive to the first command comprising paying responsive to a first payback schedule stored in the electronic gaming machine;

permitting play to occur on the machines;

issuing a second computer command from the host computer at the start of the second period;

implementing a second payback percentage for said one gaming machine responsive to the second command, comprising;

using the network to track the amount of money played on said one gaming machine;

allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool;

initiating a bonus period responsive to the second command; and

paying a bonus via said one gaming machine.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said method further comprises communicating the second command to an input port of said one gaming machine via the network.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein paying the bonus via the gaming machine comprises paying a predetermined additional amount each time a payment is made in accordance with the first payout schedule.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein said method further comprises:

implementing a first payback percentage for a plurality of the gaming machines responsive to the first command;

implementing a second payback percentage for the plurality of gaming machines responsive to the second command;

using the network to track the amount of money played on the plurality of gaming machines; and

paying the bonus via one of the plurality of gaming machines.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein defining first and second time periods comprises:

defining a first time period during which play on the machines is typically at a high level; and

defining a second time period during which play on the machines is typically at a low level.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said second payback percentage is higher than said first payback percentage.

22. A method of configuring an electronic gaming machine comprising:

implementing a pay table in the gaming machine;

monitoring a plurality of variables related to play on the gaming machine;

establishing a predetermined criterion for one of said variables;

permitting play to occur at the gaming machine;

tracking the amount of money played on the gaming machine;

allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool;

initiating a bonus period when said one variable meets the criterion; and

paying in accordance with said pay table and from said bonus pool via the gaming machine.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said one variable comprises the rate at which the machine is played.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein said one variable comprises the time that the machine is played.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein said one variable comprises the status of a player of said machine.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the status of a player comprises whether the player is a member of one of a plurality of classes.

27. The method of claim 22 wherein establishing a predetermined criterion for one of said variables comprises establishing a predetermined level of player play.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein establishing a predetermined level of player play comprises establishing a predetermined rate of play.

51. The method of claim 22 wherein said one variable comprises the amount of money in the bonus pool.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said predetermined criterion comprises a predetermined amount of money accumulated in said bonus pool.

29. A method of configuring electronic gaming machines interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:

implementing selected configuration parameters at each machine;

monitoring a plurality of variables related to play on the gaming machines, including whether a player of one of said machines is a member of one of a plurality of classes;

permitting play to occur at the machines;

selecting one of the machines when a player thereof is a member of one of said classes;

issuing a computer command from the host computer; and

changing a configuration parameter of the selected machine responsive to the command.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the changed configuration parameter comprises game speed.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein the changed configuration parameter comprises payback percentage.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein the changed configuration parameter comprises game appearance.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the status of the player further comprises determining whether the player is recognized by a player-tracking system operated on the network.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein said method further comprises:

setting the payback percentage to a first level when the player is not recognized; and

setting the payback percentage to a second level when the player is recognized.

35. A method of configuring electronic gaming machines interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:

implementing a pay table in each machine;

monitoring a plurality of variables related to play on the machines;

establishing a predetermined criterion for one of said variables;

permitting play to occur at the machines;

tracking the amount of money played on the gaming machines;

allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool;

initiating a bonus period when said one variable meets the criterion;

paying each gaming machine in accordance with said pay table whether or not the bonus period is in effect;

paying a bonus to one of said gaming machines during the bonus period;

ending the bonus period; and

paying no bonuses to any of the gaming machines when the bonus period is not in effect.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein said one variable comprises the rate at which the machines are played.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein said one variable comprises the time that the machines are played.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein said one variable comprises the status of a player of one of said machines.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein said method further comprises:

issuing a unique identification card to a player of one of the gaming machines;

sensing engagement of the card with a reader associated with one of the gaming machines;

monitoring the player'"'"'s play on said one gaming machine;

transmitting data relating to the player'"'"'s play over the network; and

storing the data on a computer connected to the network.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the status of a player of one of said machines is reflected in the stored data and wherein establishing a predetermined criterion for one of said variables comprises establishing a predetermined level of player play.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein establishing a predetermined level of player play comprises establishing a predetermined rate of play.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein the status of a player comprises whether the player is a member of one of a plurality of classes.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein the status of the player comprises whether the player is recognized by a player-tracking system operated on the network.

44. The method of claim 35 wherein establishing a predetermined criterion for one of said variables comprises establishing a predetermined level of player play.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein establishing a predetermined level of player play comprises establishing a predetermined rate of play.

46. The method of claim 44 wherein said method further comprises indicating whether or not the gaming machine is being played at the predetermined level of play.

47. The method of claim 35 wherein said one variable comprises the amount of money in the bonus pool.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said predetermined criterion comprises a predetermined amount of money accumulated in said bonus pool.

49. The method of claim 35 wherein paying a bonus to one of said gaming machines comprises randomly selecting one of said gaming devices and paying the bonus to the selected gaming device.

50. The method of claim 35 wherein paying a bonus to one of said gaming machines comprises paying a bonus to one of said gaming machine responsive to a jackpot at said one gaming machine.

53. A method of configuring electronic gaming machines interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:

implementing a pay table in each machine;

monitoring a plurality of variables related to play on the machine, including the time that the machines are played;

establishing a predetermined criterion for the time that the machines are played;

permitting play to occur at the machines;

tracking the amount of money played on the gaming machines;

allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool;

initiating a bonus period when said one variable meets the criterion;

paying each gaming machine in accordance with said pay table; and

paying a bonus to one of said gaming machines.

54. A method of configuring electronic gaming machines interconnected by a computer network to a host computer comprising:

implementing a pay table in each machine;

monitoring a plurality of variables related to play on the machines;

establishing a predetermined criterion for one of said variables;

permitting play to occur at the machines;

tracking the amount of money played on the gaming machines;

allocating a predetermined percentage of the money played to a bonus pool;

initiating a bonus period when said one variable meets the criterion;

paying each gaming machine in accordance with said pay table; and

paying a bonus to one of said gaming machines responsive to a jackpot at said one gaming machine.