Large prize central management

• US 6,419,583 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Game Technology
• Original Assignee: International Game Technology
• Inventors: Pennington, Richard, Saffari, Ali, Crumby, Hardy Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERUBIN, YVESTE GILBERTE
• Application Number:
  US09/577,556
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42, 463/26, 463/12, 463/27, 463/25, 463/18, 273/138.A, 273/237
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

In a gaming system, a central computer generates a plurality of game win-loss outcome stacks, each stack having at least one “win” (preferably, large-prize) outcome. Sub-stacks, from among the plurality of stacks, are transmitted to casino or other group controllers or computers, each casino controller being coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals. In response to placing a large-prize wager, in addition to normal, local game wager, a gaming terminal requests a large-prize outcome from the sub-stack which is stored in the casino controller. Whenever a casino controller'"'"'s sub-stack is depleted, it requests a new sub-stack from the central computer. Preferably the central computer selects a new sub-stack for transmission according to a selection process which is weighted so as to maintain the ratio of winning outcomes to all outcomes in a predetermined range. When all sub-stacks of a given stack have been transmitted, the central computer generates a new stack to replace the depleted stack.

Claims

1. A gaming method comprising:

providing a plurality of gaming terminals at least indirectly coupled to a central computer, said plurality of gaming terminals including at least a first gaming terminal configured for playing a local game;

generating, in said central computer, at least a first and a second plurality of game outcomes, each of said first and second plurality of outcomes including at least one winning outcome;

using said central computer to select one of said first and second pluralities of outcomes, to provide a selected plurality of said outcomes, wherein said step of selecting one of said pluralities of gaming outcomes comprises using a weighted selection process configured to provide odds for selecting a plurality of game outcomes which maintain average odds of players winning one of said plurality of winning outcomes within a predetermined target range;

transmitting at least a portion of said selected plurality of said outcomes for storage in at least a first storage device remote from said central computer,

receiving a first wager at said first gaming terminal providing eligibility for playing said local game;

receiving an additional wager, at said first gaming terminal;

obtaining at least one gaming outcome from said portion stored at said storage device, in response to said additional wager to provide a first gaming terminal outcome; and

outputting, from said gaming terminal, an indication of a prize win only if said first gaming terminal outcome is a winning outcome.

2. A method claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of gaming outcomes is subdivided, in said central computer, into subpluralities of gaming outcomes and wherein said portion of the plurality of said outcomes comprises one of said subpluralities.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said storage device is coupled to a second computer, different from said central computer, coupled to at least some of said plurality of gaming terminals.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising replacing any of said plurality of gaming outcomes with a new plurality of gaining outcomes whenever all gaming outcomes in a plurality of gaming outcomes has been transmitted.

25. The gaming method of claim 1 further comprising using a random number system to obtain said selected plurality of said outcomes.

5. A method for using a gaming system comprising:

providing a central computer;

coupling said central computer to at least one local casino computer, having a microprocessor configured for providing game outcome draws to gaming terminals;

coupling said local casino computer to at least a first gaming terminal having a terminal processor configured for playing a game;

transmitting, upon request from a specific gaming terminal, a Large Prize game outcome addressed to said gaming terminal;

initiating play at a first of said plurality of gaming terminals by requesting a first additional Large Prize outcome for any game in progress of play of said first gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a first time, wherein said first Large Prize outcome is based on a first selection from a sub-stack of such Large Prize outcomes made at a first-time within a local casino computer requested and received at said first gaming terminal from said local casino computer at said first time;

initiating play at a second of said plurality of gaming terminals by requesting a second additional Large Prize outcome for said game of said second gaming terminal, in response to a user action occurring at a second time, wherein the second Large Prize outcome is based on a second selection from a sub-stack of said Large Prize outcomes made at a second time within a local casino computer requested and received at said second gaming terminal from said local casino computer at said second time;

further in which stacks of such Large Prize outcomes are stored and subdivided into a plurality of sub-stacks of said Large Prize outcomes, each stack initially having at least one winning Large Prize outcome in at least one of its sub-stacks, said central computer being programmed to note when said winning Large Prize outcome is removed from a stack, and further programmed to select and transmit sub-stacks as requested by a local casino computer in a nonrandom manner, whereby the odds that a player can obtain a winning outcome remain roughly constant;

wherein said terminal processors are configured such that when said first and second terminals are configured for playing any game type when game play is initiated and an additional wager for a Large Prize outcome has been placed by a player on at least of said first and second gaming terminals and when said first and second game Large Prize outcomes are received by said first and second gaming terminals, the players of the said first and second terminals will be informed of win/loss results.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said central computer is coupled to a plurality of local casino computers.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said local casino computer is coupled to a plurality of local casino gaming terminals.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 wherein games of at least two of said plurality of gaming terminals are different.

9. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said transmitting of Large Prize outcomes occurs upon request of said gaming terminal.

10. A method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising selecting in said central computer by a process utilizing a random number system, a Large Prize outcome sub-stack, and further comprising transmitting said Large Prize outcome sub-stack upon request of said local casino computer to said local casino computer.

11. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said transmitting Large Prize outcomes includes transmitting to specifically addressed requesting gaming terminals.

12. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said step of transmitting including transmitting over a communication link selected from among coaxial, telephone cable, fiber optics, microwave links, infrared links, and radio communication links.

13. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said game of at least one of said plurality of gaming terminals uses first and second Large Prize outcomes based on first and second Large Prize outcomes received, after requesting said outcomes, at said gaming terminal at first and second different times.

14. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said Large Prize outcome sub-stacks provided by said central computer to said local casino computers and are created, serialized, encrypted, and archived by said central computer and distributed, upon request, to said local casino computer wherein the selection of which sub-stack to distribute is made by a process performed within said central computer.

15. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said local casino computer distributes Large Prize outcome entries from said sub-stack to gaming terminals upon request with removal of distributed Large Prize outcomes from said sub-stack, until said sub-stack is exhausted.

16. A method as claimed in claim 5 further comprising detecting loss of a communication link between said local casino computer and said gaming terminal.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising suspending Large Prize wagering in response to said step of detecting.

18. A method as claimed in claim 16 further comprising returning or crediting Large Prize wagers placed but not yet played in response to said detecting.

19. Apparatus for a gaming system comprising:

a central computer;

a plurality of local casino computers;

a plurality of gaming terminals coupled to said local casino computer by communication links, each terminal having a terminal processor configured for playing a game, said central computer being programmed to store stacks of Large Prize outcomes and to divide said stacks into a plurality of sub-stacks of said Large Prize outcomes, each stack initially having at least one winning Large Prize outcome in at least one of its sub-stacks;

said central computer being programmed to transmit, upon request, a sub-stack of Large Prize outcomes from said central computer, addressed to a specific requesting local casino computer, said central computer being also programmed to note when a winning Large Prize outcome is removed from a stack and programmed to select and transmit said sub-stacks as requested in a non-random manner in which the various stacks from which sub-stacks are selected have varying odds of selection, whereby the odds that a player can obtain a winning outcome remain roughly constant;

said local casino computer being programmed to transmit, upon request, a Large Prize outcome from said local casino computer addressed to a specific to a specific requesting gaming terminal;

said terminal processor ofeach gaming processor ofeach gaming terminal being programmed to request a Large Prize outcome from said local casino computer in response to a user action, and to display on the said gaming terminal the results of the Large Prize outcome.

26. The method of claim 19 in which said process performed within said central computer comprises a random number-based selection system.

27. The apparatus of claim 19 in which said central computer is programmed to transmit, upon request, a sub-stack selected by a random number-based selection system.

20. Apparatus for using a gaming system comprising:

a central computer;

a plurality of local casino computers;

a plurality of gaming terminals, each terminal having a terminal processor configured for playing a game;

means for coupling said central computer to said plurality of said local casino computers;

means for coupling said local casino computer to said plurality of said gaming terminals, said central computer being programmed to store stacks of Large Prize outcomes and to divide said stacks into a plurality of sub-stacks of said Large Prize outcomes, each stack initially having at least one winning Large Prize outcome in at least one of its sub-stacks, said central computer being also programmed to note when said winning Large Prize outcome is removed from a stack and programmed to select and transmit said sub-stacks as requested in a non-random manner, whereby the odds that a selected sub-stack contains a winning outcome remain roughly constant;

means for transmitting a sub-stack of Large Prize outcomes from said central computer to any specific local casino computer of said plurality of local casino computers; and

means for transmitting a Large Prize outcome from any particular one of said local casino computers to any specific gaming terminal of said plurality of gaming terminals.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for transmitting a requested Large Prize outcome sub-stack includes a processor in said central computer and a stored program.

22. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for transmitting a requested Large Prize outcome includes a processor in said local casino computer and a stored program.

23. Apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein said means in said first of said plurality of gaming terminals includes a processor and a stored program.

28. The apparatus of claim 20 in which the means for transmitting a sub-stack of Large Prize outcomes from the central computer further comprises a random number-base system for selecting said sub-stack.

24. A method for wagering for a Large Prize outcome in any style of game comprising:

providing a central computer;

providing a plurality of local casino computers;

providing a plurality of electronic gaming terminals, each of said plurality of electronic terminals including a microprocessor and a memory wherein said memory stores a program for playing any style game, with user input for additional Large Prize wagering and displaying of results, said central computer being programmed to store stacks of Large Prize outcomes and to divide said stacks into a plurality of sub-stacks of said Large Prize outcomes, each stack initially having at least one winning Large Prize outcome in at least one of its sub-stacks;

transmitting, upon request from a first electronic terminal of said plurality of electronic terminals, a Large Prize outcome from said local casino computer to a first requesting electronic gaming terminal;

noting when said winning Large Prize outcome is removed from a stack, and selecting the various sub-stacks as requested by a local casino computer in a non-random manner, whereby the odds that a selected sub-stack contains a winning outcome remain roughly constant;

receiving a first user game play input at said first electronic terminal;

receiving an indication of a Large Prize wager from said user in said first electronic terminal;

determining, in said first electronic gaming terminal, whether the communication link between said first electronic terminal and said local casino computer is operable;

when said communication link is operable, requesting and receiving a Large Prize outcome from said local casino computer after a step of determining whether said communication link is operable;

displaying, on a display screen coupled to said electronic terminal, win/loss results of said Large Prize wager in addition to any results of game play for a particular type of game being played on said gaming terminal.

29. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of creating in said central computerapluralityofstacks of Large Prize outcomes and, upon request from any of the local casino computers, using a random number system to obtain a selected sub-stack of Large Prize outcomes, selected out of one of said stacks, and transmitting said selected sub-stack to said one local casino computer for use by said one local casino computer as a supply of Large Prize outcomes for said plurality of electronic terminals.

30. A gaming method comprising:

providing a plurality of gaming terminals at least indirectly coupled to a central computer, said plurality of gaming terminals including a least a first gaming terminal configured for playing a local game;

providing a plurality of stacks of game outcomes, each said stack being divided into a plurality of sub-stacks of outcomes, each stack initially having at least one winning outcome in at least one of its sub-stacks;

transferring a sub-stack to a local casino computer which connects and controls a plurality of said gaming terminals;

noting when a winning Large Prize outcome is removed from a stack; and

selecting a sub-stack from one of the stacks in a non-random manner whereby the odds that a player can obtain a winning outcome remain roughly constant.

31. The method of claim 30 including the step of assigning varying odds of selection to each stack depending on whether a winning outcome remains in the stack or not, and thereafter selecting one stack for removal of a sub-stack by random selection in accordance with the assigned odds for each stack.

32. Apparatus for using a gaming system comprising:

a central computer, a plurality of local casino computers, a plurality of gaming terminals, several of said terminals each connected to a local casino computer;

said central computer being programmed to store stacks of Large Prize gaming outcomes and to divide said stacks into a plurality of sub-stacks of said Large Prize outcomes, each stack initially having at least one winning Large Prize outcome and in at least one of said sub-stacks, said central computer being also programmed to send said sub-stacks upon request to local casino computers, said central computer being also programed to note when said winning Large Prize outcome is removed from a stack, and tbrther programmed to select sub-stacks from particular, selected individual stacks in a non-random manner, whereby the odds of a player obtaining a winning outcome remain roughly constant.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 in which the program to select an individual stack from which a sub-stack is to be withdrawn uses a system of assigning varying odds of selection to said stacks depending on whether a winning outcome remains in the stack or not, followed by a generally random selection process of selecting said stack in accordance with the assigned odds.