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

• US 6,663,488 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1998
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Adams, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Graham, Mark S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gorden, Raeann
• Application Number:
  US09/157,995
• Time in Patent Office: 1,911 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143.R, 273/138.2, 273/138.1, 273/138.A, 273/138.R, 273/292, 463/12, 463/13, 463/20
• 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 method of conducting a game of chance comprising:

placing a wager to enable initiation of play on a primary gaming unit;

displaying an indicia set available from a plurality of possible indicia and randomly selected therefrom by said primary gaming unit, wherein at least one of said indicia of said displayed indicia set is a winning indicia resulting in crediting of winnings;

providing at least one opportunity to change less than all of said winnings responsive to the presence of said winning indicia in said displayed indicia set through play on a secondary gaming unit configured to display a randomly selected indicia of a change to said winnings from said play on said primary gaming unit.

2. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising displaying said randomly selected indicia of a change on said secondary gaming unit using a movable mechanical bonus indicator in the form of a disc.

3. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising displaying said randomly selected indicia of a change on said secondary gaming unit using a rotatable wheel.

4. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising displaying said randomly selected indicia of a change on said secondary gaming unit as at least one whole number multiplier as an indicia of a change to said winnings.

5. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising displaying said randomly selected indicia of a change on said secondary gaming unit as at least a fractional multiplier.

6. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising displaying said randomly selected indicia of a change on said secondary gaming unit as at least one whole number.

7. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising displaying said randomly selected indicia of a change on said secondary gaming unit as at least a plurality of whole number multipliers.

8. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising displaying said randomly selected indicia of a change on said secondary gaming unit as at least one whole number multiplier and at least one fractional multiplier.

9. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising displaying said randomly selected indicia of a change on said secondary gaming unit as at least one indicia which reduces said player'"'"'s winning to zero.

10. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising providing a plurality of opportunities to change said winnings with said secondary gaming unit.

11. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 10 further comprising providing a plurality of opportunities to change said winnings with play on said secondary gaming unit only if said winnings are not reduced by play on said secondary gaming unit.

12. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising providing a plurality of opportunities to change said with play on said secondary gaming unit until said winnings are reduced to zero by play on said secondary gaming unit.

13. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 12 further comprising selecting a predetermined number of said plurality of opportunities.

14. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 1 further comprising an opportunity to change said winnings only if an amount of said winnings from said primary game is higher than a predetermined value.

15. A method of conducting a game of chance according to claim 14 further comprising providing an opportunity to change the amount of said winnings which is higher than said predetermined value.

16. A method of conducting a game of chance comprising:

placing a wager to enable initiation of play on a primary gaming unit;

displaying an indicia set available from a plurality of possible indicia and randomly selected therefrom by said primary gaming unit, wherein at least one of said indicia of said displayed indicia set is a winning indicia resulting in crediting of winnings;

providing at least one opportunity to change less than all of said winnings responsive to the presence of said winning indicia in said displayed indicia set through play on a secondary gaming unit configured to display a randomly selected indicia of a change to said winnings from said play on said primary gaming unit, wherein said providing at least one opportunity to change said winnings comprises providing at least one opportunity to wager less than all of said winnings from said play on said primary gaming unit.

17. A gaming device comprising:

a first unit configured for randomly selecting and displaying a first indicia set comprising a plurality of indicia from a plurality of possible indicia sets, wherein the possible indicia sets comprise at least one winning indicia set, and to indicate that a player has won a prize if a winning indicia set has been selected;

a second unit configured for randomly selecting and displaying at least one additional indicia from a plurality of possible indicia to change less than all of a prize indicated by the first unit when said first indicia set is one of a preselected plurality of winning indicia sets;

wherein said second unit is configured for receiving player input to optionally activate said second unit.

18. A gaming device according to claim 17 wherein said plurality of possible indicia available for selection by said second unit comprises at least one whole number multiplier.

19. A gaming device according to claim 17 wherein said plurality of possible indicia available for selection by said second unit comprises at least one fractional number.

20. A gaming device according to claim 17 wherein said plurality of possible indicia available for selection by said second unit comprises at least one indicia which reduces said player'"'"'s winning to zero.