Method and apparatus for casino machine gaming system

• US 6,764,397 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Law Offices of Book & Book Co., Skill Safari, LLC
• Original Assignee: Skill Safari, LLC
• Inventors: Robb, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US09/545,987
• Time in Patent Office: 1,562 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/12-13, 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/29-30, 463/36, 463/40-42, 463/43, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/143.R, 273/292-293, 273/236-237, 273/309, 340/323.R, 700/91-93
• US Class Current: 463/23
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method of calculating a payout for a machine based game, comprising choosing a time period over which a measurement will occur, measuring a playing characteristic of a player during the time period, calculating a rate of play based on the measuring step, and adjusting a payout of a gaming machine based on the calculating step. The method allows a degree of skill to be used in a purely or partially chance-based game, making such games more attractive to potential players. Games which may be susceptible to this invention include any games that are all or partially based on chance or luck, such as slot machines, roulette, wheel of fortune, keno, etc. Games of skill may also benefit from the present invention.

Claims

1. A method of calculating a payout for a multi-player machine based game, comprising:

a. choosing a time period over which a measurement will occur;

b. measuring playing characteristics of at least two players during the time period, each playing a gaming machine;

c. calculating relative rates of play of the at least two players based on the measuring step; and

d. adjusting payouts of the gaming machines based on the calculating step and further on a comparison of the playing characteristics of the at least two players.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the playing characteristic is at least one selected from the group consisting of:

the number of plays per time period and amount bet per play.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the payout is based on an equation having the playing characteristic of at least one of the two players as a variable.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the rate of play and payout increase monotonically with the number of plays per time period.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the rate of play and payout increase monotonically with the amount bet per play.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the payout is based on a look-up table.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is one selected from the group consisting of:

slot machines, keno machines, poker machines, and blackjack machines.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a house advantage at a substantially constant level by adjusting the payout of the gaming machines of the at least two players.

7. The method of claim wherein the time period is between about 10 seconds and 5 minutes.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the time period is between about ½

minute and 3 minutes.

11. A gaming system, comprising:

a central casino server;

at least two gaming machines coupled to the central casino server;

the central casino server configured to;

a. choose a time period over which a measurement will occur;

b. measure playing characteristics of at least two players during the time period, each playing a gaming machine;

c. calculate relative rates of play of the at least two players based on the measuring step; and

d. adjust a payout of the gaming machine based on the calculating step and further on a comparison of the playing characteristics of the at least two players.