Methods of conducting games of chance and gaming devices with multiple pay lines

• US 7,156,736 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2005
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Adams, William R., Hettinger, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US11/086,524
• Publication Number:
  US 20050164776A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463 20- 22, 463/25, 463/30, 273/138.1, 273/143.R, 273/142.R, 273/142.B
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Methods of playing games of chance and gaming devices comprising multiple wagering options. In one aspect, a single wagering unit activates a plurality of pay lines. In another aspect, at least one wager is randomly assigned to at least one pay line. Other aspects include novel arrangements of pay lines and wagering options to add excitement and enjoyment to the gaming experience. According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, one or more indicia for a particular pay line are received for display thereon from at least one other gaming device.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a display configured for a visually perceptible display of a plurality of slot machine reels, each reel having a plurality of indicia, and of a plurality of pay lines;

a wager input device;

a processor operably coupled to the display, the wager input device, and a memory,

the processor being programmed to receive a wager from a player via the wager input device,

the processor being programmed to receive a selection from the player of at least one of the plurality of pay lines,

the processor being programmed to associate at least one of the plurality of pay lines with the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player, according to player gaming activity,

the processor being programmed to display a plurality of indicia on each of the plurality of slot machine reels, the plurality of displayed indicia representing a slots game,

the processor being programmed to determine at least one outcome associated with the slots game according to the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player and the at least one of the plurality of pay lines associated by the processor according to the player gaming activity,

the processor being programmed to provide a payout to the player according to the at least one outcome.

2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to associate the at least one of the plurality of pay lines with the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player at random, according to player gaming activity.

3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the player gaming activity comprises a rate of play.

4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the player gaming activity comprises a value amount associated with the wager.

5. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to access a central database to determine the player gaming activity.

6. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the processor is programmed to receive a selection from the player of at least one of the plurality of pay lines in regard to a first slots game;

the processor is programmed to determine a first outcome associated with the first slots game according to the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player;

the processor is programmed to associate at least one of the plurality of pay lines with the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player, according to the first outcome in regard to a second slots game;

the processor is programmed to determine a second outcome associated with the second slots game; and

the processor is programmed to provide a payout to the player according to the first and second outcomes.

7. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the wager is a single wagering unit; and

the at least one of the plurality of pay lines comprises more than two and less than all of the plurality of pay lines.

8. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player and the at least one of the plurality of pay lines associated by the processor according to player gaming activity comprises at least one slot machine indicia from at least two of the slot machine reels and from fewer than all of the slot machine reels.

9. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the display comprises at least one of an electronic video display, electronically-controlled reels, or electromechanically-controlled reels.

10. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the wager input device comprises at least one of a coin acceptor, a bill acceptor or a card reader.

11. The gaming machine according to claim 1, comprising a pay line input device operably coupled to the processor, the pay line input device being used by the player to provide the selection of the at least one of the plurality of pay lines, the pay line input device comprising at least one of a button, a plurality of buttons, a touch sensitive screen, a touch pad, a mouse, or a light pen.

12. A method of playing a game, the game practiced using a plurality of slot machine reels, each reel having a plurality of indicia, and of a plurality of pay lines, the method comprising:

receiving a wager from a player;

receiving a selection from the player of at least one of the plurality of pay lines;

automatically associating at least one of the plurality of pay lines with the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player, according to player gaming activity;

displaying a plurality of indicia on each of the plurality of slot machine reels, the plurality of displayed indicia representing a slots game;

determining at least one outcome associated with the slots game according to the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player and the at least one of the plurality of pay lines associated by the processor according to the player gaming activity; and

providing a payout to the player according to the at least one outcome.

13. The method according to claim 12, comprising:

automatically associating the at least one of the plurality of pay lines with the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player at random according to player gaming activity.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the player gaming activity comprises a rate of play.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the player gaming activity comprises a value amount associated with the wager.

16. The method according to claim 12, comprising:

accessing a central database to determine the player gaming activity.

17. The method according to claim 12, comprising:

receiving a selection from the player of at least one of the plurality of pay lines in regard to a first slots game;

determining a first outcome associated with the first slots game according to the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player;

automatically associating at least one of the plurality of pay lines with the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player, according to the first outcome in regard to a second slots game;

determining a second outcome associated with the second slots game; and

providing a payout to the player according to the first and second outcomes.

18. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

the wager is a single wagering unit; and

the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player comprises a first plurality of pay lines including more than two and less than all of the plurality of pay lines.

19. The method according to claim 18, comprising:

receiving a further wager of a single wagering unit from the player; and

receiving a selection of a second plurality of pay lines from the player, the second plurality of pay lines including more than two and less than all of the plurality of pay lines, the first and second pluralities of pay lines being non-overlapping.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein:

at least one of the at least one of the plurality of pay lines selected by the player and the at least one of the plurality of pay lines automatically associated by the processor according to player gaming activity comprises at least one slot machine indicia from at least two of the slot machine reels and from fewer than all of the slot machine reels.