Central determination gaming system with a game outcome generated by a gaming terminal and approved by a central controller

• US 7,291,069 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wolf, Bryan D., Michaelson, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): PEZZUTO, ROBERT ERIC
• Application Number:
  US10/383,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20040176167A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/12, 463/13, 463 19- 27, 463 40- 42, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/236, 273/237, 273459-461
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/006 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

A central determination gaming system including a plurality of gaming terminals in communication with a central controller. In one embodiment, upon initiation of a game at one of the gaming terminals, the gaming terminal randomly generates a proposed game outcome. The proposed game outcome is communicated to the central controller. The central controller determines if a pool of predetermined game outcomes includes the proposed game outcome. If the pool includes the proposed game outcome, the central controller authorizes the proposed game outcome to be provided to the player, flags the authorized game outcome from further authorizations and communicates the authorized game outcome to the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal then provides the authorized game outcome to the player. If the pool does not include the proposed game outcome, the central controller discards the proposed game outcome and instructs the gaming terminal to generate another proposed game outcome for authorization.

Claims

1. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a pool of predetermined game outcomes; and

a central controller operable to;

(a) store said pool of game outcomes, and

(b) for each play of a primary wagering game at a gaming terminal;

(i) to receive a proposed game outcome from the gaming terminal after a player makes a wager on the primary wagering game at said gaming terminal, wherein said proposed game outcome is for said primary wagering game,

(ii) to determine if said pool of game outcomes includes an available game outcome based on said proposed game outcome,

(iii) to authorize said proposed game outcome,

(iv) to prevent said authorized game outcome from further authorization from said pool, and

(v) to output said authorized game outcome to said gaming terminal.

2. The central determination gaming system of claim 1, which includes a plurality of pools of game outcomes wherein said central controller is operable to determine if any of said pools include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

3. The central determination gaming system of claim 1, wherein said central controller is operable to receive a plurality of proposed game outcomes from said gaming terminal and to determine if said pool of game outcomes includes a plurality of game outcomes based on said plurality of proposed game outcomes.

4. The central determination gaming system of claim 1, wherein said central controller is operable to receive a proposed game outcome from each of a plurality of gaming terminals.

5. The central determination gaming system of claim 1, wherein said central controller is operable to discard said proposed game outcome if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

6. The central determination gaming system of claim 5, wherein said central controller is operable to request at least one additional proposed game outcome if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

7. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a pool of predetermined game outcomes; and

a central controller operable to;

(a) store said pool of game outcomes, and

(b) for each play of a primary wagering game at a gaming terminal;

(i) to receive at least one proposed game outcome from the gaming terminal after a player makes a wager on the primary wagering game, wherein said proposed game outcome is for said primary wagering game,

(ii) to determine if said pool of game outcomes includes an available game outcome based on said proposed game outcome,

(iii) to authorize said proposed game outcome if said pool includes said available game outcome based on said proposed game outcome,

(iv) to prevent said authorized game outcome from further authorization from said pool, and

(v) to communicate said authorized game outcome to said gaming terminal,

wherein said gaming terminal includes a display device and a processor in communication with said central controller operable to enable the player to initiate the primary wagering game, to randomly generate said proposed game outcome for said primary wagering game, to communicate said proposed game outcome to said central controller for each play of the primary wagering game and to provide said authorized game outcome to the player.

8. The central determination gaming system of claim 7, which includes a plurality of pools of predetermined game outcomes wherein said central controller is operable to determine if any of said pools include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

9. The central determination gaming system of claim 7, wherein said central controller is operable to receive a proposed game outcomes from each of a plurality of gaming terminals.

10. The central determination gaming system of claim 7, wherein said processor of said gaming terminal randomly generates a proposed game outcome presentation based on probability data.

11. The central determination gaming system of claim 10, wherein said processor of the gaming terminal determines said proposed game outcome based on said proposed game outcome presentation.

12. The central determination gaming system of claim 10, wherein said game outcome presentation is presented to the player when said authorized game outcome is provided to the player.

13. The central determination gaming system of claim 7, wherein said central controller is operable to request at least one additional proposed game outcome from said gaming terminal, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said available game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

14. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a pool of predetermined game outcomes;

a central controller operable to store said pool of game outcomes, to receive at least one proposed game outcome after a player makes a wager on a primary wagering game wherein said proposed game outcome is for said primary wagering game, to determine if said pool of game outcomes includes an available game outcome based on said proposed game outcome, to authorize said proposed game outcome if said pool includes said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome, to prevent said authorized game outcome from further authorization from said pool and to output said authorized game outcome; and

at least one gaming terminal including a display device, a storage device and a processor operable to enable the player to initiate said primary wagering game, to randomly generate said proposed game outcome for said primary wagering game, to communicate said proposed game outcome to said central controller for each play of the primary wagering game and to provide said authorized game outcome to the player.

15. The central determination gaming system of claim 14, which includes a plurality of pools of predetermined game outcomes wherein said central controller is operable to determine if any of said pools include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

16. The central determination gaming system of claim 14, wherein said central controller is operable to receive a proposed game outcome from each of a plurality of gaming terminals.

17. The central determination gaming system of claim 14, wherein said processor of said gaming terminal randomly generates a proposed game outcome presentation based on probability data.

18. The central determination gaming system of claim 17, wherein said processor of the gaming terminal determines said proposed game outcome based on said proposed game outcome presentation.

19. The central determination gaming system of claim 17, wherein said processor of the gaming terminal stores said game outcome presentation when said proposed game outcome is communicated to the central controller.

20. The central determination gaming system of claim 19, wherein said stored game outcome presentation is presented to the player when said authorized game outcome is provided to the player.

21. The central determination gaming system of claim 20, wherein said stored game outcome presentation is discarded if said proposed game outcome is not provided to the player.

22. The central determination gaming system of claim 14, wherein said central controller is operable to discard said proposed game outcome if said central controller determines that said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

23. The central determination gaming system of claim 19, wherein said central controller is operable to instruct said gaming terminal to randomly generate at least one additional proposed game outcome, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

24. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a pool of predetermined game outcomes; and

a central controller operable to store said pool of game outcomes, to receive a plurality of proposed game outcomes from a gaming terminal after a player makes a wager on a play of a primary wagering game at said gaming terminal wherein said proposed game outcomes are for said primary wagering game, to select one of said proposed game outcomes, to determine if said pool of game outcomes includes an available game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome, to authorize said selected proposed game outcome if said pool of game outcomes includes said game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome, to prevent said authorized game outcome from further authorization from said pool and to output said authorized proposed game outcome to said gaming terminal.

25. The central determination gaming system of claim 24, wherein said central controller is operable to receive a plurality of proposed game outcomes from each of a plurality of gaming terminals.

26. The central determination gaming system of claim 24, wherein said central controller is operable to discard said selected proposed game outcome if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome.

27. The central determination gaming system of claim 26, wherein said central controller is operable to select another proposed game outcome from said plurality of proposed game outcomes, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome.

28. The central determination gaming system of claim 24, wherein said central controller is operable to request another plurality of proposed game outcomes, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome.

29. The central determination gaming system of claim 24, wherein said central controller is operable to select each of said proposed game outcomes in said plurality of proposed game outcomes and to store said authorized proposed game outcomes for subsequent wagering games at said gaming terminal.

30. A central determination gaming system comprising:

a pool of predetermined game outcomes; and

a central controller operable to store said pool of game outcomes, to receive a plurality of proposed game outcomes from a gaming terminal after a player makes a wager on a play of a primary wagering game wherein said proposed game outcomes are for said primary wagering game, to select a proposed game outcome from said plurality of proposed game outcomes, to determine if said pool of game outcomes includes a game outcome based on selected proposed game outcome, to authorize said selected proposed game outcome if said pool includes said game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome, to prevent said authorized game outcome from further authorization from said pool and to communicate said authorized game outcome to said gaming terminal, wherein said gaming terminal includes a display device and a processor in communication with said central controller operable to enable the player to initiate the wagering game, to randomly generate said plurality of proposed game outcomes for said primary wagering game, to communicate said plurality of proposed game outcomes to said central controller and to provide said authorized game outcome to the player.

31. The central determination gaming system of claim 30, which includes a plurality of pools of predetermined game outcomes wherein said central controller is operable to determine if any of said pools include said game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome.

32. The central determination gaming system of claim 30, wherein said central controller is operable to receive a plurality of proposed game outcomes from each of a plurality of gaming terminals.

33. The central determination gaming system of claim 30, wherein said processor of said gaming terminal randomly generates a proposed game outcome presentation based on probability data.

34. The central determination gaming system of claim 33, wherein said processor of the gaming terminal determines said proposed game outcome based on said proposed game outcome presentation.

35. The central determination gaming system of claim 33, wherein said game outcome presentation is presented to the player when said authorized game outcome is provided to the player.

36. The central determination gaming system of claim 30, wherein said central controller is operable to discard said selected proposed game outcome if said central controller determines that said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

37. The central determination gaming system of claim 36, wherein said central controller is operable to select another proposed game outcome from said plurality of proposed game outcomes, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome.

38. The central determination gaming system of claim 36, wherein said central controller is operable to instruct said gaming terminal to randomly generate another plurality of proposed game outcomes, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome.

39. A gaming terminal comprising:

a primary wagering game operable upon a wager by a player;

a display device; and

a processor in communication with said display device operable to enable the player to initiate the wagering game, to determine a proposed game outcome for said primary wagering game, to communicate said proposed game outcome to a central controller for each play of the primary wagering game, to receive an authorization from said central controller to provide said proposed game outcome for each play of the primary wagering game and to provide said authorized game outcome to the player.

40. The gaming terminal of claim 39, wherein said processor randomly generates a proposed game outcome presentation based on probability data.

41. The gaming terminal of claim 40, wherein said processor determines said proposed game outcome based on said proposed game outcome presentation.

42. The gaming terminal of claim 40, wherein said game outcome presentation is presented to the player when said authorized game outcome is provided to the player.

43. The gaming terminal of claim 39, wherein each game outcome is a win outcome, a lose outcome or a secondary game triggering outcome.

44. The gaming terminal of claim 43, wherein said processor is operable to determine a proposed secondary game outcome if said proposed game outcome is said secondary game triggering outcome.

45. The gaming terminal of claim 44, wherein said processor is operable to communicate said proposed game outcome and said proposed secondary game outcome to the central controller.

46. The gaming terminal of claim 39, wherein said processor is operable to retain said proposed game outcome in a cache of unavailable game outcomes, if said process does not receive an authorization from said central controller for said communicated proposed game outcome.

47. The gaming terminal of claim 46, wherein said processor is operable to determine if said proposed game outcome is stored in said cache of unavailable game outcomes and discard said proposed game outcome if said proposed game outcome is stored in said cache of unavailable game outcomes.

48. The gaming terminal of claim 39, wherein said processor is operable to determine another proposed game outcome if said central controller does not authorize said communicated proposed game outcome.

49. A gaming terminal comprising:

a primary wagering game operable upon a wager by a player;

a display device; and

a processor in communication with said display device operable to enable the player to initiate the primary wagering game, to determine a plurality of proposed game outcomes for a play of said primary wagering game, to communicate said determined set of proposed game outcomes to a central controller, to receive an authorization from said central controller to provide one of said proposed game outcomes from said set of game outcomes and to provide said authorized game outcome to the player.

50. The gaming terminal of claim 49, wherein said processor randomly generates a plurality of proposed game outcome presentations based on probability data.

51. The gaming terminal of claim 50, wherein said processor determines said plurality of proposed game outcomes based on said plurality of proposed game outcome presentations.

52. The gaming terminal of claim 49, wherein said processor is operable to determine another plurality of proposed game outcome if said central controller does not authorize at least one of said communicated proposed game outcomes.

53. A method of operating a central determination gaming system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) for each play of a primary wagering game receiving a proposed game outcome for the primary wagering game from a gaming terminal after a player makes a wager on said primary game at said gaming terminal;

(b) determining if a pool of game outcomes includes a game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(c) authorizing said gaming terminal to provide said proposed game outcome to the player, if said pool of game outcomes includes said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(d) preventing said authorized game outcome from a subsequent authorization from said pool, if said pool of game outcomes includes said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(e) discarding said proposed game outcome, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(f) providing an instruction to said gaming terminal to randomly generate another proposed game outcome, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome; and

(g) repeating steps (a) through (f) at least once if said pool of game outcomes.

54. The method of claim 53, which is operated through a data network.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the data network includes an internet.

56. A method of operating a central determination gaming system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving a set of a plurality of proposed game outcomes for a play of a primary wagering game from a gaming terminal after a player makes a wager on said primary wagering game at said gaming terminal;

(b) selecting one of said proposed game outcomes from said set;

(c) determining if a pool of game outcomes includes a game outcome based on said selected proposed game outcome;

(d) authorizing said gaming terminal to provide said selected proposed game outcome to the player, if said pool of game outcomes includes the game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(e) preventing said proposed game outcome from a subsequent authorization from said pool, if said pool of game outcomes includes said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(f) discarding said proposed game outcome, if said pool of game outcomes does not include said game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(g) determining if said set of game outcomes includes at least one remaining proposed game outcome;

(h) repeating steps (b) to (g), if said set of game outcomes includes at least one remaining proposed game outcome;

(i) providing an instruction to said gaming terminal to randomly generate another set of a plurality of proposed game outcomes, if said set of game outcomes does not include at least one remaining proposed game outcome; and

(j) repeating steps (a) through (j) at least once, if said pool of game outcomes does not include a game outcome based on said proposed game outcome.

57. The method of claim 56, which is operated through a data network.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the data network includes an internet.

59. A method of operating a gaming terminal, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) enabling a player to initiate a primary wagering game;

(b) randomly generating a proposed game outcome presentation for said primary wagering game;

(c) determining a proposed game outcome based on said proposed game outcome presentation;

(d) communicating said proposed game outcome to a central controller for each play of the primary wagering game;

(e) determining if said central controller authorized said proposed game outcome;

(f) providing said proposed game outcome to the player if said central controller authorized said proposed game outcome; and

(g) repeating steps (b) to (f), if said central controller did not authorize said proposed game outcome.

60. The method of claim 59, which is operated through a data network.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the data network includes an internet.