Systems and methods for presenting an outcome amount via a total number of events

• US 7,452,270 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2004
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/793,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,720 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for operating a gaming system. In one embodiment, an outcome amount associated with a total number of events is determined. For example, a total payout amount associated with a number of randomly generated outcomes may be determined. Based on a parameter associated with a player, the outcome amount is allocated among and presented via the total number of events. The outcome amount may be allocated, for example, based on: a total number of events selected by the player; a total wager associated with a given number of events; and/or predetermined probabilities and/or per-event wager amount(s).

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, from a player, a total wager amount, in which the total wager amount is received in at least one payment;

transmitting an indication associated with the total wager amount to a controller;

receiving an indication associated with a total payout amount from the controller;

receiving, from the player, an indication associated with a total number of slot machine events;

receiving a parameter from the player;

allocating, based on the parameter, the total payout amount among the total number of slot machine events;

revealing at least a portion of the total payout amount; and

paying the total payout amount to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, in which receiving a parameter from the player comprises:

receiving from the player a payout distribution preference.

3. The method of claim 2, in which receiving from the player a payout distribution preference comprises:

receiving from the player an indication of at least one of

a payout frequency preference, and

a payout magnitude preference.

4. The method of claim 2, in which receiving from the player a payout distribution preference comprises:

receiving from the player an indication of a preferred standard deviation associated with the allocation of the total payout amount.

5. The method of claim 2, in which receiving from the player a payout distribution preference comprises:

providing the player with an interface which includes at least two buttons;

determining which button was actuated by the player; and

determining, based on which button was actuated by the player, a payout distribution preference.

6. A method comprising:

receiving, from a player, a total wager amount, in which the total wager amount is received in at least one payment;

determining, based on the total wager amount, a total payout amount;

receiving, from the player, an indication associated with a total number of slot machine events;

receiving a parameter from the player;

allocating, based on the parameter, the total payout amount among the total number of slot machine events;

revealing at least a portion of the total payout amount; and

paying the total payout amount to the player.

7. A method comprising:

receiving a parameter from a player who is playing a gaming device;

determining an outcome amount that is associated with a total number of events that is greater than one; and

allocating, based on the parameter, the outcome amount among the total number of events paying the outcome amount to the player in accordance with the allocation step where paying the outcome amount involves the gaming machine.

8. The method of claim 7, in which the parameter received from the player comprises the total number of events.

9. The method of claim 7, in which the parameter received from the player comprises at least one of:

a payout distribution preference,

a payout frequency preference,

a payout magnitude preference,

a standard deviation associated with said allocating,

a payout order preference, a total wager amount,

an event wager amount,

a total time period, and

a payout currency preference.

10. The method of claim 7, in which the parameter received from the player comprises a payout distribution preference.

11. The method of claim 10, in which the payout distribution preference indicates at least one of a payout frequency preference and a payout magnitude preference.

12. The method of claim 10, in which the payout distribution preference indicates a preferred standard deviation associated with the allocation of the outcome amount.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

retrieving a stored indication of the parameter received from the player.

14. The method of claim 7, in which receiving a parameter from a player comprises

receiving the parameter via at least one of:

(i) a communication network, (ii) the Internet, and (iii) a telephone network.

15. The method of claim 7, in which determining an outcome amount comprises receiving an indication of the outcome amount.

16. The method of claim 15, in which receiving an indication of the outcome amount comprises receiving the indication from at least one of:

(i) a player device, (ii) a controller, and (iii) an event result server.

17. The method of claim 15, in which receiving an indication of the outcome amount comprises receiving an indication of the outcome amount via at least one of:

(i) a communication network, (ii) the Internet, and (iii) a telephone network.

18. The method of claim 7, in which allocating, based on the parameter, the outcome amount among the total number of events comprises:

selecting a subset of the total number of events; and

allocating the outcome amount among the subset of the total number of events.

19. The method of claim 7, in which allocating, based on the parameter, the outcome amount among the total number of events comprises:

determining a plurality of event outcomes based on the outcome amount; and

associating each of the event outcomes with one of the total number of events.