Basic wagering game having a continuously modified pay table

• US 7,686,689 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2004
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Thomas, Alfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US10/777,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20050176494A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,240 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/16, 463 20- 21, 463/23, 463 25- 27, 463/29, 463 30- 34, 463 10- 13, 463 17- 19, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/141.A, 273/142.B, 273/142.C, 273/142.J, 273/148.R
• US Class Current: 463/27
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A method of playing a basic wagering game comprises conducting the basic wagering game at a gaming terminal in response to receiving a wager input. The method includes apportioning the wager input among a plurality of winning outcomes for the basic wagering game, such that the apportioning increases a payout amount associated with each of the winning outcomes. The method includes awarding the payout amount associated with one of the plurality of winning outcomes in response to a randomly selected outcome in the basic wagering game being that one of the plurality of winning outcomes. The method is implemented in a gaming system comprising a plurality of gaming terminals and a controller. The controller is coupled to each of the gaming terminals and receives wager-input signals from the gaming terminals. In response to receiving the wager-input signal, the controller allocates a portion of the wager input among the winning outcomes.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

a plurality of gaming terminals that play a basic wagering game in response to receiving wager inputs from players, each of said plurality of gaming terminals configured to achieve a plurality of winning outcomes that each have a corresponding payout amount, said plurality of winning outcomes being determined by various symbol combinations, each of said plurality of gaming terminals including a display that displays a pay table with each of said plurality of winning outcomes and said corresponding payout amount, a majority of said payout amounts each providing a different corresponding progressive award, said progressive awards being displayed in the pay table; and

a controller coupled to each of said plurality of gaming terminals and receiving wager-input signals from said plurality of gaming terminals, in response to receiving a wager-input signal from one of said plurality of gaming terminals, said controller allocating portions of said wager input among said progressive awards and sending an update pay-table signal to said plurality of gaming terminals to instruct said plurality of gaming terminals to update said corresponding progressive awards displayed in said pay table, said pay table being continuously displayed as said progressive awards are being updated.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said update pay-table signal is sent on a real-time basis.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said update pay-table signal is sent on a periodic basis.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of gaming terminals are a bank of terminals within one gaming establishment and said controller is located within said gaming establishment.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of gaming terminals are located in one gaming establishment and said controller is located remotely from said gaming establishment.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of gaming terminals are located in different gaming establishments.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said controller allocates said portions of said wager inputs only to selected ones of said plurality of winning outcomes.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein unselected ones of said plurality of winning outcomes receive a portion of wager inputs inputted at only the local one of said plurality of gaming terminals.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of gaming terminals further receive player-identification information that is transmitted to said controller, said controller allowing said basic wagering game to be conducted by a player in response to said player-identification information meeting certain criteria.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein other winning outcomes not in said majority of said winning outcomes are associated with payment amounts funded by a local gaming machine.

11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein local wager inputs from said local gaming machine are allocated among said other winning outcomes, and said corresponding payout amounts within said displayed pay table on said local gaming machine are updated.

12. A method of conducting a basic wagering game, comprising:

conducting a plurality of sessions of said basic wagering game at a plurality of gaming terminals including receiving a wager input for each of said plurality of gaming sessions, said basic wagering game having a plurality of winning outcomes and a payout amount corresponding to each of said plurality of winning outcomes, said winning outcomes being determined by various symbol combinations, each of said plurality of gaming terminals including a display that displays a pay table that includes each of said plurality of winning outcomes and said corresponding payout amount; and

apportioning, using a controller, said wager inputs from said plurality of sessions among said payout amounts for a majority of said winning outcomes of said basic wagering game being conducted at said plurality of gaming terminals so as to increase said payout amounts, said majority of said payout amounts each providing a different corresponding progressive award, said progressive awards being continuously displayed in said pay table as said progressive awards are being increased.

13. The method of claim 12, further including receiving player-identification information, said conducting and apportioning only occurring in response to said player-identification information meeting certain criteria.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said some of said plurality of sessions occur sequentially at one of said plurality of gaming terminals.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said apportioning is accomplished by a controller located remotely from said plurality of gaming terminals.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said plurality of gaming terminals are located within a gaming establishment, said apportioning is accomplished by a controller located within said gaming establishment.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said progressive awards are continuously displayed as said progressive awards are being increased on a real-time basis.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said progressive awards are continuously displayed as said progressive awards are being increased at each of said plurality of gaming terminals after one of said sessions.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said apportioning of said wager inputs is for only selected ones of said plurality of winning outcomes.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein unselected ones of said plurality of winning outcomes receive a portion of wager inputs inputted at only the local one of said plurality of gaming terminals.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein other winning outcomes not in said majority of said winning outcomes are associated with displayed payment amounts funded locally by a local gaming machine.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said apportioning includes apportioning local wager inputs from said local gaming machine among said other winning outcomes so as to increase said displayed payout amounts on said local gaming machine.