Slot machine bonus game

• US 7,713,123 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Games Global Operations Limited (Games Global Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ID Interactive, LLC
• Inventors: Heymann, Jorge, Park, Mike, Gerson, Ignacio
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/459,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20070099687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 10- 13, 463 16- 21, 463/23, 463 25- 27, 463 29- 34, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/141.A, 273/142.B, 273/142.C, 273/142.J, 273/148.R, 273429-432
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A bonus round for a slot game. A player can select random elements in order to win prizes, different elements may have different award amounts. A player is offered an opportunity to receive a hint, and if the player accepts a hint then the player is provided a clue of which random element(s) to select or avoid to obtain a greater award.

Claims

1. A method to play a bonus wagering game, the method comprising:

performing the following on a slot machine;

receiving a wager from a player at the slot machine;

offering the player an opportunity to select a particular element from at least two selectable elements, wherein a winning element out of the at least two selectable elements results in a highest award to the player;

offering the player an option at the slot machine to receive a hint on which one of the at least two selectable elements is the winning element;

displaying a monetary cost for the hint on the slot machine, the monetary cost to reduce a credit meter of the player;

accepting the hint, by the player using the slot machine, wherein in response to the hint being accepted by the player, a non-winning element out of the at least two selectable elements is identified and the monetary cost for the hint is deducted from the credit meter of the player, wherein the monetary cost for the hint increases as a number of potential winning selectable elements out of the at least two selectable elements decreases; and

awarding a bonus award to the player on the slot machine.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein based on the monetary cost for hint, accepting the hint puts the player at no mathematical advantage or disadvantage.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a guess of one of the selectable elements from the player; and

when the guess is the non-winning element, then the method immediately returns to the offering the player an opportunity.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a guess of one of the selectable elements from the player; and

when the guess is the non-winning element, then the method returns to a main slot game which can randomly trigger entry to the bonus wagering game which can then resume the bonus wagering game.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the hint eliminates at least one of the selectable elements.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the hint provides information to the player as to which of the selectable elements should be selected to maximize an award.

7. A method to play a bonus wagering game, the method comprising:

performing the following on a slot machine;

receiving a wager from a player at the slot machine;

offering the player an opportunity to select a particular element from at least two selectable elements, wherein a winning element out of the at least two selectable elements results in a highest award to the player;

offering the player an option at the slot machine to receive a hint on which one of the at least two selectable elements is the winning element;

accepting the hint, by the player using the slot machine, wherein in response to the hint being accepted by the player, a non-winning element out of the at least two selectable elements is identified and the highest award is reduced by a monetary cost that does not reduce a credit meter of the player, wherein the monetary cost increases as a number of potential winning selectable elements out of the at least two selectable elements decreases; and

awarding a bonus award to the player on the slot machine.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein based on the monetary cost for hint, accepting the hint puts the player at no mathematical advantage or disadvantage.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a guess of one of the selectable elements from the player; and

when the guess is the non-winning element, then the method immediately returns to the offering the player an opportunity.

10. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a guess of one of the selectable elements from the player; and

when the guess is the non-winning element, then the method returns to a main slot game which can randomly trigger entry to the bonus wagering game which can then resume the bonus wagering game.

11. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the hint eliminates at least one of the selectable elements.

12. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the hint provides information to the player as to which of the selectable elements should be selected to maximize an award.