Apparatus, systems and methods for facilitating a payout of a gaming device

• US 7,850,522 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 12/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S., Suarez, Jose A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hotaling, II; John M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/113,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20050192086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,059 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463 40- 42, 2731381- 2, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a method provides for determining, based on a first random number, an outcome for a first game play conducted at a gaming device, thereby determining a first outcome and determining an amount to be output as a result of the first outcome, thereby determining a first payout. The first payout is based on a probability of obtaining the first outcome and the first wager. The method further provides for determining, based on a second random number, an outcome for a second game play conducted at the gaming device, thereby determining a second outcome and determining an amount to be output as a result of the second outcome, thereby determining a second payout. The second payout is based on the first payout. In one embodiment both the first and second game plays are initiated in response to receiving, from the player, an initiation signal and a wager.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

causing a gaming device processor to randomly determine, based on a first random number, a first random outcome for a first game play of a primary game conducted at a gaming device, wherein the first game play is initiated in response to receiving, from a player, a first initiation signal and a first wager;

causing the gaming device processor to determine a first payout value associated with the first random outcome, wherein the first payout value is based on a probability of obtaining the first random outcome and the first wager;

after the determination of the first payout value, causing the gaming device processor to determine, based on a second random number, a second random outcome for a second game play of the primary game conducted at the gaming device, wherein the second game play is initiated in response to receiving, from the player, a second initiation signal and a second wager, the receipt of said second wager being independent of the first payout value; and

causing the gaming device processor to determine a second payout value associated with the second random outcome, wherein an amount of the second payout value is based on an amount of the first payout value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the second payout value is based on the amount of the first payout value only if the second random outcome is a qualifying outcome.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a qualifying outcome is a second random outcome that is determined within at least one of a predetermined number of game plays and a predetermined period of time from a determination of the first random outcome.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount of the second payout value comprises a result of subtracting at least the amount of the first payout value from a predetermined amount.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining the predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the predetermined amount is based on at least one of:

a random number,

data representing information associated with the player,

data representing information associated with the gaming device and

data representing information associated with at least one of the first game play and the second game play.

7. The method of claim 5, which includes selecting the predetermined amount from a plurality of different predetermined amounts.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined amount is a maximum amount to be provided for a current segment of a game, wherein the first game play and the second game play are conducted during the current segment, and the amount of the second payout value is determined based on subtracting an amount previously provided during the current segment prior to the determination of the second random outcome from the maximum amount.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second payout value comprises a sum of qualifying payouts previously provided to the player, one of which is the first payout value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first payout value is the only qualifying payout.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an indication of at least one of the first random outcome and the first payout value in association with a current play session.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that the first random outcome is a qualifying outcome; and

only storing the indication of at least one of the first random outcome and the first payout value if the first random outcome is a qualifying outcome.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the second payout value comprises:

determining whether a predetermined amount that is based on a probability of obtaining the second random outcome and the second wager is to be provided or whether the amount of the first payout value is to be provided.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining whether a predetermined amount is to be provided is based on at least one of:

a random number,

data representing information associated with the player,

data representing information associated with a current game parameter and

data representing information associated with a play session.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the second payout value comprises:

determining a payout that, when added to a current credit meter balance, results in an amount input by the player to the gaming device prior to the determination of the second random outcome.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the amount input by the player is a sum of a plurality of amounts input to the gaming device by the player prior to the determination of the second random outcome.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the second payout value comprises:

determining that the first payout value was zero;

determining the first wager; and

adding the first wager to the second payout value.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the second payout value is further based on a parameter of game play.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting the first payout value, and

outputting the second payout value.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, prior to the second random outcome being determined for the second game play, an indication of the second payout value as a payout that corresponds to the second random outcome.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

outputting an indication of how the second payout value was determined.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the second wager is not based on the first wager.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to;

determine, based on a first random number, a first random outcome for a first game play of a primary game conducted at a gaming device, wherein the first game play is initiated in response to receiving, from a player, a first initiation signal and a first wager;

determine a first payout value associated with the first random outcome, wherein the first payout value is based on a probability of obtaining the first random outcome and the first wager;

after the determination of the first payout value, determine based on a second random number, a second random outcome for a second game play of the primary game conducted at the gaming device, wherein the second game play is initiated in response to receiving, from the player, a second initiation signal and a second wager, the receipt of said second wager being independent of the first payout value; and

determine a second payout value associated with the second random outcome, wherein an amount of the second payout value is based on an amount of the first payout value.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions configured to be executed by a gaming device processor to:

determine, based on a first random number, a first random outcome for a first game play of a primary game conducted at a gaming device, wherein the first game play is initiated in response to receiving, from a player, a first initiation signal and a first wager;

determine a first payout value associated with the first random outcome, wherein the first payout value is based on a probability of obtaining the first random outcome and the first wager;

after the determination of the first payout value, determine, based on a second random number, a second random outcome for a second game play of the primary game conducted at the gaming device, wherein the second game play is initiated in response to receiving, from the player, a second initiation signal and a second wager, the receipt of said second wager being independent of the first payout value; and

determine a second payout value associated with the second random outcome, wherein an amount of the second payout value is based on an amount of the first payout value.

25. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

causing a gaming device processor to determine, based on a first random number, a first random outcome for a first game play of a primary game conducted at a gaming device, wherein the first game play is initiated in response to receiving, from a player, a first initiation signal and a first wager;

causing the gaming device processor to determine a first payout value associated with the first random outcome, wherein the first payout value is based on a probability of obtaining the first random outcome and the first wager;

causing the gaming device processor to determine, based on a second random number, a second random outcome for a second game play of the primary game conducted at the gaming device, wherein the second game play is initiated in response to receiving a second initiation signal and a second wager, the receipt of said second wager being independent of the first payout value; and

causing the gaming device processor to determine a second payout value associated with the second random outcome, wherein an amount of the second payout value is based on an amount of the first payout value and the second payout value is independent of the second random outcome.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein a game play segment comprises a plurality of game plays including the first and second game plays, wherein the second game play comprises a final game play of the game play segment, and wherein the second payout value comprises a sum of all previous payouts from the plurality of game plays subtracted from a predetermined maximum amount obtainable for the game play segment.

27. A gaming device comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

determine whether a game play occurrence of an outcome that is randomly determined as a result of an initiation signal, a wager, and a determination of a random number, is;

(i) independent of, or (ii) dependent upon, a game play parameter based on a different game play occurrence, the different game play occurrence being a result of at least one different initiation signal, at least one different wager, and at least one different random number; and

if it is determined that the outcome is dependent upon the game play parameter that is based on the different game play occurrence, determine, based on the game play parameter that is based on the different game play occurrence, a payout value for the game play occurrence of the randomly determined outcome.

28. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein the game play parameter that is based on the different game play occurrence comprises a game play parameter based on a previous game play occurrence.

29. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the game play parameter based on the previous game play occurrence comprises a number of times that the same outcome has previously been randomly determined in a particular segment of game play.

30. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the outcome comprises a first randomly determined outcome and wherein the game play parameter based on the previous game play occurrence comprises an occurrence of a particular second randomly determined outcome between the game play occurrence of the first randomly determined outcome and a previous game play occurrence of the first randomly determined outcome in a particular segment of game play.

31. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the game play parameter based on the previous game play occurrence comprises a number of qualifying wins in a particular segment of game play and wherein the payout value comprises a predetermined base amount divided by the number of qualifying wins.

32. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the game play parameter based on the previous game play occurrence comprises a number of times that a particular symbol has been displayed in a segment of game play and wherein the payout value comprises a predetermined base amount multiplied by the number of times that the particular symbol has been displayed.

33. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the game play parameter based on the previous game play occurrence comprises an amount of time since a win has been determined in a segment of game play and wherein the payout value comprises a predetermined base amount times the amount of time since a win has been determined.

34. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the game play parameter based on the previous game play occurrence comprises a number of bonus rounds entered into in a segment of game play.

35. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the payout value comprises at least one of:

(i) a predetermined base amount minus a sum of all previous payout values provided during a segment of game play;

(ii) the predetermined base amount plus at least one of the previous payout values provided during the segment of game play;

(iii) the predetermined base amount divided by at least one of the previous payout values provided during the segment of game play;

(iv) the predetermined base amount multiplied by at least one of the previous payout values provided during the segment of game play; and

(v) a sum of a plurality of the previous payout values provided during the segment of game play.

36. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the game play parameter that is based on the different game play occurrence comprises a number of proximate gaming devices that are occupied.

37. The gaming device of claim 28, wherein the payout value is further determined based on a status of a player associated with the game play occurrence of the outcome.

38. The gaming device of claim 27, wherein the game play parameter that is based on the different game play occurrence comprises a game play parameter based on a future game play occurrence.

39. A gaming device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

determine, based on a first random number, a first random outcome for a first game play of a game conducted at the gaming device, wherein the first game play is initiated in response to receiving, from a player, a first initiation signal and a first wager;

determine a first payout value associated with the first random outcome, wherein the first payout value is based on a probability of obtaining the first random outcome and the first wager;

after the determination of the first payout value, determine, based on a second random number, a second random outcome for a second game play of the game conducted at the gaming device, wherein the second game play is initiated in response to receiving, from the player, a second initiation signal and a second wager, wherein the second wager is not equivalent to the first payout value and the receipt of the second wager is independent of the first payout value; and

determine a second payout value associated with the second random outcome, wherein an amount of the second payout value is based on an amount of the first payout value.