Gaming machine with a feedback control loop to ensure random selections by using a countervailing bias
First Claim
1. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
- producing a first plurality of game outcomes with a non-electrically driven mechanical selector mechanism associated with the gaming machine, each game outcome having one of a plurality of outcome categories, and each game outcome not being predetermined by an electronic mechanism;
storing the first plurality of game outcomes in a memory;
analyzing the statistical occurrence of game outcomes associated with each of the plurality of outcome categories to identify a first bias;
providing a signal when the first bias is identified; and
imposing a countervailing bias with a control mechanism in response to the signal.
9 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates generally to wagering games and, more particularly, to a gaming machine which determines game outcomes with a mechanical selector mechanism. Wagering games with game outcomes produced by a mechanical mechanism have not been widely accepted. Mechanical gaming machines are susceptible to bias from both inherent manufacturing defects and wear related degradation. Because gaming machines must meet regulatory required payback percentages, deviation from random operation may jeopardize the gaming machine'"'"'s license. To overcome bias that may cause operation of the gaming machine outside its regulatory approved technical specifications, a feedback control loop can be implemented in the gaming machine to detect and correct bias as it occurs.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
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producing a first plurality of game outcomes with a non-electrically driven mechanical selector mechanism associated with the gaming machine, each game outcome having one of a plurality of outcome categories, and each game outcome not being predetermined by an electronic mechanism; storing the first plurality of game outcomes in a memory; analyzing the statistical occurrence of game outcomes associated with each of the plurality of outcome categories to identify a first bias; providing a signal when the first bias is identified; and imposing a countervailing bias with a control mechanism in response to the signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
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producing a first plurality of game outcomes with a non-electrically driven mechanical selector mechanism, each game outcome associated with one of a plurality of outcome categories, each outcome category having a payout value, and each game outcome not being predetermined by an electronic mechanism; storing the first plurality of game outcomes in a memory; analyzing the first plurality of game outcomes with a central processing unit to detect a biased outcome category; and changing the payout value of the biased outcome category to offset the effect of the biased outcome category on the payback percentage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A gaming system, comprising:
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a wager acceptor for accepting a wager to initiate play of the gaming machine; a non-electrically driven mechanical selector mechanism for producing a plurality of game outcomes, each game outcome having one of a plurality of outcome categories, and each game outcome not being predetermined by an electronic mechanism; an output detector to determine the outcome category of each game outcome, the output detector further for transmitting each game outcome to the CPU; a memory for storing the plurality of game outcomes; and a CPU in communication with the memory, the CPU for performing a statistical analysis of the game outcomes in each of the outcome categories to detect bias, the CPU further for providing a signal if bias is detected. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, comprising:
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producing a first plurality of game outcomes with a non-electrically driven mechanical selector mechanism associated with the gaming machine, each game outcome associated with one of a plurality of outcome categories, and each game outcome not being predetermined by an electronic mechanism; storing the associated outcome category of each of the first plurality of game outcomes in a memory; analyzing the statistical occurrence of game outcomes associated with each of the plurality of outcome categories to detect bias in the non-electrically driven selector mechanism; and imposing a countervailing bias on the non-electrically driven selector mechanism with a control mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification