Gaming method and apparatus for employing negative outcomes

• US 8,070,577 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Tulley, Stephen C., Zucker, David F., Rogers, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner, Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): PINHEIRO, JASON PAUL
• Application Number:
  US10/420,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20040014522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,150 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing a negative outcome at a gaming device. The system determines that a player of a gaming device has equity which may be debited. An outcome of the gaming device is determined, and it is also determined that the outcome is a negative outcome. The balance (e.g., of the gaming device or another gaming device) is reduced by more than the wager amount.

Claims

1. An article of manufacture comprising:

a display device;

a processor; and

a memory device configured to store a program, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to operate with the display device to;

(a) display a credit balance having a first amount of credit greater than zero;

(b) after displaying said credit balance, receive, from a player, a request to initiate a play of a primary game, the request including a placement of a wager amount greater than zero; and

(c) after receiving said request;

(A) initiate the play of the primary game; and

(B) for each initiated play of the primary game;

(i) deduct the wager amount from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of said wager amount and prior to determining any outcome of the play of the primary game, said displayed credit balance has a second, different amount of credit;

(ii) after deducting the wager amount, randomly determine one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes for the play of the primary game, the plurality of different primary game outcomes including at least one negative outcome; and

(iii) if the randomly determined outcome of the play of the primary game is said at least one negative outcome, deduct a negative outcome amount greater than zero from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of the negative outcome amount, said displayed credit balance has a third amount of credit, said deduction of the negative outcome amount occurring prior to any other wager amount being placed in association with another request to initiate another play of the primary game.

2. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the negative outcome amount is based, at least in part, on the randomly determined outcome.

3. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the negative outcome amount is based, at least in part, on a percentage of the second credit balance.

4. The article of manufacture of claim 3, wherein the percentage is based on the second amount of credit.

5. The article of manufacture of claim 4, wherein when executed by the processor, the program causes the processor to use a first percentage if the second amount of credit is above a predetermined threshold and use a second, different percentage if the second amount of credit is below the predetermined threshold.

6. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the negative outcome amount is greater than the wager amount.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the negative outcome amount is twice the wager amount.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 6, wherein the negative outcome amount is a predetermined multiple of the wager amount.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the negative outcome amount is based, at least in part, on a random determination.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the negative outcome amount is based, at least in part, on an amount of time which has elapsed.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the negative outcome amount is based, at least in part, on a plurality of randomly determined outcomes.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the negative outcome amount is based, at least in part, on the randomly determined outcome and at least one previous randomly determined outcome.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 12, wherein when executed by the processor, the program causes the processor to evaluate the at least one previous randomly determined outcome to determine if the at least one previous randomly determined outcome was the negative outcome.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the program causes the processor to determine a number of times said at least one negative outcome has occurred previously.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein said at least one negative outcome amount is based, at least in part, on a total number of outcomes associated with the player.

16. An article of manufacture comprising:

a display device;

a processor; and

a memory device configured to store a program, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to operate with the display device to;

(a) display a credit balance having a first amount of credit greater than zero; and

(b) for each initiated play of a primary game;

(i) after displaying said credit balance and in response to receiving a request from a player to initiate the play of the primary game, deduct a wager amount greater than zero from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of said wager amount and prior to determining any outcome of the play of the primary game, said displayed credit balance has a second, different amount of credit;

(ii) after deducting the wager amount, randomly determining one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes for the play of the primary game, the plurality of different primary game outcomes including at least one negative outcome;

(iii) if the randomly determined outcome of the play of the primary game is said at least one negative outcome, deduct a negative outcome amount greater than zero from the displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of the negative outcome amount, said displayed credit balance has a third amount of credit, said deduction of the negative outcome amount occurring prior to;

(A) any other wager being placed in association with another request to initiate another play of the primary game; and

(B) adding any amount of credit to said displayed credit balance in association with the play of the primary game; and

(iv) thereafter, if said displayed credit balance has an amount of credit greater than zero, provide the player with at least a portion of said displayed credit balance.

17. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming device including at least one input device and at least one display device; and

at least one controller configured to operate with said at least one gaming device to;

(a) display a credit balance having a first amount of credit greater than zero; and

(b) for each initiated play of a primary game;

(i) after displaying said credit balance and in response to receiving a request from a player to initiate the play of the primary game, deduct a wager amount greater than zero from said credit balance such that, after said deduction of said wager amount and prior to determining any outcome of the play of the primary game, said displayed credit balance has a second, different amount of credit;

(ii) after deducting the wager amount, randomly determine one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes for the play of the primary game, the plurality of different primary game outcomes including at least one negative outcome;

(iii) if the randomly determined outcome for the play of the primary game is said at least one negative outcome, deduct a negative outcome amount greater than zero from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of the negative outcome amount, said displayed credit balance has a third amount of credit, said deduction of the negative outcome amount occurring prior to another wager being placed in association with another request to initiate another play of the primary game; and

(iv) thereafter, if said displayed credit balance has an amount of credit greater than zero, enable the player to cash out at least a portion of said displayed credit balance.

18. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming device including at least one input device and at least one display device; and

at least one controller configured to operate with said at least one gaming device to;

(a) display a credit balance having a first amount of credit greater than zero;

(b) after displaying said credit balance, receive, from a player, a request to initiate a play of a primary game, the request including a placement of a wager amount greater than zero; and

(c) after receiving said request;

(A) initiate the play of the primary game; and

(B) for each initiated play of the primary game;

(i) deduct the wager amount from said credit balance such that, after said deduction of said wager amount and prior to determining any outcome of the play of the primary game, said displayed credit balance has a second, different amount of credit;

(ii) after deducting the wager amount, randomly generate one of a plurality of, different primary game outcomes for the play of the primary game, the plurality of different primary game outcomes including at least one negative outcome; and

(iii) if the randomly generated outcome of the play of the primary game is said at least one negative outcome, deduct a negative outcome amount greater than zero from said credit balance such that, after said deduction of the negative outcome amount, said displayed credit balance has a third amount of credit, said deduction of the negative outcome amount occurring prior to;

(1) any other wager being placed in association with another request to initiate another play of the primary game; and

(2) adding any amount of credit to said displayed credit balance in association with the play of the primary game.

19. The gaming system of claim 18 wherein the at least one gaming device comprises a mobile terminal.

20. An article of manufacture comprising:

a display device;

a processor; and

a memory device configured to store a program, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to operate with the display device to;

(a) display a credit balance having a first amount of credit greater than zero;

(b) after displaying said credit balance, receive, from a player, a request to initiate a play of a primary game, the request including a placement of a wager amount greater than zero; and

(c) after receiving said request;

(1) initiate the player of the primary game; and

(2) for each initiated play of the primary game;

(i) deduct the wager amount from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of said wager amount and prior to determining any outcome of the play of the primary game, said displayed credit balance has a second, different amount of credit;

(ii) after deducting the wager amount, randomly determine one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes for the play of the primary game based on either a first payout table or a second, different payout table, said plurality of different primary game outcomes including a plurality of negative game outcomes, said first payout table including a first negative outcome and said second payout table including a second, different negative outcome;

(iii) if the randomly determined outcome of the play of the primary game is said first negative outcome, deduct a first negative outcome amount greater than zero from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of the first negative outcome amount, said displayed credit balance has a third amount of credit, said deduction of the first negative outcome amount occurring prior to;

(A) any other wager being placed in association with another request to initiate another play of the primary game; and

(B) adding any amount of credit to said displayed credit balance in association with the play of the primary game; and

(iv) if the randomly determined outcome of the play of the primary game is said second negative outcome, deduct a second, different negative outcome amount greater than zero from the credit balance such that, after said deduction of the second negative outcome amount, said displayed credit balance has a fourth amount of credit different from said third amount of credit, said deduction of the second negative outcome amount occurring prior to;

(A) any other wager being placed in association with another request to initiate another play of the primary game; and

(B) adding any amount of credit to said displayed credit balance in association with the play of the primary game.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 20, wherein when executed by the processor, the program causes the processor to switch between the first payout table and the second payout table.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein switching between the first payout table and the second payout table comprises receiving permission from the player to switch between the payout tables.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein switching between the first payout table and the second payout table comprises automatically switching between the payout tables.

24. An article of manufacture comprising:

a display device;

a processor; and

a memory device configured to store a program, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to operate with the display device to;

(a) display a credit balance having a first amount of credit greater than zero; and

(b) for each initiated play of a primary game;

(i) after displaying said credit balance and in response to receiving a request from a player to initiate the play of the primary game, deduct a wager amount greater than zero from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of said wager amount and prior to determining any outcome of the play of the primary game, said displayed credit balance has a second, different amount of credit;

(ii) after receiving said request;

(A) initiate the play of the primary game; and

(B) randomly determine one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes for the play of the primary game, the plurality of different primary game outcomes including at least one negative outcome; and

(iii) if the randomly determined outcome is said at least one negative outcome;

(A) deduct a negative outcome amount greater than zero from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of the negative outcome amount, said displayed credit balance has a third amount of credit, said deduction of the negative outcome amount occurring prior to any other wager being placed in association with another request to initiate another play of the primary game; and

(B) present information to the player relating to the at least one negative outcome through a plurality of negative outcome indicia.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 24, wherein the plurality of negative outcome indicia comprise a plurality of thief symbols.

26. An article of manufacture comprising:

a display device;

a processor; and

a memory device configured to store a program, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to operate with the display device to;

(a) display a credit balance having a first amount of credit greater than zero;

(b) receive, from a player, a request to initiate a play of a primary game, the request including a placement of a wager amount greater than zero; and

(c) for each initiated play of the primary game;

(i) after receiving said request, deduct the wager amount from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of said wager amount and prior to determining any outcome of the play of the primary game, said displayed credit balance has a second, different amount of credit;

(ii) randomly generate an outcome for the play of the primary game;

(iii) determine whether the randomly generated outcome for the play of the primary game includes a negative outcome indicia;

(iv) repeat (ii) to (iii) at least once; and

(v) after repeating (ii) to (iii) at least once, if a predetermined quantity of negative outcome indicia have been randomly generated, deduct a negative outcome amount greater than zero from said displayed credit balance such that, after said deduction of the negative outcome amount, said displayed credit balance has a third amount of credit, said deduction of the negative outcome amount occurring prior to any other wager being placed in association with another request to initiate another play of the primary game.