Gaming system with modifiable prize distribution assignment method

• US 8,216,050 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2010
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Everi Games Inc. (Everi Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Multimedia Games Incorporated
• Inventors: Lind, Clifton, Loebig, Gary L., Lind, Jefferson C., Keane, Martin, Enzminger, Joseph R., Padgett, John Everett, Brandt, David Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US12/758,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20100197387A1
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 463/19
• US Class Current: 463/19
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed wherein an outcome probability is determined for each of a number of possible outcomes achievable in a wagering game. Different subsets are then associated with each different prize level in a desired prize distribution. The possible outcomes and their respective probability are assigned or mapped to the different subsets so that the probability of achieving a possible outcome included in a subset comprises a value approximating the desired probability of an award of the prize level with which the subset is associated.

Claims

1. A gaming system with a modifiable prize distribution, the gaming system including one or more processors and memories, at least one of the processors configured to:

a) store a set of possible outcomes of a wagering game;

b) determine a likelihood of occurrence of each of the possible outcomes;

c) store the likelihood of occurrence in association with each of the possible outcomes;

d) store an identifier of a first target subset and a first target likelihood of occurrence of at least one member of the first target subset;

e) associate a first subset of the possible outcomes with the first target subset, wherein two or more possible outcomes of the first subset have different likelihoods of occurrence and the likelihood of occurrence of at least one of the possible outcomes of the first subset corresponds to the first target likelihood of occurrence; and

f) award a prize upon a game outcome corresponding to the first subset.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, the processor configured to:

associate a respective prize level with one or more target subsets; and

award one or more prizes associated with the respective prize level upon the occurrence of one or more game outcomes corresponding to the respective target subsets.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 further including a player station through which a player may enter a game play request, and wherein the at least one of the processors which associates the first subset of the possible outcomes with the first target subset is located remotely from the player station.

4. A gaming system with a modifiable prize distribution for a game in which there are a number of predefined winning outcomes and each predefined winning outcome is associated with a likelihood of occurrence in the game, the gaming system including one or more processors and memories, at least one of the processors configured to:

a) store an identifier of a first target subset and a first target likelihood of occurrence for the first target subset;

b) associate a first subset of the predefined winning outcomes with the first target subset, wherein two or more predefined winning outcomes of the first subset have different likelihoods of occurrence and a likelihood of occurrence of a respective predefined winning outcome included in the first subset corresponds to the first target likelihood of occurrence; and

c) award a prize in response to a predefined winning outcome included in the first subset.

5. The gaming system of claim 4 wherein a first prize level is associated with the first target subset and wherein the prize awarded by the at least one of the processors is a prize defined for the first prize level.

6. The gaming system of claim 4 further including a player station through which a player may enter a game play request, and wherein the at least one of the processors which associates the first subset of the predefined winning outcomes with the first target subset is located remotely from the player station.

7. The gaming system of claim 4 wherein the at least one of the processors is configured to:

a) store an identifier of a second target subset and a second target likelihood of occurrence for the second target subset;

b) associate a second subset of the predefined winning outcomes with the second target subset, each predefined winning outcome associated with the second subset being distinct from each predefined winning outcome associated with the first subset, and wherein two or more predefined winning outcomes of the second subset have different likelihoods of occurrence and the likelihood of occurrence of a respective predefined winning outcome included in the second subset corresponds to the second target likelihood of occurrence; and

c) award a prize in response to a predefined winning outcome included in the second subset.

8. The gaming system of claim 7 wherein a second prize level is associated with the second target subset and wherein the prize awarded by the at least one of the processors in response to the predefined winning outcome included in the second subset is a prize defined for the second prize level.

9. The gaming system of claim 7 wherein the at least one of the processors is configured to:

a) store an identifier of a third target subset and a third target likelihood of occurrence for the third target subset;

b) associate a third subset of the predefined winning outcomes with the third target subset, each predefined winning outcome associated with the third subset being distinct from each predefined winning outcome associated with the first subset and the second subset, and wherein two or more predefined winning outcomes of the third subset have different likelihoods of occurrence and a likelihood of occurrence of a respective predefined winning outcome included in the third subset corresponds to the third target likelihood of occurrence; and

c) award a prize in response to a predefined winning outcome included in the third subset.

10. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein a third prize level is associated with the third target subset and wherein the prize awarded by the at least one of the processors in response to the predefined winning outcome included in the third subset is a prize defined for the third prize level.

11. A gaming system with a modifiable prize distribution for a game in which there are a number of predefined winning outcomes and each predefined winning outcome is associated with a likelihood of occurrence in the game, the gaming system including one or more processors and memories, at least one of the processors configured to:

a) associate a first subset of the predefined winning outcomes with a first target subset corresponding to a first target likelihood of occurrence, wherein two or more predefined winning outcomes of the first subset have different likelihoods of occurrence, and wherein a likelihood of occurrence of a respective predefined winning outcome included in the first subset corresponds to the first target likelihood of occurrence; and

b) award a prize in response to a predefined winning outcome included in the first subset.

12. The gaming system of claim 11 wherein a first prize level is associated with the first target subset and wherein the prize awarded by the at least one of the processors is a prize defined for the first prize level.

13. The gaming system of claim 11 further including a player station through which a player may enter a game play request, and wherein the at least one of the processors which associates the first subset of the predefined winning outcomes with the first target subset is located remotely from the player station.

14. The gaming system of claim 11 wherein the at least one of the processors is configured to:

a) associate a second subset of the predefined winning outcomes with a second target subset corresponding to a second target likelihood of occurrence, each predefined winning outcome associated with the second subset being distinct from each predefined winning outcome associated with the first subset, and wherein two or more predefined winning outcomes of the second subset have different likelihoods of occurrence and the likelihood of occurrence of a respective predefined winning outcome included in the second subset corresponds to the second target likelihood of occurrence; and

b) award a prize in response to a predefined winning outcome included in the second subset.

15. The gaming system of claim 14 wherein a second prize level is associated with the second target subset and wherein the prize awarded by the at least one of the processors in response to the predefined winning outcome included in the second subset is a prize defined for the second prize level.

16. The gaming system of claim 14 wherein the at least one of the processors is configured to:

a) associate a third subset of the predefined winning outcomes with a third target subset corresponding to a third target likelihood of occurrence, each predefined winning outcome associated with the third subset being distinct from each predefined winning outcome associated with the first subset and the second subset, and wherein two or more predefined winning outcomes of the third subset have different likelihoods of occurrence and a likelihood of occurrence of a respective predefined winning outcome included in the third subset corresponds to the third target likelihood of occurrence; and

b) award a prize in response to a predefined winning outcome included in the third subset.

17. The gaming system of claim 16 wherein a third prize level is associated with the third target subset and wherein the prize awarded by the at least one of the processors in response to the predefined winning outcome included in the third subset is a prize defined for the third prize level.