Central determination gaming system with a game outcome generated by a gaming terminal and approved by a central controller

• US 8,337,295 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2011
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Michaelson, Richard E., Wolf, Bryan D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US13/312,585
• Publication Number:
  US 20120077573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/006 electronically
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

A central determination gaming system including a plurality of gaming terminals in communication with a central controller. In one embodiment, upon initiation of a game at one of the gaming terminals, the gaming terminal randomly generates a proposed game outcome. The proposed game outcome is communicated to the central controller. The central controller determines if a pool of predetermined game outcomes includes the proposed game outcome. If the pool includes the proposed game outcome, the central controller authorizes the proposed game outcome to be provided to the player, flags the authorized game outcome from further authorizations and communicates the authorized game outcome to the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal then provides the authorized game outcome to the player. If the pool does not include the proposed game outcome, the central controller discards the proposed game outcome and instructs the gaming terminal to generate another proposed game outcome for authorization.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming device, said at least one gaming device including;

(i) at least one display device, and

(ii) at least one input device; and

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

(a) maintain a pool of predetermined game outcomes, and

(b) for each play of a primary wagering game at said at least one gaming device;

(i) receive a proposed game outcome from said at least one gaming device after a player makes a wager on the primary wagering game at said at least one gaming device, wherein said proposed game outcome is for said primary wagering game,

(ii) if the pool of predetermined game outcomes includes an available predetermined game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(A) authorize said proposed predetermined game outcome,

(B) prevent said authorized game outcome from further authorization from said pool, and

(C) output data representing said authorized predetermined game outcome to said at least one gaming device;

(iii) if the pool of predetermined game outcomes does not include said available predetermined game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(A) discard said proposed game outcome,

(B) request an additional proposed game outcome from said at least one gaming device; and

(C) repeat (ii) to (iii) for a designated quantity of additional proposed game outcomes, said designated quantity being at least one; and

(iv) if the designated quantity of additional proposed game outcomes is reached and the pool of predetermined game outcomes does not include said available predetermined game outcome based on said proposed game outcome;

(A) select one of said predetermined game outcomes from said pool,

(B) prevent said selected game outcome from further selection from said pool, and

(C) output data representing said selected predetermined game outcome to said at least one gaming device.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to receive a plurality of proposed game outcomes from said at least one gaming device and to determine if said pool of predetermined game outcomes includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said plurality of proposed game outcomes.

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

(a) causing a controller to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain a pool of predetermined game outcomes, and

(b) for each play of a primary wagering game at least one gaming device;

(i) receiving a proposed game outcome from said at least one gaming device after a player makes a wager on the primary wagering game at said at least one gaming device, wherein said proposed game outcome is for said primary wagering game,

(ii) if the pool of predetermined game outcomes includes an available predetermined game outcome based on said proposed game outcome, causing the controller to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(A) authorize said proposed predetermined game outcome,

(B) prevent said authorized game outcome from further authorization from said pool, and

(C) output data representing said authorized predetermined game outcome to said at least one gaming device;

(iii) if the pool of predetermined game outcomes does not include said available predetermined game outcome based on said proposed game outcome, causing the controller to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(A) discard said proposed game outcome,

(B) request an additional proposed game outcome from said at least one gaming device; and

(C) repeat (ii) to (iii) for a designated quantity of additional proposed game outcomes, said designated quantity being at least one; and

(iv) if the designated quantity of additional proposed game outcomes is reached and the pool of predetermined game outcomes does not include said available predetermined game outcome based on said proposed game outcome, causing the controller to execute the plurality of instructions to;

(A) select one of said predetermined game outcomes from said pool,

(B) prevent said selected game outcome from further selection from said pool, and

(C) output data representing said selected predetermined game outcome to said at least one gaming device.

4. The method of claim 3, which includes receiving a plurality of proposed game outcomes from said at least one gaming device and causing the controller to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if said pool of predetermined game outcomes includes at least one predetermined game outcome based on said plurality of proposed game outcomes.

5. The method of claim 3, which is operated over a data network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data network is an internet.