Gaming system and method providing a server that determines a reel set for an initial game play and reel sets for subsequent game plays

• US 8,591,314 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nicely, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US13/247,067
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/12, 463/17
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A user playing a user device wagers a wager amount on a play of a game. A server determines a first reel set for the current play, an outcome for the current play, and a second reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount. The server communicates first reel set data, second reel set data, and outcome data to the user device. The user device spins and stops the first reel set in accordance with the determined outcome. When the user wagers that same wager amount on another play of that game, the user device displays that play of that game using the second reel set, and the server determines a third reel set for the next play of that game on which the user wagers that same wager amount and communicates third reel set data to the user device.

Claims

1. A controller comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for a user;

(a) for a first play of a game at a first point in time;

(i) determine a first reel set for use in the first play of the game;

(ii) determine a first outcome for the first play of the game, the first outcome being associated with the first reel set;

(iii) determine a second reel set for use in a second subsequent play of the game at a second subsequent point in time; and

(iv) cause first reel set data representing the first reel set, second reel set data representing the second reel set, and first outcome data representing the first outcome to be communicated to a user device; and

(b) for the second play of the game at the second point in time;

(i) determine a second outcome for the second play of the game, the second outcome being associated with the second reel set;

(ii) determine a third reel set for use in a third subsequent play of the game at a third subsequent point in time; and

(iii) cause third reel set data representing the third reel set and second outcome data representing the second outcome to be communicated to the user device.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the game is associated with an average expected payout percentage and the first reel set is associated with an average expected payout percentage that is substantially equal to the average expected payout percentage of the game.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to execute (a) and (b) for a first amount wagered.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to identify the user.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

6. The controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the first reel set, the second reel set, and the third reel set by selecting the first reel set, the second reel set, and the third reel set from a plurality of reel sets.

7. The controller of claim 6, wherein at least one of the plurality of reel sets has an average expected payout percentage greater than an average expected payout percentage of the game.

8. A controller comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, for each play of a game by a user;

(a) determine whether the user has previously played the game at any point in time;

(b) if the user has not previously played the game at any point in time;

(i) determine a first reel set for use in said play of the game and a second reel set for use in a subsequent play of the game;

(ii) determine a first outcome associated with the first reel set for said play of the game; and

(iii) cause first reel set data representing the first reel set, second reel set data representing the second reel set, and first outcome data representing the first outcome to be communicated to the user device to enable the user device to;

(A) display the first reel set in accordance with the first outcome for said play of the game, and

(B) display the second reel set in the subsequent play of the game; and

(c) if the user has previously played the game at any point in time;

(i) determine a second outcome for said play of the game, the second outcome being associated with a previously-determined reel set;

(ii) determine a third reel set for use in the subsequent play of the game; and

(iii) cause third reel set data representing the third reel set and second outcome data representing the second outcome to be communicated to the user device to enable the user device to;

(A) display the second outcome for said play of the game, and

(B) display the third reel set in the subsequent play of the game.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the game is associated with an average expected payout percentage and the first reel set is associated with an average expected payout percentage that is substantially equal to the average expected payout percentage of the game.

10. The controller of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to execute (a) to (c) for each play of the game on which a first wager amount was wagered.

11. The controller of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to identify the user.

12. The controller of claim 8, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

13. The controller of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the first reel set, the second reel set, and the third reel set by selecting the first reel set, the second reel set, and the third reel set from a plurality of reel sets.

14. The controller of claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of reel sets has an average expected payout percentage greater than an average expected payout percentage of the game.

15. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising, for a user:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to, for a first play of a game at a first point in time;

(i) determine a first reel set for use in the first play of the game;

(ii) determine a first outcome for the first play of the game, the first outcome being associated with the first reel set;

(iii) determine a second reel set for use in a second subsequent play of the game at a second subsequent point in time; and

(iv) cause first reel set data representing the first reel set, second reel set data representing the second reel set, and first outcome data representing the first outcome to be communicated to a user device; and

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for the second play of the game at the second point in time;

(i) determine a second outcome for the second play of the game, the second outcome being associated with the second reel set;

(ii) determine a third reel set for use in a third subsequent play of the game at a third subsequent point in time; and

(iii) cause third reel set data representing the third reel set and second outcome data representing the second outcome to be communicated to the user device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the game is associated with an average expected payout percentage and the first reel set is associated with an average expected payout percentage that is substantially equal to the average expected payout percentage of the game.

17. The method of claim 15, which includes executing (a) and (b) for a first amount wagered.

18. The method of claim 15, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to identify the user.

19. The method of claim 18, which is provided through a data network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data network is the internet.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

22. The method of claim 15, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the first reel set, the second reel set, and the third reel set by selecting the first reel set, the second reel set, and the third reel set from a plurality of reel sets.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein at least one of the plurality of reel sets has an average expected payout percentage greater than an average expected payout percentage of the game.

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

for each play of a game by a user;

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to determine whether the user has previously played the game at any point in time;

(b) if the user has not previously played the game at any point in time;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a first reel set for use in said play of the game and a second reel set for use in a subsequent play of the game;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a first outcome associated with the first reel set for said play of the game; and

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause first reel set data representing the first reel set, second reel set data representing the second reel set, and first outcome data representing the first outcome to be communicated to the user device to enable the user device to;

(A) display the first reel set in accordance with the first outcome for said play of the game, and

(B) display the second reel set in the subsequent play of the game; and

(c) if the user has previously played the game at any point in time;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second outcome for said play of the game, the second outcome being associated with a previously-determined reel set;

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a third reel set for use in the subsequent play of the game; and

(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause third reel set data representing the third reel set and second outcome data representing the second outcome to be communicated to the user device to enable the user device to;

(A) display the second outcome for said play of the game, and

(B) display the third reel set in the subsequent play of the game.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the game is associated with an average expected payout percentage and the first reel set is associated with an average expected payout percentage that is substantially equal to the average expected payout percentage of the game.

26. The method of claim 24, which includes executing (a) to (c) for each play of the game on which a first wager amount was wagered.

27. The method of claim 24, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to identify the user.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

29. The method of claim 24, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the first reel set, the second reel set, and the third reel set by selecting the first reel set, the second reel set, and the third reel set from a plurality of reel sets.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of the plurality of reel sets has an average expected payout percentage greater than an average expected payout percentage of the game.

31. The method of claim 24, which is provided through a data network.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the data network is the internet.