Techniques for generating a random awards using a plurality of average values

• US 8,814,659 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gaming Enhancements Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gaming Enhancements Incorporated
• Inventors: Parham, Tyler Thomas, Bertram, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US12/422,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20090197674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/006 electronically
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

A method of providing a game for a gaming device is provided. The method includes providing a plurality of average values. Average values in the plurality of average values represent different values of a prize pool. A wager amount and an input to initiate game play are received. An average value is selected from the plurality of average values and a random award is determined from the prize pool. The random award is determined from the average value selected from the plurality of average values.

Claims

1. A method for providing a game, the method comprising:

providing, by a computing device, a plurality of average values, wherein average values in the plurality of average values represent different values;

randomly selecting, by the computing device, over multiple occurrences, one of the average values from the plurality of average values, wherein the plurality of average values are different;

randomly generating, by the computing device, random awards for the game using the selected one of the average values, wherein the random awards vary in value over the multiple occurrences when generated, wherein random awards generated using a same average value vary within a minimum value and a maximum value; and

awarding, by the computing device, at least one of the generated random awards for the game over the multiple occurrences.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising playing the game in which a game outcome is received, wherein the awarding at least one of the generated random awards is awarded without regard to the game outcome received.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the generated random awards is awarded after multiple game plays for the game are played.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, for the multiple occurrences, that one or more players are eligible for a random award based on one or more criteria occurring, wherein at least one player in the one or more players is eligible for the random award for each occurrence.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining that one or more players are eligible comprises:

randomly selecting a player from the one or more players that are eligible; and

determining an event that occurs to trigger awarding of a random award,

wherein randomly generating comprises randomly generating the random award using the selected average value when the event occurs, and

wherein awarding comprises awarding the generated random award to the player.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising notifying the player of the awarding of the generated random award.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more eligible players are provided an opportunity to win one of the generated random awards.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising contributing to a prize pool a percentage of coin-in or non-gaming revenues, wherein the random awards are generated from the prize pool.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein contributing comprises contributing to the prize pool at a rate based on time.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein contributing comprises contributing a predetermined percentage of promotional allowances from two promotional departments of a casino entity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein contributions to the prize pool comprise the predetermined percentage of the promotional allowances in addition to a second predetermined percentage from coin-in.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein a number of times an eligible player is selected for a random award in the random awards is based on the predetermined percentage of the promotional allowances and the second predetermined percentage from coin-in.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more players are playing games with different pay tables are eligible for the random awards, the method further comprising:

storing information for each game being played such that generated random awards from a prize pool for a first pay table equals a first average value and generated random awards from the prize pool for a second pay table equals a second average value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the random awards from the games with different pay tables are generated from the same prize pool.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein where randomly selecting comprises automatically selecting average values from the plurality of average values without user input to select the average values.

15. A method of providing a game, the method comprising:

providing, by a computing device, a plurality of average values, wherein average values in the plurality of average values represent different values;

receiving, by the computing device, a wager amount;

receiving, by the computing device, an input to initiate game play of the game;

making, by the computing device, a player eligible for a secondary bonus game for the game;

determining, by the computing device, if a player qualifies for the secondary bonus game for the game based on occurrence of an event;

if the player qualifies for the secondary bonus game, performing;

randomly generating, by the computing device, a random bonus award for each of a plurality of bonus segments, wherein the random award generated for each of the plurality of bonus segments is generated using a randomly selected average value from the plurality of average values; and

allowing, by the computing device, the player to win a generated random bonus award associated with one of the plurality of bonus segments in response to one of the segments being selected.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selection of the segment is randomly determined by a controller associated with the computing device or the selection of the segment is received from an input of the player.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein awarding comprises:

randomly selecting one of the plurality of bonus segments; and

awarding the generated random award associated with the selected one of the plurality of bonus segments.

18. A method comprising:

providing, by a computing device, a plurality of average values, wherein average values in the plurality of average values represent different values;

receiving, by the computing device, a first wager amount of a primary game;

determining, by the computing device, a game outcome received by a player in the primary game that qualifies the player to play in a secondary prize pool game;

providing, by the computing device, the player with an option to play another primary game or play the secondary prize pool game;

if the player selects the secondary prize pool game, performing;

receiving, by the computing device, a second wager amount for the secondary prize pool game, the second wager including at least a portion of an amount won by the player by playing the primary game;

randomly generating, by the computing device, a plurality of random awards using a randomly selected average value from the plurality of average values for a secondary prize pool game;

selecting, by the computing device, one of the generated plurality of random awards to award to the player; and

awarding, by the computing device, the selected one of the generated plurality of random awards to the player.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising displaying random awards not selected to the player.

20. A method comprising:

providing, by a computing device, a plurality of average values, wherein average values in the plurality of average values represent different values;

determining, by the computing device, a first average value, the first average value being predetermined and associated with a game outcome;

randomly selecting, by the computing device, a second average value from the plurality of average values;

randomly generating, by the computing device, a first random award from a prize pool based on the first average value;

randomly generating, by the computing device, a second random award from the prize pool based on the second average value;

if the game outcome is received, combining, by the computing device, the first random award and the second random award; and

awarding, by the computing device, the first random award and the second random award.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the game outcome has a fixed probability of occurring during playing of a game, wherein the second random award probability is not fixed but is calculated using a weighted distribution used to randomly select the second average value from the plurality of average values.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a sum of the fixed probability and calculated probability multiplied by an allocation value equals a funding value of the prize pool.

24. An apparatus configured to provide a game, the apparatus comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when executed, control the one or more computer processors to be configured for;

providing a plurality of average values, wherein average values in the plurality of average values represent different values;

randomly selecting over multiple occurrences, one of the average values from the plurality of average values, wherein the plurality of average values are different;

randomly generating random awards for the game using the selected one of the average values, wherein the random awards vary in value over the multiple occurrences when generated, wherein random awards generated using a same average value vary within a minimum value and a maximum value; and

awarding at least one of the generated random awards for the game over the multiple occurrences.