Method for playing multi-level games of chance

• US 8,827,790 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Weller, Scott, Ross, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Brewster, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SKAARUP, JASON M
• Application Number:
  US12/049,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20080280665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,367 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method for playing a multi-level game of chance wherein players can advance to the next level with a win. As the game progresses through levels, non-winning players are eliminated and winning players are segregated by type of win. In general, each level provides greater winnings. In another example game format, a progressive jackpot may also be offered.

Claims

1. A multi-level game of chance for a plurality of players conducted via at least one computer, the game of chance comprising:

a plurality of levels provided via the computer, the plurality of levels comprising a first level, at least one intermediate level, and a final level, each level above the first level comprising a plurality of winning tiers and at least one losing tier, wherein players in the winning tiers advance to a next level; and

a plurality of games, wherein each level comprises one of the plurality of games provided via the computer, wherein at least two different games are provided throughout the plurality of levels via the computer, wherein the at least two different games are provided in separate levels of the plurality of levels and are not the same game,

wherein for each of the games, the computer determines if the player obtains one of a plurality of winning outcomes,

wherein if the player obtains one of the plurality of winning outcomes, the computer places the player into one of the winning tiers,

wherein the computer determines which winning tier the player is placed into by segregating the player from the plurality of players based on at least one type of winning outcome,

wherein once the player is placed in the winning tier, the player must play the next level; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of levels includes more than one way to win the level as determined via the at least one computer.

2. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of games are a combination of two or more of the group comprising of keno, bingo, UK bingo, and baccarat.

3. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of levels has the same payout table.

4. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of levels has a different payout table than a first level.

5. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of levels has multiple payout tables.

6. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein a number of the plurality of levels is predetermined.

7. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein winners of a top winning tier in the final level can win at least one of the group of a standard, a progressive, and a rolling jackpot.

8. A game of chance according to claim 7, wherein winners of the top winning tier in the final level must win a final drawing to win the at least one of the group comprising the standard, the progressive, and the rolling jackpot.

9. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein only one bet at the start of the game is needed to play.

10. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein winnings of the game of chance are paid out after each level.

11. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein winnings of the game of chance are paid out only after the final level.

12. The game according to claim 1, wherein the player may enter into the game of chance after the first level of the plurality of levels by paying a bet greater than an initial bet to play the first level.

13. The game according to claim 1, wherein the player may enter into the game of chance after the first level of the plurality of levels by paying a bet greater than a sum of an initial bet plus any fees or bets required to play any subsequently played levels to get to a level being entered.

14. The game according to claim 1, wherein odds of winning decrease as a level of the plurality of levels increases.

15. The game according to claim 1, wherein the individual payout is increased as a level of the plurality of levels increases.

16. A game of chance according to claim 1, further comprising determining a plurality of winners, wherein the winners are segregated into the plurality of winning tiers based upon the winners'"'"' winning outcome.

17. A game of chance according to claim 16, wherein the winners proceed to the next level as a group for each winning tier.

18. A game of chance according to claim 16, wherein each winning tier is provided a different payout table in the next level.

19. A method for operating a game of chance for a plurality of players, the game of chance comprising:

providing for the plurality of players a plurality of levels via a processor, the plurality of levels comprising at a first level, at least one intermediate level, and a final level, each level above the first level comprising a plurality of winning tiers and at least one losing tier, wherein players in the winning tiers advance to a next level;

providing, via the processor, a game at each of the plurality of levels provided by the processor to a player, wherein at least two different games are provided in separate levels of the plurality of levels and are not the same game;

determining at least one winner via the processor, wherein the winner obtains one of a plurality of winning outcomes;

placing the winner into one of the plurality of winning tiers via the processor, wherein the processor determines which winning tier the winner is placed into by segregating the winner from the plurality of players based on at least one type of winning outcome, wherein the winner in one level must play a next level; and

providing that at least one of the plurality of levels includes more than one way to win the level.