Gaming device method and apparatus employing modified payouts

• US 8,900,051 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2013
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Friesen, Scott T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pandya, Sunit
• Application Number:
  US13/871,330
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 21, 463/25, 463 39- 43
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• 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 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

The invention includes a system and method for a gaming device to determine when to offer a player an opportunity to play using a “jackpot only” pay table. The player may choose to accept the gaming device'"'"'s offer to switch from using a conventional pay table to using a pay table that only pays top payout amounts. Play with a jackpot only pay table may only require a small wager amount as compared to play with a conventional pay table. Play with a jackpot only pay table may be automated to generate outcomes quickly to allow a player to relatively inexpensively avoid spending time playing a gaming device perceived to be in a “cold period.”

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor, the processor being operative with the program to;

(a) determine whether to present an offer to a player of a gaming device to switch the gaming device from;

(i) a first mode requiring a first wager amount and including a first payout table for at least one play of a wagering game, to

(ii) a second mode requiring a second different wager amount and including a second different payout table for said at least one play of the wagering game, wherein the first payout table has;

(A) a first quantity of different winning outcomes,

(B) a first quantity of different awards associated with said winning outcomes,

(C) a first average payout for all of said winning outcomes, and

(D) a first quantity of losing outcomes, and

wherein the second payout table has;

(A) a second quantity of winning outcomes, said second quantity of winning outcomes being less than said first quantity of winning outcomes;

(B) a second quantity of awards associated with said second quantity of winning outcomes; and

(C) a second quantity of losing outcomes, said second quantity of losing outcomes being greater than said first quantity of losing outcomes; and

(b) if the determination is made to present the offer;

(i) present the offer to the player; and

(ii) after presenting the offer, receive an election from the player to switch the gaming device from using the first payout table to using the second payout table for said at least one play of the wagering game.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first quantity of winning outcomes includes a designated winning outcome.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second quantity of awards includes a designated award associated with said designated winning outcome.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second quantity of winning outcomes only includes a single winning outcome.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second quantity of awards only includes a single designated award associated with said designated winning outcome.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second quantity of losing outcomes includes all of the first quantity of losing outcomes.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor, the processor being operative with the program to;

(a) determine whether to switch a gaming device from;

(i) a first mode requiring a first wager amount and including a first payout table for at least one play of a wagering game, to

(ii) a second mode requiring a second different wager amount and including a second different payout table for said at least one play of the wagering game, wherein the first payout table has;

(A) a first quantity of different winning outcomes,

(B) a first quantity of different awards associated with said winning outcomes,

(C) a first average payout for all of said winning outcomes, and

(D) a first quantity of losing outcomes, and

wherein the second payout table has;

(A) a second quantity of winning outcomes, said second quantity of winning outcomes being less than said first quantity of winning outcomes;

(B) a second quantity of awards associated with said second quantity of winning outcomes; and

(C) a second quantity of losing outcomes, said second quantity of losing outcomes being greater than said first quantity of losing outcomes; and

(b) if the determination is made to switch from the first mode to the second mode, cause the gaming device to inform the player of the switch from the first mode to the second mode.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first quantity of winning outcomes includes a designated winning outcome.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second quantity of awards includes a designated award associated with said designated winning outcome.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second quantity of winning outcomes only includes a single winning outcome.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second quantity of awards only includes a single designated award associated with said designated winning outcome.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second quantity of losing outcomes includes all of the first quantity of losing outcomes.

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

(a) causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in a storage device to determine whether to present an offer to a player of a gaming device to switch the gaming device from;

(i) a first mode requiring a first wager amount and including a first payout table for at least one play of a wagering game, to

(ii) a second mode requiring a second different wager amount and including a second different payout table for said at least one play of the wagering game, wherein the first payout table has;

(A) a first quantity of different winning outcomes,

(B) a first quantity of different awards associated with said winning outcomes,

(C) a first average payout for all of said winning outcomes, and

(D) a first quantity of losing outcomes, and

wherein the second payout table has;

(A) a second quantity of winning outcomes, said second quantity of winning outcomes being less than said first quantity of winning outcomes;

(B) a second quantity of awards associated with said second quantity of winning outcomes; and

(C) a second quantity of losing outcomes, said second quantity of losing outcomes being greater than said first quantity of losing outcomes; and

(b) if the determination is made to present the offer;

(i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to present the offer to the player; and

(ii) after presenting the offer, receiving an election from the player to switch the gaming device from using the first payout table to using the second payout table for said at least one play of the wagering game.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first quantity of winning outcomes includes a designated winning outcome.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second quantity of awards includes a designated award associated with said designated winning outcome.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the second quantity of winning outcomes only includes a single winning outcome.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second quantity of awards only includes a single designated award associated with said designated winning outcome.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the second quantity of losing outcomes includes all of the first quantity of losing outcomes.

19. The method of claim 13, which is provided through a data network.

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

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

(a) causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in a storage device to determine whether to switch a gaming device from;

(i) a first mode requiring a first wager amount and including a first payout table for at least one play of a wagering game, to

(ii) a second mode requiring a second different wager amount and including a second different payout table for said at least one play of the wagering game, wherein the first payout table has;

(A) a first quantity of different winning outcomes,

(B) a first quantity of different awards associated with said winning outcomes,

(C) a first average payout for all of said winning outcomes, and

(D) a first quantity of losing outcomes, and

wherein the second payout table has;

(A) a second quantity of winning outcomes, said second quantity of winning outcomes being less than said first quantity of winning outcomes;

(B) a second quantity of awards associated with said second quantity of winning outcomes; and

(C) a second quantity of losing outcomes, said second quantity of losing outcomes being greater than said first quantity of losing outcomes; and

(b) if the determination is made to switch from the first mode to the second mode, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause the gaming device to inform the player of the switch from the first mode to the second mode.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first quantity of winning outcomes includes a designated winning outcome.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second quantity of awards includes a designated award associated with said designated winning outcome.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the second quantity of winning outcomes only includes a single winning outcome.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the second quantity of awards only includes a single designated award associated with said designated winning outcome.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the second quantity of losing outcomes includes all of the first quantity of losing outcomes.

27. The method of claim 21, which is provided through a data network.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the data network is an internet.