Gaming system and method providing a server that determines reel sets for subsequent game plays

• US 8,968,073 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• 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:
  US13/247,083
• Publication Number:
  US 20130079103A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/21, 463/18
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

System and method providing reel sets for subsequent plays. A user playing a user device wagers a wager amount on a play of a game. The user device displays a base reel set spinning. A server determines 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 second reel set data and outcome data to the user device. The reels are stopped in accordance with the determined outcome. When the user wagers that same wager amount on another play of that game, the user device displays the second play of that game using the second reel set, 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 configured to, for a user:

(a) for a first play of a game at a first point in time, the first play of the game occurring after a first reel set is determined;

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

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

(iii) cause second reel set data representing the second reel set and first outcome data representing the first outcome to be communicated to a user device such that the first outcome can be displayed by the user device and at least part of the second reel set can be displayed by the user device; and

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

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

(ii) determine, via the controller, 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 such that the second outcome can be displayed by the user device and at least part of the third reel set can be displayed by the user device.

2. The controller of claim 1, which is further configured to execute (a) and (b) for a first amount wagered.

3. The controller of claim 1, which is further configured to identify the user.

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

5. The controller of claim 1, which is further configured to determine the second reel set and the third reel set by selecting the second reel set and the third reel set from a plurality of reel sets.

6. The controller of claim 5, 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.

7. A controller configured to, for a user, for each play of a game, said play of the game occurring after a first reel set is determined:

(a) determine, via the controller, an outcome for said play of the game, the outcome being associated with the first reel set;

(b) determine, via the controller, a second reel set for use in a subsequent play of the game; and

(c) cause second reel set data representing the second reel set and outcome data representing the determined outcome to be communicated to a user device to enable the user device to;

(i) display the determined outcome for said play of the game, and

(ii) display the second reel set in the subsequent play of the game.

8. The controller of claim 7, which is further configured to execute (a) to (c) for each play of the game on which a first wager amount was wagered.

9. The controller of claim 7, which is further configured to identify the user.

10. The controller of claim 7, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

11. The controller of claim 7, which is further configured to determine the second reel set by selecting the second reel set from a plurality of reel sets.

12. The controller of claim 11, 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.

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

(a) for a first play of a game at a first point in time, the first play of the game occurring after a first reel set is determined;

(i) causing a controller to determine a first outcome for the first play of the game, the first outcome being associated with the first reel set;

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

(iii) causing the controller to cause second reel set data representing the second reel set and first outcome data representing the first outcome to be communicated to a user device such that the first outcome can be displayed by the user device and at least part of the second reel set can be displayed by the user device; and

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

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

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

(iii) causing the controller 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 such that the second outcome can be displayed by the user device and at least part of the third reel set can be displayed by the user device.

14. The method of claim 13, which includes executing (a) and (b) for a first amount wagered.

15. The method of claim 13, which includes causing the controller to identify the user.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the reel sets includes at least one of a plurality of reels.

17. The method of claim 13, which includes causing the controller to determine the second reel set and the third reel set by selecting the second reel set and the third reel set from a plurality of reel sets.

18. The method of claim 17, 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.

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:

for a user, for each play of a game, said play of the game occurring after a first reel set is determined;

(a) causing a controller to determine an outcome for said play of the game, the outcome being associated with the first reel set;

(b) causing the controller to determine a second reel set for use in a subsequent play of the game; and

(c) causing the controller to cause second reel set data representing the second reel set and outcome data representing the determined outcome to be communicated to a user device to enable the user device to;

(i) display the determined outcome for said play of the game, and

(ii) display the second reel set in the subsequent play of the game.

22. The method of claim 21, which includes executing (a) to (c) for each play of the game on which a first wager amount was wagered.

23. The method of claim 21, which includes causing the controller to identify the user.

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

25. The method of claim 21, which includes causing the controller to determine the second reel set by selecting the second reel set from a plurality of reel sets.

26. The method of claim 25, 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.

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.