Wagering game with dynamic prize offering

• US 9,286,757 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Guinn, Andrew C., Mastropietro, Michael W., Schurman, Aaron J., VanDaele, Bryan J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Kevin Y
• Application Number:
  US13/829,685
• Publication Number:
  US 20140274308A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting a trigger for a bonus game associated with presentation of a wagering game. The operations can further include, in response to the trigger, providing, for presentation, an option to select either a prize or play of the bonus game. The operations can further include detecting a selection of either the prize or the play of the bonus game, and providing either the prize or the play of the bonus game based on the selection.

Claims

1. A gaming system configured to provide one or more casino wagering games, the gaming system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one wagering game outcome generator configured to generate one or more random game outcomes for the one or more casino wagering games; and

at least one memory device configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to,

provide, for presentation via a display device of a wagering game machine, a primary wagering game from the one or more casino wagering games, wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive physical money for placement of wagers on the one or more casino wagering games,

detect a first event that occurs during a first playing round of the primary wagering game,

in response to detection of the first event, provide, for presentation via the display device, a first option to play a first playing round of a bonus wagering game, wherein the first playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a chance of winning a first bonus award and a chance of not winning the first bonus award based on a random outcome of the bonus wagering game, and

in response to the detection of the first event,

detect that a first prize is highlighted in a listing of a first set of prizes that cycle, without user input, before occurrence of the first event, wherein the first set of prizes is unavailable from the primary wagering game and unavailable from the bonus wagering game, and

provide, for presentation, a second option configured to, when selected by user input, instantly award the first prize instead of the play of the first playing round of the bonus wagering game, wherein the first prize is unrelated to results of the bonus wagering game, and wherein the first prize is unrelated to results from the primary wagering game.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to further perform operations to

present a third option to save a monetary value of the first prize in a first account without providing the first prize, wherein the first-account is separate from a wagering game player account, wherein the monetary value is available, in the first account, as a secondary form of value separate from funds used for the primary wagering game, wherein the secondary form of value is accessible to increase a prize value range of one or more additional prizes unrelated to the results of the bonus wagering game and the results of the primary wagering game, and wherein the monetary value is not accessible as a cash award.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to further perform operations to:

detect a selection of a third option to save a monetary value of the first prize in an account;

detect a second event during a second playing round of the primary wagering game that occurs after the first playing round of the primary wagering game;

in response to the second event, provide, for presentation, a fourth option to select a second prize instead of playing a second playing round of the bonus wagering game, wherein the second playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a potential of winning a second bonus award separate from one or more payouts of the primary wagering game, and wherein the second prize is separate from the one or more payouts of the primary wagering game and separate from the second bonus award; and

use the monetary value of the first prize saved in the account to increase a value of the second prize.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

provide, for presentation, the listing of the first set of prizes;

cause the listing to cycle, without user input, through the first set of prizes prior to the first event, wherein one of the first set of prizes is highlighted at any given point in the cycle to indicate that the one of the first set of prizes is awardable as the first prize; and

specify the first prize in the second option in response to detection that the first prize is highlighted on the listing when the first event occurs.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

determine that betting activity made in the primary wagering game corresponds to one of a plurality of betting levels, wherein the betting activity occurs before the first event; and

determine that a value for the one of the plurality of betting levels corresponds to a prize value range for the first set of prizes, wherein the first set of prizes is one of a plurality of sets of prizes having different prize value ranges, wherein each of the plurality of betting levels corresponds to each of the prize value ranges, and wherein the plurality of sets of prizes are unavailable in the primary wagering game and unavailable in the bonus wagering game.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

determine a value for the first prize based on a value of one or more of a betting level made in the primary wagering game before the first event occurs and a betting history by a player account associated with the primary wagering game.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

detect a selection of the second option;

award the first prize;

determine a market value for the first prize, wherein the first prize is not a credit payout of the primary wagering game; and

determine an average expected payout for the bonus wagering game using the market value for the first prize.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the first prize is one or more of a non-cash item and a service, and wherein the determining the market value of the first prize comprises accessing an online source that indicates one or more of a manufacturer'"'"'s suggested retail price, a wholesale price, and a sales cost of the one or more of the non-cash item and the service.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

detect selection of the second option;

determine that a value for the first prize is different from an average expected payout for the bonus wagering game in response to detecting the selection of the second option; and

in response to determination that the value for the first prize is different from the average expected payout for the bonus wagering game, cause a change in a frequency of subsequent triggering of the bonus wagering game.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

detect a selection of the second option;

determine that a value for the first prize is less than an average expected payout for the bonus wagering game; and

in response, cause a payment of an amount equivalent to a difference between the value of the first prize and the average expected payout during subsequent presentation of the primary wagering game.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory device is configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to:

detect that the second option is selected; and

provide a value for the first prize to be used in a computation of an average payout for the bonus wagering game.

12. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first event comprises an event separate from the primary wagering game.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the first event comprises one or more of a mystery event, an event from an ongoing wagering game, an event from an ongoing promotion, an environmental event, and an event related to additional gaming devices other than the gaming system.

14. A method of operating a gaming system primarily dedicated to providing regulated wagering games, the gaming system including a wagering game outcome generator, and one or more wagering game controllers, said method comprising:

providing, by at least one of the one or more wagering game controllers, a primary wagering game for presentation via a display device of a wagering game machine, wherein the primary wagering game is one of the regulated wagering games, and wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive physical money for placement of wagers on the primary wagering game;

detecting, by at least one of the one or more wagering game controllers, a first event that occurs during a first playing round of the primary wagering game;

in response to the detecting the first event, providing, for presentation via the display device, a first option to initiate a first playing round of a bonus wagering game separate from the primary wagering game, wherein the first playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a chance of winning a first bonus award and a chance of not winning the first bonus award based on a random outcome of the bonus wagering game, and wherein the first bonus award is other than a payout of the primary wagering game that results from one or more random game outcomes generated by the wagering game outcome generator; and

in response to the detecting the first event,

detecting that a first prize is highlighted in a listing of a first set of prizes that cycle, without user input, before occurrence of the first event, wherein the first set of prizes are unavailable from the primary wagering game and unavailable from the bonus wagering game, and

providing, for presentation via the display device, a second option configured to, when selected by user input, instantly provide the first prize instead of providing the chance of winning the first bonus award and the chance of not winning the first bonus award associated with playing the first playing round of the bonus wagering game, wherein the first prize is other than a payout of the primary wagering game and other than a bonus award of the bonus wagering game.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

presenting a third option to save a monetary value of the first prize in an account instead of selecting the first prize, wherein the monetary value is a secondary currency separate from funds used for the primary wagering game.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detect a selection of a third option to save a monetary value of the first prize in an account without providing the first prize;

detecting a second event in a second playing round of the primary wagering game that occurs after the first playing round of the primary wagering game;

in response to the second event, provide, for presentation, a fourth option to select a second prize instead of initiating a second playing round of the bonus wagering game, wherein the second playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a potential of winning a second bonus award separate from one or more payouts of the primary wagering game, and wherein the second prize is separate from the one or more payouts of the primary wagering game and separate from the second bonus award; and

using the monetary value, of the first prize, saved in the account to increase a value of the second prize.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting selection of the first option;

initiating the first playing round of the bonus wagering game instead of awarding the first prize; and

after play of the bonus wagering game, presenting a third option to select a second prize of equal or greater value than an amount of winnings obtained via the first playing round of the bonus wagering game.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

providing, for presentation, the listing of the first set of prizes;

causing the listing to cycle, without user input, through the first set of prizes prior to the first event, wherein one of the first set of prizes is highlighted at any given point in the cycle to indicate that the one of the first set of prizes is awardable as the first prize; and

specifying the first prize in the second option in response to the detecting that the first prize is the one of the first set of prizes highlighted on the listing when the first event occurs.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining a value for the first prize based on a value of one or more of a betting level made in the primary wagering game before the first event occurs or a betting history by a player account associated with the primary wagering game.

20. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting selection of the second option; and

determining an average expected payout for the bonus wagering game using a market value for the first prize.

21. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting a selection of the second option;

determining that a value for the first prize is different from an average expected payout for the bonus wagering game in response to detecting the selection of the second option; and

in response to the determining that the value for the first prize is different from the average expected payout for the bonus wagering game, causing a change in a frequency of subsequent triggering of the bonus wagering game.

22. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

determining that betting made in the primary wagering game before the first event equates to a first betting level from a plurality of betting levels;

determining that the first betting level corresponds to a first prize value range from a plurality of prize value ranges for a plurality of prizes unavailable in the primary wagering game and unavailable in the bonus wagering game, wherein each of the plurality of betting levels corresponds to each of the plurality of prize value ranges; and

providing, for presentation, an indication of a first portion of the plurality of prizes with market values in the first prize value range.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

determining, after first event, that additional betting made in the primary wagering game equates to a second betting level from the plurality of betting levels;

determining that the second betting level corresponds to a second prize value range from the plurality of prize value ranges; and

providing, for presentation, an indication of a second portion of the plurality of prizes with market values in the second prize value range.

24. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

causing the indication of the first portion of the plurality of prizes to cycle, without user input, through the first portion of the plurality of prizes, wherein only one of the first portion of the plurality of prizes is highlighted at any given point in the cycle to indicate that the one of the first portion of the plurality of prizes is awardable as the first prize.

25. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a set of one or more processors of a gaming system, cause the set of one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

providing a primary wagering game for presentation via a display device of a wagering game machine, wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive physical money for placement of wagers on the primary wagering game;

detecting a first event that occurs during a first playing round of the primary wagering game;

in response to the detecting the first event, providing, for presentation, a first option, responsive to user input, to play a first playing round of a bonus wagering game separate from the primary wagering game, wherein the first playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a chance of winning a first bonus award and a chance of not winning the first bonus award based on a random outcome of the bonus wagering game, and wherein the first bonus award is other than a payout of the primary wagering game that results from one or more random game outcomes generated by a random number generator of the gaming system;

detecting that a first prize is highlighted in a listing of a first set of prizes that cycle, without user input, before occurrence of the first event, wherein the first set of prizes are unavailable from the primary wagering game and unavailable from the bonus wagering game; and

providing, for presentation via the display device, a second option configured to, when selected by user input, provide the first prize instead of providing the chance of not winning the first bonus award associated with playing the first playing round of the bonus wagering game, wherein the providing the second option is in response to the detecting the first event, and wherein the first prize is unrelated to results of the bonus wagering game and unrelated to results of the primary wagering game, and

providing a value for the first prize for use in computing an average payout associated with the bonus wagering game.

26. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 25, the operations further comprising:

presenting a third option to save a monetary value of the first prize in a player account instead of the first prize, wherein the monetary value is a secondary form of value separate from a primary form of value used for the primary wagering game.

27. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 25, the operations further comprising:

determining a value for the first prize based on a value of one or more of a betting level made in the primary wagering game before the first event occurs or a betting history by a player account associated with the primary wagering game.

28. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 25, the operations further comprising:

detecting selection of the second option; and

determining an average expected payout for the bonus wagering game using a market value for the first prize.

29. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 25, the operations further comprising:

presenting a third option to spin a prize wheel for a chance to obtain a second prize different from the first prize offered in the second option.

30. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage media of claim 25, the operations further comprising:

providing, for presentation, the listing of the first set of prizes;

causing the listing to cycle, without user input, through the first set of prizes prior to the first event, wherein one of the first set of prizes is highlighted at any given point in the cycle to indicate that the one of the first set of prizes is awardable as the first prize; and

specifying the first prize in the second option in response to the detecting that the first prize is the one of the first set of prizes highlighted on the listing when the first event occurs.

31. A gaming system configured to provide one or more casino wagering games, the gaming system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one wagering game outcome generator configured to generate one or more random game outcomes for the one or more casino wagering games; and

at least one memory device configured to store instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the gaming system to perform operations to,

provide, for presentation via a display device of a wagering game machine, a primary wagering game from the one or more casino wagering games, wherein the wagering game machine is includes a value input device configured to receive physical money for placement of wagers on the primary wagering game,

detect a first event that occurs during a first playing round of the primary wagering game,

in response to detection of the first event, provide, for presentation via the display device, a first option to play a first playing round of a bonus wagering game, wherein the first playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a chance of winning a first bonus award and a chance of not winning the first bonus award based on a random outcome of the bonus wagering game,

in response to the detection of the first event, provide, for presentation, a second option configured to, when selected by user input, instantly award a first prize instead of the play of the first playing round of the bonus wagering game, wherein the first prize is unrelated to results of the bonus wagering game, and wherein the first prize is unrelated to results from the primary wagering game, and

present a third option to save a monetary value of the first prize in an account without providing the first prize, wherein the monetary value is available, in the account, as a secondary form of value separate from funds used for the primary wagering game, wherein the secondary form of value is accessible to increase a prize value range of one or more additional prizes unrelated to the results of the bonus wagering game and unrelated to the results of the primary wagering game, and wherein the monetary value is not accessible as a cash award.

32. A method of operating a gaming system primarily dedicated to providing regulated wagering games, the gaming system including a wagering game outcome generator, and one or more wagering game controllers, said method comprising:

providing, by at least one of the one or more wagering game controllers, a primary wagering game for presentation via a display device of a wagering game machine, wherein the primary wagering game is one of the regulated wagering games, and wherein the wagering game machine is includes a value input device configured to receive physical money for placement of wagers on the primary wagering game;

detecting, by at least one of the one or more wagering game controllers, a first event that occurs during a first playing round of the primary wagering game;

in response to the detecting the first event, providing, for presentation via the display device, a first option to initiate a first playing round of a bonus wagering game separate from the primary wagering game, wherein the first playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a chance of winning a first bonus award and a chance of not winning the first bonus award based on a random outcome of the bonus wagering game, and wherein the first bonus award is other than a payout of the primary wagering game that results from one or more random game outcomes generated by the wagering game outcome generator;

in response to the detecting the first event, providing, for presentation via the display device, a second option configured to, when selected by user input, instantly provide a first prize instead of providing the chance of winning the first bonus award and instead of providing the chance of not winning the first bonus award associated with playing the first playing round of the bonus wagering game, and wherein the first prize is other than a payout of the primary wagering game and other than a bonus award of the bonus wagering game;

detecting a selection of a third option to save a monetary value of the first prize in an account;

detecting a second event during a second playing round of the primary wagering game that occurs after the first playing round of the primary wagering game;

in response to the second event, providing, for presentation, a fourth option to select a second prize instead of playing a second playing round of the bonus wagering game, wherein the second playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a potential of winning a second bonus award separate from one or more payouts of the primary wagering game, and wherein the second prize is separate from the one or more payouts of the primary wagering game and separate from the second bonus award; and

using the monetary value of the first prize saved in the account to increase a value of the second prize.

33. A method of operating a gaming system primarily dedicated to providing regulated wagering games, the gaming system including a wagering game outcome generator, and one or more wagering game controllers, said method comprising:

providing, by at least one of the one or more wagering game controllers, a primary wagering game for presentation via a display device of a wagering game machine, wherein the primary wagering game is one of the regulated wagering games;

detecting, by at least one of the one or more wagering game controllers, a first event that occurs during a first playing round of the primary wagering game;

in response to the detecting the first event, providing, for presentation via the display device, a first option to initiate a first playing round of a bonus wagering game separate from the primary wagering game, wherein the first playing round of the bonus wagering game provides a chance of winning a first bonus award and a chance of not winning the first bonus award based on a random outcome of the bonus wagering game, and wherein the first bonus award is other than a payout of the primary wagering game that results from one or more random game outcomes generated by the wagering game outcome generator; and

in response to the detecting the first event, providing, for presentation via the display device, a second option configured to, when selected by user input, instantly provide a first prize instead of providing the chance of winning the first bonus award and instead of providing the chance of not winning the first bonus award associated with playing the first playing round of the bonus wagering game, and wherein the first prize is other than a payout of the primary wagering game and other than a bonus award of the bonus wagering game;

determining that betting made in the primary wagering game before the first event equates to a first betting level from a plurality of betting levels;

determining that the first betting level corresponds to a first prize value range from a plurality of prize value ranges for a plurality of prizes unavailable in the primary wagering game and unavailable in the bonus wagering game, wherein each of the plurality of betting levels corresponds to each of the plurality of prize value ranges; and

providing, for presentation, an indication of a first portion of the plurality of prizes with market values in the first prize value range.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

determining, after the first event, that additional betting made in the primary wagering game equates to a second betting level from the plurality of betting levels;

determining that the second betting level corresponds to a second prize value range from the plurality of prize value ranges; and

providing, for presentation, an indication of a second portion of the plurality of prizes with market values in the second prize value range.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

causing the indication of the first portion of the plurality of prizes to cycle, without user input, through the first portion of the plurality of prizes, wherein only one of the first portion of the plurality of prizes is highlighted at any given point in the cycle to indicate that the one of the first portion of the plurality of prizes is awardable as the first prize.