Rotor-based gaming device having a secondary award system

• US 9,437,079 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2012
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nicely, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wei
• Application Number:
  US13/722,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20130116033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,356 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection 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 17/3244 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 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

A game system including a plurality of symbols, a rotor and an award amount. The plurality of symbols include at least one secondary award group of the symbols. A wager is placeable on the secondary award group. The rotor displays the symbols and a plurality of ball landings adjacent to the symbols. A plurality of the symbols are indicatable after multiple spins of the rotor. The game system is operable to provide a secondary award based on the indication of one or more symbols within the secondary award group.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a housing;

at least one processor;

at least one display device supported by the housing;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of input devices including an acceptor; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by the acceptor, establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value, wherein the physical item is one selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value, currency, and a card;

(b) if an actuation of a wager button is received, place a streak wager for a play of a streak game, the credit balance being decreasable by the streak wager, wherein;

(i) the streak game is associated with a plurality of consecutive plays of a wagering game,

(ii) the wagering game includes a rotor displaying a plurality of different outcomes,

(iii) the streak game includes a secondary award group of the outcomes including at least two of the outcomes,

(iv) a streak game continuation condition is satisfied when an outcome of one of the plays of the wagering game is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has not yet occurred during said play of the streak game,

(v) a streak game suspension condition is satisfied when the outcome of said one of the plays of the wagering game is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has already occurred during said play of the streak game, and

(vi) a streak game termination condition is satisfied when the outcome of said one of the plays of the wagering game is not one of the outcomes of the secondary award group;

(c) for a first one of the plays of the wagering game, determine one of the plurality of different outcomes as an outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game;

(d) if the outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game termination condition, end said play of the streak game;

(e) if the outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game continuation condition, display and provide a first streak award based on the streak wager, the credit balance being increasable by the first streak award, and for a second subsequent one of the plays of the wagering game;

(i) determine one of the plurality of different outcomes as an outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game;

(ii) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game continuation condition, display and provide a second streak award based on the streak wager, the credit balance being increasable by the second streak award;

(iii) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game termination condition, end said play of the streak game; and

(iv) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game suspension condition, not end said play of the streak game; and

(f) if an actuation of a cashout button is received, initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the second streak award is greater than the first streak award.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with at least one of the plurality of input devices to receive a selection of at least one of the outcomes to include in the secondary award group.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the streak game continuation condition is satisfied when the outcome of one of the plays of the wagering game:

(A) is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has not yet occurred in said play of the streak game, and

(B) occurs according to a designated order of the outcomes.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the designated order before the first one of the plays of the wagering game.

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

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by an acceptor supported by a housing of the gaming system, causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value, wherein the physical item is one selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value, currency, and a card;

(b) if an actuation of a wager button is received, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to place a streak wager for a play of a streak game, the credit balance being decreasable by the streak wager, wherein;

(i) the streak game is associated with a plurality of consecutive plays of a wagering game,

(ii) the wagering game includes a rotor displaying a plurality of different outcomes,

(iii) the streak game includes a secondary award group of the outcomes including at least two of the outcomes,

(iv) a streak game continuation condition is satisfied when an outcome of one of the plays of the wagering game is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has not yet occurred during said play of the streak game,

(v) a streak game suspension condition is satisfied when the outcome of said one of the plays of the wagering game is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has already occurred during said play of the streak game, and

(vi) a streak game termination condition is satisfied when the outcome of said one of the plays of the wagering game is not one of the outcomes of the secondary award group;

(c) for a first one of the plays of the wagering game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine one of the plurality of different outcomes as an outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game;

(d) if the outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game termination condition, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to end said play of the streak game;

(e) if the outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game continuation condition, providing and causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display a first streak award based on the streak wager, the credit balance being increasable by the first streak award, and for a second subsequent one of the plays of the wagering game;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine one of the plurality of different outcomes as an outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game;

(ii) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game continuation condition, providing and causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a second streak award based on the streak wager, the credit balance being increasable by the second streak award;

(iii) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game termination condition, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to end said play of the streak game; and

(iv) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game suspension condition, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to not end said play of the streak game; and

(f) if an actuation of a cashout button is received, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second streak award is greater than the first streak award.

8. The method of claim 6, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to receive a selection of at least one of the outcomes to include in the secondary award group.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the streak game continuation condition is satisfied when the outcome of one of the plays of the wagering game:

(A) is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has not yet occurred in said play of the streak game, and

(B) occurs according to a designated order of the outcomes.

10. The method of claim 9, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the designated order before the first one of the plays of the wagering game.

11. The method of claim 6, which is provided through a data network.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the data network is an internet.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) if a physical item associated with a monetary value is received by an acceptor, establish a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value, wherein the physical item is one selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value, currency, and a card;

(b) if an actuation of a wager button is received, place a streak wager for a play of a streak game, the credit balance being decreasable by the streak wager, wherein;

(i) the streak game is associated with a plurality of consecutive plays of a wagering game,

(ii) the wagering game includes a rotor displaying a plurality of different outcomes,

(iii) the streak game includes a secondary award group of the outcomes including at least two of the outcomes,

(iv) a streak game continuation condition is satisfied when an outcome of one of the plays of the wagering game is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has not yet occurred during said play of the streak game,

(v) a streak game suspension condition is satisfied when the outcome of said one of the plays of the wagering game is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has already occurred during said play of the streak game, and

(vi) a streak game termination condition is satisfied when the outcome of said one of the plays of the wagering game is not one of the outcomes of the secondary award group;

(c) for a first one of the plays of the wagering game, determine one of the plurality of different outcomes as an outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game;

(d) if the outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game termination condition, end said play of the streak game;

(e) if the outcome of the first one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game continuation condition, provide and cause at least one display device to display a first streak award based on the streak wager, the credit balance being increasable by the first streak ward, and for a second subsequent one of the plays of the wagering game;

(i) determine one of the plurality of different outcomes as an outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game;

(ii) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game continuation condition, provide and cause the at least one display device to display a second streak award based on the streak wager, the credit balance being increasable by the second streak award;

(iii) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game termination condition, end said play of the streak game; and

(vi) if the outcome of the second one of the plays of the wagering game satisfies the streak game suspension condition, not end said play of the streak game; and

(f) if an actuation of a cashout button is received, initiate a payout associated with the credit balance.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the second streak award is greater than the first streak award.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with at least one input device to receive a selection of at least one of the outcomes to include in the secondary award group.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the streak game continuation condition is satisfied when the outcome of one of the plays of the wagering game:

(A) is one of the outcomes of the secondary award group that has not yet occurred in said play of the streak game, and

(B) occurs according to a designated order of the outcomes.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine the designated order before the first one of the plays of the wagering game.