Gaming system with linked gaming machines that are configurable to have a same probability of winning a designated award
First Claim
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1. A gaming system comprising:
- a central controller programmed to;
determine information associated with a first existing gaming machine, wherein the first existing gaming machine is associated with a first winning symbol combination having a first probability of being generated for a wager amount placed at the first existing gaming machine, the first existing gaming machine is associated with a different second winning symbol combination having a second probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the first existing gaming machine, and the first existing gaming machines includes;
first existing gaming machine housing,a plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices supported by the first existing gaming machine housing, said plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices including a first existing gaming machine acceptor, and a first existing gaming machine cashout device,at least one first existing gaming machine display device supported by the housing,at least one first existing gaming machine processor, andat least one first existing gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of first existing gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the at least one first existing gaming machine processor, cause the at least one first existing gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one first existing gaming machine display device and the plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices to;
responsive to a physical item being received via the first existing gaming machine acceptor, establish a first existing gaming machine credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, andresponsive to a cashout input being received via the first existing gaming machine cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the first existing gaming machine credit balance,determine information associated with a second existing gaming machine, wherein the second existing gaming machine and the first existing gaming machine have different probabilities of providing a designated award, the second existing gaming machine is associated a third winning symbol combination having a third probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the second existing gaming machine, the second existing gaming machine is associated with a different fourth winning symbol combination having a fourth probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the second existing gaming machine, said fourth winning symbol combination being different than said first winning symbol combination and the second winning symbol combination, and the second existing gaming machine includes;
a second existing gaming machine housing,a plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices supported by the second existing gaming machine housing, said plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices including a second existing gaming machine acceptor, and a second existing gaming machine cashout device,at least one second existing gaming machine display device supported by the housing,at least one second existing gaming machine processor, andat least one second existing gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of second existing gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the at least one second existing gaming machine processor, cause the at least one second existing gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one second existing gaming machine display device and the plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices to;
responsive to a physical item being received via the second existing gaming machine acceptor, establish a second existing gaming machine credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, andresponsive to a cashout input being received via the second existing gaming machine cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the second existing gaming machine credit balance,after determining said information associated with the first existing gaming machine and the second existing gaming machine, cause a change of at least one of;
one of the first probability of the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the first existing gaming machine, such that the other of the first probability of the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the first existing gaming machine remains unchanged; and
one of the third probability of the second existing gaming machine or the fourth probability of the second gaming machine, such that the other of the third probability of the second gaming machine or the fourth probability of the second gaming machine remains unchanged,such that one of the first probability of the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the first existing gaming machine is equal or substantially equal to one of the third probability of the second existing gaming machine or the fourth probability of the second gaming machine and the first existing gaming machine and the second existing gaming machine have an equal or substantially equal probability of providing the designated award.
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Abstract
A gaming system that is controlled by a central controller and includes a plurality of gaming machines. Each of the gaming machines includes a game operable upon a wager by a player, a plurality of winning symbol combinations including a designated winning symbol combination and a probability of achieving the designated winning symbol combination. At least two of the gaming machines have different probabilities of achieving the designated winning symbol combination. The gaming system includes a designated award and a triggering event. After an occurrence of the triggering event, the central controller is programmed to change the probability of achieving the designated winning symbol combination for at least one of the gaming machines such that each gaming machine has an equal probability of generating the designated winning symbol combination.
516 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A gaming system comprising:
a central controller programmed to; determine information associated with a first existing gaming machine, wherein the first existing gaming machine is associated with a first winning symbol combination having a first probability of being generated for a wager amount placed at the first existing gaming machine, the first existing gaming machine is associated with a different second winning symbol combination having a second probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the first existing gaming machine, and the first existing gaming machines includes; first existing gaming machine housing, a plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices supported by the first existing gaming machine housing, said plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices including a first existing gaming machine acceptor, and a first existing gaming machine cashout device, at least one first existing gaming machine display device supported by the housing, at least one first existing gaming machine processor, and at least one first existing gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of first existing gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the at least one first existing gaming machine processor, cause the at least one first existing gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one first existing gaming machine display device and the plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices to; responsive to a physical item being received via the first existing gaming machine acceptor, establish a first existing gaming machine credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received via the first existing gaming machine cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the first existing gaming machine credit balance, determine information associated with a second existing gaming machine, wherein the second existing gaming machine and the first existing gaming machine have different probabilities of providing a designated award, the second existing gaming machine is associated a third winning symbol combination having a third probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the second existing gaming machine, the second existing gaming machine is associated with a different fourth winning symbol combination having a fourth probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the second existing gaming machine, said fourth winning symbol combination being different than said first winning symbol combination and the second winning symbol combination, and the second existing gaming machine includes; a second existing gaming machine housing, a plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices supported by the second existing gaming machine housing, said plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices including a second existing gaming machine acceptor, and a second existing gaming machine cashout device, at least one second existing gaming machine display device supported by the housing, at least one second existing gaming machine processor, and at least one second existing gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of second existing gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the at least one second existing gaming machine processor, cause the at least one second existing gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one second existing gaming machine display device and the plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices to; responsive to a physical item being received via the second existing gaming machine acceptor, establish a second existing gaming machine credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received via the second existing gaming machine cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the second existing gaming machine credit balance, after determining said information associated with the first existing gaming machine and the second existing gaming machine, cause a change of at least one of; one of the first probability of the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the first existing gaming machine, such that the other of the first probability of the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the first existing gaming machine remains unchanged; and one of the third probability of the second existing gaming machine or the fourth probability of the second gaming machine, such that the other of the third probability of the second gaming machine or the fourth probability of the second gaming machine remains unchanged, such that one of the first probability of the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the first existing gaming machine is equal or substantially equal to one of the third probability of the second existing gaming machine or the fourth probability of the second gaming machine and the first existing gaming machine and the second existing gaming machine have an equal or substantially equal probability of providing the designated award. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A gaming system comprising:
a central controller programmed to; determine information associated with a first existing gaming machine, wherein the first existing gaming machine is associated with a first winning symbol combination having a first probability of being generated for a wager amount placed at the first existing gaming machine, the first existing gaming machine is associated with a different second winning symbol combination having a second probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the first existing gaming machine, and the first existing gaming machines includes; first existing gaming machine housing, a plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices supported by the first existing gaming machine housing, said plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices including a first existing gaming machine acceptor, and a first existing gaming machine cashout device, at least one first existing gaming machine display device supported by the housing, at least one first existing gaming machine processor, and at least one first existing gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of first existing gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the at least one first existing gaming machine processor, cause the at least one first existing gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one first existing gaming machine display device and the plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices to; if responsive to a physical item being received via the first existing gaming machine acceptor, establish a first existing gaming machine credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and responsive to a cashout input being received via the first existing gaming machine cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the first existing gaming machine credit balance, determine information associated with a second existing gaming machine, wherein the second existing gaming machine and the first existing gaming machine have different probabilities of providing a designated award, the second existing gaming machine is associated a third winning symbol combination having a third probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the second existing gaming machine, the second existing gaming machine is associated with a different fourth winning symbol combination having a fourth probability of being generated for the wager amount placed at the second existing gaming machine, said fourth winning symbol combination being different than said first winning symbol combination and the second winning symbol combination, and the second existing gaming machine includes; a second existing gaming machine housing, a plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices supported by the second existing gaming machine housing, said plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices including a second existing gaming machine acceptor, and a second existing gaming machine cashout device, at least one second existing gaming machine display device supported by the housing, at least one second existing gaming machine processor, and at least one second existing gaming machine memory device which stores a plurality of second existing gaming machine instructions, which when executed by the at least one second existing gaming machine processor, cause the at least one second existing gaming machine processor to operate with the at least one second existing gaming machine display device and the plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices to; if responsive to a physical item being received via the second existing gaming machine acceptor, establish a second existing gaming machine credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and if responsive to a cashout input being received via the second existing gaming machine cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the second existing gaming machine credit balance after determining said information associated with the first existing gaming machine and the second existing gaming machine, link said first existing gaming machine and said second gaming machine to the designated award by causing a change of at least one of; the first probability or the second probability of the first existing gaming machine, and the third probability or the fourth probability of the second gaming machine, such that the first existing gaming machine and the second existing gaming machine have an equal or substantially equal probability of providing the designated award. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
Specification
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Current AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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Original AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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InventorsMuir, David H.
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Primary Examiner(s)LIM, SENG HENG
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Application NumberUS15/045,992Publication NumberTime in Patent Office734 DaysField of SearchNoneUS Class CurrentCPC Class CodesG07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or...G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming...
