Gaming device for operating in a reverse payout mode and a method of operating same

• US RE39,817 E1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAGER, MARK ALAN
• Application Number:
  US10/222,523
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463 9- 13, 463 16- 20, 463/21, 463/22, 463/25, 463 29- 30, 463/36, 463 40- 43, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 273/236, 273/237, 273/309, 273292-293, 700 91- 93
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A gaming device of the type wherein a play generates one of multiple possible outcomes having reverse payout information. The gaming device comprises a memory device containing a first set of data correlating possible outcomes to a first set of payouts and a second set of data correlating possible outcomes to a second set of payouts second set of data correlates a majority of outcomes to positive payouts and the first set of data correlates a majority of outcomes to other than positive payouts. The gaming device also includes a payout selector indicating which of the first set of data and the second set of data the gaming device is to access. In an alternate embodiment, the gaming device includes a memory having only the second set of data.

Claims

1. A gaming device wherein a play generates one of multiple possible outcomes, the device comprising:

a wager selector indicating a wager;

a memory device storing a first set of data correlating possible outcomes to a first set of payout information and a second set of data correlating possible outcomes to a second set of payout information, said second set of data being structured such that the statistical likelihood of generated any winning outcome is greater than the statistical likelihood of generating any losing outcome;

selector means for selecting either of said first set of data or said second set of data;

an insurance selector;

a random number generator for generating a random number;

said memory device also storing a third set of data correlating possible outcomes to insurance payout information; and

a processor coupled to said random number generator, said memory device, said payout selector and said insurance selector, said processor configured to access said insurance payout information based on said random number and said insurance selector.

2. The gaming device of claim 1 wherein said second set of data is structured such that the statistical likelihood of generating any winning outcome is greater than the statistical likelihood of generating any outcome which results in neither win nor a loss.

3. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for generating a random number wherein said random number corresponds to one of said multiple possible outcomes; and

processor means coupled to said memory means for accessing one of said first set of data and said second set of data based upon said selector means.

4. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising means for receiving payment from a player, said means for receiving coupled to said processor means, said processor means determining a payout based on said payment.

5. A slot machine wherein a play results in one of multiple possible outcomes, each outcome including a plurality of reel positions, the slot machine comprising:

a memory device having payout information stored therein, said payout information correlated to said outcomes such that each outcome in which each of the reel positions differs from each other is a win for a player.

6. The slot machine of claim 5 further comprising:

a processor coupled to said memory device and configured to determine a win or loss according to the resulting outcome and said payout information.

7. The slot machine of claim 5 wherein said payout information correlated to an outcome in which at least two reel positions are identical describes a loss for a player.

8. A gaming device wherein a play results in one of multiple possible outcomes, the outcomes including normally winning outcomes and normally non-winning outcomes, the gaming device comprising:

a memory device having stored therein payout information correlated to possible outcomes, and wherein said payout information correlates other than a win for a player to a normally winning outcome,

wherein said normally winning outcomes include outcomes in which at least two of the reel positions are identical.

9. The gaming device of claim 8 wherein said payout information correlates a win to a normally non-winning outcome.

10. A gaming device operable to generate one of a plurality of possible outcomes for each play initiated thereon, the device comprising:

means for storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, wherein each possible outcome has only one of said first plurality of payout amounts associated therewith;

means for storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes,

wherein each possible outcome has one of said second plurality of payout amounts associated therewith, and

wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with a first particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said first plurality of payout amounts for the first particular outcome is zero, and

wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said second plurality of payout amounts for the second particular outcome is zero; and

means for indicating which of said first and said second payout tables the gaming device is to access for a play.

14. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the device is a video poker machine, the plurality of possible outcomes including combinations of playing cards.

11. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at last least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, wherein each possible outcome has only one of said first plurality of payout amounts associated therewith;

storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes,

wherein each possible outcome has one of said second plurality of payout amounts associated therewith, and

wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with a first particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said first plurality of payout amounts for the first particular outcome is zero; and

wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said second plurality of payout amounts for the second particular outcome is zero; and

receiving an indication which of said first and said second payout tables the gaming device is to access for a play.

12. A gaming device operable to generate one of a plurality of possible outcomes for each play initiated thereon, the device comprising:

means for storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, the first payout table having a first payout amount associated with a first outcome, wherein the first payout amount is greater than zero, the first payout table further having a second payout amount associated with a second outcome, wherein the second payout amount is zero,

means for storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts is greater than zero when a corresponding one of the first plurality of payout amounts is zero, the second payout table having a third payout amount associated with the first outcome, wherein the third payout amount is zero, the second payout table having a fourth payout amount associated with the second outcome, wherein the fourth payout amount is greater than zero; and

means for receiving an indication which of said first and said second payout tables the gaming device is to access for the play.

13. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, the first payout table having a first payout amount associated with a first outcome, wherein the first payout amount is greater than zero, the first payout table further having a second payout amount associated with a second outcome, wherein the second payout amount is zero;

storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts is greater than zero when a corresponding one of the first plurality of payout amounts is zero, the second payout table having a third payout amount associated with the first outcome, wherein the third payout amount is zero, the second payout table having a fourth payout amount associated with the second outcome, wherein the fourth payout amount is greater than zero; and

receiving an indication of which of said first and said second payout tables the gaming device is to access for the play.

15. A gaming device comprising:

a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts and a plurality of outcomes wherein each of the plurality of outcomes is associated with at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts;

a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts wherein each of the plurality of outcomes is associated with at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts, wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a first outcome of the plurality of outcomes is greater than zero if a payout amount of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with the first outcome is zero, and wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second outcome of the plurality of outcomes is zero if a payout amount of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with the second outcome is greater than zero; and

a selector for indicating which of the first and second payout tables the gaming device is to use for determining a payout.

16. The gaming device of claim 15 wherein the first and second payout tables include information corresponding to a number of coins to be paid a player.

17. The gaming device of claim 15 further including a memory for storing a wager and wherein the first and second payout tables include information corresponding to a multiplier by which said payout is to be multiplied based upon the wager.

18. The gaming device of claim 15 further comprising:

a memory for storing the payout tables;

a random number generator for generating a random number; and

a processor coupled to the random number generator, the memory, and the selector, wherein the processor is configured to access the payout tables based on the random number and the payout selector.

19. The gaming device of claim 18 further comprising:

an insurance selector coupled to the processor, wherein the memory further stores data that relates outcomes of the plurality of outcomes to insurance payout information and wherein the processor is configured to access the insurance payout information based on the random number and the insurance selector.

20. A method comprising:

selecting a wager;

storing a first set of data correlating possible outcomes to a first set of payout information and a second set of data correlating possible outcomes to a second set of payout information, said second set of data being structured such that the statistical likelihood of generating any winning outcome is greater than the statistical likelihood of generating any losing outcome;

selecting either of said first set of data or said second set of data;

receiving an insurance selection;

generating a random number;

storing a third set of data correlating possible outcomes to insurance payout information; and

accessing said insurance payout information based on said random number and said insurance selection.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein storing a second set of data includes storing said second set of data structured such that the statistical likelihood of generating any winning outcome is greater than the statistical likelihood of generating any outcome which results in neither win nor a loss.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

generating a random number wherein said random number corresponds to one of said multiple possible outcomes; and

accessing one of said first set of data and said second set of data based upon a selection resulting from selecting either of said first set of data or said second set of data.

23. The method of claim 20 further comprising

receiving payment from a player;

and

determining a payout based on said payment.

24. A method comprising:

storing payout information for slot machine outcomes,

wherein outcomes include at least one selected reel position on each of a plurality of reels,

wherein the payout information is correlated to a subset of the outcomes, and

wherein the subset includes every outcome in which each selected reel position of each reel differs from each other selected reel position of each other reel; and

generating, via a processor, a resulting outcome.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising

determining a win or a loss according to the resulting outcome and a presence or an absence of payout information correlated with the resulting outcome.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising

awarding a payout when the resulting outcome is within the subset during play of the slot machine.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein outcomes in which at least two selected reel positions on different reels are identical indicates a loss.

28. A method comprising:

storing payout information correlated to possible outcomes,

wherein outcomes include a plurality of reel positions,

wherein said payout information correlates other than a win for a player to a normally winning outcome, and

wherein said normally winning outcomes include outcomes in which at least two of the reel positions are identical; and

generating an outcome.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein said payout information correlates a win to a normally non-winning outcome.

30. A method comprising:

storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of a plurality of possible outcomes, wherein each possible outcome has one of said first plurality of payout amounts associated therewith;

storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes,

wherein each possible outcome has one of said second plurality of payout amounts associated therewith,

wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with a first particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said first plurality of payout amounts for the first particular outcome is zero, and

wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said second plurality of payout amounts for the second particular outcome is zero; and

indicating which of said first and said second payout tables a gaming device is to access for a play.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein indicating includes indicating which of said first and said second payout tables a video poker machine is to access for a play and wherein the plurality of possible outcomes includes combinations of playing cards.

32. A method comprising:

storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of a plurality of possible outcomes, wherein each possible outcome has one of said first plurality of payout amounts associated therewith;

storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes,

wherein each possible outcome has one of said second plurality of payout amounts associated therewith,

wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with a first particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said first plurality of payout amounts for the first particular outcome is zero, and

wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said second plurality of payout amounts for the second particular outcome is zero; and

receiving an indication which of said first and said second payout tables a gaming device is to access for a play.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein receiving an indication includes receiving an indication which of said first and said second payout tables a video poker machine is to access for a play and wherein the plurality of possible outcomes includes combinations of playing cards.

34. A method comprising:

storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of a plurality of possible outcomes, the first payout table having a first payout amount associated with a first outcome, wherein the first payout amount is greater than zero, the first payout table further having a second payout amount associated with a second outcome, wherein the second payout amount is zero;

storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts is greater than zero when a corresponding one of the first plurality of payout amounts is zero, the second payout table having a third payout amount associated with the first outcome, wherein the third payout amount is zero, the second payout table having a fourth payout amount associated with the second outcome, wherein the fourth payout amount is greater than zero; and

receiving an indication which of said first and said second payout tables a gaming device is to access for a play.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein receiving an indication includes receiving an indication which of said first and said second payout tables a video poker machine is to access for a play and wherein the plurality of possible outcomes includes combinations of playing cards.

36. A method comprising:

storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, the first payout table having a first payout amount associated with a first outcome, wherein the first payout amount is greater than zero, the first payout table further having a second payout amount associated with a second outcome, wherein the second payout amount is zero;

storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts is greater than zero when a corresponding one of the first plurality of payout amounts is zero, the second payout table having a third payout amount associated with the first outcome, wherein the third payout amount is zero, the second payout table having a fourth payout amount associated with the second outcome, wherein the fourth payout amount is greater than zero; and

indicating which of said first and said second payout tables a gaming device is to access for a play.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein indicating includes indicating which of said first and said second payout tables a video poker machine is to access for a play and wherein the plurality of possible outcomes includes combinations of playing cards.

38. A method comprising:

determining a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts and a plurality of outcomes wherein each of the plurality of outcomes is associated with at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts;

determining a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts wherein each of the plurality of outcomes is associated with at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts, wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a first outcome of the plurality of outcomes is greater than zero if a payout amount of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with the first outcome is zero, and wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second outcome of the plurality of outcomes is zero if a payout amount of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with the second outcome is greater than zero; and

providing a means for a player to select which of the first and second payout tables the gaming device is to use for determining a payout.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein determining the first and second payout tables includes determining information corresponding to a number of coins to be paid the player.

40. The method of claim 38 further including storing a wager and wherein determining the first and second payout tables include determining information corresponding to a multiplier by which said payout is to be multiplied based upon the wager.

41. The method of claim 38 further comprising:

storing a selected payout table;

generating a random number; and

accessing the selected payout table based on the random number.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising:

storing data that relates outcomes of the plurality of outcomes to insurance payout information; and

accessing the insurance payout information based on the random number and an insurance selection.

43. A gaming device operable to generate one of the plurality of possible outcomes for each play initiated thereon, the device comprising:

means for storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, wherein each possible outcome has one of said first plurality of payout amounts associated therewith;

means for storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes,

wherein each possible outcome has one of said second plurality of payout amounts associated therewith, and

wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with a first particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said first plurality of payout amounts for the first particular outcome is zero, and

wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said second plurality of payout amounts for the second particular outcome is zero; and

means for indicating which of said first and said second payout tables the gaming device is to access for a play.

44. A computer readable medium encoded with processing instructions for implementing a method for operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

storing a first payout table including a first plurality of payout amounts, each of the first plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes, wherein each possible outcome has one of said first plurality of payout amounts associated therewith;

storing a second payout table including a second plurality of payout amounts, each of the second plurality of payout amounts corresponding to at least one of the plurality of possible outcomes,

wherein each possible outcome has one of said second plurality of payout amounts associated therewith, and

wherein at least one of the second plurality of payout amounts associated with a first particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said first plurality of payout amounts for the first particular outcome is zero, and

wherein at least one of the first plurality of payout amounts associated with a second particular outcome is greater than zero when a corresponding one of said second plurality of payout amounts for the second particular outcome is zero; and

receiving an indication which of said first and said second payout tables the gaming device is to access for a play.

45. A method comprising:

storing payout information for slot machine outcomes,

wherein outcomes include at least one selected reel position on each of a plurality of reels,

wherein the payout information is correlated to a subset of the outcomes, and

wherein the subset consists of outcomes in which each selected reel position of each reel differs from each other selected reel position of each other reel; and

generating, via a processor, a resulting outcome.

46. A method comprising:

storing payout information for slot machine outcomes,

wherein outcomes include at least one selected reel position on each of a plurality of virtual reels of a video slot machine,

wherein the payout information is correlated to a subset of the outcomes, and

wherein the subset includes all outcomes in which each selected reel position of each reel differs from each other selected reel position of each other reel;

generating a resulting outcome; and

displaying the resulting outcome on the virtual reels of the video slot machine.