Apparatus, systems and methods for facilitating a payout of a gaming device

• US 20050192086A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S., Suarez, Jose A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,850,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a method provides for determining, based on a first random number, an outcome for a first game play conducted at a gaming device, thereby determining a first outcome and determining an amount to be output as a result of the first outcome, thereby determining a first payout. The first payout is based on a probability of obtaining the first outcome and the first wager. The method further provides for determining, based on a second random number, an outcome for a second game play conducted at the gaming device, thereby determining a second outcome and determining an amount to be output as a result of the second outcome, thereby determining a second payout. The second payout is based on the first payout. In one embodiment both the first and second game plays are initiated in response to receiving, from the player, an initiation signal and a wager.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining, based on a first random number, an outcome for a first game play conducted at a gaming device, thereby determining a first outcome,

wherein the first game play is a game play initiated in response to receiving, from a player, a first initiation signal and a first wager;

determining an amount to be output as a result of the first outcome, thereby determining a first payout,

wherein the first payout is based on a probability of obtaining the first outcome and the first wager;

determining, based on a second random number, an outcome for a second game play conducted at the gaming device, thereby determining a second outcome,

wherein the second game play is a game play initiated in response to receiving, from the player, a second initiation signal and a second wager;

determining an amount to be output as a result of the second outcome, thereby determining a second payout,

wherein the second payout is based on the first payout.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second payout is based on the first payout only if the second outcome is a qualifying outcome.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a qualifying outcome is a second outcome that is obtained within at least one of a predetermined number of game plays and a predetermined period of time from an obtainment of the first outcome.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second payout comprises a result of subtracting at least the first payout from a predetermined amount.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining the predetermined amount.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the predetermined amount comprises determining the predetermined amount based on at least one of:

a random number,

information associated with the player,

information associated with the gaming device and

information associated with at least one of the first game play and the second game play.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein determining the predetermined amount comprises selecting the predetermined amount from a plurality of possible predetermined amounts.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined amount is a maximum amount to be paid for a current segment of a game, wherein the first game play and the second game play are conducted during the current segment, and further wherein determining the second payout comprises:

determining an amount already provided during the current segment prior to the obtainment of the second outcome,

determining the maximum amount, and

subtracting the amount already provided from the maximum amount.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second payout comprises a sum of qualifying payouts previously obtained by the player, one of which is the first payout.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first payout is the only qualifying payout and thus the second payout is determined to be the first payout.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an indication of at least one of the first outcome and the first payout in association with a current play session.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that the first outcome is a qualifying outcome; and

only storing the indication of at least one of the first outcome and the first payout if the first outcome is a qualifying outcome.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining an amount to be output as a result of the second outcome comprises:

determining whether a predetermined amount that is based on a probability of obtaining the second outcome and the second wager is to be output or whether an amount based on the first payout is to be output.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of determining whether a predetermined amount is to be output is based on at least one of

a random number,

information associated with the player,

information associated with a current game parameter and

information associated with a play session.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the second payout comprises:

determining a payout that, when added to a current credit meter balance, results in an amount input by the player to the gaming device prior to the determination of the second outcome, which amount was added to the credit meter balance upon the input by the player.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the amount input by the player is a sum of a plurality of amounts input by the player to the gaming device prior to the determination of the second outcome.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the second payout comprises:

determining that the first payout was zero;

determining the first wager; and

adding the first wager to the second payout.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the second payout is further based on a parameter of game play.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting the first payout, and

outputting the second payout.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

outputting, prior to the second outcome being obtained by the player as a result of the second game play, an indication of the second payout as a payout that corresponds to the second outcome.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

outputting an indication of how the second payout was determined.

22. A method, comprising:

determining an initiation of a game play on a gaming device, thereby determining a current game play;

determining an outcome for the current game play based on a random number;

determining that the outcome corresponds to a payout of a magnitude which was not displayed prior to the outcome of the current game play being determined;

determining the magnitude of the payout based on at least one event associated with a game play that occurred prior to the current game play.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein both the current game play and the game play that occurred prior to the current game play are initiated at a direction of a player.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the game play that occurred prior to the current game play is not a game play that occurred immediately prior to the current game play.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the magnitude comprises:

determining the magnitude of the payout based on a formula stored in memory.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

selecting the formula from a plurality of available formulas.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the formula is based on at least one of:

a magnitude of a payout output as a result of at least one game play that occurred prior to the current game play;

at least one current game parameter;

28. The method of claim 22, wherein determining the magnitude comprises:

receiving the magnitude of the payout from another device, the other device having determined the magnitude based on a formula.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein determining that the outcome corresponds to a payout a magnitude of which was not displayed prior to the outcome of the current game play being determined comprises:

determining that the outcome corresponds to both

a first payout, the first payout being a payout of a magnitude that was displayed prior to the outcome of the current game play being determined and a payout, and

a second payout, the second payout being a payout of a magnitude that was not displayed prior to the outcome of the current game play being determined; and

selecting one of the first payout and the second payout as the payout to provide for the current game play.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the selecting is performed based on a random number.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the selecting is performed based on at least one of:

information associated with at least one of the current game play,

information associated with at least one game play that occurred prior to the current game play, and

information associated with a player associated with the current game play.