Gaming device having a weighted probability for selecting a bonus game

• US 7,513,827 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2006
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams; Ross A.
• Application Number:
  US11/534,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20070015572A1
• Time in Patent Office: 929 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463 19- 20, 463/31, 463/17, 463/18, 463 40- 43, 273138-1385
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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
• 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 bonus scheme that has more than one and preferably at least three bonus games. Each bonus game provides excitement and enjoyment to the player via creative visual and audio displays. Each bonus game also has its own theme and may or may not be based upon schemes already known in the art of gaming devices. While the individual bonus games are not necessarily related to each other, the overall bonus scheme, preferably in the initial screen, ties the bonus games together in a master theme that provides flexibility for the individual bonus games to have their own themes. The preferred embodiment of the present invention automatically activates the bonus scheme upon a bonus triggering event. The game selects for the player one of three bonus games contained in the bonus scheme. The player plays the selected game and receives an award and the game returns the player to the base game.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a base game operable upon a player placing a wager;

a plurality of bonus games, at least two of said bonus games;

(a) being different,

(b) having different average expected payouts, and

(c) having different probabilities of being selected; and

at least one display device;

said at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device to;

(i) determine if a triggering event has occurred, said triggering event including an occurrence of a designated symbol combination in a play of the base game, and

(ii) if said triggering event has occurred;

display a play of a selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

provide the player any bonus award resulting from said play of said selected bonus game.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said probabilities of being selected of each of the plurality of bonus games is different.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of bonus games is different.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes at least one input device, and wherein the at least one processor is operable with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to enable the player to initiate said random selection of one of the bonus games.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two of the bonus games have different ranges of bonus awards.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of the bonus games has a different range of bonus awards.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least two bonus games have different maximum bonus awards.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein each of the bonus games has a different maximum bonus award.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein if the bonus award provided to the player is less than a predetermined value, said at least one processor is programmed to operate with said at least one display device to:

display a play of a second selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

provide the player any bonus award resulting from the said play of said second selected bonus game.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the average expected payout of a first of the bonus games is greater than the average expected payout of a second of the bonus games and wherein the probability of being selected of the first bonus game is less than the probability of being selected of the second bonus game.

11. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a base game operable upon a player placing a wager;

a plurality of bonus games, at least two of said bonus games;

(a) being different,

(b) having different average expected payouts, and

(c) having different probabilities of being selected; and

at least one display device;

said at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device to;

(i) determine if a triggering event has occurred in a play of the base game, and

(ii) if said triggering event has occurred;

display a play of a selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

provide the player any bonus award resulting from said play of said selected bonus game.

12. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein each of said probabilities of being selected of each of the plurality of bonus games is different.

13. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of bonus games is different.

14. The gaming device of claim 11, which includes at least one input device, and wherein the at least one processor is operable with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to enable the player to initiate said random selection of one of the bonus games.

15. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein at least two of the bonus games have different ranges of bonus awards.

16. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein each of the bonus games has a different range of bonus awards.

17. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein at least two bonus games have different maximum bonus awards.

18. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein each of the bonus games has a different maximum bonus award.

19. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein if the bonus award provided to the player is less than a predetermined value, said at least one processor is programmed to operate with said at least one display device to:

display a play of a second selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

provide the player any bonus award resulting from the said play of said second selected bonus game.

20. The gaming device of claim 11, wherein the average expected payout of a first of the bonus games is greater than the average expected payout of a second of the bonus games and wherein the probability of being selected of the first bonus game is less than the probability of being selected of the second bonus game.

21. A gaming device operable under control of at least one processor, said gaming device comprising:

a base game, said base game operable upon a player placing one of at least two different wager amounts;

a plurality of bonus games, at least two of said bonus games;

(a) being different,

(b) having different average expected payouts, and

(c) having different probabilities of being selected; and

at least one display device;

said at least one processor programmed to operate with said at least one display device to;

(i) determine if a triggering event has occurred, and

(ii) if said triggering event has occurred;

display a play of a selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

provide the player any bonus award resulting, at least in part, from the said play of said selected bonus game, wherein the bonus award has an average expected value based at least in part on which of the different wager amounts are made.

22. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein each of said probabilities of being selected of each of the plurality of bonus games is different.

23. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein each of said plurality of bonus games is different.

24. The gaming device of claim 21, which includes at least one input device, and wherein the at least one processor is operable with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to enable the player to initiate said random selection of one of the bonus games.

25. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein at least two of the bonus games have different ranges of bonus awards.

26. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein each of the bonus games has a different range of bonus awards.

27. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein at least two bonus games have different maximum bonus awards.

28. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein each of the bonus games has a different maximum bonus award.

29. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein if the bonus award provided to the player is less than a predetermined value, said at least one processor is programmed to operate with said at least one display device to:

display a play of a second selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

provide the player any bonus award resulting from the said play of said second selected bonus game.

30. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein the average expected payout of a first of the bonus games is greater than the average expected payout of a second of the bonus games and wherein the probability of being selected of the first bonus game is less than the probability of being selected of the second bonus game.

31. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a base game operable upon a player placing a wager;

(b) providing a plurality of bonus games, at least two of said bonus games;

(1) being different,

(2) having different average expected payouts, and

(3) having different probabilities of being selected;

(c) determining if a triggering event has occurred, said triggering event including an occurrence of a designated symbol combination in a play of the base game; and

(d) if said triggering event has occurred;

(i) displaying a play of a selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

(ii) providing the player any bonus award resulting from the said play of said selected bonus game.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein each of said probabilities of being selected of each of the plurality of bonus games is different.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein each of said plurality of bonus games is different.

34. The method of claim 31, which including enabling the player to initiate said random selection of one of the bonus games.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein at least two of the bonus games have different ranges of bonus awards.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein each of the bonus games has a different range of bonus awards.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein at least two bonus games have different maximum bonus awards.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein each of the bonus games has a different maximum bonus award.

39. The method of claim 31, which includes, if the bonus award provided to the player is less than a predetermined value, displaying a play of a second selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and providing the player any bonus award resulting from the said play of said second selected bonus game.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the average expected payout of a first of the bonus games is greater than the average expected payout of a second of the bonus games and wherein the probability of being selected of the first bonus game is less than the probability of being selected of the second bonus game.

41. The method of claim 31, which is provided through a data network.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the data network is an internet.

43. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a base game operable upon a player placing a wager;

(b) providing a plurality of bonus games, at least two of said bonus games;

(1) being different,

(2) having different average expected payouts, and

(3) having different probabilities of being selected;

(c) determining if a triggering event has occurred in a play of the base game; and

(d) if said triggering event has occurred;

(i) displaying a play of a selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

(ii) providing the player any bonus award resulting from the said play of said selected bonus game.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein each of said probabilities of being selected of each of the plurality of bonus games is different.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein each of said plurality of bonus games is different.

46. The method of claim 43, which includes enabling the player to initiate said random selection of one of the bonus games.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein at least two of the bonus games have different ranges of bonus awards.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein each of the bonus games has a different range of bonus awards.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein at least two bonus games have different maximum bonus awards.

50. The method of claim 43, wherein each of the bonus games has a different maximum bonus award.

51. The method of claim 43, which includes, if the bonus award provided to the player is less than a predetermined value, displaying a play of a second selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and providing the player any bonus award resulting from the said play of said second selected bonus game.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the average expected payout of a first of the bonus games is greater than the average expected payout of a second of the bonus games and wherein the probability of being selected of the first bonus game is less than the probability of being selected of the second bonus game.

53. The method of claim 43, which is provided through a data network.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the data network is an internet.

55. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) providing a base game, said base game operable upon a player placing one of at least two different wager amounts;

(b) providing a plurality of bonus games, at least two of said bonus games;

(1) being different,

(2) having different average expected payouts, and

(3) having different probabilities of being selected;

(c) determining if a triggering event has occurred, and

(d) if said triggering event has occurred;

(i) displaying a play of a selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and

(ii) providing the player any bonus award resulting, at least in part, from the said play of said selected bonus game, wherein the bonus award has an average expected value based at least in part on which of the different wager amounts are made.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein each of said probabilities of being selected of each of the plurality of bonus games is different.

57. The method of claim 55, wherein each of said plurality of bonus games is different.

58. The method of claim 55, which includes the player to initiate said random selection of one of the bonus games.

59. The method of claim 55, wherein at least two of the bonus games have different ranges of bonus awards.

60. The method of claim 55, wherein each of the bonus games has a different range of bonus awards.

61. The method of claim 55, wherein at least two bonus games have different maximum bonus awards.

62. The method of claim 55, wherein each of the bonus games has a different maximum bonus award.

63. The method of claim 55, which includes, if the bonus award provided to the player is less than a predetermined value, displaying a play of a second selected one of the bonus games, said selection of said bonus game being a random selection at least in part based on said probabilities, and providing the player any bonus award resulting from the said play of said second selected bonus game.

64. The method of claim 55, wherein the average expected payout of a first of the bonus games is greater than the average expected payout of a second of the bonus games and wherein the probability of being selected of the first bonus game is less than the probability of being selected of the second bonus game.

65. The method of claim 55, which is provided through a data network.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the data network is an internet.