Select and drag method for a gaming machine

• US 8,267,763 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Anderson, Frank, Kruczynski, Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Assistant Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US12/113,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20090275376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,602 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 463/30, 273/143
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A method for playing a casino gaming device including a select and drag feature. In one embodiment, a player selects values for multiple positions or spots on a game of chance, such as a lottery style game. The player initially selects a value in one of the game positions. The player touches a touch-screen display or other input device located above the game position displaying the initially selected value, and then touches any other game position to copy the initially selected value into the other game positions. In one method, the player touches the touch-screen display located above the touch-screen display, and then drags the initially selected value across the remaining game positions with his finger to set the values for the remaining game positions to the initially selected value. This select and drag feature increases the rate of play for players selecting the same value for multiple game positions.

Claims

1. A method for playing a casino gaming device, the method comprising:

applying credit to a gaming device having a random number generator and a touch-screen display, the gaming device enabling play of a game of chance, wherein the game of chance displays multiple game positions for inserting values related to the game of chance;

selecting an initial unhidden value in one of the game positions; and

touching the touch-screen display located above the game position displaying the initially selected unhidden value and dragging the initially selected unhidden value across the remaining game positions, which sets the values for the remaining game positions to the initially selected unhidden value without requiring player reselection of the initially selected unhidden value, wherein the gaming device compares the selected and dragged value to one or more randomly selected values to determine if a payout will occur.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a prize for matching a sufficient amount of winning values.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein dragging and setting the values for the remaining game positions includes using an algorithm associated with the gaming device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device enables play of a lottery game.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the lottery game displays six game positions from a first game position to a sixth game position displayed horizontally in order on the touch-screen display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein selecting the initial value of the first game position and touching the touch-screen display located above the first game position and dragging the initially selected value across the touch-screen display from the first game position to the sixth game position.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the values are numbers.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the values are symbols.

9. A method for playing a lottery game, comprising:

enabling play of a lottery game on a gaming device, the gaming device having a random number generator and a touch-screen display, and the lottery game displaying multiple positions, wherein a player selects one number in each position;

receiving the player input for selecting a first unhidden number using the touch-screen display of the gaming machine; and

detecting the player'"'"'s touch on the touch-screen display located above the first selected unhidden number and populating multiple game positions with the first selected unhidden number as the detected player'"'"'s touch moves across the remaining positions on the touch-screen display, wherein the gaming device compares the selected and populated value to one or more randomly selected values to determine if a payout will occur.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising awarding a prize for matching a sufficient amount of winning values.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein populating one or more game positions with the first selected number includes using an algorithm associated with the gaming device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the lottery game displays six positions from a first game position to a sixth game position displayed horizontally in order on the touch-screen display.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the player'"'"'s input for selecting the first number at the first game position and detecting the player'"'"'s touch on the touch-screen display located above the first game position and populating all gaming positions with the first selected number from the first game position to the sixth game position.

14. A method for playing a lottery game, comprising:

enabling play of a lottery game on a gaming device, the gaming device having a random number generator and a touch-screen display, and the lottery game displaying multiple number positions from a first number position to a last number position;

receiving input from the touch-screen display of an initial unhidden number in one of the multiple number positions;

detecting a touch on touch-screen display located above the number position with the initially selected unhidden number and detecting a touch on the touch-screen display located above multiple number positions; and

using an algorithm to set the detected touched number positions to the initially selected unhidden number, wherein the gaming device compares the selected value to one or more randomly selected values to determine if a payout will occur.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein receiving input from the touch-screen display located at the first number position.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein detecting the touch on the touch-screen display located above the number positions in order from the first number position to the last number position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein there are six number positions.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising using the random number generator to generate winning values;

and comparing the winning values to the selected numbers in the multiple number positions.