Gaming system and method having bonus event and bonus event award in accordance with a current wager and one or more accumulated bonus event points

• US 8,393,958 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2012
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Cohen, Alexander Casey Naglestad
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUFFY, DAVID W
• Application Number:
  US13/431,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20120190434A1
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 21, 463/23, 463 25- 27
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• 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

In one embodiment, the gaming system and method disclosed herein maintains a plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts which are ranked. In one embodiment, if a bonus event triggering condition occurs, the gaming system determines one of the plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts to utilize for the triggered bonus event. In one such embodiment, the determined bonus event average expected payout is based on a player'"'"'s current wager and a quantity of accumulated bonus event points or units. In this embodiment, the gaming system enables players to accumulate bonus event points based on one or more aspects of a player'"'"'s previous gaming experiences during a designated period of time. The gaming system then displays a bonus event to the player and determines a bonus event award, wherein the determined bonus event award is in accordance with the determined bonus event average expected payout.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) maintain;

(A) a balance of accumulated bonus event points, and

(B) a plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts;

(b) enable a player to place a wager on each of a plurality of plays of a primary game;

(c) accumulate a quantity of bonus event points;

(d) display said plurality of plays of the primary game to the player and provide the player any primary game awards associated with any generated winning outcomes in any of said plurality of plays of the primary game; and

(e) for one of the plays of the primary game, if a bonus event triggering condition occurs in association with said play of the primary game;

(i) select one of said maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on;

(A) the wager placed on said play of the primary game, and (B) said maintained balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a bonus event award, said bonus event award based on said selected bonus event average expected payout and at least one random determination,

(iii) display the determined bonus event award, and

(iv) provide the player the determined bonus event award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to subtract a quantity of bonus event points from said maintained balance of accumulated bonus event points, said quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the selected bonus game average expected payout.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to subtract a quantity of bonus event points from said maintained balance of accumulated bonus event points, the quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the determined bonus event award.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to repeat (b) to (e)(iv) at least once.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the quantity of bonus event points accumulated is based on the wager placed.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein different maintained bonus event average expected payouts are each associated with different quantities of free spins of a game.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, for each free spin of the selected bonus event average expected payout:

(i) randomly determine a free spin game outcome,

(ii) display the randomly determined free spin game outcome, and

(iii) provide the player any awards for any displayed winning free spin game outcomes.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to:

(1) upon a first occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) select a first one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a first one of the placed wagers and a first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a first bonus event award, said first bonus event award based on the selected first one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) provide the player said first bonus event award, and

(2) upon a second occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) select a second, different one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a second, different one of the placed wagers and said first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a second bonus event award, said second bonus event award is based on the selected second one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) provide the player said second bonus event award.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein said first bonus event award has a same value as a value of said second bonus event award.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to:

(1) upon a first occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) select a first one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a first one of the placed wagers and a first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a first bonus event award, said first bonus event award is based on the selected first one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) provide the player said first bonus event award, and

(2) upon a second occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) select a second, different one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on said first one of the placed wagers and a second, different balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a second bonus event award, said second bonus event award is based on the selected second one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) provide the player said second bonus event award.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said first bonus event award has a same value as a value of said second bonus event award.

12. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) maintain a plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts;

(b) maintain a balance of accumulated bonus event points for a player;

(c) enable the player to place a wager on each of a plurality of plays of a primary game;

(d) accumulate a quantity of bonus event points for the player;

(e) display said plurality of plays of the primary game to the player and provide the player any primary game awards associated with any generated winning outcomes in any of said plurality of plays of the primary game; and

(f) for one of the plays of the primary game, if a bonus event triggering condition occurs in association with the play of the said primary game;

(i) select one of said maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on;

(A) the wager placed on said play of the primary game and (B) the balance of accumulated bonus event points maintained for the player,

(ii) randomly determine a bonus event award, said bonus event award based on said selected bonus event average expected payout and at least one random determination,

(iii) display the randomly determined bonus event award, and

(iv) provide the player the determined bonus event award.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to subtract a quantity of bonus event points from the balance of accumulated bonus event points maintained for the player, said quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the selected bonus event average expected payout.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to subtract a quantity of bonus event points from the balance of accumulated bonus event points maintained for the player, the quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the determined bonus event award.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to repeat (c) to f(iv) at least once.

16. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the quantity of bonus event points accumulated for the player is based on the wager placed.

17. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein different maintained bonus event average expected payouts are each associated with different quantities of free spins of a game.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to, for each free spin of the selected bonus event average expected payout:

(i) randomly determine a free spin game outcome,

(ii) display the randomly determined free spin game outcome, and

(iii) provide the player any awards for any displayed winning free spin game outcomes.

19. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to:

(1) upon a first occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) select a first one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a first one of the placed wagers and a first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a first bonus event award, said first bonus event award is based on the selected first one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) provide the player said first bonus event award, and

(2) upon a second occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) select a second, different one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a second, different one of the placed wagers and said first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a second bonus event award, said second bonus event award is based on the selected second one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) provide the player said second bonus event award.

20. The gaming system of claim 19, wherein said first bonus event award has a same value as a value of said second bonus event award.

21. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to:

(1) upon a first occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) select a first one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a first one of the placed wagers and a first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a first bonus event award, said first bonus event award is based on the selected first one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) provide the player said first bonus event award, and

(2) upon a second occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) select a second, different one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on said first wager amount and a second, different balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) randomly determine a second bonus event award, said second bonus event award is based on the selected second one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) provide the player said second bonus event award.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein said first bonus event award has a same value as a value of said second bonus event award.

23. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain;

(A) a balance of accumulated bonus event points, and

(B) a plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts;

(b) enabling a player to place a wager on each of a plurality of plays of a primary game;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to accumulate a quantity of bonus event points;

(d) causing at least one display device to display said plurality of plays of the primary game to the player and provide the player any primary game awards associated with any generated winning outcomes in any of said plurality of plays of the primary game; and

(e) for one of the plays of the primary game, if a bonus event triggering condition occurs in association with said play of the primary game;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select one of said maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on;

(A) the wager placed on said play of the primary game, and (B) said maintained balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a bonus event award, said bonus event award based on said selected bonus event average expected payout and at least one random determination,

(iii) causing the at least one display device to display the determined bonus event award, and

(iv) providing the player the determined bonus event award.

24. The method of claim 23 which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to subtract a quantity of bonus event points from said maintained balance of accumulated bonus event points, said quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the selected bonus game average expected payout.

25. The method of claim 23, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to subtract a quantity of bonus event points from said maintained balance of accumulated bonus event points, the quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the determined bonus event award.

26. The method of claim 23, which includes repeating (b) to (e)(iv) at least once.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the quantity of bonus event points accumulated is based on the wager placed.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein different maintained bonus event average expected payouts are each associated with different quantities of free spins of a game.

29. The method of claim 28, which includes, for each free spin of the selected bonus event average expected payout:

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a free spin game outcome,

(ii) causing the at least one display device to display the randomly determined free spin game outcome, and

(iii) providing the player any awards for any displayed winning free spin game outcomes.

30. The method of claim 23, which includes:

(1) upon a first occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select a first one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a first one of the placed wagers and a first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a first bonus event award, said first bonus event award based on the selected first one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) providing the player said first bonus event award, and

(2) upon a second occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select a second, different one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a second, different one of the placed wagers and said first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a second bonus event award, said second bonus event award is based on the selected second one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) providing the player said second bonus event award.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein said first bonus event award has a same value as a value of said second bonus event award.

32. The method of claim 23, which includes:

(1) upon a first occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select a first one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a first one of the placed wagers and a first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a first bonus event award, said first bonus event award is based on the selected first one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) providing the player said first bonus event award, and

(2) upon a second occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select a second, different one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on said first one of the placed wagers and a second, different balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a second bonus event award, said second bonus event award is based on the selected second one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) providing the player said second bonus event award.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said first bonus event award has a same value as a value of said second bonus event award.

34. The method of claim 23, which is provided through a data network.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the data network is an internet.

36. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to maintain a plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts;

(b) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to maintain a balance of accumulated bonus event points for a player;

(c) enabling the player to place a wager on each of a plurality of plays of a primary game;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to accumulate a quantity of bonus event points for the player;

(e) causing at least one display device to display said plurality of plays of the primary game to the player and provide the player any primary game awards associated with any generated winning outcomes in any of said plurality of plays of the primary game; and

(f) for one of the plays of the primary game, if a bonus event triggering condition occurs in association with the play of the said primary game;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select one of said maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on;

(A) the wager placed on said play of the primary game and (B) the balance of accumulated bonus event points maintained for the player,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a bonus event award, said bonus event award based on said selected bonus event average expected payout and at least one random determination,

(iii) causing the at least one display device to display the randomly determined bonus event award, and

(iv) providing the player the determined bonus event award.

37. The method of claim 36, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to subtract a quantity of bonus event points from the balance of accumulated bonus event points maintained for the player, said quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the selected bonus event average expected payout.

38. The method of claim 36, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to subtract a quantity of bonus event points from the balance of accumulated bonus event points maintained for the player, the quantity of bonus event points subtracted is based on the determined bonus event award.

39. The method of claim 36, which includes repeating (c) to (f)(iv) at least once.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the quantity of bonus event points accumulated for the player is based on the wager placed.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein different maintained bonus event average expected payouts are each associated with different quantities of free spins of a game.

42. The method of claim 41, which includes, for each free spin of the selected bonus event average expected payout:

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a free spin game outcome,

(ii) causing the at least one display device to display the randomly determined free spin game outcome, and

(iii) providing the player any awards for any displayed winning free spin game outcomes.

43. The method of claim 36, which includes:

(1) upon a first occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select a first one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a first one of the placed wagers and a first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a first bonus event award, said first bonus event award is based on the selected first one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) providing the player said first bonus event award, and

(2) upon a second occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select a second, different one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a second, different one of the placed wagers and said first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a second bonus event award, said second bonus event award is based on the selected second one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) providing the player said second bonus event award.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said first bonus event award has a same value as a value of said second bonus event award.

45. The method of claim 36, which includes:

(1) upon a first occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select a first one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on a first one of the placed wagers and a first balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a first bonus event award, said first bonus event award is based on the selected first one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) providing the player said first bonus event award, and

(2) upon a second occurrence of the bonus event triggering condition;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to select a second, different one of the maintained plurality of different bonus event average expected payouts, said selection based on said first wager amount and a second, different balance of accumulated bonus event points,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine a second bonus event award, said second bonus event award is based on the selected second one of the maintained bonus event average expected payouts and at least one random determination, and

(iii) providing the player said second bonus event award.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said first bonus event award has a same value as a value of said second bonus event award.

47. The method of claim 36, which is provided through a data network.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the data network is an internet.