Method for playing multi-level games of chance

• US 8,696,433 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Inventors: Weller, Scott, Ross, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US11/832,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20090017894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,449 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 22, 463/26, 463/27
• US Class Current: 463/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• 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

A method for playing a multi-level game of chance wherein players can advance to the next level with a win. As the game progresses through levels, non-winning players are eliminated and winning players are segregated by type of win. In general, each level provides greater winnings. In another example game format, a progressive jackpot may also be offered.

Claims

1. A game of chance of two or more levels comprising:

at least a first level, a plurality of intermediate levels, and a final level, each level above the first level having a plurality of winning tiers and at least one losing tier, wherein players in the winning tiers advance to a next level until arriving at the final level and players in the at least one losing tier do not advance;

a user interface that permits a player to select elements for entry into each level of the game the player plays or allows the player to have the elements selected for him via a computer;

a processor for determining if the elements selected by or for the player obtain a one of a plurality of winning outcomes, wherein the player of the game of chance of the two or more levels advances from a lower level to a higher level responsive to obtaining one of the plurality of winning outcomes in the lower level; and

the processor further determining which of the plurality of winning tiers the player advances to in the higher level from the lower level by segregating players based on at least a type of winning outcome from the plurality of winning outcomes in the lower level.

2. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein the game may be one of the group comprising keno, bingo, UK bingo, and baccarat.

3. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein the game may be a combination of two or more of the group comprising of keno, bingo, UK bingo, and baccarat.

4. A game or chance according to claim 1, wherein all levels have the same payout table.

5. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein one or more levels have a different payout table than the first level.

6. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein one or more levels have multiple payout tables.

7. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein the number of levels is pre-determined.

8. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein winners of a top tier in the final level can win at least one of the group consisting of a standard, a progressive, and a rolling jackpot.

9. A game of chance according to claim 8, wherein winners of the top tier in the final level must win a final drawing to win the at least one of the group comprising the standard, the progressive, and the rolling jackpot.

10. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein only one bet at the start of the game is needed to pay to play.

11. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein winners of each level are required to play a next tier.

12. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein the winnings are paid out after each level of the two or more levels.

13. A game of chance according to claim 1, wherein the winnings are paid out only at the end of the game.

14. The game of chance according to claim 1, wherein a game operator is a casino.

15. The game according to claim 1, wherein the game operator is at least one of a state or a national lottery.

16. The game according to claim 1, wherein a player may enter into the game after the first level of the two or more levels by paying a bet greater than an initial bet to play the first level of the two or more levels.

17. The game according to claim 1, wherein a player may enter into the game after the first level of the two or more levels by paying a bet greater than a sum of the initial bet plus carryover(s) to get to the level being entered.

18. The game according to claim 1, wherein odds of winning decrease as a level of the two or more levels is increased.

19. The game according to claim 1, wherein the individual payout is increased as a level of the two or more levels is increased.

20. The game of claim 1, wherein the lower level has a payout winning outcome and a high payout winning outcome, and wherein a player achieving the high payout winning outcome in the lower level advances to a first winning tier in the higher level and a player achieving the low payout winning outcome advances to a second winning tier in the higher level, the first wining tier having a greater potential payout than the second winning tier.

21. A method for operating a game of chance, wherein the game of chance has two or more levels, comprising:

establishing a game of chance with at least a first level, a plurality of intermediate levels, and a final level, each level above the first level having a plurality of winning tiers and at least one losing tier, wherein players in the winning tiers advance to a next level until arriving at the final level and players in the at least one losing tier do not advance;

permitting players, via a user interface, to select elements for entry into each level of the game the players play or permitting the players to have the elements selected for them via a computer;

determining, via a processor, if the elements selected by or for the players obtain a one of a plurality of winning outcomes, wherein players of the game of chance advance from a lower level to a higher level response to obtaining a one of the plurality of winning outcomes in the lower level; and

determining, via the processor, which of the plurality of winning tiers in the higher level the players are placed into from the lower level by segregating the players based on at least a type of winning outcome from the plurality of winning outcomes in the lower level.