Gaming system with linked gaming machines that are configurable to have a same probability of winning a designated award

• US 9,269,228 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Issued: 02/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Muir, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Seng H
• Application Number:
  US13/955,869
• Publication Number:
  US 20130316801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Abstract

A gaming system that is controlled by a central controller and includes a plurality of gaming machines. Each of the gaming machines includes a game operable upon a wager by a player, a plurality of winning symbol combinations including a designated winning symbol combination and a probability of achieving the designated winning symbol combination. At least two of the gaming machines have different probabilities of achieving the designated winning symbol combination. The gaming system includes a designated award and a triggering event. After an occurrence of the triggering event, the central controller is programmed to change the probability of achieving the designated winning symbol combination for at least one of the gaming machines such that each gaming machine has an equal probability of generating the designated winning symbol combination.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a central controller programmed to;

(a) receive data associated with a wager amount placed on a play of a game at a first existing gaming machine, wherein

(i) the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine includes;

(A) a first winning symbol combination having a first probability of being generated, and

(B) a second winning symbol combination having a second probability of being generated, and

(ii) the first existing gaming machine includes;

a first existing gaming machine housing;

a plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices supported by the first existing gaming machine housing, said plurality of first existing gaming machine input devices including a first existing gaming machine acceptor, and a first existing gaming machine cashout device;

at least one first existing gaming machine display device supported by the housing;

at least one first existing gaming machine processor; and

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

 

(A) if a physical item is received via the first existing gaming machine acceptor, establish a first existing gaming machine credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and

 

(B) if a cashout input is received via the first existing gaming machine cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the first existing gaming machine credit balance;

(b) receive data associated with the wager amount placed on a play of a game at a second existing gaming machine, wherein;

(i) the play of the game at the second gaming machine includes;

(A) a third winning symbol combination having a third probability of being generated, and

(B) a fourth winning symbol combination having a fourth probability of being generated, and

(ii) the second existing gaming machine includes;

a second existing gaming machine housing;

a plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices supported by the second existing gaming machine housing, said plurality of second existing gaming machine input devices including a second existing gaming machine acceptor, and a second existing gaming machine cashout device;

at least one second existing gaming machine display device supported by the housing;

at least one second existing gaming machine processor; and

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

 

(A) if a physical item is received via the second existing gaming machine acceptor, establish a second existing gaming machine credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, and

 

(B) if a cashout input is received via the second existing gaming machine cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the second existing gaming machine credit balance; and

(c) after receiving data associated with the wager amount placed on the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine and after receiving data associated with the wager amount placed on the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine, link said first existing gaming machine and said second gaming machine to a designated award by causing a change of at least one of;

(i) one of;

the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine, and the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine, and

(ii) one of;

the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine, and the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second gaming machine,

such that the first existing gaming machine and the second existing gaming machine have an equal or substantially equal probability of generating the designated award.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to cause the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine to change to the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to cause the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine to change to the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to cause the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine to change to the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to cause the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine to change to the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to cause the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine to change to the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to cause the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine to change to the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said fourth winning symbol combination is different than said first winning symbol combination and the second winning symbol combination.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central controller is programmed to link the first existing gaming machine and the second gaming machine by causing a change of at least one of:

(a) one of the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine, such that the other of the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine remains unchanged; and

(b) one of the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine or the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second gaming machine, such that the other of the third probability of the play of the game at the second gaming machine or the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second gaming machine remains unchanged.

18. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the central controller to link the first existing gaming machine and the second gaming machine by causing a change of at least one of:

(a) one of the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine, such that the other of the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine remains unchanged; and

(b) one of the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine or the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second gaming machine, such that the other of the third probability of the play of the game at the second gaming machine or the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second gaming machine remains unchanged.

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

(a) causing a central controller to receive data associated with a wager amount placed on a play of a game at a first existing gaming machine, wherein;

(i) the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine includes;

(A) a first winning symbol combination having a first probability of being generated, and

(B) a second winning symbol combination having a second probability of being generated, and

(ii) a first existing gaming machine credit balance is decreasable based on the wager amount placed on the play of the same at the first existing gaming machine, said first existing gaming machine credit balance being;

(A) increasable via a first existing gaming machine acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and

(B) decreasable via a first existing gaming machine cashout device;

(b) causing the central controller to receive data associated with the wager amount placed on a play of a game at the second existing gaming machine, wherein;

(i) the play of the game at second existing gaming machine includes;

(A) a third winning symbol combination having a third probability of being generated, and

(B) a fourth winning symbol combination having a fourth probability of being generated, and

(ii) a second existing gamin machine credit balance is decreasable based on the wager amount placed on the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine, said second existing gaming machine credit balance being;

(A) increasable via a second existing gaming machine acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value, and

(B) decreasable via a second existing gaming machine cashout device; and

(c) after receiving data associated with the wager amount placed on the play of the same at the first existing gaming machine and after receiving data associated with the wager amount placed on the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine, causing the central controller to link said first existing gaming machine and said second gaming machine to a designated award by causing at least one of the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine or the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine or the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine or the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine to change, such that the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine have an equal or substantially equal probability of achieving the designated award.

11. The method of claim 10, which includes changing the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine to the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine.

12. The method of claim 10, which includes changing the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine to the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine.

13. The method of claim 10, which includes changing the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine to the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine.

14. The method of claim 10, which includes changing the second probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine to the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine.

15. The method of claim 10, which includes changing the third probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine to the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine.

16. The method of claim 10, which includes changing the fourth probability of the play of the game at the second existing gaming machine to the first probability of the play of the game at the first existing gaming machine.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein said fourth winning symbol combination is different than said first winning symbol combination and the second winning symbol combination.

19. The method of claim 10, which is provided through a data network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data network is an internet.