System and method for gaming

• US 9,396,609 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Ashley, Simon Patrick, Roukis, George, Visser, Antoon Christiaan
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US13/626,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20130023333A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of gaming comprises providing a jackpot game in addition to a main game, the jackpot game being displayed independently of the main game. Play of the jackpot game affects at least one of the awarding of a jackpot prize and value of a jackpot prize pool from which the jackpot prize is awarded.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming machine having slot machine reels configured to display a main game and a separate jackpot reel comprising a plurality of different symbols, the method comprising:

receiving, via a credit input mechanism, an item associated with a monetary value, and establishing a credit balance based on the monetary value;

receiving an amount bet funded from the credit balance to play the gaming machine;

initiating play of a main game of the gaming machine;

determining a number of entitlement symbols for the jackpot reel based on the amount bet;

spinning the jackpot reel to obtain a jackpot game outcome;

awarding a feature game in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising an entitlement symbol;

adjusting a probability of the feature game awarding a jackpot prize determining, based on the amount bet, a number of jackpot symbols available during the feature game;

initiating play of the feature game of the gaming machine after adjusting the probability; and

awarding the jackpot prize from a jackpot pool in response to obtaining an winning outcome from play of the jackpot feature game comprising a winning combination of jackpot symbols, wherein any awarded prize is added to the credit balance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said adjusting comprises adjusting the probability such that a higher amount bet results in a higher probability of winning the jackpot prize.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel includes one or more jackpot symbols associated with the jackpot prize; and

the method further comprises awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said initiating play of the main game comprises spinning a plurality of reels for the main game; and

the jackpot reel is distinct from the plurality of reels for the main game.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel include a plurality of different jackpot symbols, each different jackpot symbol associated with a different jackpot prize; and

the method further comprises awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising awarding another jackpot prize in response the jackpot game outcome comprising another jackpot symbol associated with the another jackpot prize.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel include a plurality of jackpot symbols and a plurality of jackpot increment symbols; and

the method further comprises;

awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize; and

incrementing the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot increment symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon, wherein the plurality of instructions, in response to being executed, result in a game controller:

in response to a credit input mechanism receiving an item associated with a monetary value, establishing a credit balance based on the monetary value;

receiving an amount bet funded from the credit balance to play a gaming machine comprising slot machine reels configured to display a main game and a separate jackpot reel having a plurality of different symbols;

initiating play of a main game of the gaming machine;

determining a number of entitlement symbols for the jackpot reel based on the amount bet;

spinning the jackpot reel to obtain an jackpot game outcome;

awarding a feature game in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising an entitlement symbol;

adjusting a probability of the feature awarding a jackpot prize determining, based on the amount bet, a number of jackpot symbols available during the feature game;

initiating play of the feature game of the gaming machine after adjusting the probability; and

awarding the jackpot prize from a jackpot pool in response to obtaining an outcome from play of the feature game comprising a winning combination of jackpot symbols, wherein any awarded prize is added to the credit balance.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the plurality of instructions further result in the game controller adjusting the probability such that a higher amount bet results in a higher probability of winning the jackpot prize.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel includes one or more jackpot symbols associated with the jackpot prize; and

the plurality of instructions further result in the game controller awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of jackpot reel include a plurality of jackpot symbols and a plurality of jackpot increment symbols;

the plurality of instructions further result in the game controller;

awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize; and

incrementing the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot increment symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

12. A gaming machine, comprising:

a plurality of reels associated with a main game;

a separate jackpot reel associated with a jackpot game, the jackpot reel comprising a plurality of different symbols; and

a game controller configured to;

receive, via a credit input mechanism, an item associated with a monetary value, and establish a credit balance based on the monetary value;

receive an amount bet funded from the credit balance;

determine a number of entitlement symbols for the jackpot reel based on the amount bet;

spin the plurality of reels to obtain a main game outcome;

spin the jackpot reel to obtain a jackpot game outcome;

award a feature game in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising an entitlement symbol;

adjust a probability of the feature game awarding a jackpot prize by determining, based on the amount bet, a number of jackpot symbols available during the feature game;

initiate play of the feature game after adjusting the probability; and

award the jackpot prize from a jackpot pool based on an outcome of the feature game comprising a winning combination of jackpot symbols, wherein any awarded prize is added to the credit balance.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein the game controller is further configured to adjust the probability such that a higher amount bet results in a higher probability of winning the jackpot prize.

14. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel includes one or more jackpot symbols associated with the jackpot prize; and

the game controller is further configured to award the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

15. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel includes a plurality of jackpot increment symbols; and

the game controller is further configured to increment the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot increment symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

16. The gaming machine of claim 12, wherein:

the jackpot reel comprises a plurality of different jackpot symbols, each different jackpot symbol associated with a different jackpot prize of a plurality of jackpot prizes; and

the game controller is further configured to award a particular jackpot prize of the plurality of jackpot prizes in response to a jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the particular jackpot prize.