U.S. patent application number 11/153946 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for bonus game for electronic wagering.
This patent application is currently assigned to Stargames Corporation Pty Limited. Invention is credited to O'Halloran, Terry.
Application Number | 20050282608 11/153946 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34941837 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050282608 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
O'Halloran, Terry |
December 22, 2005 |
Bonus game for electronic wagering
Abstract
A communal gaming method and system in which a bonus game is
provided. When a trigger event occurs in a primary communal game, a
separate bonus game feature is made available to players. The bonus
game is preferably only available to participants in the primary
game. This allows for more player interest to be generated.
Inventors: |
O'Halloran, Terry; (Bellevue
Hill, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SACCO & ASSOCIATES, PA
P.O. BOX 30999
PALM BEACH GARDENS
FL
33420-0999
US
|
Assignee: |
Stargames Corporation Pty
Limited
Milperra
AU
|
Family ID: |
34941837 |
Appl. No.: |
11/153946 |
Filed: |
June 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3267 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3288 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/016 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 16, 2004 |
AU |
2004903287 |
Claims
1. A method of operating a gambling game, the game being a communal
game and including a plurality of player terminals which permit
wagers to be placed on a game outcome, the method including the
steps of: receiving player wagers at one or more terminals;
determining the outcome of a primary game; and crediting any player
winnings from the primary game; determining whether a trigger event
occurs; if a trigger event occurs, providing an option to play a
different, bonus game to all players who placed wagers on the
primary game; receiving player wagers on said bonus game; and
crediting any player winnings from said bonus game.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the trigger event is a
predetermined event in the primary game.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the trigger event occurs
at a randomly selected time.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the player wagers on said
bonus game are limited to the total player wagers on the primary
game.
5. A method according to any one of claims 1, wherein the return on
said bonus game is proportional to the total player wagers on the
primary game.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the primary game is a
live, dealer determined game.
7. A gaming system, including a plurality of electronic player
terminals and a game outcome determining device, said terminals
allowing a respective player to place wagers on the outcome of said
game outcome determining device, said game having at least a first
mode, in which a primary game is played using said game outcome
determining device, and a second mode, in which an electronic bonus
game is played, said second mode being temporarily operative after
a trigger event.
8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the primary game is
determined by a dealer manually operating said device.
9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the primary game is
electronically determined.
10. A system according to claim 7, wherein the trigger event is a
predetermined event in the primary game.
11. A system according to 7, wherein the trigger event occurs at a
randomly selected time.
12. A system according to claim 7, wherein the player wagers on
said bonus game are limited to the total player wagers on the
primary game.
13. A system according to claim 7, wherein the return on said bonus
game is proportional to the total player wagers on the primary
game.
14. A software product operatively adapted to implement the method
a according to claim 1.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a modified electronic
gambling game, which can be implemented in conjunction with
electronic wagering.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] The game of roulette is a popular form of gaming, both as a
table game in casinos, and in automated and electronic forms. The
simplicity of the game and the lack of room for player strategy
makes it difficult to successfully add features to the game.
[0003] Recently, games have been developed which use electronic
means to place bets with the result being derived from a live
dealer determined wheel, or from a simulated wheel. Such a system
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,866, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
[0004] Other games have also been proposed in which the players are
betting against a common outcome, such as communal simulated table
games and communal slot games, but in which electronic betting
terminals are provided for each player.
[0005] Within a casino game, it is always the operator's objective
to maximise the enjoyment of the game by players, and to increase
the amounts wagered.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
feature for enhancing the enjoyment of a game based on a communal
outcome.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] In broad terms, the present invention provides a bonus
feature for communal games using electronic betting, whether with a
live game or a simulated game. Upon the occurrence of a
predetermined event--for example, a particular number in
roulette--a bonus game feature is triggered on each active player
terminal. This game may take a variety of forms.
[0008] Throughout the specification and claims, the term communal
game means a game in which the result is shared by a variety of
players, whether the game is a traditional dealer operated table
game, or an electronic game such as a communal slot game or a
simulated table game. The players may, depending upon the game,
wager on different results occurring in the game.
[0009] According to a first aspect, the present invention provides
a method of operating a gambling game, the game being a communal
game and including a plurality of player terminals which permit
wagers to be placed on a game outcome, the method including the
steps of:
[0010] receiving player wagers at one or more terminals;
[0011] determining the outcome of a primary game;
[0012] crediting any player winnings;
[0013] determining whether a trigger event occurs;
[0014] if a trigger event occurs, providing an option to play a
different, bonus game to all players who placed wagers on the
primary game;
[0015] receiving player wagers on said bonus game; and
[0016] crediting any player winnings from said bonus game.
[0017] The trigger event may be a predetermined, known event in the
primary game, or may be generated at a randomly determined time, or
on any other suitable basis. The trigger may be a particular symbol
combination or specific game result. It may be based on a desired
average turnover between trigger occurrences. The invention is not
limited in scope to any particular trigger event.
[0018] It is preferred that the bonus game is made available after
the normal wagers are paid, but the reverse order could be used. It
is preferred that the bonus game only be available to those players
who wagered on the primary game.
[0019] The player terminals may be located at an actual gaming
table, or remote from it. The game may be an actual table game, for
example roulette, or a simulated game, for example a simulated
roulette wheel. It may be a communal slot game. Preferably, the
bonus game has a higher rate of return to players than the primary
game.
[0020] According to another aspect, the present invention provides
a gaming system, including a plurality of electronic player
terminals, and a game outcome determining device, said terminals
allowing a respective player to place wagers on the outcome of said
game outcome determining device, said game having at least a first
mode, in which a primary game is played using said game outcome
determining device, and a second mode, in which an electronic bonus
game is played, said second mode being temporarily operative only
after a trigger event.
[0021] The primary game may be a manually determined outcome, such
as an actual dealer operating a roulette wheel, dice or cards; a
shared result in a automated game, such as an automatic roulette
wheel; a simulated table game; a communal slot game; or any other
type of communal game using electronic betting.
[0022] As an electronic terminal is used by players to place
wagers, the present invention allows the operator to provide
interesting features and variations which are not practical in a
fully manual system, or in a system of independent gaming machines.
A particular outcome in, for example, a roulette game may trigger a
game of an entirely different type. This allows the operator to
maintain interest and excitement for players, breaks up the regular
pattern of play, and creates an anticipation of a different event
during play. The present invention also contemplates that different
outcomes could give rise to different bonus games, or that
different possible bonus games are used either at random or on a
cyclical basis.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described
with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0024] FIGS. 1 to 3 show representations of screens during a bonus
play game.
DESCRIPTION
[0025] The present invention lends itself to many different
implementations, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
The following example is intended purely to illustrate one possible
implementation. The implementation of the present invention is
largely a matter of a relatively straightforward software
modification to the various existing games in question.
[0026] The primary game, as described above, may be any suitable
game which has a common outcome on which wagers are placed by the
players. All player may be wagering on a common outcome, or may
make wagers on different possible outcomes, depending upon the
nature of the game. However, the present invention is particularly
advantageous when implemented in association with a dealer
determined table game. The bonus feature, as will be further
described below, adds an extra level of excitement to a table game,
which is not achievable using conventional methods.
[0027] According to this example, a bonus game is added once a
trigger event has taken place. This may be the occurrence of a
particular, predetermined outcome, such as a particular result in
roulette. It could equally be triggered at random times, within
certain time periods, or by events occurring over more than one
game of the primary game.
[0028] Other determinants may be any number on the roulette wheel,
a timed device that periodically selects a designated game or a
results driven determinant. Regardless of the trigger mechanism,
the bonus feature is set to be awarded upon the conclusion of a
game, and is made available to the players who participated in that
game. The bonus feature is also designed to sit within the total
return to player of the game and has no connections to any of the
individual bets placed by a player other than the player's total
wager amount.
[0029] For simplicity in describing this feature, the occurrence of
the number 1 on a roulette wheel will be used to signal the
awarding of the bonus feature. Once this has occurred, all players
who participated in the previous game, regardless of their wager
level, will be included in the feature.
[0030] Upon the designated result or event occurring, the player
will be presented a new screen on their player terminal that will
offer them a number of symbols between 2 and n from which to
choose. Behind these symbols is a prize equal to the predetermined
prize allocation from the base game (taking into account the chance
of a player making a successful choice) multiplied by the players
total bet from the previous game. If the player makes a successful
choice, they are awarded the designated prize. The prize awarded is
related to their chance of making a successful choice and the
frequency of the bonus feature.
[0031] One method of implementing the present invention is outlined
below:
[0032] 1. Players place bets for current game
[0033] 2. Betting time is closed, wheel is spun or result
determined
[0034] 3. Winning number is 1 (red, odd)
[0035] 4. All winning bets are paid related to the winning
combinations as detailed in the rules of roulette
[0036] 5. The bonus screen of FIG. 1 is offered to all players
involved in the previous game regardless of the bet.
[0037] 6. The player makes a selection from the screen. FIG. 2
illustrates a losing choice, and FIG. 3 illustrates a winning
result.
[0038] 7. In the event a player makes a correct choice, they are
awarded the designated prize multiplied by their total bet from the
previous game.
[0039] In FIG. 1, behind one of the `?` symbols is a bonus prize.
The selection may either be conveniently made by a touch screen
apparatus or by means of buttons that would be provided as part of
the machine. Other embodiments may include:
[0040] More than one prize behind the available selections
[0041] Player may have more than one choice
[0042] The more choices it takes the player to select the prize,
the smaller it gets
[0043] Other prizes as determined by the venue (car, holiday
etc.)
[0044] The use of a pre-determined number, while not the only
method, is the simplest for players to understand and is preferred.
It also makes the calculation of the prize contribution much easier
to evaluate.
[0045] It is preferred that the bonus game, implemented as
described, on each terminal is not identical. clearly, if all
screens showed the same bonus selections and the prize was always
behind the same selection for all screens, this would facilitate
other players copying a successful player. One option is to have
different winning selections for each terminal, generated by the
central game processor. Another alternative is to have the winning
selection controlled locally by the player terminal. Alternatively,
if the timing of determination of whether a selection wins is
delayed until a common time, then the terminals could have the same
winning selection.
[0046] It will be appreciated that the bonus game as described is
only an example, and any suitable bonus game could be used. For
example, the bonus game may be one in which a simulated reels type
game is played on each terminal, or in which a separate feature
game is made available. The bonus game could be a game in which
each terminal receives the same result, but this is not preferred.
The bonus game can provide a larger, jackpot style outcome more
readily if each player has only a chance of obtaining a larger
prize, as described in the example.
[0047] The present invention can be implemented in systems which
are configured in various ways. The terminals may be largely
autonomous, replying only on a central device to communicate the
winning outcomes, but paying successful wagers and debiting credits
for bets made locally. The terminals may be essentially slaves to a
central control system, with all wagers accepted and managed
centrally, with the local terminal providing a way to communicate
with and provide inputs to the central system. One of the terminals
may operate as the central controller or determine the game
outcomes. If the game is played manually, the outcome can be
entered manually using a keyboard or touch screen or the like by
the dealer, or detected automatically by automatic means--for
example, a photoelectric device to detect where a roulette ball has
settled. The present invention can be applied in any of these
configurations, provided a communal game is played.
[0048] In the event that a dealer determined game is played, it is
preferred that some means is provided to indicate to the dealer
that a bonus game is in progress. This may be via an audible sound,
visual indicia, display on the dealer display or the like.
[0049] It will be further understood that the player is not
compelled to participate in the bonus game, and may simply wait it
out and not make a selection.
[0050] It is preferred in any implementation that there is an
overall control on the time taken for the bonus game, so that the
overall game speed is not reduced by the operation of the bonus
game. Preferably, the default delay position is that the player
does not participate. It will be understood that the present
invention may be implemented in variety of ways with a frequency of
trigger, prize level and chance of winning as desired by the game
designer. Additional features as appropriate to the primary game
may be implemented with the present invention.
* * * * *