U.S. patent application number 11/428720 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for gaming device method and apparatus employing modified payouts.
Invention is credited to Scott T. FRIESEN, James A. JORASCH, Jay S. WALKER.
Application Number | 20060252516 11/428720 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29251194 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060252516 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WALKER; Jay S. ; et
al. |
November 9, 2006 |
GAMING DEVICE METHOD AND APPARATUS EMPLOYING MODIFIED PAYOUTS
Abstract
The invention includes a system and method for a gaming device
to determine when to offer a player an opportunity to play using a
"jackpot only" pay table. The player may choose to accept the
gaming device's offer to switch from using a conventional pay table
to using a pay table that only pays top payout amounts. Play with a
jackpot only pay table may only require a small wager amount as
compared to play with a conventional pay table. Play with a jackpot
only pay table may be automated to generate outcomes quickly to
allow a player to relatively inexpensively avoid spending time
playing a gaming device perceived to be in a "cold period."
Inventors: |
WALKER; Jay S.; (Ridgefield,
CT) ; JORASCH; James A.; (Stamford, CT) ;
FRIESEN; Scott T.; (New York, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WALKER DIGITAL
2 HIGH RIDGE PARK
STAMFORD
CT
06905
US
|
Family ID: |
29251194 |
Appl. No.: |
11/428720 |
Filed: |
July 5, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10419304 |
Apr 18, 2003 |
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11428720 |
Jul 5, 2006 |
|
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60374437 |
Apr 19, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/34 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101; G07F 17/3209 20130101; G07F 17/3237 20130101;
G07F 17/3262 20130101; G07F 17/3211 20130101; G07F 17/3234
20130101; G07F 17/3244 20130101; G07F 17/3258 20130101; G07F
17/3225 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/025 |
International
Class: |
A63F 13/00 20060101
A63F013/00 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: determining whether to offer a player of a
gaming device a choice to switch the gaming device from using a
first payout table to using a second payout table, wherein the
second payout table consists exclusively of winning outcomes that
pay only jackpots and losing outcomes that pay nothing; presenting
the offer to the player based on the determining; and receiving an
election from the player to switch the gaming device from using the
first payout table to using the second payout table.
2-40. (canceled)
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to commonly-owned,
co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/374,437,
filed Apr. 19, 2002, also entitled "Gaming Device Methods And
Apparatus Employing Modified Payouts" which is incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
[0002] This application is related to commonly-owned, co-pending
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/______, (Attorney Docket No.
02-010) filed Apr. 16, 2003, entitled "Method And Apparatus For
Optimizing The Rate Of Play Of A Gaming Device" which is also
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all
purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus
related to gaming devices. More specifically, the present invention
relates to modifying payouts and/or associated pay tables of gaming
devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] There are currently over 500,000 slot machines in operation
that together generate more than $15 billion in annual revenue for
United States casinos. Most casinos generate more than half of
their gaming revenues from slot machines and some individual
casinos offer three or four thousand slot machines at a single
location. In fact, two different casinos in Connecticut each
provide over six thousand slot machines for players. Thus, it is
well known within the gaming industry that gaming devices, such as
slot machines, are a major draw for players wishing to engage in a
gaming experience. Players are often drawn toward gaming machines
because of the possibility of winning large jackpots in exchange
for a relatively small wager. For example, a player may insert
twenty-five cents into a gaming machine and hit a $10,000 jackpot
on just one handle pull.
[0005] However, many players find that in order to maximize the
possibility of winning a large jackpot, they may have to play a
particular gaming machine for an extended period of time. Often
spending numerous hours at one gaming machine, a player may go
through many "hot" or "cold" periods whereby the player may win a
large amount of money, lose much of their money, and then win it
all back. In the case where a gaming machine may be in a cold
period and fail to award any winning combinations for an extended
period of time, many players may become frustrated and either stop
playing entirely or leave to find what they may believe to be a hot
gaming machine. As a result, a need exists for a player to be able
to avoid or manage a gaming device's cold periods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example system 100
according to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
details of a casino server 102 as depicted in FIG. 1 according to
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the
details of a gaming device 104 as depicted in FIG. 1 according to
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the external
appearance of a gaming device 104 as depicted in FIG. 1 according
to some embodiments of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a table illustrating an example data structure of
an example player database 208 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a table illustrating an example data structure of
an example pay table database 308 as depicted in FIG. 3 for use in
some embodiments of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a table illustrating an example data structure of
an example rules database 310 as depicted in FIG. 3 for use in some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process
for facilitating modification of a pay table according to and for
use in some embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The disclosed invention overcomes the above and other
drawbacks of the prior art by allowing a player to economically
play for top jackpots while "running a cold streak out of a slot
machine." More specifically, this invention allows a player to
indicate to a gaming device that he would like to switch from using
a regular pay table to using a "jackpot only" pay table that only
pays top payout amounts and only requires smaller wager amounts
compared to play with the regular pay table.
[0015] The present invention benefits players in that it may
provide them with more chances to win large jackpots at a reduced
cost per outcome. Players may opt to play to win only jackpots and
therefore not waste their time winning and/or losing smaller
(possibly insignificant to them) amounts of money. Further, the
present invention may allow a player intending to wager only a
fixed amount of money, to increase his playing time. Also, a player
may be more inclined to remain at a particular gaming device for
longer periods of time if he is able to relatively inexpensively
"run the cold streaks out" of the gaming device. Players who think
of each outcome they purchase from a gaming device as building
their equity toward winning a large payout may particularly
appreciate the opportunity to quickly generate many outcomes at a
reduced cost.
[0016] The present invention benefits casinos by increasing
individual gaming device playing time. Players may spend longer
periods of time playing at one gaming device when they perceive
that they can quickly and inexpensively play through a cold streak.
The present invention may also result in increased casino revenue
due to the player's increased time of play and a greater likelihood
of increased customer retention.
A. TERMS
[0017] Throughout the description that follows and unless otherwise
specified, the following terms may include and/or encompass the
example meanings provided in this section. These terms and
illustrative example meanings are provided to clarify the language
selected to describe embodiments of the invention both in the
specification and in the appended claims.
[0018] The terms "player" and "user" shall be synonymous and may
refer to any person or entity that operates a user device, a gaming
device, a player device, and/or a user terminal.
[0019] The terms "gaming device" and "gaming machine" shall be
synonymous and may refer to any electrical, mechanical,
electro-mechanical, software, combination thereof, and/or other
device that may accept a wager, may follow a process to generate an
outcome, and may pay winnings based on the outcome. The outcome may
be randomly generated, as with a slot machine; may be generated
through a combination of randomness and user skill, as with video
poker; or may be generated entirely through user skill. A gaming
device may include any gaming machine and/or system, including slot
machines, video poker machines, video bingo machines, video
roulette machines, video keno machines, video blackjack machines,
pachinko machines, arcade games, video games, pinball machines,
skill crane machines, video lottery terminals, online gaming
systems, sports betting machines, game consoles, personal computers
logged into online gaming sites, gaming device simulations, and the
like. Gaming devices may or may not be owned and/or maintained by a
casino and/or may or may not exist within a casino location. Gaming
devices may be activated by a player pressing a spin button
(including bet, wager, deal, start, go, hit, and/or the like
buttons), pulling a handle, and/or any other method to initiate the
generation of an outcome.
[0020] The term "casino" may refer to the owner of gaming devices,
owners' agents, and/or any entity who may profit from players' use
of the gaming devices.
[0021] The term "casino location" may refer to the physical
geographic site, complex, or building where gaming devices owned
and/or operated by a casino are located. In the case of an online
casino, casino location may refer to the address (e.g. the uniform
resource locator (URL)) of the online casino's Web site or
facility.
[0022] The terms "handle pull" and "spin" shall be synonymous and
may refer to a single play at a gaming device. In some embodiments,
a handle pull may refer to a single complete game (or hand) or in
other embodiments, the term may refer to a play related to a single
wager. For example, in video blackjack, a user might play a single
game in which he splits a pair of sevens, requiring an additional
wager. This single game may be considered to include one or
multiple handle pulls in different embodiments.
[0023] The terms "server" and "casino server" shall be synonymous
and may refer to any device that may communicate with one or more
one or more gaming devices, one or more third-party servers, one or
more remote controllers, one or more player devices, and/or other
network nodes, and may be capable of relaying communications to and
from each.
[0024] The term "user terminal" and "remote controller" shall be
synonymous and may refer to any device that may communicate with
one or more casino servers, one or more gaming devices, one or more
third-party service provider servers, one or more player devices,
and/or other network nodes. User terminals may, for example,
include personal computers, laptop computers, handheld computers,
telephones, kiosks, automated teller machines, gaming devices, game
consoles, and/or vending machines. They may include facilities to
support secure communications using encryption or the like.
[0025] The terms "player device" and "user device" shall be
synonymous and may refer to any device owned or used by a user or
consumer capable of accessing and/or displaying online and/or
offline content. Player devices may communicate with one or more
casino servers, one or more gaming devices, one or more third-party
service provider servers, one or more user terminals, and/or other
network nodes. In some embodiments, player devices may, for
example, include gaming devices, personal computers, personal
digital assistants, point-of-sale terminals, point of display
terminals, kiosks, telephones, cellular phones, automated teller
machines (ATMs), pagers, and combinations of such devices.
[0026] The term "input device" may refer to a device that is used
to receive an input. An input device may communicate with or be
part of another device such as a point of sale terminal, a point of
display terminal, a user terminal, a server, a player device, a
gaming device (e.g. a pressure sensor in a "spin" button on a
gaming device), a controller, and the like. Some examples of input
devices include: a "spin" or "deal" button and/or a handle on a
gaming device, a bar-code scanner, a magnetic stripe reader, a
computer keyboard, a point-of-sale terminal keypad, a touch-screen,
a microphone, an infrared sensor, a sonic ranger, a computer port,
a video camera, a motion detector, a digital camera, a network
card, a universal serial bus (USB) port, a GPS receiver, a radio
frequency identification (RFID) receiver, an RF receiver, a
thermometer, a pressure sensor, and a weight scale.
[0027] The term "output device" may refer to a device that is used
to output information. An output device may communicate with or be
part of another device (e.g. a gaming device, a point of sale
terminal, a point of display terminal, a player device, a casino
device, a controller, etc.). Possible output devices include: a
cathode ray tube (CRT) monitor, liquid crystal display (LCD)
screen, light emitting diode (LED) screen, a printer, an audio
speaker, an infra-red transmitter, a radio transmitter.
[0028] The terms "I/0 device" and "input/output device" shall be
synonymous and may refer to any combination of input and/or output
devices.
[0029] The term "button" may refer to physical buttons, "virtual
buttons" displayed as areas on a touch-sensitive or regular display
screen, handles, knobs, switches, keys, microphones, levers,
joysticks, roller balls, mice, triggers, antennae, coins slots,
bill validators, credit card slots, player tracking card slots,
disk drives, receptacles, and so on. Thus, the different buttons
described below are intended to include any type of input device
that can control or otherwise activate (or deactivate) a specified
function.
[0030] The term "player tracking card" may refer to a device that
may be capable of identifying and/or storing information about a
consumer who is a casino player. Typically player tracking cards
may be accessed by gaming devices and magnetic card readers
operated by casino staff. The information stored on the player
tracking card may include identifying information, as well as
financial information, such as a number of gambling credits
remaining. The card may be machine readable, for example, by a
gaming device. According to some embodiments of the present
invention, a player tracking card may store player and/or
membership and/or player preference information. In some
embodiments, a player tracking card may simply store a pointer to
information on a server.
[0031] The term "gross winnings" may refer to a player's total
winnings for a session or time period, without regard to the
amounts wagered during the session.
[0032] The term "net winnings" may refer to a player's total
winnings for a session or time period, less the total amount
wagered during that time period.
[0033] The terms "session," "gaming session," "gambling session,"
and "splay session" shall be synonymous and may refer to a series
of plays at one gaming device, a series of plays at multiple gaming
devices, and/or a continuous period of time spent gambling in a
casino.
[0034] The terms "products," "goods," "merchandise," and "services"
shall be synonymous and may refer to anything licensed, leased,
sold, available for sale, available for lease, available for
licensing, and/or offered or presented for sale, lease, or
licensing including packages of products, subscriptions to
products, contracts, information, services, and intangibles.
[0035] The term "merchant" may refer to an entity who may offer to
sell, lease, and/or license one or more products to a consumer (for
the consumer or on behalf of another) or to other merchants. For
example, merchants may include sales channels, individuals,
companies, manufacturers, distributors, direct sellers, re-sellers,
and/or retailers. Merchants may transact out of buildings including
stores, outlets, malls, casinos, and warehouses, and/or they may
transact via any number of additional methods including mail order
catalogs, vending machines, online web sites, and/or via telephone
marketing. Note that a producer or manufacturer may choose not to
sell to customers directly and in such a case, a retailer may serve
as the manufacturer's or producer's sales channel.
[0036] The term "hot period" and "hot streak" shall be synonymous
and may refer to a period of a play session during which a player
believes or otherwise perceives that a gaming device is producing a
higher than normal number of winning outcomes.
[0037] The term "cold period" and "cold streak" shall be synonymous
and may refer to a period of a play session during which a player
believes or otherwise perceives that a gaming device is producing a
higher than normal number of losing outcomes.
[0038] The term "jackpot" may refer to the highest possible payout
which a player may win on a particular gaming device and/or on a
progressive gaming device network. A jackpot includes a jackpot
amount and in some embodiments a gaming device may be able to award
a plurality of different size jackpot amounts for a given handle
pull.
[0039] The terms "regular pay table" and "regular payout table"
shall be synonymous and may refer to the default pay table of a
gaming device.
[0040] The terms "jackpot only pay table" and "jackpot only payout
table" shall be synonymous and may refer to an alternative pay
table wherein the only payouts that may be awarded are jackpots and
almost all outcomes pay nothing.
[0041] The term "jackpot only spin" may refer to a spin or handle
pull initiated while a gaming device was configured to use a
jackpot only pay table.
[0042] The term "jackpot only outcome" may refer to an outcome
generated while a gaming device was configured to use a jackpot
only pay table.
[0043] The term "jackpot only button" may refer to a button,
whether mechanical, electronic, or otherwise, which may be used to
allow a player to indicate his desire to switch a gaming device's
pay table from a regular pay table to a jackpot only pay table.
[0044] The term "return to regular play button" may refer to a
button, whether mechanical, electronic, or otherwise, which may be
used to allow a player to terminate play using a jackpot only pay
table and to return to a regular pay table.
[0045] The term "automatic spin button" may refer to a button,
whether mechanical, electronic, or otherwise, which may be used to
allow a player to indicate to a gaming device that he would prefer
to enable the gaming device to generate outcomes automatically. The
gaming device may then generate a predetermined number of outcomes,
generate outcomes for a predetermined amount of time, generate
outcomes until a certain number of outcomes that would have been
consecutive winning outcomes using the regular pay table are
generated, and/or generate outcomes until a threshold is reached
that the player perceives as indicative that a cold streak has
ended.
[0046] The term "automatic spin display" may refer to a display on
a gaming device that allows a player to view all outcomes generated
as the result of activating an automatic spin button.
[0047] The term "jackpot only spin package" may refer to a bundle
of outcomes to be generated using a jackpot only pay table and sold
for a predetermined price. For example, a player may choose a "Ten
Jackpot Only spin package" for $1, or a "Fifty-Five Jackpot Only
spin package" for $5, or a "120 Jackpot Only spin package" for $10.
Other options may be bundled with a jackpot only spin package such
as additional spin offers, marketing offers, bonuses,
advertisements, etc.
B. SYSTEM
[0048] An example embodiment of the system 100 of the present
invention is depicted in FIG. 1. The system 100 according to some
embodiments of the present invention may include one ore more
casino servers 102 (an example of which is depicted in FIG. 2) in
one or two-way communication with one or more gaming devices 104
(an example of which is depicted in FIG. 3) via a network such as,
for example, the Internet or via another communications link.
Although not pictured, other casino devices besides gaming devices
104 may be connected to the casino server 102. Likewise, servers of
other casinos and other establishments may be in direct or indirect
communication with the casino server 102. Note that in some
embodiments, the system may consist of only a gaming device
104.
[0049] In operation, the casino server 102 may function under the
control of a casino, merchant, or other entity that may also
control use of the gaming devices 104. For example, the casino
server 102 may be a server in a merchant's network. In some
embodiments, the casino server 102 may also be a merchant's
server.
[0050] In the embodiment pictured in FIG. 1, communication between
the casino server 102, the gaming devices 104, and/or third-party
servers (not pictured), may be direct and/or via a network such as
the Internet. Each of the casino server 102 and the gaming devices
104 may comprise, for example, computers, such as those based on
the Intel.RTM. Pentium.RTM. processor, that are adapted to
communicate with each other. Any number of third-party servers (not
pictured), external casino servers (not pictured), and/or gaming
devices 104 may be in direct or indirect, one or two-way
communication with the casino server 102. The casino server 102
and/or the gaming devices 104 may each be physically proximate to
each other or geographically remote from each other. The casino
server 102 and/or the gaming devices 104 may each include
input/output devices.
[0051] As indicated above, communication between the casino server
102 and the gaming devices 104 may be direct or indirect, such as
over an Internet Protocol (IP) network such as the Internet, an
intranet, or an extranet through a web site maintained by the
casino server 102 (and/or a third-party server) on a remote server
or over an online data network including commercial on-line service
providers, bulletin board systems, routers, gateways, and the like.
In some embodiments, the nodes may communicate with each other over
local area networks including Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI Full
Duplex Technology (FFDT), and the like, radio frequency
communications, infrared communications, microwave communications,
cable television systems, satellite links, Wide Area Networks
(WAN), Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) networks, Public Switched
Telephone Network (PSTN), other wireless networks, and the
like.
[0052] Those skilled in the art will understand that devices in
communication with each other need not be continually transmitting
to each other. On the contrary, such devices need only transmit to
each other as necessary, and may actually refrain from exchanging
data most of the time. For example, a device in communication with
another device via the Internet may not transmit data to the other
device for weeks or months at a time.
[0053] The casino server 102 (and/or a third-party server) may
function as a "Web server" that presents and/or generates Web pages
which are documents stored on Internet-connected computers
accessible via the World Wide Web using protocols such as, e.g.,
the hyper-text transfer protocol ("HTTP"). Such documents typically
include one or more hyper-text markup language ("HTML") files,
associated graphics, sound, and script files. A Web server allows
communication with the casino server 102 in a manner known in the
art. The gaming devices 104 may use a web browser, such as
NAVIGATOR.RTM. published by NETSCAPE.RTM. for accessing HTML forms
generated or maintained by or on behalf of the casino server 102
and/or a third-party server.
[0054] As indicated above, any or all of the casino server 102, a
third-party server, and/or the gaming devices 104 may include or be
part of, e.g., processor based cash registers, telephones,
interactive voice response (IVR) systems such as the ML400-IVR
designed by MISSING LINK INTERACTIVE VOICE RESPONSE SYSTEMS,
cellular/wireless phones, vending machines, pagers, gaming devices
including slot machines, personal computers, portable types of
computers, such as a laptop computer, a wearable computer, a
palm-top computer, a hand-held computer, a smart card, and/or a
Personal Digital Assistant ("PDA"). Further details of the casino
server 102 and the gaming devices 104 are provided below with
respect to FIGS. 2 through 4.
[0055] As indicated above, in some embodiments of the invention,
the casino server 102 (and/or a third-party server) may include
gaming devices 104. In addition, the casino server 102 may
communicate with users directly instead of through the gaming
devices 104. Although not pictured, the casino server 102, a
third-party server, and/or the gaming devices 104 may also be in
communication with one or more consumer and/or merchant credit
institutions to effect currency transactions and may do so directly
or via a secure financial network such as the Fedwire network
maintained by the United States Federal Reserve System, the
Automated Clearing House (ACH) Network, the Clearing House
Interbank Payments System (CHIPS), or the like.
[0056] In operation, the gaming devices 104 (and/or a third-party
server) may exchange information about the use of the gaming
devices 104 by individual players, data about the players, and the
like. In embodiments with a third-party server, the casino server
102 and/or the gaming devices 104 may exchange information about
the use of the gaming devices 104 by individual players, data about
the players, and the like via the third-party server. The gaming
devices 104 may for example, provide information related to the
force with which a player presses the gaming devices' buttons to
the casino server 102 (and/or a third-party server). The gaming
devices 104 may further provide gambling performance and behavior
data to the casino server 102 (and/or a third-party server). The
casino server 102 (and/or a third-party server) may provide
historical information about a player to the gaming devices 104 in
the casino location or to remote gaming devices.
C. DEVICES
[0057] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating details of an example
of the casino server 102 of FIG. 1 (and/or an example of a
third-party server). The casino server 102 is operative to manage
the system 100 and execute the methods of the present invention.
The casino server 102 may be implemented as one or more system
controllers, one or more dedicated hardware circuits, one or more
appropriately programmed general purpose computers, or any other
similar electronic, mechanical, electro-mechanical, and/or human
operated device.
[0058] The casino server 102 (and/or a third-party server) may
include a processor 200, such as one or more Intel.RTM.
Pentium.RTM. processors. The processor 200 may include or be
coupled to one or more clocks or timers (not pictured) and one or
more communication ports 202 through which the processor 200
communicates with other devices such as the gaming devices 104
and/or a third-party server. The processor 200 is also in
communication with a data storage device 204. The data storage
device 204 may include any appropriate combination of magnetic,
optical and/or semiconductor memory, and may include, for example,
additional processors, communication ports, Random Access Memory
("RAM"), Read-Only Memory ("ROM"), a compact disc and/or a hard
disk. The processor 200 and the storage device 204 may each be, for
example: (i) located entirely within a single computer or other
computing device; or (ii) connected to each other by a remote
communication medium, such as a serial port cable, a LAN, a
telephone line, radio frequency transceiver, a fiber optic
connection or the like. In some embodiments for example, the casino
server 102 may comprise one or more computers (or processors 200)
that are connected to a remote server computer operative to
maintain databases, where the data storage device 204 is comprised
of the combination of the remote server computer and the associated
databases.
[0059] The data storage device 204 stores a server program 206 for
controlling the processor 200. The processor 200 performs
instructions of the server program 206, and thereby operates in
accordance with the present invention, and particularly in
accordance with the methods described in detail herein. The present
invention may be embodied as a computer program developed using an
object oriented language that allows the modeling of complex
systems with modular objects to create abstractions that are
representative of real world, physical objects and their
interrelationships. However, it would be understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art that the invention as described herein
can be implemented in many different ways using a wide range of
programming techniques as well as general purpose hardware systems
or dedicated controllers. The server program 206 may be stored in a
compressed, uncompiled and/or encrypted format. The server program
206 furthermore may include program elements that may be generally
useful, such as an operating system, a database management system
and device drivers for allowing the processor 200 to interface with
computer peripheral devices. Appropriate general purpose program
elements are known to those skilled in the art, and need not be
described in detail herein.
[0060] Further, the server program 206 is operative to execute a
number of invention-specific, objects, modules and/or subroutines
which may include (but are not limited to) one or more routines to
identify a player at a gaming device 104; one or more routines to
receive information about a user; one or more routines to assess
the mood of a player; one or more routines to send signals to a
gaming device 104 to switch to using a different pay table; one or
more routines to send signals to a gaming device 104 to determine
the price to be charged per wager when a jackpot only pay table is
used; one or more routines for receiving information from a gaming
device 104; one or more routines to store player performance
information; one or more routines to store player preference
information, one or more routines to facilitate and control
communications between gaming devices 104 and/or third-party
servers; one or more routines to restore a gaming device 104 to
using its default pay table; and/or one or more routines to control
databases or software objects that track information regarding
users, casinos, merchants supplying prizes, other third-parties,
gambling results, gaming devices 104 and awarding prizes. Examples
of these routines and their operation are described in detail below
in conjunction with the flowchart depicted in FIG. 8.
[0061] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the
instructions of the server program 206 may be read into a main
memory of the processor 200 from another computer-readable medium,
such from a ROM to a RAM. Execution of sequences of the
instructions in the server program 206 causes processor 200 to
perform the process steps described herein. In alternative
embodiments, hard-wired circuitry or integrated circuits may be
used in place of, or in combination with, software instructions for
implementation of the processes of the present invention. Thus,
embodiments of the present invention are not limited to any
specific combination of hardware, firmware, and/or software.
[0062] In addition to the server program 206, the storage device
204 is also operative to store a player database 208. The player
database 208 is described in detail below and example structures
are depicted with sample entries in the accompanying figure.
[0063] Turning to FIG. 3, a block diagram depicting an example a
gaming device 104 may include a processor 300 coupled to a
communications port 302, a data storage device 304, a player input
device 314, a clock 316, a display screen 318, a player tracking
card reader 320, memory (not pictured), controllers (not pictured),
a coin accepter (not pictured), a speaker (not pictured), a random
number generator (not pictured), and/or a video camera (not
pictured). Although not pictured, the player input device 314 may
include a pressure sensor, which may also be coupled to the
processor 300, for measuring force used when a player provides
input to the gaming device 104. A pressure sensor may include any
number of different types of strain gages that measure an amount of
deflection (and/or a change in electrical resistance) of an elastic
element as it is stretched or compressed, as are well known in the
art. Such pressure sensors are operable to generate a signal that
may be transmitted to the processor 300 and interpreted as
representative of an amount of force applied to the attached player
input device measured, for example, in Newtons.
[0064] The data storage device 304 stores a gaming device program
306 (hereinafter "program 306") for controlling the processor 300.
The processor 300 performs instructions of the program 306, and
thereby operates in accordance with the present invention, and
particularly in accordance with the methods described in detail
herein. As with the casino server program 206 described above, the
program 306 may be embodied as a computer program developed using
an object oriented language that allows the modeling of complex
systems with modular objects to create abstractions that are
representative of real world, physical objects and their
interrelationships. However, it would be understood by one of
ordinary skill in the art that the invention as described herein
can be implemented in many different ways using a wide range of
programming techniques as well as general purpose hardware systems
or dedicated controllers. The program 306 may be stored in a
compressed, uncompiled and/or encrypted format. The program 306
furthermore may include program elements that may be generally
useful, such as an operating system, a database management system
and device drivers for allowing the processor 300 to interface with
computer peripheral devices. As stated above, appropriate general
purpose program elements are known to those skilled in the art, and
need not be described in detail herein.
[0065] Further, as with the server program 206 described above, the
program 306 may be operative to execute a number of
invention-specific, objects, modules and/or subroutines which may
include (but are not limited to) one or more routines to identify a
player at the gaming device 104; one or more routines to receive
information about a user; one or more routines to assess the mood
of a player; one or more routines to implement rules regarding
switching pay tables; one or more routines to switch from using a
first pay table to using a second pay table; one or more routines
to receive signals from a casino server 102 to switch pay tables;
one or more routines to send information to a casino server 102;
one or more routines to determine (or receive from the casino
server 102) the price to be charged per wager when a jackpot only
pay table is used; one or more routines to store player performance
information; one or more routines to store player preference
information, one or more routines to facilitate and control
communications between the gaining device 104 and/or third-party
servers; one or more routines to restore the gaming device 104 to
using its default pay table; and/or one or more routines to control
databases or software objects that track information regarding
users, casinos, merchants supplying prizes, other third-parties,
gambling results, other gaming devices, and awarding prizes.
Examples of these routines and their operation are described in
detail below in conjunction with the flowchart depicted in FIG.
8.
[0066] As with the server program 206, according to some
embodiments of the present invention, the instructions of the
program 306 may be read into a main memory of the processor 300
from another computer-readable medium, such from a ROM to a RAM.
Execution of sequences of the instructions in the program 306
causes processor 300 to perform the process steps described herein.
In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry or integrated
circuits may be used in place of, or in combination with, software
instructions for implementation of the processes of the present
invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention are not
limited to any specific combination of hardware, firmware, and/or
software.
[0067] In addition to the program 306, the storage device 304 is
also operative to store (i) a pay table database 308 and (ii) a
rules database 310. The databases 308, 310 are described in detail
below and example structures are depicted with sample entries in
the accompanying figures.
[0068] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the
schematic illustrations and accompanying descriptions of the sample
databases presented herein are exemplary arrangements for stored
representations of information. Any number of other arrangements
may be employed besides those suggested by the tables shown. For
example, even though three separate databases are illustrated, the
invention could be practiced effectively using one, two, four,
five, or more functionally equivalent databases. Similarly, the
illustrated entries of the databases represent exemplary
information only; those skilled in the art will understand that the
number and content of the entries can be different from those
illustrated herein. Further, despite the depiction of the databases
as tables, an object-based model could be used to store and
manipulate the data types of the present invention and likewise,
object methods or behaviors can be used to implement the processes
of the present invention. These processes are described below in
detail with respect to FIG. 8.
[0069] Although the databases 308, 310 are depicted as residing on
the gaming device 104, it should be understood that these databases
308, 310 could just as easily be implemented on the casino server
102. Likewise, a gaming device 104 could store a player database
208. A casino server 102 may store a redundant copy of the gaming
devices' databases 308, 310 to protect against data loss or for any
number of other reasons. In embodiments in which, for example, the
casino server 102 serves/controls multiple casinos operated by
different entities, a casino may wish to have a local copy of the
portions of the databases 308, 310 that include entries related to
that casino and exclude other casinos' access to that casino's
information. Further, in some embodiments of a gaming device 104
according to the present invention there may be included local
copies of some portions of the databases 308, 310 of other gaming
devices. Such a redundant configuration may provide enhanced system
performance by reducing network communications. A program 306 may
include one or more routines to respond to requests from other
gaming devices for player session data, player preference data, and
player performance information. Such a distributed configuration
may provide enhanced system security by allowing different casinos
to store and maintain their own databases. In some embodiments,
local versions of the databases 308, 310 are not stored on the
gaming devices 104 at all and instead, the gaming device program
306 accesses casino server databases (that are equivalent to
databases 308, 310) which are stored and maintained on the casino
server 102. Likewise, in some embodiments, the databases may only
exist on a third-party server and thus, both the casino server 102
and the gaming devices 104 may access a third-party server for the
data. Thus, the databases 208, 308, 310 may be stored anywhere
within the system 100 that is practicable.
[0070] Turning to FIG. 4, an illustration of an example of the
exterior of a gaming device 104 according to some embodiments of
the present invention is depicted. In some embodiments, the player
input device 314 may include a jackpot only button 402. A jackpot
only button 402 may be used to allow a player to activate a jackpot
only mode wherein the gaming device 104 uses a jackpot only pay
table. A jackpot only button 402 may become illuminated or it might
flash when the gaming device 104 offers the player the option of
using a jackpot only pay table. In some embodiments, a jackpot only
button 402 may be illuminated or flashing when the gaming device is
actually using a jackpot only pay table. Although not pictured, a
gaming device according to the present invention may include a
"return to regular play" button that a play may used to switch a
gaming device 104 back to using a regular pay table. In embodiments
without a "return to regular play" button, a jackpot only button
402 may be used to toggle between a jackpot only pay table and a
regular pay table.
[0071] A gaming device according to the present invention may also
include an automatic spin display 404 and/or an automatic spin
button (not pictured). An automatic spin display 404 may provide a
player with a view of all or several outcomes at once when the
machine is operating in an automatic spin mode. Thus, a player may
very quickly experience many outcomes without having to wait for
each outcome to resolve on a conventional display. In some
embodiments, an automatic spin display 404 may merely serve as a
record of past outcomes for a player to reference while the reel
display continuous displays new outcomes as they are generated. In
some embodiments, an automatic spin display 404, such as that
illustrated in FIG. 4, may be implemented via a representation on
the gaming device's display screen 318 and in some embodiments, an
additional display added to a modified conventional gaming device
may provide an automatic spin display 404. An automatic spin button
(not pictured) may be provided to allow a player to activate an
automatic play mode. Along with an automatic spin button, a gaming
device may include multiple related buttons that allow a player to
select how long or how many handle pulls the gaming device is to
spin automatically.
[0072] In some embodiments, the jackpot only button 402 and/or the
automatic spin button(s) may only be enabled after the gaming
device 104 determines that the player perceives that the gaming
device 104 is in a cold period and/or after the gaming device 104
determines that the player has become frustrated.
D. DATABASES
[0073] As indicated above, it should be noted that although the
example embodiments depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3 include three
particular databases stored in storage devices 204, 304, other
database arrangements may be used which would still be in keeping
with the spirit and scope of the present invention. In other words,
the present invention could be implemented using any number of
different database files or data structures, as opposed to the
three depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, the individual database
files could be stored on different devices (e.g. located on
different storage devices in different geographic locations, such
as on a third-party server). Likewise, the programs 206, 306 could
also be located remotely from the storage devices 204, 304 and/or
on another server. As indicated above, the programs 206, 306 may
include instructions for retrieving, manipulating, and storing data
in the databases 208, 308, 310, as may be useful in performing the
methods of the invention as will be further described below.
1. Player Database
[0074] Turning to FIG. 5, a tabular representation of an embodiment
of a player database 208 according to some embodiments of the
present invention is illustrated. This particular tabular
representation of a player database 208 includes three sample
records or entries which each include information regarding a
particular player of a gaming device 104. In some embodiments of
the invention, a player database 208 is used to player data
including identification number, name, address, "comp" points, and
gambling data. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such a
player database 208 may include any number of entries or additional
fields.
[0075] The particular tabular representation of a player database
208 depicted in FIG. 5 includes five fields. The fields may
include: (i) a player tracking number field 500 that may store a
representation uniquely identifying the player using the gaining
device; (ii) a player name field 502 that may store a
representation of the player's name; (iii) an address field 504
that may store a representation of the player's address; (iv) a
comp points field 506 that may store a representation of a current
balance of a player's comp points; and (v) a gambling data field
508 that may store a representation of the player's recent gambling
performance and/or related behavior.
[0076] The example player database 208 depicted in FIG. 5 includes
example data to illustrate the meaning of the information stored in
this database embodiment. A player identifier 500 (e.g. "4127,"
"4128," "4129") may be used to identify and index players listed in
the player database 208. In this example, "4127" identifies a
player named "Bob Smith," "4128" identifies a player named "Jim
Red," and "4129" identifies a player named "Joe Green" as indicated
by the player name field 502. According to the sample data, Bob
Smith lives at "125 Main St., Anytown, Conn.," currently has a
balance of "1,235" comp points and is a "high roller." Jim Red
lives at "187 Long Rd., Small Town, N.Y.," currently has a balance
of "462" comp points, and has "lost [on the] last three spins." Joe
Green lives at "235 Willow Dr., Big City, Calif.," currently has a
comp point balance of "990," and has "lost $27 so far this
session."
2. Pay Table Database
[0077] Turning to FIG. 6, a tabular representation of an embodiment
of a pay table database 308 according to some embodiments of the
present invention is illustrated. This particular tabular
representation of a pay table database 308 includes eighteen sample
records or entries which each include payout and other information
for possible corresponding outcomes a gaming device 104 might
generate. In some embodiments of the invention, a pay table
database 308 is used to store a list of the combinations of reel
elements that make up each outcome, an "expected hit" value for
each outcome, a regular payout amount for each outcome, and a
jackpot only payout amount for each outcome. Those skilled in the
art will recognize that such a pay table database 308 may include
any number of entries or additional fields.
[0078] The particular tabular representation of a pay table
database 308 depicted in FIG. 6 includes four fields. The fields
may include: (i) an outcome field 600 that may store a
representation identifying an outcome or a set of outcomes; (ii) an
expected hits field 602 that may store a representation of the
number of times the corresponding outcome would be expected to be
generated if the gaming device was spun a number of times equal to
the number of all the possible outcomes (e.g. 10,648 times, as
discuss below), (iii) a regular payout field 604 that may store a
representation of the amount that would normally be paid out by the
gaming device 104 if the corresponding outcome was generated; and
(iv) a jackpot only field 606 that may store a representation of
the amount that would be paid out if the gaming device is operating
using the jackpot only pay table and the corresponding outcome was
generated.
[0079] The example pay table database 308 depicted in FIG. 6
provides example data to illustrate the meaning of the information
stored in this database embodiment. For example, the outcome
"CHERRY/ANY/ANY" that is expected 680 times out of 10,648 handle
pulls, normally pays two credits but pays nothing when the jackpot
only pay table is used. Note that all outcomes except "7/7/7" pay
nothing when the jackpot only table is used. The "7/7/7" outcome is
a jackpot winning outcome that pays 100 credits regardless of which
pay table is used.
[0080] Collectively, the particular example data in the regular
payout field 604 of the pay table database 308 shown in FIG. 6 is
modeled after a twenty-two stop, three reel device having 10,648
unique outcomes. The outcomes illustrate groupings of reel symbol
results that correspond to specific coin payouts. The outcome
CHERRY/CHERRY/ANY, for example, may indicate a grouping of all reel
symbol results in which the first two reels show a CHERRY symbol
and the third reel shows any symbol. As shown in FIG. 6, this
particular outcome is associated with a regular payout of five
coins and an expected hits of 200 (indicating that this outcome
will appear 200 times per complete cycle). It should be noted that
not all of the outcomes may result in a coin payout. The "OTHER"
outcome may not have a coin payout, and is in fact the most common
outcome for this particular payout table (with 8,570 hits per cycle
of 10,648 spins). This particular payout table represents a slot
device with a 94.5% payback to the player. More information about
such pay tables and gaming devices may be found in "Winning at Slot
Devices" by Jim Regan, published by Carol Publishing Group which is
incorporated herein for all purposes.
[0081] Compared to the pay table represented by the example data in
the regular payout field 604, the pay table represented by the
example data in the jackpot only payout field 606 has had all of
the lower end payouts eliminated. Only the payout of one hundred
coins for the "7/7/7" outcome has been preserved. With the
elimination of the lower payouts, this "jackpot only" pay table
represents a payback of only 0.94% (approximately one coin of
payout for each one hundred coins wagered). One of the advantages
of this pay table may be that the top payout of one hundred coins
is attractive to players, while the 0.94% payback represents a low
cost to the casino and may allow the casino to require much smaller
wager amounts.
[0082] Many other payout configurations are possible for the
jackpot only payout table. For example, instead of a payout for
only a single outcome there may be payouts for a few of the
outcomes. In such an embodiment the jackpot amounts may be reduced
(or increased) compared to the regular pay table. In some
embodiments, jackpot winning outcomes may correspond to a plurality
of different outcome symbol combinations. In some embodiments, the
jackpots may include a plurality of jackpot amounts. In such
embodiments, a jackpot amount may be considered any amount greater
than a predefined multiple of standard deviations of the average
payout amount of the regular pay table. In some embodiments, the
average payout amount of the regular payout table may be computed
based the average of all possible payout amounts specified in the
regular payout table. In some other embodiments a weighted average
of all possible payout amounts specified in the regular payout
table may be used where the weighting is based upon the probability
associated with each payout amount in the regular payout table. In
some embodiments where the jackpots include a plurality of jackpot
amounts, a particular jackpot amount for each jackpot is simply
defined as an amount greater than a predefined amount. For example,
all payouts with an amount greater than $10,000.00 are jackpots. In
some embodiments, instead of paying only for the outcome that
normally wins the top payout on the regular pay table, there could
be a payout only for one of the common low end outcomes, for
example, CHERRY/CHERRY/ANY.
[0083] Note that a casino may make nearly equivalent amounts of
profit on a per spin basis for these two different pay tables. A
player betting a single dollar coin each spin using the regular
payout table would, on average, generate 5.5 cents per pull in
profit for the casino: ((1-0.945).times.$1)=$0.055 A player buying
ten outcomes using the jackpot only pay table for $1.00 would be
paying ten cents per pull. This would generate 9.9 cents per pull
in profits to the casino: ((1-0.0094).times.$0.10)=$0.099 Thus, by
varying the size of the jackpot amount on the jackpot only pay
table, or by changing the size of the wager required for each spin
using the jackpot only pay table (or pay table probabilities), a
casino could make the profit rate differential between spins using
the regular and jackpot only pay tables arbitrarily small or even
make a jackpot only spin more advantageous to the player. For
example, in some embodiments the casino could choose a pay table
and jackpot amount that results in a positive expected value to the
player. 3. Rules Database
[0084] Turning now to FIG. 7, a tabular representation of an
embodiment of a rules database 310 according to some embodiments of
the present invention is illustrated. This particular tabular
representation of a rules database 310 includes sample records or
entries which each include information regarding the details of a
rule used in determining when to offer a player an opportunity to
switch a gaming device to using a jackpot only pay table. In some
embodiments of the invention, a rules database 310 may specify that
when certain predefined thresholds are met or exceeded, the gaming
device may offer a player an opportunity to switch to using a
jackpot only pay table. The predefined thresholds may include, for
example, a certain number of consecutive losing spins, a particular
size loss within a predefined time period, a particular rate of
play, a certain comp point balance, a certain time of day, a
certain number of excess button presses, a certain amount of force
used to press buttons or pull handles, a certain amount of time
between button presses, and a certain length of time buttons are
held down. Those skilled in the art will recognize that such a
rules database 310 may include any number of entries or additional
fields.
[0085] The particular tabular representation of a rules database
310 depicted in FIG. 7 includes two fields for each of the entries
or records. The fields may include (i) a rule identifier field 700
that may store a representation that uniquely identifies a
particular rule and (ii) a description field 702 that may store a
representation describing the rule in terms of, for example, a
threshold that must be met or exceeded before the rule will trigger
the gaming device to offer to allow the player to switch the gaming
device 104 to use a jackpot only pay table.
[0086] The example rules database 310 depicted in FIG. 7 provides
example data to illustrate the meaning of the information stored in
this database embodiment. The example data provides six example
rules.
[0087] The first example rule (R001) provides that if the player
experiences ten consecutive losing outcomes, he may be presented
with the opportunity to switch the gaming device to use a jackpot
only pay table.
[0088] The second example rule (R002) provides that if the player
lost more than $20 in ten minutes, he may be presented with the
opportunity to switch the gaming device to use a jackpot only pay
table.
[0089] The third example rule (R003) provides that if the player
maintains a rate of 500 handle pulls per hour for a predefined
amount of time, he may be presented with the opportunity to switch
the gaming device to use a jackpot only pay table.
[0090] The fourth example rule (R004) provides that five different
players may be randomly selected per week to be presented with the
opportunity to switch the gaming device to use a jackpot only pay
table.
[0091] The fifth example rule (R005) provides that if the player's
gambling data indicates that he is a "high roller," he may be
presented with the opportunity to switch the gaming device to use a
jackpot only pay table.
[0092] The sixth example rule (R006) provides that if the casino is
running a promotion to introduce a new gaming machine, all players
may be presented with the opportunity to switch the gaming device
to use a jackpot only pay table.
E. PROCESS DESCRIPTIONS
[0093] The system discussed above, including the hardware
components and the databases, are useful to perform the methods of
the invention. However, it should be understood that not all of the
above described components and databases are necessary to perform
any of the present invention's methods. In fact, in some
embodiments, none of the above described system is required to
practice the present invention's methods. The system described
above is an example of a system that would be useful in practicing
the invention's methods. For example, the player database 208
described above with respect to FIG. 5 is useful for tracking,
aggregating, and analyzing information about a player's gambling
experience, but it is not absolutely necessary to have such a
database in order to perform the methods of the invention. In other
words, the methods described below may be practiced by, for
example, a casino hostess who interacts with players in person and
manually enables a jackpot only button based on her own
observations.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 8, a flow chart is depicted that
represents some embodiments of the present invention that may be
performed by the casino server 102, a gaming device 104, and/or the
casino. It must be understood that the particular arrangement of
elements in the flow chart of FIG. 8, as well as the number and
order of example steps of various methods discussed herein, is not
meant to imply a fixed order, sequence, quantity, and/or timing to
the steps; embodiments of the present invention can be practiced in
any order, sequence, and/or timing that is practicable. Likewise,
the labels used to reference the individual steps of the methods
are not meant to imply a fixed order, sequence, quantity, and/or
timing to the steps.
[0095] In general terms and referring to FIG. 8, method steps of an
embodiment of the present invention may be summarized as follows.
In Step S1, the system 100 determines whether to offer a player of
a gaming device 104 the choice to switch the gaming device 104 to
use a jackpot only pay table. In Step S2, an offer to switch is
presented to the player. In Step S3, the player's election to
switch is received and in Step S4, the gaming device operates using
the jackpot only pay table until a termination condition is reached
and then switches back to using a regular pay table.
[0096] In the subsections that follow, each of these steps will now
be discussed in greater detail. Note that not all of these steps
are required to perform the methods of the present invention and
that additional and/or alternative steps are also discussed below.
Also note that the above general steps represent features of only
some of the embodiments of the present invention and that they may
be combined and/or subdivided in any number of different ways so
that methods of the present invention include more or fewer actual
steps. For example, in some embodiments many additional steps may
be added to update and maintain the databases described above, but
as indicated, it is not necessary to use the above described
databases in all embodiments of the invention. In other words, the
methods of the present invention may contain any number of steps
that are practicable to implement the several different inventive
processes described herein.
[0097] 1. Determine Whether to Offer a Choice to Switch to a
Jackpot Only Payout Table
[0098] In Step S1, a gaming device 104 (or casino server 102) makes
a determination that a player is to be offered the opportunity to
play with a jackpot only pay table. Many factors may be considered
in making this determination however, in some embodiments, players
may always have the option to play with a jackpot only pay table.
In some embodiments, presenting the option of jackpot only play may
be limited to instances when the casino wants to reward a player or
provide a special incentive to a player. The rules database 310 of
FIG. 7 provides a few specific examples of different bases to grant
a player the use of a jackpot only pay table. Additional bases
include: a player wagers a predefined amount within a predefined
period, a player gets a predefined number of losing spins in a row,
a player loses more than a predefined gross amount of money in a
predefined number of handle pulls or within a predefined amount of
time, a player's net winnings after a predefined period is less
than a predefined amount, a player's rate of play drops below a
predefined number of handle pulls per hour, a player's rate of play
exceeds a predefined rate of play, a player is playing a new type
of gaming device that the casino wants to promote, a casino is
running a promotion, a casino chooses to reward a particular player
and/or groups of players, a casino randomly awards players at a
predefined rate as a customer retention incentive or a comp award,
and/or gambling history/behavior from a player database 208.
[0099] Thus, determining when to offer a player the option of
jackpot only pay table play may include monitoring a player's
gambling until the player's experience results in a predefined
threshold being met or exceeded. In some embodiments, the
determination may be made based upon observed behavior of the
player. For example, if a player appears bored (e.g. his gaze is
not focused on the gaming device) or is acting frustrated (e.g. he
is hitting the spin button unnecessarily hard), a gaming device 104
(or the casino server 102 or casino) may decide to attempt to
recapture his interest or placate him by presenting the opportunity
to switch to using a jackpot only pay table.
[0100] 2. Present the Offer to Switch
[0101] In Step S2, a gaming device 104 (or a casino server 102 or a
casino) may present a player with the option to switch to using a
jackpot only pay table. This may be done in any number of different
ways. For example, the player may be presented with a jackpot only
options selection screen. In some embodiments, a video display
screen separate from (or attached to) a gaming device may display
the option to switch to using a jackpot only pay table. In some
embodiments, a customized greeting based on information ascertained
from the player's player-tracking card or from the player database
208 may be used to present the offer to switch. For example, the
display screen 318 might display text that states: [0102] Hello Mr.
Bob Smith, you have been chosen to receive the option of playing
for this slot machine's Jackpot at a reduced cost; only 20 cents
per handle pull. Note that in jackpot only mode, outcomes other
than 7/7/7 do not pay a prize. Please indicate whether you would
like to play for the Jackpot only by pressing the flashing "Jackpot
Only Mode" button below. In some embodiments, a menu-driven
selection screen which may allow a player to indicate how much he
would like to spend on the Jackpot Only Spin session may be used.
Options may include a $1, $5, or $10 selection. Buttons may be
located on the gaming device's touch-sensitive video display screen
and may be used via a graphic interface and/or buttons may be
located on the exterior casing of the gaming device. In some
embodiments, detailed instructions describing how a jackpot only
mode works may be provided. As indicated above, the gaming device
may include or display accept and/or reject buttons to allow a
player to indicate if he would like to proceed with a session using
a jackpot only pay table.
[0103] In some embodiments, a gaming device 104 may determine a
discounted wager amount associated with single-spin use of the
jackpot only pay table and/or a predefined number of automatic
spins using a jackpot only pay table. For example, the gaming
device 104 may associate a reduced wager amount (e.g. $0.20) for a
handle pull wherein a jackpot only pay table is in use. In some
embodiments, a reduced wager amount (e.g. a $1 package price) may
be associated with a predefined number of spins (e.g. 10 spins). In
some embodiments, the discounted wager amount for use with a
jackpot only pay table may be predetermined and fixed. In
alternative embodiments, the discounted wager amount for use with a
jackpot only pay table may be determined dynamically based upon
many different factors such as, for example, the player's comp
point balance, gambling history and/or performance, the amount of
incentive a casino wants to provide at a given time, and/or the
time of day. Whatever wager amount the system 100 determines to
charge for play with a jackpot only pay table, the wager amount may
also be displayed when a player is offered the option to switch pay
tables. For example, along with a greeting as above, a player may
additionally be presented with the following display on a
touch-sensitive display screen 318: TABLE-US-00001 Jackpot Only
Spin Packages $1 10 Jackpot Only Spins $5 55 Jackpot Only Spins $10
120 Jackpot Only Spins Select A Number of Jackpot Only Spins
[0104] In some embodiments, a player may opt to specify the number
of jackpot only spins he desires in terms of a performance measure.
For example, a player may indicate via a selection screen that he
wants the gaming device to continue spinning using the jackpot only
pay table until the gaming device consecutively generates five
outcomes that together would normally payout $50 if the regular pay
table was used. Another example might be that the player specifies
that the gaming device should continue spinning using the jackpot
only pay table until fifty outcomes are generated that together
would normally payout $5 or less if the regular pay table was used.
This type of specification of a number of jackpot only spins may
allow a player to perceive that he is "running the cold streak out
of the machines." In some embodiments, a player may be asked
indicate if he would like the gaming device to switch to using a
jackpot only pay table by merely specifying a rate at which jackpot
only spins are to be generated. In such embodiments, the player
will be able to watch the outcomes as they are generated, decide if
the gaming device has exited a cold period, and then manually stop
the automatic spins by pressing a halt button.
[0105] 3. Receive an Election to Switch
[0106] In Step S3, the player's response to the offer to switch the
gaming device 104 to use a jackpot only pay table is received. This
may be done in a number of different ways. For example, a player
may press, click, and/or select a jackpot only button located on
the gaming device's touch-sensitive video display, on the exterior
casing of the gaming device, and/or on a graphic interface located
on the gaming device's display screen 318. A player may signal his
election via a textual entry such as through the use of a keyboard,
mouse, etc. In some embodiments, the system may receive a player's
election via speech recognition software, a video camera, a
handheld personal computer or other communication device such a
palm pilot, personal computer, cellular telephone, beeper, gaming
device remote control, internet and/or intranet connection,
satellite transmission, or any other input device. In some
embodiments, a gaming device may merely receive a selection of a
jackpot only spin package as an indication of an election to
switch.
[0107] Upon receiving the player's election to switch to using a
jackpot only pay table, the gaming device 104 may automatically
deduct the appropriate wager amount from the player's stored
credits and/or request that the player insert the necessary wager
amount. The gaming device 104 may internally transfer payout values
from the jackpot only field 606 of the pay table database 308 into
memory locations that payment routines of the gaming device 104
reference to determine a payout once an outcome is generated.
Additionally, other components of the gaming device 104 may be
disabled to allow the gaming device to function in an automatic
spin mode. For example, the gaming device 104 may disable a
requirement for a wager for each spin so as to allow the gaming
device 104 to operate for 10 spins without requiring payment by the
player other than an initial $1 wager for a package of spins.
[0108] 4. Complete Play with the Jackpot Only Payout Table
[0109] In Step S4, play using a jackpot only pay table is initiated
and completed. In some embodiments, a player may manually press the
spin button as many times as he wants outcomes generated with the
jackpot only pay table. When the player is satisfied that the
gaming device is out of the cold period, he may simply press a
"return to regular play" button.
[0110] In embodiments where a player has elected to use an
automatic spin feature, the gaming device 104 may automatically
spin for a predefined amount of time, it may spin all of the
player's predefined number of jackpot only spins within a
predetermined period of time, and/or it may spin until some other
predefined condition is satisfied. For example, the gaming device
may automatically spin all of a player's ten jackpot only spins
within ten seconds. In some embodiments, the gaming device 104 may
spin all of a player's jackpot only spins within one second and/or
within a fraction of a second. A player may opt to use automatic
spinning to complete the process as quickly as possible.
[0111] In some embodiments, the gaming device 104 may utilize an
automatic spin display 404. In such embodiments, an automatic spin
display may appear as the primary information on the gaming
device's display screen 318 (as depicted in the embodiment of FIG.
4) and/or as small window within the gaming device's display screen
318 located, for example, in the lower right hand corner of the
display screen 318. In some embodiments, an automatic spin display
may include an auxiliary display device attached to, or separate
from, the gaming device 104. A purpose of an automatic spin display
404 may be to facilitate simultaneously and/or rapid display of
multiple outcomes in list form as they are generated while a
jackpot only pay table is in use. One of the advantages of such
embodiments is that the player who does not happen to see one (or
more) of his outcomes (perhaps due to an interruption by a friend)
at the time it was generated, can subsequently find that outcome on
the list. In some embodiments where a very large number of outcomes
are to be displayed, an automatic spin display 404 may reveal an
entire screen-full of outcomes simultaneously while in other
embodiments, each outcome may be revealed one at a time.
[0112] In embodiments where a player manually spins all of his
purchased jackpot only spins or as many as he would like, the
gaming device may be equipped with a timer that displays, for
example, a countdown until the gaming device 104 will switch back
to using the regular pay table and the player forfeits any unused
pre-purchased jackpot only handle pulls. Such embodiments may be
useful to help the player maintain a reasonable pace. These
embodiments may be particularly useful with gaming devices not
equipped with video display reels (e.g. mechanical three reel slot
machines) that must actually spin physical reels to generate
outcomes. However, as in previous embodiments, a time keeping
mechanism may exist so as to prevent the player from taking too
much time when making manual handle pulls using a jackpot only pay
table.
[0113] In some embodiments, a player may manually end his use of a
jackpot only pay table before all of his pre-purchased jackpot only
spins have been completed. This may occur, for example, in the case
where a player would like to end his jackpot only spin session in
order to play using the regular pay table. For example, a player
may purchase a $5.00, 55 jackpot only spin package but decide
during the middle of an automatic spin session that the bad luck
has been run out of the gaming device 104 and that he would like to
return to the regular payout table immediately. In this embodiment,
a player may select a "return to regular pay table" button which,
in some embodiments, may be located on the gaming device's display
screen 318. In the event that a player decides to manually end his
jackpot only session, the balance of the player's pre-purchased
jackpot only spin package may be credited back to the player based
on the number of unused jackpot only spins and/or the balance may
be stored for later use. In embodiments where a player's jackpot
only spins are saved for a later use, the player may later access
his jackpot only spins, for example, by entering a code into the
gaming device.
[0114] In some embodiments, upon the completion of a player's
jackpot only spin session, the gaming device 104 may automatically
switch from using the jackpot only pay table back to using the
regular pay table. In such embodiments, the processor 300 of the
gaming device 104 may re-enable the payment requirement for each
spin if it had previously been disabled. In some embodiments, a
casino server 102 may automatically switch a gaming device 104 from
using the jackpot only pay table to using the regular pay table by
transmitting a control signal from to the gaming device's processor
300 which may indicate that the jackpot only pay table should be
replaced by the regular pay table.
[0115] In some embodiments, upon the completion of a player's
jackpot only spin session, a player may be asked if he would like
to purchase additional jackpot only outcomes. In some embodiments,
a gaming device may automatically switch back to using a regular
pay table if a player hits a jackpot, a predefined amount of time
using the jackpot only pay table has elapsed, and/or a predefined
maximum permitted number of jackpot only spins is reached.
F. EXAMPLE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0116] The following very specific examples are provided to
illustrate particular embodiments of the present invention,
particularly from the perspective of potential users of the system
100, including players and casinos.
(a) EXAMPLE 1
[0117] A player gambles at a slot machine for an hour and wins a
small sum of money. He considers quitting, but has a feeling that
the device is about to hit a top jackpot. However, the player does
not want to continue playing and risk losing the small win that he
has already accumulated. The player instead opts for a series of
jackpot only spins in which he pays a reduced price per spin and
gets the opportunity to play only for the jackpot that he perceives
is "over due." The player gets the enjoyment of pursuing the
jackpot at a much reduced cost without risking losing his prior
winnings. Upon the player pressing a "jackpot only mode" button
402, the gaming device 104 switches pay tables to a jackpot only
pay table and the player begins a jackpot only spin session.
(b) EXAMPLE 2
[0118] A player approaches a gaming device and inserts a $100 bill
into the bill validator. After playing for a couple of hours, the
player realizes that except for one $75 payout, the majority of his
outcomes have been losing ones. Determining that his gaming device
104 may be going through a cold period, the player becomes
frustrated and considers leaving to go play a luckier gaming device
at a different casino. However, before leaving the player notices a
pop-up display that indicates that for a reduced cost, he can run
the bad luck out of the device by only playing for the jackpot.
[0119] Intrigued, the player selects the jackpot only button and $1
is automatically withdrawn from his stored credits. The player is
then given ten jackpot only spins and the gaming device 104
automatically switches from using a first payout table to using a
second payout table. Next, the gaming device 104 displays a counter
indicating that there are ten spins remaining, and then the player
proceeds to hit the spin button until he has no spins left. Upon
the completion of ten jackpot only spins, the gaming device
automatically returns to the first payout table.
(c) EXAMPLE 3
[0120] A player selects the jackpot only button and is presented
with an instruction screen which instructs the player to select
from one of the many jackpot only spin packages which are sold at a
discounted rate such as $1 for ten handle pulls, $5 for fifty-five
handle pulls, or $10 for one hundred twenty handle pulls. The
player indicates that he would like to purchase fifty-five Jackpot
Only handle pulls for $5, and $5 is automatically withdrawn from
the player's stored credits. At that point, the gaming device 104
switches from using a first pay table to using a second payout
table. Next, the player spins the reels fifty-five times. Upon the
completion of the fifty-five jackpot only spins, the gaming device
automatically returns to using the first payout table.
G. ADDITIONAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0121] The methods of the present invention have been discussed at
length with respect to embodiments primarily involving only a
gaming device 104. However, the present invention may involve
casino servers 102 as well as gaming devices 104. As previously
indicated, the casino server 102 may store any of the databases
208, 308, 310 described above. Thus, the casino server may execute
each of the control functions of the methods of the invention while
the gaming device 104 merely generates outcomes as directed by the
casino server 102.
[0122] In some embodiments, other options and/or offers may be
presented to a player along with the jackpot only spin packages.
For example, a casino, via a gaming device, may offer one hundred
jackpot only spins for free if the player commits to eat dinner at
the casino's restaurant. In another example, a gaming device may
offer a player five additional ten jackpot only spin sessions if
the player agrees to switch his long distance telephone service
from to AT&T.
[0123] In some embodiments, a player may be presented with an
opportunity to customize a jackpot only spin package. In such
embodiments, a player may select a dollar amount that he would like
to spend to purchase his jackpot only spin package as well as the
number of jackpot only spins that he would like to get. For
example, a player may decide be wants to spend $20 for ten thousand
jackpot only spins. The gaming device may then calculate a jackpot
only pay table that includes jackpot amounts and outcome
probabilities to maintain the gaming device's hold percentage
constant and/or within a range acceptable to the player, the
casino, and any gaming authority. In some embodiments, a casino
server 102 may compute a number of jackpot only spins a gaming
device will generate for a player specified price. In such
embodiments, the casino server 102 may determine the number of
spins based upon factors related to stored gambling data about the
player or any number of various other factors described above.
[0124] In some embodiments, a player device, such as a wireless
PDA, may be used to invite a player to play a gaming device 104
with a jackpot only pay table and it may alert the gaming device
104 to the player's proximity using, for example, a wireless
protocol (such as Bluetooth as described at
http://www.bluetooth.com/dev/specifications.asp). Once identified,
a users' information may be automatically transferred to the gaming
device and log him into the casino's network 100. By merely
approaching an enabled gaming device 104, the player's device could
trigger the gaming device 104 to configure itself to support the
player's preferred pay table and automatic spin package
preferences. In some embodiments, a cell phone/PDA may be used to
track and record the player's identity and preferences.
H. CONCLUSION
[0125] It is clear from the foregoing discussion that the disclosed
systems and methods to facilitate rate of play optimization
represents an improvement in the art of gaming. While the method
and apparatus of the present invention has been described in terms
of its presently preferred and alternate embodiments, those skilled
in the art will recognize that the present invention may be
practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and
scope of the appended claims. The specifications and drawings are,
accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a
restrictive sense.
[0126] Further, even though only certain embodiments have been
described in detail, those having ordinary skill in the art will
certainly appreciate and understand that many modifications,
changes, and enhancements are possible without departing from the
teachings thereof. All such modifications are intended to be
encompassed within the following claims.
* * * * *
References