U.S. patent application number 11/402779 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-21 for wagering game having a player-selectable pay table.
This patent application is currently assigned to WMS Gaming Inc.. Invention is credited to Allon G. Englman, Matthew J. Ward.
Application Number | 20060287034 11/402779 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37574072 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060287034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Englman; Allon G. ; et
al. |
December 21, 2006 |
Wagering game having a player-selectable pay table
Abstract
A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a
wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a
wagering game. A display displays symbols of the wagering game
indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of
outcomes in response to the wager. The plurality of outcomes
include at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according
to a pay table. A plurality of pay tables are available for the
wagering game. The pay table is selected from the plurality of pay
tables to implement during the wagering game.
Inventors: |
Englman; Allon G.; (US)
; Ward; Matthew J.; (Northbrook, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Daniel J. Burnham;JENKENS & GILCHRIST, A PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
Suite 2600
225 West Washington
Chicago
IL
60606-3418
US
|
Assignee: |
WMS Gaming Inc.
|
Family ID: |
37574072 |
Appl. No.: |
11/402779 |
Filed: |
April 12, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60684380 |
May 25, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
463/13 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3244 20130101;
G07F 17/3262 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/013 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming machine comprising: a wager-input device for receiving
a wager from a player to play a wagering game; and a display for
displaying symbols of the wagering game indicating a randomly
selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response
to the wager, wherein the plurality of outcomes includes at least
one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table;
wherein a plurality of pay tables are available for the wagering
game and the pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables
to implement during the wagering game.
2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the player is provided an
opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay
tables.
3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the wagering game is
selected from the group consisting of: video poker, mechanical
slots, video slots, video blackjack, video keno and video
bingo.
4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pay
tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only
the first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the
plurality of outcomes.
5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pay
tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the
first pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the
plurality of outcomes than the second pay table.
6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pay
tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the
first pay table and the second pay table have payback percentages
that are substantially the same.
7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the pay table is randomly
selected.
8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the player is provided an
opportunity to submit a second wager to exchange the pay table for
a more valuable pay table providing higher payouts.
9. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the
method comprising: receiving a wager from a player; randomly
selecting a game outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response
to the wager; displaying the game outcome for the wagering game as
symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a
plurality of outcomes in response to the wager, wherein the
plurality of outcomes includes at least one winning outcome that
awards a payout according to a pay table; and selecting the pay
table from a plurality of pay tables to implement during the
wagering game.
10. The gaming machine of claim 9, wherein the player is provided
an opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay
tables.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of pay tables
includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only the
first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the
plurality of outcomes.
12. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of pay tables
includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first
pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the plurality
of outcomes than the second pay table.
13. The method of claim 9, wherein the first pay table and the
second pay table have payback percentages that are substantially
the same.
14. A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions
for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 9.
15. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising: at
least one display; and a controller coupled to the display and
programmed to initiate the wagering game in response to detection
of a wager from a player; display symbols of the wagering game
indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of
outcomes in response to the wager, wherein the plurality of
outcomes includes at least one winning outcome that awards a payout
according to a pay table; and wherein a plurality of pay tables are
available for the wagering game and the pay table is selected from
the plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering
game.
16. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the display and the
controller are both located within a gaming terminal.
17. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the display is located
within a gaming terminal and the controller is located outside of
the gaming terminal.
18. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the player is provided
an opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay
tables.
19. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of pay
tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only
the first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the
plurality of outcomes.
20. The gaming system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of pay
tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the
first pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the
plurality of outcomes than the second pay table.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/684,380 filed May 25,
2006, titled "Wagering Game Having A Player-Selectable Pay Table,"
which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
COPYRIGHT
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark
Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention relates generally to gaming machines,
and methods for playing wagering games, and more particularly, to a
gaming machine having a player-selectable pay table.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Gaming machines, such as slot machines, video poker machines
and the like, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for
several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with
players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of
winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value
of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Where
the available gaming options include a number of competing machines
and the expectation of winning at each machine is roughly the same
(or believed to be the same), players are likely to be attracted to
the most entertaining and exciting machines. Shrewd operators
consequently strive to employ the most entertaining and exciting
machines, features, and enhancements available because such
machines attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to
the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming
machine manufacturers to continuously develop new games and
improved gaming enhancements that will attract frequent play
through enhanced entertainment value to the player.
[0005] A gaming machine typically implements a single pay table
specific to that particular gaming machine. Other gaming machines
can implement a different pay table providing different payouts for
the same winning combinations. For example, there are some video
poker gaming machines that provide a larger payout (e.g., 9 times
the original wager) for a "full house" combination of cards than
other gaming machines (e.g., 6 times the original wager). Other
gaming machines sometimes offer lower payouts for the same winning
combination, but higher payouts for other combinations not
available on all gaming machines (e.g., a progressive jackpot).
However, if the player desires to play a wagering game having a
different pay table than the one on the gaming machine currently
being used, the player has to switch gaming machines entirely.
Accordingly, the owner of the gaming machine runs the risk that the
player will become bored and use a different gaming machine owned
by a different proprietor. The present invention is directed to
satisfying this and other needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming
machine for conducting a wagering game includes a wager-input
device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game.
A display displays symbols of the wagering game indicating a
randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in
response to the wager. The plurality of outcomes includes at least
one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table.
A plurality of pay tables are available for the wagering game. The
pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement
during the wagering game.
[0007] According to another aspect of the invention, a method of
conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine comprises receiving
a wager from a player. A game outcome is randomly selected from a
plurality of outcomes in response to the wager. The game outcome
for the wagering game is displayed as symbols indicating a randomly
selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response
to the wager. The plurality of outcomes includes at least one
winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table. The
pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement
during the wagering game.
[0008] According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer
readable storage medium is encoded with instructions for directing
a gaming device to perform the method described above.
[0009] An additional aspect of the invention is directed to a
gaming system for playing a wagering game. The gaming system has at
least one display and a controller coupled to the display and
programmed to initiate the wagering game in response to detection
of a wager from a player. The wagering game displays symbols
indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of
outcomes. Symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome selected
from a plurality of outcomes are displayed in response to the
wager. The plurality of outcomes includes at least one winning
outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table. A plurality
of pay tables are available for the wagering game and the pay table
is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement during
the wagering game.
[0010] Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to
those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed
description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to
the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine embodying
the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control system suitable for
operating the gaming machine;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a "Jacks or Better" video poker game
displayed on the primary display according to an embodiment of the
invention; and
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of selectable pay tables
according to an embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail preferred embodiments of the invention with the
understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an
exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not
intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to the
embodiments illustrated.
[0016] Referring to FIG. 1, a gaming machine 10 is used in gaming
establishments such as casinos. With regard to the present
invention, the gaming machine 10 may be any type of gaming machine
and may have varying structures and methods of operation. For
example, the gaming machine 10 may be an electromechanical gaming
machine configured to play mechanical slots, or it may be an
electronic gaming machine configured to play a video casino game,
such as blackjack, slots, keno, poker, blackjack, roulette,
etc.
[0017] The gaming machine 10 comprises a housing 12 and includes
input devices, including a value input device 18 and a player input
device 24. For output the gaming machine 10 includes a primary
display 14 for displaying information about the basic wagering
game. The primary display 14 can also display information about a
bonus wagering game and a progressive wagering game. The gaming
machine 10 may also include a secondary display 16 for displaying
game events, game outcomes, and/or signage information. While these
typical components found in the gaming machine 10 are described
below, it should be understood that numerous other elements may
exist and may be used in any number of combinations to create
various forms of a gaming machine 10.
[0018] The value input device 18 may be provided in many forms,
individually or in combination, and is preferably located on the
front of the housing 12. The value input device 18 receives
currency and/or credits that are inserted by a player. The value
input device 18 may include a coin acceptor 20 for receiving coin
currency (see FIG. 1). Alternatively, or in addition, the value
input device 18 may include a bill acceptor 22 for receiving paper
currency. Furthermore, the value input device 18 may include a
ticket reader, or barcode scanner, for reading information stored
on a credit ticket, a card, or other tangible portable credit
storage device. The credit ticket or card may also authorize access
to a central account, which can transfer money to the gaming
machine 10.
[0019] The player input device 24 comprises a plurality of push
buttons 26 on a button panel for operating the gaming machine 10.
In addition, or alternatively, the player input device 24 may
comprise a touch screen 28 mounted by adhesive, tape, or the like
over the primary display 14 and/or secondary display 16. The touch
screen 28 contains soft touch keys 30 denoted by graphics on the
underlying primary display 14 and used to operate the gaming
machine 10. The touch screen 28 provides players with an
alternative method of input. A player enables a desired function
either by touching the touch screen 28 at an appropriate touch key
30 or by pressing an appropriate push button 26 on the button
panel. The touch keys 30 may be used to implement the same
functions as push buttons 26. Alternatively, the push buttons 26
may provide inputs for one aspect of the operating the game, while
the touch keys 30 may allow for input needed for another aspect of
the game.
[0020] The various components of the gaming machine 10 may be
connected directly to, or contained within, the housing 12, as seen
in FIG. 1, or may be located outboard of the housing 12 and
connected to the housing 12 via a variety of different wired or
wireless connection methods. Thus, the gaming machine 10 comprises
these components whether housed in the housing 12, or outboard of
the housing 12 and connected remotely.
[0021] The operation of the basic wagering game is displayed to the
player on the primary display 14. The primary display 14 can also
display the bonus game associated with the basic wagering game. The
primary display 14 may take the form of a cathode ray tube (CRT), a
high resolution LCD, a plasma display, an LED, or any other type of
display suitable for use in the gaming machine 10. As shown, the
primary display 14 includes the touch screen 28 overlaying the
entire monitor (or a portion thereof) to allow players to make
game-related selections. Alternatively, the primary display 14 of
the gaming machine 10 may include a number of mechanical reels to
display the outcome in visual associated to at least one payline
32. In the illustrated embodiment, the gaming machine 10 is an
"upright" version in which the primary display 14 is oriented
vertically relative to the player. Alternatively, the gaming
machine may be a "slant-top" version in which the primary display
14 is slanted at about a thirty-degree angle toward the player of
the gaming machine 10.
[0022] A player begins play of the basic wagering game by making a
wager via the value input device 18 of the gaming machine 10. A
player can select play by using the player input device 24, via the
buttons 26 or the touch screen keys 30.
[0023] In some embodiments, the gaming machine 10 may also include
a player information reader 52 that allows for identification of a
player by reading a card with information indicating his or her
true identity. The player information reader 52 is shown in FIG. 1
as a card reader, but may take on many forms including a ticket
reader, bar code scanner, RFID transceiver or computer readable
storage medium interface. Currently, identification is generally
used by casinos for rewarding certain players with complimentary
services or special offers. For example, a player may be enrolled
in the gaming establishment's loyalty club and may be awarded
certain complimentary services as that player collects points in
his or her player-tracking account. The player inserts his or her
card into the player information reader 52, which allows the
casino's computers to register that player's wagering at the gaming
machine 10. The gaming machine 10 may use the secondary display 16
or other dedicated player-tracking display for providing the player
with information about his or her account or other player-specific
information. Also, in some embodiments, the information reader 52
may be used to restore game assets that the player achieved and
saved during a previous game session.
[0024] Turning now to FIG. 2, the various components of the gaming
machine 10 are controlled by a central processing unit (CPU) 34,
also referred to herein as a controller or processor (such as a
microcontroller or microprocessor). To provide gaming functions,
the controller 34 executes one or more game programs stored in a
computer readable storage medium, in the form of memory 36. The
controller 34 performs the random selection (using a random number
generator (RNG)) of an outcome from the plurality of possible
outcomes of the wagering game. Alternatively, the random event may
be determined at a remote controller. The remote controller may use
either an RNG or pooling scheme for its central determination of a
game outcome. It should be appreciated that the controller 34 may
include one or more microprocessors, including but not limited to a
master processor, a slave processor, and a secondary or parallel
processor.
[0025] The controller 34 is also coupled to the system memory 36
and a money/credit detector 38. The system memory 36 may comprise a
volatile memory (e.g., a random-access memory (RAM)) and a
non-volatile memory (e.g., an EEPROM). The system memory 36 may
include multiple RAM and multiple program memories. The
money/credit detector 38 signals the processor that money and/or
credits have been input via the value input device 18. Preferably,
these components are located within the housing 12 of the gaming
machine 10. However, as explained above, these components may be
located outboard of the housing 12 and connected to the remainder
of the components of the gaming machine 10 via a variety of
different wired or wireless connection methods.
[0026] As seen in FIG. 2, the controller 34 is also connected to,
and controls, the primary display 14, the player input device 24,
and a payoff mechanism 40. The payoff mechanism 40 is operable in
response to instructions from the controller 34 to award a payoff
to the player in response to certain winning outcomes that might
occur in the basic game or the bonus game(s). The payoff may be
provided in the form of points, bills, tickets, coupons, cards,
etc. For example, in FIG. 1, the payoff mechanism 40 includes both
a ticket printer 42 and a coin outlet 44. However, any of a variety
of payoff mechanisms 40 well known in the art may be implemented,
including cards, coins, tickets, smartcards, cash, etc. The payoff
amounts distributed by the payoff mechanism 40 are determined by
one or more pay tables stored in the system memory 36.
[0027] Communications between the controller 34 and both the
peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 and external systems
50 occur through input/output (I/O) circuits 46, 48. More
specifically, the controller 34 controls and receives inputs from
the peripheral components of the gaming machine 10 through the
input/output circuits 46. Further, the controller 34 communicates
with the external systems 50 via the I/O circuits 48 and a
communication path (e.g., serial, parallel, IR, RC, 10bT, etc.).
The external systems 50 may include a gaming network, other gaming
machines, a gaming server, communications hardware, or a variety of
other interfaced systems or components. Although the I/O circuits
46, 48 may be shown as a single block, it should be appreciated
that each of the I/O circuits 46, 48 may include a number of
different types of I/O circuits.
[0028] Controller 34, as used herein, comprises any combination of
hardware, software, and/or firmware that may be disposed or
resident inside and/or outside of the gaming machine 10 that may
communicate with and/or control the transfer of data between the
gaming machine 10 and a bus, another computer, processor, or device
and/or a service and/or a network. The controller 34 may comprise
one or more controllers or processors. In FIG. 2, the controller 34
in the gaming machine 10 is depicted as comprising a CPU, but the
controller 34 may alternatively comprise a CPU in combination with
other components, such as the I/0 circuits 46, 48 and the system
memory 36.
[0029] Turning now to FIG. 3, a "Jacks or Better" video poker game
is displayed on the primary display 14 according to an embodiment
of the invention. "Jacks or Better" is a video poker game in which
the player makes a wager and receives a payout for certain winning
combinations--the lowest winning combination is a pair of Jacks,
Queens, Kings, or Aces.
[0030] A player begins play of the basic wagering game by inserting
a wager input into the value input device 18 of the gaming machine
10. A player can select play by either using the touch screen 28 or
push buttons 26. The CPU 34, or the external systems 50 in
alternative embodiments, operates to execute a wagering game
program causing the primary display 14 to display the wagering game
that includes a plurality of visual elements.
[0031] According to one embodiment, a video poker game is played
with a single standard 52-card deck (i.e., Ace through King of four
different suits). The standard 52-card deck may then be
supplemented with value symbol-bearing objects (e.g., jokers, wild
cards, etc.).
[0032] During a particular poker hand, all of the cards are dealt
from the same deck. After a card is dealt from the deck into the
poker hand, the card is "used up" and cannot appear again until the
next poker hand. The deck may be replenished and randomly shuffled
prior to every poker hand. The system memory 36 includes a data
structure for storing data representing each card of the deck. The
CPU 34 randomly selects cards for each poker hand from the data
structure and controls the primary display 14 to display the
cards.
[0033] The main poker game screen shown in FIG. 3 featuring the
"Jacks or Better" poker game in the illustrated embodiment may be
displayed on the primary display 14. In the illustrated embodiment,
the primary display 14 displays a user-playable hand 54 composed of
a plurality of cards 54a-e. A pay table 58 is also displayed along
with game session meters and various buttons selectable by a
player.
[0034] The game session meters include: a "credits" meter 60 for
displaying a number of credits available for play on the machine; a
"bet" meter 62 for displaying a number of credits wagered (e.g.,
from 1 to 10 credits); and a "paid" meter 64 for displaying an
amount to be awarded based on the results of the particular rounds
outcome. The player-selectable buttons include a "cash out" button
70 to collect the credits remaining in the credits meter 60; a
"help" button 72 for viewing instructions on how to play the video
poker game; a "speed" button 74 for allowing a player to adjust the
speed that the cards are dealt, the hands are formed, the length of
time the winning hand is displayed, the length of time the winnings
are displayed, the overall speed of the game, etc.; a "see pays"
button 76 for displaying a larger pay table to the player (or
displaying the pay table in embodiments where the pay table is not
constantly displayed); a "max bet" button 78 for wagering a maximum
number of credits (e.g., 5 credits); a "deal" button 80 for causing
the game to initially deal cards from a deck into the user-playable
hand 54 face-up; and a "draw" button 82 for causing the game to
replace any non-held card in the user-playable hand 54 with another
card from the deck.
[0035] The pay table 58, shown on the primary display 14, may also
or alternatively be displayed on the secondary display 16. The pay
table 58 includes a list of winning poker hand rankings 83 and a
plurality of payout columns with payouts associated with each
ranking. The number of credits won is linearly proportional to the
number of credits wagered, except that a royal flush typically
yields a bonus when achieved on a maximum wager. The list of
winning poker hand rankings 83 includes hand rankings beginning at
a pair of jacks or better and includes hands through a royal
flush.
[0036] To increase player excitement and participation, the player
is given the opportunity to select the pay table 58 for the video
poker game prior to making a wager. Although this feature is only
described with respect to video poker, it could also be implemented
in other wagering games such as slots, keno, etc.
[0037] When the player selects a gaming machine 10 on which to
wager, a pay table selection screen is displayed to the player.
FIG. 4 illustrates a plurality of selectable pay tables 400, 405,
and 410 according to an embodiment of the invention. The gaming
machine 10 displays a plurality of these pay tables 400, 405, and
410 on the primary display 14 or alternatively on the secondary
display 16. The player can select one of the pay tables 400, 405,
and 410 to utilize during game play by using, e.g., the soft touch
keys 30. The first pay table 400 is a pay table for the "Jacks or
Better" video poker, where a "Royal Flush" pays 250 credits for a
1-credit wager, and a "full house" pays 9 credits for a 1-credit
wager. This pay table 400 is suitable for some players, but others
prefer a different pay table that pays out for a larger number of
combinations.
[0038] The second pay table 405 pays out on winning combinations of
a pair of "8's" or better. In other words, unlike as with the first
pay table 400, according to the second pay table 405, pairs of
"8's," "9's," and "10's" are winning combinations. Therefore,
selection of the second pay table 405 effectively converts the
"Jacks or Better" video poker game into an "8's or Better" video
poker game. Even though there are more winning combinations
according to the second pay table 405, the payout percentage
according to the second pay table 405 is about the same as the
payout percentage for the first pay table 400. This is possible
because the second pay table 405 provides lower payouts for most of
the winning combinations. For example, a "royal flush" pays out 50
credits for a 1-credit wager and a "full house" pays out 5 credits
for a 1-credit wager instead of the 250 credits and 9 credits,
respectively, that would have been paid out according to the pay
table 400 for the "Jacks or Better" video poker game.
[0039] The third pay table 410 provides payouts for even more
winning combinations. Specifically, the third pay table 410
provides a payout for combinations as low as a pair of "4's."
Because there are more winning combinations, the payouts for the
other winning combinations are lower, on average, than those in the
first pay table 400 or the second pay table 405. Again, as with the
second pay table 405, the third pay table 410 may provide a payout
percentage that is about the same as that for the first pay table
400.
[0040] The player may select the desired pay table 400, 405, or 410
by pressing on a displayed symbol/image of one of the pay tables or
a soft touch key 30 on the display screen. After the pay table 400,
405, or 410 has been selected, the player may then play the video
poker wagering game.
[0041] The pay tables 400, 405, or 410 may be specific to a
particular type of video poker. For example, a "Double Bonus" video
poker game may provide different payouts for various winning
combinations than the "Jacks or Better" video poker game.
Accordingly, the various selectable pay tables 400, 405, or 410
available for "Double Bonus" video poker may be different than
those available for "Jacks or Better" video poker.
[0042] When the player desires to play a wagering game, an initial
display screen may be displayed which lists various wagering games
available to the player. For example, the player may be shown
symbols/images representative of various video poker games such as
"Jacks or Better," "Deuces Wild," "Double Bonus," etc. In some
embodiments, the player is not presented with the option of
selecting the wagering game--instead, the gaming machine 10 plays
only a single type of wagering game. The player may select the
desired game and then another screen may be displayed which shows
the various pay tables 400, 405, or 410 available for the selected
wagering game (see FIG. 4). As discussed above, the player may
select the desired pay table 400, 405, or 410 by pressing on one of
the soft touch keys 30.
[0043] After the selection of the pay table 400, 405, or 410 is
made, the initial screen of the selected wagering game is displayed
to the player and the player can start game play. However, up until
the point at which the player makes the wager, the pay table 400,
405, or 410 can be switched.
[0044] After game play ends, the player again has the opportunity
to change the pay table 400, 405, or 410. The player can return to
the display screen of the pay tables 400, 405, or 410 by pressing a
button or one of the soft touch keys 30 on the touch screen 28. If
the gaming machine 10 has selectable wagering games, the player may
also return to the screen where the player may select a different
wagering game to play.
[0045] Although only three pay tables 400, 405, and 410 are shown
in FIG. 4, additional selectable pay tables may also be presented
to the player. Different wagering games may have differing amounts
of available pay tables associated with them. Also, the payout
amounts listed for the winning combinations and wagered amounts in
the pay tables are merely exemplary. In other words, the actual pay
tables may differ from what is illustrated in FIG. 4. Also,
although it is desirable to have the same payout percentage for
each of the various available pay tables for a wagering game, the
actual payout percentages for each pay table may have a slight
variance from each other. Also, in some embodiments the pay tables
400, 405, or 410 provide larger payouts when the pay tables provide
fewer winning combinations, and in other embodiments, payouts are
provided for other combinations that would not normally represent a
winning combination (e.g., a combination of two "3" cards and a
black "Ace" card).
[0046] In some embodiments, the pay table is randomly selected. For
example, a plurality of player-selectable elements may be
displayed, each of which masks (i.e., hides) a pay table, and the
player is requested to selected one of the player-selectable
elements, and the masked pay table for the selected
player-selectable element is implemented. Alternatively, the pay
table may be selected by a random number generator. In additional
embodiments, the player may make a second wager, in addition to the
initial wager, to purchase a different and more valuable pay table
for use with the video poker game.
[0047] Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is
contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed
invention, which is set forth in the following claims.
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