U.S. patent application number 12/633970 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-24 for system for operating a sequence of games with enhanced payouts.
This patent application is currently assigned to INGENIO, FILIALE DE LOTO-QUEBEC INC.. Invention is credited to Gaston FORTIER, Vincent LAUZON, Harold THIBAULT.
Application Number | 20100160034 12/633970 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42238363 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100160034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
THIBAULT; Harold ; et
al. |
June 24, 2010 |
SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A SEQUENCE OF GAMES WITH ENHANCED PAYOUTS
Abstract
A gaming system and method for operating a sequence of single
games, providing enhanced payouts for bets placed with credits
earned over the course of previous games, and restricting access to
certain games according to a predetermined set of criterion. The
system comprises a terminal for players to place their bets on
outcomes of a last selected game and a single game controller for
operating the last selected game. The system further comprises a
sequencer for selecting the next game of the sequence at
predetermined intervals of time and determining whether players are
eligible to participate in the selected games. The system also
comprises a bet controller for determining whether the bets were
placed with regular or bonus credits, and assigning enhanced payout
factors to those of the bets that were placed with bonus
credits.
Inventors: |
THIBAULT; Harold; (Montreal,
CA) ; LAUZON; Vincent; (Laval, CA) ; FORTIER;
Gaston; (La Prairie, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Anglehart et al.
Suite 258, 393 St-Jacques
Montreal
QC
H2Y 1N9
CA
|
Assignee: |
INGENIO, FILIALE DE LOTO-QUEBEC
INC.
MONTREAL
CA
|
Family ID: |
42238363 |
Appl. No.: |
12/633970 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61120993 |
Dec 9, 2008 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/25 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/3244 20130101;
G07F 17/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/25 |
International
Class: |
A63F 9/24 20060101
A63F009/24 |
Claims
1. A gaming system for providing enhanced payouts, the system
comprising: a terminal for accepting regular bets placed with
regular credits and bonus bets placed with bonus credits on any of
a same set of game outcomes; a game controller for providing game
display instructions to the terminal and for selecting one the game
outcomes in accordance with rules of the game; the main bet
controller for multiplying the regular credits placed on the
selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits earned
with the regular bets; a bonus bet controller for multiplying the
bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a bonus factor to
determine credits earned with the bonus bets, wherein the bonus
factor is greater than the regular factor; and a credit controller
for incrementing the player's credit balance by at least some of
the credits earned with the regular bets and bonus bets.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 wherein the credits earned with the
bonus bets are bonus credits.
3. The gaming system of claim 2 wherein the credits earned with the
regular bets are bonus credits.
4. The gaming system of claim 2 further comprising a payout
controller for deducting from the bonus credit increment resulting
from an immediately preceding play the bonus credits with which the
bonus bets are placed within a current play to obtain a regular
credit payout and wherein the credit controller increments the
player's credit balance by the payout.
5. The gaming system of claim 3 further comprising a payout
controller for deducting from the bonus credit increment resulting
from an immediately preceding play the bonus credits with which the
bonus bets are placed within a current play to obtain a regular
credit payout and wherein the credit controller increments the
player's credit balance by the payout.
6. A method of providing an enhanced payout comprising: providing
regular credits and bonus credits in accordance with two different
acquisition modalities; accepting regular bets placed with the
regular credits or bonus bets placed with the bonus credits on any
of a same set of game outcomes; selecting one the outcomes; if the
regular bets are accepted, multiplying the regular credits placed
on the selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits
earned with the regular bets; if the bonus bets are accepted,
multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a
bonus factor to determine the credits earned with the bonus bets,
wherein the bonus factor is greater than the regular factor; and
incrementing the player's credit balance by at least some of the
credits earned with the regular bets and bonus bets.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the credits earned with the bonus
bets are bonus credits.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the credits earned with the
regular bets are bonus credits.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising deducting from the
bonus credit increment resulting from an immediately preceding play
the bonus credits with which the bonus bets are placed within a
current play to obtain a regular credit payout and incrementing the
player's credit balance by the payout.
10. The method of claim 8 further comprising deducting from the
bonus credit increment resulting from an immediately preceding play
the bonus credits with which the bonus bets are placed within a
current play to obtain a regular credit payout and incrementing the
player's credit balance by the payout.
11. The method of claim 6 wherein the multiplying the regular
credits placed on the selected outcome and the multiplying the
bonus credits placed on the selected outcome are performed by
automated operation of circuitry.
12. A gaming system for operating a sequence of single games, the
system comprising: a sequencer for selecting a next one of the
games of the sequence; a timer for enabling the sequencer at
predetermined intervals of time; a terminal for accepting bets
placed by a player on any of a set of outcomes of the last selected
game; a single game controller for providing game display
instructions to the terminal and for selecting one of the potential
outcomes; the bet controller for determining the credits earned by
the player with those of the bets placed on the selected outcome;
and the credit controller for incrementing the player's credit
balance by at least a portion of the earned credits.
13. The gaming system of claim 12 further comprising an eligibility
controller for determining whether the player is eligible to
participate in the last selected game in accordance with rules of
the game and for disabling the terminal if the player is not
eligible.
14. The gaming system of claim 13 wherein the eligibility
controller determines whether the last selected game is restricted
to players that have earned credits in a previous one of the games,
and disables the terminal for the restricted game if the player has
not earned the credits in the previous game.
15. The gaming system of claim 12 wherein the terminal accepts
regular bets placed with regular credits and bonus bets placed with
bonus credits on any of the same plurality of game outcomes, the
bet controller comprises a main bet controller for multiplying the
regular credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular factor
to determine credits earned with the regular bets and a bonus bet
controller for multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected
outcome by a bonus factor to determine credits earned with the
bonus bets, the bonus factor is greater than the regular factor,
the credits earned with the regular and bonus bets are the bonus
credits for placing the bonus bets over the course of subsequent
ones of the games of the sequence.
16. A method of operating a sequence of single games, the method
comprising: selecting a next one of the games of the sequence at
predetermined intervals of time; accepting bets placed by a player
on any of a set of outcomes of the last selected game; selecting
one of the outcomes; determining the credits earned by the player
with those of the bets placed on the selected outcome; and
incrementing the player's credit balance by at least a portion of
the earned credits.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising determining whether
the player is eligible to participate in the last selected game in
accordance with rules of the game wherein the accepting bets is
only performed if the player is eligible.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the determining whether the
player is eligible comprises determining whether the last selected
game is restricted to players that have earned credits in a
previous one of the games, and the accepting bets is performed only
if the player has earned the credits in the previous game.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the accepting bets comprises
accepting regular bets placed with regular credits and bonus bets
placed with bonus credits on any of the same set of game outcomes,
the determining the bets earned by the player comprises multiplying
the regular credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular
factor to determine credits earned with the regular bets and
multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a
bonus factor to determine credits earned with the bonus bets, the
bonus factor is greater than the regular factor.
20. The method of claim 16 wherein the selecting a next one of the
games is performed by automated operation of circuitry.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to devices and methods for
operating games of chance. More specifically, it relates to devices
and methods for operating a sequence of games of chance presenting
enhanced payouts.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Gambling has historically been a favourite pastime for many
and has, over the years, enjoyed very rapid growth. However, it has
recently become apparent that some of the most successful games,
such as Roulette, have been recently slipping in popularity. As a
result, there is a need for a new generation of games, one that
will revive the interest of casino patrons and enable the casino
industry to sustain its growth.
[0003] Some of the industry's leaders have been developing new
games, new systems for operating games, and new incentives, most of
which are designed to improve the overall gambling experience of
casino patrons and hold their interest for extended periods of
time.
SUMMARY
[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
additional incentive in the form of enhanced payouts for bets
placed with previously earned credits.
[0005] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
system for operating a sequence of distinct games at predetermined
intervals of time on a same platform.
[0006] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided a gaming system for providing enhanced payouts, the system
comprising a terminal for accepting regular bets placed with
regular credits and bonus bets placed with bonus credits on any of
a same set of game outcomes, a game controller for providing game
display instructions to the terminal and for selecting one the game
outcomes in accordance with rules of the game, the main bet
controller for multiplying the regular credits placed on the
selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits earned
with the regular bets, a bonus bet controller for multiplying the
bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a bonus factor to
determine credits earned with the bonus bets, wherein the bonus
factor is greater than the regular factor, and a credit controller
for incrementing the player's credit balance by at least some of
the credits earned with the regular bets and bonus bets.
[0007] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a method of providing an enhanced payout comprising
providing regular credits and bonus credits in accordance with two
different acquisition modalities, accepting regular bets placed
with the regular credits or bonus bets placed with the bonus
credits on any of a same set of game outcomes, selecting one the
outcomes, if the regular bets are accepted, multiplying the regular
credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular factor to
determine credits earned with the regular bets, if the bonus bets
are accepted, multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected
outcome by a bonus factor to determine the credits earned with the
bonus bets, wherein the bonus factor is greater than the regular
factor, and incrementing the player's credit balance by at least
some of the credits earned with the regular bets and bonus
bets.
[0008] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a gaming system for operating a sequence of
single games, the system comprising a sequencer for selecting a
next one of the games of the sequence, a timer for enabling the
sequencer at predetermined intervals of time, a terminal for
accepting bets placed by a player on any of a set of outcomes of
the last selected game, a single game controller for providing game
display instructions to the terminal and for selecting one of the
potential outcomes, the bet controller for determining the credits
earned by the player with those of the bets placed on the selected
outcome, and the credit controller for incrementing the player's
credit balance by at least a portion of the earned credits.
[0009] In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention,
there is provided a method of operating a sequence of single games,
the method comprising selecting a next one of the games of the
sequence at predetermined intervals of time, accepting bets placed
by a player on any of a set of outcomes of the last selected game,
selecting one of the outcomes, determining the credits earned by
the player with those of the bets placed on the selected outcome,
and incrementing the player's credit balance by at least a portion
of the earned credits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further
objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by
reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative
embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0011] FIG. 1 is top plan view of an apparatus for playing a
sequence of games offering enhanced payouts according to one
embodiment, the apparatus comprising a center display for
displaying game outcomes and four individual terminals for
accepting bets, displaying earned credits, and displaying credit
balances;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an environment for playing
the sequence of games according to one embodiment, the environment
comprising a center display for displaying game outcomes
positioned, the center display positioned at the center of
semicircular rows of horizontally mounted terminals for accepting
bets, displaying earned credits, and displaying credit
balances;
[0013] FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface displayed on the
terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the first of
a sequence of six games;
[0014] FIG. 4 illustrates a visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the
selection of an outcome for the first game;
[0015] FIG. 5 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface informing the player of the
first game's outcome;
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates the user interface displayed on a
terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the first
game;
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the
course of the first game and providing the option of placing a bet
with the earned credits on one of the second game's outcomes;
[0018] FIG. 8 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the second
game;
[0019] FIG. 9 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the
selection of an outcome for the second game;
[0020] FIG. 10 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface informing the player of the
second game's outcome;
[0021] FIG. 11 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the second
game;
[0022] FIG. 12 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the
course of the second game and providing the option of placing a bet
with the earned credits on one of the third game's outcomes;
[0023] FIG. 13 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the third
game;
[0024] FIG. 14 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the
selection of an outcome for the third game;
[0025] FIG. 15 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface informing the player of the
third game's outcome;
[0026] FIG. 16 illustrates the user interface displayed on a
terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the third
game;
[0027] FIG. 17 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the
course of the third game and providing the option of placing a bet
with the earned credits on one of the fourth game's outcomes;
[0028] FIG. 18 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the fourth
game;
[0029] FIG. 19 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the
selection of an outcome for the fourth game;
[0030] FIG. 20 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface informing the player of the
fourth game's outcome;
[0031] FIG. 21 illustrates the user interface displayed on a
terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the fourth
game;
[0032] FIG. 22 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the
course of the fourth game and providing the option of placing a bet
with the earned credits on one of the fifth game's outcomes;
[0033] FIG. 23 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the fifth
game;
[0034] FIG. 24 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the
selection of an outcome for the fifth game;
[0035] FIG. 25 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface informing the player of the
fifth game's outcome;
[0036] FIG. 26 illustrates the user interface displayed on a
terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the fifth
game;
[0037] FIG. 27 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the
course of the fifth game and providing the option of placing a bet
with the earned credits on one of the sixth game's outcomes;
[0038] FIG. 28 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player that no bets can be placed on
outcomes of the sixth draw as no credits were earned in the
fifth;
[0039] FIG. 29 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the
course of the fifth game and providing the option of placing a bet
with the earned credits on one of the sixth game's outcomes;
[0040] FIG. 30 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the
selection of an outcome for the sixth game;
[0041] FIG. 31 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the
center display, the visual interface informing the player of the
sixth game's outcome;
[0042] FIG. 32 illustrates the user interface displayed on the
terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the
course of the sixth game;
[0043] FIG. 33 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a system
for operating a sequence of games presenting enhanced payouts
according to a preferred embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 34 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a single
game controller, a component of the system, according to a
preferred embodiment;
[0045] FIG. 35 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a bet
controller, a component of the system, according to a preferred
embodiment;
[0046] FIG. 36 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a sequence
controller, a component of the system, according to a preferred
embodiment;
[0047] FIG. 37 is flowchart illustrating a method of providing
enhanced payouts according to a preferred embodiment; and
[0048] FIG. 38 is flowchart illustrating a method of operating a
sequence of games presenting enhanced payouts according to a
preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] The system for operating sequential games and its inventive
features are described herein below. For exemplary purposes and in
order to clearly demonstrate the synergy between the features, a
system for operating a sequence of six specific games is presented.
However, it should be apparent to a person skilled in the art that
other sequences of games may be operated by the system without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0050] FIG. 1 is top plan view of an apparatus for playing a
sequence of games offering enhanced payouts according to one
embodiment, the apparatus comprising a center display 103 for
displaying game outcomes and four individual terminals 101 for
accepting bets, displaying earned credits, and displaying credit
balances.
[0051] The terminals 101, also known in the field of gaming as
consoles or stations, are detachably mounted on a same platform and
positioned in a substantially circular configuration with respect
to the display 103, also known in the field of gaming as a communal
or central panel. Each of the terminals 101 comprises a touch
screen, a set of speakers, a currency acceptor, a prepaid casino
card reader, a dedicated ticket-in ticket-out printer, as well as a
system that enables the interaction of these various components
with a player, with each other, and with components of the display
103 for the purposes of the game.
[0052] As for the display 103, it comprises a screen, a set of
speakers, as well as a system that enables the interaction of these
various components with each other and with components of the
terminals. Furthermore, the screens of the terminals 101 and
display 103 are mounted in a substantially horizontal manner and
those of the terminals 103 are positioned in proximity of that of
the display 103 such that a player standing in front of any of the
terminals 101 may easily shift his attention between the screen of
the terminals 101 and that of the display 103. The number of the
terminals 101 mounted on the platform may be readily modified as a
function of parameters such as spatial constraints and operation
costs.
[0053] Although the terminals 101 have been described as detachably
mounted on the platform, they may be fixedly mounted thereon in
order, for instance, to reduce costs associated with the
manufacture of such an apparatus. Furthermore, although the
terminals 101 have been described as positioned in a substantially
circular configuration with respect to the display 103, they may be
positioned otherwise such as in a substantially semicircular
configuration with respect to the display 103, wherein the display
103 is vertically mounted to provide all players with an
unobstructed view. Moreover, although each of the terminals 101 has
been described as comprising a touch screen, it may alternatively
comprise an elaborate set of keys or a screen coupled with a set of
keys. Also, although the display 103 has been described as
comprising a screen, it may alternatively comprise a display
surface upon which images are projected. Finally, although the
screens of the terminals 101 and display 103 have been described as
mounted in a substantially horizontal manner, they may be mounted
otherwise such as in a substantially vertical manner to comply with
spatial constraints. Alternatively, and as illustrated in FIG. 2,
the game may be played in an environment comprising a center
display 203 for displaying game outcomes positioned, the center
display positioned at the center of semicircular rows of
horizontally mounted terminals 201 for accepting bets, displaying
earned credits, and displaying credit balances.
[0054] For the purposes of the specification, and describing the
game within the context of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, a
graphical element is said to be displayed on the terminal 101 or
display 103 if the element is displayed on the screen of the
terminals 101 or display 103. Finally, a player is said to select a
graphical element if the player applies pressure on a portion of
the touch screen of one of the terminals 101 within which the
element is displayed.
[0055] Referring now to FIG. 33, there is presented a schematic
block diagram illustrating a system for operating a sequence of
games presenting enhanced payouts according to a preferred
embodiment. Prior to turning the system on, graphics for each of
the games are stored in a user interface controller 3303 and a
visual interface controller 3315. Furthermore, standard and bonus
payout factors are stored in a bet controller 3307, and game
specifications, in a single game controller 3305. Once the system
has been customized in accordance with the specific sequence of
games to be played, it is turned on and parameters of its various
components are initialized.
[0056] Once the system is customized and the generic parameters are
initialized, a sequence controller 3313 provides transition
selections to the user interface controller 3303 and the visual
interface controller 3315. The transition selections consist in
display instructions that inform the user interface controller 3303
and the visual interface controller 3315 of graphics to be
displayed on the terminal 101 and the center display 103 between
games. At the beginning of a sequence, the graphics serve the
purpose of informing players of the manner in which the sequence is
operated, the applicable rules, and the first game of the sequence.
Within a sequence, the transition graphics serve the purpose of
introducing the next game of the sequence while the single game
controller 3305 loads the game specifications. At the end of the
sequence, the transition graphics serve the purpose of signalling
the end of the sequence and inform the players of an upcoming
sequence.
[0057] The sequence controller 3313 provides a game selection
signal to the single game controller 3305, which signal identifies
the first game of the sequence. Referring now to FIG. 36, there is
provided a schematic block diagram illustrating the sequence
controller 3313, a component of the system, according to the
preferred embodiment. A sequencer 3601 retrieves from a store of
sequence rules 3605 the next game of the sequence, which happens to
be the first game, and the time settings, namely duration of the
first game. The sequencer 3601 provides the selected game to the
single game controller 3305 and the time settings to a timer
3609.
[0058] Referring now to FIG. 34, and in response to the received
game selection signal, the single game controller 3305 retrieves
the specifications of the first game from a store of game
specifications 3405 and provides game display instructions to the
user interface controller 3303 and the visual interface controller
3315, which instructions consist in specific references to graphics
associated with a betting phase of the first game for display on
the terminal 101 and the center display 103.
[0059] One of the main purposes of the terminals 101 consists in
providing a user interface that enables players to place bets on
one or more outcomes for each game of the sequence in an efficient
and intuitive manner. When the user interface associated with the
first game's betting phase is displayed for the first time on the
terminals since the system has been turned on, players who wish to
participate in the first game may slide their prepaid card in their
terminal's card reader to enter their credit balance into the
system. The card data is read and provided to the user interface
controller 3303, which in turn stores the player's credit balance
in a store of player credits 3311. Once the user interface
controller 3303 receives confirmation that the credit balance has
indeed been stored, it retrieves and assembles graphics for
informing the player of the stored credit balance and provides the
retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal 101 for
display.
[0060] Once the credit balance is displayed on the terminal 101,
the player may place one or more bets on the first game's outcome
at any time before the betting phase elapses. Referring now to FIG.
3, there is illustrated the user interface displayed on the
terminal 101 for placing bets on one or more outcomes of the first
of a sequence of six games. A credit meter 303 indicates that five
thousand and two credits are available in the player's credit
balance. Four control keys 305, each of which is assigned a
predetermined number of credits, can be manipulated by the player
to select a desired number of credits to be placed on one of the
first game's outcomes. Once the desired number of credits is
selected, the player may select one of three betting areas 307,
each of which is associated to an outcome of the game.
[0061] Referring back to FIG. 33, upon accepting from the terminal
101 player input defining a bet request, the user interface
controller 303 provides the bet request to a credit controller
3309, which retrieves the player's credit balance from the store of
player credits 3311 and verifies whether the retrieved credit
balance holds a sufficient number of credits for the bet to be
placed. If sufficient credits are available, the credit controller
3309 decrements the credit balance by the selected number of
credits, stores the updated credit balance in the store of player
credits 3311, and provides the approved bets to the bet controller
3307.
[0062] More specifically, and referring to FIG. 35, which presents
a schematic block diagram illustrating the bet controller 3307
according to a preferred embodiment, the credit controller 3309
stores the approved bet in a store of approved bets 3509. A main
bet controller 3501 retrieves the approved bet from the store of
approved bets 3509, retrieves a game-appropriate factor from a
store of factors 3507, and multiplies the retrieved bet and factor
to obtain the potential payout, namely the number of credits to be
earned should the retrieved bet turn out to be a winning bet. The
potential payout is provided to a bonus bet controller 3503, which
in turn retrieves bonus factors of the five subsequent games, and
multiplies the potential payout by the retrieved bonus factors to
obtain a payout table, namely a table that indicates the number of
credits to be earned if the player successfully bets each credit
earned in a previous game throughout the sequence. The bonus bet
controller 3503 provides the payout table to the user interface
controller 3303.
[0063] The user interface controller 3303 routines retrieves
updated credit balances from the store of player credits 3311 and
approved bets from the store of approved bets 3509. It then
retrieves and assembles graphics informing the player of the
approved bet, the resulting credit balance decrement, and the
resulting payout table before providing the retrieved and assembled
graphics to the terminal 101 for display. Referring back to FIG. 3,
the graphics include an updated credit meter 303, chips 309 placed
within the player-selected one of the betting areas 307, and
updated payout table tabs 313. More specifically, the credit meter
303 indicates that five thousand two credits remain in the credit
balance. The chips 309 within the betting area 307 indicate that
two credits are placed on a dice roll inferior to seven. The first
of the payout table tabs 313 indicates that four credits will be
earned if the placed bet turns out to be a winning bet. Finally,
the remaining payout table tabs 313 indicate that twelve, fifty,
five hundred, ten thousand, and twenty thousand credits can be
earned if the placed bet turns out to be a winner and the player
successfully bets each credit earned over the course of the
previous game without investing any additional credits.
[0064] However, if the credit controller 3309 determines that the
player's credit balance holds an insufficient number of credits for
the bet to be placed, no approved bet and updated credit balance
are provided to the user interface controller 3303, and as a
result, the user interface displayed on the terminal 101 is not
updated to reflect the requested bet.
[0065] A time pane 315 is displayed in the top-left corner of the
user interface 301 for indicating the amount of time left until the
end of the bet phase, following which players may no longer place
bets on outcomes of the first game. Once the bet phase expires, and
referring back to FIG. 34, an outcome generator 3403, which is a
component of the single game controller 3305, retrieves the first
game's specifications from the store of game specifications 3405 to
determine a number of potential outcomes, randomly selects one of
the potential outcomes, and provides the selected outcome to a main
game controller 3401, which in turn provides the selected outcome
to other components of the system. More specifically, and referring
back to FIG. 33, the main game controller 3401 provides the
selected outcome to the user interface controller 3303, the visual
interface controller 3315, and the bet controller 3307.
[0066] The visual interface controller 3315 retrieves and assembles
an animation for informing the players of the selected outcome in
an entertaining manner, and provides the retrieved and assembled
animation to the center display 103 for display. Referring now to
FIG. 4, there is illustrated a visual interface 401 displayed on
the center display 103, the visual interface 401 presenting an
animation of the selection of an outcome for the first game,
wherein the animation consists in a roll of dice 403. Referring now
to FIG. 5, there is illustrated the visual interface 401 displayed
on the center display 103, the visual interface 401 informing the
player of the first game's outcome, namely a dice roll of seven,
within a results pane 405.
[0067] Referring back to FIG. 33, once the animation is displayed
on the center display 103, the user interface controller 3303
retrieves and assembles graphics for informing the players of the
selected outcome, and provides the retrieved and assembled graphics
to the terminal 101 for display. Referring now to FIG. 6, there is
illustrated the user interface 301 displayed on the terminal 101
for informing the player of the outcome of the first game through a
message 601. It is important to note that the outcome illustrated
in FIG. 5 is not consistent with the message 601 as the illustrated
outcome is only provided for exemplary purposes.
[0068] Referring back to FIG. 35, the selected outcome is provided
to the main bet controller 3501 and the bonus bet controller 3503.
The main bet controller 3501 retrieves from the store of approved
bets 3509 those of the approved bets placed on the selected
outcome, namely the winning bets, retrieves the game-appropriate
factor from the store of factors 3507, multiplies the winning bets
by the retrieved factor to calculate the credits earned with
approved bets, stores the calculated credits in a store of earned
credits 3515, and provides the winning bets to the user interface
controller 3303. The bonus bet controller 3503 retrieves from a
store of bonus bets 3514 those of the bonus bets placed on the
selected outcome, namely the winning bonus bets, retrieves the
game-appropriate bonus factor from a store of bonus factors 3511,
multiplies the retrieved bonus bets by the retrieved bonus factors
to calculate the credits earned with the bonus bets, stores the
calculated credits in the store of earned credits 3515, and
provides the winning bonus bet to the user interface controller
3303.
[0069] The display of the selected outcome on the terminal 101
coincides with the end of the first game. Referring back to FIG.
35, once the period of time provided by the sequencer 3601 elapses,
the timer 3609 provides the sequencer 3601 a time signal indicating
the end of the first game. In response, the sequencer 3601
retrieves the next game of the sequence, namely the second game,
from the store of sequence rules 3605, and provides the game
selection to an eligibility controller 3603, which in turn
retrieves from the store of sequence rules 3605 the requirements to
be met for players to benefit from bonus conditions.
[0070] In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the bonus
conditions are exclusively available to players that have earned
credits in an immediately preceding game of a same sequence. The
eligibility controller 3603 determines that the selected game is
not the first one of the sequence, retrieves the credits earned by
the players from the store of earned credits 3515, identifies those
of the players that have not earned credits, and provides the
resulting restrictions, which consist in a list of the identified
players, to the sequencer 3601, which in turn dispatches the
restrictions to the user interface controller 3303, and provides
transition instructions to the user interface controller 3303 and
the visual interface controller 3315.
[0071] Referring back to FIG. 33, the user interface controller
3303 retrieves each player's earned credits from the bet controller
3307, and according to the transition instructions provided by the
sequence controller 3313, retrieves and assembles graphics for
informing each of the of the players not found on the restricted
list of their winning bets and earned credits. The graphics also
provide the players with an opportunity to benefit from
advantageous payout factors in the second game in exchange for a
commitment to place bets with the earned credits, wherein the
advantageous factors are exclusively applicable to the committed
credits. Bets placed under these bonus conditions are referred to
as bonus bets, and the advantageous payout factors, as bonus
factors. The user interface controller 3303 provides the retrieved
and assembled graphics to the terminal 101 for display.
[0072] As for the visual interface controller 3315, it retrieves
and assembles graphics in accordance with the transition
instructions provided by the sequence controller 3313, which
graphics present the second game of the sequence to the players,
and provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the center
display 3317.
[0073] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is illustrated a user
interface 701 displayed on the terminal 101 for informing the
player of the winning bet, namely the one placed on a roll of dice
inferior to 7, and the credits earned over the course of the first
game, namely four credits. The user interface 701 also provides the
option of placing a bet with the earned credits on one of the
second game's outcomes.
[0074] If the eligible player wishes to take advantage of the
proposed bonus conditions, a bonus request must be submitted within
a limited time frame by selecting a control key 705. Otherwise, the
player may select a control key 707 or wait for the time frame to
expire.
[0075] Referring back to FIG. 33, if the player submits a bonus
request through the terminal 101, the user interface controller
3303 provides the request to the bet controller 3307. More
specifically, and referring to FIG. 35, the user interface
controller 3307 stores the bonus request in the store of bonus bets
3513. A payout controller 3505 retrieves the bonus request from the
store of bonus bets 3513 and updates the store of earned credits
3515 accordingly. However, it the player does not submit a bonus
request through the terminal 101, no bonus request is stored in the
store of bonus bets 3513, and no bonus request is retrieved by the
payout controller 3505. As a result, the payout controller 3515
retrieves the player's earned credits from the store of earned
credits 3515 and provides the earned credits as payouts to another
component of the system. More specifically, and referring to FIG.
33, the payout controller 3505 provides the payout to the credit
controller 3309, which retrieves the player's credit balance from
the store of player credits 3311, increments the retrieved credit
balance by the provided payout, and stores the updated credit
balance in the store of player credits 3311.
[0076] The sequence controller 3313 also provides the game
selection to the single game controller 3305, which loads the game
specifications of the second game and provides game display
instructions to the user interface controller 3303 and the visual
interface controller 3315. Upon being provided the game display
instructions, the user interface controller 3303 retrieves and
assembles graphics for enabling the player to place bets on one of
the outcomes of the second game, and provides the retrieved and
assembled graphics to the terminal 101. Referring now to FIG. 8,
there is illustrated a user interface 801 displayed on the terminal
101 for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the second game,
wherein each of the outcomes is assigned to a bet area 807. If the
player had previously submitted a bonus request, the committed
credits, also referred to as the bonus credits, are placed on the
outcome assigned to the first of the bet areas 807 selected by the
player. Referring back to FIG. 33, upon accepting the player's
selection, the terminal 101 provides the player's input to the user
interface controller 3303, which in turn provides the corresponding
outcome to the bet controller 3307. More specifically, and
referring back to FIG. 35, the user interface controller 3303
stores the outcome in the store of bonus bets 3513, wherein the
outcome completes the bonus credits to form a bonus bet. However,
and referring back to FIG. 8, if the player had not previously
submitted a bonus request, the interface 801 can be manipulated in
a similar manner as the interface 301 illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0077] According to the preferred embodiment, in order to benefit
from the bonus factors, all credits earned over the course of an
immediately preceding game must be placed on a single outcome.
However, according to another embodiment, in order to benefit from
the bonus factors, all credits earned over the course of an
immediately preceding game must be placed on one or more outcomes.
According to yet another embodiment, in order to benefit from the
bonus factors, all credits earned over the course of any preceding
game must be placed either entirely or in part on one or more
outcomes.
[0078] According to one embodiment, bonus credits are awarded by
casino operators to players in exchange of comp points. According
to yet another embodiment, bonus credits are awarded by casino
operators to their best clients. According to yet another
embodiment, a payout for some games consists in converting a
winning player's entire credit balance into bonus credits.
According to yet another embodiment, a payout for some games
consists in converting a percentage of a winning player's credit
balance into bonus credits.
[0079] According to one embodiment, bonus credits are awarded in
the form of physical tokens that can be readily recognized by the
terminals. According to one embodiment, bonus credits are
redeemable for cash. According to another embodiment, bonus credits
are not redeemable for cash. According to one embodiment, bonus
credits have a lesser cash value than regular credits. According to
one embodiment, bonus credits have a greater cash value than
regular credits.
[0080] The cycle described above is repeated for each of the four
subsequent games, which will be briefly described below. FIG. 9
illustrates a visual interface 901 displayed on the center display
103 to present an animation of the selection of an outcome for the
second game. The animation consists in opening three chests 903 to
find a hidden diamond. FIG. 10 illustrates the visual interface 901
displayed on the center display 103 to present the second game's
outcome by revealing a diamond in the chest 1001. Winning bets were
therefore those placed on the chest 1001. The display of the
outcome signals the end of the second game.
[0081] FIG. 11 illustrates the user interface 801 displayed on the
terminal 101 for informing the player of the second game's outcome
through a message 1101. The interface 801 is followed by an
interface 1201 illustrated in FIG. 12. The interface 1201 informs
the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the
second game, namely five, and provides the player with the option
of committing the earned credits to the third game. The payout
table tabs 313 inform the player that payouts of twenty, two
hundred, four thousand, and eight thousand credits are within reach
should the earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the
length of the winning streak within the sequence.
[0082] FIG. 13 illustrates a user interface 1301 displayed on the
terminal 101 for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the third
game. The player had earned credits in the previous game, but
decided not to commit them, and as a result, no bonus credits are
displayed. However, the player placed five credits 1309 in one of
bet areas 1307 assigned to the ace of hearts. The payout table tabs
313 inform the player that payouts of seven, seventy, a thousand
four hundred, and two thousand eight hundred credits are within
reach should the earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending
on the length of the winning streak within the sequence. It is
important to note that the potential payouts presented in FIG. 13
are significantly inferior to those presented in FIG. 12, even if
the bet is in the same amount, namely five credits, and the sets of
outcomes on which bets can be placed are identical. This is
attributable to the difference between regular and bonus
factors.
[0083] FIG. 14 illustrates a visual interface 1401 displayed on the
center display 103 to present an animation of the selection of an
outcome for the third game. The animation consists in a shuffle of
four ace cards 1403 of a standard deck of playing cards. FIG. 15
illustrates the visual interface 1401 displayed on the center
display 103 to present the third game's outcome by selecting one of
the ace cards 1403. The ace of hearts 1501 is displayed as
distinguished from the other ace cards 1403 following the shuffle.
Therefore, winning bets are those placed on the ace of hearts 1501.
The display of the outcome signals the end of the third game.
[0084] FIG. 16 illustrates a user interface 1301 displayed on the
terminal 101 for informing the player of the outcome of the third
game through a message 1601. The interface 1301 is followed by an
interface 1701 illustrated in FIG. 17. The interface 1701 informs
the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the
third game, namely seven, and provides the player with the option
of committing the earned credits to the fourth game. The payout
table tabs 313 inform the player that payouts of seventy, a
thousand four hundred, and two thousand eight hundred credits are
within reach should the earned credits be committed repeatedly,
depending on the length of the winning streak within the
sequence.
[0085] FIG. 18 illustrates a user interface 1801 displayed on the
terminal 101 for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the
fourth game. The player had earned credits in the previous game,
but decided not to commit them, and as a result, no bonus credits
are displayed. However, the player placed two credits 1809 in one
of bet areas 1807 assigned to number five. The payout table tabs
313 inform the player that payouts of eighteen, three hundred
fifty, and seven hundred credits are within reach should the earned
credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the length of the
winning streak within the sequence.
[0086] FIG. 19 illustrates a visual interface 1901 displayed on the
center display 103 to present an animation of the selection of an
outcome of the fourth game, the animation consisting in a wheel
spin. FIG. 20 illustrates the visual interface 1901 displayed on
the center of the display to present the fourth game's outcome. A
tab 1905 is aligned with section five 2001 of a wheel 1903.
Therefore, winning bets are those placed on number five. The
display of the outcome signals the end of the fourth game.
[0087] FIG. 21 illustrates the user interface 1801 displayed on the
terminal 101 for informing the player of the outcome of the fourth
game through a message 2101. The interface 1801 is followed by an
interface 2201 illustrated in FIG. 22. The interface 2201 informs
the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the
fourth game, namely eighteen, and provides the player with the
option of committing the earned credits to the fifth game. The
payout table tabs 313 inform the player that payouts of three
hundred fifty and seven hundred credits are within reach should the
earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the length of
the winning streak within the sequence.
[0088] FIG. 23 illustrates a user interface 2301 displayed on the
terminal 101 for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the fifth
game. The player had earned credits in the previous game, but
decided not to commit them, and as a result, no bonus credits are
displayed. However, the player placed two credits 2309 in three bet
areas 2307 assigned to numbers one, fifteen, and seventeen. The
payout table tabs 313 inform the player that payouts of thirty-five
and seventy credits are within reach should the earned credits be
committed repeatedly, depending on the length of the winning streak
within the sequence.
[0089] FIG. 24 illustrates a visual interface 2401 displayed on the
center display 103 to present an animation of the selection of an
outcome of the fifth game, the animation consisting in a ball
shuffle. FIG. 25 illustrates the visual interface 2401 displayed on
the center of the display to present the fifth game's outcome.
Following the shuffle, ball eighteen 2405 is selected. The display
of the outcome signals the end of the fifth game.
[0090] FIG. 26 illustrates the user interface 2301 displayed on the
terminal 101 for informing the player of the outcome of the fifth
game through a message 2601. The interface 2301 is followed by an
interface 2701 illustrated in FIG. 27. The interface 2701 informs
the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the
fifth game, namely thirty-five, and provides the player with the
option of committing the earned credits to the fifth game. The
payout table tab 313 informs the player that a payout of seventy
credits is within reach should the earned credits be committed.
[0091] However, if the player does not earn credits in the fifth
game, the interface 2801 illustrated in FIG. 28 is displayed on the
terminal 101 to inform the player that only those that that earned
credits in the fifth game may take part in the sixth through a
message 2805. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
the payout factor for the sixth game does not confer any advantage
to the house. Still according to the preferred embodiment, only
credits earned in the fifth game can be placed on an outcome of the
sixth. However, according to another embodiment, eligible players
can also place bets with credits retrieved from their credit
balance. According to yet another embodiment, all players are
eligible to participate in all the games.
[0092] FIG. 29 illustrates a user interface 2901 displayed on the
terminal 2901 for placing a bet on an outcome of the sixth and last
game of the sequence. The player placed the previously earned
credits 2909 in one of bet areas 2907 assigned to tails. The last
payout table tab 313 informs the player that a payout of seventy
credits is within reach should the outcome of the coin toss be
tails.
[0093] FIG. 30 illustrates a visual interface 3001 displayed on the
center display 103 to present an animation of the selection of an
outcome of the sixth game, the animation consisting in coin toss.
FIG. 31 illustrates the visual interface 3001 displayed on the
center of the display to present the sixth game's outcome.
Following the toss, a coin 3003 lands on tails. The display of the
outcome signals the end of the sixth game.
[0094] FIG. 32 illustrates the user interface 2901 displayed on the
terminal 101 to inform the player of a number of credits earned
over the course of the sixth game, namely seventy. The display of
the selected outcome on the terminal 101 coincides with the end of
the sequence. Referring back to FIG. 36, once the period of time
provided by the sequencer 3601 expires, the timer 3609 provides the
sequencer 3601 a time signal indicating the end of the last game.
In response, the sequencer 3601 retrieves the next game of the
sequence, namely the first game, from the store of sequence rules
3605, and provides the game selection to an eligibility controller
3603, which in turn retrieves from the store of sequence rules 3605
the requirements to be met for players to benefit from bonus
conditions. The eligibility controller 3603 determines that the
selected game is the first one of the sequence and provides the
resulting restrictions, which consists in a status signal
indicating the end of the sequence, to the sequencer 3601.
[0095] FIG. 37 is flowchart illustrating a method of providing
enhanced payouts according to the preferred embodiment. The steps
of the method are explained below with reference to FIG. 33 to FIG.
36 in order to clarify the correspondence between the steps and the
components of the system.
[0096] In a step 3701, bonus bets are accepted on any of the last
selected game's set of outcomes. As mentioned above, bonus bets
differ from regular bets in that they are placed with bonus
credits. Furthermore, bonus credits may be obtained from a variety
of sources. For instance, casino operators may award their best
customers bonus credits in the form of physical tokens that can be
easily distinguished from regular tokens by at least some of the
game devices. However, according to the preferred embodiment, bonus
credits correspond to credits earned in an immediately preceding
game and committed to the last selected game. Referring back to
FIG. 33, the step 3701 involves several components of the system.
More specifically, the terminal 101 receives the player's input,
which includes a request to place a bonus bet, and provides it to
the user interface controller 3303. In response, the user interface
controller 3303 identifies the request within the player's input,
and provides the request to the bet controller 3307. Referring now
to FIG. 35, the user interface controller 3303 stores the bonus bet
in the store of bonus bets 3513. The payout controller 3505
retrieves the bonus bet from the store of bonus bets 3513, and
resets the player's earned credits stored in the store of earned
credits 3515.
[0097] In a step 3703, bet requests are accepted and approved on
any of the last selected game's set of outcomes. Referring back to
FIG. 33, the step 3703 involves several components of the system.
More specifically, the terminal 101 receives the player's input,
which includes a request to place a bet, and provides it to the
user interface controller 3303. In response, the user interface
controller 3303 provides the request to the credit controller 3309,
which retrieves the player's credit balance from the store of
player credits 3311, and determines whether the retrieved credit
balance holds a sufficient number of credits to accept the bet. If
the credit balance does hold a sufficient number of credits, the
credit controller 3309 decrements the credit balance by the credits
involved in the bet, stores the updated credit balance in the store
of player credits 3311, and provides the approved bet to the bet
controller 3307. Referring now to FIG. 35, the credit controller
3307 stores the approved bet in the store of approved bets
3509.
[0098] Once all bonus bets are accepted, and all regular bets are
accepted and approved, one of the potential outcomes of a last
selected game is randomly selected in a step 3707. Referring back
to FIG. 34, the step 3707 is performed by the outcome generator
3403, which can be a random number generator or any other random
selection mechanism. The outcome generator 3403 retrieves from the
store of game specifications 3405 all potential outcomes of the
last selected game, randomly selects one of the retrieved outcomes,
and provides the selected outcome to the main game controller 3401,
which in turn dispatches the outcome to other components of the
system.
[0099] Once the outcome of the game is selected, and in accordance
with a step 3709, those of the bets that were placed on the
selected outcome are identified as winning bets. Referring back to
FIG. 35, the step 3709 involves several components of the bet
controller 3307. More specifically, the single game controller 3305
provides the selected outcome to the main bet controller 3501 and
the bonus bet controller 3503. In response, the main bet controller
3501 retrieves all approved bets from the store of approved bets
3509, compares the retrieves bets with the selected outcome, and
identifies those of the approved bets that were placed on the
selected outcome as winning bets. Similarly, the bonus bet
controller 3503 retrieves all bonus bets from the store of bonus
bets 3513, compares the retrieves bonus bets with the selected
outcome, and identifies those of the bonus bets that were placed on
the selected outcome as winning bonus bets.
[0100] Credits earned from a winning bet are calculated differently
from those earned from a winning bonus bet. Therefore, and in a
step 3709, the winning bets are distinguished from the winning
bonus bets. Referring back to FIG. 35, the step 3709 is performed
by the main bet controller 3501 and the bonus bet controller 3503.
As mentioned previously, the main bet controller 3501 identifies
those of the approved bets that were placed on the selected outcome
as winning bets, and the bonus bet controller 3503, those of the
bonus bets that were placed on the selected outcome as winning
bonus bets.
[0101] If winning bets are identified, and in steps 3713 and 3715,
a game-appropriate factor is retrieved, the sum of the number of
credits involved in all identified winning bets is calculated, and
the calculated sum is multiplied by the retrieved factor to obtain
the number of credits earned with the approved bets. Referring back
to FIG. 35, the steps 3713 and 3715 are performed by the main bet
controller 3501, which retrieves the game-appropriate factor from
the store of factors 3507, calculates the sum of the number of
credits involved in the winning bets, and multiplies the calculated
sum by the retrieved factor to obtain the credits earned with the
approved bets. The main bet controller stores the earned credits in
the store of earned credits 3515.
[0102] If winning bonus bets are identified, and in steps 3717 and
3719, a game-appropriate bonus factor is retrieved, the sum of the
number of credits involved in all identified winning bonus bets is
calculated, and the calculated sum is multiplied by the retrieved
factor to obtain the number of credits earned with the bonus bets.
Referring back to FIG. 35, the steps 3717 and 3719 are performed by
the bonus bet controller 3503, which retrieves the game-appropriate
factor from the store of bonus factors 3511, calculates the sum of
the number of credits involved in the winning bets, and multiplies
the calculated sum by the retrieved factor to obtain the credits
earned with the bonus bets.
[0103] Once the credits earned with the bonus bets are calculated,
they are added to the credits earned with the approved bets in a
step 3721. Referring back to FIG. 35, the step 3721 is performed by
the bonus bet controller 3503, which increments the credits stored
by the main bet controller 3501 in the store of earned credits 3515
by the credits earned with the bonus bets.
[0104] Subsequently, and in a step 3723, players are provided with
an opportunity to benefit from bonus factors in the following game
in exchange for a commitment to place their earned credits on a
single outcome. Referring back to FIG. 33, the step 3723 involves
several components of the system. More specifically, the sequence
controller 3313 provides transition instructions to the user
interface controller 3303, which retrieves the credits earned from
the store of earned credits 3515, retrieves and assembles graphics
in accordance with the transition instructions to inform the play
of the opportunity to benefit from bonus factors in exchange for a
commitment to place the retrieved credits on a single outcome in
the following game, and provides the retrieved and assembled
graphics to the terminal 101 for display. Thereafter, the terminal
101 accepts the player's input and provides it to the user
interface controller 3303, which interprets the provided input to
determine whether the player wishes to benefit from the provided
opportunity.
[0105] If it is determined that the player wishes to benefit from
the provided opportunity, and in a step 3701, a corresponding bonus
bet is accepted. Referring back to FIG. 35, the step 3701 involves
several components of the system. More specifically, if the player
submits a bonus request through the terminal 101, the user
interface controller 3303 provides the request to the bet
controller 3307. More specifically, and referring to FIG. 35, the
user interface controller 3307 stores the bonus request in the
store of bonus bets 3513. A payout controller 3505 retrieves the
bonus request from the store of bonus bets 3513 and updates the
store of earned credits 3515.
[0106] However, if the player does not submit a bonus request, and
in a step 3725, the earned credits are added to the credit balance.
Referring back to FIG. 35, the step 3725 involves several
components of the system. More specifically, if the player does not
submit a bonus request through the terminal 101, no bonus request
is stored in the store of bonus bets 3513, and no bonus request is
retrieved by the payout controller 3505. As a result, the payout
controller 3515 retrieves the player's earned credits from the
store of earned credits 3515 and provides the earned credits as
payouts to another component of the system. Referring now to FIG.
33, the payout controller 3505 provides the payout to the credit
controller 3309, which retrieves the player's credit balance from
the store of player credits 3311, increments the retrieved credit
balance by the provided payout, and stored the updated credit
balance in the store of player credits 3311.
[0107] FIG. 38 is flowchart illustrating a method of operating a
sequence of games presenting enhanced payouts according to the
preferred embodiment. The steps of the method are explained below
with reference to FIG. 33 to FIG. 36 in order to clarify the
correspondence between the steps and the components of the
system.
[0108] In a step 3801, the next game of the sequence and its time
settings are retrieved. Referring back to FIG. 35, the step 3801 is
performed by the sequencer 3601, which retrieves from the store of
sequence rules 3605 the next game of the sequence and the time
settings, namely the duration of the selected game. In accordance
with the preferred embodiment, the sequence of games is
predetermined. However, in accordance with another embodiment, the
games are randomly selected, and as a result, the sequence is not
predetermined. In accordance with yet another embodiment, the game
is selected by a dealer operating a game-selection switch.
[0109] In a step 3803, a timer is set to signal the moment at which
the selected game ends and the following game of the sequence is to
be selected. Referring back to FIG. 36, the sequencer 3601 provides
the time settings of the selected game to the timer 3609.
[0110] Subsequently, it is determined whether the selected game is
the first game of the sequence in a step 3805. Referring back to
FIG. 36, the step 3805 involves several components of the system.
More specifically, the sequencer 3601 provides the game selection
to the eligibility controller 3601, which then retrieves from the
store of sequence rules 3605 the requirements to be met for players
to benefit from bonus conditions. In accordance with the preferred
embodiment, the bonus conditions are exclusively available to
players that have earned credits in an immediately preceding game
of a same sequence. Therefore, the eligibility controller 3603
determines whether the selected game is the first game.
[0111] If the selected game is not the first game, and in
accordance with a step 3807, winners of the immediately preceding
game and their earned credits are retrieved. Referring back to FIG.
35, the step 3807 involves several components of the system. More
specifically, the eligibility controller 3603 retrieves the credits
earned by the players from the store of earned credits 3515,
identifies those of the players that have not earned credits, and
provides the resulting restrictions, which consist in a list of the
identified players, to the sequencer 3601, which in turn dispatches
the restrictions to the user interface controller 3303, and
provides transition instructions to the user interface controller
3303 and the visual interface controller 3315. Referring back to
FIG. 33, the user interface controller 3303 retrieves each player's
earned credits from the bet controller 3307, and according to the
transition instructions provided by the sequence controller 3313,
retrieves and assembles graphics for informing each of the of the
players not found on the restricted list of their winning bets and
earned credits. The graphics also provide the players with an
opportunity to benefit from advantageous payout factors in the
following game in exchange for a commitment to place bets with the
earned credits, wherein the advantageous factors are exclusively
applicable to the committed credits. Bets placed under these bonus
conditions are referred to as bonus bets, and the advantageous
payout factors, as bonus factors. The user interface controller
3303 provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal
101 for display.
[0112] In a step 3809, those of the winners who wish to benefit
from the provided opportunity are identified. Referring back to
FIG. 33, the step 3809 involves several components of the system.
More specifically, if the terminal 101 accepts the player's request
to benefit from the provided opportunity, it provides the player's
input to the user interface controller 3303, which in turn
interprets the provided player input to identify the player's bonus
request, and provides the request to the bet controller 3307.
Referring to FIG. 35, the user interface controller 3307 stores the
bonus request in the store of bonus bets 3513. A payout controller
3505 retrieves the bonus request from the store of bonus bets 3513
and updates the store of earned credits 3515 accordingly.
[0113] In a step 3811, it is determined whether the selected game
is the last game of the sequence. Referring back to FIG. 36, the
step 3811 involves several components of the system. More
specifically, once the eligibility controller 3601 is provided with
the last selected game, it retrieves from the store of sequence
rules 3605 the requirements to be met for players to participate in
the selected game. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a
bet on an outcome of the last game can only be placed with credits
earned over the course of the penultimate game of the sequence.
Therefore, the eligibility controller 3603 determines whether the
selected game is the last game.
[0114] If the selected game is the last game, the bet phase for the
selected game is only activated for those of the players identified
in the step 3809, namely the winners who accepted the bonus
conditions. More specifically, referring back to FIG. 35, the step
3809 is performed by the eligibility controller 3603, which
provides restrictions, namely a list of all the players that may
not take part in the last game, to the sequencer 3601, which in
turn provides the restrictions and corresponding display
instructions to the user interface controller 3303. If the terminal
101 with which the user interface controller 3303 communicates is
operated by a player on the restricted list, the user interface
controller 3303 disables the betting interface displayed on the
terminal 101 in accordance with the provided instructions.
[0115] However, if it is determined that the selected game is not
the last game in the step 3811 or is the first game in the step
3805, the bet phase is activated for all players in a step 3813.
Referring back to FIG. 33, the step 3805 involves several
components of the system. More specifically, the single game
controller 3305 provides display instructions to the user interface
controller 3303, which, in the absence of any conflicting
instructions from the sequence controller 3313, provides the
graphics of the bet phase to the terminal 101.
[0116] In a step 3817, one of the potential outcomes of a last
selected game is randomly selected. Referring back to FIG. 34, the
step 3817 is performed by the outcome generator 3403, which can be
a random number generator or any other random selection mechanism.
The outcome generator 3403 retrieves from the store of game
specifications 3405 all potential outcomes of the selected game,
randomly selects one of the retrieved outcomes, and provides the
selected outcome to the main game controller 3401, which in turn
dispatches the outcome to other components of the system.
[0117] Once the game outcome is selected, and according to a step
3819, the credits earned by the player for bets placed on the
selected outcome are calculated. Referring back to FIG. 35, the
step 3819 involves several components of the system. More
specifically, the main bet controller 3501 identifies those of the
approved bets that were placed on the selected outcome as winning
bets, and the bonus bet controller 3503, those of the bonus bets
that were placed on the selected outcome as winning bonus bets. If
winning bets are identified, the main bet controller 3501 retrieves
the game-appropriate factor from the store of factors 3507,
calculates the sum of the number of credits involved in the winning
bets, and multiplies the calculated sum by the retrieved factor to
obtain the credits earned with the approved bets. The main bet
controller stores the earned credits in the store of earned credits
3515. If winning bonus bets are identified, the bonus bet
controller 3503 retrieves the game-appropriate factor from the
store of bonus factors 3511, calculates the sum of the number of
credits involved in the winning bets, multiplies the calculated sum
by the retrieved factor to obtain the credits earned with the bonus
bets, and adds the calculated credits to those stored in the store
of earned credits 3515 by the main bet controller 3501.
[0118] Finally in a step 3825, it is determined whether the timer
set in the step 3801 has expired. Referring back to FIG. 36, once
the period of time provided by the sequencer 3601 elapses, the
timer 3609 provides the sequencer 3601 a time signal indicating the
end of the first game. In response, the sequencer 3601 retrieves
the next game of the sequence in accordance with the step 3801.
[0119] It is important to note that while the steps of the
invention have been described as performed by automated operation
of circuitry, they may very well be performed by a dealer. For
instance, the timing of the sequence can be controlled by a dealer
operating a game-selection switch.
[0120] While the game has been described as involving a sequence of
games having no particular relation to other casino games, the game
may, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, involve
another sequence of games, each of the corresponds to a sample of a
distinct casino game, and whereby the player is introduced to
several games in an efficient manner.
[0121] Furthermore, while the game has been described as involving
a sequence of games having no particular relation to one particular
casino game, the game may, in accordance with another embodiment of
the invention, involve another sequence of games, each of which
corresponds to a distinct sample covering a distinct aspect of a
same game, and whereby the player is introduced to various aspects
of a same game in an efficient manner.
[0122] According to one embodiment, the terminal 101 is a personal
computer, the remaining components of the system are stored on a
server, and the terminal 101 communicates with the user interface
controller 3303 through a network such as the Internet. Preferably,
the communication protocol applied by the terminal 101 and the
server is highly reliable and provides for enhanced confidentiality
of the player's information.
[0123] While the game has been described as involving six
sequential games, it may be configured to involve a lesser or
greater number of games. Furthermore, while the game has been
described as generated and displayed electronically, it may be
generated and displayed mechanically. Also, while the game has been
described as played on an apparatus comprising four terminals 101,
it may be played on an apparatus comprising a lesser or greater
number of terminals 101, or connected to a network of terminals 101
whereby a larger number of players may participate. Also while the
individual terminals 101 have been described as enabling players to
place bets on a game generated by and displayed on a center display
103, each of these terminals 101 may generate and display their
own, distinct games, wherein a player may place bets on games
generated by and displayed on the center display 103 as well as
those generated and displayed by the individual terminal.
* * * * *