Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-08
2001-04-10
Harrison, Jessica J. (Department: 3713)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
Credit/debit monitoring or manipulation
C463S007000, C463S022000, C463S025000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213877
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to gaming apparatus and more particularly to gaming apparatus such as slot machines having proportional payout capabilities.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Slot machines generate greater than ten billion dollars per year in revenue for US casinos, with individual machines typically earning between fifty and one hundred and fifty dollars per day. Despite their popularity, however, slot machines offer players a somewhat limited selection of strategies in comparison to other casino games.
More specifically, table game players, such as blackjack players, have the opportunity to ‘press’ or increase their bets when they feel lucky, and to reduce their bets when they feel unlucky. No comparable option is readily available to the slot player.
While a slot player may reduce a bet by reducing the number of coins played, this option often results in his being excluded from the opportunity to win the top jackpot. In order to significantly increase his bet, a player typically would have to move to a higher denomination machine, a very undesirable option requiring him to leave his lucky, or ‘hot’ machine. While a player may have the option to increase the number of coins bet, the range of bets on typical machines is very limited—often from one to three coins.
Thus, it would be very desirable to provide a slot machine which offers to players the ability to press or increase their bets when they are winning. It would be further desirable to offer such a machine which enables players to limit their losses when they are losing. Such a machine could result in the increase of both the total play and the wagered amount of the players.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming apparatus such as a slot machine which provides payouts which are a proportion of the amount wagered.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a gaming method and apparatus having a proportional payout are provided, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores a series of outcomes, and at least one proportional payout multiplier corresponding to an outcome of the series of outcomes. The processor is operative to select from the series of outcomes a resulting outcome, select a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to the resulting outcome, and determine a game result based on the resulting proportional payout multiplier.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a gaming method and apparatus having a proportional payout are provided, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory connected to the processor. The memory stores a series of outcomes, and a series of proportional payout multipliers each corresponding to an outcome of the series of outcomes. The processor is operative to receive an initiation signal to initiate a game play, receive a wager signal indicating a wager amount for the game play, and receive a random number for the game play. The processor is further operative to select from the series of outcomes a resulting outcome, the resulting outcome based on the random number, to select from the series of proportional payout multipliers a resulting proportional payout multiplier corresponding to the resulting outcome, and apply the resulting proportional payout multiplier to calculate a resulting payout.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3269503 (1966-08-01), Foster
patent: 3439281 (1969-04-01), McGuire et al.
patent: 3642287 (1972-02-01), Lally et al.
patent: 3684290 (1972-08-01), Wayne
patent: 3834712 (1974-09-01), Cox
patent: 3841456 (1974-10-01), Levasseur
patent: 4095795 (1978-06-01), Saxton et al.
patent: 4448419 (1984-05-01), Telnaes
patent: 4508345 (1985-04-01), Okada
patent: 4652998 (1987-03-01), Koza et al.
patent: 4669731 (1987-06-01), Clarke
patent: 4856787 (1989-08-01), Itkis
patent: 4958835 (1990-09-01), Tashiro et al.
patent: 5042818 (1991-08-01), Weingardt
patent: 5102134 (1992-04-01), Smyth
patent: 5123649 (1992-06-01), Tiberio
patent: 5170345 (1992-12-01), Poole
patent: 5178390 (1993-01-01), Okada
patent: 5251897 (1993-10-01), Fulton
patent: 5282620 (1994-02-01), Keesee
patent: 5286023 (1994-02-01), Wood
patent: 5294120 (1994-03-01), Schultz
patent: 5401023 (1995-03-01), Wood
patent: 5401024 (1995-03-01), Simunek
patent: 5456465 (1995-10-01), Durham
patent: 5494287 (1996-02-01), Manz
patent: 5511781 (1996-04-01), Wood et al.
patent: 5511784 (1996-04-01), Furry et al.
patent: 5513851 (1996-05-01), Harris
patent: 5524888 (1996-06-01), Heidel
patent: 5531441 (1996-07-01), Dabrowski et al.
patent: 5766075 (1998-06-01), Cook et al.
patent: 5851010 (1998-12-01), Feinberg
patent: 5851147 (1998-12-01), Stupak et al.
patent: 5879234 (1999-03-01), Mengual
patent: 5934672 (1999-08-01), Sines et al.
patent: 5938196 (1999-08-01), Antoja
patent: 5947821 (1999-09-01), Stone
patent: 5971850 (1999-10-01), Liverance
patent: 6113492 (2000-09-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6113493 (2000-09-01), Walker et al.
patent: 6123333 (2000-09-01), McGinnis, Sr. et al.
Jorasch James A.
Walker Jay S.
Alderucci Dean
Harrison Jessica J.
Nguyen Binh-An
Santisi Steven M.
Walker Digital, LLC
LandOfFree
Gaming method and apparatus having a proportional payout does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Gaming method and apparatus having a proportional payout, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Gaming method and apparatus having a proportional payout will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2452746