Amusement devices: games – Including means for processing electronic data – In a chance application
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-11
2001-09-25
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Amusement devices: games
Including means for processing electronic data
In a chance application
C463S042000, C273S139000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293866
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gaming methods and systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for adapting gaming devices to playing preferences.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many casinos offer electronic slot machines, each programmed to play a particular game of chance, such as slots, video poker, or video blackjack. While these games award payouts based upon play results, they are designed to retain, on average, a certain percentage of all money received. This percentage is commonly referred to as the “hold percentage.” Despite the fact that the odds are stacked in favor of slot machines, players still play slot machines not only for their entertainment value, but also in hopes of winning a large jackpot.
To provide an added incentive to play the slot machines, many casinos offer programs to reward those players who frequently play slot machines. In one such program, a casino accumulates “player reward points” for a player as he spends money on slot machines in that casino. This can be done by networking the slot machines to a central server that stores the points for that player. The casino issues a player tracking card containing a unique player identification number. The player inserts the card into a card reader of a slot machine, which transmits the identification number to the central server. As the player spends money in the slot machine, the server accumulates reward points for that player. After the player accumulates enough points, he can redeem them for, for example, merchandise or apply them against room, food, and beverage charges at the casino hotel.
In many cases, however, these incentives may not be enough to attract casino players to play slot machines. One reason is that players may find it difficult to locate slot machines configured to play the game they prefer. A slot machine is typically programmed to play a single game type (e.g., deuces-wild, video poker). If a player is interested in playing a game other than the game that a particular slot machine is programmed to play, he is forced to wander around the casino until he is able to locate another available slot machine programmed to play the preferred game. In addition, where a group of people visit a casino, members of the group may be forced to split up so that each can find a slot machine programmed to play the game he likes.
Even after players have successfully found slot machines programmed to play the games they like, those slot machines may not be configured to operate in a manner that they like. For example, many slot machines do not permit players to select which language is used, or choose which form of payout (i.e., money, prize, complimentary awards) the player prefers. Thus, locating slot machines configured to players' preferences presents such an imposing task that many players are simply discouraged from even trying and consequently do not play slot machines. Accordingly, conventional slot machines do not satisfy the needs of many players.
To address this shortcoming, some slot machines prompt players at the beginning of every gaming session to select from a menu of games. This, however, requires players to spend some time at the beginning of each and every gaming session choosing their preferred game, which in most cases does not vary from session to session. Many players are unwilling to spend, or uninterested in spending, the time to repeatedly enter the same game selection every time they play. Accordingly, such slot machines are also unsatisfactory.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Systems consistent with the present invention allow casino players to customize slot machines easily according to their playing preferences and tailor the play of the slot machines for individual players. Such systems also eliminate the need for players to wander around a casino to locate a slot machine configured in the manner they prefer. Moreover, these systems allow slot machines to adapt in order to to maintain the interest of the player.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, a gaming system consistent with the present invention is adaptable to playing preferences and comprises a slot machine for allowing a player to bet on pseudo-randomized events and a central server. The slot machine includes a device for receiving preference data representing a preferred operation of the slot machine and a device for programming the slot machine to operate according to the received preference data. The server includes a device for storing a collection of data representing various operations of the slot machine and a device for selectively transmitting a portion of the stored collection of data to the slot machine as preference data.
A server consistent with the present invention for configuring a slot machine to playing preferences comprises a device for storing a collection of data representing various operations of the slot machine and a device for selectively transmitting a portion of the stored collection of data to the slot machine as preference data.
A game machine configured for use with the present invention and adaptable to playing preferences for allowing a player to bet on pseudo-randomized events controlled by the game machine comprises a device for receiving preference data representing a preferred operation of the game machine from an electronic storage medium and a device for configuring the game machine to operate according to the received preference data.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
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Jorasch James A.
Sparico Thomas M.
Walker Jay S.
Alderucci Dean P.
Paradiso John
Vo Peter
Walker Digital, LLC
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