Gaming machines with free play bonus mode presenting only winning outcomes

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12046107-B2
Application number	US-202318328068-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2023
Priority date	Apr 20, 2011
Publication date	Jul 23, 2024
Grant date	Jul 23, 2024

Abstract

A gaming machine includes a processor and a presentation device coupled to the processor. The processor is programmed to determine that a free play trigger condition is satisfied, and to execute one or more free plays based on the free play trigger condition to create one or more free play outcomes. Each free play outcome is a winning free play outcome or a non-winning free play outcome. The presentation device is configured to present winning free play outcomes when at least one free play outcome is a winning free play outcome. Non-winning free play outcomes are not presented.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A gaming device in communication with a gaming server, the gaming device comprising:
a display device; and
at least one processor configured to execute instructions stored on at least one memory, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
receive data associated with a game outcome from the gaming server;
determine that the game outcome satisfies a free play trigger condition for a free play bonus mode;
in response to determining that the game outcome satisfies the free play trigger condition, determine a plurality of free play outcomes for the free play bonus mode, and one of:
in response to determining that the plurality of free play outcomes satisfy a first condition, cause display of at least one winning free play outcome on the display device, wherein each at least one winning free play outcome is displayed with a colored screen overlaid upon a winning symbol combination, wherein a graphical representation of the free play bonus mode is distinguished by the colored screen, and wherein the colored screen is associated with and indicative of the free play bonus mode; or
in response to determining that the plurality of free play outcomes satisfy a second condition, cause display of a game mode different from the free play bonus mode, wherein during the game mode different from the free play bonus mode, the colored screen is not displayed.

2. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the game outcome is associated with a bingo game.

3. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the gaming device comprises a bingo gaming machine.

4. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to determine the game outcome based upon the data.

5. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein when the colored screen is overlaid upon the winning symbol combination the free play bonus mode appears to be presented with a red foreground.

6. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to cause a sound associated with the free play bonus mode to be outputted in response to determining that the plurality of free play outcomes satisfy the first condition.

7. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
select a subset of free play outcomes to be displayed from the plurality of free play outcomes each having a payout associated therewith during the free play bonus mode;
sort the subset of free play outcomes into a sequence based on the payout associated with each free play outcome of the subset of free play outcomes; and
cause the display device to display the subset of free play outcomes in the sequence during the free play bonus mode.

8. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to:
determine that a free play retrigger condition is satisfied based on the plurality of free play outcomes;
execute a plurality of additional free plays based on the free play retrigger condition being satisfied to generate second free play outcomes, the second free play outcomes including at least one non-winning free play outcome and at least one winning free play outcome;
suppress, during the free play bonus mode, the at least one non-winning free play outcome of the second free play outcomes, such that the non-winning free play outcome is not displayed; and
cause display of the at least one winning free play outcome of the second free play outcomes via the display device and during the free play bonus mode.

9. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to, in response to determining that the plurality of free play outcomes satisfy the second condition, control the display device such that no indication is provided to a player that the free play bonus mode was initiated.

10. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
receive data associated with a game outcome;
determine that the game outcome satisfies a free play trigger condition for a free play bonus mode;
based upon determining that the game outcome satisfies the free play trigger condition, determine a plurality of free play outcomes for the free play bonus mode, and one of:
based upon determining that the plurality of free play outcomes satisfy a first condition, cause display of at least one winning free play outcome on a display device, wherein each at least one winning free play outcome is displayed in combination with a colored screen, wherein a graphical representation of the free play bonus mode is distinguished by the colored screen, and wherein the colored screen is associated with and indicative of the free play bonus mode; or
based upon determining that the plurality of free play outcomes satisfy a second condition, cause display of a game mode different from the free play bonus mode, wherein during the game mode different from the free play bonus mode, the colored screen is not displayed.

11. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the game outcome is associated with a bingo game.

12. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein a bingo gaming machine comprises at least one of the at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the at least one processor, or the display device.

13. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, in response to execution by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to determine the game outcome based upon the data.

14. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein when the colored screen is displayed in combination with each at least one winning free play outcome, the free play bonus mode appears to be presented with a red foreground.

15. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, in response to execution by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to determine the plurality of free play outcomes for the free play bonus mode based upon the data.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, in response to execution by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to cause a sound associated with the free play bonus mode to be outputted in response to determining that the plurality of free play outcomes satisfy the first condition.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the instructions, in response to execution by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to, based upon determining that the plurality of free play outcomes satisfy the second condition, control the display device such that no indication is provided to a player that the free play bonus mode was initiated.

18. A method of electronic gaming implemented by at least one processor in communication with at least one memory, the method comprising:
determining that a gam

Assignees

• Video Gaming Tech Inc

Inventors

• Eubanks Mark Daniel
• Gozdecki Sarah Jean
• Nicodemus Steve
• Sisson Richard Kerr
• Webb Jeremy Michael

Classifications

• G07F17/3269

  Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine · CPC title

• G07F17/326

  Game play aspects of gaming systems · CPC title

• G07F17/3267 Primary

  Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games · CPC title