Gaming device and method for providing wagering for additional symbol functionality and package betting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9483903-B2
Application number	US-92883707-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2007
Priority date	Nov 7, 2006
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

A gaming device which includes a plurality of different predefined wager packages. Each predefined wager package is associated with a wager amount or value and includes one or more of a plurality of different game play features. In operation, the gaming device enables players to wager an amount equal to one of the plurality of predefined wager packages available to the player. The game play features associated with the wagered on predefined wager package are activated for one or more plays of a game.

First claim

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of input devices including an acceptor and a cashout device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device, and the plurality of input devices to:
(a) responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item;
(b) display a first predefined wager package and a second predefined wager package, wherein said first predefined wager package is associated with a first wager amount greater than zero, a first average expected payout, a first plurality of primary game play features, and a first range of award values and the second predefined wager package is associated with the first wager amount, the first average expected payout, a second different plurality of primary game play features, and a different second range of award values;
(c) upon receiving a single input by a player, select one of: the displayed first predefined wager package and the displayed second predefined wager package, wherein said single input is selected from the group consisting of: a single press of a button and a single touch of a touch screen associated with the at least one display device;
(d) enable the player to play a primary game, wherein said primary game includes said primary game play features associated with said selected predefined wager package;
(e) randomly determine an outcome for said primary game;
(f) determine an award value for said primary game based on said determined outcome, wherein said determined award value is from the range of award values of the selected predefined wager package;
(g) display said determined award value, wherein the credit balance is increasable based on the determined award value; and
(h) responsive to a cashout input being received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the highest award value in the first range of award values is greater than the highest award value in the second range of award values.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the lowest award value in the first range of award values is lower than the lowest award value in the second range of award values.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the highest award value in the first range of award values is greater than the highest award value in the second range of award values and the lowest award value in the first range of award values is lower than the lowest award value in the second range of award values.

5. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein when executed by the at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to select a third predefined wager package upon receiving the single input by the player, wherein the third predefined wager package is associated with a greater second wager amount and a greater second average expected payout.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the predefined wager packages includes at least one primary game play feature selected from the group consisting of: (i) a type of secondary game; (ii) a type of secondary award; (iii) if the player may win a progressive award; (iv) which one of a plurality of progressive awards the player may win; and (v) a primary game multiplier.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the primary game includes a plurality of reels and a plurality of paylines associated with the reels, wherein each reel includes a plurality of symbols and at least one of the predefined wager packages includes at least one primary game play feature selected from the group consisting of: (i) a number of active paylines; (ii) a number of active symbol positions; (iii) a number of wild symbols; (iv) a number of reel nudges; (v) a number of free activations of the reels; (vi) a number of symbols generated in each symbol position; and (vii) which type of symbol may be generated.

8. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein said plurality of input devices and said at least one display device reside in a housing remote from said at least one processor.

9. A gaming system comprising:
a plurality of input devices including an acceptor and a cashout device;
at least one display device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device, and the plurality of input devices to:
(a) responsive to a physical item being received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part on a monetary value associated with the received physical item;
(b) display a first predefined wager package, a second, different predefined wager package and a third, different predefined wager package, wherein each predefined wager package includes a total wager amount greater than zero and a number of a plurality of paylines to activate;
(c) enable a player to make a single input to select one of: the displayed first predefined wager package, the displayed second, different predefined wager package and the displayed third, different predefined wager package, wherein said single input is selected from the group consisting of: a single press of a button and a single touch of a touch screen associated with the at least one display device;
(d) enable the player to make an additional input to initiate a primary game;
(e) determine an award for the play of the initiated primary game, wherein said award is based on the selected predefined wager package;
(f) display the determined award, wherein the credit balance is increasable based on the determined award; and
(g) responsive to a cashout input being received via the cashout device cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

10. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
(a) responsive to a physical item being received via an acceptor, establishing a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item:
(b) causing at least one display device to display a first predefined wager package and a second predefined wager package, wherein said first predefined wager package is associated with a first wager amount greater than zero, a first average expected payout, a first plurality of primary game play features, and a first range of award values and the second predefined wager package is associated with the first wager amount, the first average expected payout, a second different plurality of primary game play features, and a different second range of award values;
(c) upon receiving a single input by a player, selecting one of: the displayed first predefined wager package and the displayed second predefined wager package, wherein said single input is selected from the group consisting of: a single press of a button and a single touch of a touch screen associated with the at least one display device;
(d) enabling the player to play a primary game, wherein said primary game includes said primary game play features associated with said selected predefined wager package;
(e) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to randomly determine an outcome for said primary game;
(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an award value for said primary game based on said de

Assignees

• Wotton Adrian
• Cregan Karen M
• Gerrard Peter
• Ching Erick T
• Randall Dov L
• Baerlocher Anthony J
• Igt Reno Nev

Inventors

• Wotton Adrian
• Cregan Karen M
• Gerrard Peter
• Ching Erick T
• Randall Dov L
• Baerlocher Anthony J

Classifications

• G07F17/3239

  Tracking of individual players · CPC title

• G07F17/3244

  Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes · CPC title

• G07F17/34

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title

• G07F17/3213 Primary

  Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members · CPC title

• G07F17/32

  for games, toys, sports, or amusements · CPC title