Electronic amusement device offering secondary game of chance and method for operating same

Abstract

An electronic amusement device and a method for operating the device are disclosed. In accordance with the present invention, a slot machine server controls a secondary game of chance played at a client slot machine. The server receives a player identifier corresponding to a player and a client identifier corresponding to a client slot machine. The server retrieves registration data relating to a secondary game of chance corresponding to the player identifier and the client identifier. The server further receives an outcome from the client slot machine and analyzes the outcome based on game requirements associated with the secondary game of chance, thereby determining whether the outcome satisfies at least one of the game requirements. Once all of the game requirements have been satisfied, the server updates a session status indicating the completion of the game requirements.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic amusement device and more particularly to an electronic amusement device such as a slot machine having the ability to conduct a secondary game of chance. 2. Description of the Related Art In 1997, electronic amusement devices installed in U.S. casinos (including slot machines, video poker machines and the like, hereinafter referred to as “slot machines” or “machines”) generated greater than ten billion dollars of revenue. With individual machines typically earning between $50 and $150 per day, slot machines often account for well over 50% of a U.S. casino's overall profits. The net profit from slot machine play for a casino typically exceeds the profit from all other casino activities. The comparatively high profitability of slot machines may be attributed to many factors. One such factor is that slot machines typically offer a higher house advantage than other casino games. Fur...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach increases play on preferred slot machines, enhances player experience, and significantly boosts casino revenues by attracting new players and optimizing machine usage, thereby improving overall casino profitability.

Problems solved by technology

In addition, slot machines attract a large number of players by offering a large potential payout in exchange for a comparatively small wager.

While the '088 patent enables a large award to be offered to a player, it fails to address certain problems with the prior art.

Specifically, the '088 patent fails to encourage players to try certain different types of slot machines.

The '088 patent also fails to increase play at under-utilized machines, such as older slot machines or slot machines located in a remote portion of a casino.

The '088 patent further fails to direct players to slot machines having a high house advantage or slot machines having a high maximum wager amount.

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