Method for determining gaming device outcomes

Abstract

A new method for creating slot machines and other gaming devices where outcomes are fair, but players and operators realize traditional payback and hold percentages, respectively.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 681,517 filed on May 16, 2005, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.COPYRIGHT NOTICE [0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may contain material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to photocopy reproduction of the patent document or the patent disclosure exactly as appearing in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise all copyright rights whatsoever are reserved. 37 CFR 1.71(d). FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The invention relates to gambling devices generally and in particular to a new modeling method for designing slot machine and gaming device mathematics. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Gambling devices, or gaming devices including slot machines, allow players to wager something of value in the hopes of winning something of greater value. Originally slot machines were mechanical d...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a new and novel way for developers to obtain the traditional gaming device hold and payback percentages while still providing fair outcomes for players. This is done by taking the opposite approach of pre-fixing the paytable and weighting the likelihood of winning events. The new method offers equal chance of hitting each combination, resulting in more suspense and potential for more fun and excitement. The game can still be played with traditional equipment and with existing game themes. The paytable can vary, and there is no requirement that all symbols be ordered in a repeating fashion. The paytable can be determined in advance or randomly, and multiple paytables or single paytables with multiple awards can be selected. The invention also provides a new way of finding payback percentages and contributions of winning outcomes, which is different from traditional methods. The invention can be used with any combination of options including bonuses, skill games, feature games, side bets, wagering or play methods."

Problems solved by technology

However, today these payline paths may number in the hundreds, they may take any path, and they may not always span adjacent reels nor even be on contiguous positions.

Side bets have also been around for a very long time.

Each additional hand requires an additional wager that can become expensive, since it costs 3 times as much to play.

One problem with high hit frequencies is that player returns become meaningless.

While time on device is generally lengthened, betting 90 to win 20 eventually becomes tedious and boring.

Players soon realize that with these gaming products they are not really winning even if the machine displays “winner”, but rather, they have simply lost less.

But, this lesser involvement detracts from the experience.

These riverboats don't navigate and can't even move.

Some states don't allow traditional slot machines, but only bingo or lottery games that resemble slot machines.

But, irrespective of the wagering method, games that are too complicated are generally less successful, since most players prefer new games that are easy to learn and play.

However, since most gambling devices today are based on computer platforms, physical reels are now less common.

In practice this means that some symbols or combinations are elusive and rare.

Players know these are the most valuable, but get frustrated when they don't get them very often.

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