Gaming device method involving multiple classes of credits, wagering of contingent winners, a special purpose meter therefor, and a player-determinable bonus round

Abstract

A gaming device is described where various events pay players in multiple classes of credits. One class of special credits has no cash value and may only be rewagered in an attempt to win traditional cash-equivalent credits. The player decides when to play a bonus game where the special credits are bet.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60 / 702,305 filed on 07 / 23 / 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 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 method for playing slot and poker machines. 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 devices employing 3 physical reels with...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0049] This new invention is more involving and thus more entertaining for players. It gives players more to do without being too complicated. Now players can win multiple classes of credits. Some awards are paid in the form of traditional credits that can be played or cashed out and some are paid in the form of wagering-only credits that can only be played. In the primary embodiment these wagering-only credits are in the form of acorns. Acorns have value because they can be wagered like traditional credits to win cash.

[0050] It's fun for players to have this separate “acorn bank” going. Although in the Nuts for Nuts! (“NFN”) embodiment described below players may bet their acorns anytime, part of the fun is racking up large stores of acorns. (Squirrels like this, too.)

[0051] The NFN game gives the player unprecedented control over the volatility of their returns. As the acorn count increases, so do the corresponding payoffs when the player eventually does bet. To keep volatility low, the player may bet their acorns frequently resulting in more wins of lesser value. Alternatively, players may choose to bet their accumulated acorns infrequently or only at the end of their session for fewer chances at much greater returns! Payoffs are a function of the number of, or in some cases the value of, the acorns wagered. In any case, the player alone decides when to play the bonus game where their acorns may be bet, which is another unique aspect of NFN!

[0052] NFN is good for manufacturers. Since a portion of the pay table is returned to players in the form of bet-only credits, playtime is extended. An extra step is commonly required to convert these special credits to cash, and that's only if the player wins. In general, longer playtime translates to greater profit opportunities for operators and ultimately more sales for their suppliers.

[0053] The NFN game method may circumvent bet limits in some jurisdictions. For example, Colorado has a $5 bet limit. While the player may not bet more than $5 at one time, the NFN embodiment lets players bet an unlimited number of acorns irrespective of their underlying value. (Acorns typically have no cash value and cannot be cashed out or otherwise taken directly to the credit meter for cash.)

[0054] This new play method and second class of rewagering-only credits also opens the door for many new and creative games and fun game themes for designers.

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.

The problem with this is that the inherent volatility is limited by what's offered in the bonus round / s.

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