Random pay gaming method and system

Abstract

A method of providing a game for a gaming device using random payout from a prize pool, the game including a plurality of possible game outcomes, is provided. The method comprises: receiving, at the gaming device, a wager amount; receiving an input to initiate game play; and qualifying the wager amount to win a random award from the prize pool for each of at least two game outcomes from the plurality of game outcomes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority from both U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 360,043, entitled “Random Prize Pool Awarding Method”, filed on Feb. 27, 2003 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 437,426, entitled “Randomly Generated Weighted Prize Pool Awarding Methods”, filed on Jan. 2, 2003, and is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09 / 916,242, entitled “Random Pay Gaming Method”, filed on Jul. 25, 2001, which claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 220,488, entitled “Random Pay Gaming Method”, filed on Jul. 25, 2000, all of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is related generally to gaming systems and more specifically to a gaming device system and method for awarding payouts and prizes. [0003] Conventional gaming devices for awarding payouts when a wager is taken at a casino for example, are well know...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a method for providing a game for a gaming device using random payout from a prize pool. The method includes qualifying the wager amount to win a random award for each of at least two game outcomes from a plurality of game outcomes. The prize pool can be a progressive prize pool, meaning that the amount of prize money in the pool increases or decreases based on the amount of money wagered. The method also includes determining if the prize pool is equal to a predetermined average pool size and adjusting the wager accordingly to maintain the prize pool at the predetermined average pool size. The technical effects of the invention include providing a more intricate and interesting game experience for players, increasing the size of the prize pool through random payouts, and ensuring a consistent and enjoyable experience for players."

Problems solved by technology

Because of this, it normally takes long periods of time between large jackpot payouts.

Even though players are still attracted to the opportunity of winning a $100,000 dollars, disadvantageously, because of the low frequency of winners and the extremely low probability of winning, players tend to lose interest in playing and tend to move on to games that have a higher frequency of winning a jackpot.

While the above gaming devices and progressive gaming system with its added progressive pool have proved satisfactory in stimulating game play on the coupled gaming devices, disadvantageously, it has been observed that game play tends to decrease immediately after the total progressive pool has been won.

This fall-off in game play is a result of the players on the gaming devices being reluctant to institute game play when the displayed current pool value is close to the initial base value, since the players know that the value will likely increase to a more substantial level.

Fall-off in game play at any time is undesirable and detracts from the benefits of the added progressive gaming system.

Disadvantageously, the probability of hitting a large progressive award on a gaming device i.e., Mega Bucks / IGT “the worlds biggest slot Jackpot”™, is extremely low, thus causing long periods of time to pass by, between winners, of the large progressive award pools.

Even though players are still attracted to the chance of winning over a million dollars, because of the low frequency of winners and the extremely low probability of winning, players tend to lose interest in playing and tend to move on to games that have higher odds frequency of winning jackpots.

Disadvantageously, because of this and fall-off, progressive pools can remain stagnant for long periods of time creating a loss in revenues for the Gambling Establishments.

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