Skill game playable on a casino spinning reel display with an awards table having a variable payout line and a method of calculating awards provided without operator hold subtracted from player buy-in

Abstract

A skill game that is playable on a casino type display is provided that employs methods to hold a player's interest by dynamically changing an awards table as well as providing payout without subtraction from player buy-in to provide an operator hold. The awards table can include a variable pay line with values changed either before or after start of the skill game to offer the player a variety of possible payouts depending on the game results. In one example, the dynamic pay line is provided as the bottom line in the award table that provides the minimum payout otherwise not available for a combination of spinning reel symbols. To provide payout without subtraction for operator hold from the player buy-in at least one additional line is added to the awards table with a hit frequency (HF) set so that the hit frequency of all award lines totaled 1. The total award amount (AA) that is then paid for each line is then set to maintain an operator hold. With additional pay lines in the awards table that can be dynamically set, a player can choose between different award tables that can provide for preference of award size over award frequency.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Applications: (1) Provisional Application No. 61 / 001,989, entitled “Skill Game with Fixed Award Table,” by Richard M. Mathis, with filing date of Nov. 6, 2007, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety; and (2) Provisional Application No. 61 / 132,166, entitled “A Method of Generating Awards in Skill and Non-Skill Games,” filed Jun. 16, 2008, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0002]This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 247,092 entitled “Method and Apparatus For Skill Game Play and Awards” filed Oct. 11, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.[0003]This application is further related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 127,660, entitled “Skill Game That Can Be Played Upon a Casino Type Display Combin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]Further embodiments allow a player to choose between sizes of available awards while keeping return to player essentially constant. The aforesaid adds to player enjoyment by allowing a player to exercise preference over size and frequency of available awards. Some players prefer many frequent small awards while others prefer infrequent large awards. This enhances a player's entertainment experience while still keeping operator profit over a large number of games played essentially constant.

Problems solved by technology

The classification is a regulatory matter, but can have very significant economic ramifications.

A significant risk to an operator exists if game outcome depends entirely upon player skill as a very skillful player can win every game with disastrous economic results for the operator.

If game outcome can be influenced by normal human capabilities the operator of said game is in danger of losing money.

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