Dynamic Jackpot Probability Adjustment in Gaming Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines that offer progressive jackpots create an uneven return for players, as the jackpot size is not proportional to the wager, favoring players who bet minimal amounts over those who bet more, leading to an unfair advantage.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that allows players to select wagers and adjusts the number of jackpot symbols or reel lengths based on the wager, maintaining a constant probability of winning the jackpot despite varying bets, ensuring fairness across different wagering options.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the jackpot size is fixed regardless of wager amount, then the jackpot award remains constant, but the return to player becomes unfair with higher returns for lower wagers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the jackpot award dynamic rather than fixed. The jackpot size changes based on the wager amount, transforming from a static value to a dynamic one that adapts to player input. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the jackpot to be versatile (adapting to different wagers) while maintaining fairness (proportional returns).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of jackpot size based on the wager parameter. By establishing a proportional relationship where jackpot = base jackpot × (wager / minimum wager), the system adjusts the jackpot parameter dynamically according to the wager parameter, ensuring fair returns across different betting levels.
2Productivity
If the probability of winning jackpot is increased for higher wagers, then player incentive improves, but the game complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the probability adjustment mechanism from complex multi-factor systems and isolates it to a single straightforward calculation based on wager amount. By taking out only the essential element (wager-based probability scaling) and removing unnecessary complexities, the system maintains player incentive while keeping the game mechanism simple and easy to understand.
3Reliability
If the number of jackpot symbols on reels is variable, then the probability of jackpot winning can be controlled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the reel configuration dynamic rather than static. The number of jackpot symbols on the reels changes based on the wager amount, allowing the system to control jackpot probability accurately while maintaining simplicity through automated adjustment rather than manual reconfiguration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically adjusting the number of jackpot symbols on the reels based on the detected wager amount. The gaming machine autonomously modifies its own configuration without requiring external intervention, simplifying the overall system while maintaining precise control over jackpot probabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for use with a gaming system that provides a game in which a plurality of symbols are selected and presented on a display to form one or more combinations includes: providing a base game, providing a feature game on the occurrence of a first event during play of the base game, awarding a jackpot on the occurrence of a second event during play of the feature game, and varying the probability of both the first and the second events dependent on at least an aspect of a wager placed by a player to play the base game, wherein said variation maintains at least an approximately constant probability of the jackpot being won despite variations in said aspect of the wager.