Gaming System Expected Value Indicator for Mystery Jackpot Transparency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming systems with mystery progressive jackpots lack transparency in jackpot likelihood, leading to long periods between triggering events and a single, larger prize, which reduces player engagement and operator profitability.
Innovation Solution
A wagering game system that displays an expected-value indicator showing the actual turnover relative to a theoretical average trigger value, updating in real-time and indicating the probability of a progressive jackpot award, allowing players to see the likelihood of a jackpot being triggered and potentially increasing frequent triggering events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mystery progressive jackpots are awarded through random triggering mechanisms, then players receive unexpected prizes, but the long periods between triggering events reduce player engagement and operator profitability
Solution Approach 1:
The system displays an expected value indicator that provides real-time feedback to players about the current jackpot status and theoretical probability of triggering. This feedback mechanism allows players to see how close the system is to triggering, creating engagement during periods when the jackpot has not yet triggered, thereby reducing the perceived loss of time between events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-calculates and displays the theoretical average trigger value and expected value before the actual triggering occurs. By showing players the projected trigger point and current progress toward it, the system prepares players for the upcoming event, maintaining engagement throughout the accumulation period rather than leaving them in uncertainty.
2Quantity of substance
If a single large mystery prize is awarded, then the jackpot value is high, but the frequency of awarding events decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the single large prize into multiple prize tiers (e.g., consolations, secondary jackpots, and primary jackpot). This segmentation allows the system to award smaller prizes more frequently while still maintaining the option to award the full large prize, thereby increasing the frequency of awarding events while preserving the potential for high-value awards.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the prize parameters based on the current jackpot accumulation level and triggering conditions. When the jackpot reaches certain thresholds or specific conditions are met, the system adjusts the awarded amount, potentially awarding smaller consolations more frequently or reserving the full amount for specific triggering events, thus balancing prize value with award frequency.
3Device complexity
If the jackpot triggering mechanism is hidden from players, then the system maintains control over triggering, but players lack transparency about jackpot likelihood
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an expected value indicator as an intermediary between the hidden triggering mechanism and the player. This indicator translates the complex internal triggering logic into a comprehensible display showing the current jackpot value, theoretical average trigger value, and expected probability, thereby providing transparency without revealing the actual random triggering mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a visual copy or representation of the triggering process through the expected value indicator. Instead of showing the actual random number generation and triggering logic, the system displays a calculated representation (expected value based on theoretical averages) that mirrors the underlying process, giving players transparent information about likelihood without exposing the complex control mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A wagering game system includes an input device, a display device, and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by a controller, cause the wagering game system to display an expected-value indicator on the display device and receive, via the input device, an input indicative of at least one wager. The instructions further cause the wagering game system to add a portion of the at least one wager to an actual turnover for a progressive jackpot and update the expected-value indicator to indicate the actual turnover for the progressive prize relative to a theoretical average trigger value, thereby indicating a theoretical probability that the progressive jackpot will be awarded and award the progressive jackpot in response to a triggering event.