Progressive Award Parameter Control for Mixed Gaming Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming establishment operators face challenges with different gaming devices having different attributes being associated with the same progressive award, leading to uneven contributions and probabilities for progressive awards, with certain devices like video poker machines providing more awards while costing the operator more.
Innovation Solution
A gaming system that dynamically adjusts progressive award contribution rates and win probabilities based on the average expected payback percentages of gaming devices, grouping them into ranges and assigning customized rates and probabilities to ensure equitable contributions and chances of winning across devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single progressive award is shared across all gaming devices regardless of their attributes, then all devices can participate in the same progressive award pool, but devices with different attributes (e.g., video poker vs. slot machines) contribute unevenly and have unequal probabilities of winning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns different contribution rates and win probabilities to different gaming devices based on their specific attributes such as average expected payback percentages. Each device is treated locally according to its characteristics rather than applying a uniform rate across all devices, ensuring that devices with similar risk profiles are grouped together and contribute equitably to the progressive award pool.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the contribution rate parameter and win probability parameter based on device attributes. By changing these parameters according to the average expected payback percentage and other device characteristics, the system achieves fairness in both contribution amounts and winning chances across diverse gaming devices.
2Reliability
If different contribution rates are assigned to gaming devices based on their attributes, then equitable funding is achieved, but the system complexity increases due to multiple rates and probability calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments gaming devices into different groups or tiers based on their attributes, particularly average expected payback percentages. This segmentation allows the system to manage multiple contribution rates in an organized manner, where each segment has a predetermined rate, simplifying the overall management complexity while still achieving equitable funding distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms to automatically adjust and optimize contribution rates based on device performance and attribute data. By continuously monitoring device attributes and adjusting rates accordingly, the system maintains equitable funding distribution without requiring manual intervention, thereby managing complexity through automated feedback loops.
3Loss of energy
If gaming devices with higher average expected payback percentages contribute less to the progressive award, then operator hold percentages are optimized, but the progressive award pool growth may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the contribution rate parameter dynamically based on device attributes such as average expected payback percentage. Devices with higher payback percentages are assigned lower contribution rates, optimizing operator hold, while devices with lower payback percentages contribute more, ensuring sufficient pool growth. This parameter adjustment balances both objectives simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Different contribution rates are applied locally to different device segments based on their specific attributes. High-payback devices like video poker machines contribute at different rates compared to low-payback devices like slot machines, allowing each device type to contribute appropriately to both operator revenue and progressive award pool growth.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods that modify one or more parameters associated with a progressive award based on one or more parameters of a gaming device associated with the progressive award.