Patent Application
20070270204
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains or may contain material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the photocopy reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure in exactly the form it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates in general to a gaming device, and more particularly to a gaming device with player selectable items that provide a return based on the probability of varying outcomes.
Gaming devices currently exist with games having the single goal or objective of achieving the highest award possible. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,255 B1, which issued on Feb. 20, 2001, and which is assigned on its face to WMS Gaming Inc., discloses a bonus round in which a player has one or more opportunities to choose masked bonus awards from a group of masked awards displayed to the player. When the player chooses a masked award from the group, the game removes the mask and either awards the player with a bonus value or terminates the bonus round with a bonus terminator. The outcome depends upon whether the player selects an award or a terminator.
In this game, the controller of the gaming device randomly places a predetermined number of masked awards and terminators in the group at the beginning of the bonus round and maintains the positioning until the bonus round terminates. When the player selects a masked award, the player receives the value of the award. The player then selects another masked award, and the process continues until the player selects a masked terminator. The goal in this game is to not pick a terminator for as long as possible and accumulate as many credits as possible. There is no risk involved with making subsequent picks and no reason for the player to stop picking before picking a masked terminator.
PCT application PCT/AU97/00121 entitled, Slot Machine Game with Roaming Wild Card, having a publication date of Sep. 4, 1997, discloses another example. In this game, a slot machine having a video display contains a plurality of rotatable reels with game symbols. When the player receives a triggering symbol or combination, the game produces a bonus symbol. The bonus symbol moves from game symbol to game symbol temporarily changing the game symbol to a bonus symbol. If the change results in a winning combination, the player receives an award. This game provides no risk for advancement of the symbol.
Other types of games have the goal of achieving the highest award possible and also include an element of risk in the player's decision. For example, a well known offer/acceptance game provides a player with a series of offers, where each offer includes a number of credits, coins, tokens or dollars. The player may accept or reject each offer prior to the final offer. The offers are randomly determined from a series of potential offers of differing values, which are displayed to the player. The player therefore knows whether the current offer is a “good” offer. If the current offer is a good offer, but not the best offer, the player must decide whether to risk the good offer for a chance of obtaining the best offer.
The element of risk provided by offer/acceptance games has made them very popular in the gaming industry. Moreover, varying award returns with risk increases player anticipation, excitement and enjoyment. Some players enjoy risking obtained awards for higher awards especially in bonus games where the awards are in addition to base game awards. Some players take more risks employing different strategies than they use in the normal base games. Other players enjoy playing it safe and playing for the largest highly probable award. It is therefore desirable to have a gaming device with a primary or bonus game that enables the player to play for more valuable and more risky awards or to play for less valuable but more likely awards.
The present invention provides a base game or a bonus game of a gaming device having varying risk selections or player inputs. More specifically, one embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of inputs have varying payout ranges. The game enables the player to select one of the inputs. One input has a large, risky payout range including a relatively large or valuable payout and a relatively small payout. One input has a smaller more conservative payout range which includes two intermediate payouts. Other inputs have ranges that fall between the risky and conservative ranges may also be included in the game of the present invention. The game informs the player as to which input is “risky” and which input is “safe.” Each of the payout ranges in combination with their associated probability ranges has the same overall expected value. In this manner, the game does not favor the player's choice of a risky or conservative input. The processor of the gaming device generates an outcome based on the player's input and the game provides the player with a payout based on the outcome. Each input is capable of generating each of the outcomes.
The associated probability ranges of the inputs dictate the likelihood that the game generates any particular outcome based on the player's selection of an input. In one embodiment, the probabilities for each input add to one hundred. That is, when the player selects an input, there is a one hundred percent chance that the game generates one of the outcomes. This does not mean that each input has to be able to generate each outcome, but in one embodiment, each can. The probabilities for each outcome add up to be the same. That is, the probability of generating any particular outcome, before the player's selection of an input, is the same as for any other outcome.
The display device provides a number of visual, audio and audiovisual messages to the player. The display provides a message informing the player of the rules or sequence of the game, i.e., that there are certain selectable inputs, a plurality of outcomes for each input and an award associated with each outcome for each input. In one embodiment, the game displays another message providing the player a hint as to the payout structure. For instance, the message may inform the player of the probability that each input has for generating a particular outcome. This message aids the player in making a decision and lets the player know whether they are making a risky or safe selection.
The game may be adapted to have any number of inputs greater than one and any number of outcomes greater than one. In one embodiment, the game has three inputs and three outcomes. In one embodiment, the three inputs are represented by horses, the three outcomes are represented by place finishes, i.e., win, place and show, and the event is a horse race. Each horse or input has a probability of finishing first, second or third. The payouts vary depending on whether the horse is a favorite, a middle favorite or a long shot. As in real horse racing, the long shot pays more to win than does the favorite. Generally, each horse pays the least where it is expected to finish. The favorite pays the least to win. The middle horse pays the least to place. The long shot pays the least to show.
Each horse or input has the same expected value, so that the favorite pays the most to show in order to compensate for paying the least to win, etc. In real horse racing, befting the favorite or the “chalk” is the most conservative bet. Likewise, the present invention structures the paytable such that the favorite horse has the most conservative paytable (smallest payout range) and the long shot has the riskiest paytable (largest payout range), with the middle horse having a paytable with the middle range. The present invention may be adapted for any other display event having odds or other selectable items having varying risk/return scenarios.
The present invention can adapt the databases so that different horses or inputs have the same probability of achieving different outcomes or place finishes. Certain place finishes can yield a payout lower than the player's wager or the payout can be zero. The present invention can be implemented in a primary or secondary game of the gaming device. In a primary game, the present invention may be adapted to let the player increase the wager on a certain bet or to make various, different types of bets. In a bonus embodiment, the gaming device can provide the player with a starting amount of credits, wherein the player thereafter chooses whether to wager on a particular race and how much to wager on same.
The present invention enables the payer in certain embodiments to choose a combination of outcomes, e.g., an “exacta” or “perfecta” as the present invention pertains to horse racing. The combination bets may be made as a single selection or as the selection of two or more inputs or horses. In other embodiments, the player can select to wager on a place finish and/or on a combination outcome, just as in real horse racing.
It is therefore an advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device that enables the player to play for more valuable and more risky awards or to play for less valuable and more likely awards.
It is another advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device having an event wherein each player selection has the same expected value.
It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a gaming device having an event wherein each outcome has probabilities a player would expect the outcome to have.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like parts, elements, components, steps and processes.
Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to
The base games of the gaming device 10 include slot, poker, blackjack or keno, among others. The gaming device 10 also embodies any bonus triggering events, bonus games as well as any progressive game coordinating with these base games. The symbols and indicia used for any of the base, bonus and progressive games include mechanical, electrical or video symbols and indicia.
In a stand alone or a bonus embodiment, the gaming device 10 includes monetary input devices.
As shown in
Gaming device 10 also includes one or more display devices. The embodiment shown in
The slot machine base game of gaming device 10 displays a plurality of reels 34, for example three to five reels 34, in mechanical or video form on one or more of the display devices. Each reel 34 displays a plurality of indicia such as bells, hearts, fruits, numbers, letters, bars or other images which correspond to a theme associated with the gaming device 10. If the reels 34 are in video form, the display device displaying the video reels 34 is, in one embodiment, a video monitor. Each base game, especially in the slot machine base game of the gaming device 10, includes speakers 36 for making sounds or playing music.
Referring now to
As illustrated in
In certain instances, a touch screen 50 and an associated touch screen controller 52 are provided instead of a conventional video monitor display device. The touch screen enables a player to input decisions into the gaming device 10 by sending a discrete signal based on the area of the touch screen 50 that the player touches or presses. As further illustrated in
It should be appreciated that the present invention also includes being implemented via one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC's), one or more hard-wired devices, or one or more mechanical devices (collectively referred to herein as a “processor”). Furthermore, although the processor 38 and memory device 40 reside in each gaming device 10 unit, the present invention includes providing some or all of their functions at a central location such as a network server for communication to a playing station such as over a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), Internet connection, microwave link, and the like.
With reference to the slot machine base game of
In addition to winning base game credits, the gaming device 10, including any of the base games disclosed above, also includes bonus games that give players the opportunity to win credits. The gaming device 10 employs a video-based display device 30 or 32 for the bonus games. The bonus games include a program that automatically begins when the player achieves a qualifying condition in the base game.
In the slot machine embodiment, the qualifying condition includes a particular symbol or symbol combination generated on a display device. As illustrated in the five reel slot game shown in
Referring now to
However, the present invention may also be configured so that the processor 38 selects one or more inputs for the player. For example, gaming device 10 in one embodiment is configured to generate the Black and White inputs (or symbols representing same) on one or more of the reels 34. If gaming device 10 generates a predetermined number of the Black or White symbols (e.g., along a wagered payline or in a scatter scenario), the player enters the bonus round with the input 102a or 102b preselected by the reels 34. In a similar manner, a video poker base game in one embodiment preselects the input 102a or 102b via one or more playing cards. Further, the selection could be based on the player's wager, for example, playing above a certain number of paylines preselects the Black input for the player, while playing below that number of paylines preselects the White input.
In the illustrated embodiment, the Black input 102a and White input 102b are simulated areas of a touch screen 50 that are individually adapted to send a separate or discrete input to the processor 38. Alternatively, the inputs are externally mounted electromechanical pushbuttons, similar to the play button 20, bet one button 24 and the cash out button 26, which are individually connected to the processor 38.
The screen 100 includes an audio, visual or audiovisual message 104 that recites the rules or procedure of the gaming device 10. The message 104a informs the player that choosing or pressing the Black input 102a or the White input 102b will generate an “A” outcome 106a or a “B” outcome 106b that is associated with the selected input. When the player presses an input 102a or 102b, gaming device 10 performs a preferably exciting and enjoyable event in accordance with the theme of gaming device 10 (discussed below) and displays an outcome “A” or “B” for that input (discussed below).
The screen 100 includes an audio, video or audiovisual message 108a that informs the player of one or more pieces of information stored as data in memory that affect the outcome of the event based on the player's selection of a particular input. In one embodiment, the message 108a informs the player of the probability of generating a particular outcome 106a or 106b in association with picking a particular input 102a or 102b. As illustrated below, the message may be adapted to include more or different information.
Referring now to
In another implementation, the payouts 112 are game credit multipliers. The multipliers multiply a quantity of game credits or a component of the player's bet to arrive at an award of game credits that are likewise added to the credit display 16. In an embodiment wherein the present invention is employed in a bonus game of a slot machine, the multipliers may be adapted to multiply the player's total bet, the bet per payline, the win on a particular payline, the total win from all active paylines, the number of paylines wagered or the player's total credits.
In a further implementation, the payouts 112 are a number of picks or selections from a prize pool or a number of free games. For instance, in an embodiment wherein the present invention is employed in a bonus game of a slot machine, the payouts 112 are a number of free spins of the reels 30 (
In one embodiment, the payout table 110a is adapted to provide a “risky” input 102a and a “safe” input 102b. When gaming device 10 includes more than two inputs, the paytables provide one or more intermediately risky inputs. In the paytable 110a, the Black input 102a is the risky input because it provides relatively high and low payouts 112. The White input 102b is the safe input because it provides intermediate payouts. That is, if the player picks the Black input 102a, the player obtains the best possible or worst possible payouts, and if the player picks the White input 102b, the player obtains one of a set of intermediate payouts. The range of payouts 112 is greatest for the risky input 102a, smaller for one or more intermediate inputs (not shown) and the smallest for the conservative input 102b.
Referring now to
Likewise, the total probability of obtaining a particular outcome, adding the probabilities for each input, is the same or substantially the same for each outcome. In an embodiment such as the illustrated embodiment, wherein the number of inputs equals the number of outcomes, the total probability for each outcome is also one hundred percent. Although impracticable for the illustrated two input—two outcome embodiment, a probability 122 can be zero percent as long as the remaining probabilities 122 add to one hundred percent for each input.
The payout table 110a and the probability table 120a (illustrated separately for purposes of description, but which may be stored in the memory device 40 as a single table or set of data) are configured to enhance the risky input 102a versus safe input 102b feature. For instance, the payouts 112 for the Black input 102a become even riskier in combination with the probability table because if the player picks the Black input 102a, the probability table 120a provides an eighty percent chance that gaming device 10 randomly generates the five value and only a twenty percent chance that gaming device 10 generates the twenty value. The probability table 120a for the safe White input 102b is alternately adapted for each outcome 106a and 106b to make the probabilities 122 add to one hundred percent.
Although the paytable 110a and the probability table 120a do not have to be structured in such a way, gaming device 10 in one embodiment does not favor the choice of a risky input 102a versus a choice of a safe input 102b. Referring now to
The expected value 132 for a given input and outcome is the payout 112 multiplied by its respective probability 122. The total expected value 134 for each input 102 is the sum of the expected values 132 for the individual outcomes 106a and 106b. The expected value table 130a predicts that through random generation, if the player plays gaming device 10 one hundred times and plays the Black input 102a or the White input 102b all one hundred times, the player should accumulate eight hundred credits either way. Note that the expected values 132 for the different outcomes 106a and 106b do not have to accumulate to the same total expected value. That is, the total expected value across the “A” outcome row is 6.4, while the total expected value across the “B” outcome row is 9.6. Note also that the payouts 112 for each input column do not have to accumulate to the same number.
The message 108a, informing the player of one or more pieces of information that affect the outcome of the displayed event, may be adapted to include any one or more of the payouts 112 and/or the probabilities 122 or any combination thereof. For example, in one embodiment, the message 108a may be adapted to inform the player that picking the Black input 102a will yield a five or twenty award and that picking the White input 102b will yield a seven or twelve award. In another example, the message 108a may be adapted to inform the player that there's an eighty percent chance of receiving a five award by picking the Black input 102a and an equal eighty percent chance of receiving a seven award by picking the White input 102b. The screen 100 can display different messages 108a in different games.
Referring now to
The payout table 110b of
The probability table 120b of
The expected value table 130b of
The Black input 102a is riskier because while the player has a ten percent probability 122 to obtain a payout 112 of one hundred by picking the Black input, the player has a forty percent probability 122 to obtain a payout 112 of only five by picking the same input 102a. If the player picks the safe White input 102b, the smallest payout 112 is twenty, while the largest is only seventy and the player has a fifty percent probability 122 of obtaining a payout 112 of forty or forty-five. The range of payouts 112 is greater for the risky Black input 102a than it is for the safe White input 102b.
The message 108b that informs the player of one or more pieces of information that affect the outcome of the displayed event, may be adapted to include any one or more of the payouts 112 and/or the probabilities 122 for the outcomes “A” through “D.” In the screen 140, the message 108b informs the player that the Black input 102a has a twenty percent probability 122 of yielding a payout 112 of seventy-five, while the White input 102b has a twenty percent probability 122 of yielding a payout 112 of forty-five.
The embodiments disclosed herein illustrate that each input has the same number of outcomes. For example, in
In one implementation of gaming device 10 in
Although the probabilities 122 disclosed herein generally differ for different inputs, the probabilities could be the same for two or more inputs. The same probabilities could correspond to the same or different payouts 112. In the previously disclosed implementation of
Referring now to
The payout table 110c of
The probability table 120c of
The expected value table 130c for the Black, Gray and White inputs 102a to 102c illustrates that the total expected value 134, i.e., the average expected payout 112, is twenty-four credits regardless of whether the player chooses the risky Black input 102a, the intermediate Gray input 102b or the safe White input 102c. The total expected value 134 for each input is the addition of expected value components 132 in each column.
The Black input 102a is the riskiest because while the player has a twenty percent probability 122 to obtain a payout 112 of one hundred by picking the Black input, the player has an eighty percent probability 122 to obtain a payout 112 of only five by picking the same input 102a. If the player picks the somewhat risky Gray input, there is a seventy-five percent probability 122 that the player receives a payout 112 of only ten and twenty-five percent probability 122 that the player receives a payout 112 of sixty-six. If the player picks the safe White input, the player has a roughly equal probability 122 of receiving a payout 112 of fifteen or thirty-five. The range of payouts 112 is the greatest for the risky Black input, second for the intermediate Gray input and the smallest for the safe White input.
In the screen 150, the message 108c disclosing information that affects the outcome of the displayed event, discloses the payouts 112 of the paytable 110c as they correspond to the outputs 106a and 106b. That is, the message 108c informs the player that the “A” outcome 106a yields five, thirty-five or sixty-six credits. Generating the “B” outcome 106b yields ten, fifteen or one-hundred credits. The player, however, does not know which input 102a to 102c will yield which payout 112.
Referring now to
The message 108d may also include payout information from the paytable 110d and place or show information from the probability table 120d. However, most players familiar with horse racing know that the longer the odds to win, the better the horse pays. The player intuitively knows that the Black horse pays less to win than does the Gray horse or the White horse. Further, the player intuitively knows that the White horse is the riskier horse, the middle horse is less risky and the favorite is the most conservative horse.
The payout table 110d of
The probability table 120d of
The expected value table 130d for the Black, Gray and White horse inputs 102a to 102c illustrates that the total expected value 134, i.e., the average expected payout 112, is forty credits regardless of whether the player chooses the risky White horse 102c, the intermediate Gray horse 102b or the safe Black horse 102a. The total expected value 134 for each input is the addition of expected value components 132 for each of the first, second and third place outcomes 106e to 106g.
In this example, the White horse 102c is the riskiest. While the player has a twenty percent probability 122 to obtain a payout 112 of one hundred by picking the White horse, the player has a fifty percent probability 122 of obtaining a payout 112 of only ten, which is well below the expected value 134 of forty. If the player picks the less risky Gray horse, there is still a seventy percent probability 122 that the player achieves under the expected value 134. If the player picks the safe Black horse, the player has a fifty percent probability 122 of achieving at or above the expected value 134. The risky White horse has the largest payout 112 range of ninety (100−10). The Gray horse has the second largest payout 112 range of sixty. The conservative Black horse has the smallest payout 112 range of twenty-eight.
When the player selects a horse input, gaming device 10 displays the event or horse race on an area 162 of a display device 30 or 32. For the ease of illustration, the event display area 162 is illustrated on the same screen as the inputs 102a to 102c and messages 104d and 108d. It should be appreciated that a separate display device may be adapted to display the horse race event. The event includes the horses racing in an exciting and entertaining manner. The horses finish in first place, second place, third place in accordance with outcomes 106e to 106g that gaming device 10 randomly generates using the probability table 120d. From the description above, it should be apparent that the horse race embodiment may be adapted to include any number of horse inputs and any number of place finish outcomes.
If the payout 112 for a first place finish by the favorite horse, e.g., the Black horse, is set significantly below the expected value 134, that game may be adapted to provide a consolation award to the player. In such a case, gaming device 10 provides the award when the player bets the favorite to win and the random outcome determines that the favorite wins. Gaming device 10 may also provide a separate bonus sequence in connection with the consolation award. In this case the total expected value 134 for the favorite horse input 102a is slightly higher than for the remaining horse inputs 102b and 102c. The consolation award provides an incentive for the player to make a selection and hope that the selected horse wins as opposed to finishing second or third.
The horse race embodiment is only one possible display embodiment for the present invention. As it is described generally in
Referring now to
Each of the previous embodiments have been disclosed, wherein the total expected values 134 for each input or choice add to the same amount. As the scenarios become more complex, so that the intermediate expected values 132 have fractions of a credit, it is possible that one or more of the total expected values 134 is slightly higher or lower than the other expected values or average expected payout. The present invention therefore expressly contemplates the total expected values for the various inputs being substantially the same. For example, substantially the same can mean within one credit above and below the other expected values or average expected payout.
The scenarios 170a to 170d are stored in an area of the memory device 40. Gaming device 10 in one embodiment randomly selects one of the scenarios 170a to 170d to employ in a primary or secondary game of the present invention. In an alternative embodiment, gaming device 10 employs a predetermined order for using one of the scenarios 170a to 170d. Either way, the different scenarios add variety to gaming device 10. For example, gaming device 10 as illustrated above, likely displays at least some of the odds 172 to the player. The different scenarios result in races having horses that post different odds.
Each scenario includes a plurality of choices 102a to 102d, which in an embodiment correspond to horses of a horse race. The scenarios include probability tables 120e to 120h for the inputs 102a to 102d and outcomes 106e to 106g. As before, the probabilities 122 for each horse add to one hundred percent. Here, since the number of outcomes; namely, the first, second, third and forth place outcomes, equals the number of inputs, the probabilities 122 for each of the outcomes add to one hundred percent.
Each scenario 170a to 170d includes a corresponding payout table 110e to 110h. As before, the payouts 112 for each input 102a to 102d do not have to add to the same value. For example, in the paytable 110e of scenario 170a, Horse 1 payouts 112 add to four hundred fifty. Horse 2 payouts 112 add to three hundred sixty. Horse 3 payouts 112 add to four hundred forty. Horse 4 payouts 112 add to eleven hundred.
In each of the scenarios 170a to 170d, the horses 102a to 102d pay nothing if the horse finishes fourth or last. This type of distribution is useful in a base or primary game, wherein the player may not win back the amount of the wager. In such a case, gaming device 10 can provide for a multitude of payouts 112 that pay less than the player's wager, or as illustrated pay nothing. For example, as in real horse racing, gaming device 10 can provide a ten horse field, wherein only the first, second and third place horses pay.
In bonus games, the player preferably wins some award amount, even if small. Gaming device 10 can structure the paytables 110e to 110h as illustrated and allow the player to choose multiple horses. As long as gaming device 10 allows the player to choose at least one more input or horse than there are non-paying outcomes, gaming device 10 guarantees, in a bonus embodiment, the player at least a small payout. The non-paying outcomes also provide variability to the gaming experience.
Each scenario 170a to 170d includes a corresponding expected value table 130e to 130h. In each scenario, the total expected value 134, i.e., the average expected payout 112, is one hundred credits regardless of whether the player chooses the favorite Horse 1, one of the intermediate Horses 2 or 3 or the long shot, Horse 4.
Although each illustrated scenario includes the same number of inputs or horses, it is possible that other scenarios can have a different number of horses. In such a case, regardless of the number of possible choices, the expected value for each choice in one embodiment does not vary. That is, even if one of the scenarios provides five horses, each horse maintains an expected value of one hundred. Thus, if gaming device 10 provides two picks, the player's total expected value is two hundred.
Gaming device 10 could also provide a different amount of picks to the player in different scenarios, wherein to keep the average payout a constant, the horses in the varying scenarios would have different expected values. For example, one scenario could provide the player with one pick, wherein the expected value of each horse is one hundred, and another scenario could provide the player with two picks, wherein the expected value of each horse is fifty. In another embodiment, gaming device 10 provides the player with an option such as, “Do you want to play one or two horses?”, wherein gaming device 10 selects a scenario based on the player's preference. In any case, the overall expected value of each race remains the same.
Referring now to
In a slight variation, gaming device 10 in an alternative embodiment enables the player to select a particular combination 182a to 182f instead of picking the individual inputs or horses associated with the combination. For example, gaming device 10 is structured in one embodiment to let the player pick Horse 1 and Horse 2 individually to pick the boxed exacta combination 182a. Alternatively, gaming device 10 provides a selection dedicated to the Horse 1/Horse 2 combination 182a.
The scenarios 180a to 180d differ in terms of: (i) the probabilities used (shown under the headings 120i to 120l); (ii) the payouts made (shown under headings 110i to 110l); and (iii) the resulting expected value (shown under headings 130i to 130l) for each win/place combination 182a to 182f of the scenarios 180a to 180d. The average expected value 184a to 184f for each scenario, however, is approximately the same.
As discussed in connection with
In operation, the gaming device 10 in
It should be appreciated from the foregoing discussion that gaming device 10 in yet another alternative embodiment can provide a trifecta, wherein the player has to choose which horses finish first, second and third. As before, the trifecta in one embodiment is boxed (exact order of win/place/show does not matter) and in another embodiment is unboxed (order of win place or show horses does matter).
In one embodiment, gaming device 10 enables the player to make a plurality of different kinds of bets, such as picking one or more horses to win, place or show, picking a boxed or unboxed exacta or picking a boxed or unboxed trifecta. The player can bet the same horse to win and at the same time bet the horse as part of an exacta or a trifecta. As shown above, gaming device 10 can manipulate the number of player (or gaming device) selections so that the overall expected value for the race is the same regardless of the type of wager the player makes.
In still another alternative embodiment, gaming device 10 in a base or primary game enables the player to wager a higher amount of money and increase the overall expected value for the race. For example, gaming device 10 in one embodiment provides an option to the player of wagering one credit, wherein gaming device 10 enables the player to make one pick of a horse to finish first, second or third. Or, the player can wager two credits, wherein gaming device 10 enables the player to pick two horses to finish first, second or third, and so on. In this way, like in actual horse racing, the player can build various wagering schemes based on the posted odds of the horses, wherein the player can wager more or less for each race.
In still a further embodiment, in a bonus game, gaming device 10 provides the player with an initial amount of money, for example, one hundred credits. Gaming device 10, just like in real horse racing, schedules a race day with a number of races, for example, eight races. In each race, the player can wager different amounts of credits on the various types of horse race wagers described above, until the player runs out of bonus credits or the race day ends. If the player wins in the early races, the player can wager more in the later races or keep the winnings. At the end of the race day, for example, eight races, the player's bonus win is whatever amount is left, for example, some amount more or less than one hundred credits.
During the race day, the player can also decline to wager on one or more of the races or cash out altogether, for example, via a “leave the track” button. Just like in real horse racing, certain races may be featured races and have bigger payouts, wherein the player would wish to save some money to play the bigger payout races.
While the present invention is described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it should be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims. Modifications and variations in the present invention may be made without departing from the novel aspects of the invention as defined in the claims, and this application is limited only by the scope of the claims.
This application is a continuation application of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/210,442, filed on Aug. 24, 2005, which is a continuation application of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/097,692, filed on Mar. 12, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,939,224, which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 11210442 | Aug 2005 | US |
| Child | 11834424 | Aug 2007 | US |
| Parent | 10097692 | Mar 2002 | US |
| Child | 11210442 | Aug 2005 | US |
