Patent Application
20160314657
A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates generally to gaming systems, apparatus, and methods and, more particularly, to a casino wagering game associated with one or more progressive jackpots subject to a maximum jurisdictional limit.
The gaming industry depends upon player participation. Players are generally “hopeful” players who either think they are lucky or at least think they can get lucky—for a relatively small investment to play a game, they can get a disproportionately large return. To create this feeling of luck, a gaming apparatus relies upon an internal or external random element generator to generate one or more random elements such as random numbers. The gaming apparatus determines a game outcome based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements.
A significant technical challenge is to improve the operation of gaming apparatus and games played thereon, including the manner in which they leverage the underlying random element generator, by making them yield a negative return on investment in the long run (via a high quantity and/or frequency of player/apparatus interactions) and yet random and volatile enough to make players feel they can get lucky and win in the short run. Striking the right balance between yield versus randomness and volatility to create a feeling of luck involves addressing many technical problems, some of which can be at odds with one another. This luck factor is what appeals to core players and encourages prolonged and frequent player participation. As the industry matures, the creativity and ingenuity required to improve such operation of gaming apparatus and games grows accordingly.
Some wagering games include a progressive jackpot feature, and the progressive jackpot, in some legal jurisdictions, can be subject to a maximum limit or cap, which means that the player can be awarded no more than the maximum jurisdictional limit from the progressive jackpot during a play cycle of a wagering game (sometimes called a maximum win limit). A progressive feature could be designed so that the awarded progressives are small enough that the win limit can never be exceeded, even if the multiple progressives are awarded in the same play cycle and/or the same progressive is awarded more than once in the same play cycle. If multiple progressives are won and the total winnings must not exceed the win limit, it is conceivable to design the progressive such that in the worst case, when all the progressive levels are hit, the award will never exceed the win limit. However, such a game would be unattractive to play, particularly in jurisdictions with low maximum win limits, due to the small progressive awards. Thus, in jurisdictions with maximum win limits, a technical challenge is designing a wagering game system that optimizes (e.g., minimizes the impact to) the return-to-player (RTP) percentage and maximizes the progressive award amounts while ensuring compliance with the jurisdictional limits imposed on progressive jackpot awards. Aspects of the present disclosure solve these and other technical challenges for wagering games played in maximum win jurisdictions.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method of operating a gaming system is disclosed. The gaming system includes a random element generator, game-logic circuitry, and a gaming machine, the gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game. The gaming machine includes a cabinet, an electronic display device, and an electronic input device. The cabinet is constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game. The electronic display device and the electronic input device are coupled to the gaming cabinet. The method includes: generating one or more random elements with the random element generator; receiving, responsive to a physical input to the electronic input device of the gaming machine, a wager input to initiate a first play cycle of the casino wagering game; displaying one or more progressive jackpots on the electronic display device or on another electronic display device of the gaming system; determining, by the game-logic circuitry, an outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements; displaying the outcome on the electronic display device of the gaming machine; responsive to a progressive triggering event occurring during the first play cycle, the progressive-triggering event resulting in a win award based on an amount in at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots, awarding, by the game-logic circuitry, no more of the win award than a maximum jurisdictional limit as a progressive award for the first play cycle; and responsive to the win award exceeding the maximum jurisdictional limit, saving, in an electronic memory device, a difference between the win award and the progressive award such that at least some of the difference is available to fund one or more subsequent play cycles following the first play cycle of the casino wagering game.
The at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots can be a strike progressive. The method can further include resetting, by the game-logic circuitry, a strike low boundary for the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots to be based on at least a reset value for the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots and the at least some of the difference to produce a new strike low boundary for the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots.
The method can further include allocating, by the game-logic circuitry, a portion of an amount of the wager input to fund the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots. The progressive triggering event can include the portion of the amount being added to the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots, thereby causing the win award to exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit.
The progressive triggering event can be a displayed outcome in the casino wagering game. A portion of the amount of the wager input can be added to the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots.
The at least one or more progressive jackpots can include a first progressive jackpot and a second progressive jackpot. The first progressive jackpot can be associated with a first strike value and a first strike low boundary. The second progressive jackpot can be associated with a second strike value and a second strike low boundary. The method can further include: calculating, by the game-logic circuitry, a sum that includes the first strike value and the second strike value. In response to the sum exceeding the maximum jurisdictional amount, the progressive award can include (1) the first strike low boundary, (2) the second strike low boundary, and (3) at least some of the remaining first strike value corresponding to a first increment value from the first progressive jackpot, wherein the first strike value has a hit rate that is less than that of the second strike value.
The difference can include a first difference and a second difference. The first difference can be based on at least (1) the first strike value, (2) a first portion of an amount of the wager input, (3) the first strike low boundary, and (4) the first increment value. The second difference can be based on at least (1) the second strike value, (2) a second portion of the amount of the wager input, and (3) the second strike low boundary. The method can further include storing the first difference and the second difference in separate locations in the electronic memory device as a first short-term overflow and a second short-term overflow.
The first short-term overflow and the second short-term overflow can be available to fund the immediately subsequent play cycle following completion of the first play cycle.
The method can further include: calculating, by the game-logic circuitry, a new first strike low boundary by calculating a first sum that includes (1) the first strike low boundary and (2) the first difference; setting, by the game-logic circuitry, the first strike low boundary for the first progressive jackpot to be the new first strike low boundary; calculating, by the game-logic circuitry, a new second strike low boundary by calculating a second sum that includes (1) the second strike low boundary and (2) the second difference; and setting, by the game-logic circuitry, the second strike low boundary for the second progressive jackpot to be the new second strike low boundary.
The first strike value can represent a minimum amount in the first progressive jackpot that must be funded to award at least part of the first progressive jackpot. The second strike value need not necessarily be identical to the first strike value and can represent a minimum amount in the second progressive jackpot that must be funded to award at least part of the second progressive jackpot. The first strike low boundary can represent a minimum of a range of possible strike values for triggering an award from the first progressive jackpot. The second strike low boundary can represent a minimum of a range of possible strike values for triggering an award from the second progressive jackpot.
The first strike value need not be displayed on the electronic video display as long as the first progressive jackpot is not exceeding the first strike value.
The method can further include raising a reset value for the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots to include the at least some of the difference.
The method can further include, responsive to the difference exceeding the maximum jurisdictional limit, storing, in the electronic memory device, no more of the difference than the maximum jurisdictional limit as a short-term overflow and storing any excess between the difference and the maximum jurisdictional limit as a long-term overflow. The short-term overflow can be available to fund the immediately subsequent play cycle following the first play cycle. The long-term overflow can be available to fund a play cycle following the immediately subsequent play cycle.
The progressive award can be funded first up to a strike low boundary or a reset value associated with the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots and then, if available, by increment values from the one or more progressive jackpots over the strike low boundary or the reset value up to a strike high boundary or the maximum jurisdictional limit. The increment values can be funded from wager inputs received by the casino wagering game.
The progressive triggering event can be associated with a strike progressive feature or a target progressive feature. The win award can be based on a portion of the wager input. At least some of the difference can fund at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots. The progressive award can be funded first from a reset value for the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots and then from, if any, increment value remaining in the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots up to the maximum jurisdictional limit. The progressive award can be funded first from the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots having the highest value among all of the one or more progressive jackpots or having the most rare hit rate among all of the one or more progressive jackpots.
The one or more progressive jackpots can include a first progressive jackpot and a second progressive jackpot. A hit frequency of the first progressive jackpot can be less than a hit frequency of the second progressive jackpot. The increment value can be deducted first from the first progressive jackpot and then, if any, from the second progressive jackpot to fund the progressive award.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a gaming system includes: an electronic display device; an electronic memory device; a gaming machine primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game. The gaming machine includes a gaming cabinet and an electronic input device. The cabinet is constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game. The electronic input device is coupled to the gaming cabinet and configured to receive a physical input from a player to initiate the casino wagering game and transform the input into an electronic data signal. The gaming system further includes a random element generator configured to generate one or more random elements. The game-logic circuitry is configured to: initiate a first play cycle of the casino wagering game in response to the electronic data signal from the electronic input device of the gaming machine, display one or more progressive jackpots on the electronic display device; determine an outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements; direct the electronic display device or another electronic display device to display the outcome; and in response to a progressive triggering event occurring during the first play cycle, the progressive-triggering event resulting in a win award based on an amount in at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots, award no more of the win award than a maximum jurisdictional limit as a progressive award for the first play cycle; and in response to the win award exceeding the maximum jurisdictional limit, save, in the electronic memory device, a difference between the win award and the progressive award such that at least some of the difference is available to fund one or more subsequent play cycles following the first play cycle of the casino wagering game.
The progressive award can be funded first from a reset value for the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots and then from, if any, increment value remaining in the at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots up to the maximum jurisdictional limit. The one or more progressive jackpots can include a first progressive jackpot and a second progressive jackpot. A hit frequency of the first progressive jackpot can be less than a hit frequency of the second progressive jackpot. The increment value can be deducted first from the first progressive jackpot.
Additional aspects of the disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.
While the aspects of this disclosure are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific implementations and configurations have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed features are not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, this disclosure covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention or inventions as defined by the appended claims.
While this disclosure is susceptible of configuration and implementation in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail examples of the inventions with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the inventions and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the inventions to the embodiments illustrated. For purposes of the present detailed description, the singular includes the plural and vice versa (unless specifically disclaimed); the words “and” and “or” shall be both conjunctive and disjunctive; the word “all” means “any and all”; the word “any” means “any and all”; and the word “including” means “including without limitation.”
For purposes of the present detailed description, the terms “wagering game,” “casino wagering game,” “gambling,” “casino game,” and the like include games in which a player places at risk a sum of money or other representation of value, whether or not redeemable for cash, on an event with an uncertain outcome, including without limitation those having some element of skill. In some embodiments, the wagering game involves wagers of real money, as found with typical land-based or online casino games. In other embodiments, the wagering game additionally, or alternatively, involves wagers of non-cash values, such as virtual currency, and therefore may be considered a social or casual game, such as would be typically available on a social networking web site, other web sites, across computer networks, or applications on mobile devices (e.g., phones, tablets, etc.). When provided in a social or casual game format, the wagering game may closely resemble a traditional casino game, or it may take another form that more closely resembles other types of social/casual games.
Referring to
The gaming machine 10 illustrated in
The input devices, output devices, and input/output devices are disposed on, and securely coupled to, the cabinet 12. By way of example, the output devices include a primary display 18, a secondary display 20, and one or more audio speakers 22. The primary display 18 or the secondary display 20 may be a mechanical-reel display device, a video display device, or a combination thereof in which a transmissive video display is disposed in front of the mechanical-reel display to portray a video image superimposed upon the mechanical-reel display. The displays variously display information associated with wagering games, non-wagering games, community games, progressives, advertisements, services, premium entertainment, text messaging, emails, alerts, announcements, broadcast information, subscription information, etc. appropriate to the particular mode(s) of operation of the gaming machine 10. The gaming machine 10 includes a touch screen(s) 24 mounted over the primary or secondary displays, buttons 26 on a button panel, a bill/ticket acceptor 28, a card reader/writer 30, a ticket dispenser 32, and player-accessible ports (e.g., audio output jack for headphones, video headset jack, USB port, wireless transmitter/receiver, etc.). It should be understood that numerous other peripheral devices and other elements exist and are readily utilizable in any number of combinations to create various forms of a gaming machine in accord with the present concepts.
The player input devices, such as the touch screen 24, buttons 26, a mouse, a joystick, a gesture-sensing device, a voice-recognition device, and a virtual-input device, accept player inputs and transform the player inputs to electronic data signals indicative of the player inputs, which correspond to an enabled feature for such inputs at a time of activation (e.g., pressing a “Max Bet” button or soft key to indicate a player's desire to place a maximum wager to play the wagering game). The inputs, once transformed into electronic data signals, are output to game-logic circuitry for processing. The electronic data signals are selected from a group consisting essentially of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, an electrical charge, an optical signal, an optical element, a magnetic signal, and a magnetic element.
The gaming machine 10 includes one or more value input/payment devices and value output/payout devices. The value input devices are used to deposit cash or credits onto the gaming machine 10. The cash or credits are used to fund wagers placed on the wagering game played via the gaming machine 10. Examples of value input devices include, but are not limited to, a coin acceptor, the bill/ticket acceptor 28, the card reader/writer 30, a wireless communication interface for reading cash or credit data from a nearby mobile device, and a network interface for withdrawing cash or credits from a remote account via an electronic funds transfer. The value output devices are used to dispense cash or credits from the gaming machine 10. The credits may be exchanged for cash at, for example, a cashier or redemption station. Examples of value output devices include, but are not limited to, a coin hopper for dispensing coins or tokens, a bill dispenser, the card reader/writer 30, the ticket dispenser 32 for printing tickets redeemable for cash or credits, a wireless communication interface for transmitting cash or credit data to a nearby mobile device, and a network interface for depositing cash or credits to a remote account via an electronic funds transfer.
Turning now to
The game-logic circuitry 40 is also connected to an input/output (I/O) bus 48, which can include any suitable bus technologies, such as an AGTL+ frontside bus and a PCI backside bus. The I/O bus 48 is connected to various input devices 50, output devices 52, and input/output devices 54 such as those discussed above in connection with
The external system 60 includes, in various aspects, a gaming network, other gaming machines or terminals, a gaming server, a remote controller, communications hardware, or a variety of other interfaced systems or components, in any combination. In yet other aspects, the external system 60 comprises a player's portable electronic device (e.g., cellular phone, electronic wallet, etc.) and the external-system interface 58 is configured to facilitate wireless communication and data transfer between the portable electronic device and the gaming machine 10, such as by a near-field communication path operating via magnetic-field induction or a frequency-hopping spread spectrum RF signals (e.g., Bluetooth, etc.).
The gaming machine 10 optionally communicates with the external system 60 such that the gaming machine 10 operates as a thin, thick, or intermediate client. The game-logic circuitry 40—whether located within (“thick client”), external to (“thin client”), or distributed both within and external to (“intermediate client”) the gaming machine 10—is utilized to provide a wagering game on the gaming machine 10. In general, the main memory 44 stores programming for a random number generator (RNG), game-outcome logic, and game assets (e.g., art, sound, etc.)—all of which obtained regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission and are verified by a trusted authentication program in the main memory 44 prior to game execution. The authentication program generates a live authentication code (e.g., digital signature or hash) from the memory contents and compare it to a trusted code stored in the main memory 44. If the codes match, authentication is deemed a success and the game is permitted to execute. If, however, the codes do not match, authentication is deemed a failure that must be corrected prior to game execution. Without this predictable and repeatable authentication, the gaming machine 10, external system 60, or both are not allowed to perform or execute the RNG programming or game-outcome logic in a regulatory-approved manner and are therefore unacceptable for commercial use. In other words, through the use of the authentication program, the game-logic circuitry facilitates operation of the game in a way that a person making calculations or computations could not.
When a wagering-game instance is executed, the CPU 42 (comprising one or more processors or controllers) executes the RNG programming to generate one or more pseudo-random numbers. The pseudo-random numbers are divided into different ranges, and each range is associated with a respective game outcome. Accordingly, the pseudo-random numbers are utilized by the CPU 42 when executing the game-outcome logic to determine a resultant outcome for that instance of the wagering game. The resultant outcome is then presented to a player of the gaming machine 10 by accessing the associated game assets, required for the resultant outcome, from the main memory 44. The CPU 42 causes the game assets to be presented to the player as outputs from the gaming machine 10 (e.g., audio and video presentations). Instead of a pseudo-RNG, the game outcome may be derived from random numbers generated by a physical RNG that measures some physical phenomenon that is expected to be random and then compensates for possible biases in the measurement process. Whether the RNG is a pseudo-RNG or physical RNG, the RNG uses a seeding process that relies upon an unpredictable factor (e.g., human interaction of turning a key) and cycles continuously in the background between games and during game play at a speed that cannot be timed by the player, for example, at a minimum of 100 Hz (100 calls per second) as set forth in Nevada's New Gaming Device Submission Package. Accordingly, the RNG cannot be carried out manually by a human and is integral to operating the game.
The gaming machine 10 may be used to play central determination games, such as electronic pull-tab and bingo games. In an electronic pull-tab game, the RNG is used to randomize the distribution of outcomes in a pool and/or to select which outcome is drawn from the pool of outcomes when the player requests to play the game. In an electronic bingo game, the RNG is used to randomly draw numbers that players match against numbers printed on their electronic bingo card.
The gaming machine 10 may include additional peripheral devices or more than one of each component shown in
Referring now to
In response to receiving an input indicative of a wager, the reels 82 are rotated and stopped to place symbols on the reels in visual association with paylines such as paylines 88. The wagering game evaluates the displayed array of symbols on the stopped reels and provides immediate awards and bonus features in accordance with a pay table. The pay table may, for example, include “line pays” or “scatter pays.” Line pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear along an activated payline, typically in a particular order such as left to right, right to left, top to bottom, bottom to top, etc. Scatter pays occur when a predetermined type and number of symbols appear anywhere in the displayed array without regard to position or paylines. Similarly, the wagering game may trigger bonus features based on one or more bonus triggering symbols appearing along an activated payline (i.e., “line trigger”) or anywhere in the displayed array (i.e., “scatter trigger”). The wagering game may also provide mystery awards and features independent of the symbols appearing in the displayed array.
In accord with various methods of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system in accord with the present concepts, the wagering game includes a game sequence in which a player makes a wager and a wagering-game outcome is provided or displayed in response to the wager being received or detected. The wagering-game outcome, for that particular wagering-game instance, is then revealed to the player in due course following initiation of the wagering game. The method comprises the acts of conducting the wagering game using a gaming apparatus, such as the gaming machine 10 depicted in
In the aforementioned method, for each data signal, the game-logic circuitry 40 is configured to process the electronic data signal, to interpret the data signal (e.g., data signals corresponding to a wager input), and to cause further actions associated with the interpretation of the signal in accord with stored instructions relating to such further actions executed by the controller. As one example, the CPU 42 causes the recording of a digital representation of the wager in one or more storage media (e.g., storage unit 56), the CPU 42, in accord with associated stored instructions, causes the changing of a state of the storage media from a first state to a second state. This change in state is, for example, effected by changing a magnetization pattern on a magnetically coated surface of a magnetic storage media or changing a magnetic state of a ferromagnetic surface of a magneto-optical disc storage media, a change in state of transistors or capacitors in a volatile or a non-volatile semiconductor memory (e.g., DRAM, etc.). The noted second state of the data storage media comprises storage in the storage media of data representing the electronic data signal from the CPU 42 (e.g., the wager in the present example). As another example, the CPU 42 further, in accord with the execution of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game, causes the primary display 18, other display device, or other output device (e.g., speakers, lights, communication device, etc.) to change from a first state to at least a second state, wherein the second state of the primary display comprises a visual representation of the physical player input (e.g., an acknowledgement to a player), information relating to the physical player input (e.g., an indication of the wager amount), a game sequence, an outcome of the game sequence, or any combination thereof, wherein the game sequence in accord with the present concepts comprises acts described herein. The aforementioned executing of the stored instructions relating to the wagering game is further conducted in accord with a random outcome (e.g., determined by the RNG) that is used by the game-logic circuitry 40 to determine the outcome of the wagering-game instance. In at least some aspects, the game-logic circuitry 40 is configured to determine an outcome of the wagering-game instance at least partially in response to the random parameter.
In one embodiment, the gaming machine 10 and, additionally or alternatively, the external system 60 (e.g., a gaming server), means gaming equipment that meets the hardware and software requirements for fairness, security, and predictability as established by at least one state's gaming control board or commission. Prior to commercial deployment, the gaming machine 10, the external system 60, or both and the casino wagering game played thereon may need to satisfy minimum technical standards and require regulatory approval from a gaming control board or commission (e.g., the Nevada Gaming Commission, Alderney Gambling Control Commission, National Indian Gaming Commission, etc.) charged with regulating casino and other types of gaming in a defined geographical area, such as a state. By way of non-limiting example, a gaming machine in Nevada means a device as set forth in NRS 463.0155, 463.0191, and all other relevant provisions of the Nevada Gaming Control Act, and the gaming machine cannot be deployed for play in Nevada unless it meets the minimum standards set forth in, for example, Technical Standards 1 and 2 and Regulations 5 and 14 issued pursuant to the Nevada Gaming Control Act. Additionally, the gaming machine and the casino wagering game must be approved by the commission pursuant to various provisions in Regulation 14. Comparable statutes, regulations, and technical standards exist in other gaming jurisdictions. As can be seen from the description herein, the gaming machine 10 may be implemented with hardware and software architectures, circuitry, and other special features that differentiate it from general-purpose computers (e.g., desktop PCs, laptops, and tablets).
The gaming system that operates the method 400 can include a random element generator, game-logic circuitry 40, 60, which can include one or more electronic controllers or processors, and a gaming machine 10 or a computer device specially programmed with machine-readable instructions for carrying out the method 400. The gaming machine 10 is primarily dedicated to playing at least one casino wagering game, and includes a cabinet 12, one or more electronic display devices 18, 20, and one or more electronic input devices 24, 26. The cabinet 12 is constructed to house components associated with the casino wagering game. The electronic display device 18, 20 and the electronic input device 24, 26 are coupled to the gaming cabinet 12. The random element generator randomly generates elements, such as numbers, and can be implemented in electronic form. The gaming system can also include another electronic display device, which can be part of an external system 60 external to the gaming machine 10. This external electronic display device can display information relating to a progressive feature associated with a casino wagering game being conducted on the gaming machine 10 or a computer device. The computer device can be a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone or a computing tablet. For convenience, the reference number 10 shall refer herein to the gaming machine 10 described above in connection with
The method 400 begins by generating one or more random elements with the random element generator and receiving, responsive to a physical input (such as made by a human player) to the electronic input device of the gaming machine 10 or computing device, a wager input to initiate a first play cycle of the casino wagering game (402). A play cycle begins with the receipt of a wager input on the casino wagering game and ends with the display of the outcome of the casino wagering game. The method 400 displays one or more progressive jackpots on the electronic display device or on another electronic display device of the gaming system (404). If more than one progressive jackpot is available, each jackpot can be on the same progressive level or on different progressive levels. As mentioned above, the progressive jackpots need not be displayed on the gaming machine 10 itself, but rather may be displayed on another electronic display device remote from and operably coupled to the gaming machine 10 or the computer device on which the casino wagering game is being portrayed. The progressive jackpot represents a dynamic tally updated in real-time of the amount of money available to be awarded if at least one criterion is satisfied.
The progressive jackpot may, for example, be awarded in a “strike” progressive game (also known as a “must-hit-by” progressive game) or a target progressive game (also known as a symbol-based progressive game). In a must-hit-by or “strike” progressive game, a strike value is randomly selected from a range defined by a strike low (or boundary) value and a strike high value. The strike low value can, though not necessarily, be equal to the reset value for the strike progressive. The strike high value can, though not necessarily, be set to equal the maximum jurisdictional limit. The randomly selected strike value is typically not displayed or known to the player. In a target or symbol-based progressive game, the occurrence of a special symbol or symbol combination displayed to the player as an outcome of the casino wagering game triggers a progressive award to be awarded in a target progressive. Once the special symbol or symbol combination occurs in a target progressive, the player that achieved that outcome in the casino wagering game is typically awarded whatever amount is in the progressive jackpot. However, a wrinkle addressed by the present disclosure is that this progressive win amount can be capped in some jurisdictions and is subject to a maximum win limit, so if the progressive jackpot(s) individually or collectively in a must-hit-by progressive or a target progressive exceed(s) the maximum win limit, the player cannot be awarded more than the maximum win limit.
The present disclosure addresses mechanisms for providing the maximum win award to the player and what to do with any extra value (e.g., credits) over and above the maximum win award still available to be awarded, extra value that is referred to herein as overflow. There are two types of overflow: short-term overflow, which is available to fund the immediately subsequent play cycle to the play cycle in which the maximum win award was made; and long-term overflow, which is available to fund a play cycle after the immediately subsequent play cycle. In other words, long-term overflow can be available to fund the third or fourth or fifth, etc. subsequent play cycle after the initial or first play cycle in which the maximum win award was made. The short-term overflow would fund the second play cycle. “Funding a play cycle” can include applying or adding the excess award value to one or more progressive jackpots (or levels) in one or more play cycles following the play cycle in which the excess value is generated.
Returning to the method 400, the game-logic circuitry 40, 60 determines an outcome of the casino wagering game based, at least in part, on the one or more random elements (406). The outcome is displayed on the electronic display device of the gaming machine or computing device (408). The method 400 determines whether a progressive triggering event occurred during the play cycle (410). If so, a win award is determined based on an amount in at least one of the one or more progressive jackpots (412). But, because a maximum jurisdictional limit is present, an award is awarded of no more of the win award than a maximum jurisdictional limit as a progressive award for the first play cycle (414). Numerous specific examples to this general approach will be discussed in more detail below. If a progressive triggering event does not occur during the play cycle, the method 400 continues from block 402. The progressive triggering event can be any event in the casino wagering game that triggers the player's eligibility to receive part or all of any one or more of the progressive jackpots. In a target progressive, for example, the progressive triggering event can be the presence of a special symbol or symbol combination in the outcome of the casino wagering game. In a strike progressive, for example, an award from one or more progressive jackpots is made when the jackpot reaches or “hits” a hidden strike value that is randomly selected between a strike low value and a strike high value.
As stated above, the total progressive award awarded to the player of the casino wagering game cannot exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit, so the method 400 determines whether the win award exceeds the maximum jurisdictional limit (416). Note that the win award represents the total award that the player would be awarded notwithstanding the maximum jurisdictional limit. By contrast, the progressive award is the amount that is actually awarded to the player. The win award is the same as the progressive award when the win award does not exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit. If the win award exceeds the maximum jurisdictional limit, the method 400 saves, in an electronic memory device 44, 56, 60, a difference between the win award and the progressive award such that at least some of the difference is available to fund one or more subsequent play cycles following the first play cycle of the casino wagering game (418). If the win award does not exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit, the progressive award equal to the win award is awarded to the player, and the method 400 returns to block 402. After saving the difference, the method 400 can return to block 402 to receive a wager for the next play cycle.
As noted above, a general approach is to save any excess award value that exceeds the maximum jurisdictional limit as an overflow to fund one or more subsequent play cycles. The overflow can be stored as a separate value or data structure in the electronic memory device 44, 56, 60. The next examples describe non-limiting and non-exhaustive ways of handling the overflow and how to fund the progressive jackpots following a progressive triggering event.
In discussing the examples below, the following terminology will be used:
A gaming machine 10 (or computer device configured to conduct wagering games thereon) can be configured to address all possible regulations. Thus, one set of machine-readable instructions for a casino wagering game can be created for all possible jurisdictions, and then a machine-readable register, for example, of the gaming machine 10 can be set as part of installation to configure the gaming machine to satisfy the requirements of the jurisdiction in which that gaming machine is installed. For example, just two bits can be used as a jurisdictional ID to configure Jackpot and Progressive Maximum Win Limits, such as two bits from the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) register. In addition, a memory allocation is made to specify the actual maximum jurisdictional limit in a given jurisdiction, e.g., storing the value of 1000 in the electronic memory device to represent a maximum limit of $1000.00 The different configurations can be set using two bits as set forth in the following example table:
To prevent run-away long-term overflow, a game math configuration parameter can be configured to force the on-average progressive win(s) per play cycle to be a predetermined percentage less than the maximum win. Limiting the game math parameter prevents run-away overflow, and is particularly effective for target multi-level progressives where more than one level is more likely to be hit compared to strike multi-level progressives.
A first example will be described in connection with
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In the above example, the limit of the target progressive is set to be equal to the maximum jurisdictional limit, but in other embodiments, the limit can be set to be lower than the maximum jurisdictional limit. Also, in the above example, when the target progressive was triggered, the current value was less than the maximum limit, but it is also conceivable that the current value of the target progressive jackpot can continue to accrue increment value without a winning special symbol combination appearing in the outcome of the casino wagering game. When this occurs, the current value that is displayed to the player can be frozen at the maximum jurisdictional limit (which in this example is $1000), while the excess increment that continues to accrue can be stored in the short-term overflow until a winning special symbol combination is achieved in a play cycle of the casino wagering game. When a winning special symbol combination appears in the outcome of the casino wagering game, the player is awarded the maximum jurisdictional limit amount of $1000, and the target progressive's reset value is adjusted to include the amount of accrued increment value in the short-term overflow.
A similar mechanism can be used for a strike progressive (as opposed to a target progressive described above) having a single progressive jackpot pool. A difference between a strike progressive versus a target progressive is that the strike value is typically not displayed to or known by the player. The player typically knows the strike high value, which is set to equal the maximum jurisdictional limit of $1000.00, but the actual strike value that triggers an award of the progressive jackpot is randomly selected by a random element generator between a range of values from a strike low to a strike high value for the progressive level. In this example, the strike value obscured from the player is $999.90, and the progressive jackpot currently stands at $999.89, one penny away from hitting the strike value (though the player does not know this). Thus, when the next $0.25 from the $2.50 wager is added to the progressive jackpot, it will exceed the strike value by $0.24. This $0.24 in excess increment value is saved as a short-term overflow, and the player is awarded the strike value of $999.90. The reset value or strike low value for the progressive jackpot is reset to equal the strike low or reset value, which here again is $100, plus the amount in the short-term overflow, for a total reset value of $100.24 to be available in the immediately following (subsequent or next) play cycle. In so doing, these two examples dynamically raise the strike low value (boundary) on the next play cycle to equal the reset value and the short-term overflow from the previous play cycle. Raising the reset value in this way prevents multiple same progressive pool wins on a single game play (i.e., re-trigger on same level progressives). The following tables illustrate how a new reset value can be adjusted based on residual increment value for the next play cycle in a jurisdiction subject to a maximum cap:
In the above table, the strike low boundary value for the strike progressive is set to be equal to the reset value, but in other examples, the strike low boundary value in any strike progressive described herein can be set to be higher than the reset value. Also, the strike high boundary is set to be equal to the maximum jurisdictional limit in the above example, but in other examples, the strike high boundary in any strike progressive described herein can be set to be any value between the strike low boundary and the maximum jurisdictional limit.
Whereas the above two examples address a win in one play cycle of a single progressive jackpot pool, the next set of examples addresses multiple wins of more than one progressive jackpot pools (or pots) in the same play cycle. Broadly speaking, there are two ways multiple wins of two or more progressive jackpots can occur. In a first scenario, a player can trigger multiple progressive wins on the same level in the same play cycle. In a second scenario, the player can trigger multiple progressive wins on different levels in the same play cycle. The following table summarizes two different implementations that are equally applicable to strike or target progressives, with multiple progressive wins on the same or different levels:
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Two additional examples will be discussed next in connection with the tables below for a casino wagering game having a target progressive feature, one with no long-term overflow and one with long-term overflow, and both having two progressive jackpots, M1 and M2.
In the above example, the M1 jackpot occurs less often compared to the M2 jackpot, and the progressive award is funded first by the reset values for M1 and M2, followed by the increment values from M1 until the jurisdictional maximum limit is reached. No increment values from M2 are needed to fully fund the progressive award up to the jurisdictional maximum limit. The short-term overflow for M1 and M2 is combined with the previous reset values ($500, $100) for M1 and M2 to produce new reset values for M1 ($610.45) and M2 ($491.89). These are the new reset values used for the next play cycle, which means that less increment value will be needed to achieve the limit of $1000 for M1 and $600 for M2. As mentioned above, if the increment value accruing in M1 or M2 exceeds the limit for M1 or M2, respectively, without a winning special symbol combination appearing in the outcome of the casino wagering game, the excess increment value over the maximum limit can be stored in the short-term overflow for M1 or M2 as the case may be. When the target progressive is triggered by a winning progressive outcome in the casino wagering game, the player is awarded $1000, and the reset value for M1 or M2 is adjusted to include the accrued excess increment value stored in the corresponding short-term overflow.
In the following example, the overflow of M2 after the progressive award has been awarded in the first play cycle would cause M2's reset value to exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit, so the excess for M2's new reset value above the maximum jurisdictional limit is saved as long-term overflow for use in a future play cycle after the second play cycle.
In the above table, it can be seen that the new reset value for M2 exceeds $1000 by $3. The new reset value for M2 becomes $1000, which triggers an automatic win of the progressive in the next play cycle, and the additional $3 is stored as long-term overflow for use in the third play cycle or beyond. Again, like the previous examples, the occurrence of the M1 jackpot is more rare compared to that of the M2 jackpot, so the progressive award is funded first from the reset values for M1 and M2, and then from the increment values for M1 before increment values, if any, are drawn from M2. The long-term overflow ensure that no new reset value after a play cycle will ever exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit, thereby ensuring compliance in these jurisdictions with the maximum limits. In other words, the sum of all reset values is always less than or equal to the maximum jurisdictional limit.
Each level in the progressive feature, whether on the same level or on multiple levels, can be configured to have a strike value (in the case of a strike progressive) or a target limit (in the case of a target progressive) up to the maximum jurisdictional limit without violating the jurisdictional rules on maximum award limits. At least some of the approaches described herein realize an optimal way to achieve the math objectives for the progressive features by paying the reset values first of all wins, which minimizes the impact on RTP that is based on the reset values. Alternately or additionally, paying the increment values from the most rare pool to the least rare pool ensures that the awards are awarded to the player as quickly as possible. For each progressive jackpot, the reset value (which in a strike progressive corresponds to the strike low boundary) on the next play cycle is raised based on the short-term overflow available for each jackpot. If the adjusted reset value (or upper strike boundary value) would exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit, then any amount over the limit is stored as long-term overflow for use in play cycles beyond the next play cycle. By dynamically raising the reset value or strike low boundary on the next play cycle to be based on at least the short-term overflow and optionally the previous reset value, multiple same progressive jackpot wins are prevented on a single play cycle (e.g., re-trigger). These approaches are particularly advantageous for multiple wins in the same play cycle of multiple same-level or multiple level progressive jackpots, although the principles described herein apply equally to single wins, such as shown and described in connection with
The above progressive examples fund the progressive award from the reset values first, then from any increment value, starting with the most-rarely hit jackpot to the least-rarely hit jackpot. In another implementation, as summarized in the “Alternate Implementation” in the table above, instead of funding the progressive award from the reset values first, the progressive award can be funded first from the highest progressive jackpot to, if applicable, the next highest progressive jackpot, and so on, independent of the reset values. Some reset value may end up in the progressive award, but in this alternate implementation, the algorithm ranks each progressive award value, and begins funding the progressive award starting with the highest jackpot value. The next few tables illustrate different examples for target and strike progressives, with single levels and multiple levels.
This first example of the alternate implementation is a strike progressive having two progressive jackpot pools. While this example is similar to the example shown above, the algorithm funds the progressive award starting from the highest jackpot without evaluating whether any of that award includes any reset values. It may be the case that the award does include at least some reset value, but the difference here is that the algorithm effectively “ignores” whether any reset value is being used to fund the progressive award, and instead simply looks to fund the progressive award starting with the highest jackpot. Again, the difference here is that in the implementations described above, the progressive award is first funded from all of the reset values before tapping into any of the increment value. However, in the examples provided below just like in the example above, the new strike low or reset values are still adjusted in the next play cycle to include the leftover overflow from the previous play cycle in which the progressive win occurred.
In the next example table, a target progressive has two jackpots, and a special symbol or symbol combination appears in the outcome of the casino wagering game, triggering a win of both jackpots. Again, as in the table immediately above, the progressive awarded is funded based on the quantity of the amount in each of the jackpots, regardless of the reset values, in the order of highest quantity to lowest quantity.
The above multi-level progressive examples assume two progressive jackpots, but in other implementations, more than two progressive jackpots could conceivably be hit during the same play cycle. The next two examples show a progressive award capping mechanism when up to four progressive jackpots are hit in the same game cycle. Again, instead of funding the progressive award from the reset values, the algorithm funds the progressive award by drawing first from the highest progressive jackpot, and then from the next highest, and so forth, until the maximum jurisdictional limit is reached.
In this final example table, a target progressive is presented with four progressive jackpot pools, and the progressive award is funded from the highest jackpot to the next highest, and so forth. The excess value above the maximum jurisdictional limit, whether comprised of reset value or increment value or some combination of both, is stored in short-term overflow. In this example below, some of the jackpots have enough value to exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit, so some of that value is stored in long-term overflow, as shown in the following table.
In still another implementation, instead of funding the progressive award from the highest jackpot, it can be funded from the most-rare jackpot first, which may happen to also be the highest jackpot, though not necessarily so. Thus, in the table above involving a strike progressive and four jackpot pools, if M1 were the most rarely hit jackpot (e.g., having the lowest hit rate among M1-M4), the progressive award could be funded entirely from M1 first ($910), and then another $10 taken from M2 next (M2 being the next most rarely hit jackpot). Funding the progressive award using the most rare money or from the highest jackpot (these two can be the same) ensures that the player receives the most rare money first, which means that the game converges to the correct mathematical parameters as quickly as possible. The RTP and accounting calculations are slightly more complex compared to an implementation where the progressive award is first funded by the reset values. But in a configuration where it is desirable to converge as quickly as possible to a desired RTP, this further implementation gets there faster.
As mentioned in the background section, a “conservative” progressive feature could be designed so that the win limit would never be exceeded, but this would result in small progressive awards particularly in jurisdictions with low maximum win limits, and the progressives would simply reset back to their default reset values after each win. By contrast, aspects of the present disclosure allow for the win limits to be raised to the maximum jurisdictional limit, even for progressives having multiple levels, while guaranteeing that no single progressive award (which can be funded from multiple progressive jackpots) will ever exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit. By raising the reset value to include any excess increment value that accrued over the maximum jurisdictional limit, the player in the immediately following play cycle is that much closer to hitting the strike value in the case of a strike progressive or starts at a higher award value in the case of a target progressive. In addition, in the case of multiple jackpot wins, by optionally funding the progressive award first from the increment value for the jackpot that occurs most rarely ensures getting the award amount to the player as quickly as possible.
In all the examples shown in the figures, the amount in the short-term overflow is applied to adjust the reset value or strike low boundary. Optionally, a representation of the amount of the overflow can be displayed on the electronic video display, akin to an “overflow pot” that can persist in some displayed representation across multiple game cycles to be drawn from as progressive wins are made from time to time. For example, a player may win a relatively small progressive jackpot on a spin in the base game, say in an extreme example only $10, but if there is $900 remaining in the persisting overflow pot, the player could actually be awarded $910 or some amount between $10 and $900 instead of what the player would have otherwise been awarded. The presence of a persisting overflow pot allows progressive win awards in subsequent play cycles to be enhanced by some or all of the amount in the overflow pot. However, the reset values for the jackpots would always be reset to their default values instead of being enhanced. Alternately, some combination of an overflow pot and a smaller enhancement to the reset values can be implemented. In other words, some jackpot overflows can go into a persisting overflow pot, while other portions of those overflows can be used to increase the reset value(s) for one or more jackpots on subsequent play cycles. The representation can include the actual amount or a graphical representation of the amount using size, color, or some other non-quantified indication of the extent of the overflow. Finally, the overflow need not necessarily be applied to adjust the reset value or the strike low boundary. In other aspects, the player can be presented in one or more subsequent play cycles as a mystery award that can be awarded in response to a triggering event occurring in one or more subsequent play cycles of the casino wagering game.
The implementations disclosed herein provide for one common progressive win capping solution. For example, the capping mechanisms disclosed herein provide a solution for any strike progressive, and for any strike or target progressive across all jurisdictions subject to a maximum limit. In the U.S., for example, these implementations ensure that the sum of any base game win plus any progressive win(s) will not exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit. Outside the U.S., for example, these implementations that neither the base game win or the sum of the progressive wins will each not exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit. These implementations can also address variations in, for example, how free spins are handled. For example, in some jurisdictions, one independent win comprising the sum of progressive awards plus the base game win is not allowed to exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit in any given play cycle, and the implementations disclosed herein can be used to ensure compliance with this rule. In other jurisdictions where each free spin in any given play cycle is considered an independent event, no win on any spin will exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit using the implementations disclosed herein. In other words, neither the award in the base game nor the sum of all progressive awards can exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit in any given play cycle. The actual win award is capped or truncated at the maximum jurisdictional limit in the form of a progressive award, but each individual progressive jackpot value can be displayed up to the maximum jurisdictional limit, and the sum of the individual progressive jackpots that are displayed can also exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit. To be clear, the individual jackpot values or the sum of the jackpot values can be displayed up to the maximum jurisdictional limit, but the actual total amount awarded cannot exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit. By allowing the jackpots to be displayed as accruing up to the maximum jurisdictional limit, the present disclosure allows higher jackpot values to be displayed compared to a “conservative” progressive implementation where the amounts neither the jackpot value nor the sum of all jackpot values would be allowed to exceed the maximum jurisdictional limit.
Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. Moreover, the present concepts expressly include any and all combinations and subcombinations of the preceding elements and aspects.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/152,131, which was filed on Apr. 24, 2015, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62152131 | Apr 2015 | US |
