Claims
- 1. A slot machine comprising:a display portion displaying a game having a variety of possible outcomes, said outcomes represented by a plurality of symbols displayed in said display portion, at least one of said outcomes representing a first award amount to a player; a variable award multiplier for selecting an award multiplier value, wherein said variable award multiplier comprises a random number generator; and a payout device that awards said player said first award amount multiplied by a factor based on said multiplier value when at least one of said plurality of symbols is a bonus symbol.
- 2. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein said display portion comprises rotatable reels rotated by at least one motor.
- 3. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein said display portion comprises an electronic display device having a display screen for displaying said game.
- 4. The slot machine of claim 3 wherein said award multiplier value is also displayed on said display screen.
- 5. The slot machine of claim 3 wherein said award multiplier value is displayed on a different display screen.
- 6. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein said award multiplier value is displayed on a display screen.
- 7. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein said variable award multiplier comprises:an award multiplier display that dynamically displays a plurality of award multiplier values and stops on a multiplier value selected by said random number generator.
- 8. The slot machine of claim 7 wherein said award multiplier display comprises a plurality of individually illuminable concentric rings.
- 9. The slot machine of claim 8 wherein each of said rings is in a different plane, each of said rings denoting one of said plurality of award multiplier values.
- 10. The slot machine of claim 8 wherein said rings are displayed on a display screen.
- 11. The slot machine of claim 7 wherein said award multiplier display comprises a radially segmented disk.
- 12. The slot machine of claim 11 wherein each said segment is individually illuminable and denotes one of said plurality of award multiplier values.
- 13. The slot machine of claim 11 wherein said segmented disk has a plurality of light sources arranged around a perimeter of said disk.
- 14. The slot machine of claim 13 wherein said plurality of light sources are individually controllable to light in sequence.
- 15. The slot machine of claim 13 wherein said plurality of light sources are individually controllable to light in a random fashion.
- 16. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein:said display portion displays a plurality of rotatable reels, each reel having a plurality of symbols on its periphery including at least one bonus symbol on each reel; wherein said variable award multiplier selects a multiplier value when said at least one bonus symbol is displayed and a winning combination of symbols is displayed, said winning combination of symbols representing said first award to be paid to a player; and wherein said payout device awards said player said first award multiplied by a factor based on said multiplier value.
- 17. The slot machine of claim 16 wherein said first award is multiplied by said multiplier value times a number of bonus symbols displayed.
- 18. The slot machine of claim 16 wherein multiplier value is generated for each bonus symbol displayed, and said first award is multiplied by each said value generated.
- 19. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein said game is poker.
- 20. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein said game displays rotating reels with symbols thereon.
- 21. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein said variable award multiplier is initiated for multiplying said first award when a special symbol is displayed in said game.
- 22. The slot machine of claim 1 wherein said variable award multiplier is initiated for multiplying said first award when a certain number of games have been played.
- 23. A method for operating a slot machine comprising:playing a game to generate one of a plurality of game results, said game results represented by a plurality of symbols, at least one of said game results representing a first award amount to a player; determining an award multiplier value by operating a random number generator to select said award multiplier value; and determining an award payment to a player, said award payment being said first award multiplied by said award multiplier value when at least one of said plurality of symbols is a bonus symbol.
- 24. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of determining an award multiplier value further comprises:dynamically displaying a plurality of award multiplier values; stopping said dynamically displaying to display a particular award multiplier value.
- 25. The method of claim 24 wherein said dynamically displaying comprises sequentially illuminating light elements in a display device, said illuminating denoting award multiplier values associated with said light elements.
- 26. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of playing a game comprises:displaying a plurality of rotating reels in said slot machine, each of said reels having a plurality of symbols around its periphery including at least one bonus symbol on each reel; stopping said reels to display a particular winning symbol combination; determining an award multiplier value when at least one said bonus symbol is displayed as part of said symbol combination; and determining an award payment to a player for said winning symbol combination incorporating said bonus symbol, said award payment being an award for said winning symbol combination multiplied by said award multiplier value.
- 27. The method of claim 23 wherein said game is poker.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/070,020, filed Apr. 18, 1997, now U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 392,340, entitled Display Glass for Slot Machine Showing Award Multiplication Values, by Frank DeSimone, and U.S. application Ser. No. 29/085,293, filed May 30, 1997, now U.S. Design Pat. No. Des. 412,347, entitled Slot Machine Having Award Multiplier Display, by Frank DeSimone, both documents being incorporated herein by reference.
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Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
29/085293 |
May 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/040478 |
|
US |
Parent |
29/070020 |
Apr 1997 |
US |
Child |
29/085293 |
|
US |