AU9726301A - Game and method of operating a gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

1l/1z 01 MUN 16:47 FAX 61 2 9888 7600 WAIAiRMARK IP AUST SECURE 16005 61 2 9888 7600 1 GAME AND METHOD OF OPERATING A GAMING MACHINE Technical Field This invention relates to gaming machines and particularly to gaming machines having an accumulating jackpot, Background of the Invention Poker games have been in the Australian market since they were introduced into NSW in 1977. These games are relatively simple compared to the American games, and are revolve around the awarding of a series of prizes for achieving certain winning hands in a draw poker type game. For example, predefined payouts are provided for wins ranging from a pair of Jacks to a Royal Flush. The games as played in Australia use a standard 52-card deck or 52-card deck with Joker to produce the poker games. Particular Casino venues use these games to offer large jackpot wins based on a winning hand being dealt in a particular way, and often in a particular suit.

15 One problem, from the gaming machine operator's perspective, is that the game format does not provide any incentive for a player to bet more credits per hand. As a result, there is no special reward for a player who is making larger wagers per hand. In general, it is desirable from an operator's perspective to maximise the size of each wager, so as to obtain a better return from each machine.

Linked jackpot machines have been utilised, where the jackpot accumulates over many machines located in one site, or spread over many venues. Participation is conditional only on the player playing one of the designated machines. There is no increased prospect of winning the jackpot other than by playing multiple times. Indeed, if the jackpot is a fixed accumulating sum, there is an incentive for each player to bet the minimum necessary per game, so as to maximise the number of games played and hence the player's chance of winning the jackpot.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved game in which the player has an incentive to increase the amount wagered per game.

Summary of the Invention In broad terms, the present invention provides, in addition to the normal play in a poker game, a game in which the probability of a jackpot being won is RECEIVED TIME 17, DEC. 16:46 PRINT TIME 1 7. DEC. 16:51 11./12 01 MUN 16:47 FAX 61 2 9888 7600 WAIlRMARK IP AUST SECURE 1006 61 2 9888 7600 2 increased or permitted based upon the size of the wager made by the player. The normal game outcome is not affected by the size of the wager only the jackpot.

According to one aspect, the present invention provides a method of operating a gaming machine, said machine including a player interface, processing means for determining the outcome of the game, and means for placing wagers of variable value, said method including the steps of: a player making a wager of a selected value; the player initiating game play; the processing means determining if the wager is of a value so that predetermined jackpot criteria are met, and determining the outcome of the game; such that if the outcome of the game meets the predetermined jackpot criteria, and the value wagered also meets that criteria, a jackpot is awarded.

The step of determining if the wager is of a value such that predetermined 15 jackpot criteria are met includes many possible alternatives. For example, the processing means may allocate specific indicia to certain game tokens, for example cards, based upon the value of the wager. In this case, the jackpot is only payable if a predetermined number of these indicia are present on the cards forming the winning hand. In other implementations, there may be predefined wager levels at which access to the jackpot is provided, or the history of past wagers by a given player may be used to trigger potential access to the jackpot if the game related criteria are met..

The invention also encompasses a gaming machine in which this method is implemented, and a software product for enabling a gaming machine to implement the method.

It will be appreciated that there may be different levels of jackpot, or a single level to an which an increased chance of winning is provided in proportion to the size of the wager. The jackpot may be based on play at a single machine, or be a collective amount based on many different machines. In one form, suitable for a game based on a 52 card deck, a special indicia may be displayed on or determined by a random or pseudorandom process that the indicia attaches to) certain cards, before the cards are dealt. The jackpot is only paid if, for example, one or more of the cards with the indicia are part of the winning RECEIVED TIME 17, DEC. 16:46 PRINT TIME 17. DEC. 16:51 1//1Z 01 MUN 16:47 FAX 61 2 9888 7600 WAIArKMARK IP AUST SECURE 10007 61 2 9888 7600 3 hand. Hence, a bet of one credit will only attach an indicia to one card; a bet of credits will attach it to 50 cards. Levels of jackpot, or special prizes, could be associated with a winning hand having certain numbers of cards with the special indicia.

By introducing a 'reward' symbol based on the number of credits bet per hand, jackpots are more likely to be won by players who bet more credits. As the jackpot trigger may be changed to suit a designated hit rate, the basis of the invention is to provide a method of awarding jackpots to players that is directly correlated to their stake levels.

Description It will be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in diverse ways, for various types of gaming machines. For example, the invention is applicable to networked gaming which may not be present on a single site, for example over the intemet, or in aircraft gaming systems. The example provided 15 is in the context of a poker type game however, the invention is equally O applicable, with suitable modifications to rules and outcomes, to other electronic games.

The primary feature of the present invention is that it provides a method to **award player jackpots based on a variable player stake rate. From a bet of 1 credit, through to credits, the player's chances of winning the jackpot can be made proportional to the amount wagered. One example of a possible implementation of this feature is explained as follows.

In a video draw poker game, the player is dealt 5 cards. The player may then discard from zero to five cards, and normal poker rules determine the payout for normal game play.

Player bet options: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 15, Number of Cards in deck: 52 Jackpot 1: awarded when player achieves a Royal Flush in the suit of Hearts of the first deal. Player must have at least 1 star to win Jackpot.

Jackpot 2: awarded when player achieves a Straight Flush in the suit of Hearts of the first deal. Player must have at least 1 star to win Jackpot.

As every hand the player is dealt is taken from a fresh 52-card deck, the player's possibility of winning these jackpots is equivalent (except for the 'reward' RECEIVED TIME 17. DEC. 16:46 PRINT TIME 17. DEC. 16:51 xI/lz 01 MUIN 16:48 FAX 61 2 9888 7600 WAI' RMARK IP AUST SECURE [1008 61 2 9888 7600 4 star participation). For every credit a player bets, a star is randomly designated to one of the cards in the deck, prior to the hand being dealt. The more credits wagered, the more chance that a 'reward' star will appear on the initial deal of a hand (as required to win the jackpot). A broad mathematical explains how the odds are derived.

Chance of being dealt no star off initial deal x x Where n credits bet, y number of cards in deck Therefore, the chance of being dealt at least 1 star off initial deal 1 x Chance of being dealt a straight flush in a specific suit off the first deal with at least 1 star s S a where a chance of straight flush on initial deal and represents chance of attaining this in an individual suit.

Chance of being dealt a royal flush in a specific suit off the first deal with at 15 least 1 star=r R b 5/52 where b chance of straight flush on initial deal and 5/52 represents chance of attaining this in an individual suit.

It can therefore be seen that while the chance of getting a royal flush is the S*same no matter how many credits are wagered, the chance of getting a jackpot varies with the number of credits bet. Similar arrangements can be used for different jackpot options, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Variations and additions are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

0 RECEIVED TIME 17. DEC. 16:46 PRINT TIME 17. DEC. 16:51

Claims (7)

1. A method of operating a gaming machine, said machine including a player interface, processing means for determining the outcome of the game, and means for placing wagers of variable value, said method including the steps of: a player making a wager of a selected value; the player initiating game play; (c )the processing means determining if the wager is of a value so that predetermined jackpot criteria are met, and determining the outcome of the game; so that if the outcome of the game meets the predetermined jackpot criteria, and the value wagered also meets that criteria, a jackpot is awarded.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the game includes symbols which must form a predetermined pattern to meet the predetermined jackpot criteria, and step includes allocating an indicia to one or more of said symbols based upon the value of said wager, so that only if game outcome includes the predetermined pattern including one or more of said symbols with allocated indicia is the jackpot awarded. A method according to claim 2, wherein the indicia are shown visually to the player when the game outcome is displayed.

4. A method according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the number of indicia applied to symbols in each game is proportional to the wager placed by the player. A method according to claim 1, wherein step (c further includes determining or accessing a record of the previous wagers made, so that upon predetermined levels of previous wagers, the players access to jackpots is permitted or enhanced.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein different jackpots are available for different game outcomes. RECEIVED TIME 17. DEC, 16:46 PRINT TIME 17. DEC, 16:51 17/11 '01 MON 16:48 FAX 61 2 9888 7600 WA'JARMARK 61 2 9888 7600 444 IP ALIST SECURE 0~010 6

7. A gaming machine operatively adapted to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A software product operatively adapted to perform the method of any one of claims I to 6. DATED this 15th day of December 2001 STARGAMES CORPORATION LIMITED WATERMARK PATENT TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS UNIT I THE VILLAGE RIVERSIDE CORPORATE PARK

39-117 DELHI ROAD NORTH RYDE NEW SOUTH WALES 2113 AUSTRALIA PNF:MB/P I8667AU01 .*00 0 *06 0 0000 04 0 00.0. 0 0 0 RECEIVED TIME 17. DEC. 16:46 RTTIE 1.DC 161 PRINT TIME 17.DEC. 16:51