GB2148037A - Gaming or amusement-with-prizes machines - Google Patents

Abstract

A fruit machine is adapted for dual control, each player having an operating element. When a stake is inserted, sufficient for a sequence of games, the players play in alternation. Any win is temporarily credited to the player who initiated that play and at the end of the sequence the players may collect their respective winnings, if any. However, certain random events during the sequence, such as a jackpot combination, will trigger intermediate payouts, the distribution to the players then differing from the amounts standing to their credit. For example, the jackpot winner would take not only his own winnings but also those potentially of the other player.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to gaming or amusementwith-prizes machines This invention relates to coin operated or coin-freed gaming or amusement-with-prizes machines, the term coin embracing tokens or any means by which credit can be entered in the machine.

The invention is primarily concerned with machines ofthe kind in which a series of symbols carried by rotatable drums, reels, discs ortheirequivalents, are displayed to view in a line. When the machine is operated by insertion of a coin and possibly also by depression of a lever or pressing of a button orthe like, the reels rotate and stop in an apparently random manner and if the symbols in the resulting line are in a winning combination, a payout mechanism is operated and a prize is awarded and indicated.

According to the present invention there is provided a gaming or amusement-with-prizes machine playable by two or more players in alternation, wherein a random selector device determines a win or loss in response to the insertion of a coin or token, orto the debiting of a credit, and possibly the additional actuation of a button, leverorthe like, wherein any wins in a sequence of plays are credited to the player concerned and wherein, upon a random event determined bythe machine the wins in that sequence are distributed to the players in amounts differing from those standing to their respective credits.

Thus, one player might scoop the pool, being paid not only his own winnings, but also those credited to his opponent. However, in certain circumstances such as a different random event,the machine might distribute the total differently, with one player taking his own winnings and half those of the other, or some other proportion, leavingthe remainderto the second player. Alternatively, the actual proportion (all or a fraction of the losing player's winnings) may be constantwheneverthere is a pay-out.

For example, when applied to a fruit machine each playerwould put in the same amount before play commences, one pound say, or the machine would divide a single stake and apportion half to each player.

Preferably the machine will have dual reel spin buttons and each playerwill operate the machine in alternation. Whenever a winning combination appears,the player concerned will have the prize associated with that combination credited to his account. These accounts will be in separate display windows, forexample below or beside the windows showing what credit from the original stake is left.

There may also be a separate window showing the total winnings of the two players. If the reels stop at a particular combination then this will cause the machine two pay out, proportioning the winnings differently from those shown for each player. For example, if one player hits the jackpot, then the pay-out may allot the the total winnings to him, including the jackpot win, leaving the other player with nothing. However, if a different or less valuable combination appears, there could be a different proportion, leaving the losing playerto collect something, at least.

The decision to pay out may not be linked to the reels at all, and may be determined by some other random event, which can be signalled on a separate display panel.

The total pay-out may be confined only to special random events, such as hitting the jackpot or some other high value combinations. Ifthis does not occur during a sequence of plays, then atthe end ofthe sequence, when both players have exhausted their credit,theirwinnings on lesser combinations may be apportioned in the ratio shown by the respective displays.

Thus, if player 1 has two pounds to his credit and player 2 has eighty pence, and player 1 hits the jackpot, then he will win the jackpot prize plus two pounds and eighty pence. However, if no such event occurs, atthe end ofthe sequence player 1 will collect two pounds and player 2 eighty pence.

If a jackpot is won while the players have credits left, although the total pay-out is made at the time, play can continue and further winnings will be apportioned to the same rules.

If the machine has a feature which gives the player who has just played the promise, or at least a good opportunity, of a prize atthe next play, it can be arranged that instead of keeping to the strict alternation, this 'first' player can have another go. An example of such a feature is the hold system familiar on many fruit machines. As mentioned above, each playerwill have an individual button, and at each operation it will deduct one unit of credit from that player's initial stake. The buttons can be interlinked so thattheycan only be operated in alternation in normal circumstances. But when the hold feature, for example, is available afterthefirst player has played,then the hold can lock outthe second player's button and the first player's one can be kept active for another press.However, there could be facility for cancelling this, at the first player's discretion to allowthe second playerto play in the normal alternativing sequence.

The cancellation might also be arranged to cancel the hold feature, so that the second playerwill just have an ordinary reel spin.

In addition to the usual fruit symbols on the reels, there may be superimposed numbers on some of them. These numbers may have a determining effect on the pay-out. For example, the numbers on the left hand reel may be associated with the first player, and those on the right hand one with the second player. If during a sequence of plays the numbers 3,7 and 2 (total 12) come up on the left hand reel and the numbers 5 and 1 (total 6) on the right hand reel, then thetotalwinningsmay be apportioned in the ratio 12:6 or 2:1 in favour ofthe first player, or the second player may have to forego some of his winnings, two-thirds going to the first player.

Although described mostly in terms of fruit machines and two players only, it will be understood that the principles can be extended to more than two players, and to othertypes of gaming oramusementwith-prizes machines.

Claims (12)

1. Agaming oramusement-with-prizes machine playable bytwo or more players in alternation, wherein a random selector device determines a win or loss in response to the insertion of a coin ortoken, or to the debiting of a credit, and possibly the additional actuation of a button, lever or the like, wherein any wins in a sequence of plays are temporarily credited to the player concerned and wherein, upon a random event determined by the machine, a prize pay-out occurs in which the distribution to the players differs from that to be expected from their respective win credits.

2. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the total wins credit is assigned to one player upon said random event.

3. A machine as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a first porportion of the wins credit is assigned to one player and the remainderto the other player upon said random event.

4. A machine as claimed in Claim 1,2 or3,wherein the machine is a fruit machine with rotary reels or simulations thereof.

5. A machine as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the pay-out is determined in association with the reels, and occurswhentheystopwith certain symbol combinations displayed.

6. AmachineasclaimedinClaim4,whereinthe pay-out is triggered by random selector means independent ofthe reels.

7. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is dual control, with operating elements for each player.

8. A machine as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the operating elements are linked so that normally they are operable only in alternation.

9. A machine as claimed in Claim 8,wherein the alternation is interruptable if a random feature is available.

10. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is a pay-outwhenthefull sequence is completed and when there is at least one win recorded for one ofthe players.

11. A machine as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the end-of-sequence pay-out is apportioned in accordance with the wins credited to the players.

12. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a sequence is determined by an initial stake.