NZ502575A - Gaming machine programmed to allow a predetermined minimum number of bets per line greater than a single bet per line - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaming machine comprising a display (106) for displaying betting data, a processor (102), and at least one request button (108) which allows a player to select a betting regime. The processor (102) is programmed to allow a betting regime whereby a player can select only multiple credits per line.

Description

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.2.

MINIMUM BET POKER MACHINE 0 1 AUG 2001 RECEIVED FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a minimum bet poker machine. In particular, the present invention relates to a method of increasing the minimum bet accepted by a gaming machine by altering the gaming machine to require a minimum bet that is greater than a 5 minimum denomination accepted by the machine.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent documents contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile 10 reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. machine. The credits enable the player to know the number of bets available to him/her. Up until 15 a few years ago the credit received was commensurate with the coin inserted in that if, for instance, a five cent coin was inserted into a nominally five cent machine, the player would receive a credit equal to 5 cents. The next generation of machines allowed a higher coin denomination, e.g., one dollar, to be inserted into a machine of a particular denomination converting the amount inserted into credits commensurate with that particular denomination. For example, where one 20 dollar was inserted into a five cent machine, the machine converts this into 20 five cent credits.

* BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Modern gaming machines provide a player with credits when money is inserted into the Another known poker machine has a denomination of one cent in that one credit equals one cent, which means that for one dollar a player could have one hundred plays. Thus, the player could bet up to one hundred credits per line. The more credits the player has, the higher the entertainment value. As an example, twenty dollars on a one cent machine provided 2,000 credits whereas twenty dollar of credits on a five cent machine gave only four hundred credits. The problem with the one cent machine was that it allowed players to bet only one cent per line, with the result that players could tie up a one cent machine for lengthy periods with little return for the proprietor. Where this occurs it will take the machine five times longer to make the same amount of money as a five cent machine would make. Due to finite numbers of machines in a particular club, this poses a significant problem, as players wishing to bet higher than one credit per line may have difficulty gaining access to the machine, with the consequence that the club loses money. Players have always had the option to bet at least one credit per line but this on the lower denomination machine reduces turnover and thus the profits of gaming machine proprietors, which is derived from retaining a percentage of the turnover, the latter being the amount of money played on the machine. If, for instance, a player played 1,000 games at one credit per line on a five cent machine, the turnover is only fifty dollars. If a player played 1,000 games at one credit per line on a one cent machine the turnover is only ten dollars. Thus, for a one cent machine to turnover fifty dollars per 1,000 games required that each game be played at five credits per line. A one cent machine thus takes five times longer to make the same money as a five cent machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to gaming machines and more particularly relates to a gaming machine which provides an alternative to existing machines in providing a minimum allowable bet capability. In the gaming industry there is a wide variety of gaming machines offering the player significant choices as to bets. To ensure commercial viability of gaming machines in clubs, hotels and the like, it is important for each machine to be income producing to a point where the turnover allows each machine to be profitable. Thus, profitability must be balanced against player options.

The present invention seeks to overcome the aforesaid disadvantages of the prior art low denomination machines by providing a new or retro adjusted machine which will prevent a player from betting one credit per line. Preferably, the machine is low denomination such as a one cent machine. The invention also seeks to provide a program for a poker machine which restricts the machine to multiple credits per line thereby increasing the profitability of the machine.

In the broadest form of an apparatus aspect, the present invention comprises, a gaming machine having a predetermined denomination, wherein the machine is programmed to allow a betting regime wherein a player may select a minimum number of bets per line greater than a single bet per line.

Preferably the gaming machine further comprises a display for displaying betting data and at least one request button which allows a player to select said betting regime.

Preferably activation of at least one of said buttons allows said player to select a betting regime having a predetermined minimum number of playing credits related to said predetermined denomination. fr* '*•! p *sj v 3 ;0 Preferably the machine includes a central computer processor and software including an addressable menu which allows a player selection of said betting regime.

Preferably the gaming machine allows at least one player option to be limited to a predetermined minimum bet.

Preferably the gaming machine receives coins of a predetermined denomination.

Preferably the display of said gaming machine and said request buttons comprise a touch screen.

In another form the present invention comprises a gaming machine which receives coins of a predetermined denomination, comprising; a display for displaying betting data; at 10 least one request button, wherein said at least one request button activates a betting regime such that a player is prevented from betting one credit only per line; wherein said display indicates the minimum number of credits per line for predetermined bet.

Preferably the gaming machine comprises software including an addressable menu that enables said player to select from a plurality of player options a said betting regime 15 whereby the number of credits is set at a predetermined minimum for a given coin value such that the minimum number of credits is greater than one bet per line.

In an alternative form the present invention comprises a gaming machine having a predetermined denomination, the machine comprising; a display for displaying betting data enabling a player to determine the number of player credits selected; at least one request 20 button, wherein said at least one request button activates a betting regime such that a player can select game credits for a predetermined bet and the player is prevented from betting one credit only per line; wherein said display indicates the minimum number of credits per line. 502575 In an alternative form the present invention comprises a method of playing a gaming machine of the type comprising a display for displaying betting data enabling a player to determine the number of player credits selected; at least one request button, wherein said at least one request button activates a betting regime such that a player can select game credits for a predetermined bet and the player is prevented from betting one credit only per line; wherein said display indicates the minimum number of credits per line; the method comprising the steps of; a) assigning one credit to a user for each multiple of a predetermined first amount of money provided by the user ; b) requiring the user to bet at least a predetermined second amount of money in order to play a game, wherein said first amount of money is less than the second amount of money.

Preferably the method of the present invention further comprises a first amount of money which is one cent.

Preferably the method of the present invention comprises a second amount of money which is five cents.

In another form, the present invention comprises a method of playing a minimum bet on a gaming machine wherein the minimum bet is a least twice and up to at least five times the value of the unit denomination of the machine, the method comprising the steps of; a) selecting a gaming machine that includes a display for displaying betting data enabling a player to determine the number of player credits selected; b) selecting at least one request button, wherein said at least one request button activates a betting regime involving a minimum number of bets per line, wherein the minimum number of credits is greater than one bet per line, c) selecting a game credits for a predetermined bet and the player is prevented from belting one credit only per line; wherein said display indicates the minimnm number of credits per line.

According to a preferred embodiment, the minimum bet applies to a one cent machine 5 and restricts the number of credits for a one cent bet to five credits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating an embodiment of the method of the present invention; Figure 3 shows a button layout of a poker machine according to the prior art; Figure 4 shows a button layout of a poker machine according to an embodiment of the present invention; and Figs. 5 A-J illustrate computer instructions for implementing a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention will now be described in more detail according to a preferred but non-limiting embodiment and with reference to the accompanying illustrations. - 5a - With reference to Figure 1, a gaming machine 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated schematically. As shown in Figure 1, the gaming machine 100 generally includes a processor 102 interconnected to a coin acceptor 104, a display 106, a user input 108, and a coin dispenser 110.

The coin acceptor 104, in addition to accepting coins, may also accept tokens, paper bills, script, or other forms of payment, such as credit cards or payment cards issued by the proprietor of the gaming machine 100. In general, a user may initiate play by providing a minimum payment to the coin acceptor 104. The amount of money entered at the coin acceptor 104 is communicated to the processor 102, and output at the display 106. The display 106 may conveniently comprise a cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display (LCD), light emitting diode (LED), or other means of visually indicating the amount of money entered and available to the user for placing a wager, and other information regarding the status of the game. After a predetermined minimum amount of money has been deposited by the user in the coin acceptor 104, the user may place a bet. The amount bet by the user, according to the present invention, is generally greater than the amount of the minimum denomination accepted by the coin acceptor 104. Alternatively, the minimum bet is, according to an embodiment of the present invention, greater than an amount corresponding to one credit. The assignment of a minimum bet and/or credit will be discussed in greater detail below.

The user selects an amount to wager by entering the desired amount at the user input 108. The user input 108 may comprise a plurality of buttons with associated labels indicating the amount of the wager. The labels may, in a preferred embodiment, be generated by the processor 102 and output at the display 106 in such a way that they are clearly associated with each of the buttons of the user input 108. Alternatively, the user input 108 is integral to the display 106, such that the buttons are visually depicted on the display 106, and an associated area of the display screen 106 senses a user's touch (iue., the display 106 is a touch screen display).

The selection of a wager amount may itself initiate play, or the user may be required to initiate play by pushing a play button at the user input 108. The processor 102 then executes the game algorithm, and displays the results in the display 106. If the results favor the user, a prize may be dispensed through the coin dispenser 110. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the prize is dispensed as coins. Alternatively, the prize may be dispensed as bills, script, or credit.

Referring now to Figure 2, a method of changing a minimum bet of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. According to the method, a gaming machine is provided that accepts a minimum denomination at step 202. For example, the gaming machine may accept as a minimum denomination a nickel. As a further example, the machine may accept a penny as a minimum denomination. The machine may also accept denominations in amounts greater than the minimum denomination, or may accept only the minimum denomination.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the next step is to set a first minimum bet 204. The first minimum bet may be in an amount equal to the minimum denomination of the gaming machine, or may be a greater amount. Thus, according to the present invention, if the machine is, for example, a five cent machine, the first minimum ■- IV , ' bet may be a nickel, or may be some greater amount, such as a dime. The minimum bet is the minimum amount that a user must wager in order to play a game on the machine.

According to the method of the present invention, the proprietor and/or fabricator of the gaming machine may (usually at a later time than step 204) next set a second minimum bet 206. This second minimum bet is greater than the first minimum bet. Generally, a proprietor will set a second minimum bet, e.g. in order to increase revenues generated by the gaming machine, or to provide machines of varying denominations at the proprietor's establishment. The step of setting a second minimum bet 206 is accomplished without altering mechanical aspects of the gaming machine and without having to modify or replace the coin acceptor 104. Instead, the second minimum bet is established by changing the controlling software of the machine. Therefore, coin denominations in amounts less than the minimum bet continue to be accepted by the gaming machine as at least partial payment. In conjunction with a change in the second minimum bet, labels associated with the user input 108 are also changed to reflect the new minimum bet amount. Accordingly, in one embodiment, the change in the minimum bet may be accomplished simply by altering the programming run by the processor 102.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a gaming machine is provided that accepts a minimum denomination. According to this embodiment, the gaming machine requires as a minimum bet an amount greater than the minimum denomination. Accordingly, a machine that accepts, for example, one cent as a minimum denomination (i.e. is a "one cent machine") may require, for example, a bet of at least five cents before play can be initiated.

Generally, gaming machines are devices in which a player inserts money to receive a nominated number of credits to bet with. As previously described, these may be programmed so that a player receives 1 credit per denomination of coin inserted into the machine either upon insertion of individual coins or by tokenization. As an example of tokenization, if a one dollar coin is inserted into a five cent machine the machine will convert this into twenty credits each with a value of five cents. The behavior of a machine is largely dictated by source code which determines the operating relationship between the button, coin denomination and credit bet per line. Typical source code for a machine according to the prior art is set out below: (2,0,SW -BET 1), /*Bet Switches*/ (5,0,SW_BET2), (10,0,SW -BET3), (20,0,SW_BET4), (50,0, SW -BET5), (0, 1, SW.R2C7), (0,3,SW-R2C3), (0,5,SW-R2C1), (0,7, S W-R2C2), (0,9,SW_R2C8) (SW - BET1/SW - BET2/SW - BET3/SW-BET4/ /*A11 Bet Switch*/ SW - BET5/SW - R2C7/SW - R2C3/SW-R2C1/ SW-R2C2/SW-R2C8), SW - R1C8, /*Double Up Sw*/ SW - HALF . /*Half stake*' SW.BET4, /*Double Up HEADS*/ SW-BET5 /*Double Up TAILS*/ The player selects the number of lines to play and the number of credits to bet on each line. The game is triggered when the Bet button is pressed. The total bet is equal the number of lines played multiplied by the number of credits bet per line. On the button panel of Figure 3, the absolute minimum the player can bet is one credit. That is 1 line multiplied by bet 1. On a 1 cent machine, the turnover of this bet is 1 cent. If the player was to play the maximum number of lines at the minimum bet per line, the total bet would be 9 cents: (9 lines x bet 1). The visual display 50 2 unit on the poker machine shows the number of credits bet under the meter title BET. The player can see from this display that they have played a total bet of 9 credits in this example. According to one embodiment of the invention, the new bet structure source code allows the triggering of the first Bet button to register 5 credits bet per line. A source code to enable a minimum number of credits per bet is set out below: (10,0,S W.BET2), (20.0,SW-BET3), (50,0,SW_BET4), (100,0,SW -BET5), (0,1, SW.R2C7), (0,3,SW_R2C3), (0,5,SW-R2C1), (0,7,SW_R2C2), (0,9,SW-R2C8) (SW - BET1/SW - BET2/SW - BET3/SW-BET4/ /*A11 Bet Switch*/ SW - BET5/SW - R2C7/SW - R2C3/SW-R2C1/ SW-R2C2/SW-R2C8), SW - R1C8, /*Double Up Sw*/ SW - HALF /*Half stake*' SW BET4, /*Double Up HEADS*/ SW-BET5 /*Double Up TAILS*/ Figs. 5A-J comprise an alternative set of instructions for a minimum bet gaming machine.

The player selects the number of lines to play and the number of credits to bet on each line. The game is triggered when the bet button is pressed. Total bet is equal to the number of lines played multiplied by the number of credits bet per line.

On the button panel of Figure 4, the absolute minimum the player can bet is 5 credits.

That is 1 line multiplied by bet 5. On a 1 cent machine, the turnover of this bet is 5 cents. If the player was to play the maximum number of lines at the minimum bet per line, the total bet would be 45 cents; (9 lines x bet 5). The player can see from the BET meter on the visual display unit that they have played a total bet of 45 credits in this example. (5,0,SW -BET 1), /*Bet Switches*/ 5025 In accordance with the present invention, a gaming machine and a method for changing a minimum bet of a gaming machine are provided. The invention in its broader aspects relates to a gaming machine having a minimum bet that is greater than a minimum accepted denomination, and further, in one embodiment, relates to changing the minimum bet required to initiate play on a gaming machine from a first amount to a second, greater amount, preferably without changing mechanical aspects of the gaming machine and/or the coin acceptor.

It will be recognized by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the invention as broadly described herein, such as applying the invention to machines of different denominations, without departing from the overall spirit and scope of the invention.

The present invention, in various embodiments, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various embodiments, subcombinations, and subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the present invention after understanding the present disclosure. The present invention, in various embodiments, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various embodiments hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g. for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation. The present invention includes items which are novel, and terminology adapted from previous and/or analogous technologies, for convenience in describing novel items or processes, do not necessarily retain all aspects of conventional usage of such terminology.

It will be understood that the foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description.

Modifications to the embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims (2)

1. THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1 A gaming machine having a predetermined denomination, wherein the machine is programmed to allow a betting regime wherein a player may select a minimum number of bets per line greater than a single bet per line.
2. 2 A gaming machine according to claim 1 further comprising a display for displaying betting data and at least one request button which allows a player to select said betting regime 3 A gaming machine according to claim 2 wherein activation of at least one of said buttons allows said player to select a betting regime having a predetermined minimum number of playing credits related to said predetermined denomination. 4 A gaming machine according to claim 3 wherein the machine includes a central computer processor and software including an addressable menu which allows a player selection of said betting regime. 5 A betting machine according to claim 4 wherein at least one player option is limited to a predetermined minimum bet. 6 A gaming machine according to claim 5 wherein the machine receives coins of a predetermined denomination. 7 A gaming machine according to claim 6 wherein said display and said request buttons comprise a touch screen. 8 A gaming machine which receives coins of a predetermined denomination, comprising; a display for displaying betting data; at least one request button, wherein said at least one request button activates a betting regime such that a player is prevented -13 - £? ^ 5 7 R ln.3 w u from betting one credit only per line; wherein said display indicates the minimum number of credits per line for predetermined bet. 9 A gaming machine according to claim 8 further comprising software including an addressable menu that enables said player to select from a plurality of player options a said betting regime whereby the number of credits is set at a predetermined minimum for a given coin value such that the minimum number of credits is greater than one bet per line. / 10 A gaming machine having a predetermined denomination, the machine comprising, a display for displaying betting data enabling a player to determine the number of player credits selected; at least one request button, wherein said at least one request button activates a betting regime such that a player can select game credits for a predetermined bet and the player is prevented from betting one credit only per line; wherein said display indicates the minimum number of credits per line . 11 A method of playing a gaming machine of the type comprising a display for displaying betting data enabling a player to determine the number of player credits selected; at least one request button, wherein said at least one request button activates a betting regime such that a player can select game credits for a predetermined bet and the player is prevented from betting one credit only per line; wherein said display indicates the minimum number of credits per line; the method comprising the steps of; a) assigning one credit to a user for each multiple of a predetermined first amount of money provided by the user ; -14- b) requiring the user to bet at least a predetermined second amount of money in order to play a game, wherein said first amount of money is less than the second amount of money. 12 A method according to claim 11 wherein said first amount of money is one cent. 13 A method according to claim 12 wherein said second amount of money is five cents. 14 A method of playing a minimum bet on a gaming machine wherein the minimum bet is a least twice and up to at least five times the value of the unit denomination of the machine, the method comprising the steps of; a) selecting a gaming machine that includes a display for displaying betting data enabling a player to determine the number of player credits selected; b) selecting at least one request button, wherein said at least one request button activates a betting regime involving a minimum number of bets per line, wherein the minimum number of credits is greater than one bet per line, c) selecting a game credits for a predetermined bet and the player is prevented from betting one credit only per line; wherein said display indicates the minimum number of credits per line . Piper Knowles Attorneys Fors I.G.T. (Australia) Pty Limited (2 - 15 -