WO2016003356A1

WO2016003356A1 - Method of operating an electronic gaming system

Info

Publication number: WO2016003356A1
Application number: PCT/SE2015/050726
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martin ZETTERGREN
Original assignee: Digital Fish Software Ab
Priority date: 2014-07-01
Filing date: 2015-06-23
Publication date: 2016-01-07
Also published as: EP3164854A1; EP3164854A4

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of operating an electronic gaming system configured for playing a game of chance. In particular, the present invention relates to a method specifically taking into account the possible redemption of an offer previously acquired by a player of the game. The invention also relates to a corresponding electronic gaming system and a computer program product.

Description

METHOD OF OPERATING AN ELECTRONIC GAMING SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Games of chance are known and widely played for recreational purposes. The gaming industry has come to recognize that to sustain long term success it must be constantly innovative in introducing new games and new gambling concepts to the gaming public. One example of this innovating drive can be appreciated in the embrace of the Internet and online gaming by the gaming industry.

A common trend within the online gaming industry is to provide potentially new and current players with promotional offers for attracting players to the newly introduced games. The promotional offers may be provided to the players as promotion codes to be entered for playing the game. Once entered, the players will receive a predetermined number free turns for playing the games, a concept sometimes denoted as "free spins" for example in relation to a simulated multi-reel slots game.

Even though such promotional offerings may give the player some idea of the new gaming concept, they generally fail to provide player with experiencing the full breath of the game. Accordingly, there is a need for a more comprehensive method for attracting players to for example newly introduced online games.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, the above is at least partly met by a method of operating an electronic gaming system comprising a control unit, the gaming system configured for providing an online game of chance to be visualized to a player within a graphical user interface (GUI) controlled by the control unit and comprised with the gaming system, the online game having a selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game, the method comprising identifying a player having the intention to play the game provided by the gaming system, acquiring a payment from the player for playing the game, receiving, from the player, at least one of said payment or a request to redeem an offer previously acquired by the player, wherein the offer provides the player with a benefit when playing the game, if a request to redeem an offer is received from the player validating the authenticity of the offer, determining the benefit to be provided to the player, and configuring control portions of the GUI based on the determined benefit, inviting the player to play the game within the GUI, and visualizing a turn of the game to the player within the GUI, wherein if the benefit is determined to correspond to an opportunity of receiving a predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes when playing the game, the player is invited to play the game until the predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes have been reached without acquiring further payments for playing the game.

The general concept of the present invention is based on the fact that it may be possible to improve the attraction to a gaming concept by allowing for example a potential player to experience all aspects of the game, including experiencing the success of winning the game, without having to provide a payment for such an experience. The full aspect of experiencing the game also includes receiving an accumulated payout corresponding to a predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes when playing the game.

Accordingly, providers of online games may readily provide offerings to current and potential clients (e.g. players to other games provided by the online game provider), where the offerings will have an in comparison lower threshold of acceptance, as a sure win is the result of such an acceptance.

The invention may in some instances be most suitable in relation to games having a high probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game (and potentially a low corresponding payment in case of a favorable outcome), as this typically will give a suitable number of played turns of the game, in the "redemption offering mode", a case that will be most appealing also for the provides of the online game. However, it may of course be possible to introduce the inventive concept in relation to any type of probability scenario relating to an online game.

For reducing the potential tediousness in case of a high number of predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes and a low probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game (i.e. resulting in a large plurality of turns before the redemption offering mode has been completed), it may be possible to reduce the number of turns that in fact are visualized for the player. As such, the turns may instead be calculated by the control unit "in the background", where only a selected plurality (e.g. only a few) of the turns are visualized to the player. It may also be possible to dynamically adapt the visualization of turns of the game to be presented by the player, such as dividing the plurality of turns to be played in different "modes". For example, in an initial mode the player is provided with a visualization of all of the turns of the games, whereas in a later mode the player is only provided with a visualization of a selected few of the turns of the turns of the game, that is dynamically reducing the number of turns being visualized to the player as a function of the duration of playing the game.

In a preferred embodiment, at least the turns of the game resulting in a favorable outcome are visualized to the player. This provides the advantageous psychological effect that is experienced when a player wins a turn of the game and may in some instances heighten the overall experience of the game. As some of the non-favorable turn are refrained from being visualized to the player, an even heighten experience may be perceived by the player as the gaming experience will be remembered in an overall positive manner.

In addition, it may according to the invention be possible to introduce an adjustable threshold for determining if a specific outcome should be considered as favorable or non-favorable, and as such to be visualized for the player. The threshold may be based on the size of the payment acquired from the player for playing the game. The threshold may alternatively be based on the size of a payout (to be provided "back" to the player as a "prize") relating to an outcome of the game. It may also be possible to combine the both, i.e. allowing the threshold to be based both on the size of the payment and the prize payment to the player.

Accordingly, in an embodiment of the invention the method further comprises comparing a prize payment to be paid to the player to a predetermined threshold to determine if the outcome (or payout to the player) of the game should be categorized as favorable or non-favorable, and only visualizing favorable payments.

In a possible embodiment of the invention the selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game is adjustable. The adjustment may be player initiated (e.g. within the GUI of the gaming system), for example by increasing the probability of a favorable outcome of a turn of the game however with a somewhat lower corresponding payment. That is, typically the corresponding payment in case of a favorable outcome is inverse proportional to the probability of winning a turn of the game.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an electronic gaming system configured for providing an online game of chance having a selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game, the electronic gaming system, comprising a player terminal provided with a graphical user interface (GUI) and operable by a player to visualize the game, and a control unit connected to the player terminal, wherein the control unit is configured to identifying the player, acquiring a payment from the player for playing the game, receiving at least one of said payment or a request to redeem an offer previously acquired by the player, wherein the offer provides the player with a benefit when playing the game, if the previously acquired offer is received from the player validating the authenticity of the offer, determining the benefit to be provided to the player, and configuring the GUI of the gaming system based on the determined benefit, inviting the player to play the game within the GUI, and visualizing a turn of the game to the player within the GUI, wherein if the benefit is determined to correspond to an opportunity of receiving a predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes when playing the game, the player is invited to play the game until the predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes have been reached without acquiring further payments for playing the game. This aspect of the invention provides similar advantages as discussed above in relation to the previous aspects of the invention.

According to a still further aspect of the invention there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for operating an electronic gaming system comprising a control unit, the gaming system configured for providing an online game of chance to be visualized to a player within a graphical user interface (GUI) controlled by the control unit and comprised with the gaming system, the online game having a selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game, the computer program product comprising code for identifying a player having the intention to play the game provided by the gaming system, code for acquiring a payment from the player for playing the game, code for receiving, from the player, at least one of said payment or a request to redeem an offer previously acquired by the player, wherein the offer provides the player with a benefit when playing the game, if a request to redeem an offer is received from the player code for validating the authenticity of the offer, code for determining the benefit to be provided to the player, and code for configuring control portions of the GUI based on the determined benefit, code for inviting the player to play the game within the GUI, and code for visualizing a turn of the game to the player within the GUI, wherein if the benefit is determined to correspond to an opportunity of receiving a predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes when playing the game, the player is invited to play the game until the predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes have been reached without acquiring further payments for playing the game. Also this aspect of the invention provides similar advantages as discussed above in relation to the previous aspects of the invention.

The computer program product is typically executed using a control unit, preferably including a micro processor or any other type of computing device. Similarly, a software executed by the control unit for operating the inventive wireless communication device may be stored on a computer readable medium, being any type of memory device, including one of a removable nonvolatile random access memory, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a USB memory, an SD memory card, or a similar computer readable medium known in the art. Accordingly, operation of the wireless communication device may be at least partly automated, implemented as e.g. software, hardware and a combination thereof.

Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. The skilled addressee realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary electronic gaming system according to a currently preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2a - 2e provides an exemplary illustration of is a typical graphical user interface (GUI) for use with the inventive gaming system; and

Fig. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the exemplary steps for operating an electronic gaming system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

Referring now to the drawings and Fig. 1 in particular, there is depicted a gaming system 100 in which an online game of chance, such as a slot game, may be played according to a currently preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system architecture illustrated in Fig. 1 depicts a system environment in which systems, methods, apparatus, computer-readable mediums and data structures consistent with the principles of some embodiments of the present disclosure may be included. It may be appreciated that the components of system 100 may be implemented through any suitable combinations of hardware, software, and/or firmware.

As shown in Fig. 1, system 100 includes at least one server 102 and/or at least one gaming database 104. Server 102 and gaming database 104 may be communicably linked to one or more client devices 106, 108, 1 10, etc. through network 112. The gaming database 104 may be any type of physical unit on which games reside, such as a machine in a gaming venue, a lottery machine, an electronic game system, etc. Network 112 may be implemented as the Internet, or any local or wide area network, either public or private. Network 1 12 may also be a hardware system physically connecting some or all of the server 102 and client devices 106, 108, 110. Client devices 106, 108, HOmay be implemented as any computing devices such as a personal computing device, a server, a server network, handheld computing device, slot machine, other gaming machine in a gaming venue, lottery machine, an interface in a virtual environment, etc.

It may be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that while only one server, one gaming database, one network and two client devices are depicted, more or fewer servers, more or fewer gaming databases, more networks and more or fewer client devices and/or other devices may reside within system 100.

The elements inside system 100 may include one or more (micro) processors, purpose built hardware such as, for example, FPGA, ASIC, etc., software systems and applications, software packages, mechanical and electrical parts, etc. Software packages that may be part of server 102, gaming database 104, client devices 106, 108, 1 10 and network 112 may be recorded on a computer readable medium such as a memory device, RAM,

CD/DVD/USB drives, handheld memory device, etc., and/or may be part of a physical device such as one or more (microprocessors or electro-mechanical systems. Any of server 102, gaming database 104, client devices 106, 108, 1 10 and network 112 may be fixed systems, mobile systems or portable systems. Although the various components of Fig. 1 are illustrated as discrete elements, it should be recognized that certain operations of some of the various components may be performed by the same physical device, e.g., by one or more microprocessors or other type of devices.

Turning now to Figs. 2a - 2e collectively illustrating a graphical user interface

(GUI) 202 to be displayed at one of the above discussed client devices 106, 108, 110, in the illustrated embodiment provided as an application ("app") or within e.g. a web browser of the portable client device 106 being a tablet. The online game of chance to be played within the GUI is a slot game, visualized within the GUI 202 as comprising five individual reels 204 provided with a plurality of different symbols (and three lines). The GUI also comprises a

"button" 206 to start the game, here provided with the description "SPIN" for initiating a turn of the game. In addition, the GUI 202 comprises an indicator of the current stake 208 (i.e. payment for each turn of the game) and an indicator of the total payment to the player 210.

During operation of the slot game, predefined favorable combinations of symbols visualized at the reels 204 within the GUI 202 will result in a payment to the player. In regards to the present invention, the turns of the game may be performed at the tablet 106 but are typically rather performed at the server 102. That is, the GUI 202 of the tablet 106 will only act as a display of turns of the games, where the server 102 will perform all processing in regards to determination/calculation/further steps performed when playing an online game.

In accordance to the present disclosure and with further reference to Fig. 3, the player (user) is as a first step identified by the server 102 through the GUI 202 of the client device 106. Once the player has been identified, the server 102 sends a request, S2, for a payment for initiating the game. The player may respond by providing such a payment, for example by using some of the funds already available, providing further payments or by redeeming an offer for example provided as a promotional code, e.g. to be entered through the GUI 202.

Alternatively, and as is illustrated in relation to Fig. 2b, the offer may be provided as a result of a turn of the game. In the illustration provided in Fig. 2b, the player operates the slot game by activating the button 206, resulting in a favorable outcome where three "hearts" are indicated diagonally by line 212. In the illustrated embodiment, the combination of symbols within the reels 204 where three hearts are visualized results in an offer to the player, with further reference to Fig. 2c, where a "pop-up" 214 is provided within the GUI 202 indicating the player will be provided with 10 free wins. In accordance to the present disclosure, the player redeems the offer, S3, and is thereafter invited, S4, to play the offered 10 free wins. The player initiates the process of playing for the 10 provided free wins by pushing button 206, now having an updated indication of "FREE WINS". Once initiated, the reels 204 of the GUI 202 will start to rotate in regards to a turn of the game, with further reference to Fig. 2d.

However, rather than visualizing all turns of the games relating to the provided 10 wins, the server 102 will perform a large plurality of turns of the game "in the

background" (typically such a number of background turns of the game resulting in 10 wins, as such played in the background in a parallel of consecutive manner depending on implementation). That is, the turns of the games are not necessarily visualized within the GUI 202 of the tablet 106, but rather stored within the database 104. The server 102 will then compare the outcome of all the turns of the game played in the background and only select the once to be visualized, S5, to the player within the GUI 202 of the tablet 106, as is exemplified in Fig. 2e where line 212 indicates the combination of five horizontal "star symbols". As a result of the favorable outcome, the total payment 210 to be paid to the player is increased. In Fig. 2e, the indicator 206 is updated for providing the player of which of the free wins that currently is displayed within the GUI 202.

Preferably, only turns of the games having a favorable outcome being more advantageous than a predefined and possibly dynamic threshold are visualized to the player. Such a threshold may be dynamically adapted based on the current stake, e.g. as a multiplying factor of the stake (e.g. only payments being at least three times the stake are visualized to the player). Alternatively, all results generating a payment above a fixed number of units of the currency used for payment may be visualized to the player (e.g. all payments being at least $10 are visualized to the player). A combination of the both are possible and within the scope of the invention.

The process shown in Figs. 2d and 2e are repeated for the remaining free wins, i.e. the server 102 controls the GUI 202 of the tablet 106 to visualize the remaining nine wins to be provided to the player. Consequently, the total payment 210 will be updated for each of the wins, as well as an update of the indicator 206. As understood based on the above, not all of the wins must be visualized to the player as the threshold may be higher than some of the wins. In case all (or at least a few) wins results in a payment being below the predetermined threshold, the server 102 may select to dynamically lower threshold such that a suitable number of wins are visualized to the player to keep the positive psychological effect to presenting wins to the player. In summary, the present invention relates to a method of operating an electronic gaming system comprising a control unit, the gaming system configured for providing an online game of chance to be visualized to a player within a graphical user interface (GUI) controlled by the control unit and comprised with the gaming system, the online game having a selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game, the method comprising identifying a player having the intention to play the game provided by the gaming system, acquiring a payment from the player for playing the game, receiving, from the player, at least one of said payment or a request to redeem an offer previously acquired by the player, wherein the offer provides the player with a benefit when playing the game, if a request to redeem an offer is received from the player validating the authenticity of the offer, determining the benefit to be provided to the player, and configuring control portions of the GUI based on the determined benefit, inviting the player to play the game within the GUI, and visualizing a turn of the game to the player within the GUI, wherein if the benefit is determined to correspond to an opportunity of receiving a predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes when playing the game, the player is invited to play the game until the predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes have been reached without acquiring further payments for playing the game.

Advantages with the invention includes an improved attraction to the gaming concept by allowing for example a potential player to experience all aspects of the game, including experiencing the success of winning the game, without having to provide a payment for such an experience. The full aspect of experiencing the game also includes receiving an accumulated payout corresponding to a predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes when playing the game. Accordingly, providers of online games may readily provide offerings to current and potential clients (e.g. players to other games provided by the online game provider), where the offerings will have an in comparison lower threshold of acceptance, as a sure win is the result of such an acceptance.

In addition, the control functionality of the present disclosure may be implemented using existing computer processors, or by a special purpose computer processor for an appropriate system, incorporated for this or another purpose, or by a hardwired system. Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure include program products comprising machine-readable media for carrying or having machine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable media can comprise RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information is transferred or provided over a network or another communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readable medium. Thus, any such connection is properly termed a machine-readable medium.

Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executable instructions include, for example, instructions and data which cause a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

Although the figures may show a sequence the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps and decision steps. Additionally, even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art.

Further, a single unit may perform the functions of several means recited in the claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting to the claim. Furthermore, in the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality.

Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments.

Claims

1. A method of operating an electronic gaming system comprising a control unit, the gaming system configured for providing an online game of chance to be visualized to a player within a graphical user interface (GUI) controlled by the control unit and comprised with the gaming system, the online game having a selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game, the method comprising:

- identifying a player having the intention to play the game provided by the gaming system;

- acquiring a payment from the player for playing the game;

- receiving, from the player, at least one of said payment or a request to redeem an offer previously acquired by the player, wherein the offer provides the player with a benefit when playing the game;

- if a request to redeem an offer is received from the player:

- validating the authenticity of the offer;

- determining the benefit to be provided to the player; and

- configuring control portions of the GUI based on the determined benefit;

- inviting the player to play the game within the GUI, and

- visualizing a turn of the game to the player within the GUI,

wherein if the benefit is determined to correspond to an opportunity of receiving a predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes when playing the game, the player is invited to play the game until the predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes have been reached without acquiring further payments for playing the game.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an accumulated payment corresponding to the plurality of favorable outcomes is provided to the player.

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein a selected portion of the turns are visualized to the player.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein turns of the game resulting in a favorable outcome are visualized to the player.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game is adjustable.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game is adjusted based on the determined benefit to be provided to the player.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the game is a simulation of a multi-reel slots game.

8. An electronic gaming system configured for providing an online game of chance having a selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game, the electronic gaming system, comprising:

- a player terminal provided with a graphical user interface (GUI) and operable by a player to visualize the game; and

- a control unit connected to the player terminal, wherein the control unit is configured to:

- identifying the player;

- acquiring a payment from the player for playing the game;

- receiving at least one of said payment or a request to redeem an offer previously acquired by the player, wherein the offer provides the player with a benefit when playing the game;

- if the previously acquired offer is received from the player:

- validating the authenticity of the offer;

- determining the benefit to be provided to the player; and

- configuring the GUI of the gaming system based on the determined benefit;

- inviting the player to play the game within the GUI, and

- visualizing a turn of the game to the player within the GUI,

9. The electronic gaming system according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is configured to calculate the outcome of turns of the game, and the control unit is further configured to select a portion of the turns to be visualized to the player.

10. The electronic gaming system according to claim 9, wherein the selected portion of the turns are subsequently visualized to the player.

11. An online electronic gaming system employing the method according to claim 1.

12. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having stored thereon computer program means for operating an electronic gaming system comprising a control unit, the gaming system configured for providing an online game of chance to be visualized to a player within a graphical user interface (GUI) controlled by the control unit and comprised with the gaming system, the online game having a selected probability of favorable outcome per turn of the game, the computer program product comprising:

- code for identifying a player having the intention to play the game provided by the gaming system;

- code for acquiring a payment from the player for playing the game;

- code for receiving, from the player, at least one of said payment or a request to redeem an offer previously acquired by the player, wherein the offer provides the player with a benefit when playing the game;

- if a request to redeem an offer is received from the player:

- code for validating the authenticity of the offer;

- code for determining the benefit to be provided to the player; and

- code for configuring control portions of the GUI based on the determined benefit;

- code for inviting the player to play the game within the GUI, and - code for visualizing a turn of the game to the player within the GUI, wherein if the benefit is determined to correspond to an opportunity of receiving a predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes when playing the game, the player is invited to play the game until the predetermined numbers of favorable outcomes have been reached without acquiring further payments for playing the game.