Variable payout wager games

A gaming server facilitating play of a variable payout game on a workstation, comprising:

• a processor and a software process coded as a set of instructions for execution by the processor, the software process causing the gaming server to perform the following functions:
• (a) making an initial determination of a payout percentage for an instance of the variable payout game;
• and
• (b) generating one or more results of turns of play of the variable payout game instance in accordance with the initial determination of a payout percentage and transmitting said result(s) of play to the workstation.

A gaming workstation for playing a variable payout game comprising:

• 1) a display:
• 2) a processing unit;
• 3) a memory storing a gaming application for execution by the processing unit,
• wherein the gaming application:
• a) communicates with a central gaming server to receive datagrams containing outcomes of play of a variable payout game, the outcomes of play in accordance with an initial determination of a payout percentage for the variable payout game;
• b) presents the outcomes of play on the display;
• and
• c) provides data to the central gaming server for purposes of enabling the central gaming server to automatically re-determine a percentage payout for the game.

A gaming workstation for playing a variable payout game comprising:

• 1) a display:
• 2) a processing unit;
• 3) a memory storing a gaming application for execution by the processing unit,
• wherein the application
• a) determines outcomes of play of the variable payout game in accordance with an initial determination of a payout percentage for the variable payout game;
• b) presents the outcomes of play on the display;
• and
• c) re-determines a payout percentage for the variable payout game based on at least one of:
• i) the elapsed time of play of the variable payout game, ii) the number of consecutive instances of play of the variable payout game occurring using the workstation, iii) the length of time elapsed since an instance of play occurred on the workstation, and iv) an event occurring on the workstation either terminating an instance of the variable payout game or selecting a new instance of the variable payout game.

A method of facilitating play of a variable payout game on a workstation having a display, comprising the steps of:

• (a) at a gaming server, making an initial determination of a payout percentage for an instance of the variable payout game;
• (b) generating one or more results of turns of play of the variable payout game instance at the gaming server in accordance with the initial determination of a payout percentage and transmitting said result(s) of play to the workstation;
• (c) receiving a datagram at the gaming server indicating that the instance of the variable payout game has been terminated;
• (d) receiving a datagram at the gaming server indicating that a new instance of the game has been selected;
• (e) determining anew the payout percentage for the new instance of play;
• and
• (f) generating one or more further results of turns of play of the variable payout game at the gaming server in accordance with the determination anew of the payout percentage and transmitting said further result(s) of play to the workstation.