US 2012/0238347 A1Published application

Gaming device having wager dependent bonus game play

AssigneeIgt

InventorAnthony J. Baerlocher

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Abstract

In one embodiment of the present invention, the player must wager a number of paylines to qualify for one of a plurality of bonus games. The highest required number of paylines qualifies the player to play the main or most elaborate bonus game. The main or first bonus game preferably has the highest average payout per credit wagered. This provides an incentive to the player to play the highest required number of paylines. In an embodiment, any number of paylines less than the highest required number or max lines qualifies the player to play a second bonus game. The second bonus game has an average payout per credit wagered that is slightly less than the main bonus game. This allows the incentive or disparity between payouts to be set by the game designer so that the player not wagering max lines or the highest required number is not overly disadvantaged.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

accepting a wager on at least one of a plurality of paylines associated with a plurality of reels for a play of a primary game;
displaying a number of symbols of each of the plurality of reels;
for the play of the primary game, displaying a first bonus game having a first average payout per credit wagered if:
(a) a wager of an amount on a first number of paylines in the primary game was made, and
(b) a first bonus game trigger symbol or symbol combination occurs in the play of the primary game;
for the play of the primary game, displaying a second different bonus game having a different average payout per credit wagered than the first bonus game if:
(a) a wager of the same amount on a second different number of paylines was made in the primary game, and
(b) a second different bonus game trigger symbol or symbol combination occurs in the play of the primary game, wherein the second number of paylines is different than the first number of paylines;
and
for the play of the primary game, displaying the second different bonus game if:
(a) a wager of the same amount on the second different number of paylines was made in the primary game, and
(b) the first bonus game trigger symbol or symbol combination occurs in the play of the primary game.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/482,464Filed 29 May 2012
Priority: 21 Sep 2001
Published: 20 Sep 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

G07F 17/3213
Display means: details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
G07F 17/32
Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services: for games, toys, sports, or amusements
G07F 17/3244
For games, toys, sports, or amusements: payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
G07F 17/3267
Game play aspects of gaming systems: game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher…

Family

Application09/960,880Continuation · filed 21 Sep 2001
Application12/014,354Division · filed 15 Jan 2008
Application13/482,464Division
Application12/014,354Continuation
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.