# US 2013/0157733 A1 · Gaming machines having normal and hot modes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0157733 A1 - Document ID: US20130157733A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/331,248 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Igt - Inventors: Michael R. Thorne; Bryan D. Wolf - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130157733A1 ## CPC - G07F 17/3227: {Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters} - G07F 17/323: {wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions} - G07F 17/3244: {Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes} - G07F 17/34: depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic gaming machine having a default mode in which the electronic gaming machine provides a default average expected payback percentage for each play of a wagering game, and a different second hot mode in which the electronic gaming machine provides an increased average expected payback percentage for each play that wagering game. In The electronic gaming machine is in the default mode for certain periods of play, and is in the hot mode for certain periods of play when, in certain embodiments, a random determination is made that the hot mode will be employed. In various embodiments, players are not informed that the electronic gaming machine is in the hot mode. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: (a) causing an electronic gaming machine to operate in a default mode in which the electronic gaming machine has a default average expected payback percentage for each play of a wagering game; (b) causing at least one processor to determine when the at least one processor should determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in a hot mode, the electronic gaming machine having a greater average expected payback percentage for each play of the wagering game in the hot mode; (c) when the at least one processor determines that the at least one processor should determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode, causing said at least one processor to determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode; and (d) after the at least one processor determines that the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode, causing the electronic gaming machine to operate in the hot mode for a designated period of play. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is a processor of the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor a processor of a central controller associated with the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to determine when the at least one processor should determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode at one of: (a) a randomly determined point in time, (b) at a point in time in a schedule of regular intervals, and (c) at a point in time after an occurrence of a designated triggering event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode independent of any determination of whether any other electronic gaming machine in a group of electronic gaming machines are in hot modes. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode at least on part based on whether any other electronic gaming machines in a group of electronic gaming machines are in hot modes. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein causing said at least one processor to determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode includes causing the at least one processor to randomly determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, which includes causing the at least one processor to determine a length of the designated period of play based on one of: (a) a predefined static period, (b) a randomly determined schedule, and (c) a predetermined schedule. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the designated period of play: (a) is a designated quantity of plays of the wagering game, (b) is a designated period of time, (c) continues until one or more designated terminating events occur, (d) continues until a designated amount is won, (e) continues until a designated amount is lost, or (f) continues until a certain number of winning outcomes occur. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, which includes, when the electronic gaming machine is in the hot mode, not directly informing any player that that the electronic gaming machine is in the hot mode. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, which includes, when the electronic gaming machine is part of a group of electronic gaming machines, and when the electronic gaming machine is in the hot mode, causing a display of an indication that one of the electronic gaming machines of the group is in the hot mode without informing any player which of the electronic gaming machines in the group is in the hot mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, which is in part provided through a data network. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the data network is an internet. ### Claim 14 A gaming system comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to: (a) cause an electronic gaming machine to operate in a default mode in which the electronic gaming machine has a default average expected payback percentage for each play of a wagering game; (b) determine when the at least one processor should determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in a hot mode, the electronic gaming machine having a greater average expected payback percentage for each play of the wagering game in the hot mode; (c) when the at least one processor determines that the at least one processor should determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode, determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode; and (d) after the at least one processor determines that the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode, cause the electronic gaming machine to operate in the hot mode for a designated period of play. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is a processor of the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor a processor of a central controller associated with the electronic gaming machine. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine when the at least one processor should determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode at one of: (a) a randomly determined point in time, (b) at a point in time in a schedule of regular intervals, and (c) at a point in time after an occurrence of a designated triggering event. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode independent of any determination of whether any other electronic gaming machine in a group of electronic gaming machines are in hot modes. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode at least on part based on whether any other electronic gaming machines in a group of electronic gaming machines are in hot modes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode by randomly determining if the electronic gaming machine should operate in the hot mode. ### Claim 21 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine a length of the designated period of play based on one of: (a) a predefined static period, (b) a randomly determined schedule, and (c) a predetermined schedule. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the designated period of play: (a) is a designated quantity of plays of the wagering game, (b) is a designated period of time, (c) continues until one or more designated terminating events occur, (d) continues until a designated amount is won, (e) continues until a designated amount is lost, or (f) continues until a certain number of winning outcomes occur. ### Claim 23 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when the electronic gaming machine is in the hot mode, not directly inform any player that that the electronic gaming machine is in the hot mode. ### Claim 24 (depends on 14) The gaming system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, when the electronic gaming machine is part of a group of electronic gaming machines, and when the electronic gaming machine is in the hot mode, cause a display of an indication that one of the electronic gaming machines of the group is in the hot mode without informing any player which of the electronic gaming machines in the group is in the hot mode.