US 2013/0296015 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 pay 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, said method comprising:

(a) accepting a wager on at least one of a plurality of paylines associated with a plurality of reels for a play of a base game;
(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display a number of symbols of each of the plurality of reels if a number of credits is wagered on a number of the plurality of paylines;
(c) for the play of the base game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a first bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than a first threshold, and
(ii) a first bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination occurs in the play of the base game;
(d) for the play of the base game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display a second different bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than a second threshold, and
(ii) the first bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination occurred in the play of the base game;
and
(e) for the play of the base game causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with the at least one display device to display the second different bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than the second threshold, and
(ii) a second different bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination is displayed in the base game.

9 more elements

A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor;
at least one display device;
at least one input device;
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 operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:
(a) accept a wager on at least one of a plurality of paylines associated with a plurality of reels for a play of a base game;
(b) display a number of symbols of each of the plurality of reels if a number of credits is wagered on a number of the plurality of paylines;
(c) for the play of the base game, display a first bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than a first threshold, and
(ii) a first bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination occurs in the play of the base game;
(d) for the play of the base game, display a second different bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than a second threshold, and
(ii) the first bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination occurred in the play of the base game;
and
(e) for the play of the base game, display the second different bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than the second threshold, and
(ii) a second different bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination is displayed in the base game.

14 more elements

A non-transit computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) operate with at least one input device to accept a wager on at least of a plurality of paylines associated with a plurality of reels for a play of a base game;
(b) cause at least one display device to display a number of symbols of each of the plurality of reels if a number of credits is wagered on a number of the plurality of paylines;
(c) for the play of the base game, cause the at least one display device to display a first bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than a first threshold, and
(ii) bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination occurs in the play of the base game;
(d) for the play of the base game, cause the at least one display device to display a second different bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than a second threshold, and
(ii) the first bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination occurred in the play of the base game;
and
(e) for the play of the base game, cause the at least one display device to display the second different bonus game if:
(i) the number of paylines wagered on for the play of the base game was greater than the second threshold, and
(ii) a second different bonus trigger symbol or symbol combination is displayed in the base game.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/889,010Filed 7 May 2013
Priority: 21 Sep 2001
Published: 7 Nov 2013
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
Application13/482,464Continuation · filed 29 May 2012
Application13/889,010Continuation
Application13/482,464Division
Application12/014,354Continuation
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.