US 2014/0213341 A1 · GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD INCLUDING AN EVALUATION OF A PARTIAL SYMBOL COMBINATION

Abstract

A game to be modified in accordance with the invention involves a first random outcome and a second random outcome that are combined according to game rules to produce a game outcome. The game is administered by receiving a player request for a specific entry, the specific entry replacing one of the random outcomes and being selected from a finite set of possibilities not determined by chance. The requested specific entry affects the probable outcome of the game. The specific entry is combined with the remaining one of the random outcomes according to the game rules to determine the game outcome. According to one embodiment, the specific entry may be a score such as 18 which replaces the player's hand in the game of blackjack.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A gaming system comprising:

a display device;
an input device;
a processor;
and
a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to, for a play of a game:
(a) cause at least two, but less than all, of a plurality of reels to each display one of a plurality of symbols to form a partial symbol combination;
(b) determine a wager amount based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the displayed partial symbol combination;
(c) enable a player to place the determined wager amount;
and
(d) after the player places the determined wager amount:
(i) for each of the remaining reels not displaying one of the plurality of symbols to form the partial symbol combination, cause said remaining reel to display a randomly generated symbol of the plurality of symbols, said displayed randomly generated symbol and said displayed partial symbol combination forming a complete symbol combination,
(ii) determine any awards associated with the formed complete symbol combination, said determination based, at least on part, on an evaluation of the formed complete symbol combination, and
(iii) cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

10 more elements

A gaming system comprising:

a display device;
an input device;
a processor;
and
a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to, for a play of a game:
(a) for each of at least one first reel of a plurality of reels, cause said first reel to display one of a plurality of symbols along a payline;
(b) determine a wager amount associated with said payline, said determined wager amount being based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the at least one symbol displayed by the at least one first reel along said payline;
(c) enable a player to place the determined wager amount;
and
(d) after the player places the determined wager amount:
(i) for each of at least one second reel of the plurality of reels, cause said second reel to display a randomly generated symbol along said payline,
(ii) determine any awards associated with the symbols displayed along said payline, said determination based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the symbols displayed along said payline, and
(iii) cause any determined awards to be provided to the player.

10 more elements

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

(a) causing at least two, but less than all, of a plurality of reels to each display one of a plurality of symbols to form a partial symbol combination;
(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a wager amount based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the displayed partial symbol combination;
(c) enabling a player to place the determined wager amount;
and
(d) after the player places the determined wager amount:
(i) for each of the remaining reels not displaying one of the plurality of symbols to form the partial symbol combination, causing said remaining reel to display a randomly generated symbol of the plurality of symbols, said displayed randomly generated symbol and said displayed partial symbol combination forming a complete symbol combination,
(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards associated with the formed complete symbol combination, said determination based, at least on part, on an evaluation of the Formed complete symbol combination, and
(iii) causing any determined awards to be provided to the player.

5 more elements

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

(a) for each of at least one first reel of a plurality of reels, causing said first reel to display one of a plurality of symbols along a payline;
(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a wager amount associated with said payline, said determined wager amount being based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the at least one symbol displayed by the at least one first reel along said payline;
(c) enabling a player to place the determined wager amount;
and
(d) after the player places the determined wager amount:
(i) for each of at least one second reel of the plurality of reels, causing said second reel to display a randomly generated symbol along said payline,
(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards associated with the symbols displayed along said payline, said determination based, at least in part, on an evaluation of the symbols displayed along said payline, and
(iii) causing any determined awards to be provided to the player.

5 more elements

A gaming system comprising:

a display device;
an input device;
a processor;
and
a memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to:
(a) enable a player to place one of:
(i) a first wager amount, said first wager amount associated with a first partial symbol combination including at least two of a plurality of symbols and having a first average expected payout, and
(ii) a second, greater wager amount, said second wager amount associated with a second, different partial symbol combination including at least a different two of the plurality of symbols and having a second, greater average expected payout;
(b) if the player placed the first wager amount:
(i) cause at least two, but less than all, of a plurality of reels to display the at least two symbols of the first partial symbol combination,
(ii) cause at least another one of the plurality of reels to each display a randomly generated symbol of a plurality of symbols, said displayed randomly generated symbol and said at least two symbols of the first partial symbol combination forming a first symbol combination,
(iii) determine any awards associated with the formed first symbol combination, and
(iv) cause any determined awards associated with the formed first symbol combination to be provided to the player;
and
(c) if the player placed the second, different wager amount:
(i) cause at least two, but less than all, of the plurality of reels to display the at least two symbols of the second partial symbol combination,
(ii) cause said at least another one of the plurality of reels to each display a randomly generated symbol of the plurality of symbols, said displayed randomly generated symbol and said at least two symbols of the second partial symbol combination forming a second, different symbol combination,
(iii) determine any awards associated with the formed second symbol combination, and
(iv) cause any determined awards associated with the formed second symbol combination to be provided to the player,

16 more elements

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

(a) enabling a player to place one of:
(i) a first wager amount, said first wager amount associated with a first partial symbol combination including at least two of a plurality of symbols and having a first average expected payout, and
(ii) a second, greater wager amount, said second wager amount associated with a second, different partial symbol combination including at least a different two of the plurality of symbols and having a second, greater average expected payout;
(b) if the player placed the first wager amount:
(i) causing at least two, but less than all, of a plurality of reels to display the at least two symbols of the first partial symbol combination,
(ii) causing at least another one of the plurality of reels to each display a randomly generated symbol of a plurality of symbols, said displayed randomly generated symbol and said at least two symbols of the first partial symbol combination forming a first symbol combination,
(iii) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine any awards associated with the formed first symbol combination, and
(iv) causing any determined awards associated with the formed first symbol combination to be provided to the player;
and
(c) if the player placed the second, different wager amount:
(i) causing at least two, but less than all, of the plurality of reels to display the at least two symbols of the second partial symbol combination,
(ii) causing said at least another one of the plurality of reels to each display a randomly generated symbol of the plurality of symbols, said displayed randomly generated symbol and said at least two symbols of the second partial symbol combination forming a second, different symbol combination,
(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any awards associated with the formed second symbol combination, and
(iv) causing any determined awards associated with the formed second symbol combination to be provided to the player.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gaming system and method including an evaluation of a partial symbol combination

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Gaming system and method including an evaluation of a partial symbol combination

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30