Patent · US Expired

Gaming machine with variable probability of obtaining bonus game payouts

US6159097A · kind A · utility

1,216Cited by
40References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 1999
Grant dateDec 12, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 30, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F17/3267
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A gaming machine includes a basic game and a bonus game. The basic game is controlled by a processor in response to a wager amount and includes a plurality of different start-bonus outcomes. The bonus game is activated by the start-bonus outcomes which cause the processor to shift operation from the basic game to the bonus game. The bonus game is capable of providing a plurality of bonus payouts. In accordance with one feature of the gaming machine, a probability of winning certain ones of the bonus payouts varies in response to the different start-bonus outcomes that activate the bonus game. In accordance with another feature of the gaming machine, the bonus game includes a video-type display controlled by the processor and displaying a plurality of player-selectable elements, at least one of which represents a winning bonus game outcome. The player-selectable elements are successively selected by a player until the winning element is selected. In response to the selection of the winning element, the bonus game awards the player a bonus payout. The value of the bonus payout successively decreases in response to the player successively selecting the non-winning elements prior to se…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.