US6068552A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gaming device and method of operation thereof
Assignee: Zynga Inc
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Filing: 1998-03-31
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Granted: 2000-05-30
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Expires: 2018-03-31
Abstract
Abstract A gaming device such as a video based slot machine provides a player the ability to modify at least one parameter of the slot machine. The slot machine then modifies other parameters to ensure a desired house advantage. Odds, payout schedules and wager amounts may be customized by a player, and the slot machine automatically determines changes in other parameters which were not customized to maintain a constant house advantage. Software running on the slot machine uses an equation that takes into account pertinent parameters or variables such as size of jackpot, amount wagered taken in at each pull, and probability of hitting the jackpot at each pull. Based on the equation, the software adjusts parameters other than the one(s) specified by the player so that the outcome (the house advantage) remains constant with each pull. A player interface provides an easy to use method of modifying selected parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Jay S. Walker
- 👤 James A. Jorasch
- 👤 Magdalena Mik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 22:16
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244; G07F17/3225; G07F17/323
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
46 words
A gaming device comprising: a player input module that receives a modification to a first game parameter from a player; and a parameter modification module that modifies a second game parameter based on the modification to the first game parameter to maintain a desired house advantage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
46 words
A gaming device comprising: a player input module that receives a modification to a first game parameter from a player; and a parameter modification module that modifies a second game parameter based on the modification to the first game parameter to maintain a desired house advantage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the desired house advantage is a predetermined constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the modification module modifies a third game parameter in conjunction with modifying the second game parameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the first game parameter comprises a desired payout amount.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gaming device of claim 4 wherein the second game parameter is selected from the group consisting of the probability of a given outcome occurring, wager required to play, and other payouts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the first game parameter is selected from the group consisting of payout, odds of winning the payout, number of cards in a deck, removal of cards from a deck, substitution of cards in a deck, number of reels and wager required to play.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the player input module enables a player to modify a plurality of game parameters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gaming device of claim 1 wherein the parameter modification module modifies a plurality of parameters not modified by the player.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gaming device of claim 8 wherein all parameters not modified by the player are modified by the parameter modification module.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of operating a gaming machine comprising the steps of: receiving a player input representative of a desired modification to a game parameter; and modifying another game parameter based on the desired modification and a desired house advantage.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
39 words
A method of operating a gaming machine comprising the steps of: receiving a player input representative of a desired modification to a game parameter; and modifying another game parameter based on the desired modification and a desired house advantage.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 10 and further comprising the step of displaying the modified game parameters to the player.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 and further comprising the steps of: executing a play of the gaming machine using the modified game parameters; determining an outcome of the play; and determining a payout amount based on the outcome.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the game parameters are selected from a group consisting of payout amount, wager amount, and odds of winning.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a gaming machine to perform the steps comprising: receiving a player input representative of a desired modification to a game parameter; and modifying another game parameter based on the desired modification and a house advantage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
A machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon for causing a gaming machine to perform the steps comprising: receiving a player input representative of a desired modification to a game parameter; and modifying another game parameter based on the desired modification and a house advantage.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of operating a gaming machine comprising the steps of: receiving from a player a selected value for a first game parameter; retrieving a house advantage value; and adjusting a second game parameter based on the selected value of the first game parameter and the retrieved house advantage value to ensure that the relationship between amounts wagered and payouts remains substantially constant over time.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
65 words
A method of operating a gaming machine comprising the steps of: receiving from a player a selected value for a first game parameter; retrieving a house advantage value; and adjusting a second game parameter based on the selected value of the first game parameter and the retrieved house advantage value to ensure that the relationship between amounts wagered and payouts remains substantially constant over time.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of operating a gaming machine comprising the steps of: receiving from a player a selected value for a first game parameter; retrieving a house advantage value; adjusting a second game parameter based on the selected value of the first game parameter and the retrieved house advantage value; executing a play of the gaming device using the selected value of the first game parameter and the adjusted second game parameter; determining an outcome of the play; and determining a payout amount based on the outcome.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of operating a gaming machine comprising the steps of: receiving from a player a selected value for a first game parameter; retrieving a house advantage value; adjusting a second game parameter based on the selected value of the first game parameter and the retrieved house advantage value; executing a play of the gaming device using the selected value of the first game parameter and the adjusted second game parameter; determining an outcome of the play; and determining a payout amount based on the outcome.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of adjusting the second game parameter is based on ensuring that the house advantage is approximately equal to a wager amount less a sum of all potential payouts multiplied by the probability of each such potential payout.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the first parameter comprises a payout parameter of a selected outcome, and wherein the second parameter comprises a probability of the selected outcome.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18, and further comprising the step of modifying the probability of a further outcome.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the further outcome has no associated payout.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the step of adjusting the second game parameter comprises the step of retrieving a formula to be used in such adjusting step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the formula retrieved is dependent on the type of parameter for which a value is received from the player.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the formula is selected from the group consisting of a compensating probability formula, a payout formula and a wager formula.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
49 words
A video poker machine comprising: a player input module that receives a modification to a deck of cards from which a hand is dealt; a parameter modification module that maintains a desired house advantage by modifying a video poker parameter based on the modification to the deck of cards.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
A video poker machine comprising: a player input module that receives a modification to a deck of cards from which a hand is dealt; a parameter modification module that maintains a desired house advantage by modifying a video poker parameter based on the modification to the deck of cards.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
42 words
The video poker machine of claim 24 wherein the modification to the deck of cards is selected from the group consisting of the number of cards in the deck, removal of cards from the deck, and substitution of cards in the deck.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-05-30 | 2003-11-29 | 2004-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-05-30 | 2007-11-29 | 2008-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-05-30 | 2011-11-29 | 2012-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |