US20100160034A1 - System for operating a sequence of games with enhanced payouts - Google Patents

Abstract

A gaming system and method for operating a sequence of single games, providing enhanced payouts for bets placed with credits earned over the course of previous games, and restricting access to certain games according to a predetermined set of criterion. The system comprises a terminal for players to place their bets on outcomes of a last selected game and a single game controller for operating the last selected game. The system further comprises a sequencer for selecting the next game of the sequence at predetermined intervals of time and determining whether players are eligible to participate in the selected games. The system also comprises a bet controller for determining whether the bets were placed with regular or bonus credits, and assigning enhanced payout factors to those of the bets that were placed with bonus credits.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to devices and methods for operating games of chance. More specifically, it relates to devices and methods for operating a sequence of games of chance presenting enhanced payouts.
BACKGROUND
• Gambling has historically been a favourite pastime for many and has, over the years, enjoyed very rapid growth. However, it has recently become apparent that some of the most successful games, such as Roulette, have been recently slipping in popularity. As a result, there is a need for a new generation of games, one that will revive the interest of casino patrons and enable the casino industry to sustain its growth.
• Some of the industry's leaders have been developing new games, new systems for operating games, and new incentives, most of which are designed to improve the overall gambling experience of casino patrons and hold their interest for extended periods of time.
SUMMARY
• It is an object of the present invention to provide an additional incentive in the form of enhanced payouts for bets placed with previously earned credits.
• It is a further object of the present invention to provide a system for operating a sequence of distinct games at predetermined intervals of time on a same platform.
• In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming system for providing enhanced payouts, the system comprising a terminal for accepting regular bets placed with regular credits and bonus bets placed with bonus credits on any of a same set of game outcomes, a game controller for providing game display instructions to the terminal and for selecting one the game outcomes in accordance with rules of the game, the main bet controller for multiplying the regular credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits earned with the regular bets, a bonus bet controller for multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a bonus factor to determine credits earned with the bonus bets, wherein the bonus factor is greater than the regular factor, and a credit controller for incrementing the player's credit balance by at least some of the credits earned with the regular bets and bonus bets.
• In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing an enhanced payout comprising providing regular credits and bonus credits in accordance with two different acquisition modalities, accepting regular bets placed with the regular credits or bonus bets placed with the bonus credits on any of a same set of game outcomes, selecting one the outcomes, if the regular bets are accepted, multiplying the regular credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits earned with the regular bets, if the bonus bets are accepted, multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a bonus factor to determine the credits earned with the bonus bets, wherein the bonus factor is greater than the regular factor, and incrementing the player's credit balance by at least some of the credits earned with the regular bets and bonus bets.
• In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a gaming system for operating a sequence of single games, the system comprising a sequencer for selecting a next one of the games of the sequence, a timer for enabling the sequencer at predetermined intervals of time, a terminal for accepting bets placed by a player on any of a set of outcomes of the last selected game, a single game controller for providing game display instructions to the terminal and for selecting one of the potential outcomes, the bet controller for determining the credits earned by the player with those of the bets placed on the selected outcome, and the credit controller for incrementing the player's credit balance by at least a portion of the earned credits.
• In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a sequence of single games, the method comprising selecting a next one of the games of the sequence at predetermined intervals of time, accepting bets placed by a player on any of a set of outcomes of the last selected game, selecting one of the outcomes, determining the credits earned by the player with those of the bets placed on the selected outcome, and incrementing the player's credit balance by at least a portion of the earned credits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
• FIG. 1 is top plan view of an apparatus for playing a sequence of games offering enhanced payouts according to one embodiment, the apparatus comprising a center display for displaying game outcomes and four individual terminals for accepting bets, displaying earned credits, and displaying credit balances;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an environment for playing the sequence of games according to one embodiment, the environment comprising a center display for displaying game outcomes positioned, the center display positioned at the center of semicircular rows of horizontally mounted terminals for accepting bets, displaying earned credits, and displaying credit balances;
• FIG. 3 illustrates a user interface displayed on the terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the first of a sequence of six games;
• FIG. 4 illustrates a visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the selection of an outcome for the first game;
• FIG. 5 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface informing the player of the first game's outcome;
• FIG. 6 illustrates the user interface displayed on a terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the first game;
• FIG. 7 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the course of the first game and providing the option of placing a bet with the earned credits on one of the second game's outcomes;
• FIG. 8 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the second game;
• FIG. 9 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the selection of an outcome for the second game;
• FIG. 10 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface informing the player of the second game's outcome;
• FIG. 11 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the second game;
• FIG. 12 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the course of the second game and providing the option of placing a bet with the earned credits on one of the third game's outcomes;
• FIG. 13 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the third game;
• FIG. 14 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the selection of an outcome for the third game;
• FIG. 15 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface informing the player of the third game's outcome;
• FIG. 16 illustrates the user interface displayed on a terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the third game;
• FIG. 17 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the course of the third game and providing the option of placing a bet with the earned credits on one of the fourth game's outcomes;
• FIG. 18 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the fourth game;
• FIG. 19 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the selection of an outcome for the fourth game;
• FIG. 20 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface informing the player of the fourth game's outcome;
• FIG. 21 illustrates the user interface displayed on a terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the fourth game;
• FIG. 22 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the course of the fourth game and providing the option of placing a bet with the earned credits on one of the fifth game's outcomes;
• FIG. 23 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the fifth game;
• FIG. 24 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the selection of an outcome for the fifth game;
• FIG. 25 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface informing the player of the fifth game's outcome;
• FIG. 26 illustrates the user interface displayed on a terminal for informing the player of the outcome of the fifth game;
• FIG. 27 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the course of the fifth game and providing the option of placing a bet with the earned credits on one of the sixth game's outcomes;
• FIG. 28 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player that no bets can be placed on outcomes of the sixth draw as no credits were earned in the fifth;
• FIG. 29 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the course of the fifth game and providing the option of placing a bet with the earned credits on one of the sixth game's outcomes;
• FIG. 30 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface presenting an animation of the selection of an outcome for the sixth game;
• FIG. 31 illustrates the visual interface displayed on the center display, the visual interface informing the player of the sixth game's outcome;
• FIG. 32 illustrates the user interface displayed on the terminal for informing the player of the credits earned over the course of the sixth game;
• FIG. 33 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a system for operating a sequence of games presenting enhanced payouts according to a preferred embodiment;
• FIG. 34 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a single game controller, a component of the system, according to a preferred embodiment;
• FIG. 35 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a bet controller, a component of the system, according to a preferred embodiment;
• FIG. 36 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a sequence controller, a component of the system, according to a preferred embodiment;
• FIG. 37 is flowchart illustrating a method of providing enhanced payouts according to a preferred embodiment; and
• FIG. 38 is flowchart illustrating a method of operating a sequence of games presenting enhanced payouts according to a preferred embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The system for operating sequential games and its inventive features are described herein below. For exemplary purposes and in order to clearly demonstrate the synergy between the features, a system for operating a sequence of six specific games is presented. However, it should be apparent to a person skilled in the art that other sequences of games may be operated by the system without departing from the spirit of the invention.
• FIG. 1 is top plan view of an apparatus for playing a sequence of games offering enhanced payouts according to one embodiment, the apparatus comprising acenter display103 for displaying game outcomes and fourindividual terminals101 for accepting bets, displaying earned credits, and displaying credit balances.
• Theterminals101, also known in the field of gaming as consoles or stations, are detachably mounted on a same platform and positioned in a substantially circular configuration with respect to thedisplay103, also known in the field of gaming as a communal or central panel. Each of theterminals101 comprises a touch screen, a set of speakers, a currency acceptor, a prepaid casino card reader, a dedicated ticket-in ticket-out printer, as well as a system that enables the interaction of these various components with a player, with each other, and with components of thedisplay103 for the purposes of the game.
• As for thedisplay103, it comprises a screen, a set of speakers, as well as a system that enables the interaction of these various components with each other and with components of the terminals. Furthermore, the screens of theterminals101 anddisplay103 are mounted in a substantially horizontal manner and those of theterminals103 are positioned in proximity of that of thedisplay103 such that a player standing in front of any of theterminals101 may easily shift his attention between the screen of theterminals101 and that of thedisplay103. The number of theterminals101 mounted on the platform may be readily modified as a function of parameters such as spatial constraints and operation costs.
• Although theterminals101 have been described as detachably mounted on the platform, they may be fixedly mounted thereon in order, for instance, to reduce costs associated with the manufacture of such an apparatus. Furthermore, although theterminals101 have been described as positioned in a substantially circular configuration with respect to thedisplay103, they may be positioned otherwise such as in a substantially semicircular configuration with respect to thedisplay103, wherein thedisplay103 is vertically mounted to provide all players with an unobstructed view. Moreover, although each of theterminals101 has been described as comprising a touch screen, it may alternatively comprise an elaborate set of keys or a screen coupled with a set of keys. Also, although thedisplay103 has been described as comprising a screen, it may alternatively comprise a display surface upon which images are projected. Finally, although the screens of theterminals101 anddisplay103 have been described as mounted in a substantially horizontal manner, they may be mounted otherwise such as in a substantially vertical manner to comply with spatial constraints. Alternatively, and as illustrated inFIG. 2, the game may be played in an environment comprising acenter display203 for displaying game outcomes positioned, the center display positioned at the center of semicircular rows of horizontally mountedterminals201 for accepting bets, displaying earned credits, and displaying credit balances.
• For the purposes of the specification, and describing the game within the context of the apparatus illustrated inFIG. 1, a graphical element is said to be displayed on the terminal101 ordisplay103 if the element is displayed on the screen of theterminals101 ordisplay103. Finally, a player is said to select a graphical element if the player applies pressure on a portion of the touch screen of one of theterminals101 within which the element is displayed.
• Referring now toFIG. 33, there is presented a schematic block diagram illustrating a system for operating a sequence of games presenting enhanced payouts according to a preferred embodiment. Prior to turning the system on, graphics for each of the games are stored in auser interface controller3303 and avisual interface controller3315. Furthermore, standard and bonus payout factors are stored in abet controller3307, and game specifications, in asingle game controller3305. Once the system has been customized in accordance with the specific sequence of games to be played, it is turned on and parameters of its various components are initialized.
• Once the system is customized and the generic parameters are initialized, asequence controller3313 provides transition selections to theuser interface controller3303 and thevisual interface controller3315. The transition selections consist in display instructions that inform theuser interface controller3303 and thevisual interface controller3315 of graphics to be displayed on the terminal101 and thecenter display103 between games. At the beginning of a sequence, the graphics serve the purpose of informing players of the manner in which the sequence is operated, the applicable rules, and the first game of the sequence. Within a sequence, the transition graphics serve the purpose of introducing the next game of the sequence while thesingle game controller3305 loads the game specifications. At the end of the sequence, the transition graphics serve the purpose of signalling the end of the sequence and inform the players of an upcoming sequence.
• Thesequence controller3313 provides a game selection signal to thesingle game controller3305, which signal identifies the first game of the sequence. Referring now toFIG. 36, there is provided a schematic block diagram illustrating thesequence controller3313, a component of the system, according to the preferred embodiment. Asequencer3601 retrieves from a store ofsequence rules3605 the next game of the sequence, which happens to be the first game, and the time settings, namely duration of the first game. Thesequencer3601 provides the selected game to thesingle game controller3305 and the time settings to atimer3609.
• Referring now toFIG. 34, and in response to the received game selection signal, thesingle game controller3305 retrieves the specifications of the first game from a store ofgame specifications3405 and provides game display instructions to theuser interface controller3303 and thevisual interface controller3315, which instructions consist in specific references to graphics associated with a betting phase of the first game for display on the terminal101 and thecenter display103.
• One of the main purposes of theterminals101 consists in providing a user interface that enables players to place bets on one or more outcomes for each game of the sequence in an efficient and intuitive manner. When the user interface associated with the first game's betting phase is displayed for the first time on the terminals since the system has been turned on, players who wish to participate in the first game may slide their prepaid card in their terminal's card reader to enter their credit balance into the system. The card data is read and provided to theuser interface controller3303, which in turn stores the player's credit balance in a store of player credits3311. Once theuser interface controller3303 receives confirmation that the credit balance has indeed been stored, it retrieves and assembles graphics for informing the player of the stored credit balance and provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal101 for display.
• Once the credit balance is displayed on the terminal101, the player may place one or more bets on the first game's outcome at any time before the betting phase elapses. Referring now toFIG. 3, there is illustrated the user interface displayed on the terminal101 for placing bets on one or more outcomes of the first of a sequence of six games. Acredit meter303 indicates that five thousand and two credits are available in the player's credit balance. Fourcontrol keys305, each of which is assigned a predetermined number of credits, can be manipulated by the player to select a desired number of credits to be placed on one of the first game's outcomes. Once the desired number of credits is selected, the player may select one of three bettingareas307, each of which is associated to an outcome of the game.
• Referring back toFIG. 33, upon accepting from the terminal101 player input defining a bet request, theuser interface controller303 provides the bet request to acredit controller3309, which retrieves the player's credit balance from the store ofplayer credits3311 and verifies whether the retrieved credit balance holds a sufficient number of credits for the bet to be placed. If sufficient credits are available, thecredit controller3309 decrements the credit balance by the selected number of credits, stores the updated credit balance in the store ofplayer credits3311, and provides the approved bets to thebet controller3307.
• More specifically, and referring toFIG. 35, which presents a schematic block diagram illustrating thebet controller3307 according to a preferred embodiment, thecredit controller3309 stores the approved bet in a store of approvedbets3509. Amain bet controller3501 retrieves the approved bet from the store of approvedbets3509, retrieves a game-appropriate factor from a store offactors3507, and multiplies the retrieved bet and factor to obtain the potential payout, namely the number of credits to be earned should the retrieved bet turn out to be a winning bet. The potential payout is provided to abonus bet controller3503, which in turn retrieves bonus factors of the five subsequent games, and multiplies the potential payout by the retrieved bonus factors to obtain a payout table, namely a table that indicates the number of credits to be earned if the player successfully bets each credit earned in a previous game throughout the sequence. Thebonus bet controller3503 provides the payout table to theuser interface controller3303.
• Theuser interface controller3303 routines retrieves updated credit balances from the store ofplayer credits3311 and approved bets from the store of approvedbets3509. It then retrieves and assembles graphics informing the player of the approved bet, the resulting credit balance decrement, and the resulting payout table before providing the retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal101 for display. Referring back toFIG. 3, the graphics include an updatedcredit meter303,chips309 placed within the player-selected one of the bettingareas307, and updatedpayout table tabs313. More specifically, thecredit meter303 indicates that five thousand two credits remain in the credit balance. Thechips309 within the bettingarea307 indicate that two credits are placed on a dice roll inferior to seven. The first of thepayout table tabs313 indicates that four credits will be earned if the placed bet turns out to be a winning bet. Finally, the remainingpayout table tabs313 indicate that twelve, fifty, five hundred, ten thousand, and twenty thousand credits can be earned if the placed bet turns out to be a winner and the player successfully bets each credit earned over the course of the previous game without investing any additional credits.
• However, if thecredit controller3309 determines that the player's credit balance holds an insufficient number of credits for the bet to be placed, no approved bet and updated credit balance are provided to theuser interface controller3303, and as a result, the user interface displayed on the terminal101 is not updated to reflect the requested bet.
• Atime pane315 is displayed in the top-left corner of theuser interface301 for indicating the amount of time left until the end of the bet phase, following which players may no longer place bets on outcomes of the first game. Once the bet phase expires, and referring back toFIG. 34, anoutcome generator3403, which is a component of thesingle game controller3305, retrieves the first game's specifications from the store ofgame specifications3405 to determine a number of potential outcomes, randomly selects one of the potential outcomes, and provides the selected outcome to amain game controller3401, which in turn provides the selected outcome to other components of the system. More specifically, and referring back toFIG. 33, themain game controller3401 provides the selected outcome to theuser interface controller3303, thevisual interface controller3315, and thebet controller3307.
• Thevisual interface controller3315 retrieves and assembles an animation for informing the players of the selected outcome in an entertaining manner, and provides the retrieved and assembled animation to thecenter display103 for display. Referring now toFIG. 4, there is illustrated avisual interface401 displayed on thecenter display103, thevisual interface401 presenting an animation of the selection of an outcome for the first game, wherein the animation consists in a roll ofdice403. Referring now toFIG. 5, there is illustrated thevisual interface401 displayed on thecenter display103, thevisual interface401 informing the player of the first game's outcome, namely a dice roll of seven, within aresults pane405.
• Referring back toFIG. 33, once the animation is displayed on thecenter display103, theuser interface controller3303 retrieves and assembles graphics for informing the players of the selected outcome, and provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal101 for display. Referring now toFIG. 6, there is illustrated theuser interface301 displayed on the terminal101 for informing the player of the outcome of the first game through amessage601. It is important to note that the outcome illustrated inFIG. 5 is not consistent with themessage601 as the illustrated outcome is only provided for exemplary purposes.
• Referring back toFIG. 35, the selected outcome is provided to themain bet controller3501 and thebonus bet controller3503. Themain bet controller3501 retrieves from the store of approvedbets3509 those of the approved bets placed on the selected outcome, namely the winning bets, retrieves the game-appropriate factor from the store offactors3507, multiplies the winning bets by the retrieved factor to calculate the credits earned with approved bets, stores the calculated credits in a store of earnedcredits3515, and provides the winning bets to theuser interface controller3303. Thebonus bet controller3503 retrieves from a store of bonus bets3514 those of the bonus bets placed on the selected outcome, namely the winning bonus bets, retrieves the game-appropriate bonus factor from a store ofbonus factors3511, multiplies the retrieved bonus bets by the retrieved bonus factors to calculate the credits earned with the bonus bets, stores the calculated credits in the store of earnedcredits3515, and provides the winning bonus bet to theuser interface controller3303.
• The display of the selected outcome on the terminal101 coincides with the end of the first game. Referring back toFIG. 35, once the period of time provided by thesequencer3601 elapses, thetimer3609 provides the sequencer3601 a time signal indicating the end of the first game. In response, thesequencer3601 retrieves the next game of the sequence, namely the second game, from the store ofsequence rules3605, and provides the game selection to aneligibility controller3603, which in turn retrieves from the store ofsequence rules3605 the requirements to be met for players to benefit from bonus conditions.
• In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the bonus conditions are exclusively available to players that have earned credits in an immediately preceding game of a same sequence. Theeligibility controller3603 determines that the selected game is not the first one of the sequence, retrieves the credits earned by the players from the store of earnedcredits3515, identifies those of the players that have not earned credits, and provides the resulting restrictions, which consist in a list of the identified players, to thesequencer3601, which in turn dispatches the restrictions to theuser interface controller3303, and provides transition instructions to theuser interface controller3303 and thevisual interface controller3315.
• Referring back toFIG. 33, theuser interface controller3303 retrieves each player's earned credits from thebet controller3307, and according to the transition instructions provided by thesequence controller3313, retrieves and assembles graphics for informing each of the of the players not found on the restricted list of their winning bets and earned credits. The graphics also provide the players with an opportunity to benefit from advantageous payout factors in the second game in exchange for a commitment to place bets with the earned credits, wherein the advantageous factors are exclusively applicable to the committed credits. Bets placed under these bonus conditions are referred to as bonus bets, and the advantageous payout factors, as bonus factors. Theuser interface controller3303 provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal101 for display.
• As for thevisual interface controller3315, it retrieves and assembles graphics in accordance with the transition instructions provided by thesequence controller3313, which graphics present the second game of the sequence to the players, and provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the center display3317.
• Referring now toFIG. 7, there is illustrated auser interface701 displayed on the terminal101 for informing the player of the winning bet, namely the one placed on a roll of dice inferior to 7, and the credits earned over the course of the first game, namely four credits. Theuser interface701 also provides the option of placing a bet with the earned credits on one of the second game's outcomes.
• If the eligible player wishes to take advantage of the proposed bonus conditions, a bonus request must be submitted within a limited time frame by selecting acontrol key705. Otherwise, the player may select a control key707 or wait for the time frame to expire.
• Referring back toFIG. 33, if the player submits a bonus request through the terminal101, theuser interface controller3303 provides the request to thebet controller3307. More specifically, and referring toFIG. 35, theuser interface controller3307 stores the bonus request in the store of bonus bets3513. Apayout controller3505 retrieves the bonus request from the store ofbonus bets3513 and updates the store of earnedcredits3515 accordingly. However, it the player does not submit a bonus request through the terminal101, no bonus request is stored in the store ofbonus bets3513, and no bonus request is retrieved by thepayout controller3505. As a result, thepayout controller3515 retrieves the player's earned credits from the store of earnedcredits3515 and provides the earned credits as payouts to another component of the system. More specifically, and referring toFIG. 33, thepayout controller3505 provides the payout to thecredit controller3309, which retrieves the player's credit balance from the store ofplayer credits3311, increments the retrieved credit balance by the provided payout, and stores the updated credit balance in the store of player credits3311.
• Thesequence controller3313 also provides the game selection to thesingle game controller3305, which loads the game specifications of the second game and provides game display instructions to theuser interface controller3303 and thevisual interface controller3315. Upon being provided the game display instructions, theuser interface controller3303 retrieves and assembles graphics for enabling the player to place bets on one of the outcomes of the second game, and provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal101. Referring now toFIG. 8, there is illustrated auser interface801 displayed on the terminal101 for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the second game, wherein each of the outcomes is assigned to abet area807. If the player had previously submitted a bonus request, the committed credits, also referred to as the bonus credits, are placed on the outcome assigned to the first of thebet areas807 selected by the player. Referring back toFIG. 33, upon accepting the player's selection, the terminal101 provides the player's input to theuser interface controller3303, which in turn provides the corresponding outcome to thebet controller3307. More specifically, and referring back toFIG. 35, theuser interface controller3303 stores the outcome in the store ofbonus bets3513, wherein the outcome completes the bonus credits to form a bonus bet. However, and referring back toFIG. 8, if the player had not previously submitted a bonus request, theinterface801 can be manipulated in a similar manner as theinterface301 illustrated inFIG. 3.
• According to the preferred embodiment, in order to benefit from the bonus factors, all credits earned over the course of an immediately preceding game must be placed on a single outcome. However, according to another embodiment, in order to benefit from the bonus factors, all credits earned over the course of an immediately preceding game must be placed on one or more outcomes. According to yet another embodiment, in order to benefit from the bonus factors, all credits earned over the course of any preceding game must be placed either entirely or in part on one or more outcomes.
• According to one embodiment, bonus credits are awarded by casino operators to players in exchange of comp points. According to yet another embodiment, bonus credits are awarded by casino operators to their best clients. According to yet another embodiment, a payout for some games consists in converting a winning player's entire credit balance into bonus credits. According to yet another embodiment, a payout for some games consists in converting a percentage of a winning player's credit balance into bonus credits.
• According to one embodiment, bonus credits are awarded in the form of physical tokens that can be readily recognized by the terminals. According to one embodiment, bonus credits are redeemable for cash. According to another embodiment, bonus credits are not redeemable for cash. According to one embodiment, bonus credits have a lesser cash value than regular credits. According to one embodiment, bonus credits have a greater cash value than regular credits.
• The cycle described above is repeated for each of the four subsequent games, which will be briefly described below.FIG. 9 illustrates avisual interface901 displayed on thecenter display103 to present an animation of the selection of an outcome for the second game. The animation consists in opening threechests903 to find a hidden diamond.FIG. 10 illustrates thevisual interface901 displayed on thecenter display103 to present the second game's outcome by revealing a diamond in thechest1001. Winning bets were therefore those placed on thechest1001. The display of the outcome signals the end of the second game.
• FIG. 11 illustrates theuser interface801 displayed on the terminal101 for informing the player of the second game's outcome through amessage1101. Theinterface801 is followed by aninterface1201 illustrated inFIG. 12. Theinterface1201 informs the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the second game, namely five, and provides the player with the option of committing the earned credits to the third game. Thepayout table tabs313 inform the player that payouts of twenty, two hundred, four thousand, and eight thousand credits are within reach should the earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the length of the winning streak within the sequence.
• FIG. 13 illustrates auser interface1301 displayed on the terminal101 for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the third game. The player had earned credits in the previous game, but decided not to commit them, and as a result, no bonus credits are displayed. However, the player placed fivecredits1309 in one ofbet areas1307 assigned to the ace of hearts. Thepayout table tabs313 inform the player that payouts of seven, seventy, a thousand four hundred, and two thousand eight hundred credits are within reach should the earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the length of the winning streak within the sequence. It is important to note that the potential payouts presented inFIG. 13 are significantly inferior to those presented inFIG. 12, even if the bet is in the same amount, namely five credits, and the sets of outcomes on which bets can be placed are identical. This is attributable to the difference between regular and bonus factors.
• FIG. 14 illustrates avisual interface1401 displayed on thecenter display103 to present an animation of the selection of an outcome for the third game. The animation consists in a shuffle of fourace cards1403 of a standard deck of playing cards.FIG. 15 illustrates thevisual interface1401 displayed on thecenter display103 to present the third game's outcome by selecting one of theace cards1403. The ace ofhearts1501 is displayed as distinguished from theother ace cards1403 following the shuffle. Therefore, winning bets are those placed on the ace ofhearts1501. The display of the outcome signals the end of the third game.
• FIG. 16 illustrates auser interface1301 displayed on the terminal101 for informing the player of the outcome of the third game through amessage1601. Theinterface1301 is followed by aninterface1701 illustrated inFIG. 17. Theinterface1701 informs the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the third game, namely seven, and provides the player with the option of committing the earned credits to the fourth game. Thepayout table tabs313 inform the player that payouts of seventy, a thousand four hundred, and two thousand eight hundred credits are within reach should the earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the length of the winning streak within the sequence.
• FIG. 18 illustrates auser interface1801 displayed on the terminal101 for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the fourth game. The player had earned credits in the previous game, but decided not to commit them, and as a result, no bonus credits are displayed. However, the player placed twocredits1809 in one ofbet areas1807 assigned to number five. Thepayout table tabs313 inform the player that payouts of eighteen, three hundred fifty, and seven hundred credits are within reach should the earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the length of the winning streak within the sequence.
• FIG. 19 illustrates avisual interface1901 displayed on thecenter display103 to present an animation of the selection of an outcome of the fourth game, the animation consisting in a wheel spin.FIG. 20 illustrates thevisual interface1901 displayed on the center of the display to present the fourth game's outcome. Atab1905 is aligned with section five2001 of awheel1903. Therefore, winning bets are those placed on number five. The display of the outcome signals the end of the fourth game.
• FIG. 21 illustrates theuser interface1801 displayed on the terminal101 for informing the player of the outcome of the fourth game through a message2101. Theinterface1801 is followed by aninterface2201 illustrated inFIG. 22. Theinterface2201 informs the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the fourth game, namely eighteen, and provides the player with the option of committing the earned credits to the fifth game. Thepayout table tabs313 inform the player that payouts of three hundred fifty and seven hundred credits are within reach should the earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the length of the winning streak within the sequence.
• FIG. 23 illustrates auser interface2301 displayed on the terminal101 for placing a bet on one or more outcomes of the fifth game. The player had earned credits in the previous game, but decided not to commit them, and as a result, no bonus credits are displayed. However, the player placed twocredits2309 in threebet areas2307 assigned to numbers one, fifteen, and seventeen. Thepayout table tabs313 inform the player that payouts of thirty-five and seventy credits are within reach should the earned credits be committed repeatedly, depending on the length of the winning streak within the sequence.
• FIG. 24 illustrates avisual interface2401 displayed on thecenter display103 to present an animation of the selection of an outcome of the fifth game, the animation consisting in a ball shuffle.FIG. 25 illustrates thevisual interface2401 displayed on the center of the display to present the fifth game's outcome. Following the shuffle, ball eighteen2405 is selected. The display of the outcome signals the end of the fifth game.
• FIG. 26 illustrates theuser interface2301 displayed on the terminal101 for informing the player of the outcome of the fifth game through amessage2601. Theinterface2301 is followed by aninterface2701 illustrated inFIG. 27. Theinterface2701 informs the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the fifth game, namely thirty-five, and provides the player with the option of committing the earned credits to the fifth game. Thepayout table tab313 informs the player that a payout of seventy credits is within reach should the earned credits be committed.
• However, if the player does not earn credits in the fifth game, theinterface2801 illustrated inFIG. 28 is displayed on the terminal101 to inform the player that only those that that earned credits in the fifth game may take part in the sixth through amessage2805. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the payout factor for the sixth game does not confer any advantage to the house. Still according to the preferred embodiment, only credits earned in the fifth game can be placed on an outcome of the sixth. However, according to another embodiment, eligible players can also place bets with credits retrieved from their credit balance. According to yet another embodiment, all players are eligible to participate in all the games.
• FIG. 29 illustrates auser interface2901 displayed on the terminal2901 for placing a bet on an outcome of the sixth and last game of the sequence. The player placed the previously earnedcredits2909 in one ofbet areas2907 assigned to tails. The lastpayout table tab313 informs the player that a payout of seventy credits is within reach should the outcome of the coin toss be tails.
• FIG. 30 illustrates avisual interface3001 displayed on thecenter display103 to present an animation of the selection of an outcome of the sixth game, the animation consisting in coin toss.FIG. 31 illustrates thevisual interface3001 displayed on the center of the display to present the sixth game's outcome. Following the toss, acoin3003 lands on tails. The display of the outcome signals the end of the sixth game.
• FIG. 32 illustrates theuser interface2901 displayed on the terminal101 to inform the player of a number of credits earned over the course of the sixth game, namely seventy. The display of the selected outcome on the terminal101 coincides with the end of the sequence. Referring back toFIG. 36, once the period of time provided by thesequencer3601 expires, thetimer3609 provides the sequencer3601 a time signal indicating the end of the last game. In response, thesequencer3601 retrieves the next game of the sequence, namely the first game, from the store ofsequence rules3605, and provides the game selection to aneligibility controller3603, which in turn retrieves from the store ofsequence rules3605 the requirements to be met for players to benefit from bonus conditions. Theeligibility controller3603 determines that the selected game is the first one of the sequence and provides the resulting restrictions, which consists in a status signal indicating the end of the sequence, to thesequencer3601.
• FIG. 37 is flowchart illustrating a method of providing enhanced payouts according to the preferred embodiment. The steps of the method are explained below with reference toFIG. 33 toFIG. 36 in order to clarify the correspondence between the steps and the components of the system.
• In astep3701, bonus bets are accepted on any of the last selected game's set of outcomes. As mentioned above, bonus bets differ from regular bets in that they are placed with bonus credits. Furthermore, bonus credits may be obtained from a variety of sources. For instance, casino operators may award their best customers bonus credits in the form of physical tokens that can be easily distinguished from regular tokens by at least some of the game devices. However, according to the preferred embodiment, bonus credits correspond to credits earned in an immediately preceding game and committed to the last selected game. Referring back toFIG. 33, thestep3701 involves several components of the system. More specifically, the terminal101 receives the player's input, which includes a request to place a bonus bet, and provides it to theuser interface controller3303. In response, theuser interface controller3303 identifies the request within the player's input, and provides the request to thebet controller3307. Referring now toFIG. 35, theuser interface controller3303 stores the bonus bet in the store of bonus bets3513. Thepayout controller3505 retrieves the bonus bet from the store ofbonus bets3513, and resets the player's earned credits stored in the store of earnedcredits3515.
• In astep3703, bet requests are accepted and approved on any of the last selected game's set of outcomes. Referring back toFIG. 33, thestep3703 involves several components of the system. More specifically, the terminal101 receives the player's input, which includes a request to place a bet, and provides it to theuser interface controller3303. In response, theuser interface controller3303 provides the request to thecredit controller3309, which retrieves the player's credit balance from the store ofplayer credits3311, and determines whether the retrieved credit balance holds a sufficient number of credits to accept the bet. If the credit balance does hold a sufficient number of credits, thecredit controller3309 decrements the credit balance by the credits involved in the bet, stores the updated credit balance in the store ofplayer credits3311, and provides the approved bet to thebet controller3307. Referring now toFIG. 35, thecredit controller3307 stores the approved bet in the store of approvedbets3509.
• Once all bonus bets are accepted, and all regular bets are accepted and approved, one of the potential outcomes of a last selected game is randomly selected in astep3707. Referring back toFIG. 34, thestep3707 is performed by theoutcome generator3403, which can be a random number generator or any other random selection mechanism. Theoutcome generator3403 retrieves from the store ofgame specifications3405 all potential outcomes of the last selected game, randomly selects one of the retrieved outcomes, and provides the selected outcome to themain game controller3401, which in turn dispatches the outcome to other components of the system.
• Once the outcome of the game is selected, and in accordance with astep3709, those of the bets that were placed on the selected outcome are identified as winning bets. Referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3709 involves several components of thebet controller3307. More specifically, thesingle game controller3305 provides the selected outcome to themain bet controller3501 and thebonus bet controller3503. In response, themain bet controller3501 retrieves all approved bets from the store of approvedbets3509, compares the retrieves bets with the selected outcome, and identifies those of the approved bets that were placed on the selected outcome as winning bets. Similarly, thebonus bet controller3503 retrieves all bonus bets from the store ofbonus bets3513, compares the retrieves bonus bets with the selected outcome, and identifies those of the bonus bets that were placed on the selected outcome as winning bonus bets.
• Credits earned from a winning bet are calculated differently from those earned from a winning bonus bet. Therefore, and in astep3709, the winning bets are distinguished from the winning bonus bets. Referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3709 is performed by themain bet controller3501 and thebonus bet controller3503. As mentioned previously, themain bet controller3501 identifies those of the approved bets that were placed on the selected outcome as winning bets, and thebonus bet controller3503, those of the bonus bets that were placed on the selected outcome as winning bonus bets.
• If winning bets are identified, and insteps3713 and3715, a game-appropriate factor is retrieved, the sum of the number of credits involved in all identified winning bets is calculated, and the calculated sum is multiplied by the retrieved factor to obtain the number of credits earned with the approved bets. Referring back toFIG. 35, thesteps3713 and3715 are performed by themain bet controller3501, which retrieves the game-appropriate factor from the store offactors3507, calculates the sum of the number of credits involved in the winning bets, and multiplies the calculated sum by the retrieved factor to obtain the credits earned with the approved bets. The main bet controller stores the earned credits in the store of earnedcredits3515.
• If winning bonus bets are identified, and insteps3717 and3719, a game-appropriate bonus factor is retrieved, the sum of the number of credits involved in all identified winning bonus bets is calculated, and the calculated sum is multiplied by the retrieved factor to obtain the number of credits earned with the bonus bets. Referring back toFIG. 35, thesteps3717 and3719 are performed by thebonus bet controller3503, which retrieves the game-appropriate factor from the store ofbonus factors3511, calculates the sum of the number of credits involved in the winning bets, and multiplies the calculated sum by the retrieved factor to obtain the credits earned with the bonus bets.
• Once the credits earned with the bonus bets are calculated, they are added to the credits earned with the approved bets in astep3721. Referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3721 is performed by thebonus bet controller3503, which increments the credits stored by themain bet controller3501 in the store of earnedcredits3515 by the credits earned with the bonus bets.
• Subsequently, and in astep3723, players are provided with an opportunity to benefit from bonus factors in the following game in exchange for a commitment to place their earned credits on a single outcome. Referring back toFIG. 33, thestep3723 involves several components of the system. More specifically, thesequence controller3313 provides transition instructions to theuser interface controller3303, which retrieves the credits earned from the store of earnedcredits3515, retrieves and assembles graphics in accordance with the transition instructions to inform the play of the opportunity to benefit from bonus factors in exchange for a commitment to place the retrieved credits on a single outcome in the following game, and provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal101 for display. Thereafter, the terminal101 accepts the player's input and provides it to theuser interface controller3303, which interprets the provided input to determine whether the player wishes to benefit from the provided opportunity.
• If it is determined that the player wishes to benefit from the provided opportunity, and in astep3701, a corresponding bonus bet is accepted. Referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3701 involves several components of the system. More specifically, if the player submits a bonus request through the terminal101, theuser interface controller3303 provides the request to thebet controller3307. More specifically, and referring toFIG. 35, theuser interface controller3307 stores the bonus request in the store of bonus bets3513. Apayout controller3505 retrieves the bonus request from the store ofbonus bets3513 and updates the store of earnedcredits3515.
• However, if the player does not submit a bonus request, and in astep3725, the earned credits are added to the credit balance. Referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3725 involves several components of the system. More specifically, if the player does not submit a bonus request through the terminal101, no bonus request is stored in the store ofbonus bets3513, and no bonus request is retrieved by thepayout controller3505. As a result, thepayout controller3515 retrieves the player's earned credits from the store of earnedcredits3515 and provides the earned credits as payouts to another component of the system. Referring now toFIG. 33, thepayout controller3505 provides the payout to thecredit controller3309, which retrieves the player's credit balance from the store ofplayer credits3311, increments the retrieved credit balance by the provided payout, and stored the updated credit balance in the store of player credits3311.
• FIG. 38 is flowchart illustrating a method of operating a sequence of games presenting enhanced payouts according to the preferred embodiment. The steps of the method are explained below with reference toFIG. 33 toFIG. 36 in order to clarify the correspondence between the steps and the components of the system.
• In astep3801, the next game of the sequence and its time settings are retrieved. Referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3801 is performed by thesequencer3601, which retrieves from the store ofsequence rules3605 the next game of the sequence and the time settings, namely the duration of the selected game. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the sequence of games is predetermined. However, in accordance with another embodiment, the games are randomly selected, and as a result, the sequence is not predetermined. In accordance with yet another embodiment, the game is selected by a dealer operating a game-selection switch.
• In astep3803, a timer is set to signal the moment at which the selected game ends and the following game of the sequence is to be selected. Referring back toFIG. 36, thesequencer3601 provides the time settings of the selected game to thetimer3609.
• Subsequently, it is determined whether the selected game is the first game of the sequence in astep3805. Referring back toFIG. 36, thestep3805 involves several components of the system. More specifically, thesequencer3601 provides the game selection to theeligibility controller3601, which then retrieves from the store ofsequence rules3605 the requirements to be met for players to benefit from bonus conditions. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the bonus conditions are exclusively available to players that have earned credits in an immediately preceding game of a same sequence. Therefore, theeligibility controller3603 determines whether the selected game is the first game.
• If the selected game is not the first game, and in accordance with astep3807, winners of the immediately preceding game and their earned credits are retrieved. Referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3807 involves several components of the system. More specifically, theeligibility controller3603 retrieves the credits earned by the players from the store of earnedcredits3515, identifies those of the players that have not earned credits, and provides the resulting restrictions, which consist in a list of the identified players, to thesequencer3601, which in turn dispatches the restrictions to theuser interface controller3303, and provides transition instructions to theuser interface controller3303 and thevisual interface controller3315. Referring back toFIG. 33, theuser interface controller3303 retrieves each player's earned credits from thebet controller3307, and according to the transition instructions provided by thesequence controller3313, retrieves and assembles graphics for informing each of the of the players not found on the restricted list of their winning bets and earned credits. The graphics also provide the players with an opportunity to benefit from advantageous payout factors in the following game in exchange for a commitment to place bets with the earned credits, wherein the advantageous factors are exclusively applicable to the committed credits. Bets placed under these bonus conditions are referred to as bonus bets, and the advantageous payout factors, as bonus factors. Theuser interface controller3303 provides the retrieved and assembled graphics to the terminal101 for display.
• In astep3809, those of the winners who wish to benefit from the provided opportunity are identified. Referring back toFIG. 33, thestep3809 involves several components of the system. More specifically, if the terminal101 accepts the player's request to benefit from the provided opportunity, it provides the player's input to theuser interface controller3303, which in turn interprets the provided player input to identify the player's bonus request, and provides the request to thebet controller3307. Referring toFIG. 35, theuser interface controller3307 stores the bonus request in the store of bonus bets3513. Apayout controller3505 retrieves the bonus request from the store ofbonus bets3513 and updates the store of earnedcredits3515 accordingly.
• In astep3811, it is determined whether the selected game is the last game of the sequence. Referring back toFIG. 36, thestep3811 involves several components of the system. More specifically, once theeligibility controller3601 is provided with the last selected game, it retrieves from the store ofsequence rules3605 the requirements to be met for players to participate in the selected game. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, a bet on an outcome of the last game can only be placed with credits earned over the course of the penultimate game of the sequence. Therefore, theeligibility controller3603 determines whether the selected game is the last game.
• If the selected game is the last game, the bet phase for the selected game is only activated for those of the players identified in thestep3809, namely the winners who accepted the bonus conditions. More specifically, referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3809 is performed by theeligibility controller3603, which provides restrictions, namely a list of all the players that may not take part in the last game, to thesequencer3601, which in turn provides the restrictions and corresponding display instructions to theuser interface controller3303. If the terminal101 with which theuser interface controller3303 communicates is operated by a player on the restricted list, theuser interface controller3303 disables the betting interface displayed on the terminal101 in accordance with the provided instructions.
• However, if it is determined that the selected game is not the last game in thestep3811 or is the first game in thestep3805, the bet phase is activated for all players in astep3813. Referring back toFIG. 33, thestep3805 involves several components of the system. More specifically, thesingle game controller3305 provides display instructions to theuser interface controller3303, which, in the absence of any conflicting instructions from thesequence controller3313, provides the graphics of the bet phase to the terminal101.
• In astep3817, one of the potential outcomes of a last selected game is randomly selected. Referring back toFIG. 34, thestep3817 is performed by theoutcome generator3403, which can be a random number generator or any other random selection mechanism. Theoutcome generator3403 retrieves from the store ofgame specifications3405 all potential outcomes of the selected game, randomly selects one of the retrieved outcomes, and provides the selected outcome to themain game controller3401, which in turn dispatches the outcome to other components of the system.
• Once the game outcome is selected, and according to astep3819, the credits earned by the player for bets placed on the selected outcome are calculated. Referring back toFIG. 35, thestep3819 involves several components of the system. More specifically, themain bet controller3501 identifies those of the approved bets that were placed on the selected outcome as winning bets, and thebonus bet controller3503, those of the bonus bets that were placed on the selected outcome as winning bonus bets. If winning bets are identified, themain bet controller3501 retrieves the game-appropriate factor from the store offactors3507, calculates the sum of the number of credits involved in the winning bets, and multiplies the calculated sum by the retrieved factor to obtain the credits earned with the approved bets. The main bet controller stores the earned credits in the store of earnedcredits3515. If winning bonus bets are identified, thebonus bet controller3503 retrieves the game-appropriate factor from the store ofbonus factors3511, calculates the sum of the number of credits involved in the winning bets, multiplies the calculated sum by the retrieved factor to obtain the credits earned with the bonus bets, and adds the calculated credits to those stored in the store of earnedcredits3515 by themain bet controller3501.
• Finally in a step3825, it is determined whether the timer set in thestep3801 has expired. Referring back toFIG. 36, once the period of time provided by thesequencer3601 elapses, thetimer3609 provides the sequencer3601 a time signal indicating the end of the first game. In response, thesequencer3601 retrieves the next game of the sequence in accordance with thestep3801.
• It is important to note that while the steps of the invention have been described as performed by automated operation of circuitry, they may very well be performed by a dealer. For instance, the timing of the sequence can be controlled by a dealer operating a game-selection switch.
• While the game has been described as involving a sequence of games having no particular relation to other casino games, the game may, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, involve another sequence of games, each of the corresponds to a sample of a distinct casino game, and whereby the player is introduced to several games in an efficient manner.
• Furthermore, while the game has been described as involving a sequence of games having no particular relation to one particular casino game, the game may, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, involve another sequence of games, each of which corresponds to a distinct sample covering a distinct aspect of a same game, and whereby the player is introduced to various aspects of a same game in an efficient manner.
• According to one embodiment, the terminal101 is a personal computer, the remaining components of the system are stored on a server, and the terminal101 communicates with theuser interface controller3303 through a network such as the Internet. Preferably, the communication protocol applied by the terminal101 and the server is highly reliable and provides for enhanced confidentiality of the player's information.
• While the game has been described as involving six sequential games, it may be configured to involve a lesser or greater number of games. Furthermore, while the game has been described as generated and displayed electronically, it may be generated and displayed mechanically. Also, while the game has been described as played on an apparatus comprising fourterminals101, it may be played on an apparatus comprising a lesser or greater number ofterminals101, or connected to a network ofterminals101 whereby a larger number of players may participate. Also while theindividual terminals101 have been described as enabling players to place bets on a game generated by and displayed on acenter display103, each of theseterminals101 may generate and display their own, distinct games, wherein a player may place bets on games generated by and displayed on thecenter display103 as well as those generated and displayed by the individual terminal.

Claims (20)

1. A gaming system for providing enhanced payouts, the system comprising:

a terminal for accepting regular bets placed with regular credits and bonus bets placed with bonus credits on any of a same set of game outcomes;

a game controller for providing game display instructions to the terminal and for selecting one the game outcomes in accordance with rules of the game;

the main bet controller for multiplying the regular credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits earned with the regular bets;

a bonus bet controller for multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a bonus factor to determine credits earned with the bonus bets, wherein the bonus factor is greater than the regular factor; and

a credit controller for incrementing the player's credit balance by at least some of the credits earned with the regular bets and bonus bets.

2. The gaming system ofclaim 1 wherein the credits earned with the bonus bets are bonus credits.

3. The gaming system ofclaim 2 wherein the credits earned with the regular bets are bonus credits.

4. The gaming system ofclaim 2 further comprising a payout controller for deducting from the bonus credit increment resulting from an immediately preceding play the bonus credits with which the bonus bets are placed within a current play to obtain a regular credit payout and wherein the credit controller increments the player's credit balance by the payout.

5. The gaming system ofclaim 3 further comprising a payout controller for deducting from the bonus credit increment resulting from an immediately preceding play the bonus credits with which the bonus bets are placed within a current play to obtain a regular credit payout and wherein the credit controller increments the player's credit balance by the payout.

6. A method of providing an enhanced payout comprising:

providing regular credits and bonus credits in accordance with two different acquisition modalities;

accepting regular bets placed with the regular credits or bonus bets placed with the bonus credits on any of a same set of game outcomes;

selecting one the outcomes;

if the regular bets are accepted, multiplying the regular credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits earned with the regular bets;

if the bonus bets are accepted, multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a bonus factor to determine the credits earned with the bonus bets, wherein the bonus factor is greater than the regular factor; and

incrementing the player's credit balance by at least some of the credits earned with the regular bets and bonus bets.

7. The method ofclaim 6 wherein the credits earned with the bonus bets are bonus credits.

8. The method ofclaim 7 wherein the credits earned with the regular bets are bonus credits.

9. The method ofclaim 7 further comprising deducting from the bonus credit increment resulting from an immediately preceding play the bonus credits with which the bonus bets are placed within a current play to obtain a regular credit payout and incrementing the player's credit balance by the payout.

10. The method ofclaim 8 further comprising deducting from the bonus credit increment resulting from an immediately preceding play the bonus credits with which the bonus bets are placed within a current play to obtain a regular credit payout and incrementing the player's credit balance by the payout.

11. The method ofclaim 6 wherein the multiplying the regular credits placed on the selected outcome and the multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome are performed by automated operation of circuitry.

12. A gaming system for operating a sequence of single games, the system comprising:

a sequencer for selecting a next one of the games of the sequence;

a timer for enabling the sequencer at predetermined intervals of time;

a terminal for accepting bets placed by a player on any of a set of outcomes of the last selected game;

a single game controller for providing game display instructions to the terminal and for selecting one of the potential outcomes;

the bet controller for determining the credits earned by the player with those of the bets placed on the selected outcome; and

the credit controller for incrementing the player's credit balance by at least a portion of the earned credits.

13. The gaming system ofclaim 12 further comprising an eligibility controller for determining whether the player is eligible to participate in the last selected game in accordance with rules of the game and for disabling the terminal if the player is not eligible.

14. The gaming system ofclaim 13 wherein the eligibility controller determines whether the last selected game is restricted to players that have earned credits in a previous one of the games, and disables the terminal for the restricted game if the player has not earned the credits in the previous game.

15. The gaming system ofclaim 12 wherein the terminal accepts regular bets placed with regular credits and bonus bets placed with bonus credits on any of the same plurality of game outcomes, the bet controller comprises a main bet controller for multiplying the regular credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits earned with the regular bets and a bonus bet controller for multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a bonus factor to determine credits earned with the bonus bets, the bonus factor is greater than the regular factor, the credits earned with the regular and bonus bets are the bonus credits for placing the bonus bets over the course of subsequent ones of the games of the sequence.

16. A method of operating a sequence of single games, the method comprising:

selecting a next one of the games of the sequence at predetermined intervals of time;

accepting bets placed by a player on any of a set of outcomes of the last selected game;

selecting one of the outcomes;

determining the credits earned by the player with those of the bets placed on the selected outcome; and

incrementing the player's credit balance by at least a portion of the earned credits.

17. The method ofclaim 16 further comprising determining whether the player is eligible to participate in the last selected game in accordance with rules of the game wherein the accepting bets is only performed if the player is eligible.

18. The method ofclaim 17 wherein the determining whether the player is eligible comprises determining whether the last selected game is restricted to players that have earned credits in a previous one of the games, and the accepting bets is performed only if the player has earned the credits in the previous game.

19. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the accepting bets comprises accepting regular bets placed with regular credits and bonus bets placed with bonus credits on any of the same set of game outcomes, the determining the bets earned by the player comprises multiplying the regular credits placed on the selected outcome by a regular factor to determine credits earned with the regular bets and multiplying the bonus credits placed on the selected outcome by a bonus factor to determine credits earned with the bonus bets, the bonus factor is greater than the regular factor.

20. The method ofclaim 16 wherein the selecting a next one of the games is performed by automated operation of circuitry.

Images