Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE: A METHOD OR APPARATUS FOR ALLOCATING A PLAYER'S
CONTRIBUTION IN A GAMING APPARATUS BETWEEN A
PLURALITY OF GAMES
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for allocating a
player's contribution in a gaming apparatus between a plurality of games.
The invention has been developed primarily for use with a plurality of
interlinked gaming terminals in one or more gaming establishments and will be
described hereinafter predominantly with reference to this application.
However, the
invention is not limited to that particular field of use and is also suitable
for use with
online gaming, lotto, pools, lotteries, art unions, bingo, raffles and other
games
involving one or more wagers being placed upon an outcome having a finite
probability of occurring. Additionally, the invention is applicable to any
type of
gaming, such as gaming that may be entered into on a personal computer via the
Internet, for example.
BACKGROUND
The discussion of the prior art within this specification is to assist the
addressee understand the invention and is not an admission of the extent of
the
common general knowledge in the field of the invention and is included without
prejudice.
It is known to "link" gaming terminals to provide a number of additional
fimctionalities. This includes the ability to control the awarding of a prize,
as the pool
of available funds is greater and the amount of funds available is known
rather than
having to be estimated. Another functionality of interlinked gaming terminals
is that
secondary gaming is possible. For example, for a given group of interlinked
gaming
terminals, a central display provides the garners with.a visual indication of
a presently
available jackpot prize that is being incrementally increased as the garners
operate the
interlinked gaming terminals.
It is known by the garners that the prize will be awarded when it is
incremented to a randomly selected value that is less than a predefined value.
Typically, the predefined value will also be visually indicated to the garners
by the
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display. The use of such functionality is intended to provide additional
impetus to the
garners to play the terminals and thereby win the j ackpot prize in addition
to any prize
available to be awarded by the respective terminal.
It is known in gaming systems to specify the proportion of what a player
inputs
to a game that is returned to that player. This measure is referred to as the
Return to
Player (RTP) amount which is usually expressed as a percentage of the player
input
(RTP%). The RTP% can be described as the proportion of the value input by a
player
that contributes to the prizes paid out by the machine. The actual value of
the RTP%
is determined by the attributes of the gaming device itself i.e. the
likelihood of a
winning combination accruing within a specified time period. Where the gaming
device is a so called a "pokie" or "fruit" machine, the RTP% is determined by
the
probability of the winning combinations of symbols occurring on the reels over
a
given time. The RTP% is calculated is calculated with reference to the number
of
unique sequences of symbols that the machine is capable of generating.
In known gaming systems, the RTP% is controlled by the manufacturer,
operator or venue controller prior to gaming devices being available for play.
The
RTP% may be displayed to the players as required in some jurisdictions. The
RTP%
may be varied where gaming systems are provided with the functionality to
enable the
selection of the RTP%. In some cases this may be from a predetermined set of
RTP%
values (also known as variations). The manufacturer of the gaming system
commonly
determines such variations.
As noted above, gaming machines may be linked to other such machines to
provide secondary gaming facilities such as a communal jackpot, i.e. a jackpot
that
can be won by playing any one of an associated group of machines. The communal
jackpot is available over and above the possible prizes from the base game
being
played on each individual machine. In this situation, the RTP% is split
between the
first, base game and the second, communal game. The manufacturers of the
gaming
system traditionally determine the proportion of the split.
One problem with the prior art arrangement is that it is difficult from the
controller's point of view to understand which of the split configurations is
preferred
by the players and in what circumstances. This makes the choice of how and
when to
provide configurations difficult.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least
one
of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
method
for allocating a player's contribution in a gaming apparatus between a
plurality of
games, the method comprising the steps of
a) receiving a contribution from a player of the gaming apparatus;
b) selecting am allocation ratio in response to an input by the player;
c) splitting the contribution into a number of parts in accordance with the
selected ratio; and
d) allocating at least one of the parts of the contribution to one of the
games.
In a preferred embodiment, in step c) the contribution is split into two parts
and each part is allocated to a respective game in step d). In some
embodiments each
game is provided by a respective gaming device. Alternatively, each game is
provided by the same gaming device. Other embodiments, include the step of
selecting from the plurality of games in response to an input from the player,
the or
each game to which the contribution is allocated.
In an alternative embodiment, the allocation ratio is selected from a set of
predetermined ratios. Preferably, the set of ratios comprises a full range of
possible
ratios or alternatively the set of ratios is selected from group of such sets.
In a further alternative, the set of predetermined ratios from which the
player
makes a selection is varied in response to one or more predetermined
conditions such
as the time of day, the cui~ent state of play of a given game, or the current
gaming
activity within a particular gaming environment. In yet a further alternative,
the set of
predetermined ratios are varied in a random or pseudo random maimer.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided
apparatus for allocating a player's contribution in a gaming apparatus between
a
plurality of games, the apparatus comprising:
a) input means for receiving a contribution from a player of the gaming
apparatus;
b) selection means operable by the player to select an allocation ratio;
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c) splitting means for splitting the contribution into a number of pants in
accordance with the selected ratio; and
d) allocating means for allocating at least one of the parts of the
contribution
to one of the games.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided
apparatus
for enabling a player of a gaming machine to control the distribution of the
player's
contribution to a game, the apparatus comprising:
a display operable to indicate a plurality of possible distributions to the
player;
at least one control means operable by the player to indicate a choice of one
of
the distributions;
communication means for communicating the player's choice to the gaming
machine.
In some embodiments the control means is provided by a dial, push buttons or
a slider control. Preferably the control means is operable to select the
distribution and
to start the respective game. More preferably the control means is operable by
the
player to hold the selected distribution for a given game for use in a
subsequent game
or games. The control means may operable to prompt the player to select a
distribution for each game played.
Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the specification
the
words "comprise", "comprising" and the like axe to be construed in an
inclusive as
opposed to an exclusive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "included, but
not limited
to".
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of
example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a gaming system comprising gaming
terminals;
Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a control panel associated with one
of
the gaming terminals of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic representation of the hardware associated with each of
the gaming system of Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a flow chart showing steps performed by the gaming machines of
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Figure 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In broad overview, apparatus for allocating a player's contribution in a
gaming
apparatus between a plurality of games is shown schematically in Figure 3. The
apparatus includes input means, in the form of a revenue input device 303 such
as a
coin slot, note validator, smart card reader or the like, for receiving a
contribution
from a player of the gaming device. Selection means in the form of split
control 203
are operable by the player to select an allocation ratio. Splitting means, for
example
appropriate software routines executed on a game controller 301, split the
contribution
into a number of parts in accordance with the selected ratio. Finally,
allocating
means, also for example appropriate software routines executed by the game
controller 301, allocate at least one of the parts of the contribution to one
of the
games.
Figure 1 shows a gaming system 101 comprising a number of gaming
machines 103 in communication with a system controller 105 via a network 107.
The
system controller 105 is connected to a display 109. The system controller is
provided
with a connection 111 to another system controller (not shown). Each gaming
machine 103 comprises a screen 115 for displaying the game, which the terminal
103
offers, and a set of player controls 117 through which a player (not shown)
inputs their
choices in the running of the game. Each gaming machine has a payment port 119
such as a coin slot or electronic card reader to enable the player to pay for
the game to
be played.
In return for a player submitting a suitable payment via the payment port 119
the gaming machine 103 enables the player to play a game of chance. The game
may
result in the player winning a prize. The likelihood of a gaming machine 103
awarding a prize for a particular game play is determined by the design of the
game.
The game is designed to pay out in prizes a percentage of what players pay in
over a
predetermined number of game plays, i.e. the Return To Player percentage
(RTP%).
In the arrangement of Figure 1, players are able to participate in two games
that are linked. The first game is provided by the gaming machines 103 as
described
above, and the jackpot controller 105 provides a second game. The second game
is a
communal jackpot built up from contributions from each of the gaming machines
103.
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The jackpot is incremented towards an upper limit by the value of each
contribution as
it is received from the gaming machines 103 via the network 107. The jackpot
controller 105 uses the display 109 to show the current value of the jackpot
to the
players of the gaming machines 103. The jackpot controller 105 is arranged to
award
the jackpot prize when the jackpot value increments over an undisclosed
threshold.
The threshold is set randomly or pseudo randomly on initialization of the
system
controller 105 or after the system controller 105 is reset in response to the
awarding of
a previous jaclcpot.
Since the first game provided by the gaming machines 103 is linked to the
second game provided by the game controller 105, the RTP% (which can be
described
as the money held aside from a player's payment to pay out prizes) is split
between
the first and second games. Each gaming machine 103 is arranged to split the
RTP%
from a game play in accordance with a predetermined percentage. The proportion
of
the RTP% that is allocated to the second game is communicated to the jackpot
controller 1 OS via the network 107. This is the contribution referred to
above that the
jackpot controller 105 uses to increment the jackpot value. The jackpot is
incremented by the value of the contribution i.e. the value of the wager
multiplied by
the RTP% allocated to the second game.
In prior art gaming systems the proportions used to.split the RTP% between
linked games has been under the control of the proprietors or controllers of
the gaming
system 1. Table 1 below sets out examples of the options available in such
systems to
vary the split of RTP% between games.
Option First Game RTP%Second Game RTP% Total/Combined RTP%
1 = 86.5% = 4% 90.5%
2 = 87.5% = 3% 90.5%
3 = 88.5% = 2% 90.5%
4 = 90.5% = 0% 90.5%
Table 1
In the present embodiment, the player is provided with the option to vary the
split of the RTP% between the first and second games. As shown in table 1
above,
four options are available in which the split of RTP% between the first game
and the
second game varies. As shown in the fourth column, the total RTP% (i.e. the
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combination of the RTP% for the first and second games) remains constant over
the
four options at 90.5%. Option 1 has the highest RTP% allocated to the second
game
(4%). Options 2 and 3 have 3% and 2% respectively. Option 4 effectively
switches
off the splitting mechanism by allocating 0% from the total RTP% to the second
game.
For example, if a player pays $0.5 for a game and chooses option 1 from table
1 then the overall proportion of that sum that will statistically ultimately
be returned to
the player is 45.25 cents (and the same for the other three options). However
with
option 1, 43.25 cents of this will contribute to the prizes paid out for the
first game
and 2 cents will be communicated to the second game. In response to this
cormnunication, the second game jackpot prize will be incremented by 2 cents.
If the
second or third option is chosen then the first game would receive 43.73 cents
or
44.25 cents and the second game would receive 1 cent or 1.5 cents
respectively. If the
player chooses option 4 the first game receives 45.25 cents and the second
game
receives nothing.
The four split options are available to the player via the control panel 117
of
the gaming machine 103 shovnni in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows the relevant part
of the
control panel 117 in further detail which is located adjacent a button 201
arranged to
start each game play. This part 117 of the control panel is referred to as the
split
control 203. The split control comprises a first "Maximum Split" button 205, a
second "High Split" button 207, a third "Low Split" button 209 and a fourth
"No
split" button 211. The split control 203 is provided for use prior to each
game play at
the option of the player. The "Maximum Split" button 205 selects option 1 from
table
l, the "High Split" button 207 selects option 2, the "Low Split" button 209
selects
option 3 and the "No split" button 211 selects option 4. The split controller
203 also
comprises an information panel 213 arranged to provide information to the
player
relating to the split of the RTP% between the first and second games for each
option
selectable via the buttons 205, 207, 209, 211.
Returning to Figure 3, this figure illustrates schematically some of the
functionality of the gaming machine 103 and the jackpot contTOller 105. In one
embodiment, this functionality is provided by hardware. The split control 203
is
connected to a first game controller 301 which is in turn connected to a
revenue input
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device 303 and a first accumulator 305. The game controller 301 is also
connected via
the network 107 to a second game controller 307 in the jackpot controller 105.
The
game controller 307 is also connected to a second accumulator 309, which is in
turn
connected to the display 109 (not shown).
The revenue input device 303 is operable to accept monetary input from a
player in the form of coins or notes, tokens, payment card or other suitable
form of
payment. The revenue input device 303 indicates the amount of the payment to
the
game controller 301, which responds by adding the input value to the
accumulator
305. The accumulator is used to store input values and log them against output
prizes.
The game controller 301 is the element in the gaming machine that actually
runs the
first game in response to player commands input via the control panel 117
(Figure 1).
The game controller also controls the paying out of prizes as they are won and
cormnunicates the split of the RTP to the second game controller 307. This
communication also includes data that identifies to the second game controller
307
which of the gaming machines 103 has provided a given contribution to the
second
game. The first game controller 301 is also responsive to signals from the
split control
panel 203 to modify the RTP% split between the first and second games.
The second game controller 307 responds to the signals from the first game
controller by adding the indicated contribution to the accumulator 309 and
updating
the display 109 (Figure 1) with the revised jaclcpot value. The second game
controller 307 is the element of the jackpot controller 105 that runs the
second game.
In other words, the game controller 307 sets the undisclosed threshold value
at which
the jackpot will be paid out; receives signals from the gaming machines; and
updates
the accumulator 309 and the display 109 appropriately. The game controller 307
handles prize payout when a received RTP% split value added to the accumulator
309
causes the jackpot to meet .or exceed the payout threshold. When this occurs,
the
game controller 307 identifies which of the gaming machines 103 triggered the
jackpot and sends a signal to the identified machine. The first game
controller 301 of
the identified gaming machine 103 responds to this signal by indicating to the
player
that the jaclcpot has been awarded and by paying out the jackpot amount. When
a
jackpot is awarded, the second game controller 307 resets the jackpot value
and
generates a new payout threshold before receiving fiu~ther signals from the
gaming
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machines 103 and incrementing the jackpot value in the accumulator 309
accordingly.
The operating process of one of the gaming machines 103 will now be
described with reference to the flow chart of Figure 4. The gaming machine
initializes
at step 400, for example when the gaming machine is switched on or reset. A
player
inputs some monetary value at step 401, at which point processing moves to
step 403.
At step 403, the split control is reset to the default level of "No Split" and
the
corresponding button 211 displays this fact in the split control 203, for
example by
being illuminated. Processing then moves to step 405 where the player is
prompted to
change the split-level using the split control 203. If the player chooses an
alternative
split level then processing moves to step 407 at which the game controller 301
updates
its RTP% split parameters in accordance with the input from the player and
processing
returns to step 405. If at step 405 no change in the RTP split is input and
instead the
start button 201 is actuated then processing moves to step 409.
At step 409 the gaming controller starts the game play sequence and while the
game is in progress processing continues to step 411. At step 411 the
accumulator is
updated with the contribution paid by the player for the game in progress and
processing moves to step 413. At step 413 the gaming controller extracts from
the
accumulator the appropriate value of the split RTP% for the second game in
accordance with the split parameters determined in step 407 above. This value
is then
signalled to the second game controller in combination with an indication of
the
identity of the current gaming machine. Processing then moves to step 415
where it is
determined whether ~a j ackpot prize is due in response to any return signal
from the
second game controller 307. If a prize is due then processing moves to step
417
where the second game prize is paid and process then moves to step 419. If no
prize
signal arrives from the second gaming controller 301 before the end of the
game play
of the first game then processing moves from step 415 to step 419.
At step 419 it is determined whether a prize is due as a result of the end
sequence of the current first game play. If a prize is due then processing
moves to
step 421 where the prize for the first game is paid and the process moves to
step 423.
At step 423 the accumulator 305 is updated to take into account the prize paid
out. If
no prize results fiom the game play then processing moves straight from step
419 to
step 425.
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At step 425, the gaming controller 301 establishes whether sufficient credit
remains for a further game play and if not processing moves to step 401 where
the
player is prompted to input more credit. If at step 425 sufficient credit
remains then
processing moves to step 405 and continues as described above for that step.
Embodiments of the invention provide an element of control to the player by
enabling them to change stakes in response to the perceived attractiveness of
the
second game relative to the first. This is an advantage to both the player and
operator
of the gaming system. The player has more control over the game they are
playing
and is able strategically to modify the proportion of the split. The higher
the split to
the second game, the higher the player's chance of winning the jackpot.
Similarly, if
the player may choose to increase their chance of winning in the first game,
perhaps
preferring smaller wins instead of a chance of winning the larger jackpot.
As a post-manufacture addition to a gaming system, embodiments of the
present invention may extend the life of a gaming machine. Furthermore, use of
the
system embodying the invention and observation of player behavior provide the
operator with a better understanding of the players' preferences and
performances
enabling improved marketing and design of future gaming systems.
In the embodiment described above the player is provided with four options
for the RTP% split. In a further embodiment, the player is provided with a
choice of
splitting the RTP% in any proportion they wish. In another embodiment, the
gaming
machines are arranged to allow the player to set a random variation of the
RTP% split
over a ranges of games. ~ In yet a further embodiment the gaming machine is
provided
with a system to prompt the player to increase, the split to the jackpot game
when the
jackpot reaches a predetermined level. In this embodiment the level could be
set by
the player or determined by the gaming machine in accordance with a set of
predetermined rules. Similarly, the gaming machine could be set by the player
to
reduce the split to the second game when a certain j ackpot level has been
reached.
In some embodiments the player is provided with a choice of one of a number
of linlced or jackpot games to play in conjunction with the first game. The
player
indicates their choice prior to each sequence of game play or game plays.
In some embodiments, it may be advantageous to enable the player to modify
the overall RTP%. In further embodiments the player may be provided with
choice
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from a plurality of sets of variations to the RTP% split. Alternatively,
different sets of
RPT% split choices could be offered in accordance to different conditions such
as the
time of day, the state of the current jackpot, the occupancy of a gaming
establishment
or gaming machine usage (predicted or actual).
In some embodiments of the invention, the split control panel may be modified
from the form described above. The panel may be positioned at various
locations
relative to the gaming machine. The buttons may be arranged to enable the
player to
select a variable RTP% split using a slider control or by inputting a number
via a
keyboard or dial arrangement. Also, the RTP% split could be designed to reset
to a
particular split option after each game and the player provided with a hold
button,
which would keep the split choice fiom a previous game for use in subsequent
games.
In some cases, rather than the RTP% split being reset when new credit is added
as
described above, the system may be arranged to reset after a predetermined
period of
non-play.
Other embodiments of the present invention may provide for a player to
personalize their RTP% split control setting and allow these settings to be
retrieved on
a subsequent 'use of a gaming machine or transferred to another machine.
Further
embodiments of the present invention may provide a control panel in which the
selection of the RTP% split and start command are combined into one action
i.e. there
is no start button but split control button also starts the game.
In further embodiments, the indication of the present RTP% split or available
R'TP%splits may include or consist of an indication of the respective RTP
splits given
a particular wager.
In further embodiments, the information panel of the split controller may be
provided separately from the panel itself or absent. The information panel may
be
arranged to reveal or "pop up" when requested by a player. The control panel
may be
provided using any combination of traditional switches and displays or touch
screens
and so called "soft buttons". The gaming system may be provided purely by
software. The hardware block arrangements and software steps used in the above
description and respective Figures may be varied to suit different
applications. The
functionally described hardware blocks and software steps may be joined, split
or
modified. The split control feature may be provided as a softwaxe andlor
hardware
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upgrade to the design of existing gaming machines.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the apparatus that
embodies a part or all of the present invention may be a general purpose
device having
software arranged to provide a part or all of an embodiment of the invention.
The
device could be single device or a group of devices and the software could be
a single
program or a set of programs. Furthermore, any or all of the software used to
implement the invention can be communicated via various transmission or
storage
means such as computer network, floppy disc, CD-Rom or magnetic tape so that
the
software can be loaded onto one or more devices.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific
embodiments, it will be appreciated by those slcilled in the art that it may
be embodied
in other forms.
