IP Library Granted Patent US 7,530,893
Granted Patent B2
US 7,530,893 · App. 11/055,153 · Granted May 12, 2009

Wagering game with dynamic visual gaming indicia

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,530,893
App. No.
11/055,153
Granted
May 12, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for playing a wagering game includes receiving a wager input from a player for playing a wagering game. In response to receiving the wager input, at least one randomly-selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes is selected, and visual indicia is presented during a first game cycle of the wagering game. The visual indicia is randomly changed to altered visual indicia in a subsequent game cycle of the wagering game, wherein the altered visual indicia provides a fresh look for the subsequent game cycle of the wagering game.

Claims (38)

1. A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising: receiving a wager input from a player for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal;

selecting at least one randomly-selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to said receiving step;

presenting a randomly selected first set of visual indicia during a first game cycle of said wagering game, said first game cycle being a previously played game cycle;

presenting a randomly selected second set of visual indicia during a second game cycle of said wagering game, said second game cycle being a previously played game cycle;

based on player game performance, determining whether at least one of said first set and said second set is a preferred set of visual indicia;

including said preferred set of visual indicia in a preferred group of visual indicia, said preferred group including at least two different preferred sets of visual indicia, said preferred group excluding at least one of said first set and said second set; and

presenting a third set of visual indicia during a third game cycle of said wagering game, said third set of visual indicia being randomly selected from said preferred group of visual indicia.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first set of visual indicia and said second set of visual indicia are selected from an original group of visual indicia, said original group of visual indicia being a broader group than said preferred group of visual indicia.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each game of said first game cycle, said second game cycle, and said third game cycle is selected from a group consisting of a basic game, a bonus game, and a progressive game.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said visual indicia includes a plurality of gaming elements, said gaming elements being elements that affect a payout of said wagering game.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said visual indicia includes a plurality of background elements, said background elements being elements that are not associated with a payout of said wagering game.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said player game performance includes at least one of previous wagering inputs, time of at least one previous wagering game cycle, and time of at least one previous wagering session.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said player game performance includes performance of at least one player during at least one gaming session.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said preferred group of visual indicia includes only said first set of visual indicia and said second set of visual indicia.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising simulating, in response to detecting a scratch action from the player, a scratch-off of a video element of said visual indicia, said video element obscuring a secondary element of said visual indicia from the player.

10. A method for playing a wagering game, comprising:

receiving wager inputs from a player for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal;

selecting at least one randomly-selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to said receiving step;

storing a group of visual indicia having a plurality of data sets of visual indicia;

presenting a set of visual indicia from said plurality of data sets during a first game cycle of said wagering game, said first game cycle being a previously played game cycle;

presenting another set of visual indicia from said plurality of data sets during a second game cycle of said wagering game, said second game cycle being a previously played game cycle;

based on previous game performance, excluding at least one of said set and said another set from said group of visual indicia, any remaining sets of said plurality of data sets being deemed preferred sets of visual indicia, said group of visual indicia including at least two different preferred sets of visual indicia; and

presenting a preferred set of said preferred sets of visual indicia during a subsequent game cycle of said wagering game by randomly selecting visual indicia from the group of visual indicia after excluding at least one of said set and said another set.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein each game of said first game cycle, said second game cycle, and said subsequent game cycle is selected from a group consisting of a basic game, a bonus game, and a progressive game.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein said visual indicia includes a plurality of gaming elements, said gaming elements being elements that affect a payout of said wagering game.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein said visual indicia includes a plurality of background elements, said background elements being elements that are not associated with a payout of said wagering game.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein said previous game performance includes previous wagering inputs, time of at least one previous wagering game cycle, and time of at least one previous wagering session.

15. A gaming system for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal, comprising:

a display on said gaming terminal for displaying at least one randomly-selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to accepting wager inputs from a player during said wagering game; and

a controller coupled to said display and programmed to

present a first set of visual indicia during a first game cycle of said wagering game, said first set of visual indicia being randomly selected from a broad group of visual indicia, said first game cycle being a previously played game cycle;

present a second set of visual indicia during a second game cycle of said wagering game, said second set of visual indicia being randomly selected from said broad group of visual indicia, said second game cycle being a previously played game cycle;

based on previous game performance of one or more players, exclude at least one of said first set and said second set from said broad group of visual indicia to provide a narrow group of visual indicia, any remaining sets of visual indicia in said narrow group of visual indicia being deemed preferred sets of visual indicia, said narrow group of visual indicia including at least two different preferred sets of visual indicia; and

present a third set of visual indicia during a third game cycle of said wagering game by randomly selecting visual indicia from said narrow group of visual indicia after excluding at least one of said first set and said second set.

16. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein said previous game performance includes previous wagering inputs, time of at least one previous wagering game cycle, and time of at least one previous wagering session.

17. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein said controller is further programmed to determine said randomly-selected outcome.

18. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein said controller is located within said gaming terminal.

19. The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein said controller is further programmed to simulate, upon detection of a scratch action from the player, a scratch-off of a video element of said visual indicia to reveal a secondary element of said visual indicia.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 21, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; DON BEST SPORTS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059756/0397 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 20, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051643/0253 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (RELEASES REEL/FRAME 034530/0318) Recorded Nov 5, 2018
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.
Reel/Frame 047924/0701 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 29, 2015
From: WMS GAMING INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 036225/0201 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: BALLY GAMING, INC; SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC; WMS GAMING INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 034530/0318 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 18, 2013
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; WMS GAMING INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 031847/0110 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 10, 2005
From: THOMAS, ALFRED
To: WMS GAMING INC.
Reel/Frame 016279/0704 →