Wagering game having a player-selectable pay table
A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game. A display displays symbols of the wagering game indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager. The plurality of outcomes include at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table. A plurality of pay tables are available for the wagering game. The pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering game.
1 . A gaming machine comprising:
a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game; and
a display for displaying symbols of the wagering game indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager, wherein the plurality of outcomes includes at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table;
wherein a plurality of pay tables are available for the wagering game and the pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering game.
2 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the player is provided an opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay tables.
3 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the wagering game is selected from the group consisting of: video poker, mechanical slots, video slots, video blackjack, video keno and video bingo.
4 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only the first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the plurality of outcomes.
5 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the plurality of outcomes than the second pay table.
6 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first pay table and the second pay table have payback percentages that are substantially the same.
7 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the pay table is randomly selected.
8 . The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the player is provided an opportunity to submit a second wager to exchange the pay table for a more valuable pay table providing higher payouts.
9 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising:
receiving a wager from a player;
randomly selecting a game outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager;
displaying the game outcome for the wagering game as symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager, wherein the plurality of outcomes includes at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table; and
selecting the pay table from a plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering game.
10 . The gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the player is provided an opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay tables.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only the first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the plurality of outcomes.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the plurality of outcomes than the second pay table.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the first pay table and the second pay table have payback percentages that are substantially the same.
14 . A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of claim 9 .
15 . A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:
at least one display; and
a controller coupled to the display and programmed to initiate the wagering game in response to detection of a wager from a player;
display symbols of the wagering game indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager, wherein the plurality of outcomes includes at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table; and
wherein a plurality of pay tables are available for the wagering game and the pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering game.
16 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the display and the controller are both located within a gaming terminal.
17 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the display is located within a gaming terminal and the controller is located outside of the gaming terminal.
18 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the player is provided an opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay tables.
19 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only the first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the plurality of outcomes.
20 . The gaming system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the plurality of outcomes than the second pay table.