Configurable gaming device with player selectable award profile
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method for configuring a gaming device that provides a player selectable award profile. The award profile is further selectable by the player with respect to a payout scheme, a bonusing option or both. A player may select a preferred bonusing option form a group of available bonusing options prior to commencing play of the gaming device. A gaming device is provided that offers the player a choice of several bonusing options from a single source gaming device. Additionally, the player may also select a modified payout scheme that suits the player's preferences.
1. A gaming device comprising:
a housing;
a display device within the housing;
a user interface;
a processor; and
a memory device storing a plurality of instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the user interface to:
(a) enable the player to place a wager on a play of a game;
(b) after the wager is placed and prior to any determination of whether to trigger any bonus event:
(i) enable the player to designate one of:
(A) eligible for a bonus event; and
(B) not eligible for any bonus event; and
(ii) if the player designated as eligible for the bonus event:
(A) display a plurality of different bonus event options to the player; and
(B) enable the player to select one of the displayed plurality of different bonus event options; and
(c) thereafter:
(i) if a determination to trigger the selected bonus event option occurs, trigger the selected bonus event option; and
(ii) if a determination to trigger any bonus event occurs and the player designated as not-eligible for any bonus event, do not trigger any bonus event.
2. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein if the player designated as not-eligible for any bonus event, the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
(i) display a plurality of different payout schemes to the player, the plurality of different payout schemes including:
(A) a first payout scheme which provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, and
(B) a second payout scheme which provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency; and
(ii) enable the player to select one of the plurality of different payout schemes.
3. The gaming device of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of different payout schemes includes a non-modified payout scheme.
4. The gaming device of claim 1 , further comprising a network interface controller which is configured to transmit a selected bonus event option to the gaming device to thereby include or associate the gaming device with the selected bonus event option.
5. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different bonus event options comprises a mystery award.
6. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different bonus event options comprises an award of physical goods.
7. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different bonus event options comprises a progressive award.
8. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different bonus event options comprises a wheel bonus round.
9. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different bonus event options comprises a quest bonus round.
10. The gaming device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different bonus event options comprises a pick and win bonus round.
11. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, the method comprising:
(a) enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a game at the gaming device;
(b) after the wager is placed and prior to any determination of whether to trigger any bonus event:
(i) enabling the player to designate one of:
(A) eligible for a bonus event; and
(B) not-eligible for any bonus event; and
(ii) if the player designated as eligible for the bonus event:
(A) causing a display device to display a plurality of different bonus event options to the player; and
(B) enabling the player to select one of the displayed plurality of different bonus event options; and
(c) thereafter:
(i) if a determination to trigger the selected bonus event option occurs, causing a processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger the selected bonus event option; and
(ii) if a determination to trigger any bonus event occurs and the player designated as not-eligible for any bonus event, not causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger any bonus event.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising, if the player designated as not-eligible for any bonus event, causing the display device to display a plurality of different payout schemes to the player, the plurality of different payout schemes including:
(i) a first payout scheme which provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, and
(ii) a second payout scheme which provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising causing a network interface controller to transmit the selected bonus event option over a game network to the gaming device to thereby include or associate the gaming device with the selected bonus event option.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the bonus event options are selected from the group consisting of a progressive award, a mystery award, a tangible prize and a service award.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the selection of a bonus event option is randomly determined and configured by a game network.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of bonus event options displayed to the player are determined by player tracking identification.
17. A method of operating a gaming device including a plurality of instructions, the method comprising:
(a) enabling a player to place a wager on a play of a game; and
(b) after the wager is placed and prior to any determination of whether to trigger any bonus event:
(i) enabling the player to designate one of:
(A) eligible for a bonus event; and
(B) not-eligible for any bonus event; and
(ii) if the player designated as not-eligible for any bonus event:
(A) causing a display device to display a plurality of different payout schemes to the player;
(B) enabling the player to select one of the displayed plurality of different payout schemes; and
(C) if a determination to trigger any bonus event occurs, not causing a processor to execute the plurality of instructions to trigger any bonus event.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of different payout schemes includes:
(a) a first payout scheme which provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, and
(b) a second payout scheme which provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of displayed payout schemes are determined by player tracking identification.
20. A gaming device comprising:
a housing;
a display device within the housing;
a user interface;
a processor; and
a memory device storing a plurality of instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the user interface to:
(a) enable the player to place a wager on a play of the game; and
(b) after the wager is placed and prior to any determination of whether to trigger any bonus event:
(i) enable the player to designate one of:
(A) eligible for a bonus event; and
(B) not-eligible for any bonus event;
(ii) if the player designated as not-eligible for any bonus event:
(A) display a plurality of different payout schemes to the player;
(B) enable the player to select one of the displayed plurality of different payout schemes; and
(C) if a determination to trigger any bonus event occurs, do not trigger any bonus event.
21. The gaming device of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of different payout schemes includes:
(i) a first payout scheme which provides increased payouts with a decreased payout frequency, and
(ii) a second payout scheme that provides decreased payouts with increased payout frequency.
22. The gaming device of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of different payout schemes includes a non-modified payout scheme.