Granted Patent B2

US 8,579,702 · App. 12/741,644 · Granted Nov 12, 2013

Abstract

Claims (44)

1. A method of operating a wagering game comprising:

receiving, using a controller, one or more configuration inputs to create at least one wagering game configuration for a gaming device, the at least one wagering game configuration comprising at least one base game and at least one portal game, the at least one base game operable in response to receipt of a primary wager, the at least one portal game having a set of eligibility criteria and being activated through play of the at least one base game;

storing in a memory storage device a plurality of distinct wager categories based upon the set of eligibility criteria and a size of the primary wager, wherein a first of the wager categories defines a range of allowable wagers for the primary wager and includes a first meter and a first paytable having a first expected value corresponding to the base game of the at least one wagering game configuration, the range extending between minimum and maximum allowable wagers, and wherein a second of the wager categories defines a minimum portal eligibility amount for the portal game and includes a second meter, a second paytable distinct from the first paytable, and a second expected value corresponding to the base game and the portal game of the at least one wagering game configuration, wherein the second expected value is a function of the first expected value and an expected value of the second paytable that differs from the first expected value;

using the controller or another controller, activating participation in the at least one portal game if the set of eligibility criteria is satisfied, and responsive thereto, metering the entire primary wager to the second wager category by adding the entire primary wager to the second meter;

if the eligibility criteria is not satisfied for any of the at least one portal game, metering, using the controller or another controller, the entire primary wager to the first wager category by adding the entire primary wager to the first meter;

calculating, using the controller or another controller, a theoretical overall payback percentage for the at least one wagering game configuration of the gaming device based upon at least the entire primary wager, the first expected value, the second expected value, an amount in the first meter, and an amount in the second meter;

calculating, using the controller or another controller, an actual payback percentage for the at least one wagering game configuration of the gaming device; and

comparing, using the controller or another controller, the theoretical overall payback percentage with the actual payback percentage.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portal game is a zero-cost portal game.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the set of eligibility criteria includes the primary wager being equal to or greater than the minimum portal eligibility amount.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the minimum portal eligibility amount is greater than the minimum allowable wager.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the minimum portal eligibility amount is equal to the maximum allowable wager.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the minimum portal eligibility amount corresponds to a percentage of the primary wager.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the minimum portal eligibility amount corresponds to a side wager for the portal game.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one portal game is a pay-for portal game.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving a side wager, and in response thereto, activating the at least one portal game, the method further comprising metering, using the controller or another controller, the side wager to a third category of the wager categories that includes a third meter by adding the side wager to the third meter.

10. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices in communication with a control computer, the control computer in communication with at least one memory storage device;

at least one wagering game configuration stored on the at least one memory storage device, the at least one wagering game configuration comprising a base game and at least one portal game for a first of the gaming devices, the at least one portal game being activated through play of the base game;

at least one controller operative to:

receive a plurality of distinct wager categories associated with the at least one wagering game configuration, wherein a first of the wager categories defines a range of allowable wagers for a primary wager for the base game and includes a first meter and a first paytable having a first expected value corresponding to the base game, the range extending between minimum and maximum allowable wagers, and wherein a second of the wager categories defines a minimum portal eligibility amount for the portal game and includes a second meter, a second paytable distinct from the first paytable, and a second expected value corresponding to the base game and the portal game, wherein the second expected value is a function of the first expected value and an expected value of the second paytable that differs from the first expected value;

receive from at least one player a size of a primary wager amount within the range of allowable wagers;

if the set of eligibility criteria is satisfied, assign the entire primary wager amount to the second wager category by adding the entire primary wager to the second meter;

if the set of eligibility is not satisfied for any of the at least one portal game, assign the entire primary wager amount to the first wager category by adding the entire primary wager to the first meter;

add the size of the primary wager amount to a credit in meter associated with the wager category to which the primary wager amount was assigned;

calculate a theoretical overall payback percentage for the at least one wagering game configuration of the first gaming device based upon at least the entire primary wager, the first expected value, the second expected value, an amount in the first meter, and an amount in the second meter;

calculate an actual payback percentage for the at least one wagering game configuration of the first gaming device; and

compare the theoretical overall payback percentage with the actual payback percentage.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is further operative to receive a second size of a secondary wager amount collected from the at least one player, and in response thereto, activate the at least one portal game.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of wager categories are created commensurate with creation of the at least one wagering game configuration and stored in memory.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one controller is further operative to maintain a balance of credits metered to each of the plurality of wager categories.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one controller is further operative to calculate a theoretical overall expected value for the wagering game configuration based upon the balance of credits metered to each of the plurality of wager categories.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for carrying out a method of aggregate metering for monetary reconciliation in a gaming system including a plurality of gaming terminals, the method performing the steps of:

receiving a wagering game configuration for a first of the gaming terminals, the wagering game configuration comprising at least one base game and at least one portal game that is activated through play of the at least one base game;

in response to receiving the wagering game configuration, generating and storing a plurality of distinct wager categories associated with the wagering game configuration, wherein a first of the wager categories corresponds to at least the base game and includes a first meter and a first paytable having a first expected value corresponding to the at least one base game, and wherein a second of the wager categories corresponds to at least the at least one portal game and includes a second meter, a second paytable distinct from the first paytable, and a second expected value corresponding to the at least one base game and the at least one portal game, wherein the second expected value is a function of the first expected value and an expected value of the second paytable that differs from the first expected value;

receiving an input of a primary wager amount associated with play of the at least one base game at the first gaming terminal, the first wager category defining a range of allowable wagers for the primary wager, the range extending between minimum and maximum allowable wagers;

adding the entire primary wager amount to the first or second meters depending upon whether a set of eligibility criteria is satisfied for the at least one portal game;

calculating a theoretical overall payback percentage for the wagering game configuration of the gaming terminal based upon at least an amount in the first meter, an amount in the second meter, the first expected value, and the second expected value;

calculating an actual payback percentage for the wagering game configuration of the gaming terminal; and

comparing the actual payback percentage with the theoretical overall payback percentage.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further performs the step of receiving a second input of a secondary wager amount associated with play of the at least one portal game.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 16 , wherein the calculating the theoretical overall payback percentage is further based upon a size of the secondary wager.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further performs the step of generating a PAR sheet associated with the wagering game configuration, the PAR sheet dependent upon the primary wager amount.

19. The computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the method further performs the step of causing an output device to display the PAR sheet, print the PAR sheet, or both.

Assignments (12)