IP Library Granted Patent US 8,480,481
Granted Patent B2
US 8,480,481 · App. 13/248,509 · Granted Jul 9, 2013

Systems, methods, and devices for playing wagering games with randomly selected mathematical operation applied to game factors

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,480,481
App. No.
13/248,509
Granted
Jul 9, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gaming system for playing a wagering game includes a controller configured to randomly generate an outcome of the wagering game and activate, for a winning outcome, a game feature responsive to an occurrence of a predetermined symbol along an activated payline. The controller randomly determines and displays a first operand and a second operand in an award modifier calculation and randomly determines and displays a mathematical operator to apply to the first and second operands. The controller applies the randomly determined mathematical operator to the first operand and the second operand to yield a modifier, modifies an award associated with the winning outcome using the modifier to yield a modified award, and awards the modified award.

Claims (88)

1. A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising:

at least one wagering game machine configured to conduct the wagering game; and

at least one controller operatively configured to:

randomly generate an outcome of the wagering game;

determine if the outcome is a winning outcome;

determine an award associated with the winning outcome;

activate a game feature responsive to a winning outcome satisfying one or more predetermined triggers;

randomly determine a first operand in an award modifier calculation;

display the determined first operand on at least one display device associated with the wagering game machine;

randomly determine a second operand in an award modifier calculation;

display the determined second operand on said at least one display device associated with the wagering game machine;

randomly determine a mathematical operator from amongst a plurality of different mathematical operators to apply to the first operand and the second operand;

display the determined mathematical operator on said at least one display device associated with the wagering game machine;

apply the randomly determined mathematical operator to the first operand and the second operand to yield a modifier;

display the modifier on said at least one display device associated with the wagering game machine;

modify the award associated with the winning outcome, using the modifier, to yield a modified award; and

award the modified award via the wagering game machine.

2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the modifier comprises one of a multiplier, a credit value, and a number of free spins.

3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the random determination of the first operand in an award modifier calculation is displayed on a first physical or simulated movable member and the random determination of the second operand in an award modifier calculation is displayed on a second physical or simulated movable member.

4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the random determination of the mathematical operator comprises an outcome randomly determined by the controller or randomly determined by a player selection of a selectable element from a picking field of selectable elements, at least some of which being associated with mathematical operators.

5. The gaming system of claim 4 , wherein the random determination of the mathematical operator comprises an outcome randomly determined by the controller and wherein the randomly determined mathematical operator is graphically represented by one of a spinning physical or simulated reel, a spinning physical or simulated wheel, or a changing symbol.

6. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operatively configured to:

modify an award operatively associated with the winning outcome via a paytable by applying the modifier to each of the at least one predetermined symbol occurring in the winning outcome to yield a modified award; and

award the modified award.

7. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different mathematical operators comprises an operator for addition.

8. The gaming system of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of different mathematical operators comprises an operator for multiplication.

9. A wagering game system configured to conduct a wagering game or one or more wagering game machines, the wagering game system comprising:

at least one wagering game machine configured to conduct the wagering game; and

at least one controller, operatively associated with the at least one wagering game machine, configured to conduct a game feature, upon execution of instructions:

randomly determine, in association with the game feature, a first operand in an award modifier calculation;

display, in association with the game feature, the determined first operand on a display device associated with the wagering game machine;

randomly determine, in association with the game feature, a second operand in the award modifier calculation;

display, in association with the game feature, the determined second operand on the display device associated with the wagering game machine;

randomly determine, in association with the game feature, a mathematical operator from amongst a plurality of different mathematical operators to apply to the first operand and the second operand in the award modifier calculation;

display, in association with the game feature, the determined mathematical operator on the display device associated with the wagering game machine;

apply, in association with the game feature, the randomly determined mathematical operator to the first operand and the second operand in the award modifier calculation to yield a modifier;

display, in association with the game feature, the modifier on the display device associated with the wagering game machine;

modify, using the modifier, an award operatively associated with a winning outcome in a game other than the game feature to yield a modified award; and

award the modified award.

10. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the modifier comprises one of a multiplier, a credit value, and a number of free spins.

11. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the random determination of the first operand in an award modifier calculation is displayed on a first physical or simulated movable member, wherein the random determination of the second operand in an award modifier calculation is displayed on a second physical or simulated movable member.

12. The gaming system of claim 11 , wherein the first physical or simulated movable member is graphically represented by one of a spinning physical or simulated reel or a spinning physical or simulated wheel, and wherein the second physical or simulated movable member is graphically represented by one of a spinning physical or simulated reel or a spinning physical or simulated wheel.

13. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the random determination of the mathematical operator comprises an outcome randomly determined by the controller or randomly determined by a player selection of a selectable element from a picking field of selectable elements, at least some of which being associated with mathematical operators.

14. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further operatively configured to:

modify an award operatively associated with the winning outcome via a paytable by applying the modifier to each of the at least one predetermined symbol occurring in the winning outcome to yield a modified award; and

award the modified award.

15. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further operatively configured to execute the acts of claim 9 subsequent to the controller performing the following:

randomly generate an outcome of the wagering game;

determine if the outcome is a winning outcome;

activate, for a winning outcome, the game feature responsive to an occurrence of at least one predetermined symbol occurring in the winning outcome.

16. A wagering game system configured to conduct a wagering game or one or more wagering game machines, the wagering game system comprising:

at least one wagering game machine; and

at least one controller, operatively associated with the at least one wagering game machine, configured to conduct a game feature, upon execution of instructions:

randomly determine, in association with the game feature, a first operand in an award modifier calculation;

display, in association with the game feature, the determined first operand on a display device associated with the wagering game machine;

randomly determine, in association with the game feature, a second operand in an award modifier calculation;

display, in association with the game feature, the determined second operand on the display device associated with the wagering game machine;

randomly determine, in association with the game feature, a mathematical operator from amongst a plurality of different mathematical operators to apply to the first operand and the second operand;

display, in association with the game feature, the determined mathematical operator on the display device associated with the wagering game machine;

apply, in association with the game feature, the randomly determined mathematical operator to the first operand and the second operand to yield a result;

display, in association with the game feature, the result on the display device associated with the wagering game machine.

17. The gaming system of claim 16 ,

modify, using said at least one controller, a randomly determined outcome using the result to yield an award; and

award the award.

18. The gaming system of claim 17 , wherein the result is a modifier that comprises at least one of a multiplier, a credit value, and a number of free spins.

19. The gaming system of claim 17 , wherein the mathematical operator is randomly determined from a group comprising two or more of a multiplication operator, an addition operator, a division operator, and a subtraction operator.

20. The gaming system of claim 18 , wherein the modifier comprises at least one of a multiplier, a credit value, and a number of free spins.

21. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the random determination of the mathematical operator comprises an outcome randomly determined by the controller or randomly determined by a player selection of a selectable element from a picking field of selectable elements, at least some of which being associated with mathematical operators.

22. The gaming system of claim 19 , wherein the random determination of the mathematical operator comprises an outcome randomly determined by the controller and wherein the randomly determined mathematical operator is graphically represented by one of a spinning physical or simulated reel, a spinning physical or simulated wheel, or a changing symbol.

23. A method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system comprising one or more wagering game machines, the method comprising:

triggering a game feature in association with a wagering game conducted on a wagering game machine of the wagering game system;

randomly determining, using a controller for the wagering game system, a first operand in an award modifier calculation;

displaying, on a display associated with a wagering game machine, the determined first operand;

randomly determining, using the controller, a second operand in an award modifier calculation;

displaying, on the display associated with the wagering game machine, the determined second operand;

randomly determining, using the controller, a mathematical operator from amongst a plurality of different mathematical operators to apply to the first operand and the second operand;

displaying, on the display associated with the wagering game machine, the determined mathematical operator;

calculating a modifier, using the controller, by applying the randomly determined mathematical operator to the first operand and the second operand;

displaying the modifier on the display associated with the wagering game machine;

modifying an award, via the controller, using the modifier; and

awarding the modified award via the wagering game machine.

24. The method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system according to claim 23 , wherein the modifier comprises one of a multiplier, a credit value, and a number of free spins.

25. The method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system according to claim 23 , wherein the act of randomly determining the first operand in the award modifier calculation is displayed on a first physical or simulated movable member and wherein the act of randomly determining the second operand in the award modifier calculation is displayed on a second physical or simulated movable member.

26. The method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system according to claim 23 , wherein first physical or simulated movable member comprises one of a spinning physical or simulated reel, a spinning physical or simulated wheel, or a changing symbol, and wherein the second physical or simulated movable member comprises one of a spinning physical or simulated reel, a spinning physical or simulated wheel, or a changing symbol.

27. The method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system according to claim 23 , wherein the act of randomly determining the mathematical operator comprises receiving a player selection of a selectable element from a displayed picking field of selectable elements, at least some of the selectable elements being associated with randomly determined mathematical operators.

28. The method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system according to claim 23 , wherein the triggering of the game feature occurs in association with a base wagering game.

29. The method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system according to claim 23 , wherein the triggering of the game feature occurs in association with a bonus game.

30. The method for conducting a wagering game on a wagering game system according to claim 23 , wherein the award that is modified using the modifier comprises at least one of an award associated with a winning outcome in a base wagering game, an award associated with an award outcome in a bonus game, or an award associated with the triggered game feature.

Assignments (12)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2025
From: LNW GAMING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071340/0404 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: SG GAMING, INC.
To: LNW GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 062669/0341 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2022
From: SG GAMING INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059793/0001 →
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 051643/0528 →
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 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045909/0513 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044889/0662 →
MERGER Recorded Jul 29, 2015
From: WMS GAMING INC.
To: BALLY GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 036225/0464 →
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 Jan 31, 2013
From: VANN, JAMIE
To: WMS GAMING INC.
Reel/Frame 029731/0016 →