Granted Patent B2

US 9,396,609 · App. 13/626,406 · Granted Jul 19, 2016

Abstract

Claims (68)

1. A method of operating a gaming machine having slot machine reels configured to display a main game and a separate jackpot reel comprising a plurality of different symbols, the method comprising:

receiving, via a credit input mechanism, an item associated with a monetary value, and establishing a credit balance based on the monetary value;

receiving an amount bet funded from the credit balance to play the gaming machine;

initiating play of a main game of the gaming machine;

determining a number of entitlement symbols for the jackpot reel based on the amount bet;

spinning the jackpot reel to obtain a jackpot game outcome;

awarding a feature game in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising an entitlement symbol;

adjusting a probability of the feature game awarding a jackpot prize determining, based on the amount bet, a number of jackpot symbols available during the feature game;

initiating play of the feature game of the gaming machine after adjusting the probability; and

awarding the jackpot prize from a jackpot pool in response to obtaining an winning outcome from play of the jackpot feature game comprising a winning combination of jackpot symbols, wherein any awarded prize is added to the credit balance.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusting comprises adjusting the probability such that a higher amount bet results in a higher probability of winning the jackpot prize.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel includes one or more jackpot symbols associated with the jackpot prize; and

the method further comprises awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

said initiating play of the main game comprises spinning a plurality of reels for the main game; and

the jackpot reel is distinct from the plurality of reels for the main game.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel include a plurality of different jackpot symbols, each different jackpot symbol associated with a different jackpot prize; and

the method further comprises awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising awarding another jackpot prize in response the jackpot game outcome comprising another jackpot symbol associated with the another jackpot prize.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel include a plurality of jackpot symbols and a plurality of jackpot increment symbols; and

the method further comprises:

awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize; and

incrementing the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot increment symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

8. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions stored thereon, wherein the plurality of instructions, in response to being executed, result in a game controller:

in response to a credit input mechanism receiving an item associated with a monetary value, establishing a credit balance based on the monetary value;

receiving an amount bet funded from the credit balance to play a gaming machine comprising slot machine reels configured to display a main game and a separate jackpot reel having a plurality of different symbols;

initiating play of a main game of the gaming machine;

determining a number of entitlement symbols for the jackpot reel based on the amount bet;

spinning the jackpot reel to obtain an jackpot game outcome;

awarding a feature game in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising an entitlement symbol;

adjusting a probability of the feature awarding a jackpot prize determining, based on the amount bet, a number of jackpot symbols available during the feature game;

initiating play of the feature game of the gaming machine after adjusting the probability; and

awarding the jackpot prize from a jackpot pool in response to obtaining an outcome from play of the feature game comprising a winning combination of jackpot symbols, wherein any awarded prize is added to the credit balance.

9. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions further result in the game controller adjusting the probability such that a higher amount bet results in a higher probability of winning the jackpot prize.

10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel includes one or more jackpot symbols associated with the jackpot prize; and

the plurality of instructions further result in the game controller awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of jackpot reel include a plurality of jackpot symbols and a plurality of jackpot increment symbols;

the plurality of instructions further result in the game controller:

awarding the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize; and

incrementing the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot increment symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

12. A gaming machine, comprising:

a plurality of reels associated with a main game;

a separate jackpot reel associated with a jackpot game, the jackpot reel comprising a plurality of different symbols; and

a game controller configured to:

receive, via a credit input mechanism, an item associated with a monetary value, and establish a credit balance based on the monetary value;

receive an amount bet funded from the credit balance;

determine a number of entitlement symbols for the jackpot reel based on the amount bet;

spin the plurality of reels to obtain a main game outcome;

spin the jackpot reel to obtain a jackpot game outcome;

award a feature game in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising an entitlement symbol;

adjust a probability of the feature game awarding a jackpot prize by determining, based on the amount bet, a number of jackpot symbols available during the feature game;

initiate play of the feature game after adjusting the probability; and

award the jackpot prize from a jackpot pool based on an outcome of the feature game comprising a winning combination of jackpot symbols, wherein any awarded prize is added to the credit balance.

13. The gaming machine of claim 12 , wherein the game controller is further configured to adjust the probability such that a higher amount bet results in a higher probability of winning the jackpot prize.

14. The gaming machine of claim 12 , wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel includes one or more jackpot symbols associated with the jackpot prize; and

the game controller is further configured to award the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

15. The gaming machine of claim 12 , wherein:

the plurality of different symbols of the jackpot reel includes a plurality of jackpot increment symbols; and

the game controller is further configured to increment the jackpot prize in response to the jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot increment symbol associated with the jackpot prize.

16. The gaming machine of claim 12 , wherein:

the jackpot reel comprises a plurality of different jackpot symbols, each different jackpot symbol associated with a different jackpot prize of a plurality of jackpot prizes; and

the game controller is further configured to award a particular jackpot prize of the plurality of jackpot prizes in response to a jackpot game outcome comprising a jackpot symbol associated with the particular jackpot prize.

Assignments (6)