Gaming machine with skill-based compensation
View Patent ↗A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a basic wagering game and a bonus wagering game. The bonus wagering game has a skill-based component that involves skill and a random component where no skill is involved. The gaming machine uses the random component to compensate players for a lack of optimal play during the skill-based component. The compensation is provided in a manner that appears random to the players to prevent the players from intentionally playing for the compensation.
1. A gaming machine comprising:
a value input device for accepting a wager from a player at the gaming machine;
a display unit for displaying a wagering game on the gaming machine, the wagering game having an optimal strategy and at least one non-optimal strategy, an optimal expected value corresponding to the optimal strategy and a non-optimal expected value corresponding to the at least one non-optimal strategy, the wagering game having a targeted expected value for an average of awards provided over a period of time, the targeted expected value being substantially equal to the optimal expected value;
at least one processor for determining, in response to the player selecting one of the at least one non-optimal strategies, a difference in expected value between the optimal strategy and the selected non-optimal strategy; and
at least one memory for storing the difference in expected value between the optimal strategy and non-optimal strategies selected by the player,
wherein in response to a player selecting one of the at least one non-optimal strategy, the at least one processor to award an additional variable non-progressive award over one or more subsequent events on the gaming machine, the at least one processor variably selecting the additional award from a plurality of possible awards for the selected non-optimal strategy, the plurality of possible awards being based on the difference, the additional award causing the average of awards provided by the gaming machine over the period of time to approach at least partially the targeted expected value,
wherein the display unit does not display, to the player, any information relating to the additional award at the time that the player selects the optimal strategy, and
wherein the display unit does not display, to the player, any information relating to the additional award at the time that the player selects the non-optimal strategy.
2. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the additional award is determined without regard to the actual award provided to the player for selecting the one non-optimal strategy.
3. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor further determines the additional award randomly .
4. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor further determines the additional award from a weighted table.
5. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor further determines the additional award according to the selected non-optimal strategy.
6. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor further awards the additional award over more than one subsequent event, the additional award including a plurality of varying awards.
7. The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor further awards the additional award over more than one subsequent event, and the number of events between awards varies.
8. A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising:
accepting a wager input from a player at the gaming machine, the wager input initiating a wagering game;
displaying, on the gaming machine, the wagering game, the wagering game having an optimal strategy and at least one non-optimal strategy, an optimal expected value corresponding to the optimal strategy and a non-optimal expected value corresponding to the at least one non-optimal strategy, the wagering game having a targeted expected value for an average of awards provided over a period of time, the targeted expected value being substantially equal to the optimal expected value;
determining, with at least one processor, in response to the player selecting one of the at least one non-optimal strategies, a difference in expected value between the optimal strategy and the selected non-optimal strategy;
storing, with at least one memory, the difference in expected value between the optimal strategy and non-optimal strategies selected by the player; and
awarding, with the at least one processor, in response to a player selecting one of the at least one non-optimal strategy, an additional variable non-progressive award over one or more subsequent events on the gaming machine, the at least one processor variably selecting the additional award from a plurality of possible awards for the selected non-optimal strategy, the plurality of possible awards being based on the difference, the additional award causing the average of awards provided by the gaming machine over the period of time to approach at least partially the targeted expected value,
wherein the gaming machine does not display, to the player, any information relating to the additional award at the time that the player selects the optimal strategy, and
wherein the display unit does not display, to the player, any information relating to the additional award at the time that the player selects the non-optimal strategy.
9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising determining, with the at least one processor, the additional award without regard to the actual award provided to the player for selecting the one non-optimal strategy.
10. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising determining, with the at least one processor, the additional award randomly.
11. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising determining, with the at least one processor, the additional award from a weighted table.
12. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising determining, with the at least one processor, the additional award according to the selected non-optimal strategy.
13. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising awarding the additional award over more than one subsequent event, wherein the additional award includes a plurality of awards having varying values.
14. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising awarding the additional award over more than one subsequent event, wherein the number of events between awards varies.
15. The gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to award the additional award at any of a plurality of times, the at least one processor awards randomly selecting a time from the plurality of times and awarding the additional award at the randomly selected time.
16. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the at least one processor is configured to award the additional award at any of a plurality of times, the method further comprising randomly selecting, with the at least one processor, a time from the plurality of times and awarding the additional award at the randomly selected time.