Gaming device method and apparatus employing modified payouts

摘要

The invention includes a system and method for a gaming device to determine when to offer a player an opportunity to play using a “jackpot only” pay table. The player may choose to accept the gaming device's offer to switch from using a conventional pay table to using a pay table that only pays top payout amounts. Play with a jackpot only pay table may only require a small wager amount as compared to play with a conventional pay table. Play with a jackpot only pay table may be automated to generate outcomes quickly to allow a player to relatively inexpensively avoid spending time playing a gaming device perceived to be in a “cold period.”

主权项

1. A gaming system comprising:
a housing; at least one display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including:
(i) an acceptor, and(ii) a cashout device; at least one processor; and at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to:
(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item;(b) receive an input to play a wagering game in one of: a first mode and a second mode, wherein:
(i) the first mode requires a first wager amount,(ii) the first mode includes a first paytable for the play of the wagering game, the first paytable having:
(A) a first plurality of different winning outcomes, each of said first plurality of different winning outcomes associated with one of a first plurality of different awards, and(B) a first average expected payout,(iii) the second mode requires a second, different wager amount, and(iv) the second mode includes a second, different paytable for the play of the wagering game, the second, different paytable having:
(A) a second, different plurality of different winning outcomes, each of said second, different plurality of different winning outcomes associated with one of a second, different plurality of different awards, and(B) a second, different average expected payout;(c) if the input to play the wagering game in the first mode is received:
(i) randomly determine a first game outcome,(ii) display the randomly determined first game outcome, and(iii) if the randomly determined first game outcome is one of the first plurality of different winning outcomes:(A) determine one of the first plurality of different awards associated with the randomly determined first game outcome, and(B) display the determined one of the first plurality of different awards associated with the randomly determined first game outcome,(d) if the input to play the wagering game in the second mode is received:
(i) randomly determine a second game outcome,(ii) display the randomly determined second game outcome, and(iii) if the randomly determined second game outcome is one of the second, different plurality of different winning outcomes:
(A) determine one of the second, different plurality of different awards associated with the randomly determined second game outcome, and(B) display the determined one of the second, different plurality of different awards associated with the randomly determined second game outcome, and(e) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of a payout associated with the credit balance.