US20060181025A1

US20060181025A1 - Method of bonus odds gaming

Info

Publication number: US20060181025A1
Application number: US11/057,583
Authority: US
Inventors: Tyrone Mitchell
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-02-15
Filing date: 2005-02-15
Publication date: 2006-08-17

Abstract

A method of including a bonus odds component in any wagering game with a plurality of players, wherein the initial game bet to participate in the wagering game pays out odds greater than a one to one ratio on the initial game bet in favor of the players, using a bonus game token or a designated location to place the initial game bet. When players place the bonus game token with their initial game bet, the standard pay out odds are reduced to a predetermined lower pay out odds, odds not to be less than a one to one ratio and qualifies the player's initial game bet for the bonus odds component. Conditions to win the bonus odds component are are predetermined and are based upon an event or plurality of events that can occur within the wagering game. Should a player participate in the bonus odds component win the wagering game, but does not win the bonus odds component, then the amount of reduced odds are added to the bonus odds component. Should a player lose both elements, the bonus odds of the bonus odds component remain the same. Should a player or plurality of players win the bonus odds component, then each winning player is paid an amount equal to their initial game bet times the odds each player is entitled to and the bonus odds component's odds are lowered to a predetermined starting amount. The bonus odds component can be expanded to encompass different amounts of wagers having different bonus odds for each wagering amount, allow for wagering game operators to draw a profit, and have electronic computerized display screens to show bonus odds.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
The present invention is a method of including a bonus odds component in any wagering game wherein the initial game bet to participate in said wagering game pays out odds greater than a one to one ratio on said initial game bet in favor of the player, found in games such as roulette, craps, card games such as Nevada Hold'em, and video gaming machines in casino environments and in home environments.
2. Background of the Invention
The present invention is unique in its method of bonus odds gaming wherein the reward is based upon an increasing odds pay out instead of a monetary jackpot that continues to increase. There are a limited number of progressive jackpot patents for card games where an optional and separate side bet is wagered by players, U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,041 (to Jones, et al.), to win part or all of a progressive jackpot where part or all of the separate amounts wagered are carried over and added to the jackpot amount.
The present invention however teaches the concept of increasing the odds amount every time a player in a wagering game trys to meet a certain set of conditions that can occur within the wagering game. Each time a player attempts and fails to meet the conditions, the odds can be increased.
Instead of a player placing a separate side bet as found in progressive jackpots, the present invention is included in games wherein the initial game bet has odds greater than a one to one payout in favor of the player and the player simply wavers one or more of the standards odds offered to qualify their bet for the present invention's bonus odds component. There is no actual separate wager to participate in the bonus odds component and there is no standing monetary jackpot to be won.
The present invention teaches when a player does win the bonus odds component of the present invention, the amount won is determined by the amount the player wages muliplied by the current odds that are based on the number of times previous players have attempted and failed to win the bonus odds component of the present invention.
There are patented games where additional bonus games can be won within the game by meeting certain conditions, U.S. Pat. No. 6,659,461 (to Shuffle Master, Inc.). However, the players are simply allowed to play additional bonus games without placing additional wagers.
There are a mulitude of expired and current patented wagering games where a player places an initial game bet and is paid a predetermined amount based on the amount the player wagers times a predetermined odds amount that is based solely on the probability of a specific event occurring within the game. The odds never increase or decrease. Such games are roulette, craps, video games, and card games that encompass almost the entire gaming industry.
However, none of these well established wagering games allow a player to waver one or more of the standard odds offered on the initial game bet to participate in any bonus odds component which can have odds greater than the standard predetermined odds offered in the wagering game.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

In accordance with the present invention, there are several objects and advantages:
(a) there are no separate wagers to qualify player for the bonus odds component included in the wagering game;
(b) there are no second or additional wagers to qualify player for the bonus odds component included in the wagering game;
(c) there are no rack amounts taken from each game's total wagers;
(d) one can predetermine the starting bonus odds for each allowed initial game bet amounts and allow higher initial game bets to be placed;
(e) conditions to win bonus odds component need not be based on predetermined mathematical odds as the odds of the bonus odds component only increase when the player wins the initial game bet and by the odds the player wavers on their initial game bets;
(f) income from the bonus odds component can be regulated and adjusted to the exact percentages required by gaming operators;
(g) there is no progression of the bonus odds component in the sense that every time the game is played the bonus odds increase as the bonus odds do not increase when a player loses the inital game bet to the wagering game and loses the bonus odds component;
(h) the players have the option to play the bonus odd component.
In accordance with the most important feature of the present invention, gaming operators of wagering games need no longer fear multiple wins within the mathematical range of odds offered on wagers.
In accordance with the present invention, the bonus odds component's odds can exceed the mathematical odds of the predetermined conditions and attract customers from their competitors.

SUMMARY

It is a general object of the present invention to provide a bonus odds component to any wagering game where the initial game bet to participate in the wagering game pays out odds greater than a one to one ratio on the initial game bet in favor of the player.
A bonus odds game token having no wagering value in the wagering game is used by the player to qualify the player's initial game bet for the bonus odds component of the present invention. The bonus odds game token reduces the standard pay out odds offered on the player's initial game bet in the wagering game, the amount of reduced pay out odds being the transferred odds amount, to a predetermined lower pay out odds not to be less than a one to one pay out odds. In essence, the player is wavering one or more of the standard pay out odds to participate in the bonus odds component.
The conditions to win the bonus odds component of the present invention are based upon an event or a plurality of events that can occur within the wagering game and are predetermined prior to the start of the game and the player placing their initial game wager.
The method of participating in the bonus odds component of the present invention requires the player to place a bonus odds game token with and at the same time the player places their initial game bet. Participating in the bonus odds component of the present invention is optional to the player.
If the player participates in the bonus odds component of the present invention wins the wagering game and does not win the bonus odds component of the present invention, the player is paid the predetermined lower pay out odds and the transferred odds amount is transferred and added to the amount of bonus odds in the bonus odds component.
If the player participates in the bonus odds component of the present invention loses the wagering game and does not win the bonus odds component of the present invention, the transferred odds amount is not transferred to the bonus odds component of the present invention.
If the player participates in the bonus odds component of the present invention and wins the bonus odds component of the present invention the transferred odds amount is transferred and added to the amount of bonus odds in the bonus odds component of the present invention. The player is paid an amount equal to the player's initial game bet multiplied by the amount of bonus odds the player is entitled to in the bonus odds component of the present invention.
Should a plurality of players win the bonus odds component of the present invention, the winning players will equally split the amount of bonus odds in the bonus odds component of the present invention.
When the bonus odds component of the present invention is won, the bonus odds components's odds amount is lowered to a predetermined starting amount.
The method of bonus odds gaming can be expanded, wherein the wagering game has different wagering amount for the initial game bet, the bonus odds component of the present invention will consist of separate bonus odds amounts for each allowed initial game bet amount.
Wherein the bonus odds game token is replaced by a designated location at the wagering game where upon the designated location represents the bonus odds game token.
Wherein the wagering game operators do not add one out of a predetermined number, the predetermined number not to be less than four, of the transferred odds to the bonus odds component of the present invention in order to maintain gaming operations.
Wherein an electronic computerized display screen and mechanical device be present at or near the wagering game to combine, increment, decrement, and display all bonus odds amounts for all allowed initial game bets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a bonus odds game token that can be used by players to qualify player's initial game bet for the bonus odds component of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawing of FIG. 1, the apparatus 1 for the present invention is a round token with a diameter of 1.5 inches and a thickness of one-eighth of an inch having a unique color different than the gaming tokens used in the wagering game.
On both sides of apparatus 1 will be the same information as follows;

- (a) identifies apparatus 1 as a bonus odds game token;
- (b) identifies the predetermined pay out odds on the player's initial game bet;
- (c) identifies any special conditions that apply to the initial game bet.

OPERATION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The player places the preferred embodiment on top, beside, or within a designated area with and at the same time the player places the initial game bet, depending upon the type of wagering game.

ADVANTAGE OF EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment clearly identifies the intensions of the player to qualify the player's initial game bet for the bonus odds component of the present invention.

CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE

The present invention can be included into a mulitude of existing games that presently offer low odds on the player's wagers. The present invention's bonus odds can increase to super bonus odds that will attract players to the types of wagering game that included the present invention.
Roulette, craps, video games, and card games can take on a whole new dimension that allows players to win large amounts on the smallest of wagers.
Casino operators will no longer fear offering high bonus odds on events that can occur within their wagering games. When there are a plurality of winners at the same time, the bonus odds offered by the present invention can be divided equally between the winning players.
Players are not forced to place separate wagers or additional wagers to participate in the present invention. With display screens at the wagering game, players can determine when it is to their advantage to place an initial game bet and qualify the bet for the bonus odds component of the present invention.

Claims

1) A method of including a bonus odds component in any wagering game with a plurality of players, wherein the initial game bet to participate in said wagering game pays out odds greater than a one to one ratio on said initial game bet in favor of the players, comprising the steps of:

(A) A bonus odds game token, having no wagering value, is used in said wagering game that reduces said pay out odds on said initial game bet to a predetermined lower pay out odds, not to be less than a one to one pay out odds, the amount of reduced pay out odds being the transferred odds,

(B) Player using said bonus odds game token qualifies said player's said initial game bet for said bonus odds component,

(C) Conditions to win said bonus odds component are based upon an event or a plurality of events that can occur within said wagering game and are predetermined prior to the start of said wagering game,

(D) If a plurality of players win said bonus odds component in said wagering game, said players will equally split the amount of bonus odds in said bonus odds component,

(E) Players wagering said initial game bet to participate in said wagering game have the option to participate in said bonus odds component,

(F) Player chosing to participate in said bonus odds component must place said bonus odds game token with and at the same time said initial game bet is placed to qualify said initial game bet for said bonus odds component,

(G) If player participating in said bonus odds component wins said wagering game and does not win said bonus odds component, said transferred odds are transferred and added to the amount of bonus odds in said bonus odds component,

(H) If player participating in said bonus odds component does not win said wagering game and does not win said bonus odds component, said transferred odds are not transferred and are not added to the amount of bonus odds in said bonus odds component,

(I) If player participating in said bonus odds component wins said bonus odds component, said transferred odds are transferred and added to the amount of bonus odds in said bonus odds component and said player is paid an amount equal to said player's said initial game bet muliplied by the amount of bonus odds said player is entitled to in said bonus odds component,

(J) If said bonus odds component is won said bonus odds component's odds amount is lowered to a predetermined starting amount.

2) The method of claim 1, wherein said wagering game has different wagering amounts for said initial game bet, said bonus odds component will consist of separate bonus odds amounts for each allowed initial game bet amount.

3) The method of claim 1, wherein said bonus odds game token in step (A) is replaced by a designated location at said wagering game where as said designated location represents said bonus odds game token.

4) The method of claim 1, wherein said wagering game's operators do not add one out of a predetermined number, said predetermined number not to be less than four, of said transferred odds in step (G) to said bonus odds component.

5) The method of claim 1, wherein an electronic computerized display screen and a mechanical device be present at or near said wagering game to combine, increment, decrement, and display all bonus odds amounts for all allowed initial game bets.