US2008026831A1PendingUtilityA1

Method or Apparatus for Allocating a Player's Contribution in a Gaming Apparatus Between a Plurality of Games

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Assignee: PALTRONICS AUSTRALASIA PTY LTDPriority: May 10, 2004Filed: May 10, 2005Published: Jan 31, 2008
Est. expiryMay 10, 2024(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Dean WrightStephen Cowan
G07F 17/32G07F 17/3244G07F 17/3281G07F 17/3258
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PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A method and apparatus for allocating a player's contribution in a gaming apparatus between a plurality of games is disclosed. The plurality of games includes a first game, provided by a gaming machine, and a second game, provided by a second game controller. The method includes the steps of receiving ( 401 ) a contribution from a player of the gaming apparatus; selecting ( 405 ) an allocation ratio in response to an input by the player; splitting ( 407 ) the contribution into a number of parts in accordance with the selected ratio; and allocating ( 411 ) at least one of the parts of the contribution to one of the games.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A method for allocating a player's contribution in a gaming apparatus between a plurality of games, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) receiving a contribution from a player of the gaming apparatus;    b) selecting an allocation ratio in response to an input by the player;    c) splitting the contribution into a number of parts in accordance with the selected ratio; and    d) allocating at least one of the parts of the contribution to one of the games.    
   
   
       2 . A method according to  claim 1  in which, in step c) the contribution is split into two parts and, in step d), each part is allocated to a respective game.  
   
   
       3 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the ratio is selected from a set of predetermined ratios.  
   
   
       4 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the set of ratios comprises a full range of possible ratios.  
   
   
       5 . A method according to  claim 3  wherein the set of ratios is pre-selected from group of such sets.  
   
   
       6 . A method according to  claim 3  in which the set is varied in response to one or more predetermined conditions such as the time of day, the current state of play of a given game, or the current gaming activity within a particular gaming environment.  
   
   
       7 . A method according to  claim 3  in which the set of predetermined ratios are varied in a random or pseudo random manner.  
   
   
       8 . A method according to  claim 1  in which each of the plurality of games is provided by a respective gaming device.  
   
   
       9 . A method according to  claim 1  in which the plurality of games are provided by the same gaming device.  
   
   
       10 . Apparatus for allocating a player's contribution in a gaming apparatus between a plurality of games, the apparatus comprising: 
 a) input means for receiving a contribution from a player of the gaming apparatus;    b) selection means operable by the player to select an allocation ratio;    c) splitting means for splitting the contribution into a number of parts in accordance with the selected ratio; and    d) allocating means for allocating at least one of the parts of the contribution to one of the games.    
   
   
       11 . Apparatus according to  claim 10  in which, the splitting means is further operable to split the contribution into two parts and, the allocating means is further operable to allocate each part to a respective game.  
   
   
       12 . Apparatus according to  claim 10  in which the ratio is selected from a set of predetermined ratios.  
   
   
       13 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the set of ratios comprises a full range of possible ratios.  
   
   
       14 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the set of ratios available for selection by the player is pre-selected from group of such sets.  
   
   
       15 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the set is varied in response to one or more predetermined conditions such as the time of day, the current state of play of a given game, or the current gaming activity within a particular gaming environment.  
   
   
       16 . Apparatus according to  claim 12  in which the set of predetermined ratios are varied in a random or pseudo random manner.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus according to  claim 10  in which each of the plurality of games is provided by a respective gaming device.  
   
   
       18 . Apparatus according to  claim 10  in which the plurality of games are provided by the same gaming device.  
   
   
       19 . Apparatus for enabling a player of a gaming machine to control the distribution of the player's contribution to a game, the apparatus comprising: 
 a display operable to indicate a set of possible distributions to the player;    at least one control means operable by the player to indicate a choice of one of the distributions; and    communication means for communicating the player's choice to the gaming machine.    
   
   
       20 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  in which the distribution is between a plurality of games.  
   
   
       21 . Apparatus according to  claim 20  in which the games are provided by respective gaming devices.  
   
   
       22 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  in which the control means is operable to select a distribution from a full range of possible distributions.  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  in which the set of distributions is pre-selected from a group of such sets.  
   
   
       24 . Apparatus according to  claim 23  in which the group of sets available for selection is determined in accordance with one or more predetermined conditions such as the time of day, the current state of play of a given game, or the current gaming activity within a particular gaming environment.  
   
   
       25 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  in which the control means is provided by a dial, push buttons or a slider control.  
   
   
       26 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  in which the control means is operable to select the distribution and to start the respective game.  
   
   
       27 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  in which the control means is operable by the player to hold the selected distribution for a given game for use in a subsequent game or games.  
   
   
       28 . Apparatus according to  claim 19  in which the control means is operable to prompt the player to select a distribution for each game played.  
   
   
       29 . (canceled)  
   
   
       30 . (canceled)  
   
   
       31 . (canceled)

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