Game playing devices and video slots without paylines

Abstract

Game playing devices are described which are configured with software instructions for rendering a video slots type game comprising an array of symbols, typically but not necessarily displayed in rows and columns of symbols. The games of this disclosure do not use the concept of pay lines. Rather, winning results are determined by a minimum number of the one or more of the symbols of the game appearing in the array of symbols. Such symbols may appear either in a scattered, random arrangement and the player wins. If they are in an adjacent arrangement, e.g., all on the same row, the player wins a higher prize.

1 . An electronic game playing device comprising a processing unit, a memory storing software instructions and a display, wherein the software instructions comprise instructions for displaying on the display a video slots-type game comprising an array of randomly generated symbols, and wherein the game includes a pay table associated with individual symbols appearing in array, wherein in accordance with the pay table prizes are awarded when a minimum number of one or more of the symbols appear anywhere in the array of symbols and wherein the symbols do not have the be present at predetermined or preselected positions in order to win. 
   
   
       2 . The game playing device of  claim 1 , wherein the array of symbols includes three rows of symbols and at least three columns of symbols. 
   
   
       3 . The game playing device of  claim 2 , wherein the array of symbols includes five columns of symbols. 
   
   
       4 . The game playing device of  claim 1 , wherein a higher prize than the prize awarded for a scattered arrangement is awarded if a minimum number of symbols appear in the array of symbols in an adjacent relationship. 
   
   
       5 . The game playing device of  claim 1 , wherein the game playing device comprises a gaming workstation installed in a casino. 
   
   
       6 . The game playing device of  claim 1 , wherein the game playing device comprises a general purpose computer and wherein the instructions are obtained for the computer over a computer network. 
   
   
       7 . The game playing device of  claim 1 , wherein array of symbols includes 15 symbol positions and wherein the minimum number comprises 3. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming server operatively coupled to a plurality of game playing workstations over a computer network, the gaming server comprising a computing platform and a memory storing instructions for execution by the computing platform,
 wherein the gaming server is configured to generate data representing an array of randomly generated symbols and send such data to one of said workstations, and   wherein the game server awards prizes to an account associated with said workstation in accordance with a pay table associated with the individual symbols appearing in array, wherein in accordance with the pay table prizes are awarded by the game server to the account when a minimum number of one or more of the symbols appear anywhere in the array of symbols and wherein the symbols do not have the be present at predetermined or preselected positions in order for the player to achieve a winning result.   
   
   
       9 . The gaming server of  claim 8 , wherein the array of symbols includes three rows of symbols and at least three columns of symbols. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming server of  claim 9 , wherein the array of symbols includes five columns of symbols. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming server of  claim 8 , wherein a higher prize than the prize awarded for a scattered arrangement is awarded if a minimum number of symbols appear in the array of symbols in an adjacent relationship. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming server of  claim 8 , wherein the gaming workstations and the gaming server are installed in a casino. 
   
   
       13 . The gaming server of  claim 8 , wherein the gaming workstation comprises a general purpose computer and wherein the computer network comprises the Internet. 
   
   
       14 . The gaming server of  claim 8 , wherein the array of symbols includes 15 symbol positions and wherein the minimum number comprises 3. 
   
   
       15 . The game playing device of  claim 1 , wherein the game playing device further comprises a pointing device displayable on the display, and when the instructions are configured such that when the pointing device is hovered over one of the symbols appearing in the array the pay table associated with that symbol is displayed. 
   
   
       16 . The game playing device of  claim 15 , wherein the pay table comprises a scattered arrangement pay table and an adjacent arrangement pay table.