WO1998057309A1

WO1998057309A1 - Game playing apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1998057309A1
Application number: PCT/GB1998/001724
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Trevelyan; David Maxim Raynolds James; Jeffrey David Thomas; Louwis Haye
Original assignee: Eurotek Designs Limited
Priority date: 1997-06-13
Filing date: 1998-06-12
Publication date: 1998-12-17
Also published as: GB2326260A; GB9712230D0; AU8029998A

Abstract

A game playing apparatus comprises means (6) for displaying, in advance of each play of the apparatus, an indication of an available pay-out which is selected on a random or pseudo-random basis from a plurality of possible pay-outs having different values. The apparatus further comprises actuating means for playing the apparatus in response to a payment of fixed value (e.g. coins or tokens entered at 4) and means (8) for dispensing the displayed pay-out upon playing the apparatus. The value of the pay-out may be less than, equal to or greater than the value of the payment for the corresponding play of the apparatus.

Description

Game Playing Apparatus

The present invention relates to a game playing apparatus, and more particularly to a game playing apparatus having a pay-out facility.

A large number of cash operated game playing apparatus are known which provide a pay-out according to the outcome of a game of chance or skill, a typical example being the well- known ' fruit machine ' , many variants of which are to be found in pubs, clubs and amusement arcades.

Whilst varying in a number of respects, all fruit machines have one fundamental feature in common: a sum of money, typically in the form of one or more coins or tokens, must be paid into the machine before a game is played. The pay-out for that game is then determined on a random or pseudorandom basis, with perhaps an additional skill feature. Thus, there is no way of knowing, before paying the one or more coins or tokens into the machine, what amount will be paid-out for that game.

I have now devised an arrangement which provides an alternative game playing strategy to that provided by existing apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a game playing apparatus comprising means for displaying, in advance of each play of the apparatus, an indication of an available pay-out which is selected on a random or pseudo-random basis from a plurality of possible payouts having different values, actuating means for playing the apparatus in response to a payment of fixed value, and means for dispensing the displayed pay-out upon playing the apparatus, wherein the value of the payout may be less than, equal to or greater than the value of the payment for the corresponding play of the apparatus.

As such, the game playing apparatus of the present invention has the novel feature that the outcome of each game played thereon, i.e. the pay-out to be received by the player, is known in advance of each play.

Preferably the random or pseudo-random selection of the available pay-out is made electronically, and is preferably made probabilistically according to the relative values of each of the possible pay-outs.

Preferably the apparatus is arranged so that the average percentage pay-out is less than 100 percent. Preferably the apparatus comprises means for varying the average percentage pay-out.

Preferably the available pay-out comprises a sum of money, which is preferably dispensed by the dispensing means in the form of one or more coins and/or tokens.

Preferably the payment required to play the apparatus also comprises a sum of money, which is preferably entered into the apparatus in the form of one or more coins and/or tokens. Whilst the use of coins or tokens is preferred, the payment may instead be received and/or the available pay-out dispensed in some other form, for example a bank or credit card account may be electronically credited or debited according to the pay-out dispensed. In a modification, the payout may be in the form of a prize. Preferably the apparatus is arranged to provide a skill feature, wherein by correctly performing a skilled task, a player may change the available pay-out to one having a value greater.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of an example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a game playing apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to the drawing, a game playing apparatus 2 is shown comprising a coin slot 4 into which one or more coins or tokens may be inserted, means 6 for displaying an available pay-out, and an aperture 8 through which the pay-out may be dispensed in the form of one or more coins or tokens.

The display means 6 comprises three segments 10, 12 and 14, each of which may be illuminated to indicate a respective pay-out. So, for example, if segment 10 is illuminated, then no pay-out will be received in return for depositing a coin in the slot 4. However, if segment 12 is illuminated, then depositing a coin in the slot 4 causes a single coin to be dispensed through the aperture 8, or if segment 14 is illuminated then two coins are dispensed.

Whilst in the embodiment described, an available payout is indicated by an illuminated display comprising a number of segments, each indicating a particular pay-out, it would remain in accordance with the present invention to indicate the available pay-out by any other suitable display means such as a row of conventional 'fruit machine' reels, a CRT display, etc.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus thus described provides an alternative game playing strategy to that provided by existing apparatus.

Claims

1) A game playing apparatus comprising means for displaying, in advance of each play of the apparatus, an indication of an available pay-out which is selected on a random or pseudo-random basis from a plurality of possible payouts having different values, actuating means for playing the apparatus in response to a payment of fixed value, and means for dispensing said displayed pay-out upon playing the apparatus, wherein the value of said payout may be less than, equal to or greater than the value of said payment for the corresponding play of the apparatus.

2) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said random or pseudo-random selection of said available payout is made electronically.

3) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said random or pseudo-random selection is made probabilistically according to the relative values of each of the possible pay-outs.

4) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged so that the average percentage pay-out is less than 100 percent.

5) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising means for varying the average percentage payout.

6) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said pay-out comprises a sum of money.

7) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, wherein said sum of money is dispensed by said dispensing means in the form of one or more coins and/or tokens.

8) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said payment required to play the apparatus comprises a sum of money.

9) A game playing apparatus as claimed in Claim 8, wherein said sum of money is entered into the apparatus in the form of one or more coins and/or tokens.

10) A game playing apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged to provide a skill feature, wherein by correctly performing a skilled task, a player may change said available pay-out to one having a greater value.