Gaming machine

Abstract

The invention concerns a gaming machine adapted to accept a bet on one or more winning outcomes of a game of chance; and. pay winnings of the occurrence of a winning outcome carrying a bet; wherein, the machine is configured to accept a single bet that is less than the smallest denomination of local currency.

What we claim is:  
     
         1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 means adapted to accept a bet on one or more winning outcomes of a game of chance; and    means adapted to pay winnings of the occurrence of a winning outcome carrying a bet; wherein the machine is configured to accept a single bet that is less than the smallest denomination of local currency.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1  wherein the game of chance involves an array of randomly selected symbols and the winning outcomes are predetermined winning combinations of symbols, and wherein the machine is adapted to accept a bet on the occurrence of any of the winning combinations within the array.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine according to  claim 2  wherein the array is larger than five columns and three rows.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1  wherein the machine will accept a bet that is one tenth the smallest denomination of local currency.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1  wherein the machine will accept a bet that is one hundredth the smallest denomination of local currency.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1  wherein the machine will accept a bet that is one thousandth the smallest denomination of local currency.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine according to  claim 1  wherein the winnings paid on a bet that is less than the smallest denomination of local currency is greater than the smallest denomination of local currency.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine according to  claim 5  wherein the winnings paid are divisible by the smallest denomination of local currency without remainder.  
     
     
         9 . A method of operating a gaming machine having a display adapted to show separate sets of symbols, the method comprising the steps of: 
 accepting a bet on one or more winning outcomes of a game of chance; and    paying winnings of the occurrence of a winning outcome carrying a bet; wherein the machine is configured to accept a single bet that is less than the smallest denomination of local currency.    
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the game of chance involves an array of randomly selected symbols and the winning outcomes are predetermined winning combinations of symbols, and wherein the machine is adapted to accept a bet on the occurrence of any of the winning combinations within the array.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the array is larger than five columns and three rows.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the machine will accept a bet that is one tenth the smallest denomination of local currency.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the machine will accept a bet that is one hundredth the smallest denomination of local currency.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the machine will accept a bet that is one thousandth the smallest denomination of local currency.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 9  wherein the winnings paid on a bet that is less than the smallest denomination of local currency is greater than the smallest denomination of local currency.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13  wherein the winnings paid are divisible by the smallest denomination of local currency without remainder.