Slot gaming system and method

Abstract

A method for playing a slot gaming machine is provided which includes the steps of providing a display to display a plurality of arrays of symbols, each array of symbols having at least three reels and at least one payline associated with each array, betting at least one credit per payline, activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols, detecting whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed with respect to the paylines, and paying credits for each winning combination detected, based on a pay table. A slot machine used for applying this method is also provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for playing a slot gaming machine comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a display to display a plurality of arrays of symbols, each array of symbols having at least three reels and at least one payline associated with each array;    (b) betting at least one credit per payline;    (c) activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols;    (d) detecting whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed with respect to the paylines; and    (e) paying credits for each winning combination detected, based on a pay table.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , including the step of selecting the quantity of paylines per array upon which a bet is to be placed.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the step of selecting is accomplished by betting a number of credits evenly divisible by a total number of paylines.  
     
     
         4 . The method of playing the slot machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the display includes five reels associated with each array of symbols.  
     
     
         5 . The method of playing the slot machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of betting at least one credit per payline includes sequentially assigning credits to paylines such that when all paylines are assigned an equivalent number of credits, the step of betting continues to sequentially assign credits beginning at a first payline until all credits bet are assigned to paylines.  
     
     
         6 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a display to display a plurality of arrays of symbols, includes providing a display to display a plurality of arrays wherein each array has a different quantity of symbols.  
     
     
         7 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a display to display a plurality of arrays of symbols, includes providing a display to display a plurality of arrays, wherein each array uses a different set of symbols.  
     
     
         8 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 1 , including a bonus step wherein bonus credits are awarded when at least one symbol in each of at least two of the arrays match symbols in an award table.  
     
     
         9 . The method for playing a slot machine of  claim 1 , including a step of selecting arrays to be displayed prior to the step of activating all of the reels.  
     
     
         10 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays and the step of detecting whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed with respect to the paylines occur prior to the step of paying credits.  
     
     
         11 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 1 , wherein an appearance of a symbol on one of the paylines affects values associated with the pay table whereby a bonus is payed with respect to at least one other of the paylines when the symbol on the one payline appears.  
     
     
         12 . The method of playing the card game of  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols is accomplished using a single random number generator for all of the plurality of arrays.  
     
     
         13 . The method of playing the card game of  claim 1 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols is accomplished using a single random number generator for each of the plurality of arrays.  
     
     
         14 . A method for playing a slot machine comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a display to display a plurality of arrays of symbols, each array of symbols having at least three reels and at least one payline associated with each array;    (b) betting at least one credit that is divided among all of the paylines associated with all of the arrays of symbols;    (c) activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols;    (d) detecting whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed with respect to any of the paylines; and    (e) paying credits for each winning combination detected, based on a pay table.    
     
     
         15 . The method of playing the slot machine of  claim 14 , wherein the step of providing the display includes five reels associated with each array of symbols.  
     
     
         16 . The method of playing the slot machine of  claim 14 , wherein the step of betting at least one credit includes evenly dividing the at least one credit among all of the paylines associated with all of the arrays of symbols.  
     
     
         17 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 14 , wherein the step of providing a display to display a plurality of arrays of symbols, includes providing a display to display a plurality of arrays, wherein each array uses a different set of symbols.  
     
     
         18 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 14 , wherein the step of providing a display to display a plurality of arrays of symbols, includes providing a display to display a plurality of arrays, wherein each array has a different quantity of symbols.  
     
     
         19 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 14 , including a bonus step wherein bonus credits are awarded when at least one symbol in each of at least two of the arrays match symbols in an award table.  
     
     
         20 . The method for playing a slot machine of  claim 14 , including a step of selecting arrays to be displayed prior to the step of activating all of the reels.  
     
     
         21 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 14 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays and the step of detecting whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed with respect to the paylines occur prior to the step of paying credits.  
     
     
         22 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 14 , wherein an appearance of a symbol on one of the paylines affects values associated with the pay table whereby a bonus is payed with respect to at least one other of the paylines when the symbol on the one payline appears.  
     
     
         23 . The method of playing the card game of  claim 14 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols is accomplished using a single random number generator for all of the plurality of arrays.  
     
     
         24 . The method of playing the card game of  claim 14 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols is accomplished using a single random number generator for each of the plurality of arrays.  
     
     
         25 . A method for playing a slot machine comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a display to display a plurality of arrays of symbols, each array of symbols having five reels and at least one payline associated with each array;    (b) betting at least one credit one each payline associated with all of the arrays of symbols;    (c) activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each payline displays an associated set of random symbols;    (d) detecting whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed with respect to any of the paylines; and    (e) paying credits for each winning combination detected, based upon a pay table.    
     
     
         26 . The method of playing the slot machine of  claim 25 , wherein the step of betting at least one credit includes evenly dividing the credits among all of the paylines associated with all of the arrays of symbols.  
     
     
         27 . The method of playing a slot machine of  claim 25 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays and the step of detecting whether a winning combination of symbols is displayed with respect to the paylines occur prior to the step of paying credits.  
     
     
         28 . The method of playing the slot machine of  claim 25 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols is accomplished using a single random number generator for all of the plurality of arrays.  
     
     
         29 . The method of playing the slot machine of  claim 25 , wherein the step of activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the paylines displays an associated set of random symbols is accomplished using a single random number generator for each of the plurality of arrays.  
     
     
         30 . A slot machine comprising: 
 (a) display for displaying a plurality of arrays of symbols, each array of symbols having at least three reels and at least one payline associated with each array;    (b) a credit acceptor for accepting a bet of at least one credit;    (c) a reel activator for activating all of the reels in each of the plurality of arrays such that each of the at least one paylines displays an associated set of random symbols;    (d) a winning combination detector for detecting winning combinations of symbols displayed with respect to any of the paylines; and    (e) a credit device adapted to apply at least one credit for each winning combination detected, based on a pay table.    
     
     
         31 . The slot machine of  claim 30  including a bet divider adapted to divide the bet among all of the paylines associated with all of the arrays of symbols.  
     
     
         32 . The slot machine of  claim 30 , wherein the display includes five reels associated with each array of symbols.  
     
     
         33 . The slot machine of  claim 30 , including a selector for selecting arrays to be displayed.  
     
     
         34 . The slot machine of  claim 30 , including one random number generator associated with all arrays to determine the set of random symbols for all arrays.  
     
     
         35 . The slot machine of  claim 30 , including one random number generator associated with each array to determine the set of random symbols for each arrays.