Wagering game having a player-selectable pay table

Abstract

A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game. A display displays symbols of the wagering game indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager. The plurality of outcomes include at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table. A plurality of pay tables are available for the wagering game. The pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering game.

1 . A gaming machine comprising: 
 a wager-input device for receiving a wager from a player to play a wagering game; and    a display for displaying symbols of the wagering game indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager, wherein the plurality of outcomes includes at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table;    wherein a plurality of pay tables are available for the wagering game and the pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering game.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the player is provided an opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay tables.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the wagering game is selected from the group consisting of: video poker, mechanical slots, video slots, video blackjack, video keno and video bingo.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only the first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the plurality of outcomes.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the plurality of outcomes than the second pay table.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first pay table and the second pay table have payback percentages that are substantially the same.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the pay table is randomly selected.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the player is provided an opportunity to submit a second wager to exchange the pay table for a more valuable pay table providing higher payouts.  
   
   
       9 . A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming machine, the method comprising: 
 receiving a wager from a player;    randomly selecting a game outcome from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager;    displaying the game outcome for the wagering game as symbols indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager, wherein the plurality of outcomes includes at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table; and    selecting the pay table from a plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering game.    
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 9 , wherein the player is provided an opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay tables.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only the first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the plurality of outcomes.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the plurality of outcomes than the second pay table.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first pay table and the second pay table have payback percentages that are substantially the same.  
   
   
       14 . A computer readable storage medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming device to perform the method of  claim 9 .  
   
   
       15 . A gaming system for playing a wagering game, comprising: 
 at least one display; and    a controller coupled to the display and programmed to initiate the wagering game in response to detection of a wager from a player; 
 display symbols of the wagering game indicating a randomly selected outcome selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to the wager, wherein the plurality of outcomes includes at least one winning outcome that awards a payout according to a pay table; and  
 wherein a plurality of pay tables are available for the wagering game and the pay table is selected from the plurality of pay tables to implement during the wagering game.  
   
   
   
       16 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the display and the controller are both located within a gaming terminal.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the display is located within a gaming terminal and the controller is located outside of the gaming terminal.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the player is provided an opportunity to select the pay table from the plurality of pay tables.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and only the first pay table provides the payout for at least one of the plurality of outcomes.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of pay tables includes a first pay table and a second pay table, and the first pay table provides the payout for a larger number of the plurality of outcomes than the second pay table.