On demand prize/bonus system

Abstract

A gaming machine and method for selecting a prize to be awarded in an outcome for a game of chance has means for providing one or more games of chance, means for accepting a wager, a prize display, and a prize selector to allow a player to select at least one displayed prize. At least one memory device stores a list having one or more prizes with similar values, each list linked to a predetermined pay table and at least one player preference associated with each of the prizes. The gaming machine and method also has at least one logic device configured to: a) receive an indication of a selected prize from the prize selector; b) control the prize display to display one or more of the prizes; c) determine an outcome of a game of chance; and d) determine whether the selected prize is associated with the outcome.

1 . A gaming machine, comprising: 
 means for providing one or more games of chance;    means for accepting a wager for a game of chance;    a prize display;    a prize selector configured for allowing a player to select at least one displayed prize;    at least one memory device for storing the following information: 
 at least one list having one or more prizes with similar values, each list linked to a predetermined pay table; and  
 at least one player preference associated with each of the at least one prizes; and  
   at least one logic device configured to perform the following tasks: 
 receive an indication of a selected prize from the prize selector;  
 control the prize display to display one or more of the prizes;  
 determine an outcome of a game of chance; and  
 determine whether the selected prize is associated with the outcome.  
   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the displayed one or more prizes are specific to a wager amount to be played.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more prizes is a cash or non-cash prize.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the prize selector is configured to receive an input signal indicating that the player wishes to reselect and play for another of the one or more prize.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein the reselected prize is specific to a wager amount to be played.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the prize selector is configured to receive an input signal indicating that the player wishes to select a cash prize instead of a previously-awarded non-cash prize.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a network interface configured for communication with an exchange server and a user interface configured to allow a player to exchange a winning prize for an alternative prize.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein the alternative prize is another player's prize.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein the alternative prize is a default prize based upon the game of chance played on the gaming machine.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein the exchange server comprises another gaming machine.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one player preference is manually inputted into the gaming machine.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one player preference is obtained from a remote gaming server having a player tracking database.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the selected prizes is awarded after the outcome of a bonus event played on the gaming machine.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein a probability of the outcome of the game of chance played on the gaming machine is based on a value of the at least one selected prize.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the prize selection mechanism is a key pad, a button, panel, a video touch screen, a mouse, a touch pad, a joystick, a microphone, or a magnetic card.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the prize display mechanism is a printed sign, a video display screen, a bonus wheel, a video touch screen, an LCD, or a back-lit glass panel.  
   
   
       17 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein a default prize is displayed after a period of inactivity on the gaming machine.  
   
   
       18 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined pay table is approved for use on the gaming machine by a gaming authority with jurisdiction to specify operating parameters for the gaming machine.  
   
   
       19 . An prize selection network, comprising: 
 an exchange server, comprising: 
 an interface to receive a signal that a player wishes to exchange a winning prize for an alternative prize; and  
 a memory to store a plurality of prizes associated with at least one player preference; and  
   a plurality of gaming machines, each gaming machine comprising: 
 means for providing one or more games of chance;  
 means for accepting a wager for a game of chance;  
 a prize display;  
   a prize selector configured for allowing a player to select at least one displayed prize; 
 at least one memory device for storing the following information: 
 at least one list having one or more prizes with similar values, each list linked to a predetermined pay table; and  
 the at least one player preference associated with at least one of the prizes; and  
 
 at least one logic device configured to perform the following tasks: 
 receive an indication of a selected prize from the prize selector;  
 control the prize display to display one or more of the prizes;  
 determine an outcome of a game of chance; and  
 determine whether the selected prize is associated with the outcome.  
 
   
   
   
       20 . The network of  claim 19 , wherein the alternative prize is selected from other player's prizes.  
   
   
       21 . The network of  claim 19 , wherein the alternative prize is a default prize based upon the game of chance played on the gaming machine.  
   
   
       22 . The network of  claim 19 , wherein the player preference is downloaded to the exchange server memory.  
   
   
       23 . The network of  claim 19 , wherein a probability of the outcome of the game of chance played on the gaming machine is based on a value of the at least one selected prize.  
   
   
       24 . A method for selecting a prize to be awarded in an outcome for a game of chance played on a gaming machine, comprising: 
 displaying a plurality of prizes based upon a player's preferences, each of the plurality of prizes linked to a predetermined pay table;    receiving a selection of at least one of the plurality of prizes from a player, the selection to be awarded after the outcome of the game of chance is determined;    receiving a wager for the game of chance;    determining the outcome for the game of chance wherein odds for all possible outcomes of the game of chance are based upon the selected prize;    presenting the outcome for the game of chance; and    indicating an award of the selected prize when the determined outcome for the game of chance is the same as the outcome corresponding to the pay table for the selected prize.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one prize is a cash or non-cash prize.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the obtaining further comprises associating the at least one prize to a player preference.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising manually inputting the player preference into the gaming machine.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising obtaining the player preference from a remote gaming server.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising receiving an input signal that the player wishes to exchange the winning prize for an alternative prize.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the alternative prize is linked to the same predetermined pay table as the winning prize.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising exchanging the wining prize with another player's winning prize.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one of the selected prizes is to be awarded after the outcome of a bonus event played on the gaming machine.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the obtaining further comprises determining a pay table according to the value of the at least one prize.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising receiving the wager amount prior to selecting at least one displayed prize.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising displaying a group of prizes available for selection that is specific to the wager amount.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising displaying a default prize after detecting a period of inactivity on the gaming machine.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising receiving a download of information describing prizes available for selection on the gaming machine from a remote gaming device.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the pay table is approved for use on the gaming machine by a gaming authority with jurisdiction to specify operating parameters for the gaming machine.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising preventing modification of information stored in the pay table.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein rights to a storage medium storing the pay table are inhibited to prevent modification to the pay table.