Gaming System and Method of Operation Thereof

Abstract

A gaming system includes a gaming server operate under program control to regulate the progress of a game of chance, a player station capable of displaying a simulation of the game of chance, a communication network that provides communication between the gaming server and the player station, and a means by which the player can place a wager on an outcome of a turn of the game of chance. The outcome of the game of chance is determined by the gaming server as a function of a sequence of randomly generated binary variables. The player station displays the simulation of the game of chance as an animation of a multistage decision tree in which the number of stages is equal to the number of binary variables in the sequence of randomly generated binary variables.

1 . A gaming system, comprising: 
 a gaming server operable under program control to regulate the progress of a game of chance;    a player station remote from the gaming server, the player station being operable to display a simulation of the game of chance;    a communication network providing communication between the gaming server and the player station;    a wagering means operable by a player to place a wager on an outcome of a turn of the game of chance, the outcome being either a successful outcome in which the player wins a prize, and an unsuccessful outcome in which the player forfeits the wager    characterised in that    the outcome of the turn of the game of chance is determined by the gaming server as a function of a sequence of a predetermined number of independent randomly generated binary variables.    
   
   
       2 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1  in which the player station displays the simulation of the game of chance as an animation of a multistage decision tree.  
   
   
       3 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 2  in which the number of stages in the multistage decision tree is equal to the predetermined number of binary variables in the sequence of randomly generated binary variables.  
   
   
       4 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 3  in which each stage of the multistage decision tree consists of a simulation of a binary decision corresponding to a respective one of the predetermined number of randomly generated binary variables.  
   
   
       5 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 4  in which the player station displays the animation of the multistage decision tree as a plurality of pivots and sinks arranged in a pyramidical structure.  
   
   
       6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5  in which the pyramidical structure has a plurality of levels, preferably seven levels.  
   
   
       7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 6  in which the animation of the multistage decision tree displays a ball descending under gravitational influence from the apex of the pyramidical structure until a sink is reached.  
   
   
       8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 7  in which the pyramidical structure includes a first plurality of sinks that are associated with corresponding successful outcomes of the game of chance.  
   
   
       9 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 8  in which the pyramidical structure includes a second plurality of sinks that are associated with corresponding unsuccessful outcomes of the game of chance.  
   
   
       10 . A method of operation of a gaming system, comprising the steps of: operating a gaming server under program control to regulate the progress of a game of chance; 
 displaying a simulation of the game of chance on a player station remote from the gaming server;    providing communication between the gaming server and the player station;    placing a wager on an outcome of a turn of the game of chance, the outcome being either a successful outcome in which a prize is won, and an unsuccessful outcome in which the wager is forfeited    characterised in that    the outcome of the turn of the game of chance is determined by the gaming server as a function of a sequence of a predetermined number of independent randomly generated binary variables.    
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 10  in which the simulation of the game of chance is displayed as an animation of a multistage decision tree.  
   
   
       12 . A method as claimed in  claim 11  that includes a step of displaying a number of stages in the multistage decision tree equal to the predetermined number of binary variables in the sequence of randomly generated binary variables  
   
   
       13 . A method as claimed in  claim 12  in which each stage of the multistage decision tree is displayed as a simulation of a binary decision corresponding to a respective one of the predetermined number of randomly generated binary variables.  
   
   
       14 . A method as claimed in  13  in which the animation of the multistage decision tree is displayed as a plurality of pivots and sinks arranged in a pyramidical structure.  
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  in which the pyramidical structure is defined to have a plurality of levels.  
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 15  in which the animation of the multistage decision tree is displayed as a ball descending under gravitational influence from the apex of the pyramidical structure until a sink is reached.  
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16  in which a first plurality of sinks are included in the pyramidical structure, each one of the first plurality of sinks being associated with a corresponding successful outcome of the game of chance.  
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17  in which a second plurality of sinks are included in the pyramidical structure, each one of the second plurality of sinks being associated with corresponding unsuccessful outcome of the game of chance.