Skill game playable on a casino spinning reel display with an awards table having a variable payout line and a method of calculating awards provided without operator hold subtracted from player buy-in

Abstract

A skill game that is playable on a casino type display is provided that employs methods to hold a player's interest by dynamically changing an awards table as well as providing payout without subtraction from player buy-in to provide an operator hold. The awards table can include a variable pay line with values changed either before or after start of the skill game to offer the player a variety of possible payouts depending on the game results. In one example, the dynamic pay line is provided as the bottom line in the award table that provides the minimum payout otherwise not available for a combination of spinning reel symbols. To provide payout without subtraction for operator hold from the player buy-in at least one additional line is added to the awards table with a hit frequency (HF) set so that the hit frequency of all award lines totaled 1. The total award amount (AA) that is then paid for each line is then set to maintain an operator hold. With additional pay lines in the awards table that can be dynamically set, a player can choose between different award tables that can provide for preference of award size over award frequency.

1 . A skill game comprising a game controller configured to:
 provide games to a player involving at least one spinning reel;   display to the user an award table with pay lines containing a pattern of indicators matching individual indicators on the at least one spinning reel and an award amount for each pay line for each game; and   vary the pattern of indicators for at least one of the pay lines of the award table for at least some games.   
   
   
       2 . The skill game of  claim 1 , wherein the varied pattern provides the minimum award amount for the award table. 
   
   
       3 . A method of operating a game providing an award table to a player, the method comprising:
 determining a hit frequency (HF) for each pay line of the award table so that the total of the hit frequencies of the pay lines of the award table equal 1; and   determining an award amount (AA) for each pay line so that the total of the award amounts of the pay lines is less than one to provide an operator hold.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising presenting one of the pay lines to the player of a skill game for an award for successful completion of the skill game. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising determining a number of winning indicators achievable in the game and associating the winning indicators with pay lines of the award table. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
 arranging the pay lines in order of ascending hit frequency;   multiplying the hit frequencies by a range number to set range values so that the least hit frequency multiplied by the number provides a range value that is a whole number; and   determining bin ranges associated with each pay line, wherein the first bin ranges from 0 to the range value of the first pay line, wherein subsequent pay lines up to the last pay line have range values from the previous pay line range value to the current pay line range value, and wherein the last pay line ranges from its range value up to the range number.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 generating a random number ranging from zero to the range number;   comparing the random number with the ranges of each bin to determine a given one of the bins containing the random number in its range; and   displaying an award value associated with the pay line of the given bin to a player.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the hit frequency for all but a given one of the pay lines are fixed, and wherein the given one of the paylines has a hit frequency varied to enable the total hit frequency of all pay lines to be 1. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the pay lines with fixed hit frequencies comprise four standard pay lines and three non-standard lines added to the standard pay lines along with the payline with the variable hit frequency. 
   
   
       10 . A method of operating a game providing an award table to a player, the method comprising:
 providing a first award table available for the player indicating a first set of award lines providing awards at a first frequency;   providing a second award table available for the player indicating a second set of award lines providing awards at a second frequency; and   selectively displaying one of the first award table and the second award table to the player.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a choice of the first award table and the second award table selectively displayed is chosen by the player. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a further selection between the first award table and the second award table is made after the player has been inactive for a predetermined period of time.