Gaming apparatus

Abstract

Gaming apparatus ( 1 ) comprising a processor ( 3 ), a memory ( 5 ) and an input port, the processor configured to receive from the input port, signals from participant input devices ( 7 ) representative of selections from a set of options, each signal includes a value associated with a selection, and the processor configured to determine a total value amount for each particular option and to store in the memory the total value amount for each option and to determine a winning option which is the option with the lowest total value amount.

1 . Gaming apparatus comprising:
 a processors;   a memory and an input port;   the processor configured to receive from the input port, signals from participant input devices representative of selections from a set of options, each signal includes a value associated with a selection, and the processor configured to determine a total value amount for each particular option and to store in the memory the total value amount for each option and to determine a winning option which is the option with the lowest total value amount.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1  in which the data processor is configured to determine which participant or participants has/have selected the winning option 
     
     
         3 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 2  in which the data processor is configured to store, in the memory, an association between an identifier for each participant and the respective option(s) selected by that participant. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to process signals which are representative of a multiple option selection, and the processor configured to assign a part of the associated value to the respective total value amounts of each of the options included in the multiple option selection. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to handle signals representative of a multiple option selection in which each option included in the multiple option selection has a characteristic which is common to those options. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 5  in which the characteristic is at least one of (i) a mathematical characteristic and (ii) a parameter relating to a visual representation of the options. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to assign a participant to a game event subsequent to a signal having been received by the data processor which signal is representative of a selection made by that participant. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to add participants' selections to a game event until a winning option is determined for the game event. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to host multiple game events concurrently. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to assign a participant's selection to a game event on a substantially random basis. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to cancel a game event if no winning option is able to be determined for a predetermined maximum number of participants. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to issue a signal to a participant input device representative of a game event in which the participant will be participating, the signal being issued subsequent to receipt by the processor of the signal representative of the participant's selection. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming system comprising:
 a processor and a memory, and a plurality of participant input devices, the participant input devices configured to communicate with the processor, each input device configured to allow a participant to select at least one option from a set of options, the processor configured to receive signals representative of selections from the participant input devices, each signal including a value associated with a selection, and the processor configured to determine a total value amount for each particular option and to store in the memory the total value amount for each option and to determine a winning option which is the option with the lowest total value amount.   
     
     
         14 . A data carrier having machine readable instructions recorded thereon for a processor of a gaming apparatus, which instructions comprise instructions to configure the processor to process signals representative of selections from a set of options, each signal includes a value associated with a selection, and instructions to configure the processor to determine a total value amount for each option, and instructions to determine a winning option which is the option with the lowest total value amount. 
     
     
         15 . A method of processing data in a processor of a gaming apparatus, the method comprising receiving signals from participant input devices representative of selections from a set of options, each signal includes a value associated with a selection, and the method further comprising determining a total value amount for each option and storing the total value amounts in a memory, and the method comprising determining a winning option which is the option with the lowest total value amount.