Method of Conducting a Reel Slot Game with Continuous Depletion

Abstract

A wagering game includes defining a finite set of game indicia. Multiple sequential game outcomes are generated using the finite set of game indicia, with the finite set continuously depleted of game indicia used to produce preceding game outcomes. Optionally, the player is notified of the exclusion of game indicia from the finite set available in any game. Game outcomes are produced using the continuously depleted finite set until a restoration event, which may be manually triggered or automatic, that restores the excluded game indicia. Optionally, multiple game outcomes may be produced simultaneously from a finite set continuously depleted of used game indicia.

1 . A method of conducting a game for a player at a device including a data processor in communication with a data storage device, a display, and a player interface, comprising:
 storing a finite set of game indicia at said data storage device;   executing by said data processor of program instructions stored at said data storage device for conducting a game comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving a wager through said player interface; 
 (b) displaying at said display a game outcome using at least one game indicium from said finite set cumulatively excluding all game indicia used to produce previous game outcomes, if any and resolving said wager based on said game outcome; and 
 (c) excluding all game indicia used to display said game outcome, accumulated with all game indicia used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, from use to produce a subsequent game outcome; 
   notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set as a result of being used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, by providing information describing the finite set remaining until a restoration event;   conducting by said data processor of additional sequential games of steps (a)-(c) until said restoration event; and   upon said restoration event, restoring excluded game indicia to said finite set by said data processor.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said game indicia comprise reel symbols and the step of displaying a game outcome comprises:
 storing at said data storage device a matrix containing a plurality of reel symbol positions and at least one pay line associated with said reel symbol positions; 
 storing at said data storage device a pay table defining payouts associated with reel symbol combinations along said at least one pay line; 
 randomly selecting a plurality of reel symbols from said finite set cumulatively excluding all reel symbols used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, by said data processor; 
 locating said selected reel symbols in said matrix by said data processor; and 
 determining by said data processor the reel symbol combination along said at least one pay line and the payout, if any, associated with said reel symbol combination according to said pay table. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said restoration event comprises a manual restoration event triggered by said player. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said restoration event includes an automatic restoration event comprising at least one of: producing a predetermined quantity of game outcomes or using a predetermined quantity of said game indicia. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said restoration event includes a manual restoration event or an automatic restoration event, whichever occurs first, said automatic restoration event comprising at least one of: producing a predetermined quantity of game outcomes or using a predetermined quantity of said game indicia. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying at least one of: the inventory of said game indicia from said finite set cumulatively excluding all game indicia used in previous game outcomes or winning outcomes eliminated as a result of said excluded game indicia. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying a graphic illustrating the relative quantity of game indicia remaining in said finite set without specifically identifying the game indicia remaining in said finite set. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying the quantity of game outcomes remaining before a restoration event. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying the quantity of game indicia remaining before a restoration event. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying the constitution of the finite set and identifying said restoration point. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said game further comprises:
 receiving an escrow through said player interface simultaneous with receiving said wager; and 
 resolving said escrow based on said game outcome, said game outcome consisting of the possibility of a winning game outcome in which said wager is rewarded and a losing game outcome in which at least said wager is collected, wherein said escrow is collected from said player if said wager is insufficient to cover said player's losing game outcome, said escrow is returned to said player upon a winning game outcome, and said escrow is returned to said player upon a losing game outcome in which said wager is sufficient to cover said player's losing game outcome. 
 
     
     
         12 . A method of conducting a game for a player at a device including a data processor in communication with a data storage device, a display, and a player interface, comprising:
 storing a finite set of reel symbols at said data storage device;   executing by said data processor of program instructions stored at said data storage device for conducting a game comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving a wager through said player interface; 
 (b) displaying at said display a game outcome using at least one reel symbol from said finite set cumulatively excluding all reel symbols used to produce previous game outcomes, if any and resolving said wager based on said game outcome; and 
 (c) excluding all game indicia used to display said game outcome, accumulated with all game indicia used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, from use to produce a subsequent game outcome; 
   notifying the player of the exclusion of reel symbols from said finite set as a result of being used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, by providing at said display a visual representation of the finite set remaining until a restoration event;   conducting by said data processor of additional sequential games of steps (a)-(c) cumulatively excluding reel symbols from said finite set until a restoration event; and   upon a restoration event, restoring excluded reel symbols to said finite set by said data processor.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the step of displaying a game outcome comprises:
 storing at said data storage device a matrix containing a plurality of reel symbol positions and at least one pay line associated with said reel symbol positions; 
 storing at said data storage device a pay table defining payouts associated with reel symbol combinations along said at least one pay line; 
 randomly selecting a plurality of reel symbols from said finite set cumulatively excluding all reel symbols used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, by said data processor; 
 locating said selected reel symbols in said matrix by said data processor; and 
 determining by said data processor the reel symbol combination along said at least one pay line and the payout, if any, associated with said reel symbol combination according to said pay table. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said restoration event includes a manual restoration event triggered by said player. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said restoration event includes a manual restoration event triggered by said player or an automatic restoration event, whichever occurs first, said automatic restoration event comprising at least one of: producing a predetermined quantity of game outcomes and using a predetermined quantity of said reel symbols. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said restoration event includes an automatic restoration event comprising at least one of: producing a predetermined quantity of game outcomes or using a predetermined quantity of said reel symbols. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of reel symbols from said finite set comprises displaying at least one of: the inventory of said reel symbols from said finite set cumulatively excluding all reel symbols used in previous game outcomes or winning outcomes eliminated as a result of said excluded reel symbols. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of reel symbols from said finite set comprises displaying a graphic illustrating the relative quantity of reel symbols remaining in said finite set without specifically identifying the reel symbols remaining in said finite set. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of reel symbols from said finite set comprises displaying the quantity of game outcomes remaining before a restoration event. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of reel symbols from said finite set comprises displaying the quantity of reel symbols remaining before a restoration event. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of reel symbols from said finite set comprises displaying the constitution of the finite set and identifying said restoration point. 
     
     
         22 . A method of conducting a game for a player at a device including a data processor in communication with a data storage device, a display, and a player interface, comprising:
 storing a finite set of reel symbols at said data storage device;   executing by said data processor of program instructions stored at said data storage device for conducting a game comprising the steps of:
 (a) receiving a wager through said player interface; 
 (b) displaying at said display a game outcome using at least one reel symbol from said finite set cumulatively excluding all reel symbols used to produce previous game outcomes, if any and resolving said wager based on said game outcome; 
 (c) excluding all reel symbols used to display said game outcome, accumulated with all reel symbols used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, from use to produce a subsequent game outcome; 
 (d) displaying at said display at least one of: the inventory of said reel symbols from said finite set cumulatively excluding all reel symbols used to produce previous game outcomes and winning outcomes eliminated as a result of said excluded reel symbols; 
   conducting by said data processor of additional sequential games of steps (a)-(d) cumulatively excluding reel symbols from said finite set until a restoration event, said restoration event including at least an automatic restoration event consisting of using a predetermined quantity of said reel symbols calculated to be the point at which a desired house edge is obtained; and   upon a restoration event, restoring excluded reel symbols to said finite set by said data processor.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the step of displaying a game outcome comprises:
 storing at said data storage device a matrix containing a plurality of reel symbol positions and at least one pay line associated with said reel symbol positions; 
 storing at said data storage device a pay table defining payouts associated with reel symbol combinations along said at least one pay line; 
 randomly selecting a plurality of reel symbols from said finite set cumulatively excluding all reel symbols used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, by said data processor; 
 locating said selected reel symbols in said matrix by said data processor; and 
 determining by said data processor the reel symbol combination along said at least one pay line and the payout, if any, associated with said reel symbol combination according to said pay table. 
 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein said restoration event includes a manual restoration event triggered by said player or an automatic restoration event, whichever occurs first, said automatic restoration event comprising at least one of: producing a predetermined quantity of game outcomes or using a predetermined quantity of said reel symbols. 
     
     
         25 . A device for conducting a game for a player comprising:
 a data processor;   a display in communication with said data processor;   a player interface in communication with said data processor; and   a data storage device in communication with said data processor, said data storage device adapted to store a finite set of game indicia and program instructions executable by said data processor for conducting a method comprising the steps of:
 conducting a game comprising:
 (a) receiving a wager through said player interface; 
 (b) displaying at said display a game outcome using at least one game indicium from said finite set cumulatively excluding all game indicia used to produce previous game outcomes, if any and resolving said wager based on said game outcome; and 
 (c) excluding all game indicia used to display said game outcome, accumulated with all game indicia used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, from use to produce a subsequent game outcome; 
 
 notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set as a result of being used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, by providing information describing the finite set remaining until a restoration event; 
 conducting by said data processor of additional sequential games of steps (a)-(c) until said restoration event; and 
 upon said restoration event, restoring excluded game indicia to said finite set by said data processor. 
   
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said game indicia comprise reel symbols and the step of displaying a game outcome in said program instructions stored at said data storage device comprises:
 storing at said data storage device a matrix containing a plurality of reel symbol positions and at least one pay line associated with said reel symbol positions; 
 storing at said data storage device a pay table defining payouts associated with reel symbol combinations along said at least one pay line; 
 randomly selecting a plurality of reel symbols from said finite set cumulatively excluding all reel symbols used to produce previous game outcomes, if any, by said data processor; 
 locating said selected reel symbols in said matrix by said data processor; and 
 determining by said data processor the reel symbol combination along said at least one pay line and the payout, if any, associated with said reel symbol combination according to said pay table. 
 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said restoration event of said program instructions stored at said data storage device comprises a manual restoration event triggered by said player. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said restoration event of said program instructions stored at said data storage device includes an automatic restoration event comprising at least one of: producing a predetermined quantity of game outcomes or using a predetermined quantity of said game indicia. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said restoration event of said program instructions stored at said data storage device includes a manual restoration event or an automatic restoration event, whichever occurs first, said automatic restoration event comprising at least one of: producing a predetermined quantity of game outcomes or using a predetermined quantity of said game indicia. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said step in said program instructions stored at said data storage device of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying at least one of: the inventory of said game indicia from said finite set cumulatively excluding all game indicia used in previous game outcomes or winning outcomes eliminated as a result of said excluded game indicia. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said step in said program instructions stored at said data storage device of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying a graphic illustrating the relative quantity of game indicia remaining in said finite set without specifically identifying the game indicia remaining in said finite set. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said step in said program instructions stored at said data storage device of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying the quantity of game outcomes remaining before a restoration event. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said step in said program instructions stored at said data storage device of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying the quantity of game indicia remaining before a restoration event. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said step in said program instructions stored at said data storage device of notifying the player of the exclusion of game indicia from said finite set comprises displaying the constitution of the finite set and identifying said restoration point. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 25  wherein said game further comprises:
 receiving an escrow through said player interface simultaneous with receiving said wager; and 
 resolving said escrow based on said game outcome, said game outcome consisting of the possibility of a winning game outcome in which said wager is rewarded and a losing game outcome in which at least said wager is collected, wherein said escrow is collected from said player if said wager is insufficient to cover said player's losing game outcome, said escrow is returned to said player upon a winning game outcome, and said escrow is returned to said player upon a losing game outcome in which said wager is sufficient to cover said player's losing game outcome. 
 
     
     
         36 . A method of conducting a game for a player at a device including a data processor in communication with a data storage device, a display, and a player interface, comprising:
 storing a finite set of bonus outcomes at said data storage device;   executing by said data processor of program instructions stored at said data storage device for conducting a bonus game comprising the steps of:
 (a) triggering said bonus game; 
 (b) selecting and displaying at said display at least one bonus outcome from said finite set cumulatively excluding all bonus outcomes selected in previous bonus games, if any and issuing an award, if any, associated with said bonus outcome; and 
 (c) excluding all selected bonus outcomes, accumulated with all bonus outcomes selected in previous bonus games, if any, from selection in a subsequent bonus game; 
   notifying the player of the exclusion of bonus outcomes from said finite set as a result of being selected in previous bonus games, if any, by providing information describing the finite set remaining until a restoration event;   conducting by said data processor of additional sequential games of steps (a)-(c) until said restoration event; and   upon said restoration event, restoring excluded bonus outcomes to said finite set by said data processor.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said step of selecting at least one bonus outcome comprises receiving a selection of a bonus outcome through said player interface. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said step of selecting at least one bonus outcome comprises randomly selecting a bonus outcome. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said step of triggering said bonus game comprises randomly triggering said bonus game. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said program instructions executable by said data processor further comprise conducting a base game to produce a base game outcome and, if said base game outcome is a triggering outcome, triggering said bonus game. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said restoration event comprises a manual restoration event triggered by said player. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said restoration event includes an automatic restoration event comprising selecting a predetermined quantity of bonus outcomes. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said restoration event includes a manual restoration event or an automatic restoration event, whichever occurs first, and wherein said automatic restoration event comprises selecting a predetermined quantity of game outcomes. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of bonus outcomes from said finite set comprises displaying at least one of: the inventory of said bonus outcomes from said finite set cumulatively excluding all bonus outcomes selected in previous bonus games or bonus outcomes eliminated as a result of said exclusion. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of bonus outcomes from said finite set comprises displaying a graphic illustrating the relative quantity of bonus outcomes remaining in said finite set without specifically identifying the bonus outcomes remaining in said finite set. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 36  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of bonus outcomes from said finite set comprises displaying the quantity of bonus outcomes remaining before a restoration event. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each bonus outcome is associated with a game indicium and said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of bonus outcomes from said finite set comprises displaying the quantity of game indicia remaining before a restoration event. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of notifying the player of the exclusion of bonus outcomes from said finite set comprises displaying the constitution of the finite set and identifying said restoration point.