Gaming machine with free game play

IIIIIIIH

US007070501B2

(12) United States Patent

Cormack et al.

(io) Patent No.: (45) Date of Patent:

US 7,070,501 B2 Jul. 4, 2006

(54) GAMING MACHINE WITH FREE GAME PLAY

(75) Inventors: William George Cormack, Lane Cove (AU); Leonard Bruce Woods, Lane Cove (AU); Russel James Gartner, Lane Cove (AU); Craig William Allardice, Lane Cove (AU)

(73) Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty

Ltd., New South Wales (AU)

( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 662 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 10/205,166

(22) Filed: Jul. 25, 2002

(65) Prior Publication Data

US 2003/0069056 Al Apr. 10, 2003

(30) Foreign Application Priority Data

Jul. 25, 2001 (AU) PR 6586

(51) Int. CI.

A63F 9/24 (2006.01)
A63F13/00 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 463/16; 463/12; 463/20;

463/25; 705/14

(58) Field of Classification Search None

See application file for complete search history.

(56) References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

5,342,047 A * 8/1994 Heidel et al 463/29

5,647,798 A * 7/1997 Falciglia 463/19

5,935,002 A * 8/1999 Falciglia 463/19

5,951,397 A * 9/1999 Dickinson 463/36

5,971,849 A * 10/1999 Falciglia 463/16

* cited by examiner

Primary Examiner—Mark Sager

(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Greenberg Traurig, LLP

(57) ABSTRACT

A gaming machine 10 has a display 12 and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display 12. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 12 and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. The game controller monitors and stores data relating to a number of free games awarded to a player during a playing session. The gaming machine 10 includes a selector for operation by the player so that the player can choose when, during the playing session, any free game is to be played.

21 Claims, 11 Drawing Sheets