Patents by Inventor David R. Lark
David R. Lark has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 10540852Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a gaming tournament having a variable average expected point payout. Generally, during the gaming tournament, the gaming system enables each tournament player to play a tournament game at an EGM. The gaming system accumulates one or more tournament points for the tournament player when a play of the tournament game results in a winning outcome. At various points during the tournament, the gaming system increases or decreases an average expected point payout of the tournament game to change the tournament players' gaming experience.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2018Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: IGTInventors: David R. Lark, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Bradford Brown, Ronald P. Papson, Robert W. Ruymann
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Patent number: 10198912Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a multi-hand poker game having a persistent moving modifier. Generally, when a modifier triggering event occurs in association with a play of the multi-hand poker game, the gaming system activates a corresponding modifier, associates the active modifier with one of the hands of the multi-hand poker game, and uses the active modifier to modify any award for that hand. In one embodiment, after completing that play, the gaming system moves the active modifier to another hand for the next play. In another embodiment, after completing that play, the gaming system enables the player to determine whether to move the active modifier to another hand for the next play. When the modifier expiration event occurs for an active modifier, the gaming system deactivates the modifier.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2017Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: IGTInventors: Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Bradford Brown, David R. Lark, Jonathan Leeds
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Publication number: 20180336764Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a gaming tournament having a variable average expected point payout. Generally, during the gaming tournament, the gaming system enables each tournament player to play a tournament game at an EGM. The gaming system accumulates one or more tournament points for the tournament player when a play of the tournament game results in a winning outcome. At various points during the tournament, the gaming system increases or decreases an average expected point payout of the tournament game to change the tournament players' gaming experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2018Publication date: November 22, 2018Inventors: David R. Lark, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Bradford Brown, Ronald P. Papson, Robert W. Ruymann
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Patent number: 10032338Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a gaming tournament having a variable average expected point payout. Generally, during the gaming tournament, the gaming system enables each tournament player to play a tournament game at an EGM. The gaming system accumulates one or more tournament points for the tournament player when a play of the tournament game results in a winning outcome. At various points during the tournament, the gaming system increases or decreases an average expected point payout of the tournament game to change the tournament players' gaming experience.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2015Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: IGTInventors: David R. Lark, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Bradford Brown, Ronald P. Papson, Robert W. Ruymann
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Patent number: 9898897Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments directed to a gaming system and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature. In one embodiment, the gaming system displays a plurality of initial hands of cards, receives a hand formation input, and forms and displays a complete hand for each initial hand. For each complete hand, the gaming system determines whether that complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of a plurality of different winning hand categories. If at least one complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of the winning hand categories, for each complete hand that forms one such winning hand, the gaming system displays the winning hand category associated with that winning hand, receives a selection of a displayed winning hand category, and adds an enhancement to the display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated with the selected winning hand category.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2016Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: IGTInventor: David R. Lark
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Publication number: 20170316655Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a multi-hand poker game having a persistent moving modifier. Generally, when a modifier triggering event occurs in association with a play of the multi-hand poker game, the gaming system activates a corresponding modifier, associates the active modifier with one of the hands of the multi-hand poker game, and uses the active modifier to modify any award for that hand. In one embodiment, after completing that play, the gaming system moves the active modifier to another hand for the next play. In another embodiment, after completing that play, the gaming system enables the player to determine whether to move the active modifier to another hand for the next play. When the modifier expiration event occurs for an active modifier, the gaming system deactivates the modifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Inventors: Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Bradford Brown, David R. Lark, Jonathan Leeds
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Patent number: 9704347Abstract: A method of providing a keno game for plays with duplicate draws is provided. A keno game including a keno game board having a first predetermined number of keno board spots is displayed. A player selection of a second predetermined number of keno board spots is received. Drawn balls for a plurality of ball sets are determined. The determined drawn balls are displayed with one or more paylines overlaying at least some of the drawn balls in the plurality of ball sets. A player award based at least in part on evaluation of each payline is calculated.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2016Date of Patent: July 11, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: David R. Lark, Bradford D. Brown
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Publication number: 20170084127Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a gaming system and method providing a gaming tournament having a variable average expected point payout. Generally, during the gaming tournament, the gaming system enables each tournament player to play a tournament game at an EGM. The gaming system accumulates one or more tournament points for the tournament player when a play of the tournament game results in a winning outcome. At various points during the tournament, the gaming system increases or decreases an average expected point payout of the tournament game to change the tournament players' gaming experience.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2015Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: David R. Lark, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Bradford Brown, Ronald P. Papson, Robert W. Ruymann
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Patent number: 9600975Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for providing a keno game during which matches from a previous keno game are carried over to the keno game are described herein. A keno board is displayed having a set of available numbers and a first set of one or more matches identified between player selected numbers and drawn numbers from a previous keno game. A first set of drawn numbers from the set of available numbers is selected. The number of the first set of drawn numbers is modified by number of matches in the first set of matches. The payout to the player is calculated based on the first set of matches and a second set of matches between the first set of drawn numbers and the player selected numbers.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 21, 2017Assignee: IGTInventors: Bradford D. Brown, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Thomas J. Humphrey, David R. Lark, Ronald P. Papson
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Publication number: 20160267749Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments directed to a gaming system and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature. In one embodiment, the gaming system displays a plurality of initial hands of cards, receives a hand formation input, and forms and displays a complete hand for each initial hand. For each complete hand, the gaming system determines whether that complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of a plurality of different winning hand categories. If at least one complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of the winning hand categories, for each complete hand that forms one such winning hand, the gaming system displays the winning hand category associated with that winning hand, receives a selection of a displayed winning hand category, and adds an enhancement to the display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated with the selected winning hand category.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2016Publication date: September 15, 2016Inventor: David R. Lark
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Patent number: 9406193Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2016Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
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Publication number: 20160203668Abstract: A method of providing a keno game for plays with duplicate draws is provided. A keno game including a keno game board having a first predetermined number of keno board spots is displayed. A player selection of a second predetermined number of keno board spots is received. Drawn balls for a plurality of ball sets are determined. The determined drawn balls are displayed with one or more paylines overlaying at least some of the drawn balls in the plurality of ball sets. A player award based at least in part on evaluation of each payline is calculated.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2016Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: David R. Lark, Bradford D. Brown
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Publication number: 20160155291Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 2, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
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Patent number: 9345960Abstract: The present disclosure provides various embodiments directed to a gaming system and method providing an enhanced winning hand display feature. In one embodiment, the gaming system displays a plurality of initial hands of cards, receives a hand formation input, and forms and displays a complete hand for each initial hand. For each complete hand, the gaming system determines whether that complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of a plurality of different winning hand categories. If at least one complete hand forms a winning hand associated with one of the winning hand categories, for each complete hand that forms one such winning hand, the gaming system displays the winning hand category associated with that winning hand, receives a selection of a displayed winning hand category, and adds an enhancement to the display of any complete hand that forms a winning hand associated with the selected winning hand category.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: IGTInventor: David R. Lark
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Patent number: 9293012Abstract: A method of providing a keno game includes, but is not limited to any of the combination of: displaying a keno board having a first predetermined number of keno board spots; receiving a player selection of a second predetermined number of keno board spots; selecting a first plurality of drawn balls; and calculating a player award in part based on data associated with the first plurality of drawn balls, wherein at least two of the drawn balls in the first plurality of drawn balls are duplicates.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: IGTInventor: David R. Lark
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Patent number: 9293013Abstract: A method of providing a keno game for plays with duplicate draws is provided. A keno game including a keno game board having a first predetermined number of keno board spots is displayed. A player selection of a second predetermined number of keno board spots is received. Drawn balls for a plurality of ball sets are determined. The determined drawn balls are displayed with one or more paylines overlaying at least some of the drawn balls in the plurality of ball sets. A player award based at least in part on evaluation of each payline is calculated.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: David R. Lark, Bradford D. Brown
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Patent number: 9269235Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2015Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: IGTInventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
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Publication number: 20150199880Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2015Publication date: July 16, 2015Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
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Patent number: 9011225Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a video poker card game having community cards. Upon receiving a wager, the gaming system provides the player with a quantity of player hands. The gaming system enables the player to discard one or more of the player hands. The gaming system then displays an initial quantity of community cards to the player. The gaming system further enables the player to discard one or more player hands, prior to displaying the remaining community cards. The remaining player hands are each evaluated by combining with the community card against a paytable, to determine an award, if any, won by the player.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: IGTInventors: Bradford D. Brown, Ronald P. Papson, David R. Lark, Nicholas B. Mayne, Thomas W. Allen, II
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Publication number: 20150087380Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for providing a keno game during which matches from a previous keno game are carried over to the keno game are described herein. A keno board is displayed having a set of available numbers and a first set of one or more matches identified between player selected numbers and drawn numbers from a previous keno game. A first set of drawn numbers from the set of available numbers is selected. The number of the first set of drawn numbers is modified by number of matches in the first set of matches. The payout to the player is calculated based on the first set of matches and a second set of matches between the first set of drawn numbers and the player selected numbers.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Inventors: Bradford D. Brown, Benjamin R. Holsclaw, Thomas J. Humphrey, David R. Lark, Ronald P. Papson