Patent Publication Number: US-7217187-B2

Title: Casino game and method having a hint feature

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/057,243 filed on Jan. 24, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,765 entitled CASINO GAME AND METHOD HAVING A HINT FEATURE. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to casino games and to casino games having bonusing features. 
     2. Background 
     Casino games are popular with the public and over the past decade many varieties of new casino games have been introduced. These new games are implemented in standalone gaming machines, in wide area networks and over the Internet. Casino bonusing games are also increasingly popular when placed in operation with underlying casino games such as, for example, slot machines. Such bonusing games not only attract players but provide additional gaming excitement. 
     Older, more traditional casino games and casino bonus games simply generate a random or pseudorandom result in a game round such as is found in a slot game. The only input from the player is to place a wager and then spin the reels. Occasionally, the player may be prompted pick an object (within a bonus game) but with no mathematical effect one way or the other. Other casino games and casino bonus games involve decision-making game rounds that receive inputs based on a player&#39;s skill, strategy, or even knowledge. In these games a player may receive a higher award based on his/her skill, knowledge and strategy. An example of a skill casino game is video poker. 
     A problem exists that while some players are very good using skill, knowledge, or strategy, other players are not. A need exists to inform players how to skillfully respond in the decision-making game rounds of such casino games. To do so on every game round, however, as some video poker machines do, is contrary to the very nature of such games. That is, players enjoy playing such games because they can exercise skill, strategy, knowledge and/or personal judgment. Constantly giving players this information would defeat the purpose of the game. 
     Furthermore, some games, that otherwise might make a good casino offering, are sufficiently complex that a large disparity exists between expert play and average play. To always give hints would again defeat the purpose of the game, but a need exists to provide hints to players either randomly in conjunction with the prevailing position of the game, or otherwise. 
     In British patent application GB 2 262 642 A, a game machine is disclosed wherein the display screen is used to provide “game hints” which occur transiently as a game proceeds and making suggestions to the player relevant to the actual state of the game. For example, the hint may be to “hold” a particular symbol. This reference briefly sets forth the limited use of hints in a fruit machine casino game. The fruit machine with the game hint feature described above does not improve players&#39; long-term results. Such fruit machines generally use a form of “adaptive logic” wherein coin-in and coin-out is monitored over time and wherein odds/payouts of the fruit machine are proactively adjusted to achieve a target win percentage. Examples of adaptive logic fruit-machines in Great Britain are GB 2 185 612 A and GB 2 087 618 A. Any advantage gained by a player following a hint is to the detriment of future outcomes on the fruit machine. In other words, what the fruit machine “gives” it later “takes away” by altering other parameters of the fruit machine. While adaptive logic fruit machines are permitted in certain foreign jurisdictions such as Great Britain, they are not allowed in the United States. In the United States, the casino game operated with a random number generator must, over all play of the casino game, provide a known player expected return (or house advantage) and the casino game cannot proactively monitor performance and correspondingly adjust play parameters. 
     Hence, a need exists to fully provide hints, tips, or other such information for strategy and/or skill-based casino games on a random and surprise basis. A further need exists to provide the same, or even provide the correct answer, for knowledge-based casino games in which, for example, the player&#39;s knowledge is tested, via trivia, for money. A further need exists to provide such information only when hesitation exists on the part of the player. A need, therefore, exists to provide a hint feature in the underlying casino gaming machine and/or in the casino bonus game to aid the player in the play of a decision-making game round especially when a prevailing position exists. Finally, a need exists to provide within a game for players following hints a long term expected return greater than the long term expected return obtained in play of the casino game without providing the hints. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the aforesaid problem by providing a hint feature in a casino game such as an underlying gaming machine having a casino bonus game on a random, prevailing position, and/or hesitation basis. A method is set forth for providing a hint with information to the player of a casino game so as to increase the players expected value and, therefore, to win more at the casino game. During operation of a casino game, a hint feature is displayed during a displayed decision-making game round under control of a processor. If the player follows the information found in the displayed hint, the player&#39;s expected instantaneous return from the casino game is increased. The displayed information may be the correct response, eliminating an incorrect response, and/or a response that increases the player&#39;s odds in correctly responding. For example, in a knowledge-based game displaying a question with three possible answers, the hint may be the correct answer, eliminating one of the two incorrect answers, and/or information suggesting the correct answer. 
     The hints provided to players of the casino game of the present invention are true hints that in fact increase the players&#39; instantaneous expected values in play of the casino game as well as overall expected return in play of the casino game. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1   a  sets forth the hardware configuration of a casino game incorporating the hint feature of the present invention. 
         FIG. 1   b  sets an underlying casino gaming machine having a casino bonus game incorporating the hint feature of the present invention into a separate screen. 
         FIG. 2  sets forth the hardware configuration of an underlying casino gaming machine having a casino bonus game incorporating the hint feature of the present invention into a separate display. 
         FIG. 3  sets forth several embodiments of the method of the present invention showing the various method steps for implementing the hint feature into the present invention for a casino game. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of the hint feature for the method of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  sets forth another embodiment of the method of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of a hint for the method of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  sets forth programs in memory during for implementing various random hints of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  sets forth the use of the random hint of the present invention in a wide area progressive network. 
         FIG. 9  sets forth the use of the random hint feature of the present invention in gaming played over the Internet. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Overview. In  FIG. 1   a  is shown a gaming machine  10  such as a standard video poker gaming machine modified to incorporate the present invention. The video poker gaming machine  10 , itself, is conventional and may comprise a number of different designs. The gaming machine  10  can be any casino gaming machine that displays a decision-making game round  90  to a player and then receives the player&#39;s input such as, but not limited to, casino card games implemented into gaming machines, for example: Joker Poker, Blackjack, etc. In order to illustrate the various embodiments of the feature of the present invention, standard components are succinctly described in the following as they are well known in the art. Furthermore, the hint feature of the present invention can be implemented in software components over networks such as wide area progressives and over the Internet as subsequently described. 
     The block diagram hardware components of such a video poker gaming machine  10  as shown in  FIG. 1   a  are illustrative only and include a processor, computer or controller  20  interconnected to a device  30  for receiving bets or wagers from players. The device  30  can be of any suitable design or construction and can be for example, but not limited to, a bill reader, coin acceptor, credit device, credit card reader, ticket reader, smart card reader, debit card reader, or any combination thereof. How a wager is received in device  30  is immaterial to the teachings of the present invention. The processor  20  is also connected to an award  40  which can be for example, but not limited to, a display showing current available player credits and the associated separate devices for delivering payouts to the player such as: a coin or ticket dispenser, a device for delivering payout information to a smart card; etc. How an award is made to the player is also immaterial to the present invention. Furthermore, the award can be any type of an award, such as but not limited to: a monetary value, a free game play, a comp, a physical item such as a car, etc. 
     The processor  20  is usually connected to a random number generator (RNG)  50  which may be a separate hardware component or a software module within memory  60 . The RNG  50  is any random or pseudorandom number generator conventionally used in gaming machines. The processor  20  is interconnected to memory  60  and to display  70   a . Gaming machine  10  is shown in functional block diagrams and conventional clocks, ports, busses, buffers, hoppers, hopper controllers etc. are not shown. 
     The hint feature  200  of the present invention is independent of the type of casino gaming machine and can be implemented in any suitable casino game. In  FIG. 1   a , a video card game is shown to illustrate the present invention. It is to be expressly understood that the casino gaming machine  10  is any casino game having decision-making game rounds. 
     While  FIG. 1   a  illustrates the hint feature  200  being displayed during play of a card game, it is to be expressly understood that the hint feature  200 , as shown in  FIG. 1   b , can also be used with a bonus game  140  having decision-making game rounds which is displayed in the same CRT or display  70   a  as a separate display screen. Hence, in  FIG. 1   a , the hint feature is used during play of the casino game in the underlying gaming machine and  FIG. 1   b  illustrates the use of the hint feature during the play of the bonus game which occurs as a separate screen in the same display. It is to be expressly understood that several variations of the present invention exist. The hint feature  200  could be used exclusively in play of the underlying gaming machine, exclusively in play of the bonus game  140  or in a combination of both. As for example but not limited to, a conventional underlying slot gaming machine (having no decision-making game rounds) with a casino bonus game (having decision-making game rounds with the hint feature). Or, a conventional video poker gaming machine (having decision-making game rounds with no hint feature) with a casino bonus game (having decision-making game rounds with hint feature). Or, a conventional video poker gaming machine (having decision-making rounds with hint feature) and a casino bonus game (with no decision-making game rounds). 
     The hint feature  200  is further shown in  FIG. 2  with a conventional underlying gaming machine  100   a  having a casino bonus game  100   b  in a separate display  110 . The underlying gaming machine  100   a  is shown to be a slot machine. In  FIG. 2 , symbols  92  are shown which are also conventional in play of conventional slot machines. Three reels  94   a ,  94   b , and  94   c  are illustrated showing symbols  92   a  and  92   b . Any number of reels  94  could be utilized and any number of symbols  92  can also be utilized. While one payline  90  is shown, it is to be expressly understood that conventional slot machines have a plurality of paylines and such paylines need not be linear but could, for example, zigzag over the face of the reels in various combinations. Such slot game rounds have non-decision-making game rounds. 
     In  FIG. 2 , the processor  20  is further interconnected over a two-way bus  22  to a display processor  120 . Display processor  120  is interconnected over a two-way communication channel  124  with a display  110  and is also interconnected over a memory bus  122  with a display memory  130 . It is to be expressly understood that in some designs for the hardware of the present invention, the processor  20  can drive over  22  the display  110  without using separate display processor  20  and display memory  130 . For example in  FIG. 1   a , the processor operates the video poker game for a player in display  110 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , the conventional slot machine  100   a  has a bonus condition such as, for example, the bonus symbol  80  on payline  90 . The provision of a bonus symbol(s)  80  on the payline  90  is also conventional and it is well known that slot machines  10  can have a bonus condition (whether or not on the payline) randomly appear which results in a player having the opportunity to play a bonus game. In  FIG. 2 , the processor  20  over line  22  delivers the bonus condition to the casino bonus game  100   b . When a player receives the bonus condition  80  on the payline  90 , which may be any suitable bonus condition, the player&#39;s attention is then directed to the casino bonus game  100  having decision making game rounds. 
     The bonus condition can be any suitable bonus condition and is not limited to a bonus symbol  80  appearing on the payline  90 . Whatever causes a bonus condition to occur in the play of the underlying game  100   a  results in play of the casino bonus game  100   b.  When the player plays the bonus game  140  in display  110 , the hint feature  200  of the present invention, in one embodiment, randomly appears. It is important to note that any type of casino bonus game  100   b  including strategy-based casino bonus games, knowledge-based bonus games or skill-based bonus games, indeed any game in which the player&#39;s choices or decisions mathematically affect the expected value of the game round (i.e., decision-making game round), could all be utilized with the hint feature  200  of the present invention. 
     In many conventional slot games with a bonus game, the same CRT is used for both games. Hence, the bonus game  140  with hint feature can be implemented in the display  70   b  as a second screen or discussed above for  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b . This eliminates the use of a separate display processor  120  and display memory  130 . In other words, the bonus game  140  is displayed as a second screen in the embodiment of  FIG. 1   b.    
     The hint feature  200  of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . The hint feature  200  of the present invention, as will be explained in the following, and in one embodiment randomly appears without warning to the player and creates interest and excitement for the player. While the above embodiment provides for a “random” hint, in another variation the hint  200  is based upon player hesitation. For example, if the decision-making game round is displayed and the player does not respond in a set time frame, a hint  200  is displayed. In another variation, the hint is displayed when a prevailing position in the game round is displayed. For example, in a game such as blackjack, the player&#39;s current total in his/her hand coupled with the dealer&#39;s upcard may comprise the prevailing position. In a “Battleship” type of casino game, the prevailing position may comprise the number of shots taken as well as the locations of any “hits” and “misses.” In general, the processor determines the prevailing position by taking into account all relevant factors affecting the proper decision in a casino game with multiple possible positions and decisions. A combination of the above can also be used. As an illustration, when hesitation occurs (i.e., a set time frame expires as determined by the processor) or a prevailing position occurs as determined by the processor a hint is randomly displayed. 
     The term “casino game” is defined herein to be any gaming machine or underlying gaming machine having a bonus game implemented with a computer-based control such as processor  20  in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . As will be pointed out later, the casino game can be part of a wide area progressive or played over the Internet or other online environment. Such casino games are regulated in the responsible jurisdiction such as in the United States by suitable gaming regulations insuring fairness to players and casinos at a given long term players&#39; expected return (or house advantage from the viewpoint of the casino) over all play of the casino game based on the output of a random number generator. One type of player of particular interest is he/she who does not employ any strategy. This given long term players&#39; expected return is determined with the player guessing at each decision-making round. For example, if in a conventional casino game the house advantage is 8%, the long term players&#39; expected return is 92%. The term “decision-making” game round is defined herein to mean a game round wherein the player has a choice among possible inputs with at least one of the possible inputs increasing the instantaneous expected value for the player in the play of the game round for the casino game. The term “hint” in one embodiment of the present invention is defined herein to contain information for the player to increase the instantaneous expected value for the game round so that the player chooses properly or more properly from the possible inputs. Of course, a knowledgeable player or a skilled player would not benefit from the hint as they already know the input to select. The hint feature of the present invention, however, can be used on all casino games in which the player has a choice, whether mathematically (with no hints), the player&#39;s choices make a difference (i.e., decision-making game) or not (non-skill game). 
     2. Method. A method for implementing the hint feature  200  of the present invention is illustrated, in one example, in  FIG. 3  and can be implemented in suitable software in the gaming machine  10  of  FIG. 1  or in the underlying gaming machine  100   a  and the casino bonus game  100   b  of  FIG. 2 . With respect to  FIG. 2 , when the bonus game  140  is entered upon the occurrence of a condition such as a bonus symbol  80  appearing on payline  90 , the processor  20  over bus  22  causes the display processor  120  to start  300 . The bonus game  140  is then displayed in display  110  (or the same display  70   a  as a separate screen as shown in  FIG. 1   b ). 
     The example of a knowledge-based casino bonus game  140  is used in the following. The processor  20  based upon obtaining a random number from the random number generator  50  over lines  28  delivers the random number over bus  22  to the display processor  120 . The display processor  120  over lines  122  uses the random number to address a stored question, having a plurality of answers in memory  310  for display in display  110 . The question is displayed  310  along with the plurality of answers  320  as a bonus decision-making game round for the player to respond to. For example, a question with three answers, the three answers are three possible inputs that the player can respond to. 
     Whether or not the hint is displayed  330 , for the case of randomly displaying the hint, is determined at a random statistical frequency  340 . If, for example, the overall random statistical frequency is ten percent, then through all play of the bonus game  140  statistically, the hint is randomly displayed  330  ten percent of the time. Of course, from the viewpoint of the player, the display of the hint suddenly appears randomly. Again, this random statistical frequency  340  is based upon the output of the random number generator  50  and is determined by the processor  20  in software for delivering an activation signal over bus  22  to the display processor  120 . When the display processor  120  is suitably activated, it will also display the hint  330  in the display  110  in the casino bonus game  140 . The displayed hint increases the player&#39;s odds in winning the displayed game round (i.e. increases the player&#39;s instantaneous expected value for the decision-making game round). The player then inputs  390  an answer from the possible answers which is received  350  in the casino game  140  according to the method of the present invention. If the answer is correct  360  (or more correct), an award  370  is given and, if the answer is incorrect, the casino bonus game  140  ends  380 . 
     In another embodiment, the hint  200  is displayed when a set time frame  340   a  (such as 5 seconds) expires, as determined by the processor, after the decision-making game round is displayed. Or, in yet another embodiment, the hint  200  is displayed when a prevailing position  340   b , as determined by the processor, in the decision-making game round is displayed, as determined by the processor. 
     In yet another embodiment, if the player actually inputs  390  a response, the hint of the present invention appears under control of the processor and, for example, states: “Are you sure?”  340   c . The player is then allowed to provide another input  390 . In this example, if the difference in expected value (EV) is large between the initially selected answer and the correct answer, then the “Are you sure?” pops up because the player is making an error that is very costly. This embodiment can be used with stage  330  wherein a hint is displayed first or, with the stage  330  occuring after the player inputs  390  the wrong input. Here, the “Are you sure?” feature can be displayed based on the random statistical feature  340  or the prevailing position  340   b.    
     Another variation to the hint feature of the present invention is based on asking for advice. For example: “ask a friend” for knowledge-based games. It would function as follows: Three “friends” graphically appear on screen (i.e. displaying a choice of hints to be selected by the player) of the casino game in stage  330  under control of the processor. The player chooses one  390   a , and the “friend” then visually and/or states the hint  200 : “I&#39;m X % sure the answer is Y”. The algorithm starts audibly with the known answer (e.g., B) of two possible answers to a knowledge-based question, and with a desired degree of certainty (e.g., 80%). The microprocessor randomly choose a number from 1 to 100. If the number is 80 or less (e.g., an 80% chance), then the “friend” says “I&#39;m 80% sure the right answer is B.” If the number is 81 or more (e.g., a 20% chance), the the “friend” says “I&#39;m 80% sure the right answer is A.” In this example, the “friend” is expected to be right 80% of the time, and in fact the friend would be. What is interesting in this embodiment is that this is a “hint” in the sense that it provides information to the player. However, the information may not be strictly correct. In the example above, if the “friend” is 80% sure, then obviously a player that doesn&#39;t know with certainty that he/she should should adopt the “friend&#39;s” answer, because it could be wrong. The term “hint” in this embodiment is defined to contain information for the player that, in principle, increases the expected value for the game round so that statistically (i.e. a percentage odds) the player chooses properly or more properly from the possible inputs. In this embodiment, the player interacts  390   a  with the displayed hint  330 . 
     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the question  310  displayed in a knowledge-based decision-making game round has a plurality of answers  320 . The player may or may not know the answer to the question. The hidden hint feature  200 , in the case of this example, is displayed  330 . Based upon the information  331  contained in the hint  200 , the player is better able to pick the correct answer from the possible inputs (if the player doesn&#39;t know the correct answer). Hence, the display  330  of the hint  200  enables the player to input  390  one of three possible inputs which is received  350  in the bonus game  140 , such as by touching the correct answer  360  on a touch screen, so as to obtain an award  370 . If incorrect, the player may still receive, in one variation, a lower award  372 . 
     The display  330  of the hint  200  can occur simultaneously with the display of the answers  320  (i.e., possible inputs) or after the display. In the case of the hint feature  200  being displayed  330  after the answers are displayed  320 , it may be that the player has already input  390  (because the player knows the answer) and which input has already been received  350  by the casino bonus game  140 . In which case, the processor  20  (and/or control of the display processor  120 ) would prevent the hint  200  from being displayed  330 . Indeed, in one variation of the present invention, a predetermined hesitation time  340   a  such as two to five seconds after display of the question  310  and the answers  320  is used in the processor in stage  340   a . Only then would the hint  330  be displayed. It appears to the player than the casino bonus game  140  anticipates that the player does not know the answer to the question and then provides a hint. In one variation, the system determines whether the random statistical frequency authorizes display  330  of the hint  200  and whether it should be displayed is based upon the lack of receiving a player input  350  before the predetermined time frame lapses (i.e. hesitation). The order of determination is immaterial. 
     The information  331  contained in the hint  200  can be quite blunt and the odds of the player, when following the information  331  in the hint  200  increases from 33% (guessing), in winning to 100%. For example, in  FIG. 4 , the parrot  330  could state:
         The answer is “Reno”!
 
Or it could be vague such as the following information  331  which increases the player&#39;s odds of winning from 33% (guessing) to 50% (guessing):
   It&#39;s one of the last two choices!
           or   
           It&#39;s not the first answer!
 
This latter example eliminates Cheyenne. In any event, the purpose of the hint  200  is to increase the player&#39;s instantaneous expected value (EV) in the decision-making game round for the casino game over simply guessing.
       

     Consider a casino bonus game with questions  310  having two possible answers  320 , for each of which the right answer is awarded 50 credits in stage  370 , and a wrong answer is awarded 20 credits in stage  372 . Players knowing none of the answers (i.e., guessing at all of them) have a long term (i.e. over all play of the casino game) expected value of EV=½×50+½×20=35 credits. A player of one bonus game round has an instantaneous expected value of 50 credits or 35 credits. The instantaneous difference between the player knowing the answer and the player not knowing the answer is thus 15 credits. An advantage of the current invention is that this difference may be adjusted to a desired level over all play of the casino game through the use of hints  200 . For example, if hints  200  showing the right answer are given randomly  340  with frequency 10%, then the player knowing nothing (i.e. guessing) has long term effective expected value=0.55×50+0.45×20=36.5, with the difference now being only 13.5 credits over all play of the casino bonus game. That is, when the player follows the information in the hint. 
     Or consider a bonus game round comprising a question  310  having three possible answers  320  for which, on average, a right answer  370  is awarded 100 credits and a wrong answer  372  is awarded 70 credits. A player knowing the correct answer has an expected value of 100 credits. A player knowing none of the answers (guessing at all of them) has an expected value EV=⅓×100+⅔×70=80 credits. The difference between these two types of players is thus 20 credits. However, randomly  340  giving a hint 50% of the time that eliminates a wrong answer brings up the expected value of the player who guesses to EV=0.5×(½×100+½×70)+0.5×(⅓×100+⅔×70)=82.5 credits provided the player follows the information in the hint. 
     While these are specific examples for knowledge-based bonus games, what is important is that the difference in expected return can be brought to a desired level through appropriate design of the mathematical value of the game, types of hints, and hint frequencies. The term “expected return (ER)” is used for the overall casino game and the term “expected value” is used, in this example, for the casino bonus game itself. For example, a conventional underlying casino game having a long term expected return (ER) of 65% with a bonus casino game having a long term expected value of 25 units at a random frequency of 1%, then the longterm expected return for the underlying game with the bonus game is ER=65%+25%=90% (house advantage is 10%). 
     The above examples is based upon a knowledge-based bonus game. The teachings of the present invention are not limited to knowledge-based bonus games and, hence, could be given in strategy-based bonus games and skill-based bonus games. The term “guessing” is used herein for selection of the possible player inputs for decision-making rounds not only in the above discussed knowledge-based games, but also in strategy- and skill-based casino games as explained next. 
     In the example for  FIG. 1   a , one embodiment of the method of the present invention is set forth in  FIG. 5 . In  FIG. 5 , the method starts  500  after a player has entered a suitable wager already into the gaming machine  10 . The processor  20  using the random number generator  50  to randomly select, in the case of the video poker, a single decision-making game round dealt in the card game or “hand”  90  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The hand  90  as a sequence of cards randomly selected in conventional fashion from memory  60  for displaying  510  in the display  70   a . The player then responds to the displayed decision-making game round or, in this example, the displayed hand. In this variation of the method of the present invention, in stage  520 , the gaming machine  10  determines whether or not a player input  80  has been received  540 . If a player input has been received  540  during the predetermined time frame, ΔT, such as two to five seconds after display of the game round, then the hidden hint feature  200  of the present invention is not displayed  530  in the display  70   a  and the game round conventionally completes  540 . If there is hesitation by the player to deliver an input  30  so that the predetermined time period has expired in stage  520 , then the hint  200  is displayed  530 , but only if it is authorized  560  at the random statistical frequency. Hence, if the player waits too long in stage  520  and enters stage  530 , the hint  200  is not displayed unless authorized at the random statistical frequency  560  under control of the processor. The hint  200  is displayed  530  which should influence the player to provide the correct input  30  to finish the casino game  540  thereby increasing the expected value. The order of stages  520  and  530  is immaterial. After the results of the game  540  are determined, the game ends  570 . The player input  80  is at least one input. For example, in video poker, the player can provide up to five possible inputs corresponding to a “HOLD” for each of five cards. 
     Consider the following examples. In blackjack, a given position (e.g., player holds  12  and dealer holds  10  and an upcard) provides several strategic alternatives to the player. In principle, a calculable expected value (EV) is associated with each of these alternatives. So, the hint that is displayed may be a function of the prevailing position  340  in the game as determined by the processor in stage  560   a . For example, a common position is a player holding  16  vs. a dealer holding  10  with an upcard. Here, the difference between Hitting and Standing is minimal (˜1%) in terms of EV. However, the difference between Hitting and Standing is more substantial with, say, a player holding  12  vs. a dealer holding  10  with an upcard, and so this invention may be utilized to make hints more frequent when a given position has a larger disparity between perfect strategy and weak strategy. Likewise, this invention can be utilized to give hints only, or always, when the disparity is greater than a certain differential EV. In this manner, the player may be helped along for the “difficult” decisions in a game. This serves to, as alluded to earlier, potentially mitigate the difference between a “perfect” player and an “average” player, if desired. In  FIG. 6 , an example of a display  600  for a hint  200  containing information  610  for holding the two deuces in the example shown in  FIG. 1   a  is shown. In principle, following this hint  200  increases the EV for the player vs. random play (i.e., guessing). 
     An example of a non-decision-based casino game using the present invention to turn into a decision-based casino game follows. A player enters a bonus round and is given a choice of choosing one of five colored shields on the display screen. Five random awards (20, 40, 60, 80, 100 units) are randomly hidden behind the shields, one per shield. The player touches the desired shield. An arrow then flies in to pierce the shield, which crumbles to reveal the award the player has won. As described, this is a game with player input (the choice of the shield to touch) but not a decision-making casino game. The reason it is not a decision-based casino game is that, mathematically, it makes no difference which shield the player touches. As described, over all play the player has the same expected value of ⅕×20+⅕×40+⅕×60+⅕×80+⅕×100=60. If as part of the game, a hint  200  randomly appears such as “Don&#39;t choose the shield on the far right!” or “The shield with the highest award is red!” or “The shield with the lowest award is striped!”, etc., the player&#39;s choice now does matter. Mathematically, the player&#39;s expected value after the hint is now a function of which shield is chosen. Hence, the game has been converted to a decision-based game wherein specific choices on the part of the player are mathematically preferred over other choices. 
     Two approaches exist for providing the hint  200  of the present invention. The first is a static or stored approach and the second is a dynamic or calculated approach. 
     In  FIG. 7 , the static or stored approach is illustrated. Here, the display memory  130  for the examples of  FIGS. 2 and 3  has memory files for the knowledge-based questions. For example, data file  700  has an address  710  for the display processor  120  based on the random number, as previously discussed, to access. Each data file  700  has a question  720 , answers  730 , and a hint  740  for a displayed bonus game round for the player to respond to. Previously discussed with respect to  FIG. 3 , the question  720  and the answers  730  are displayed as shown in  FIG. 4  in stages  310  and  320  which could occur simultaneously or the question is displayed followed by the answers. Whether or not the hint  200  is displayed from the storage location  740 , is dependent upon whether or not it is authorized based upon the determination of the random statistical frequency  340 . If it is, then the hint is displayed  330  in display  110 . Of course, the hint  740  is different for each different data field  700  (i.e., for each different question). Furthermore, the hint  200  can be displayed simultaneously with the question  310  and the answers  320  or, as previously discussed, a predetermined time frame thereafter. In a variation on this, when the display memory is designed hint  740  can be randomly dispersed throughout the database to achieve the random display of hints. 
     In  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the stored hints are “Rhymes with “keno”” and “Hold the two Deuces.” The parrot graphics are separate display modules that do not need to stored with each data file. In variations of the present invention different graphics could be used to add variety. 
     While  FIG. 7  illustrates the display memory  130  for a knowledge-based bonus game, it is expressly understood that a hint could be provided whatever the nature of the decision-making game round for the casino bonus game  100   b  is; 
     In the gaming machine  10  example of  FIGS. 1   a  and  5 , the data field  700  for a given game round exists in the memory  60  and the displayed card hand  90  which appears dealt to the player occupies field  720 . In this example, there would be no field  730  but there would be a hint  200  in field  740 . Hence, associated with the card hand  90  shown in  FIG. 1 , would be the hint  200  in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . 
     In the second approach of the present invention, the stored hint  740  is not used. Under this approach, and with reference to  FIG. 3  and step  330 , when the random hint is to be displayed, it simply displays the correct answer. Hence, the graphic parrot in  FIG. 4  would simply display the correct answer. This occurs dynamically when the hint  330  is displayed randomly. In this embodiment, a separate data field  740  is not required. Dynamic determination of the hint also can occur in the example of  FIG. 1   a  and  FIG. 6 . By knowing the hand in the card game in  FIG. 1   a , the hint  600  in  FIG. 6  can be determined by the processor (i.e., look up in a table) as to what response from the player is required to increase the expected value for the player in that hand. For example, in a strategy-based game, when the random hint step  330  occurs at the random statistical frequency  340 , the present displayed strategy game is evaluated by processor  20  to determine dynamically what response should be provided in the “hint” to increase the player&#39;s instantaneous EV. 
     In general, the casino game whether it is a gaming machine  10  of  FIG. 1  or a casino bonus game  100   b  of  FIG. 2  has a decision-making game round displayed to a player for the player to respond to. The displayed game round can be any decision-making casino game round under the teachings of the present invention to which a player can respond to. The hint corresponding to the displayed decision-making game round when displayed to the player and when followed by the player increases the player&#39;s odds in winning the game round. 
     The method of the present invention can be summarized in the following. In one embodiment, the decision-making game rounds  700  are stored in memory  60 ,  130  of the casino game  10 ,  100 , each of the stored decision-making game rounds  700  has at least one stored hint  740 . The examples of  FIGS. 4 and 6  show one stored hint  740 , but variations of the present invention can have more than one stored hint for each game round. The stored hint  140  contains response information  410 ,  610  that if followed enables a player to increase the player&#39;s odds in winning the game round. The processor  60  (alone or in combination with display processor  120 ) randomly selects from a database  790  in memory  60  (or in display memory  130 ) one game round  700  from the plurality of stored game rounds. The processor  60  (alone or in combination with display processor  120 ) displays the selected game round (i.e.,  90  in  FIG. 1  or  310 ,  320  in  FIG. 4 ) in the display (i.e.,  70   a  in  FIG. 1  or  110  in  FIG. 2 ) to the player. The processor  60  receives in the input device an input from the player from among possible inputs. The input device could be a separate input device  80  or a touch screen  70   a  in  FIG. 1 . The processor  60  (or in combination with a display processor  120 ) displays in the display  70   a ,  110  the hint  200  for the selected game round, in one embodiment, only at a random statistical frequency. In another embodiment, the displaying of the hint  200  occurs before receiving an input from the player in the input device and after a predetermined time has expired. 
     3. Wide Area Progressive. The hint feature  200  can also be used in a wide area progressive. For example, in one variation of the present invention, the hint feature  200  is used during play of the casino gaming machines interconnected into a wide area progressive  800  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In such wide area progressive systems  800 , a central controller  810  is used to control the wide area progressive. The method of the present invention can be implemented into the central controller  810  to display a hint in a casino gaming machine in a plurality of casino gaming machines GM all interconnected over a bus  820  in a wide area progressive  800 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , a port  140  interfaces the processor  20  to the bus  820 . 
     It is to be expressly understood that there is a variety of wide area progressive system configurations  800  and that such system configurations can be adapted to include an island of gaming machines, gaming machines spread across a casino, gaming machines interconnected together amongst a variety of casinos or a progressive system connected over a network or over the Internet. Again, the topological configuration of a wide area progressive system  800  does not affect the teachings of the hint feature  200  of the present invention. 
     4. Internet. In another variation of the present invention, the casino gaming machine is a player&#39;s own personal computer PC interconnected to a central computer  900  over the Internet  910 . It is immaterial whether the casino game is being played in the software in the player&#39;s personal computer PC or whether the player&#39;s personal computer PC operates as an input/output device for the casino game being operated by software in the central computer  900 . 
     In  FIG. 9 , the computer  900  is located at a remote location and communicates  910   a  over the Internet  910  to a plurality of personal computers PC 1–PC j. The communication links  910  are conventional and use of the Internet  910  to establish such communication links is well known and not material to the present invention. In the same fashion, as discussed above for the wide area progressive  800 , the computer  900  randomly causes a random hint feature  200  to appear on a personal computer PC while a player is playing a casino game. Again, if the player correctly responds to this random display, the player receives an award and, if incorrectly responds, the game continues. 
     The above disclosure sets forth a number of embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in this art will however appreciate that other arrangements or embodiments, not precisely set forth, could be practiced under the teachings of the present invention. For example, the displaying the hint can occur before, with, or after the receipt of the players input. The scope of this invention should only be limited by the scope of the following claims.