Patent ID: 7811168

Claim:
A method of providing a game for a gaming device using random payout from a prize pool, the game including a possible plurality of ranked game outcomes, the method comprising: determining, for at least two ranked game outcomes, a first programmer input of information based on a first specified average value, a first specified minimum award value, and a first specified maximum award value, the first specified average value being between the first specified minimum award value and first specified maximum award value, and a second programmer input of information based on a second specified average value, a second specified minimum award value, and a second specified maximum award value, the second specified average value being between the second specified minimum award value and second specified maximum award value; receiving, at the gaming device, a wager amount; receiving an input to initiate game play of the game, wherein playing of the game can result in at least one of the possible plurality of ranked game outcomes occurring; and calculating, by the gaming device, a first weighted random amount from the prize pool using a function that calculates the first weighted random amount using the first specified minimum value, the first specified maximum value and the first specified average value, wherein the calculated first weighted random amount is generated between the first specified minimum value of the prize pool and the first specified maximum value of the prize pool, wherein the function is configured to calculate first weighted random amounts that average over time substantially the first specified average value; calculating, by the gaming device, a second weighted random amount from the prize pool using the function, which calculates the second weighted random amount using the second specified minimum value, the second specified maximum value and the second specified average value, wherein the calculated second random amount is generated between the second specified minimum value of the prize pool and the second specified maximum value of the prize pool, wherein the function is configured to calculate second weighted random amounts that average over time substantially the second specified average value; qualifying the wager amount to win at least one of the first weighted random amount and the second weighted random amount from the prize pool for the at least two ranked game outcomes from the plurality of ranked game outcomes; and displaying the at least one of the first and second random amounts from the prize pool.