Method and apparatus for employing flat rate play

• US 10,140,812 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2011
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Tulley, Stephen C., Santisi, Steven M., Gilman, Norman C.
• Primary Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr., William H
• Application Number:
  US13/253,628
• Publication Number:
  US 20120028698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,610 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25- 26, 463 16, 463 20, 463 27
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided allowing a player to play a gaming device and receive a predetermined number of outcomes in exchange for a payment. The gaming device generates at least the predetermined number of outcomes, and adjusts a balance of the player device based on the outcomes. The player can continue playing regardless of whether the balance is less than zero.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) if a physical item is received via an acceptor of a gaming device, causing a processor to establish a credit balance of a quantity of credits available for waging, said credit balance being based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, wherein said physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and a unit of currency;

(b) causing the processor to determine a quantity of available spins of a plurality of reels of the gaming device, wherein the quantity of available spins is greater than zero, the quantity of available spins is distinct from the credit balance of the quantity of credits available for wagering on the gaming device and each available spin is associated with an average expected payout prior to any generation of any symbols associated with said available spin;

(c) receiving an input to elect to use at least one of the available spins for a single generation of a plurality of symbols for a single play of a game;

(d) causing the processor to deduct the at least one spin from the determined quantity of available spins;

(e) for the single play of the game, causing the processor to initiate a spin of the plurality of reels of the gaming device, wherein;

(i) if a first quantity of at least one of the available spins is used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, a first paytable having a first average expected payout is employed to evaluate said generated symbols for the single play of the game, said first average expected payout of the first paytable being at least partially based on the average expected payouts of each of the first quantity of at least one of the available spins used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game,

(ii) if a second, different quantity of the available spins is used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, a second, different paytable having a second average expected payout is employed to evaluate said generated symbols for the single play of the game, said second average expected payout being greater than the first average expected payout, said second quantity of the available spins used for the single play of the game being greater than the first quantity of available spins used for the single play of the game and said second average expected payout of the second paytable being at least partially based on the average expected payouts of each of the second quantity of at least one of the available spins used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, and

(iii) said credit balance is increasable based on any award associated with the generated symbols for the single play of the game; and

(f) if a cashout input is received via a cashout device of the gaming device, causing an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes:

causing the processor to deduct, upon initiation of the spin of the plurality of reels for the single play of the game, at least a portion of at least one credit from the balance of credits available for wagering on the gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the quantity of available spins includes a quantity of spins purchased by a player.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the quantity of available spins has been won by a player as a result of a previous game played on the gaming device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the spin of the plurality of reels for the single play of the game includes a spin associated with only winning game outcomes.

6. A gaming device, comprising:

a housing

a display device supported by the housing;

a processor;

a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including;

(i) an acceptor, and

(ii) a cashout device; and

a memory device storing a program, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the plurality of input devices to;

(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, wherein said physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and a unit of currency;

(b) determine a quantity of spins available for use, the quantity of spins being greater than zero, the quantity of spins being distinct from the credit balance of a quantity of credits available for wagering on the gaming device and each available spin being associated with an average expected payout prior to any generation of any symbols associated with said available spin;

(c) receive an input to elect to use at least one of the available spins for a single generation of a plurality of symbols for a single play of a game;

(d) deduct the at least one spin from the determined quantity of available spins;

(e) for the single play of the game, initiating a spin of a plurality of reels, wherein;

(i) if a first quantity of at least one of the available spins is used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, a first paytable having a first average expected payout is employed to evaluate said generated symbols for the single play of the game, said first average expected payout of the first paytable being at least partially based on the average expected payouts of each of the first quantity of at least one of the available spins used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game,

(ii) if a second, different quantity of the available spins is used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, a second, different paytable having a second average expected payout is employed to evaluate said generated symbols for the single play of the game, said second average expected payout being greater than the first average expected payout, said second quantity of the available spins used for the single play of the game being greater than the first quantity of available spins used for the single play of the game and said second average expected payout of the second paytable being at least partially based on the average expected payouts of each of the second quantity of at least one of the available spins used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, and

(iii) said credit balance is increasable based on any award associated with the generated symbols for the single play of the game; and

(f) if a cashout input is received via the cashout device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.

7. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program comprising instructions, the program, when read by a computer, causing the computer to:

(a) if a physical item is received via an acceptor of a gaming device, establish a credit balance of a quantity of credits available for waging, said credit balance being based, at least in part on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, wherein said physical item is selected from the group consisting of;

a ticket associated with the monetary value and a unit of currency;

(b) determine a quantity of available spins of a plurality of reels of the gaming device, wherein the quantity of available spins is greater than zero, the quantity of spins is distinct from the credit balance of the quantity of credits available for wagering on the gaming device and each available spin is associated with an average expected payout prior to any generation of any symbols associated with said available spin;

(c) receive an input to elect to use at least one of the available spins for a single generation of a plurality of symbols for a single play of a game;

(d) deduct the at least one spin from the determined quantity of available spins;

(e) for the single play of the game, initiate a spin of the plurality of reels of the gaming device, wherein;

(i) if a first quantity of at least one of the available spins is used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, a first paytable having a first average expected payout is employed to evaluate said generated symbols for the single play of the game, said first average expected payout of the first paytable being at least partially based on the average expected payouts of each of the first quantity of at least one of the available spins used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game,

(ii) if a second, different quantity of the available spins is used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, a second, different paytable having a second average expected payout is employed to evaluate said generated plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, said second average expected payout being greater than the first average expected payout, said second quantity of the available spins used for the single play of the game being greater than the first quantity of available spins used for the single play of the game and said second average expected payout of the second paytable being at least partially based on the average expected payouts of each of the second quantity of at least one of the available spins used to generate the plurality of symbols for the single play of the game, and

(iii) said credit balance is increasable based on any award associated with the generated symbols for the single play of the game; and

(f) if a cashout input is received via a cashout device of the gaming device, cause an initiation of any payout associated with the credit balance.