Methods and apparatus for managing an account to fund benefits for a player
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- determining an account associated with a player playing a gaming device, wherein the account is one from which the player is unable to directly control usage of money;
providing at least one of a payout and a bonus during play of the gaming device by the player, wherein the step of providing comprises deducting an amount of money from the account and providing the amount to the player as the at least one of the payout and the bonus.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In accordance with one or more embodiments, an account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in an increase in the balance is a player'"'"'s obtainment of an outcome that corresponds to both (i) a first payout that is displayed on a payout schedule of the gaming device, and (ii) an amount by which the balance of the account is to be increased. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in a disbursement is the obtainment by the player of a predetermined number of consecutive non-winning outcomes. Thus, in one or more embodiments, currency may be accumulated for a player during a gaming session of the player and utilized to fund payouts provided to the player at times in which the player may be becoming discouraged and contemplating discontinuation of play of the gaming device.
219 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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determining an account associated with a player playing a gaming device, wherein the account is one from which the player is unable to directly control usage of money;
providing at least one of a payout and a bonus during play of the gaming device by the player, wherein the step of providing comprises deducting an amount of money from the account and providing the amount to the player as the at least one of the payout and the bonus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method comprising:
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establishing an account for a player of a gaming device, wherein the player is not informed of at least one of the establishment of the account nor of any changes in a balance of the account;
adding money to the account based on the player'"'"'s play of the gaming device;
determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied;
deducting from the account, if the condition has been satisfied, an amount of money; and
providing the amount to the player as at least one of a payout and a bonus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A method, comprising:
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outputting on a gaming device a first payout schedule, the first payout schedule defining a plurality of winning outcomes and a first set of payouts, each respective payout of the first set of payouts corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;
storing in memory a second payout schedule, the second payout schedule defining the plurality of winning outcomes and a second set of payouts, each respective payout of the second set of payouts corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes, such that at least one of the winning outcomes corresponds to a payout of the second set that is greater that a payout of the first set;
generating an outcome;
determining that the outcome corresponds to a payout of the first set of payouts, thereby determining that the outcome is a winning outcome;
providing to the player the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the winning outcome; and
adding an amount to a balance of an account associated with the player, wherein the amount is the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the winning outcome less the payout of the second set of payouts that corresponds to the winning outcome. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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30. A method comprising:
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outputting on a gaming device a first payout schedule, the first payout schedule defining a plurality of winning outcomes and a first set of payouts, each respective payout of the first set of payouts corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;
storing in memory a second payout schedule, the second payout schedule defining the plurality of winning outcomes and a second set of payouts, each respective payout of the second set of payouts corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;
generating an outcome;
determining that the outcome corresponds to a payout of the first set of payouts, thereby determining that the outcome is a winning outcome;
providing to the player the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the winning outcome;
determining that the winning outcome corresponds to a payout of the second set of payouts; and
adding the payout of the second set of payouts to a balance of an account associated with the player. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification