Gaming method and apparatus for employing negative outcomes

• US 20040014522A1
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Rogers, Andrew D., Walker, Jay S., Zucker, David F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,070,577 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 for providing a negative outcome at a gaming device. The system determine that a player of a gaming device has equity which may be debited. An outcome of the gaming device is determined, and it is also determined that the outcome is a negative outcome. The balance (e.g., of the gaming device or another gaming device) is reduced by more than the wager amount.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining that a player of a gaming device has equity which may be debited;

generating an outcome of the gaming device;

determining that the outcome is a negative outcome; and

reducing a balance by more than a wager amount.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the equity comprises a value of the player which can be reduced.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the equity comprises a promise by the player to pay a future debt.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

receiving, from the player, an amount of funds.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

determining a balance of the gaming device; and

determining whether a balance is greater than the wager amount.

6. The method of claim 5, in which the balance comprises a plurality of balances.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

applying all amounts won to one balance of the plurality of balances.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

committing to pay an amount of funds to the player in exchange for an agreement by the player to perform an activity,

in which the committing comprises more than a conventional payment of amount of funds to the player in exchange for play at the gaming device.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the step of committing comprises:

committing to pay an amount of funds to the player in exchange for an agreement by the player to play the gaming device for a predetermined amount of time.

10. The method of claim 8, in which the step of committing comprises:

committing to pay an amount of funds to the player in exchange for an agreement by the player to play the gaming device for a predetermined number of games.

11. The method of claim 8, in which the step of committing comprises:

committing to pay an amount of funds to the player in exchange for an agreement by the player to play the gaming device for a predetermined aggregate amount of wagers.

12. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

preventing the player from receiving an amount of funds from the gaming device until the player performs an activity,

in which the activity comprises more than requesting to receive an amount of funds.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining that the player has performed the activity; and

allowing the player to receive the amount of funds from the gaming device.

14. The method of claim 13, in which the step of determining that the player has performed the activity comprises:

determining that the player has received at least a predetermined minimum number of outcomes.

15. The method of claim 12, in which the amount of funds which the player is prevented from receiving comprises:

a portion of amounts won.

16. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

receiving, from the player, an identifier which may be used to receive payment.

17. The method of claim 16, in which the identifier comprises a credit card account number.

18. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

receiving, from the player, an identifier which indicates a second gaming device.

19. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

receiving an indication of an account which may be charged for losses at the gaming device.

20. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

receiving, from the player, agreement to accept an offer in exchange for payment of losses at the gaming device.

21. The method of claim 1, in which the step of determining that the player has equity comprises:

assuring that an amount of funds may be retrieved from the player if the player must pay the amount of funds.

22. The method of claim 1, in which the step of reducing the balance by more than the wager amount comprises:

reducing one balance of a plurality of balances of the gaming device.

23. The method of claim 1, in which the step of reducing the balance by more than the wager amount comprises:

determining that the player has not performed a required activity; and

negating a commitment to pay an amount of funds to the player, in which the commitment comprises more than a conventional payment of amount of funds to the player in exchange for play at the gaming device.

24. The method of claim 1, in which the step of reducing the balance by more than the wager amount comprises:

using an identifier to receive payment on behalf of the player of the gaming device.

25. The method of claim 24, in which the step of using the identifier to receive payment on behalf of the player comprises:

using a credit card account number to charge a credit card account.

26. The method of claim 1, in which the step of reducing the balance by more than the wager amount comprises:

reducing a balance of a second gaming device.

27. The method of claim 1, in which the step of reducing the balance by more than the wager amount comprises:

presenting an indication of an offer to the player.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

applying the terms of the offer to the player.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based at least in part on the outcome, an amount by which to reduce the balance.

30. The method of claim 29, in which the amount by which to reduce the balance comprises a percentage of the balance of the gaming device.

31. The method of claim 29, in which the amount by which to reduce the balance comprises a predetermined amount greater than the wager amount.

32. The method of claim 31, in which the amount by which to reduce the balance is twice the wager amount.

33. The method of claim 29, in which the amount by which to reduce the balance comprises a predetermined multiple of the wager amount.

34. The method of claim 29, in which the step of determining the amount by which to reduce the balance comprises:

determining an amount by which to reduce the balance randomly.

35. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decreasing the balance based on time elapsed.

36. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

decreasing the balance based on a number of outcomes generated.

37. The method of claim 1, in which the step of reducing the balance comprises:

reducing the balance based on the outcome and at least one previous outcome.

38. The method of claim 1, in which the step of reducing the balance comprises:

reducing the balance, in a single reduction, by more than the wager amount.

39. A method comprising:

establishing player equity in a gaming device;

in which the player equity is retrievable from the player upon a negative outcome;

generating an outcome of the gaming device;

adjusting player equity in the gaming device based on the outcome; and

providing the player with at least a portion of the equity.

40. A method comprising:

determining a balance of a gaming device;

receiving, from a player, a first amount of a wager on the gaming device; and

generating an outcome of the gaming device, in which

the outcome is generated based on a first payout table if the balance exceeds a predetermined minimum;

the outcome is generated based on a second payout table if the balance does not exceed the predetermined minimum

41. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

reducing the balance by more than the first amount if the outcome is not a winning outcome.

42. A method comprising:

receiving, from a player, a first amount of a wager on a gaming device;

generating an outcome of the gaming device;

determining that the outcome is not a winning outcome; and

extracting from the player a second amount which is greater than the first amount.