Method and apparatus for reinvesting winnings

• US 20060014579A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 01/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Holdings Ltd (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Kane, Steven N., Sabet, Bijan, Hardy, Dow
• Granted Patent: US 8,845,409 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A player is permitted to reinvest winnings to play additional instances of an online game. In one specific example, the player may choose, at a point of sale (POS), a reinvestment option that specifies how winnings are used to automatically purchase additional game instances. In one example game format, the player may be permitted to select a reinvestment option at the point of initial purchase of the game. The player may be permitted, for example, to limit his/her reinvestment as a function of their initial investment. In another example, the primary game result is driven by the result of a secondary game, such as a lottery or casino-based drawing (e.g., a Keno drawing). The secondary game is then played, and any additional plays as a result of the reinvestment are also played. Results of the secondary game and the additional games are sent to an online gaming system. The player is then permitted to play an online game to reveal the results of both the secondary game and any additional plays as a result of the reinvestment. In one example, the cost of the reinvestment is subtracted from any winnings as the additional plays are revealed to the player.

Claims

1. A method for playing a game of chance comprising an act of:

permitting a player to purchase an entry into one or more games of chance; and

providing the player an option to use at least a portion of the potential winnings to purchase one or more additional entries in the one or more games of chance.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of issuing a ticket to a player, the ticket including a code printed on a surface of the ticket, the ticket being associated with a plurality of results.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising an act of providing for the player to play another game on a different medium than the issued ticket, wherein the plurality of results are revealed to the player.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising an act of revealing the plurality of results during play of an online game.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of determining whether the entry is a winning entry having corresponding winnings, and if so, using at least a portion of the winnings to purchase the one or more additional entries in the one or more games of chance.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the winnings are predetermined.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the player to select the option at the time of purchase of the entry into the one or more games of chance.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of associating the option with an identifier of the entry into the one or more games of chance.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the identifier of the entry is an identifier of a ticket issued to the player at a point of sale (POS).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of providing the player the option further comprises an act of permitting the player to specify a limit of the purchase of the one or more additional entries in the one or more games of chance.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the limit is determined, at least in part, as a function of the purchase of the entry into the one or more games of chance.

12. The method according to claim 5, wherein the act of using the at least a portion of the winnings to purchase one or more additional entries occurs when the winnings are available.

13. The method according to claim 5, wherein the act of using the at least a portion of the winnings to purchase one or more additional entries occurs after the one or more games of chance are played by the player.

14. The method according to claim 5, wherein the one or more additional entries are made in a different game than a game associated with the winning entry and winnings used to purchase the one or more additional entries.

15. The method according to claim 5, wherein the one or more additional entries are made in a same game that is associated with the winning entry and winnings used to purchase the one or more additional entries.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the different game is conducted later than the game associated with the winning entry.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising allocating, within the same game, a plurality of entries corresponding to an option indication determining a number of additional entries to be purchased.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the player to indicate, within an interface of a computer system, a selection of the option to use the at least a portion of the potential winnings to purchase the one or more additional entries in the one or more games of chance.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the player to indicate, on an entry card associated with the entry, a selection of the option to use the at least a portion of the potential winnings to purchase the one or more additional entries in the one or more games of chance.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of conducting an online game, during which, a plurality of results are revealed to the player and wherein the act of conducting the online game includes act of presenting to the player an indication of the option.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the act of presenting includes an act of displaying the indication in a display of a game-playing computer system.

22. The method according to claim 4, wherein the online game includes a slot-machine type game.

23. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing, by a first server associated with a first game, a result associated with the game of chance.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising an act of storing, in a memory of a computer system, the result associated with the game of chance.

25. The method according to claim 24, further comprising an act of associating the result with an indication of the ticket.