Flat rate play contract price adjustments

• US 20060043668A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S.
• Application Number:
  US11/266,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20060043668A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/138.100
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and/or articles of manufacture are associated with operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session or contract costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session or contract spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. In some embodiments, an expected cost of the flat rate play session or contract may be determined. Further, a price of the flat rate play session or contract may be set and/or adjusted based on various parameters and/or goals. An operator may cause the price of the flat rate play session or contract to be set or adjusted, for example, in order to meet one or more desired goals such as a profit rate goal for a casino, casino floor, gaming machine and/or group of gaming machines, a game and/or a group of games, and/or a flat rate play session or contract or group thereof.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining, based at least upon a duration of a flat rate play contract, a cost of the flat rate play contract;

determining a rule defining a desired profit rate for the flat rate play contract;

calculating a desired profit margin for the flat rate play contract by multiplying the desired profit rate for the flat rate play contract by the duration of the flat rate play contract; and

calculating a price for the flat rate play contract by adding the desired profit margin for the flat rate play contract to the cost of the flat rate play contract.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the calculated price for the flat rate play contract.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of an acceptance of the flat rate play contract.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving payment in the amount of the calculated price for the flat rate play contract.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

updating a database record associated with the flat rate play contract with the calculated price for the flat rate play contract.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule defines the desired profit rate of the flat rate play contract as a function of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule defines the desired profit rate of the flat rate play contract as a function of gaming device usage.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule defines the desired profit rate of the flat rate play contract as a function of a type of gaming device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule defines the desired profit rate of the flat rate play contract as a function of a type of game offered by a gaming device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the rule defines the desired profit rate of the flat rate play contract as a function of another flat rate play contract.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the rule comprises:

receiving an indication of the rule.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the indication of the rule is received via an operator interface.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost of the flat rate play contract is determined based on at least one of (i) a simulation, (ii) a mathematical simulation, (iii) a mathematical model, and (iv) a history of actual flat rate play contract costs.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the cost of the flat rate play contract is determined based on a value of a price parameter.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the price parameter comprises at least one of:

(i) an amount wagered;

(ii) a jackpot structure;

(iii) a time of a day;

(iv) a day of a week;

(v) a day of a month;

(vi) a day of a year;

(vii) a week of a month;

(viii) a week of a year;

(ix) a month of a year;

(x) a type of gaming device;

(xi) a player status rating;

(xii) an availability of a gaming device;

(xiii) a forecasted availability of a gaming device;

(xiv) a number of active jackpots;

(xv) a number of winning plays;

(xvi) a time between plays;

(xvii) a traffic of potential players;

(xviii) stakes of play; and

(xix) an external event.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

receiving an indication of the value of the price parameter.

17. A method, comprising:

determining, based at least upon durations of a plurality of flat rate play contracts, a cost of each of the plurality of flat rate play contracts;

determining a rule defining a desired profit rate for a gaming device offering the plurality of flat rate play contracts;

calculating a desired profit margin for each of the plurality of flat rate play contracts by multiplying the desired profit rate for the gaming device by the durations of each of the plurality of flat rate play contracts; and

calculating a price for each of the plurality of flat rate play contracts by adding the desired profit margin for each of the plurality of flat rate play contracts to the cost of each of the plurality of flat rate play contracts.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying a menu of the calculated prices for each of the plurality of flat rate play contracts.

19. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory storing a program that when executed by the processor results in;

determining, based at least upon a duration of a flat rate play contract, a cost of the flat rate play contract;

determining a rule defining a desired profit rate for the flat rate play contract;

calculating a desired profit margin for the flat rate play contract by multiplying the desired profit rate for the flat rate play contract by the duration of the flat rate play contract; and

calculating a price for the flat rate play contract by adding the desired profit margin for the flat rate play contract to the cost of the flat rate play contract.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

an input device to receive an indication of the rule from an operator.