Methods and systems for determining and selling wagering game outcomes to be viewed remotely

• US 20060111172A1
• Filed: 02/15/2006
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S., Suarez, Jose A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,478,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• 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 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to a player (e.g., a player may access the video presentation online). This allows a player to purchase a video presentation of (e.g., predetermined) outcomes in a jurisdiction in which gambling is legal yet view the presentation at the player'"'"'s convenience (e.g., from any jurisdiction and at any time). A player who purchases such a video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a redemption value associated therewith. In some embodiments, the player may request such outcomes by presenting and/or selecting a session object and/or by interfacing with a tangible medium recording or production device (e.g., on a casino floor).

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a player, a session object comprising an indication of a pre-defined parameter;

determining, based on the indication of the pre-defined parameter, a plurality of outcomes of a slot machine game; and

providing, after a last one of the plurality of outcomes has been generated, the plurality of outcomes to the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an indication of the plurality of outcomes.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the storing comprises:

storing the indication of the plurality of outcomes on a tangible medium.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the providing comprises:

providing the tangible medium to the player.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the tangible medium comprises at least one of:

a DVD;

a CD-ROM;

a floppy disk;

a VHS tape;

a flash memory; and

a portable viewing device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the session object comprises at least one of:

a packaging medium;

a card medium;

a ticket medium; and

a token medium.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the session object is selected by the player from a display comprising a plurality of available session objects.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the session object indicates the pre-defined parameter by at least one of:

a printing of the indication of the parameter on the session object;

a stamping of the indication of the parameter on the session object;

an engraving of the indication of the parameter on the session object;

an etching of the indication of the parameter on the session object; and

a coupling of a medium comprising the indication of the parameter to the session object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined parameter is indicative of at least one of:

an identifier of the plurality of outcomes, the plurality of outcomes being pre-generated;

an identifier of a tangible medium comprising the plurality of outcomes;

a slot machine at which the plurality of outcomes are generated;

a type of slot machine at which the plurality of outcomes are generated;

a type of game for which the plurality of outcomes are generated;

a particular game for which the plurality of outcomes are generated;

an amount wagered for each outcome of the plurality of outcomes;

a number of paylines activated for at least one of the plurality of outcomes;

a strategy employed in generating at least one of the plurality of outcomes;

a number of outcomes comprising the plurality of outcomes; and

an ending condition that defines when the last one of the plurality of outcomes has been generated.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein in the case that the pre-defined parameter is indicative of the ending condition, the ending condition defines at least one of:

a credit meter balance;

a number of game plays; and

a duration of time.

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

determining an indication of the plurality of outcomes, wherein the plurality of outcomes are generated by a gaming device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the gaming device comprises a simplified gaming device.

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

generating the plurality of outcomes.

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

determining a net payout associated with the plurality of outcomes.

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

determining a gross payout associated with the plurality of outcomes.

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

determining a payout associated with a particular outcome of the plurality of outcomes.

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

determining at least one indicia representative of at least one outcome of the plurality of outcomes.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining of the at least one indicia comprises determining at least one indicia as it appears on a gaming device when the at least one outcome which the at least one indicia is representative of is generated.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the determining of the at least one indicia comprises determining at least one indicia as it is to appear to the player once the player purchases the plurality of outcomes.

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

determining an identifier associated with the plurality of outcomes.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining at least one of the following based on the identifier;

a net payout associated with the plurality of outcomes;

a gross payout associated with the plurality of outcomes;

a payout associated with a particular outcome of the plurality of outcomes; and

at least one indicia representative of at least one outcome of the plurality of outcomes.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an indication of the plurality of outcomes in association with a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the indication of the plurality of outcomes.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing an image on a tangible medium, the image representing at least one outcome of the plurality of outcomes.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing a video on a tangible medium, the video representing the slot machine game as it generates the plurality of outcomes.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the providing comprises:

selling, prior to a payout corresponding to any outcome of the plurality of outcomes being revealed to the player, the plurality of outcomes to the player in exchange for a price.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a plurality of images, each image corresponding to one outcome of the plurality of outcomes; and

storing the plurality of outcomes on a tangible medium.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one image of the plurality of images is determined based on a payout of a particular outcome of the plurality of outcomes.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the plurality of images is selected based on a sum of payouts of the plurality of outcomes.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outcomes are generated in a first order, further comprising:

storing a plurality of images on a tangible medium, each image representing one outcome of the plurality of outcomes, wherein the images are stored in a second order that is different from the first order, such that it appears that the outcomes were generated in the second order rather than the first order.

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

determining, based on the indication of the pre-defined parameter, a storage location associated with the plurality of outcomes.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the plurality of outcomes is generated prior to the receiving of the session object from the player.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the storage location comprises a tangible medium.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the providing comprises:

providing the tangible medium to the player.

34. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, after the providing, a request from the player for a payout corresponding to the plurality of outcomes.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

verifying a legitimate purchase of the plurality of outcomes by the player; and

authorizing the payout corresponding to the plurality of outcomes to be provided to the player.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

authorizing an amount to be provided to the player, wherein the amount comprises a difference between the payout corresponding to the plurality of outcomes and a fee associated with the player having been provided the plurality of outcomes.

37. A method, comprising:

displaying a plurality of session objects, wherein each session object of the plurality of session objects comprises an indication of a pre-defined parameter;

receiving, from a player, an indication of a selection of one of the session objects from the plurality of displayed session objects;

determining, based on the pre-defined parameter indicated by the session object selected by the player, a plurality of outcomes of a slot machine game; and

providing, after a last one of the plurality of outcomes has been generated, the plurality of outcomes to the player.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the plurality of outcomes is generated prior to the receiving of the indication of the selected session object from the player.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the providing comprises:

selling, prior to a payout corresponding to any outcome of the plurality of outcomes being revealed to the player, the plurality of outcomes to the player in exchange for a price.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising:

receiving, after the providing, a request from the player for a payout corresponding to the plurality of outcomes.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

verifying a legitimate purchase of the plurality of outcomes by the player; and

authorizing the payout corresponding to the plurality of outcomes to be provided to the player.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

authorizing an amount to be provided to the player, wherein the amount comprises a difference between the payout corresponding to the plurality of outcomes and a fee associated with the player having been provided the plurality of outcomes.

43. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a player, an indication of a parameter;

determining, based on the parameter, a plurality of outcomes of a slot machine game;

providing, after a last one of the plurality of outcomes has been generated, the plurality of outcomes to the player; and

providing a benefit to the player, wherein the benefit comprises a difference between a payout corresponding to the plurality of outcomes and a fee associated with having been provided the plurality of outcomes.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving, from the player, a session object comprising the indication of the parameter.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the session object comprises a packaging medium, the packaging medium comprising at least one of:

a jewel case;

a storage sleeve;

a shrink-wrap pouch; and

a covering.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the session object comprises a card medium, the card medium comprising at least one of:

a display card;

a pre-printed form;

a form printed from a device operated by the player; and

a form comprising a plurality of input areas, wherein the player marks at least one of the plurality of input areas.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the session object comprises at least one of:

a ticket medium; and

a token medium.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the session object is output by a gaming device.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the receiving comprises at least one of:

receiving a verbal indicia that comprises the indication of the parameter; and

receiving an indicia of a menu selection that comprises the indication of the parameter.

50. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a player, an indication of a parameter;

determining, based on the parameter, a tangible medium storing a plurality of pre-generated outcomes of a slot machine game; and

providing, after a last one of the plurality of outcomes has been generated, the tangible medium to the player.

51. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a player, an indication of a parameter;

determining, based on the parameter, a plurality of outcomes of a slot machine game; and

selling, after a last one of the plurality of outcomes has been generated, the plurality of outcomes to the player in exchange for a monetary amount.

52. A session object, comprising:

an indication of a pre-defined parameter, the pre-defined parameter being indicative of a tangible medium storing a plurality of outcomes of a slot machine game, wherein the session object is redeemable, by a player, for the tangible medium.

53. The session object of claim 52, wherein the session object comprises at least one of:

a card medium;

a ticket medium; and

a token medium.

54. A session object, comprising:

an indication of a pre-defined parameter, the pre-defined parameter being indicative of a tangible medium storing a plurality of outcomes of a slot machine game, wherein the session object is a packaging medium configured to house the tangible medium.

55. A session object, comprising:

a machine-readable indication of a pre-defined parameter, the pre-defined parameter being indicative of a session comprising a plurality of outcomes of a slot machine game.