Method and apparatus for discounting a flat rate gaming session

• US 20060111175A1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• 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:
  US11/273,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20060111175A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/21
• 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

A wagering method is provided that allows players to purchase a gaming session comprising a plurality of game outcomes at a flat rate price. The number of game outcomes available in the gaming session may be a function of time in lieu of a specified number of game outcomes. In order to increase the attractiveness of the bulk purchase of gaming outcomes, contracts may be offered that discount the flat rate price, providing a more economical alternative to the purchase of game outcomes on a per play basis. The discount may be offered, for example, on the basis of the number of game outcomes purchased in bulk, the number of players participating in a purchase, special promotional codes, etc.

Claims

1. A method for placing a wager on a gaming device comprising:

presenting a gaming contract for a gaming session to a player, the gaming contract having a contract price;

receiving an identifier for a discount on the contract price;

determining a discounted contract price for the gaming contract corresponding to the identifier;

recognizing a payment corresponding to the discounted contract price; and

providing the gaming session to the player in accordance with the gaming contract.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is associated with a player.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is entered into an input device associated with the gaming device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a coupon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the coupon is read by an input device associated with the gaming device.

6. A method for placing a wager on a gaming device comprising:

receiving an identifier for determining a gaming contract for a gaming session, the gaming contract having a contract price;

presenting the gaming contract to the player for purchase;

recognizing a payment corresponding to the contract price; and

providing the gaming session to the player in accordance with the gaming contract;

wherein the contract price determined by the identifier provides a discount for the gaming session.

7. A method for placing a wager on a gaming device comprising:

presenting a gaming contract to a player for a gaming session and a non-gaming purchase, gaming contract having a contract price;

recognizing a payment for the contract price; and

providing the gaming session and the non-gaming purchase to the player in accordance with the gaming contract.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the gaming contract provides a discount for at least one of the gaming session or the non-gaming purchase.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein a record of the non-gaming purchase is stored in a database in association with a player identifier, and wherein the gaming contract is presented by the gaming device in response to entry of the player identifier into the gaming device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the gaming contract provides a discount for the non-gaming purchase.

11. A method for placing a wager on a gaming device comprising:

presenting a contract for the purchase of a plurality of gaming sessions for a plurality of players, the contract having a contract price;

recognizing a payment for the contract price; and

providing each of the plurality of players with at least one of the plurality of gaming sessions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the contract price for the purchase of the plurality of gaming sessions for the plurality of players is discounted to purchasing the plurality of gaming sessions individually.

13. A method for wagering on a gaming device comprising:

presenting a gaming contract for a gaming session having a plurality of players, the gaming contract having a contract price;

recognizing a payment for the contract price;

providing the gaming session to the plurality of players in accordance with the contract;

determining a player from the plurality of players with a winning game outcome for the gaming session; and

providing an award to the player with the winning game outcome.

14. The method of claim 13, further including recording game outcomes for the plurality of players to determine the player with the winning game outcome.

15. A method of wagering on a gaming device comprising:

presenting a gaming contract for a gaming session to a plurality of players, the gaming contract having a contract price for each of the plurality of players;

recognizing a payment for the contract price from each of the plurality of players;

providing the gaming session to each of the plurality of players in accordance with the contract;

determining at least one player with a winning game outcome for the gaming session; and

providing an award to the at least one player with the winning game outcome.

16. The method of claim 15, further including recording game outcomes for each of the plurality of players to determine the at least one player with the winning game outcome.

17. A method for placing a wager on a gaming device comprising:

presenting a gaming contract for a gaming session to a player, the gaming contract having a contract price;

receiving an identifier for the gaming session, the identifier for providing the gaming session with an extended duration;

recognizing a payment corresponding to the contract price; and

providing the gaming session with the extended duration to the player in accordance with the gaming contract.