Methods and apparatus for determining hybrid wagering game sessions

• US 20060189371A1
• Filed: 03/29/2006
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2005
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 7,753,770 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated and used to create a video presentation of representative outcomes of a wagering game. The video presentation is recorded onto a tangible medium (e.g., DVD or CD-ROM) or otherwise provided to a player (e.g., the player may access the video presentation online). This allows a player to purchase a video presentation of 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). The player is also offered to determine a result associated with at least one local game play, wherein the offer requires use of an electronic game device located in a legalized gambling jurisdiction to determine the local game play result. In some embodiments, a purchaser of the video presentation may subsequently redeem it for a total redemption value that is associated with both a redemption value for the tangible medium and with the results achieved from the local game play.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing a tangible medium including a video presentation of a plurality of predetermined outcomes of a wagering game;

providing an offer to determine a result associated with at least one local game play; and

requiring use of an electronic game device located in a legalized gambling jurisdiction to determine the result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer further comprises providing at least one local game play identifier.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the local game play identifier comprises at least one of a code, a bonus game identifier, a bonus round identifier, a printed barcode, data on a coupon, wagering game receipt data, cashout ticket data, video ticket data, sessions results ticket data, and cashless gaming ticket data.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing local game play after input and verification of the local game play identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, which further comprises verifying the local game play identifier by accessing a local game play database and comparing the local game play identifier to data stored in the local game play database.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the local game play database stores data associated with at least one of local game device identifiers indicative of electronic game devices capable of executing local game play, at least one type of game play, bonus round parameters, number of local game plays to provide, wager amounts per game play, active pay combinations, probability data, winnings associated with the predetermined outcomes, an indication of a number of local game plays remaining, an indication of whether local game play has been executed, local game play time remaining, predetermined credit meter values, customer identification data, video presentation information associated with local game play, an indication of whether winnings associated with the predetermined outcomes has been redeemed, and an indication whether winnings associated with local game play have been redeemed.

7. The method of claim 2, which further comprises the electronic game device operating to at least one of validate the local game play identifier, determine whether the electronic game device is eligible to provide the local game play, provide the local game play if the electronic game device is eligible, and provide a payout if a player obtains a positive results balance.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a payout based on winnings achieved by at least one of the video presentation, the local game play, and a combination of the video presentation and the local game play.

9. The method of claim 8, which further comprises accessing an awards database to update a local game play credit amount with an amount won during local game play.

10. The method of claim 9, which further comprises dispensing the payout by providing at least one of a cashless gaming ticket, a coupon, cash, coins, crediting an electronic account, and crediting a player account.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the offer comprises at least one of a predetermined amount of local game play, and a randomly determined amount of local game play.

12. The method of claim 1, which further comprises providing the offer immediately after a triggering event.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the triggering event comprises at least one of a purchase of the video presentation, an introductory portion of the video presentation, a designated predetermined outcome, and a final outcome of the video presentation.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the tangible medium comprises at least one of a DVD, CD-ROM, a VHS tape, flash memory, a memory stick, a digital video tape, and a flip-through book.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one local game play comprises at least one of a bonus round, a traditional game play, a game of chance, and a game of skill.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein a number of local game plays is at least one of predetermined, and randomly determined by the electronic game device.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic game device comprises at least one of an electromechanical game machine, a personal computer, a video gaming machine, and a local game play only device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the video presentation includes a display of at least one of a credit meter balance associated with the predetermined game outcomes, and a number associated with the offer to determine a result associated with the local game play.

19. The method of claim 1, which further comprises utilizing at least one of an electronic game device, a kiosk, a casino retail location, slot dub booth, and a website to provide an offer to purchase the video presentation.

20. A wagering game device, comprising:

at least one input device operable to receive at least one local game play identifier, wherein the local game play identifier is associated with a video presentation of predetermined wagering game outcomes;

a processing unit coupled to the at least one input device and operable to evaluate the local game play identifier input and to provide local game play;

a display device coupled to the processing unit; and

a payment device coupled to the processing unit and operable to provide a payout associated with results from the predetermined wagering game outcomes and results from the local game play.

21. The device of claim 20, wherein the at least one input device comprises at least one of a card reader, a coupon reader, a barcode reader, a ticket reader, a keyboard, a mouse and a touch screen device.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, which further comprises a software program operable to output at least one menu for viewing on the display device, wherein the menu provides at least one local game play option.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the local game play options include at least one of a choice of game themes, a choice of game elements, and a choice of game selections.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the local game play identifier comprises data residing on at least one of a coupon, a wagering game receipt, a video ticket, a cashless gaming ticket, and a game results ticket.