Payout exchange method and system

• US 20070167212A1
• Filed: 03/15/2007
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh
• Application Number:
  US11/724,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20070167212A1
• 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 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys

Abstract

A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a first player, displaying an image representative of a game, determining an outcome for the game represented by the image, and associating a first payout with the first player according to the outcome. The method also includes receiving an exchange of communications between the first player and a second player regarding an exchange of the first payout and a second payout, associating the second payout with the first player, and associating the first payout with the second player.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a wager from a first player;

(b) displaying at least a portion of a game;

(c) determining an outcome for the game;

(d) associating a first payout with the first player based, at least in part, on the determined outcome; and

(e) sending a communication to a remote server regarding a possible exchange of the first payout for a second payout associated with a second player at another gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes receiving a responsive communication from the remote server regarding said possible exchange of the first payout for the second payout.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes displaying a status report related to the possible exchange.

4. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a wager from a first player;

(b) displaying at least a portion of a game;

(c) determining an outcome for the game;

(d) associating a first payout with the first player based, at least in part, on the determined outcome; and

(e) receiving a communication from a remote server regarding a possible exchange of the first payout for a second payout associated with a second player at another gaming device.

5. The method of claim 4, which includes sending a responsive communication to the remote server regarding said possible exchange of the first payout for the second payout.

6. The method of claim 4, which includes automatically accepting the possible exchange based on predetermined selection criteria.

7. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a wager from a first player;

(b) displaying at least a portion of a game;

(c) determining an outcome for the game;

(d) associating a first payout with the first player based, at least in part, on the determined outcome;

(e) sending a payout exchange request to a remote server regarding a possible exchange of the first payout with a second payout associated with a second player at another gaming device; and

(f) receiving a reply from the remote server regarding the payout exchange request.

8. The method of claim 7, which includes displaying a status report related to the possible exchange.

9. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a wager from a first player;

(b) displaying at least a portion of a game;

(c) determining an outcome for the game;

(d) associating a first payout with the first player based, at least in part, on the determined outcome;

(e) receiving a payout exchange request from a remote server regarding a possible exchange of the first payout with a second payout associated with a second player at another gaming device; and

(f) sending a reply to the remote server regarding the payout exchange request.

10. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a wager from a first player;

(b) displaying at least a portion of a game;

(c) determining an outcome for the game;

(d) associating a first award with the first player;

(e) sending an award exchange request to a remote server regarding a possible exchange of the first award with a second award associated with a second player at another gaming device; and

(f) receiving a reply from the remote server regarding the award exchange request.

11. The method of claim 10, which include displaying a plurality of awards, the displayed awards being selectable by the first player for performing the possible exchange.

12. The method of claim 10, which includes displaying a status report related to the possible exchange.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said first award is based, at least in part, on the received wager.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said first award is based, at least in part, on the determined outcome.

15. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a wager from a first player;

(b) displaying at least a portion of a game;

(c) determining an outcome for the game;

(d) associating a first award with the first player;

(e) receiving an award exchange request from a remote server regarding a possible exchange of the first award with a second award associated with a second player at another gaming device; and

(f) sending a reply to the remote server regarding the award exchange request.

16. The method of claim 15, which include displaying a plurality of awards, the displayed awards being selectable by the first player for performing the possible exchange.

17. The method of claim 15, which includes displaying a status report related to the possible exchange.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said first award is based, at least in part, on the received wager.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein said first award is based, at least in part, on the determined outcome.

20. A method of operating a gaming server, the gaming server operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, said method comprising:

(a) receiving payout exchange communications from;

(i) a first one of the gaming devices regarding a first payout associated with a first game played by a first player of said first gaming device, and

(ii) a second one of the gaming devices regarding a second payout associated with a second game played by a second player of said second gaming device;

(b) associating the second payout with the first player; and

(c) associating the first payout with the second player.

21. The method of claim 20, which includes sending instructions to the first gaming device to cause said first gaming device to:

(1) receive a wager from a first player,

(2) display at least a portion of the first game,

(3) determine an outcome for the first game, and

(4) associate the first payout with the first player based, at least in part, on the determined outcome.

22. A method of operating a gaming server, the gaming server operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, said method comprising:

(a) receiving payout exchange requests communications from;

(i) a first one of the gaming devices regarding a first payout associated with a first game played by a first player of said first gaming device, and

(ii) a second one of the gaming devices regarding a second payout associated with a second game played by a second player of said second gaming device;

(b) transmitting an offer to each of the first player and the second player regarding the payout exchange requests of the other player; and

(c) determining an acceptance of the offer from each of the first player and the second player, and if both the first player and the second player accept the offer;

(i) associating the second payout with the first player, and

(ii) associating the first payout with the second player.

23. A method of operating a gaming server, the gaming server operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, said method comprising:

(a) receiving award exchange communications from;

(i) a first one of the gaming devices regarding a first award obtained by a first player of said first gaming device, and

(ii) a second one of the gaming devices regarding a second award obtained by a second player of said second gaming device;

(b) associating the second award with the first player; and

(c) associating the first award with the second player.

24. The method according to claim 23, which includes sending instructions to the first gaming device to cause said first gaming device to:

(1) receive a wager from a first player,

(2) display at least a portion of a first game,

(3) determine an outcome for the first game, and

(4) associate the first award with the first player based, at least in part, on the determined outcome.

25. A method of operating a gaming server, the gaming server operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, said method comprising:

(a) receiving award exchange requests communications from;

(i) a first one of the gaming devices regarding a first award obtained by a first player of said first gaming device, and

(ii) a second one of the gaming devices regarding a second award obtained by a second player of said second gaming device;

(b) transmitting an offer to each of the first player and the second player regarding the award exchange requests of the other player; and

(c) determining an acceptance of the offer from each of the first player and the second player, and if both the first player and the second player accept the offer;

(i) associating the second award with the first player, and

(ii) associating the first award with the second player.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said first award obtained by the first player of said first gaming device is based, at least in part, on a wager received from the first player.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein said second award obtained by the second player of said second gaming device is based, at least in part, on a wager received from the second player.