Method and apparatus for conducting a game of chance

• US 20110177855A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gamelogic Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Kane, Steven N., Hardy, Dow
• Granted Patent: US 8,968,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

The field of the invention relates generally to lotteries and gaming, and more particularly, to systems for conducting casino-based gaming. After a player subscribes to play multiple games on a video gaming machine, the player may choose to finish playing the games elsewhere. The video gaming machine may then determine the outcomes for the games yet to be played and then may issue a ticket to the player.

Claims

1. A method for playing games of chance comprising acts of:

permitting a player to pay for multiple games on a first video gaming machine;

permitting a player to play zero or more games on the first video gaming machine;

allowing a player to choose to not play remaining games already paid for on the first video gaming machine; and

the first video gaming machine providing a ticket with credit to the player to play the remaining games.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein playing games of chance comprises an additional act of determining, by the first video gaming machine, the outcomes of the remaining games.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method comprises an act of storing, by the first video gaming machine, the determined outcomes for the remaining games.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising an act of storing the determined outcomes on at least one of the provided ticket, a linked or networked central computer and a storage device within the first video gaming machine.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the provided ticket includes a ticket identifier.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the provided ticket further includes an access code.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the ticket identifier and access code is printed on the provided ticket.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein at least one of the ticket identifier and access code is coded on the provided ticket magnetically.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises acts of:

operating, by the player, a second video gaming machine;

entering, by the player, at least one of the ticket identifier and access code from the provided ticket into the second video gaming machine;

verifying, by the second video gaming machine, the at least one of entered ticket identifier and access code;

accessing, by the second video gaming machine, the outcomes for the remaining games determined by the first video gaming machine; and

providing, by the second video gaming machine, the remaining games to the player according to the outcomes determined by the first video gaming machine.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the games of chance include one or more games from the group comprising bingo, keno, UK bingo, lotto, lottery games, baccarat and slot machines.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the games of chance include a pre-determined outcome and wherein a player obtains the pre-determined outcome despite how the player plays the games.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first video gaming machine is located in a casino.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first video gaming machine is a slot machine.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second video gaming machine is located in at least one of a casino, in a different casino, in a hotel, at a racetrack, at home, and in a mobile location.

15. The method according to claim 9, wherein the second video gaming machine is one of a group comprising a slot machine, personal computer, PDA, and cellular telephone.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second video gaming machine is connected to the first video gaming machine or central server by one or more of the group comprising a local area network, a wide area network, and the Internet.