Wager Games with Restricted Prizes

• US 20120157187A1
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Published: 06/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cork Group Trading Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Waterleaf Limited
• Inventors: Moshal, Martin Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,430,743 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

Wagering systems with a payout percentage that exceeds 100% of wagers are presented. The payouts of these wagering systems may include unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits. Players may cash out unrestricted credits at virtually any point, but may be limited in when and/or how they can cash out or play restricted credits. By providing payouts in the form of unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits, players may find their experience with the wagering systems to be more engaging, enjoyable, and longer-lasting. Moreover, the limitations on the use of restricted credits may allow the casino operator to maintain a reasonable profit margin despite the increased duration of play.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a server device conducting a wager game with a client device, wherein the wager game uses a payout schedule that has a payout percentage above 100% of wagers made by the client device; and

in response to the client device completing a turn of the wager game, the server device transmitting an indication of a payout to the client device, wherein the payout is based on the payout schedule, and wherein the payout comprises at least one of restricted credit and unrestricted credit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the server device permits the client device to cash out the unrestricted credit upon demand, and wherein the server device permits the client device to cash out the restricted credit only when one or more conditions are met.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the payout comprises the restricted credit and the unrestricted credit.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the unrestricted credit is greater than the restricted credit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the payout schedule associates outcomes of the wager game with respective payouts, and wherein a first respective payout of the payout schedule consists of the restricted credit, a second respective payout of the payout schedule consists of the unrestricted credit, and a third respective payout of the payout schedule consists of no credit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the server device awards the first respective payout, the second respective payout, and the third respective payout to the client device in different turns of the wager game.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein at least some of the respective payouts of the payout schedule that are below a payout threshold consist of the restricted credit, and wherein at least some of the respective payouts of the payout schedule that are at or above the payout threshold consist of the unrestricted credit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is associated with an account that holds total restricted credit and total unrestricted credit available to the client device, the method further comprising:

the server device determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below a threshold unrestricted credit value; and

in response to the determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below the threshold unrestricted credit value, the server device prohibiting the client device from playing the wager game.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

after prohibiting the client device from playing the wager game, the server device determining that the total unrestricted credit is above the threshold unrestricted credit value; and

in response to determining that the total unrestricted credit is above the threshold unrestricted credit value, the server device allowing the client device to play the wager game.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the client device is associated with an account that holds total unrestricted credit available to the client device, the method further comprising:

the server device determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below a threshold unrestricted credit value; and

in response to the determination, the server device transitioning to conducting the wager game using a second payout schedule that has a second payout percentage below 100% of wagers made by the client device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the payout percentage includes an unrestricted credit payout percentage below 100% of the wagers made by the client device, and a restricted credit payout percentage of a difference between the payout percentage and the unrestricted credit payout percentage.

12. The method of claim 1, the method further comprising:

the server device determining whether a restricted credit condition has been met;

if the restricted credit condition has been met, the server device allowing the client device to cash out at least some of the restricted credit; and

if the restricted credit condition has not been met, the server device not permitting the client device to cash out any of the restricted credit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the restricted credit condition is the client device having wagered a threshold unrestricted credit amount.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the restricted credit condition is the client device having played a threshold number of turns of the wager game.

15. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, if executed by a server device, cause the server device to perform operations comprising:

conducting a wager game with a client device, wherein the wager game uses a payout schedule that has a payout percentage above 100% of wagers made by the client device; and

in response to the client device completing a turn of the wager game, transmitting an indication of a payout to the client device, wherein the payout is based on the payout schedule, and wherein the payout comprises at least one of restricted credit and unrestricted credit.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the program instructions permit the client device to cash out unrestricted credit upon demand, and wherein the program instructions permit the client device to cash out the restricted credit only when one or more conditions are met.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the payout comprises the restricted credit and the unrestricted credit.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the unrestricted credit is greater than the restricted credit.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the payout schedule associates outcomes of the wager game with respective payouts, and wherein a first respective payout of the payout schedule consists of the restricted credit, a second respective payout of the payout schedule consists of the unrestricted credit, and a third respective payout of the payout schedule consists of no credit.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the program instructions are capable of awarding the first respective payout, the second respective payout, and the third respective payout to the client device in different turns of the wager game.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein at least some of the respective payouts of the payout schedule that are below a payout threshold consist of the restricted credit, and wherein at least some of the respective payouts of the payout schedule that are at or above the payout threshold consist of the unrestricted credit.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the client device is associated with an account that holds total restricted credit and total unrestricted credit available to the client device, and wherein the program instructions, if executed by the server device, cause the server device to perform operations further comprising:

determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below a threshold unrestricted credit value; and

in response to the determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below the threshold unrestricted credit value, prohibiting the client device from playing the wager game.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, wherein the program instructions, if executed by the server device, cause the server device to perform operations further comprising:

after prohibiting the client device from playing the wager game, determining that the total unrestricted credit is above the threshold unrestricted credit value; and

in response to determining that the total unrestricted credit is above the threshold unrestricted credit value, allowing the client device to play the wager game.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the client device is associated with an account that holds total unrestricted credit available to the client device, and wherein the program instructions, if executed by the server device, cause the server device to perform operations further comprising:

determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below a threshold unrestricted credit value; and

in response to the determination, transitioning to conducting the wager game using a second payout schedule that has a second payout percentage below 100% of wagers made by the client device.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the payout percentage includes an unrestricted credit payout percentage below 100% of the wagers made by the client device, and a restricted credit payout percentage of a difference between the payout percentage and the unrestricted credit payout percentage.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein the program instructions, if executed by a server device, cause the server device to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether a restricted credit condition has been met;

if the restricted credit condition has been met, allowing the client device to cash out at least some of the restricted credit; and

if the restricted credit condition has not been met, not permitting the client device to cash out any of the restricted credit.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the restricted credit condition is the client device having wagered a threshold unrestricted credit amount.

28. The article of manufacture of claim 26, wherein the restricted credit condition is the client device having played a threshold number of turns of the wager game.

29. A system comprising:

means for conducting a wager game with a client device, wherein the wager game uses a payout schedule that has a payout percentage above 100% of wagers made by the client device; and

means for, in response to the client device completing a turn of the wager game, transmitting an indication of a payout to the client device, wherein the payout is based on the payout schedule, and wherein the payout comprises at least one of restricted credit and unrestricted credit.

30. A method comprising:

a server device receiving, from a client device, a request to play a wager game, wherein the client device uses an account to play the wager game;

the server device determining whether a condition is met, wherein the condition relates to an extent that the account has been used to play the wager game;

if the condition is met, the server device engaging in transactions with the client device to conduct the wager game, wherein the wager game uses a first payout schedule that has a first payout percentage above 100% of wagers made by the client device, wherein payouts to the client device are based on the first payout schedule, and wherein the payouts comprise at least one of restricted credit and unrestricted credit; and

if the condition is not met, the server device engaging in transactions with the client device to conduct the wager game, wherein the wager game uses a second payout schedule that has a second payout percentage below 100% of wagers made by the client device, wherein the payouts to the client device are based on the second payout schedule, and wherein the payouts consist of unrestricted credit.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the condition is that a holder of the account is a first-time player of the wager game.