METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING FLAT RATE PLAY SESSIONS

• US 20120295691A1
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Published: 11/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,096,197 B2
• 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

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a video roulette flat rate play session is facilitated. The flat rate play session may be associated with at least one of a wagering restriction applied to one or more bets during the flat rate play session and a net maximum payout per spin applicable to one or more bets during the flat rate play session. In one embodiment, a player is provided with a plurality of wagering units at the beginning of the session. A monetary value of the plurality of wagering units may be greater than a monetary value of a flat rate price paid for the flat rate play session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one value change with the at least one personalized card;

providing an indication of the at least one value change; and

enabling a game play in accordance with the value change.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one value change comprises a value different form a traditional value of the personalized card.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one value change is chosen by the player.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one value change is deactivated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one value change.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the at least one value change is activated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one value change.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one value change is activated upon the occurrence of a trigger.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the trigger comprises an outcome of the game play.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein game play comprises at least one of blackjack and baccarat.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the game play occurs on a smart table.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein game play occurs on an electronic gaming machine.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the value change comprises at least one of a rank and a suite of at least one personalized card.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the value change is specified in the request.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the value change is determined by an electronic apparatus.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the value change is at least partially randomly determined.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the game play comprises a flat rate blackjack session.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the flat rate blackjack session is comprised of a plurality of segments each of an associated predetermined length.

18. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one value change with the at least one personalized card;

providing an indication of the at least one value change; and

enabling a game play in accordance with the value change.

19. An apparatus comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one value change with the at least one personalized card;

providing an indication of the at least one value change; and

enabling a game play in accordance with the value change.

20. A method comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card in exchange for consideration;

providing an indication of the at least one rule change; and

enabling game play in accordance with the rule change.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the rule change comprises an automatic win rule.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein each of the at least one rule change is deactivated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one rule change.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein each of the at least one rule change is activated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one rule change.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the at east one rule change is activated upon the occurrence of a trigger.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the trigger comprises an outcome of the game play.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein an amount of the consideration is determined based upon an expected value of the player as a result of the at least one personalized card.

27. The method of claim 20 wherein an amount of the consideration is determined based upon an expected frequency of the appearance of the at least one personalized card during game play.

28. The method of claim 20 wherein an amount of the consideration is determined based upon an amount of a player'"'"'s wager.

29. The method of claim 20 wherein an amount of the consideration is predetermined and displayed to the player.

30. The method of claim 20 wherein the consideration comprises a tax applied to a winning of the player.

31. The method of claim 20 wherein the associated at least one rule change is an advantageous rule change.

32. The method of claim 20 wherein the associated at least one rule change is a disadvantageous rule change.

33. The method of claim 20 wherein associating comprises the player associating the at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card.

34. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card in exchange for consideration;

providing an indication of the at least one rule change; and

enabling game play in accordance with the rule change.

35. An apparatus comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one rule change with the at least one personalized card in exchange for consideration;

providing an indication of the at least one rule change; and

enabling game play in accordance with the rule change.

36. A method comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one of a value change and a rule change with the at least one personalized card;

enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at east one of a value change and a rule change; and

determining whether the at least one personalized card is applicable.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein determining comprises determining a segment of a flat rate session comprising a plurality of the at least one game play.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one personalized card is determined to be applicable based in part upon the segment.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein determining comprises determining whether the at least one personalized card appears in a player'"'"'s initial hand.

40. The method of claim 36 wherein determining comprises determining a duration during which the at least one personalized card is applicable.

41. The method of claim 36 wherein the determining is performed by a dealer.

43. The method of claim 36 wherein the determining is performed by the player.

44. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one of a value change and a rule change with the at least one personalized card;

enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and

determining whether the at least one personalized card is applicable.

45. An apparatus comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

associating at least one of a value change and a rule change with the at least one personalized card;

enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and

determining whether the at least one personalized card is applicable.

46. A method comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

identifying at least one of a rank, a color, and a suit for the at least one personalized card;

identifying at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;

providing an indication of at least one personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;

enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and

applying the at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card upon the occurrence of the at least one personalized card.

42. The method of claim 51 wherein the dealer determines the applicability of the at least one personalized card based upon a visual inspection.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the at least one value change comprises a value different form a traditional value of the personalized card.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein the at least one value change is chosen by the player.

49. The method of claim 46 wherein each of the at least one value change is deactivated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one value change.

50. The method of claim 46 wherein each of the at least one value change is activated after a predetermined period of time associated with the at least one value change.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein the at least one value change is activated upon the occurrence of a trigger.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the trigger comprises an outcome of the game play.

53. The method of claim 46 wherein game play comprises at least one of blackjack and baccarat.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein the game play occurs on a smart table.

55. The method of claim 46 wherein game play occurs on an electronic gaming machine.

56. The method of claim 46 wherein the value change comprises at least one of a rank and a suite of at least one personalized card.

57. The method of claim 46 wherein the value change is specified in the request.

58. The method of claim 46 wherein the value change is determined by an electronic apparatus.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the value change is at least partially randomly determined.

60. The method of claim 46 wherein the game play comprises a flat rate blackjack session.

61. The method of claim 60 wherein the flat rate blackjack session is comprised of a plurality of segments each of a predetermined length.

62. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

identifying at least one of a rank, a color, and a suit for the at least one personalized card;

identifying at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;

providing an indication of at least one personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;

enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at east one of a value change and a rule change; and

applying the at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card upon the occurrence of the at least one personalized card.

63. An apparatus comprising:

receiving a request for at least one personalized card from a player;

identifying at least one of a rank, a color, and a suit for the at least one personalized card;

identifying at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;

providing an indication of at least one personalized card and at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card;

enabling at least one game play in accordance with the at least one of a value change and a rule change; and

applying the at least one of a value change and a rule change associated with the at least one personalized card upon the occurrence of the at least one personalized card.