GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING BITCOINS

• US 20130065669A1
• Filed: 09/13/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Michaelson, Richard E., Lesourd, Kehl T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,523,657 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/06 Private payment circuits, e.g. involving electronic currency used among participants of a common payment scheme
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

The gaming system may enable a player to wager an amount of bitcoins on one or more plays of one or more primary or base games. If a player wagers an amount of bitcoins on a play of a game, the gaming system may determine and display an outcome for the play of the game. The gaming system then may determine if any award may be associated with the determined outcome. If an award having a value greater than zero is associated with the determined outcome, the gaming system may provide the determined award to the player, such as an amount of bitcoins.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) receive a wager of an amount of bitcoins on a play of a wagering game,

(b) generate an outcome for the play of the wagering game,

(c) display the generated outcome, and

(d) provide any award associated with the generated outcome.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the award is an amount of bitcoins.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the award is a form of currency different than bitcoins.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to mine at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to provide at least part of the at least one newly created bitcoin if the at least one processor successfully mines the at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to access a bitcoin wallet using a mobile media device.

26. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to access a bitcoin wallet using a mobile media device.

7. A method of operating a gaming system, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a wager of an amount of bitcoins on a play of a wagering game;

(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to generate an outcome for the play of the wagering game;

(c) causing at least one display device to display the generated outcome; and

(d) providing any award associated with the generated outcome.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the award is an amount of bitcoins.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the award is a form of currency different than bitcoins.

10. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to mine at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

11. The method of claim 10, which includes providing at least part of the at least one newly created bitcoin if the at least one processor successfully mines the at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

12. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to access a bitcoin wallet using a mobile media device.

13. The method of claim 7, which is provided through a data network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is the internet.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium including a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

(a) receive a wager of an amount of bitcoins on a play of a wagering game;

(b) generate an outcome for the play of the wagering game;

(c) cause at least one display device to display the generated outcome; and

(d) provide any award associated with the generated outcome.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the award is an amount of bitcoins.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the award is a form of currency different than bitcoins.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to mine at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to provide at least part of the at least one newly created bitcoin if the at least one processor successfully mines the at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to access a bitcoin wallet using a mobile media device.

21. A wagering gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) receive a wager on a play of a wagering game,

(b) generate an outcome for the play of the wagering game,

(c) display the generated outcome, and

(d) provide any amounts of bitcoins associated with the generated outcome.

22. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the wager is an amount of bitcoins.

23. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein the wager is a form of currency different than bitcoins.

24. The gaming system of claim 21, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to mine at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

25. The gaming system of claim 24, wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to provide at least part of the at least one newly created bitcoin if the at least one processor successfully mines the at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

27. A method of operating a wagering gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) receiving a wager on a play of a wagering game;

(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to generate an outcome for the play of the wagering game;

(c) causing at least one display device to display the generated outcome; and

(d) providing any amounts of bitcoins associated with the generated outcome.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the wager is an amount of bitcoins.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the wager is a form of currency different than bitcoins.

30. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to mine at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

31. The method of claim 30, which includes providing at least part of the at least one newly created bitcoin if the at least one processor successfully mines the at least one newly created bitcoin in association with the play of the wagering game.

32. The method of claim 27, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to access a bitcoin wallet using a mobile media device.

33. The method of claim 27, which is provided through a data network.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the data network is the internet.