GAMING SYSTEM, GAMING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING BITCOINS

• US 20130065670A1
• 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 8,449,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0655 e-cash managed centrally
• 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 a first currency on a play of a wagering game,

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

(c) display the generated outcome,

(d) provide any award of the first currency associated with the generated outcome, and

(e) distinct from the generation of the outcome;

(i) determine whether to provide any bitcoins, said determination being independent of any outcomes generated in any plays of any games, and

(ii) if the determination is to provide any bitcoins, provide an amount of bitcoins, said amount of bitcoins being in addition to any award of the first currency and being based, at least in part, on at least one performed bitcoin creation calculation.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first currency is a bitcoin currency.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first currency is a non-bitcoin currency.

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 perform the at least one bitcoin creation calculation to determine whether at least one new bitcoin is created.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein at least one remote host configured to communicate with the at least one processor performs the at least one bitcoin creation calculation to determine whether at least one new bitcoin is created.

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.

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

(a) receiving a wager of an amount of a first currency 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;

(d) providing any award of the first currency associated with the generated outcome; and

(e) distinct from the generation of the outcome;

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether to provide any bitcoins, said determination being independent of any outcomes generated in any plays of any games, and

(ii) if the determination is to provide any bitcoins, providing an amount of bitcoins, the amount of bitcoins being in addition to any award of the first currency and being based, at least in part, on at least one performed bitcoin creation calculation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first currency is a bitcoin currency.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first currency is a non-bitcoin currency.

10. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to perform the at least one bitcoin creation calculation to determine whether at least one new bitcoin is created.

11. The method of claim 7, which includes causing at least one remote host configured to communicate with the at least one processor to perform the at least one bitcoin creation calculation to determine whether at least one new bitcoin is created.

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 a first currency 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;

(d) provide any award of the first currency associated with the generated outcome; and

(e) distinct from the generation of the outcome;

(i) determine whether to provide any bitcoins, said determination being independent of any outcomes generated in any plays of any games, and

(ii) if the determination is to provide any bitcoins, provide an amount of bitcoins, the amount of bitcoins being in addition to any award of the first currency and being based, at least in part, on at least one performed bitcoin creation calculation.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first currency is a bitcoin currency.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the first currency is a non-bitcoin currency.

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 perform the at least one bitcoin creation calculation to determine whether at least one new bitcoin is created.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein at least one remote host configured to communicate with the at least one processor performs the at least one bitcoin creation calculation to determine whether at least one new bitcoin is created.

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.