Methods and apparatus for managing an account to fund benefits for a player

• US 7,416,485 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai; Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoo; Jasson H
• Application Number:
  US10/395,621
• Publication Number:
  US 20030199312A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,985 Days
• Field of Search: 463 25- 29
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 or more embodiments, an account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in an increase in the balance is a player'"'"'s obtainment of an outcome that corresponds to both (i) a first payout that is displayed on a payout schedule of the gaming device, and (ii) an amount by which the balance of the account is to be increased. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in a disbursement is the obtainment by the player of a predetermined number of consecutive non-winning outcomes. Thus, in one or more embodiments, currency may be accumulated for a player during a gaming session of the player and utilized to fund payouts provided to the player at times in which the player may be becoming discouraged and contemplating discontinuation of play of the gaming device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an account associated with a player playing a gaming device,

wherein the account is one from which the player is unable to directly control usage of money;

displaying to the player a first payout as corresponding to a particular outcome;

storing in memory a second payout as corresponding to the particular outcome,

wherein the second payout is greater than the first payout;

determining that the player has obtained the particular outcome;

outputting to the player the first payout; and

adding to the account an amount that is the second payout less the first payout;

providing at least one of a third payout and a bonus to the player during play of the gaming device by the player,

wherein the step of providing comprises deducting an amount of money from the account and providing the amount to the player as the at least one of the third payout and the bonus;

determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied, wherein determining comprises determining at least whether a predetermined number of non-winning outcomes has been obtained by the player; and

providing the as the at least one of the third payout and the bonus only if the predetermined condition has been satisfied.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied further comprises:

determining whether a sum of payouts obtained by the player within at least one of a predetermined period of time and a predetermined number of outcomes is less than a predetermined sum.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied further comprises:

determining whether the player has actuated a cash out mechanism of the gaming device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing comprises:

providing to the player, if the player has actuated a cash out mechanism of the gaming device, all of the money in the account as a bonus.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

outputting a message to the player, the message informing the player that the player has qualified for a random bonus.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied further comprises:

determining whether a credit meter balance of the gaming device is less than a predetermined amount.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining whether a credit meter balance of the gaming device is less than a predetermined amount comprises:

determining whether, after deducting from the credit meter balance a wager for a game play being initiated by the player, an amount remaining in the credit meter balance is sufficient to pay for at least one subsequent game play.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied further comprises:

determining whether a player tracking card has been removed from a player tracking device of the gaming device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a balance of the account; and

performing the step of providing only if the balance is at least equal to a predetermined amount.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of performing comprises:

performing the step of providing only if the balance is at least equal to the amount to be provided as the at least one of the third payout and the bonus.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a player has finished playing the gaming device; and

storing a balance of the account in association with an identifier of the player.

12. A gaming device, comprising:

a processor, and

a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor;

the processor being operative with the program to;

determine an account associated with a player playing a gaming device, wherein the account is one from which the player is unable to directly control usage of money;

display to the player a first payout as corresponding to a particular outcome;

store in memory a second payout as corresponding to the particular outcome,

wherein the second payout is greater than the first payout;

deterimine that the player has obtained the particular outcome;

output to the player the first payout;

add to the account an amount that is the second payout less the first payout;

provide at least one of a third payout and a bonus during play of the gaming device by the player, wherein the step of providing comprises deducting an amount of money from the account and providing the amount to the player as the at least one of the payout and the bonus;

determine whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied, wherein determining comprises determining at least whether a predetermined number of non-winning outcomes has been obtained by the player; and

provide the at least one of the payout and the bonus only if the predetermined condition has been satisfied.

13. A computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

determine an account associated with a player playing a gaming device, wherein the account is one from which the player is unable to directly control usage of money;

display to the player a first payout as corresponding to a particular outcome;

store in memory a second payout as corresponding to the particular outcome,

wherein the second payout is greater than the first payout;

determine that the player has obtained the particular outcome;

output to the player the first payout;

add to the balance an amount that is the second payout less the first payout;

provide at least one of a third payout and a bonus during play of the gaming device by the player, wherein the step of providing comprises deducting an amount of money from the account and providing the amount to the player as the at least one of the payout and the bonus;

determine whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied, wherein determining comprises determining at least whether a predetermined number of non-winning outcomes has been obtained by the player; and

provide the at least one of the payout and the bonus only if the predetermined condition has been satisfied.

14. A method comprising:

determining an account associated with a player playing a gaming device,

wherein the account is one from which the player is unable to directly control usage of money;

determining a first outcome for a game play initiated by the player;

determining that the first outcome corresponds to a payout greater than zero;

determining whether a sum of payouts provided to the player within at least one of a predetermined number of outcomes and a predetermined period of time is at least a predetermined sum;

determining, if the sum of payouts is at least the predetermined sum, a second outcome for the game play initiated by the player;

outputting the second outcome to the player;

adding the payout corresponding to the first outcome to the account;

providing to the player at least one of an additional payout and a bonus during play of the gaming device by the player,

wherein the step of providing comprises deducting an amount of money from the account and providing the amount to the player as the at least one of the additional payout and the bonus;

determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied, wherein determining comprises determining at least whether a predetermined number of non-winning outcomes has been obtained by the player; and

providing the at least one of the additional payout and the bonus only if the predetermined condition has been satisfied.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

increasing a balance of the account during the player'"'"'s play of the gaming device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of increasing comprises:

adding, for each wager made by the player, a portion of the wager to the balance.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of increasing comprises:

adding, for each payout obtained by the player, a portion of the obtained payout to the balance.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of increasing comprises:

determining that the player has qualified to receive an amount of money; and

adding the amount of money to the balance.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of increasing comprises:

increasing the balance of the account based on a game play by another player of the gaming device.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of increasing comprises:

increasing the balance of the account based on a game play initiated at another gaming device being played by another player.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a processor and

a gaming device in communication with the processor, configured to facilitate a wagering game and to perform a method comprising;

determining an account associated with a player playing a gaming device,

wherein the account is one from which the player is unable to directly control usage of money;

determining a first outcome for a game play initiated by the player;

determining that the first outcome corresponds to a payout greater than zero;

determining whether a sum of payouts provided to the player within at least one of a predetermined number of outcomes and a predetermined period of time is at least a predetermined sum;

determining, if the sum of payouts is at least the predetermined sum, a second outcome for the game play initiated by the player;

outputting the second outcome to the player;

adding the payout corresponding to the first outcome to the account;

providing to the player at least one of an additional payout and a bonus during play of the gaming device by the player,

wherein the step of providing comprises deducting an amount of money from the account and providing the amount to the player as the at least one of the additional payout and the bonus;

determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied, wherein determining comprises determining at least whether a predetermined number of non-winning outcomes has been obtained by the player; and

providing the at least one of the additional payout and the bonus only if the predetermined condition has been satisfied.

22. A computer readable medium comprising:

instructions capable of instructing a processor to perform a method comprising;

determining an account associated with a player playing a gaming device,

wherein the account is one from which the player is unable to directly control usage of money;

determining a first outcome for a game play initiated by the player;

determining that the first outcome corresponds to a payout greater than zero;

determining whether a sum of payouts provided to the player within at least one of a predetermined number of outcomes and a predetermined period of time is at least a predetermined sum;

determining, if the sum of payouts is at least the predetermined sum, a second outcome for the game play initiated by the player;

outputting the second outcome to the player;

adding the payout corresponding to the first outcome to the account;

providing to the player at least one of an additional payout and a bonus during play of the gaming device by the player,

wherein the step of providing comprises deducting an amount of money from the account and providing the amount to the player as the at least one of the additional payout and the bonus;

determining whether a predetermined condition has been satisfied, wherein determining comprises determining at least whether a predetermined number of non-winning outcomes has been obtained by the player; and

providing the at least one of the additional payout and the bonus only if the predetermined condition has been satisfied.