Methods and apparatus for facilitating remote viewing of gaming outcomes

• US 7,824,259 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Issued: 11/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S., Suarez, Jose A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo; Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ahmed; Masud
• Application Number:
  US11/428,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247044A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 17, 463 40- 42, 273/138.2, 273/139
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a plurality of outcomes are generated for a wagering game. The plurality of outcomes are stored on a tangible medium (e.g., a DVD) or otherwise stored. The plurality of outcomes are sold to a player, for viewing by the player at a location remote from a casino.

Claims

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

(a) at a first point in time;

(i) enabling a player at a gaming device to place a wager associated with a first play of a game, and

(ii) if the player places the wager associated with the first play of the game;

(A) randomly generating an outcome for the first play of the game,

(B) causing a display device to display the randomly generated outcome,

(C) determining if the randomly generated outcome is associated with one of a plurality of different awards, and

(D) if the randomly generated outcome is associated with one of the plurality of different awards, providing said award to the player;

(b) at a second, subsequent point in time;

(i) enabling the player to request a gaming session medium, and

(ii) if the player requests the gaming session medium;

(A) causing the gaming device to randomly generate a plurality of outcomes,

(B) associating the plurality of randomly generated outcomes with the gaming session medium, and

(C) selling to the player the gaming session medium associated with the plurality of randomly generated outcomes; and

(c) at a third point in time subsequent to the first and second points in time, providing the player with an opportunity to view, remote from the gaming device, the plurality of randomly generated outcomes associated with the gaming session medium.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the plurality of randomly generated outcomes with the gaming session medium comprises filming the gaming device as the gaming device generates the plurality of outcomes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein associating the plurality of randomly generated outcomes with the gaming session medium comprises assembling a slot session movie from at least one video clip representative of each of the plurality of generated outcomes.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising storing data associated with the gaming session medium at a central server.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising storing the plurality of video clips at the central server and associating the plurality of randomly generated outcomes with the gaming session medium comprises the central server accessing said stored video clips and assembling the slot session movie therefrom.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein storing the plurality of video clips at the central server comprises storing the video clips in a database.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the player with the opportunity to view, remote from the gaming device, the plurality of randomly generated outcomes associated with the gaming session medium comprises providing the player with a tangible medium having a slot session movie of video clips representative of each of the plurality of generated outcomes.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming session medium is a ticket.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the player with the opportunity to view, remote from the gaming device, the plurality of randomly generated outcomes associated with the gaming session medium comprises providing the player with a URL for a website and enabling the player to view streaming video of each of the plurality of outcomes over the internet.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein providing the player with the URL for a website comprises embedding the URL for the website in an email.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein providing the player with the URL comprises sending the email to an address provided by the player.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the player with the opportunity to view, remote from the gaming device, the plurality of randomly generated outcomes associated with the gaming session medium comprises enabling the player to control a speed with which video of each of the plurality of outcomes is played back to the player.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing the gaming session medium in a database associated with a server associated with a gaming establishment.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein providing the player with the opportunity to view, remote from the gaming device, the plurality of randomly generated outcomes associated with the gaming session medium comprises enabling the player to view the outcomes at a location where operation of said gaming device is illegal.

15. The method of claim 1 which includes providing a benefit to the player in exchange for the gaming session medium, wherein the benefit is a cash value benefit.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving parameters from a player relating to the plurality of randomly generated outcomes associated with the gaming session medium.

17. A system comprising:

a gaming device;

a communication network;

a server communicatively coupled to the gaming device through the communication network; and

a control system operatively coupled to the gaming device and the server and configured to;

(a) at a first point in time;

(i) enable a player at the gaming device to place a wager associated with a first play of a game, and

(ii) if the player places the wager associated with the first play of the game;

(A) randomly generate an outcome for the first play of the game,

(B) display the randomly generated outcome,

(C) determine if the randomly generated outcome is associated with one of a plurality of different awards, and

(D) if the randomly generated outcome is associated with one of the plurality of different awards, provide said award to the player;

(b) at a second, subsequent point in time;

(i) enable the player to request a gaming session medium, and

(ii) if the player requests the gaming session medium;

(A) instruct the gaming device to randomly generate a plurality of outcomes,

(B) associate the plurality of randomly generated outcomes with the gaming session medium, and

(C) sell to the player the gaming session medium associated with the plurality of randomly generated outcomes; and

(c) at a third point in time subsequent to the first and second points in time, provide the player with an opportunity to view, remote from the gaming device, the plurality of randomly generated outcomes associated with the gaming session medium.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising software with instructions to:

(a) at a first point in time;

(i) enable a player at a gaming device to place a wager associated with a first play of a game, and

(ii) if the player places the wager associated with the first play of the game, cause the gaming device to;

(A) randomly generate an outcome for the first play of the game,

(B) display the randomly generated outcome,

(C) determine if the randomly generated outcome is associated with one of a plurality of different awards, and

(D) if the randomly generated outcome is associated with one of the plurality of different awards, provide said award to the player;

(b) at a second, subsequent point in time;

(i) enable the player to request a gaming session medium, and

(ii) if the player requests the gaming session medium;

(A) cause the gaming device to randomly generate a plurality of outcomes,

(B) associate the plurality of randomly generated outcomes with the gaming session medium, and

(C) sell to the player the gaming session medium associated with the plurality of randomly generated outcomes; and

(c) at a third point in time subsequent to the first and second points in time, provide the player with an opportunity to view, remote from the gaming device, the plurality of randomly generated outcomes associated with the gaming session medium.