Methods and apparatus for facilitating remote viewing of gaming outcomes

• US 7,846,017 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2006
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• 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:
  US11/327,215
• Publication Number:
  US 20060148562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,796 Days
• Field of Search: 463/17, 463/20, 463/25, 463 40- 42, 380/251, 273/138.1, 273/139, 283/901, 713/178
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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 gaming device comprising:

a display device;

an input device;

a processor; and

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

(a) at a first point in time;

(i) enable a wager associated with a play of a wagering game to be placed, and

(ii) if the wager associated with the play of the wagering game is placed;

(A) randomly generate a wagering game outcome for the play of the wagering game,

(B) display the randomly generated wagering game outcome,

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

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

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

(i) receive an instruction defining a plurality of outcomes; and

(ii) generate the plurality of outcomes in accordance with the instruction, said generation of each of the plurality of outcomes occurring before any of the generated plurality of outcomes are displayed to any players.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor, at the second, subsequent point in time, to:

generate a first outcome upon receiving the instruction; and

generate the second outcome without receiving any further input from a player.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to receive the instruction from a casino attendant.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to receive an identifier that identifies the casino attendant.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to receive the instruction from a player.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor, at the second, subsequent point in time, to generate the plurality of outcomes on behalf of a player associated with the plurality of outcomes.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outcomes are associated with an identifier that uniquely identifies a player.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to:

facilitate the provision of a net positive payout corresponding to the plurality of outcomes, wherein the net positive payout comprises the sum of payouts for each of the outcomes less a price paid for the plurality of outcomes.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to:

determine a payout corresponding to at least one outcome of the plurality of outcomes; and

store an indication of the payout.

10. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein the indication of the payout is stored on a medium other than the memory device.

11. The gaming device of claim 9, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to receive at least one of a payment and an indication of payment for the plurality of outcomes.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to generate the plurality of outcomes in response to the instruction at a speed that is greater than a speed at which the wagering game outcome is randomly generated for the play of the wagering game.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to output an indication associated with the generated plurality of outcomes.

14. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the indication comprises data that represents at least a sum of any payouts corresponding to the plurality of outcomes.

15. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the data is in the form of a machine-readable bar code.

16. The gaming device of claim 13, wherein the indication comprises data readable by another device, the data enabling the other device to determine a video representation of another plurality of outcomes, wherein a sum of payouts corresponding to the other plurality of outcomes equals the sum of payouts corresponding to the generated plurality of outcomes.

17. The gaming device of claim 16, wherein at least one outcome of the other plurality of outcomes is at least one outcome of the generated plurality of outcomes.

18. A method of operating a gaming system including a plurality of instructions, said method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly generate a first plurality of outcomes at a first location, each outcome being a result of a wagering game and being determined based on a random number;

before any of the generated outcomes are viewed by a player, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to facilitate a video to be created at a second location that is different from the first location, the video being a sequential output of each of the first plurality of generated outcomes;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to facilitate a provision of the video to the player, for viewing of the video by the player at a third location that is different from both the first location and the second location.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein facilitating the provision of the video comprises facilitating a sale of a DVD, the DVD storing the video.