Systems and methods for allocating an outcome amount among a total number of events

• US 7,878,894 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2006
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): LIDDLE, JAY TRENT
• Application Number:
  US11/456,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for operating a gaming system. In one embodiment, an outcome amount associated with a total number of events is determined. For example, a total payout amount associated with a number of instant lottery tickets may be determined. Based on a parameter associated with a player, the outcome amount is allocated among the total number of events. The outcome amount may be allocated, for example, based on a total number of events selected by the player.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of payment of an amount based on a total wager amount for a wager;

determining an outcome amount for the player in response to receiving the indication of payment;

based on a parameter specified by the player, distributing via a gaming device the outcome amount for the player among a plurality of scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player;

after determining an outcome amount, revealing to the player a result associated with at least one of the scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player; and

transmitting an indication of an amount associated with the result,

in which the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of the following types of parameters;

(i) a payout distribution preference, (ii) a payout frequency preference, (iii) a payout magnitude preference, (iv) a payout location preference, (v) a standard deviation associated with said distributing, (vi) a payout order preference, (vii) a total wager amount, (viii) an event wager amount, (ix) a total time period, (x) a game format, and (xi) a payout currency preference.

2. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the indication comprises:

displaying to the player an indication of the amount associated with the result.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the amount associated with the result to the player.

4. The method of claim 1, in which the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of:

(i) the outcome amount, and (ii) the total number of events.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the parameter specified by the player.

6. The method of claim 5, in which determining the parameter specified by the player comprises:

retrieving a stored indication of the parameter specified by the player.

7. The method of claim 5, in which determining the parameter specified by the player comprises:

receiving an indication of the parameter specified by the player.

8. The method of claim 1, in which distributing is performed by a player device.

9. The method of claim 8, in which the player device comprises at least one of the following types of devices:

(i) a personal computer;

(ii) a portable computing device;

(iii) a personal digital assistant;

(iv) a telephone;

(v) a wireless telephone, (vi) a pager, (vii) a kiosk, (viii) a point of sale terminal, and (ix) an automated teller machine.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter specified by the player comprises a payout distribution preference.

11. The method of claim 10, in which the payout distribution preference indicates a payout frequency preference.

12. The method of claim 10, in which the payout distribution preference indicates a payout magnitude preference.

13. The method of claim 10, in which the payout distribution preference indicates a preferred standard deviation associated with the allocation of the outcome amount.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a communication device coupled to the processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to;

receive an indication of payment of an amount based on a total wager amount for a wager;

determine an outcome amount for the player in response to receiving the indication of payment;

based on a parameter specified by the player, distribute the outcome amount for the player among a plurality of scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player;

after determine an outcome amount, reveal to the player a result associated with at least one of the scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player; and

transmit an indication of an amount associated with the result,

in which the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of the following types of parameters;

(i) a payout distribution preference, (ii) a payout frequency preference, (iii) a payout magnitude preference, (iv) a payout location preference, (v) a standard deviation associated with said distributing, (vi) a payout order preference, (vii) a total wager amount, (viii) an event wager amount, (ix) a total time period, (x) a game format, and (xi) a payout currency preference.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, the storage device further storing at least one of the following:

(i) a game database, (ii) a game session database, (iii) a player database, and (iv) an event database.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, in which the communication device is adapted to communicate with at least one of:

(i) an event result server, (ii) a player device, and (iii) a controller.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving an indication of payment of an amount based on a total wager amount for a wager;

determining an outcome amount for the player in response to receiving the indication of payment;

based on a parameter specified by the player, distributing the outcome amount for the player among a plurality of scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player;

after determining an outcome amount, revealing to the player a result associated with at least one of the scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player; and

transmitting an indication of an amount associated with the result,

in which the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of the following types of parameters;

(i) a payout distribution preference, (ii) a payout frequency preference, (iii) a payout magnitude preference, (iv) a payout location preference, (v) a standard deviation associated with said distributing, (vi) a payout order preference, (vii) a total wager amount, (viii) an event wager amount, (ix) a total time period, (x) a game format, and (xi) a payout currency preference.