Methods and apparatus for auctioning an item via a gaming device

• US 7,905,777 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2006
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Muir, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOSSER, ROBERT E
• Application Number:
  US11/461,964
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032286A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/9, 463/16, 463/25, 463/47, 463/29, 705/37
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for auctioning an item via a gaming device are disclosed. The methods and apparatus enable a gaming device player (e.g., a slot machine player) to select one or more auction items the player is interested in bidding on. As the player plays the gaming device, a portion of each bet and/or a portion of each win is allocated to an accumulating bid on the selected auction item(s). In one embodiment, other players, connected via a network, also bid on the auction item(s) in a similar fashion. At the end of an auction, the highest bidder is awarded with the auction item. In one embodiment, the auction item is a physical auction item physically displayed at the gaming device.

Claims

1. A gaming device operable under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device operatively coupled to the processor; and

an input device operatively coupled the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to;

cause the display device to display an image indicative of at least one auction item;

enable selection of the auction item via the input device;

cause a plurality of plays of at least one wagering game;

for each of at least one of the plays of the at least one wagering game, allocate a bid portion of at least one of a wager amount and a winning outcome amount to a bid on the selected auction item; and

if the bid is a winning bid for the auction item, said winning bid selected from a plurality of competing bids including the bid, cause the auction item associated with the winning bid to be provided a player.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to receive an amount, the bid portion being based on the received amount.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to receive a percentage, the bid portion being based on the received percentage.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to allocate the bid portion to a plurality of auction items in series.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to allocate the bid portion to a plurality of auction items in parallel.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to receive a minimum bid amount associated with the auction item.

7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to receive a maximum bid amount associated with the auction item.

8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the display device to display at least one of a bid amount, a rank, an accumulation of wager amounts, a number of bids, a time remaining to bid on the auction item, a maximum bid amount associated with the auction item, a minimum bid amount associated with the auction item, an acceptable bid amount associated with the auction item, and a number of wagering games played.

9. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a printer operatively coupled to the processor, the printer configured to print a receipt indicative of the auction item.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein, if the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to return at least a portion of the bid to the player.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein, if the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to forfeit at least a portion of the bid to a gaming establishment.

12. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein, if the bid portion of at least one wager amount is allocated to the bid and the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to return at least a portion of the bid to the player.

13. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein, if the bid portion of at least one wager amount is allocated to the bid and the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to forfeit at least a portion of the bid to a gaming establishment.

14. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein, if the bid portion of at least one winning outcome is allocated to the bid and the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to return at least a portion of the bid to the player.

15. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein, if the bid portion of at least one winning outcome is allocated to the bid and the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to forfeit at least a portion of the bid to a gaming establishment.

16. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to enable the player to supplement the bid with at least one of:

(a) one or more game credits, (b) an amount of cash, (c) one or more tokens, and (d) one or more points associated with a player tracking system.

17. The gaming device of claim 1, which includes a display case configured to display one or more physical auction items.

18. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to enable selection of a plurality of different auction items.

19. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the processor is programmed to generate an output indicating a status of the auction item.

20. A gaming device operated under control of a processor, said gaming device comprising:

a display device operatively coupled to the processor;

a printer operatively coupled to the processor; and

an input device operatively coupled the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to;

receive a bid percentage;

cause the display device to display an image indicative of at least one auction item;

enable selection of the auction item via the input device;

receive a maximum bid amount associated with the auction item;

cause a plurality plays of at least one wagering game;

if the maximum bid amount is not received, allocate a bid portion of at least one of a wager amount and a winning outcome amount to a bid on the selected auction item based on the bid percentage;

cause the display device to show an auction rank associated with the auction item and a plurality of competing bids including the bid; and

cause the printer to print a receipt indicative of the auction item if at least one of;

(i) the bid is a winning bid selected from the plurality of competing bids including the bid; and

(ii) the bid reaches a maximum bid amount.

21. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to allocate the bid to a plurality of auction items.

22. The gaming device of claim 21, wherein the processor is programmed to allocate a first bid portion to one auction item and a second bid portion to another auction item.

23. The gaming device of claim 22, wherein the first bid portion is different from the second bid portion.

24. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to receive a minimum bid amount or a maximum bid amount associated with the auction item.

25. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to cause the display device to display at least one of a bid amount, a rank, an accumulation of wager amounts, a number of bids, a time remaining to bid on the auction item, a maximum bid amount associated with the auction item, a minimum bid amount associated with the auction item, an acceptable bid amount associated with the auction item, and a number of wagering games played.

26. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein, if the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to return at least a portion of the bid to the player.

27. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein, if the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to forfeit at least a portion of the bid to a gaming establishment.

28. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein, if the bid portion of at least one wager amount is allocated to the bid and the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to return at least a portion of the bid to a player.

29. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein, if the bid portion of at least one wager amount is allocated to the bid and the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to forfeit at least a portion of the bid to a gaming establishment.

30. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein, if the bid portion of at least one winning outcome is allocated to the bid and the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to return at least a portion of the bid to a player.

31. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein, if the bid portion of at least one winning outcome is allocated to the bid and the bid is a losing bid, the processor is programmed to forfeit at least a portion of the bid to a gaming establishment.

32. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to enable the player to supplement the bid with at least one of:

(a) one or more game credits, (b) an amount of cash, (c) one or more tokens and (d) one or more points associated with a player tracking system.

33. The gaming device of claim 20, which includes a display case configured to display one or more physical auction items.

34. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to enable selection of a plurality of different auction items.

35. The gaming device of claim 20, wherein the processor is programmed to generate an output indicating a status of the auction item.