Apparatus, systems and methods for facilitating a negative credit balance of a gaming device

• US 7,955,172 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Fincham, Magdalena M., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/538,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155483A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/12, 463/13
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• 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

Disclosed herein are apparatus, systems and methods for a gaming device operable to support a negative credit balance. For example, in some embodiments, a gaming device may be configured to: (i) determine a current credit balance, (ii) determine a wager amount, (iii) determine whether the wager amount would result in a negative balance of credits, (iv) determine if it is permissible to allow a negative balance of credits, and if so (v) adjust a current balance such that is equal to the negative balance, and (vi) display an indication of the negative credit balance.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display device;

an input device;

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to;

track a quantity of first credits available to wager on at least one play of a wagering game;

track a quantity of second credits available to wager on the at least one play of the wagering game;

determine a request to cashout the tracked quantity of first credits;

determine, based on the tracked quantity of first credits and the tracked quantity of second credits, an amount available to be cashed out; and

display the determined amount available to be cashed out.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a processor of a first device and the non-transitory computer readable medium comprises a computer readable medium of a second device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracked quantity of first credits comprises a quantity of credits loaned to a player playing the wagering game.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to subtract the tracked quantity of first credits from the tracked quantity of second credits to determine the amount available to be cashed out.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions cause the processor to:

determine whether the determined amount available to be cashed out comprises an amount greater than zero; and

if the determine amount is greater than zero, provide the determined amount to a player.

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

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to track a quantity of first credits available to wager on at least one play of a wagering game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to track a quantity of second credits available to wager on the at least one play of the wagering game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a request to cashout the tracked first quantity of credits;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based on the tracked quantity of first credits and the tracked quantity of second credits, an amount available to be cashed out; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with a display device to display the determined amount available to be cashed out.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first quantity of credits comprises a quantity of credits loaned to a player playing the wagering game.

8. The method of claim 7, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to subtract the tracked quantity of first credits from the tracked quantity of second credits to determine the amount available to be cashed out.

9. The method of claim 6, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to:

determine whether the determined amount available to be cashed out comprises an amount greater than zero; and

if the determine amount is greater than zero, provide the determined amount to a player.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a processor, direct the processor to operate with a display device and an input device to:

track a quantity of first credits available to wager on at least one play of a wagering game;

track a quantity of second credits available to wager on the at least one play of the wagering game;

determine a request to cashout the tracked quantity of first credits;

determine, based on the tracked quantity of first credits and the tracked quantity of second credits, an amount available to be cashed out; and

display the determined amount available to be cashed out.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the tracked quantity of first credits comprises a quantity of credits loaned to a player playing the wagering game.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions direct the processor to subtract the tracked quantity of first credits from the tracked quantity of second credits to determine the amount available to be cashed out.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine whether the determined amount available to be cashed out comprises an amount greater than zero; and

if the determine amount is greater than zero, provide the determined amount to a player.

14. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a first gaming device balance, the first gaming device balance resulting from an input of a monetary amount and including an amount of funds available for at least one play of a wagering game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a purchase of a session of the wagering game for a session price;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second gaming device balance by deducting the session price from the first gaming device balance; and

for the purchased session;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an initial balance of a session balance, said initial balance based on the purchase of the session, for each wager placed on a play of the wagering game during the purchased session, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deduct the placed wager from the session balance, said deduction occurs regardless of whether a resulting session balance is less than zero, and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with a display device to display each play of the wagering game during the purchased session.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a final session balance upon an ending of the session, the final session balance comprising the initial session balance less any wagers placed during the session plus any awards determined during the session; and

if the final session balance is a positive number, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a third gaming device balance by adding a monetary amount based on the final session balance to the second gaming device balance.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first gaming device balance, the second gaming device balance and the third gaming device balance each comprise a balance that may be cashed out by a player of the gaming device while the session balance comprises a balance that may not be cashed out by the player.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the session price is equal to a first monetary amount and the initial session balance is equal to a second monetary amount that is not equal to the first monetary amount.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first monetary amount is zero.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a display device;

an input device;

a processor; and

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

determine a first gaming device balance, the first gaming device balance resulting from an input of a monetary amount and including an amount of funds available for at least one play of a wagering game;

determine a purchase of a session of the wagering game for a session price;

determine a second gaming device balance by deducting the session price from the first gaming device balance; and

for the purchased session;

determine an initial balance of a session balance, said initial balance based on the purchase of the session, and

for each wager placed on a play of the wagering game during the purchased session, deduct the placed wager from the session balance, said deduction occurs regardless of whether a resulting session balance is less than zero, and display each play of the wagering game during the purchased session.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the processor, direct the processor to:

determine a final session balance upon an ending of the session, the final session balance comprising the initial session balance less any wagers placed during the session plus any awards determined during the session; and

if the final session balance is a positive number, determine a third gaming device balance by adding a monetary amount based on the final session balance to the second gaming device balance.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the first gaming device balance, the second gaming device balance and the third gaming device balance each comprise a balance that may be cashed out by a player of the gaming device while the session balance comprises a balance that may not be cashed out by the player.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the session price is equal to a first monetary amount and the initial session balance is equal to a second monetary amount that is not equal to the first monetary amount.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the first monetary amount is zero.

24. A non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to operate with a display device and an input device to:

determine a first gaming device balance, the first gaming device balance resulting from an input of a monetary amount and including an amount of funds available for at least one play of a wagering game;

determine a purchase of a session of the wagering game for a session price;

determine a second gaming device balance by deducting the session price from the first gaming device balance; and

for the purchased session;

determine an initial session balance of a session balance, said initial balance based on the purchase of the session,

for each wager placed on a play of the wagering game during the purchased session, deduct the placed wager from the session balance, said deduction occurs regardless of whether a resulting session balance is less than zero, and

display each play of the wagering game during the purchased session.