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

• US 7,963,844 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• 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:
  US11/538,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,722 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/20, 463/21, 463/26, 463/42
• 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 storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, direct the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to;

(a) display a payout table prior to a play of a wagering game, the payout table indicating;

(i) a plurality of wagering game outcomes, and

(ii) for at least one of the wagering game outcomes;

(A) at least one indicia comprising the wagering game outcome,

(B) a quantity of credits comprising an award associated with the wagering game outcome, and

(C) a credit balance that will result if said wagering game outcome is generated in the play of the wagering game; and

(b) display the play of the wagering game.

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

determine an adjustment of a current credit balance; and

adjust the displayed payout table, said adjustment based on the determined adjustment of the current credit balance.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine one of the wagering game outcomes of the payout table; and

adjust the indicated credit balance that will result if said determined wagering game outcome is generated in the play of the wagering game, said adjustment based on the determined adjustment of the current credit balance.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein for said at least one of the wagering game outcomes, the quantity of credits comprises a quantity of credits to be deducted from a current credit balance if said wagering game outcome is generated in the play of the wagering game.

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

determine that a current credit balance is an amount less than zero; and

output an indication of how the current credit balance may be increased to an amount at least equal to zero.

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

output an offer to a player, the offer defining a quantity of credits to be added to the current credit balance upon acceptance of the offer by the player.

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

output an indication of at least one of;

one of the wagering game outcomes or the award associated with said wagering game outcome, which, if generated in the play of wagering game, would result in an adjustment of the current credit balance to an amount at least equal to zero.

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

(a) display a payout table prior to a play of a wagering game, the payout table indicating;

(i) a plurality of wagering game outcomes, and

(ii) for at least one of the wagering game outcomes;

(A) at least one indicia comprising the wagering game outcome,

(B) a quantity of credits comprising an award associated with the wagering game outcome, and

(C) a credit balance that will result if said wagering game outcome is generated in the play of the wagering game; and

(b) display the play of the wagering game.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein when executed by the processor, the stored plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine an adjustment of a current credit balance; and

adjust the displayed payout table, said adjustment based on the determined adjustment of the current credit balance.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein when executed by the processor, the stored plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine one of the wagering game outcomes of the payout table; and

adjust the indicated credit balance that will result if said determined wagering game outcome is generated in the play of the wagering game, said adjustment based on the determined adjustment of the current credit balance.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein for said at least one of the wagering game outcomes, the quantity of credits comprises a quantity of credits to be deducted from a current credit balance if the wagering game outcome is generated in the play of the wagering game.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein when executed by the processor, the stored plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine that a current credit balance is an amount less than zero; and

output an indication of how the current credit balance may be increased to an amount at least equal to zero.

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

output an offer to a player, the offer defining a quantity of credits to be added to the current credit balance upon acceptance of the offer by the player.

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

output an indication of at least one of;

one of the wagering game outcomes or the award associated with said wagering game outcome, which, if generated in the play of the wagering game, would result in an adjustment of the current credit balance to an amount at least equal to zero.

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

prior to displaying a play of a wagering game;

causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine a balance of credits available for wagering on the wagering game;

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, at least one of;

a probability of winning a designated award and a magnitude of the designated award, said determination being based on the determined balance of credits available; and

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with a display device to display the determined at least one of;

the probability of winning the designated award and the magnitude of the designated award.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a plurality of predetermined ranges of balances of credits available; and

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine which one of the plurality of determined ranges of balances that the determined balance of credits fits into.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein a first determined range of balances corresponds to at least one of:

a first probability of winning the designated award and a first magnitude of the designated award,

a second determined range of balances corresponds to at least one of;

a second probability of wining the designated award and a second magnitude of the designated award,

and which includes

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine which of the first determined range and the second determined range that the determined balance of credits fits into.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the balance of credits is a negative number and which includes causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an award that, when added to the negative number, will result in a predetermined balance of credits.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the predetermined balance of credits is equal to zero credits.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the balance of credits is less than zero.

21. An apparatus comprising:

a display device;

an input device;

a processor ; and

a computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, prior to a play of a wagering game, direct the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to;

determine a balance of credits available for wagering on the wagering game;

determine at least one of;

a probability of winning a designated award and a magnitude of the designated award, said determination being based on the determined balance of credit available; and

display the determined at least one of;

the probability of winning the designated award and the magnitude of the designated award.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine a plurality of predetermined ranges of balances; and

determine which one of the plurality of determined ranges of balances that the determined balance of credits fits into.

23. The apparatus of claim 22,

wherein a first determined range of balances corresponds to at least one of:

a first probability of winning the designated award and a first magnitude of the designated award,

a second determined range of balances corresponds to at least one of;

a second probability of wining the designated award and a second magnitude of the designated award,

and when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions direct the processor to;

determine which of the first determined range and the second determined range that the determined balance of credits fits into.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the balance of credits is a negative number and when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine an award that, when added to the negative number, will result in a predetermined balance of credits.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the predetermined balance of credits is equal to zero credits.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the balance of credits is less than zero.

27. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor prior to a play of a wagering game, direct the processor to operate with a display device and an input device to:

determine a balance of credits available for wagering on the wagering game;

determine at least one of a probability of winning a designated award and a magnitude of the designated award, said determination being based on the determined balance of credit available; and

display the determined at least one of the probability of winning the designated award and the magnitude of the designated award.

28. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein when executed by the processor, the stored plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine a plurality of predetermined ranges of balances of credits available; and

determine which one of the plurality of determined ranges of balances that the determined balance of credits fits into.

29. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 28,

wherein a first determined range of balances corresponds to at least one of:

a first probability of winning the designated award and a first magnitude of the designated award,

a second determined range of balances corresponds to at least one of;

a second probability of wining the designated award and a second magnitude of the designated award,

and when executed by the processor, the stored plurality of instructions direct the processor to;

determine which of the first determined range and the second determined range that the determined balance of credits fits into.

30. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the balance of credits is a negative number and when executed by the processor, the stored plurality of instructions direct the processor to:

determine an award that, when added to the negative number, will result in a predetermined balance of credits.

31. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 30, wherein the predetermined balance of credits is equal to zero credits.

32. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 27, wherein the balance of credits is less than zero.