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

• US 7,993,198 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US11/538,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155482A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25
• 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:

an input device;

a display 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 input device and the display device to;

determine a first monetary amount based on funds provided for wagering on at least one game play of a wagering game;

set, based on the determination of the first monetary amount, an initial credit balance of a second monetary amount, said second monetary amount being different from the first monetary amount and being available to be wagered on the at least one game play of the wagering game; and

display the initial credit balance of the second monetary amount.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second monetary amount is an amount less than or equal to zero.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first monetary amount is an amount transferred from a balance of funds associated with a player.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the balance of funds is a balance stored within a memory device.

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

determine a value of a parameter of a session being purchased in exchange for the first monetary amount; and

determine the second monetary amount based on the determined value of the parameter.

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

determine a first monetary amount based on funds provided for wagering on at least one game play of a wagering game;

set, based on the determination of the first monetary amount, an initial credit balance of a second monetary amount, said second monetary amount being different from the first monetary amount and being available to be wagered on the at least one game play; and

display the initial credit balance of the second monetary amount.

7. A method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to determine a first monetary amount based on funds provided for wagering on at least one game play of a wagering game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to set, based on the determination of the first monetary amount, an initial credit balance of a second monetary amount, said second monetary amount being different from the first monetary amount and being available to be wagered on the at least one game play of the wagering game; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to operate with at least one display device to display the initial credit balance of the second monetary amount.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second monetary amount is an amount less than or equal to zero.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the first monetary amount is an amount transferred from a balance of funds associated with a player.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising storing the balance of funds within a memory device.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a value of a parameter of a session purchased in exchange for the first monetary amount; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine the second monetary amount based on the determined value of the parameter.

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

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to operate with at least one input device to determine a monetary input provided by a player for playing at least one play of a wagering game;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to set an initial credit balance to an amount of credits based on the monetary input;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deduct any wagers placed by the player for any plays of the wagering game from the credit balance;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to add any payouts won by the player during any plays of the wagering game to the credit balance;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a request from the player to cash out;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a final credit balance at the time of the request;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance;

if the final credit balance is greater than the initial credit balance, providing the player the determined difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance; and

if the final credit balance is less than or equal to the initial credit balance, not providing the player the determined difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance.

13. The method of claim 12, which comprises causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to authorize a dispensing of a monetary amount from a gaming device, the monetary amount corresponding to the difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance .

14. The method of claim 13, which comprises causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to authorize a printing of a cashless gaming receipt from a printer associated with the gaming device, the cashless gaming receipt being redeemable for the monetary amount.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a display device;

an input device;

a processor; and

a memory which stores a program, which when executed by the processor, causes the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to;

determine a monetary input provided by a player for playing at least one play of a wagering game;

set an initial credit balance to an amount of credits based on the monetary input;

deduct any wagers placed by the player for any plays of the wagering game from the credit balance;

add any payouts won by the player during any plays of the wagering game to the credit balance;

determine a request from the player to cash out;

determine a final credit balance at the time of the request;

determine a difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance;

if the final credit balance is greater than the initial credit balance, provide the player the determined difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance; and

if the final credit balance is less than or equal to the initial credit balance, not provide the player the determined difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein when executed by the processor, the program causes the processor to authorize a dispensing of a monetary amount from a gaming device, the monetary amount corresponding to the difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein when executed by the processor, the program causes the processor to authorize a printing of a cashless gaming receipt from a printer associated with the gaming device, the cashless gaming receipt being redeemable for the monetary amount.

18. 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:

determine a monetary input provided by a player for playing at least one play of a wagering game;

set an initial credit balance to an amount of credits based on the monetary input;

deduct any wagers placed by the player for any plays of the wagering game from the credit balance;

add any payouts won by the player during any plays of the game to the credit balance;

determine a request from the player to cash out;

determine a final credit balance at the time of the request;

determine a difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance;

if the final credit balance is greater than the initial credit balance, provide the player the determined difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance; and

if the final credit balance is less than or equal to the initial credit balance, not provide the player the determined difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions direct the processor to authorize a dispensing of a monetary amount from a gaming device, the monetary amount corresponding to the difference between the final credit balance and the initial credit balance.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein when executed by the processor, the plurality of instructions direct the processor to authorize a printing of a cashless gaming receipt from a printer associated with the gaming device, the cashless gaming receipt being redeemable for the monetary amount.