Methods and apparatus for managing an account to fund benefits for a player

• US 8,096,873 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Issued: 01/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay W., Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Fincham, Magdalena M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): YOO, JASSON H
• Application Number:
  US12/190,984
• Publication Number:
  US 20080300051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/25
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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

In accordance with one or more embodiments, an account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in an increase in the balance is a player'"'"'s obtainment of an outcome that corresponds to both (i) a first payout that is displayed on a payout schedule of the gaming device, and (ii) an amount by which the balance of the account is to be increased. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in a disbursement is the obtainment by the player of a predetermined number of consecutive non-winning outcomes. Thus, in one or more embodiments, currency may be accumulated for a player during a gaming session of the player and utilized to fund payouts provided to the player at times in which the player may be becoming discouraged and contemplating discontinuation of play of the gaming device.

Claims

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

causing at least one display device of a gaming device to display a first payout schedule, the first payout schedule defining a plurality of winning outcomes and a first set of payouts, each respective payout of the first set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;

causing at least one memory device to store a second payout schedule, the second payout schedule defining the plurality of winning outcomes and a second set of payouts, each respective payout of the second set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes, at least one of the winning outcomes corresponding to one of the payouts of the second set that is greater than one of the payouts of the first set;

causing at least one processor of the gaming device to execute a plurality of instructions to generate an outcome;

causing the at least one processor of the gaming device to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if the generated outcome corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts; and

if the generated outcome corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts;

(i) providing to a player the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome, and

(ii) adding an amount to a balance of an account associated with the player, wherein the amount added to the balance is the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome less the payout of the second set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome.

2. A gaming device, comprising:

a processor, and

a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor to;

display a first payout schedule, the first payout schedule defining a plurality of winning outcomes and a first set of payouts, each respective payout of the first set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes,

store a second payout schedule, the second payout schedule defining the plurality of winning outcomes and a second set of payouts, each respective payout of the second set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes, at least one of the winning outcomes corresponding to one of the payouts of the second set that is greater than one of the payouts of the first set,

generate an outcome,

determine if the generated outcome corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts, and

if the generated outcome corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts;

(i) provide to a player the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome, and

(ii) add an amount to a balance of an account associated with the player, wherein the amount added to the balance is the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome less the payout of the second set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome.

3. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

cause at least one display device to display a first payout schedule, the first payout schedule defining a plurality of winning outcomes and a first set of payouts, each respective payout of the first set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;

cause at least one memory device to store a second payout schedule, the second payout schedule defining the plurality of winning outcomes and a second set of payouts, each respective payout of the second set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes, at least one of the winning outcomes corresponds to one of the payouts of the second set that is greater than one of the payouts of the first set;

generate an outcome;

determine if the generated outcome corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts; and

if the generated outcome corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts;

(i) provide to a player the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome, and

(ii) add an amount to a balance of an account associated with the player, wherein the amount added to the balance is the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome less the payout of the second set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome.

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

causing at least one display device of a gaming device to display a first payout schedule, the first payout schedule defining a plurality of winning outcomes and a first set of payouts, each respective payout of the first set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;

causing at least one memory device to store a second payout schedule, the second payout schedule defining the plurality of winning outcomes and a second set of payouts, each respective payout of the second set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;

causing at least one processor of the gaming device to execute a plurality of instructions to enable a player to place a wager on a single play of a single game;

causing the at least one processor of the gaming device to execute the plurality of instructions to generate an outcome for the single play of the single game;

causing the at least one processor of the gaming device to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts;

if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts, providing to the player the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome;

causing the at least one processor of the gaming device to execute the plurality of instructions to determine if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the second set of payouts; and

if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the second set of payouts, adding the payout of the second set of payouts to a balance of an account associated with the player.

5. A gaming device comprising:

a processor, and

a storage device that stores a program for directing the processor to;

display a first payout schedule, the first payout schedule defining a plurality of winning outcomes and a first set of payouts, each respective payout of the first set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes,

store a second payout schedule, the second payout schedule defining the plurality of winning outcomes and a second set of payouts, each respective payout of the second set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes,

enable a player to place a wager on a single play of a single game,

generate an outcome for the single play of the single game,

determine if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts,

if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts, provide to the player the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome,

determine if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the second set of payouts, and

if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the second set of payouts, add the payout of the second set of payouts to a balance of an account associated with the player.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions for directing a processor to:

cause at least one display device to display a first payout schedule, the first payout schedule defining a plurality of winning outcomes and a first set of payouts, each respective payout of the first set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;

cause at least one memory device to store a second payout schedule, the second payout schedule defining the plurality of winning outcomes and a second set of payouts, each respective payout of the second set of payouts having a value greater than zero and corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of winning outcomes;

enable a player to place a wager on a single play of a single game;

generate an outcome for the single play of the single game;

determine if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts;

if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the first set of payouts, provide to the player the payout of the first set of payouts that corresponds to the generated outcome;

determine if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the second set of payouts; and

if the generated outcome for the single play of the single game corresponds to one of the payouts of the second set of payouts, add the payout of the second set of payouts to a balance of an account associated with the player.