Systems and methods for redeeming future value wagering chips

• US 8,137,187 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US11/435,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20060205486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A system and method enabling a casino to issue chips or credits to customers whose redemption and face value is set at some future date, as well as systems and methods for facilitating redemption of such future value wagering chips.

Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:

a processor;

an input device;

a display device; and

a storage device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by said processor, cause said processor to operate with said input device and said display device to;

(a) prior to a maturity date associated with a gaming token issued by a casino at a first point in time, enable a player to deposit the gaming token, wherein the gaming token is associated with a maturity value;

(b) cause a determination of a credit balance of a first amount of wagering credits, wherein said determined credit balance of the first amount of wagering credits is based on the deposited gaming token, and the first amount of wagering credits is less than an amount of wagering credits associated with the maturity value;

(c) display the credit balance of the first amount of wagering credits;

(d) enable the player to wager at least part of said first amount of wagering credits to play a wagering game at the casino at a second, subsequent point in time; and

(e) deduct any amount of wagering credits wagered on the play of the wagering game from the first amount of wagering credits.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said storage device further stores at least one of:

(i) a discount rate database, and (ii) a future value database.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first amount of wagering credits is based on the maturity value, the present date and the maturity date.

4. The gaming device of claim 3, wherein the first amount of wagering credits is further based on discount rate information.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the gaming token displays indicia of both the maturity value and the maturity date.

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

(a) prior to a maturity date associated with a gaming token issued by a casino at a first point in time, enabling a player to deposit the gaming token, wherein the gaming token is associated with a maturity value;

(b) causing a determination of a credit balance of a first amount of wagering credits, wherein said determined credit balance of the first amount of wagering credits is based on the deposited gaming token, and the first amount of wagering credits is less than an amount of wagering credits associated with the maturity value;

(c) causing the credit balance to display the first amount of wagering credits;

(d) enabling the player to wager at least part of said first amount of wagering credits to play a wagering game at the casino at a second, subsequent point in time; and

(e) deducting any amount of wagering credits wagered on the play of the wagering game from the first amount of wagering credits.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first amount of wagering credits is based on the maturity value, a present date and the maturity date.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first amount of wagering credits is further based on discount rate information.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the gaming token displays indicia of both the maturity value and the maturity date.

10. A gaming device comprising:

a processor;

an input device;

a display device; and

a storage device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by said processor, cause said processor to operate with said input device and said display device to;

(a) receive a gaming token associated with a maturity value and a maturity date, said gaming token being previoulsy issued by a casino;

(b) determine if a present date is prior to the maturity date;

(c) if the present date is prior to the maturity date;

(i) cause a determination of, a first credit balance of a first amount of wagering credits, wherein the determined first credit balance of the first amount of wagering credits is based on the received gaming token and the first amount of wagering credits is less than an amount of wagering credits associated with the maturity value,

(ii) display the first credit balance of the first amount of wagering credits

(iii) enable a player to place one of a plurality of different wagering credit amounts to play a wagering game at the casino, and

(iv) deduct any amount of wagering credits placed on the play of the wagering game from the first amount of wagering credits; and

(d) if the present date is not prior to the maturity date;

(i) cause a determination of a second credit balance of a second, different amount of wagerinq credits, wherein said determined second credit balance of the second amount of wagering credits is based on the received gaming token and said second amount of wagering credits is the amount of wagerinq credits associated with the maturity value,

(ii) display the second credit balance of the second amount of wagering credits,

(iii) enable the player to place one of the plurality of different wagering credit amounts to play the wagering game at the casino, and

(iv) deduct any amount of wagering credits placed on the play of the wagering game from the second amount of wagering credits.

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

(a) receiving a gaming token associated with a maturity value and a maturity date, said gaming token being previoulsy issued by a casino;

(b) determining if a present date is prior to the maturity date;

(c) if the present date is prior to the maturity date;

(i) causing a determination of a credit balance of a first amount of wagering credits, wherein said determined credit balance of the first amount of wagering credits is based on the received gaming token and the first amount of wagering credits is less than an amount of wagering credits associated with the maturity value,

(ii) causing the credit balance to display the first amount of wagering credits,

(iii) enabling a player to place one of a plurality of different wagering credit amounts to play a wagering game at the casino, and

(iv) deducting any amount of wagering credits placed on the play of the wagering game from the first amount of wagering credits; and

(d) if the present date is not prior to the maturity date;

(i) causing a determination of the credit balance to display a second, different amount of wagering credits, wherein said determined credit balance of the second amount of wagering credits is based on the received gaming token and said second amount of wagering credits is the amount of wagering credits associated with the maturity value,

(ii) causing the credit balance to display the second amount of wagering credits,

(iii) enabling the player to place one of the plurality of different wagering credit amounts to play the wagering game at the casino, and

(iv) deducting any amount of wagering credits placed on the play of the wagering game from the second amount of wagering credits.

12. A gaming device, comprising:

a processor;

an input device;

a display device; and

a storage device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by said processor, cause said processor to operate with said input device and said display device to;

(a) at a first point in time, enable a player to place a wager to play a wagering game at a casino; and

(b) for the play of the wagering game;

(i) determine to provide any of a plurality of different awards to the player,

(ii) if the determination is to provide any of the plurality of different awards, enable the player to select whether to be provided;

(A) a gaming token associated with a future value on a maturity date, said gaming token being redeemable for at least one subsequent play of the wagering game at the casino at a second, subsequent point in time, or

(B) an amount of currency equivalent to a present value of the gaming token, and

(iii) provide the player the selected one of;

(A) the gaming token, or

(B) the amount of currency.

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

(a) at a first point in time, enabling a player to place a wager to play a wagering game; and

(b) for the play of the wagering game;

(i) determining to provide any of a plurality of different awards to the player,

(ii) if the determination is to provide any of the plurality of different awards, enabling the player to select whether to be provided;

(A) a gaming token associated with a future value on a maturity date, said gaming token being redeemable for at least one subsequent play of the wagering game at the casino at a second, subsequent point in time, or

(B) an amount of currency equivalent to a present value of the gaming token, and

(iii) providing the player the selected one of;

(A) the gaming token, or

(B) the amount of currency.