Systems, methods and apparatus for facilitating a flat rate play session on a gaming device and example player interfaces to facilitate such

• US 8,360,857 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr., William H
• Application Number:
  US11/270,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20060040730A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,638 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/25, 463/29
• 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

In accordance with some embodiments, there is provided a method, apparatus and article of manufacture for providing a flat rate play session using a gaming device. The flat rate play session may define a duration of, for example, a period of time, a number of game plays, and/or a number of qualifying events. In some embodiments, a flat rate play session may define a game and a wager amount per game play. In some embodiments, a player may be allowed to change the game and/or the wager amount per game play during the flat rate play session. In some embodiments, a retail price may be calculated for the flat rate play session based on a number of simulations of the flat rate play session and a desired profit margin. In some embodiments, various user interfaces (e.g., touch-screen menus) may be used to allow a player to select and purchase a flat rate play session. Various user interfaces (e.g., touch-screen menus) may also be used to allow a player to reconfigure a flat rate play session during the duration of the flat rate play session.

Claims

1. A method for determining a price, comprising:

determining a specified duration of a flat rate play session for a wagering game comprising at least a primary game;

determining one of a house edge or information conveying the house edge, to be applied in determining outcomes during the flat rate play session;

determining a value of a price parameter for the wagering game, wherein the duration spans a plurality of rounds of the primary game of the wagering game and wherein the price parameter is other than the house edge or the information conveying the house edge;

simulating, by a processor of a computing device via an algorithm comprising a Monte Carlo simulation, a play of the flat rate play session for the specified duration of the flat rate play session, using the value of the price parameter and the one of the house edge or the information conveying the house edge;

determining, by the processor and based upon the simulation, a simulated payout amount for the flat rate play session;

adding a profit margin amount to the simulated payout amount; and

determining a price for the flat rate play session of the specified duration based on the simulated payout amount and the profit margin, the price comprising a price at which the flat rate play session is to be offered to players and

wherein each round of the plurality of rounds of the primary game is offered to players for a respective predetermined wager amount if purchased outside of the flat rate play session and

further wherein the price for the flat rate play session is determined to be less than a sum of the respective predetermined wager amounts of the plurality of rounds comprising the flat rate play session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation comprises a plurality of simulations and the simulated payout amount comprises an average simulated payout amount for the plurality of simulations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation is conducted via a gaining device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the simulation is conducted via a software program.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the profit margin amount is equal to zero.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the profit margin amount is less than zero.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the price parameter comprises a plurality of price parameters and the value of the price parameter comprises a value for each price parameter from the plurality of price parameters.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of the value of the price parameter.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication of a request for a price for the flat rate play session.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the price parameter comprises at least one of:

(i) a time of a day;

(ii) a clay of a week;

(iii) a day of a month;

(iv) a day of a year;

(v) a week of a month;

(vi) a week of a year;

(vii) a month of a year;

(viii) a type of gaming device;

(ix) a player status rating;

(x) an availability of a gaming device;

(xi) a forecasted availability of a gaming device;

(xii) a number of active jackpots;

(xiii) a number of winning plays;

(xiv) a time between plays;

(xv) a traffic of potential players;

(xvi) stakes of play; and

(xvii) an external event.

11. A method for determining a price, comprising:

determining a specified duration of a flat rate play session of a wagering game comprising at least a primary game;

determining one of a house edge or information conveying the house edge, to be applied in determining outcomes during the flat rate play session;

determining a value of a price parameter for the wagering game, wherein the duration spans a plurality of rounds of primary game of the wagering game and wherein the price parameter is other than the house edge or the information conveying the house edge;

simulating, by a processor of a computing device via an algorithm comprising a Monte Carlo simulation, play of the flat rate play session for the duration of the flat rate play session, using the value of the price parameter and the one of the house edge or the information conveying the house edge;

determining, by a processor of the computing device and based upon the simulation, a simulated payout amount for the flat rate play session;

adding a profit margin amount to the simulated payout amount, thereby determining an initial retail price; and

determining a final retail price for the flat rate play session of the specified duration based on the initial retail price, the final price comprising a price at which the flat rate play session is to be offered to players and

wherein each round of the plurality of rounds of the primary game is offered to players for a respective predetermined wager amount if purchased outside of the flat rate play session and

further wherein the final price for the flat rate play session is determined to be less than a sum of the respective predetermined wager amounts of the plurality of rounds of the primary game comprising the flat rate play session.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining the final retail price comprises rounding the initial retail price to the next lowest whole dollar.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when read by a processor of a computing device, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:

determining a specified duration of a flat rate play session for a wagering game comprising at least a primary game;

determining one of a house edge or information conveying the house edge, to be applied in determining outcomes during the flat rate play session;

determining a value of a price parameter for the wagering game, wherein the duration spans a plurality of rounds of the primary game of the wagering game and wherein the price parameter is other than the house edge or the information conveying the house edge;

simulating via an algorithm comprising a Monte Carlo simulation a play of the flat rate play session for the specified duration of the flat rate play session, using the value of the price parameter and the one of the house edge or the information conveying the house edge;

determining based upon the simulation, a simulated payout amount for the flat rate play session;

adding a profit margin amount to the simulated payout amount; and

determining a price for the flat rate play session of the specified duration based on the simulated payout amount and the profit margin, the price comprising a price at which the flat rate play session is to be offered to players and

wherein each round of the plurality of rounds of the primary game is offered to players for a respective predetermined wager amount if purchased outside of the flat rate play session and

further wherein the price for the flat rate play session is determined to be less than a sum of the respective predetermined wager amounts of the plurality of rounds comprising the flat rate play session.