Method and apparatus for employing flat rate play

• US 8,568,219 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• 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., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Tulley, Stephen C., Santisi, Steven M., Gilman, Norman C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, Arthur O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US11/691,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20070191094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,409 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided allowing a player to play a gaming device and receive a predetermined number of outcomes in exchange for a payment. The gaming device generates at least the predetermined number of outcomes, and adjusts a balance of the player device based on the outcomes. The player can continue playing regardless of whether the balance is less than zero.

Claims

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

receiving a payment for a plurality of distinct plays of a wagering game associated with a flat rate play session, the payment being equal to a first monetary value and the payment being received prior to any generation of any wagering game outcomes for the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game;

causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to set an initial balance of credits available for wagering on the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game to a first number of credits, the first number of credits being equal to a second monetary value that is different from the first monetary value;

causing at least one display device to display the balance of credits; and

after receiving the payment for the plurality of distinct play of the wagering game, for each of the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game associated with the flat rate play session;

(i) causing a wager to be placed on said play of the wagering game,

(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to generate one of a plurality of wager game outcomes,

(iii) causing the at least one display device to display the generated wagering game outcome,

(iv) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any monetary award associated with the generated wagering game outcome, and

(v) causing the at least one display device to display any determined monetary award.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deduct, for each play of the wagering game, at least a portion of a credit from the balance of credits as the wager for said play of the wagering game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first number of credits is zero.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, after the initial balance is set, a request to cash out a current balance of credits;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a threshold amount of credits;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether the current balance exceeds the threshold amount; and

if the current balance exceeds the threshold amount, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to authorize a cashout only for an amount by which the current balance exceeds the threshold amount.

5. The method of claim 4, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to authorize a printing of a cashless gaming receipt for the amount by which the current balance exceeds the initial balance.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the threshold amount is equal to the initial balance.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for at least one of the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an amount of the wager to be deducted from the initial balance; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deduct the amount of the wager from the initial balance.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the initial balance is zero and causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deduct the amount of the wager from the initial balance results in a balance of credits that is less than zero.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising, for at least one of the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to update the initial balance based on;

(i) the placement of the wager for the distinct play of the wagering game and (ii) any monetary awards associated with the generated wagering game outcome, and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to track an updated balance of credits, wherein each wager is deducted from the updated balance of credits and each monetary award associated with each generated wagering game outcome is added to the updated balance of credits.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a request for a cashout of a current balance of credits;

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine whether each of the purchased plurality of wagering game outcomes have been generated; and

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to only authorize the cashout of the current balance of credits if each of the plurality of wagering game outcomes have been generated.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to authorize the cashout of the current balance comprises an electronic transfer of funds from the current balance to a different balance.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the current balance comprises a balance associated with a plurality of rounds of the wagering game and the different balance comprises a balance of funds available for purchasing an additional plurality of rounds of the wagering game.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment is for an amount of time to play the wagering game.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment is for a specified number of distinct plays of the wagering game.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine an updated balance of credits over a course of the plurality of plays of the wagering game by increasing the initial balance by any monetary awards associated with the generated wagering game outcomes and not deducting any wagers for any plays of the wagering game from either the initial balance or the updated balance.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing to the player at least one of a product and a service the value of which is based on a difference between the first monetary value and the second monetary value.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing to the player at least one of a product and a service comprises providing to the player at least one of a coupon, a voucher and a gift certificate redeemable for the at least one of a product and a service.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of a cost of the at least one of a product and a service and a price of the at least one of a product and a service is equal to the difference between the first monetary value and the second monetary value.

19. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a memory configured to store a program to facilitate a wagering game; and

a processor configured to operate with the memory to;

receive a payment for a plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game associated with a flat rate play session, the payment being equal to a first monetary value and the payment being received prior to any generation of any wagering game outcomes for the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game;

set an initial balance of credits available for wagering on the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game to a first number of credits, the first number of credits being equal to a second monetary value that is different from the first monetary value; and

after receiving the payment for the plurality of distinct play of the wagering game, for each of the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game associated with the flat rate play session;

(i) cause a wager to be placed on said play of the wagering game,

(ii) generate one of a plurality of wager game outcomes,

(iii) display the generated wagering game outcome,

(iv) determine any monetary award associated with the generated wagering game outcome, and

(v) display any determined monetary award.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program comprising a plurality of instructions, the program, when read by a computer, causing the computer to:

receive a payment for a plurality of distinct plays of a wagering game associated with a flat rate play session, the payment being equal to a first monetary value and the payment being received prior to any generation of any wagering game outcomes for the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game;

set an initial balance of credits available for wagering on the plurality of distinct lays of the wagering game to a first number of credits, the first number of credits being equal to a second monetary value that is different from the first monetary value; and

after receiving the payment for the plurality of distinct play of the wagering game, for each of the plurality of distinct plays of the wagering game associated with the flat rate play session;

(i) cause a wager to be placed on said play of the wagering game,

(ii) generate one of a plurality of wager game outcomes,

(iii) cause at least one display device to display the generated wagering game outcome,

(iv) determine any monetary award associated with the generated wagering game outcome, and

(v) cause the at least one display device to display any determined monetary award.