Apparatus systems and methods for facilitating a payout of a gaming device

• US 8,784,188 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Walker, Jay S., Jorasch, James A., Suarez, Jose A., Tedesco, Robert C., Tulley, Stephen C., Tedesco, Daniel E., Gelman, Geoffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEICHLITER, CHASE E
• Application Number:
  US11/568,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20070265054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,375 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/42, 273/292, 273/138.1, 273/139
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/326 Game play aspects of gaming systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

In accordance with some embodiments, a method provides for determining that a qualifying outcome has been obtained as a result of a game play conducted on a gaming device and determining a buy-in amount for a current play session in which the game play is included. The method further provides for setting, in response to the obtainment of the qualifying outcome, a credit meter balance to the buy-in amount, thereby providing a payout for the qualifying outcome.

Claims

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

causing a processor to operate with a display device and an input device to;

(a) display an amount of credits in a credit balance for a player, said displayed amount of credits beginning at an initial amount of credits greater than zero;

(b) receive a wager amount for a gaming session, said gaming session including a plurality of plays of a game;

(c) reducing the amount of credits in the credit balance by the wager amount; and

(d) for each play of said plurality of plays of the game;

(i) determine one of a plurality of different game outcomes,

(ii) display the determined game outcome,

(iii) if the determined game outcome is any designated winning outcome, display a first payout greater than zero credits associated with said designated winning game outcome;

(iv) if the determined game outcome is a qualifying game outcome and no designated winning game outcome associated with said first payout has been displayed, utilize the initial amount of credits to determine a second payout, said second payout, when added to the credit balance, causes the amount of credits in the credit balance to at least equal the initial amount of credits; and

(v) if the determined game outcome is said qualifying game outcome and at least one designated winning game outcome associated with said first payout has been displayed, utilize the initial amount of credits to determine a third payout different from said second payout, said third payout, when added to the credit balance, causes the amount of credits in the credit balance to at least equal the initial amount of credits.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the processor to determine a different game outcome for the play of the game if the determined outcome is said qualifying game outcome and if the determined third payout is zero credits.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a duration of the gaming session.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a difference between the initial amount of credits and the credit balance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a status associated with the player.

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

causing a processor to operate with a display device and an input device to;

(a) display an amount of credits in a credit balance for a player, said displayed amount of credits beginning at an initial amount of credits greater than zero; and

(b) for each play of a plurality of plays of a game;

(i) receive a wager amount,

(ii) reduce the amount of credits in the credit balance by the wager amount,

(iii) determine one of a plurality of different game outcomes,

(iv) display the determined game outcome,

(v) if the determined game outcome is a qualifying game outcome and no designated winning game outcome associated with a first payout greater than zero has been displayed, utilize the initial amount of credits to determine a second payout, said second payout, when added to the credit balance, causes the amount of credits in the credit balance to at least equal the initial amount of credits; and

(vi) if the determined game outcome is said qualifying game outcome and at least one game outcome associated with said first payout has been displayed, utilize said initial amount of credits to determine a third payout different from said second payout, said third payout, when added to the credit balance, causes the credit balance to at least equal the initial amount of credits.

7. The method of claim 6, which includes causing the processor to determine a different game outcome for the play of the game if the determined outcome is said qualifying game and if the determined third payout is zero credits.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a duration of a gaming session.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a difference between the initial amount of credits and the credit balance.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a status associated with the player.

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

causing a processor to operate with a display device and an input device to;

(a) display an amount of credits in a credit balance for a player, said displayed amount of credits beginning at an initial amount of credits greater than zero;

(b) receive a wager amount for a gaming session, said gaming session including a plurality of plays of a game;

(c) reducing the amount of credits in the credit balance by the wager amount; and

(d) for each play of said plurality of plays of the game;

(i) determine one of a plurality of different game outcomes,

(ii) display the determined game outcome,

(iii) if the determined game outcome is any designated winning outcome, display a first payout greater than zero associated with said designated winning game outcome to the player;

(iv) if the determined game outcome is a qualifying game outcome and no designated winning game outcome associated with said first payout has been displayed;

(1) enable the player to make an input to use the qualifying outcome at a later time in the gaming session;

(2) if the player does not make the input to use the qualifying outcome at the later time in the gaming session, utilize the initial amount of credits to determine a second payout, said second payout, when added to the credit balance, causes the amount of credits in the credit balance to at least equal the initial amount of credits; and

(3) if the player makes the input to use the qualifying outcome at the later time in the gaming session, enable the player to use the qualifying outcome at the later time in the gaming session; and

(v) the determined game outcome is said qualifying game outcome and at least one designated winning game outcome associated with said first payout has been displayed;

(1) enable the player to make the input to use the qualifying outcome at the later time in the gaming session;

(2) if the player does not make the input to use the qualifying outcome at the later time in the gaming session, utilize the initial amount of credits to determine a third payout different from said second payout, said third payout, when added to the credit balance, causes the amount of credits in the credit balance to at least equal the initial amount of credits; and

(3) if the player makes the input to use the qualifying outcome at the later time in the gaming session, enable the player to use the qualifying outcome at the later time in the gaming session.

12. The method of claim 11, which includes causing the processor to determine a different game outcome for the play of the game if the determined outcome is said qualifying game outcome and if the determined third payout is zero credits.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a duration of the gaming session.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a difference between the initial amount of credits and the credit balance.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein a probability of determining the qualifying game outcome is based on a status associated with the player.