Method and apparatus for reinvesting winnings

• US 8,845,409 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Inventors: Kane, Steven N., Herrmann, Mark E., Sabet, Bijan, Hardy, Dow
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol, Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kim, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US11/181,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20060014579A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,365 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/25, 463/29, 463/42, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/269, 273/143.R, 273/148.R
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A player is permitted to reinvest winnings to play additional instances of an online game. In one specific example, the player may choose, at a point of sale (POS), a reinvestment option that specifies how winnings are used to automatically purchase additional game instances. In one example game format, the player may be permitted to select a reinvestment option at the point of initial purchase of the game. The player may be permitted, for example, to limit his/her reinvestment as a function of their initial investment. In another example, the primary game result is driven by the result of a secondary game, such as a lottery or casino-based drawing (e.g., a Keno drawing). The secondary game is then played, and any additional plays as a result of the reinvestment are also played. Results of the secondary game and the additional games are sent to an online gaming system. The player is then permitted to play an online game to reveal the results of both the secondary game and any additional plays as a result of the reinvestment. In one example, the cost of the reinvestment is subtracted from any winnings as the additional plays are revealed to the player.

Claims

1. A method for playing a game of chance on a distributed computer system comprising acts:

permitting a player to purchase, at a point of sale (POS), an initial entry into a first game played by the player on the distributed computer system;

determining whether the initial entry is a winning entry;

providing the player an option, at the time of purchase of the initial entry, to designate at least a portion of the potential monetary winnings to automatically purchase one or more additional entries into a second game when prizes are indicated during game play, wherein the winnings are predetermined prior to providing the option;

in response to purchasing the initial entry into the first game, issuing a ticket to the player comprising the first game, the first game comprising a single-player game of chance, the ticket including a code printed on a surface of the ticket, the ticket being associated with a plurality of results;

providing, after play of the first game, for the player to play the second game online via the distributed computer system, wherein the second game comprises a multi-player game of skill, and wherein play of the first game does not affect play of the second game; and

revealing, after play of the first game, the plurality of results of the first game during play of the second game.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of associating the option with an identifier of the entry into the first game.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the identifier of the entry is an identifier of the ticket issued to the player at the point of sale (POS).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of providing the player the option further comprises an act of permitting the player to specify a limit of the purchase of the one or more additional entries in the second game.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the limit is determined, at least in part, as a function of the purchase of the entry, including but not limited to cost of the initial entry, into the first game.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of using the at least a portion of the winnings to purchase one or more additional entries occurs when the winnings are available.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of using the at least a portion of the winnings to purchase one or more additional entries occurs after the first game is played by the player.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one or more additional entries are made in a same game that is associated with the winning entry and winnings used to purchase the one or more additional entries.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising allocating, within the same game, a plurality of entries corresponding to an option indication that determines a number of additional entries to be purchased.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein a different type of game is conducted later than the game associated with the winning entry.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the player to indicate, within an interface of a computer system, a selection of the option to use the at least a portion of the potential winnings to purchase the one or more additional entries in the second game.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the player to indicate, on an entry card associated with the entry, a selection of the option to use the at least a portion of the potential winnings to purchase the one or more additional entries in the second game.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing, by a first server associated with the first game, a result associated with the game of chance.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising an act of storing, in a memory of a computer system, the result associated with the game of chance.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising an act of associating the result with an indication of the ticket.