Funding concurrent wagering games

• US 9,443,385 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Adiraju, Srinivyasa M., Agarwal, Vijay K., Buchholz, Dale R., Burke, Mary M., Dinovo, Timothy F., Gangadharan, Magesh, Grabiec, Jacek A., Halprin, James S., Pace, Mark C., Parra, Jacqueline F., Pryor, David M., Ward, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Deodhar, Omkar
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Wei
• Application Number:
  US14/134,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20140106865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/25, 463/42
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• 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 17/3286 Type of games

Abstract

“Described herein are processes and devices that perform operations that, in some embodiments, include receiving a request for concurrent presentation of a first wagering game and a second wagering game via a display device of a wagering game machine. The first wagering game includes first content that originates from a first content source, and the second wagering game includes second content that originates from a second content source. The operations further include accessing funds associated with the first wagering game. The operations further include funding one or more wagers for the second wagering game using at least a portion of the accessed funds associated with the first wagering game.”

Claims

1. A method of operating a first electronic gaming controller from a plurality of wagering game controllers included within a wagering game machine, wherein the first electronic gaming controller is independent from a first wagering game, said method comprising:

receiving, by the first electronic gaming controller, a request for placement of a first wager in a first playing round of a second wagering game, wherein the first electronic gaming controller controls the second wagering game, wherein a second electronic gaming controller from the plurality of wagering game controllers controls the first wagering game, wherein the first wagering game and the second wagering game are concurrently presented via a display device of the wagering game machine, wherein the first wagering game includes first content that originates from a first content source, wherein the second wagering game includes second content that originates from a second content source, wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value to increase a balance of funds in a first credit meter account of the first wagering game, and wherein the first credit meter account is associated with a first credit meter of the wagering game machine;

automatically accessing, by the first electronic gaming controller in response to the request, the funds from the first credit meter account of the first wagering game, wherein the first credit meter account is not accessible to the second wagering game;

automatically debiting a credit from the first credit meter account; and

automatically electronically transmitting the credit from the first credit meter account to a second credit meter account of the second wagering game for placement of the first wager for the first playing round of the second wagering game, wherein the second credit meter account is associated with a second credit meter of the wagering game machine.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that additional funds are won during the first playing round of the second wagering game;

debiting the additional funds from the second credit meter account;

electronically transmitting the additional funds won during the first playing round of the second wagering game to the first credit meter account for the first wagering game before a second playing round is initiated by the second wagering game; and

crediting the additional funds to the first credit meter account.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

detecting one or more win amounts associated with the second wagering game, wherein a first funds source is associated with the first wagering game; and

associating the one or more win amounts with a second funds source separate from the first funds source.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prior to debiting the credit from the first credit meter account, detecting a request to transact a second wager from the first credit meter account for the first wagering game;

detecting that a monetary balance for the first credit meter account is sufficient to cover a total for the first wager and the second wager; and

debiting the credit from the first credit meter account after detecting that the monetary balance for the first credit meter account is sufficient.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising, based on a wagering game outcome from the second wagering game, triggering a round of play in the first wagering game.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content source is internal to the wagering game machine, and wherein the second content source is external to the wagering game machine.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first content source is associated with a first wagering game provider and wherein the second content source is associated with a second wagering game provider different from the first wagering game provider.

8. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices having instructions stored thereon, which when executed by a set of one or more electronic processors of a gaming system cause the set of one or more electronic processors to perform operations comprising:

accessing, via a network communication interface of the gaming system, a first electronic gaming controller for a first wagering game;

accessing, via the network communication interface, a second electronic gaming controller for a second wagering game, wherein the second electronic gaming controller is independent from the first electronic gaming controller, wherein the first electronic gaming controller controls the first wagering game, wherein the second electronic gaming controller controls the second wagering game, and wherein the first electronic gaming controller and the second electronic gaming controller are included within a wagering game machine;

receiving a request for placement of a first wager in a first playing round of the second wagering game, wherein the first wagering game and the second wagering game are presented concurrently via a display device of the wagering game machine, wherein first content for the first wagering game originates from a first content source, wherein second content for the second wagering game originates from a second content source, wherein the wagering game machine includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value to increase funds for a first credit meter account of the first wagering game, and wherein the first credit meter account is associated with a first credit meter of the wagering game machine;

automatically accessing, via the first electronic gaming controller in response to the request, the funds from the first credit meter account of the first wagering game, wherein the first credit meter account is not accessible to the second wagering game;

automatically debiting a credit from the first credit meter account; and

automatically electronically transmitting the credit from the first credit meter to a second credit meter account of the second wagering game for placement of the first wager for the first playing round of the second wagering game, wherein the second credit meter account is associated with a second credit meter of the wagering game machine.

9. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 8, said operations further comprising:

determining that at least one additional credit is won during the first playing round of the second wagering game;

debiting the at least one additional credit from the second credit meter account;

electronically transmitting, via the network communication interface, the at least one additional credit to the first electronic gaming controller before a second playing round is initiated by the second wagering game; and

crediting, via the first electronic gaming controller, the at least one additional credit to the first credit meter account.

10. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 8, said operations further comprising:

detecting one or more win amounts associated with the second wagering game, wherein a first funds store is associated with the first wagering game; and

storing the one or more win amounts in a second funds store separate from the first funds store.

11. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 8, said operations further comprising:

before debiting the credit from the first credit meter account, detecting a request to transact a second wager from a monetary balance of the first credit meter account, wherein the second wager is for a second playing round of the first wagering game; and

debiting the credit after determining that the monetary balance is sufficient to cover a total for the first wager and the second wager.

12. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 8, said operations further comprising, based on a betting event from the second wagering game, triggering a round of play in the first wagering game.

13. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 8, wherein the first content source is internal to the wagering game machine and wherein the second content source is external to the wagering game machine.

14. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable storage devices of claim 8, wherein the first content source is associated with a first wagering game provider and wherein the second content source is associated with a second wagering game provider different from the first wagering game provider.

15. A wagering game machine comprising:

one or more electronic gaming controllers;

a network communication interface;

a value input device configured to receive monetary value for placement in a first credit meter account of a first wagering game; and

one or more memory storage devices configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic gaming controllers, cause the wagering game machine to perform operations to receive, via a first electronic gaming controller from the one or more electronic gaming controllers, a request for placement of a first wager in a first playing round of a second wagering game independent from the first wagering game, wherein the first wagering game and the second wagering game are concurrently presented via a display device of the wagering game machine, wherein first content for the first wagering game originates from a first content source, wherein second content for the second wagering game originates from a second content source, wherein the first electronic gaming controller controls the second wagering game, wherein a second electronic gaming controller of the one or more electronic gaming controllers controls the first wagering game, and wherein the first credit meter account is associated with a first credit meter of the wagering game machine,

automatically access, in response to the request, funds from the first credit meter account of the first wagering game, wherein the first credit meter account is not accessible to the second wagering game,

automatically debit a credit from the first credit meter account, and

automatically electronically transmit the credit from the first credit meter account to a second credit meter account of the second wagering game for placement of the first wager for the first playing round, wherein the second credit meter account is associated with a second credit meter of the wagering game machine.

16. The wagering game machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic gaming controllers, cause the wagering game machine to further perform operations to:

determine that additional funds are won during the first playing round of the second wagering game; and

return the additional funds won during the first playing round of the second wagering game to the first wagering game.

17. The wagering game machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic gaming controllers, cause the wagering game machine to further perform operations to:

detect one or more win amounts associated with the second wagering game, wherein a first funds source is associated with the first wagering game; and

associate the one or more win amounts in a second funds source separate from the first funds source.

18. The wagering game machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic gaming controllers, cause the wagering game machine to further perform operations to:

prior to using the at least the portion of the accessed funds associated with the first wagering game, detect a request to transact a first wager from a monetary balance for the first wagering game;

detect a request to transact a second wager for the second wagering game; and

detect that the monetary balance is sufficient to cover a total for the first wager from the monetary balance for the first wagering game and the second wager for the second wagering game.

19. The wagering game machine of claim 15, wherein the one or more memory storage devices are configured to store instructions, which when executed by at least one of the one or more electronic gaming controllers, cause the wagering game machine to further perform operations to, based on an betting event from the second wagering game, trigger a round of play in the first wagering game.

20. The wagering game machine of claim 15, wherein the first content source is internal to the wagering game machine, and wherein the second content source is external to the wagering game machine.

21. The wagering game machine of claim 15, wherein the first content source is associated with a first wagering game provider and wherein the second content source is associated with a second wagering game provider different from the first wagering game provider.

22. A method of operating a wagering game system, said method comprising:

acquiring, a via one or more electronic gaming controllers of the wagering game system, first wagering game content and second wagering game content, wherein the first wagering game content originates from a first content source and the second wagering game content originates from a second content source;

presenting, by a first electronic gaming controller of the one or more electronic gaming controllers based on the first wagering game content, a first wagering game in a first area of a display device of the wagering game system, wherein the first wagering game has a first credit meter balance indicated by a first credit meter of the wagering game system, and wherein the wagering game system includes a value input device configured to receive monetary value to increase the first credit meter balance of the first wagering game;

presenting, by a second electronic gaming controller of the one or more electronic gaming controllers based on the second wagering game content, a second wagering game in a second area on the display device of the wagering game system, wherein the second wagering game content is presented concurrently with the first wagering game content via the display device, wherein the second wagering game has a second credit meter balance associated with a second credit meter of the wagering game system, and wherein the first credit meter balance for the first wagering game is not accessible to the second wagering game;

detecting a request to place a wager in the second wagering game on a first playing round of the second wagering game;

automatically accessing, in response to the request, funds from the first credit meter balance, wherein the first credit meter balance is not accessible to the second wagering game;

automatically debiting, in response to the request, a first credit from the first credit meter balance; and

automatically electronically transferring, via at least one of the one or processors, the first credit to the second credit meter balance for placement of the wager.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

detecting that a second credit is awarded for the first playing round of the second wagering game; and

before a second playing round of the second wagering game is played, crediting the second credit to the first credit meter.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the electronically transferring the first credit from the first credit meter balance to the second credit meter balance comprises debiting funds from the first credit meter balance to fund an account associated with the second credit meter, and wherein the method further comprises debiting funds from the account to play the second wagering game.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising:

receiving a credit as a reward for play of the second wagering game; and

adding the credit to the account.