Method and apparatus for facilitating game play with a mortgaging option

• US 20060108736A1
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Kim, Peter, Gelman, Geoffrey M., Downs, Michael D., Walker, Jay S., Vogel, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,731 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 273/274
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/00 Card games aspects of games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions showing representations related to the game A63F13/00; card games played on a gaming machine G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/067 Tables or similar supporting structures
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 1/18 Score computers; Miscellaneous indicators time-testing devices G07C
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/003 Blackjack; Twenty one
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2001/008 adapted for being playable on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/08 Raffle games that can be played by a fairly large number of people A63F3/0625, A63F3/065 take precedence; lottery apparatus G07C15/00; lottery gaming stations, online lottery or bingo G07F17/329
• 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 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

In some embodiments, methods and apparatus allow for a plurality of options to be displayed to a player for playing at least one round of a game in accordance with at least one advantage and/or disadvantage. The player may accept an option. For example, a player may accept an option to play at least one future round of play in accordance with a rule that is different from a rule used in a current round of play.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining at least one game indicium for a current round of a game,

in which the current round of the game is played in accordance with a first rule of the game; and

after determining the at least one game indicium, before determining an outcome of the current round,

entering into an agreement with the player to play at least one future round of the game in accordance with a second rule of the game instead of the first rule.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the game is a slot machine game.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the game is a card game.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the game is a blackjack game.

5. The method of claim 1, in which the game is a poker game.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the player with a disadvantage during the current round of play.

7. The method of claim 6, in which the second rule is favorable to the player.

8. The method of claim 1, in which the second rule is a disadvantage for the player with respect to the first rule of the game.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

providing the player with an advantage during the current round.

10. The method of claim 1, in which entering in the agreement comprises:

entering into the agreement after determining a first indicium and before determining a second indicium.

11. The method of claim 1, in which the second rule corresponds to a reduced chance of winning in the at least one future round of play.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the player with an advantage in the current round.

13. The method of claim 12, in which providing the player with the advantage comprises:

facilitating play of the current round in accordance with a third rule that is favorable to the player.

14. The method of claim 12, in which providing the player with the advantage comprises:

terminating the current round without causing the player to lose all of the initial bet.

15. The method of claim 12, in which providing the player with the advantage comprises:

providing the player with an increased chance of winning during the current round of play.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

increasing a duration of a gaming session purchased by the player, the gaming session comprising multiple rounds of play.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to perform a method comprising;

determining at least one game indicium for a current round of a game,

in which the current round of the game is played in accordance with a first rule of the game; and

after determining the at least one game indicium, before determining an outcome of the current round,

entering into an agreement with the player to play at least one future round of the game in accordance with a second rule of the game instead of the first rule.

18. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method comprising:

determining at least one game indicium for a current round of a game,

in which the current round of the game is played in accordance with a first rule of the game; and

after determining the at least one game indicium, before determining an outcome of the current round,

entering into an agreement with the player to play at least one future round of the game in accordance with a second rule of the game instead of the first rule.

19. A method comprising:

determining a set of at least one game symbol for a current round of a game,

in which the current round of the game is played in accordance with a first rule;

determining a plurality of mortgaging options;

transmitting a signal to display an indication of the plurality of mortgaging options to the player via a gaming device; and

receiving an indication of acceptance by the player of a mortgaging option from the plurality of mortgaging options,

in which the accepted mortgaging option is associated with an agreement by the player to play at least one future round of the game in accordance with a second rule of the game instead of the first rule.

20. The method of claim 19, in which transmitting the signal to display comprises:

transmitting the signal from a central controller to the gaming device.

21. The method of claim 19, in which transmitting the signal to display comprises:

transmitting the signal to a display of the gaming device.

22. The method of claim 21, in which the display comprises a touch screen.

23. The method of claim 19, in which receiving the indication of acceptance comprises:

receiving the indication of acceptance from the gaming device.

24. The method of claim 19, in which receiving the indication of acceptance comprises:

receiving the indication of acceptance via a touch screen of the gaming device.

25. The method of claim 19, in which receiving the indication of acceptance comprises:

receiving the indication of acceptance via a button of the gaming device.