Method and apparatus for conducting a game of chance

• US 7,815,502 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Gamelogic Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Kane, Steven N., Hardy, Dow
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Li; Wei
• Application Number:
  US11/647,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20070259708A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/20, 463/25, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 15/005 with dispensing of lottery tickets
• 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 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

The field of the invention relates generally to lotteries and gaming, and more particularly, to systems for conducting casino-based gaming. After a player subscribes to play multiple games on a video gaming machine, the player may choose to finish playing the games elsewhere. The video gaming machine may then determine the outcomes for the games yet to be played and then may issue a ticket to the player.

Claims

1. A method for playing games of chance comprising acts of:

providing a first video gaming machine having multiple games, each of the multiple games having a non-predetermined outcome and/or a predetermined outcome;

providing for a player to play one or more games on the first video gaming machine, the one or more games having non-predetermined outcomes;

providing for a player to indicate that the player has chosen to not play remaining games already paid for on the first video gaming machine;

the first video gaming machine determining if the remaining games have predetermined outcomes; and

in response to a determination that the remaining games do not have predetermined outcomes and in response to the player having indicated a choice not to play the remaining games, the first video gaming machine determining outcomes of the remaining games and providing a ticket with credit to the player to play the remaining games with predetermined outcomes, the determined outcomes being stored on the provided ticket.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of storing the determined outcomes on at least one of a linked or networked central computer and a storage device within the first video gaming machine.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the provided ticket includes a ticket identifier.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the provided ticket further includes an access code.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the ticket identifier and access code is printed on the provided ticket.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the ticket identifier and access code is coded on the provided ticket magnetically.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises acts of:

operating, by the player, a second video gaming machine;

entering, by the player, at least one of the ticket identifier and access code from the provided ticket into the second video gaming machine;

verifying, by the second video gaming machine, the at least one of entered ticket identifier and access code;

accessing, by the second video gaming machine, the outcomes for the remaining games determined by the first video gaming machine; and

providing, by the second video gaming machine, the remaining games to the player according to the outcomes determined by the first video gaming machine.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the games of chance include one or more games from the group comprising bingo, keno, UK bingo, lotto, lottery games, baccarat and slot machines.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a player obtains the determined outcome of the remaining games despite how the player plays the games.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first video gaming machine is located in a casino.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first video gaming machine is a slot machine.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second video gaming machine is located in at least one of a casino, in a different casino, in a hotel, at a racetrack, at home, and in a mobile location.

13. The method according to claim 7, wherein the second video gaming machine is one of a group comprising a slot machine, personal computer, PDA, and cellular telephone.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the second video gaming machine is connected to the first video gaming machine or central server by one or more of the group comprising a local area network, a wide area network, and the Internet.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of determining if the remaining games have predetermined outcomes is performed on the first video gaming machine.

15. A method for playing games of chance comprising acts of:

providing a first video gaming machine having multiple games, each of the multiple games having a non-predetermined outcome and/or a predetermined outcome;

providing for a player to play a first series of games on the first video gaming machine, the first series of games having non-predetermined outcomes;

providing for a player to indicate that the player has chosen to not play remaining games already paid for on the first video gaming machine;

the first video gaming machine determining if the remaining games have predetermined outcomes;

the first video gaming machine determining an amount of credit due the player for the remaining games and the outcomes of the remaining games in response to the player having indicated a choice not to play the remaining games and in response to a determination that the remaining games do not have predetermined outcomes;

the first video gaming machine storing the outcomes of the remaining games on a central computer, the central computer being distinct from the first gaming machine;

the first video gaming machine providing a ticket with an access code; and

providing for the player to play the remaining games on a second video gaming machine, wherein the determined outcomes are accessed from the central computer using the access code provided on the ticket.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the act of determining if the remaining games have predetermined outcomes is performed on the first video gaming machine.

16. A method for playing games of chance comprising acts of:

providing a first video gaming machine having multiple games, each of the multiple games having a non-predetermined outcome and/or a predetermined outcome;

providing for a player to play a first series of games on the first video gaming machine, the first series of games having non-predetermined outcomes;

providing for a player to indicate that the player has chosen to not play remaining games already paid for on the first video gaming machine;

the first video gaming machine determining if the remaining games have predetermined outcomes;

a second gaming machine connected by a network to the first video gaming machine determining the outcomes of the remaining games in response to the player having indicated a choice not to play the remaining games and in response to a determination that the remaining games do not have predetermined outcomes;

at least one of the first video gaming machine and the second gaming machine storing the outcomes of the remaining games on a central computer, the central computer being distinct from the first gaming machine; and

providing for the player to play the remaining games on another video gaming machine, wherein the determined outcomes are accessed from the central computer.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the third video gaming machine is a personal computer.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the act of determining if the remaining games have predetermined outcomes is performed on the first video gaming machine.