Systems and methods for allocating an outcome amount among a total number of events

• US 7,874,906 B2
• Filed: 03/21/2006
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sager; M.
• Application Number:
  US11/385,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,771 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for operating a gaming system. In one embodiment, an outcome amount associated with a total number of events is determined. For example, a total payout amount associated with a number of instant lottery tickets may be determined. Based on a parameter associated with a player, the outcome amount is allocated among the total number of events. The outcome amount may be allocated, for example, based on a total number of events selected by the player.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming device, comprising:

determining for a player an outcome amount associated with a total number of events for the player;

determining a parameter specified by the player;

based on the parameter specified by the player, allocating via a gaming device the outcome amount for the player among the total number of events for the player, wherein the total number of events is greater than one; and

after determining an outcome amount, revealing to the player an indication of an event payout amount that is associated with at least one of the total number of events,

wherein the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of;

(i) the outcome amount, and (ii) the total number of events.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of the following types of parameters:

(i) a payout distribution preference, (ii) a payout frequency preference, (iii) a payout magnitude preference, (iv) a payout location preference, (v) a standard deviation associated with said allocating, (vi) a payout order preference, (vii) a total wager amount, (viii) an event wager amount, (ix) a total time period, (x) a game format, and (xi) a payout currency preference.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of the following types of information:

(i) demographic information, (ii) psychographic information, and (iii) player history information.

4. The method of claim 1, in which determining the parameter specified by the player comprises:

retrieving a stored indication of the parameter specified by the player.

5. The method of claim 1, in which determining the parameter specified by the player comprises:

receiving an indication of the parameter specified by the player.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the parameter is received from at least one of:

(i) the player, (ii) a player device, (iii) a controller, and (iv) an event result server.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said receiving is performed via at least one of:

(i) a communication network, (ii) the Internet, and (iii) a telephone network.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the outcome amount comprises:

receiving an indication of the outcome amount.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said receiving comprises receiving the indication from at least one of:

(i) a player device, (ii) a controller, and (iii) an event result server.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said receiving is performed via at least one of:

(i) a communication network, (ii) the Internet, and (iii) a telephone network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises retrieving a stored indication of the outcome amount.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises randomly generating the outcome amount.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating is performed by at least one of:

(i) a controller, and (ii) an event result server.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating is performed by a player device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the player device comprises at least one of the following types of devices:

(i) a personal computer;

(ii) a portable computing device;

(iii) a personal digital assistant;

(iv) a telephone;

(v) a wireless telephone, (vi) a pager, (vii) a kiosk, (viii) a point of sale terminal, and (ix) an automated teller machine.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating comprises:

selecting a subset of the total number of events; and

allocating the outcome amount among the subset of the total number of events.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating comprises:

determining a plurality of event outcomes based on the outcome amount; and

associating each of the event outcomes with one of the total number of events.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating is based on at least one of:

(i) a predetermined formula, (ii) a stored outcome table, and (iii) a random process.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining comprises:

determining a plurality of outcome amounts associated with a prior total number of events, the prior total number of events being different than the total number of events.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said allocating comprises allocating the plurality of outcome amounts among the total number of events.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining an outcome amount comprises:

determining a plurality of outcome amounts associated with a prior total number of events, the prior total number of events being less than the total number of events.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the prior total number of events is one.

23. The method of claim 1, wherein said determining an outcome amount comprises:

determining a plurality of outcome amounts associated with a prior total number of events, the prior total number of events being more than the total number of events.

24. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating comprises associating the event payout amount with at least one of the total number of events.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein said allocating comprises associating a plurality of event payout amounts with a plurality of the total number of events.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the event payout amount is a negative amount.

27. The method of claim 1, in which transmitting the indication comprises:

displaying the event payout amount to the player.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the player payment of an amount based on a total wager amount; and

providing to the player payment of an amount associated with the event payout amount.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the player payment of an amount based on a total wager amount; and

providing to the player payment of an amount associated with the outcome amount, wherein the outcome amount is based at least in part on the total wager amount and a random process.

30. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

re-allocating the outcome amount among the total number of events.

31. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

re-allocating the outcome amount among a subsequent total number of events, the subsequent total number of events being different than the total number of events.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the total number of events is associated with an electronic representation of a scratch-off type instant game ticket.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the parameter specified by the player comprises a payout distribution preference.

34. The method of claim 33, in which the payout distribution preference indicates a payout frequency preference.

35. The method of claim 33, in which the payout distribution preference indicates a payout magnitude preference.

36. The method of claim 33, in which the payout distribution preference indicates a preferred standard deviation associated with the allocation of the outcome amount.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a communication device coupled to the processor; and

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

determine for a player an outcome amount associated with a total number of events for the player;

determine a parameter specified by the player;

based on the parameter specified by the player, allocate the outcome amount for the player among the total number of events for the player, wherein the total number of events is greater than one; and

after determine an outcome amount, reveal to the player an indication of an event payout amount that is associated with at least one of the total number of events,

wherein the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of;

(i) the outcome amount, and (ii) the total number of events.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, the storage device further storing at least one of the following:

(i) a game database, (ii) a game session database, (iii) a player database, and (iv) an event database.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, in which the communication device is adapted to communicate with at least one of:

(i) an event result server, (ii) a player device, and (iii) a controller.

40. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method of operating a gaming device, the method comprising:

determining for a player an outcome amount associated with a total number of events for the player;

determining a parameter specified by the player;

based on the parameter specified by the player, allocating the outcome amount for the player among the total number of events for the player, wherein the total number of events is greater than one; and

after determining an outcome amount, revealing to the player an indication of an event payout amount that is associated with at least one of the total number of events,

wherein the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of;

(i) the outcome amount, and (ii) the total number of events.