Gaming device for a flat rate play session and a method of operating same

• US 7,914,375 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Santisi, Steven M., Gilman, Norman C., Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Fincham, Magdalena M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCULLOCH JR, WILLIAM H
• Application Number:
  US11/425,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/21, 463/25, 463/26, 463/42, 273/138.2, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/25
• 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 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

The present invention is directed generally to a method and apparatus for operating a gaming device having a flat rate play session costing a flat rate price. The flat rate play session spans multiple plays on the gaming device over a pre-established duration. The gaming device identifies price parameters and determines the flat rate price of playing the gaming device based on those price parameters. In one embodiment, identifying price parameters includes receiving player selected price parameters. In another embodiment, price parameters further incorporate operator selected price parameters. Should the player decide to pay the flat rate price, the player simply deposits the necessary funds into the gaming device or makes a credit account available for the gaming device to debit. Once the player initiates play, the gaming device tracks the duration remaining in the flat rate play session and stops the play when the given period has elapsed. During the play, payouts are made either directly to the player in the form of coins or indirectly in the form of credits to the player'"'"'s credit account. In accordance with one embodiment, a player may enter into a contract, wherein the contract specifies the flat rate play session as described above.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one input device;

at least one display device; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one input device and the at least one display device to;

(a) display a menu of a plurality of different available flat rate play sessions, each available flat rate play session including a plurality of distinct plays of a wagering game provided during a predetermined duration, wherein;

(i) the displayed menu includes, for each of the different available flat rate play sessions;

(A) the predetermined duration of said flat rate play session, and

(B) a flat rate price of said flat rate play session, said flat rate price determined based on at least one price parameter associated with said flat rate play session;

(ii) each distinct play of the wagering game of each available flat rate play session is associated with;

(A) a distinct wager amount, and

(B) a probability greater than zero of resulting in an award having a value greater than zero, and

(iii) a first one of the available flat rate play sessions is associated with a first predetermined duration and a first flat rate price and a second different one of the flat rate play sessions is associated with a second, different predetermined duration and a second, different flat rate price,

(b) enable a player to select one of the plurality of different available flat rate play sessions,

and

(c) upon receiving an indication of receipt of a single payment corresponding to the flat rate price of the selected flat rate play session, enable the player to play each of the plurality of plays of the wagering game during the predetermined duration of the selected flat rate play session, wherein said single payment is received prior to any awards being provided in association with any of the plays of the wagering game during the predetermined duration of the selected flat rate play session.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the duration of each of the plurality of different available flat rate play sessions is based on a passage of a specified number of units of time.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the units of time include minutes.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the duration of each of the plurality of different available flat rate play sessions is based on an occurrence of a specified number of plays of the wagering game, the specified number of plays of the wagering game being at least two.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display an indication of a remainder of the predetermined duration of the selected flat rate play session during play of the selected flat rate play session.

6. The gaming system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to display an indication of counting down the remainder of the predetermined duration of the selected flat rate play session based on a passage of time during play of the selected flat rate play session.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device to:

determine if a qualifying event occurs; and

when the determination is that the qualifying event has occurred, display the counting down of the remainder of the duration of the selected flat rate play session as being paused.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the flat rate price for the selected flat rate play session is less than a sum of the wager amounts for each play of the game of the selected flat rate play session.

9. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

causing at least one display device to display a menu of a plurality of different available flat rate play sessions, each available flat rate play session including a plurality of distinct plays of a wagering game provided during a predetermined duration, wherein;

(i) the displayed menu includes, for each of the different available flat rate play sessions;

(A) the predetermined duration of said flat rate play session, and

(B) a flat rate price of said flat rate play session, said flat rate price determined based on at least one price parameter associated with said flat rate play session,

(ii) each distinct play of the wagering game of each available flat rate play session is associated with;

(A) a distinct wager amount, and

(B) a probability greater than zero of resulting in an award having a value greater than zero, and

(iii) a first one of the available flat rate play sessions is associated with a first predetermined duration and a first flat rate price and a second different one of the flat rate play sessions is associated with a second, different predetermined duration and a second, different flat rate price;

enabling a player to select one of the plurality of different available flat rate play sessions; and

upon receiving an indication of receipt of a single payment, corresponding to the flat rate price of the selected flat rate play session, enabling the player to play each of the plurality of plays of the wagering game during the predetermined duration of the selected flat rate play session, wherein said single payment is received prior to any awards being provided in association with any of the plays of the wagering game during the predetermined duration of the selected flat rate play session.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the duration of each of the plurality of different available flat rate play sessions is based on an occurrence of a specified number of plays of the wagering game, the specified number of plays of the wagering game being at least two.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the duration of each of the plurality of different available flat rate play sessions is based on a passage of a specified number of units of time.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the units of time include minutes.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising causing the at least one display device to display an indication of a remainder of the predetermined duration of the selected flat rate play session during play of the selected flat rate play session.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising causing the at least one display device to display an indication of counting down the remainder of the predetermined duration of the selected flat rate play session based on a passage of time during play of the selected flat rate play session.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor to determine if a qualifying event occurs; and

when the determination is that the qualifying event has occurred, causing the at least one display device to display the counting down of the remainder of the duration of the selected flat rate play session as being paused.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the flat rate price for the selected flat rate play session is less than a sum of the wager amounts for each play of the game of the selected flat rate play session.