Method and apparatus for facilitating game play with a mortgaging option

• US 7,942,731 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kim, Peter, Downs, Michael D., Vogel, Peter J., Jorasch, James A., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Layno; Benjamin H
• Application Number:
  US11/243,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20060108736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 273/143.R, 273/138.2, 273/138.1, 273/274, 273/292, 463/12, 463/13, 463 16- 20, 463 25- 27, 463/39, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/12
• 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 of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to receive a wager on a round of a game from a player;

(b) after receiving said wager for the round of the game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine an intermediate outcome including at least one game indicium for the round of the game, wherein the round of the game is played in accordance with a first rule of the game;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display the determined intermediate outcome including the at least one game indicium for the round of the game;

(d) after displaying the at least one game indicium and before displaying a final outcome of the round of the game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display to the player an offer to enter into an agreement to play at least one subsequent round of the game in accordance with a second different rule of the game instead of the first rule;

(e) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display the final outcome of the round of the game;

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to perform an evaluation of the final outcome based on the first rule of the game; and

(g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device display to the player any award based on a result of said evaluation.

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:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to provide the player with a disadvantage during the round of the game.

7. The method of claim 6, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to cause the second different rule to be favorable to the player.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to cause the second different rule to be a disadvantage for the player with respect to the first rule of the game.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to provide the player with an advantage during the round of the game.

10. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to enable the player to enter into the agreement after causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determines a first indicium and before causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determines a second indicium.

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

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the at least one processor execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to provide the player with an advantage in the round of the game.

13. The method of claim 12, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to facilitate play of the round of the game in accordance with a third different rule that is favorable to the player.

14. The method of claim 12, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to terminate the round without causing the player to lose all of an initial bet.

15. The method of claim 12, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to provide the player with an increased chance of winning during the round of the game.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the round of the game is part of a gaming session purchased by the player, the gaming session comprising multiple rounds of play; and

which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to add the at least one subsequent round to the gaming session by increasing a duration of the gaming session.

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

(a) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to operate with at least one input device to

receive a wager on a round of a game from a player;

(b) after receiving said wager for the round of the game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine an intermediate outcome including a set of at least one game symbol for the round of the game, wherein the round of the game is played in accordance with a first rule;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with at least one display device to display the intermediate outcome including the set of at least one game symbol for the round of the game;

(d) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to determine a plurality of mortgaging options;

(e) after displaying the set of at least one game symbol for the round of the game and before displaying a final outcome for the round of the game, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display an indication of the plurality of different mortgaging options to the player;

(f) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to receive an indication of acceptance by the player of one of said mortgaging options from the plurality of different mortgaging options, wherein the accepted mortgaging option is associated with an agreement by the player to play at least one subsequent round of the game in accordance with a second different rule instead of the first rule;

(g) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display the final outcome of the round of the game;

(h) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to perform an evaluation of the final outcome based on the first rule of the game; and

(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one display device to display to the player any award based on a result of said evaluation.

18. The method of claim 17, in which the at least one display device includes a touch screen.

19. The method of claim 17, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor to receive the indication of acceptance from a gaming device.

20. The method of claim 17, which comprises:

causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions stored in the at least one memory device to operate with the at least one input device to receive the indication of acceptance.

21. The method of claim 20, in which the at least one input device includes a touch screen.