Method and apparatus for offering a flat rate gaming session with time extension awards

• US 7,955,169 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Robert C., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hsu; Ryan
• Application Number:
  US11/273,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046836A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/25, 463/29, 463 40- 42
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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

A wagering method is provided that allows players to purchase a gaming session comprising a plurality of game outcomes at a flat rate price. The number of game outcomes available in the bulk purchase gaming session may be a function of time in lieu of a specified number of game outcomes. In order to increase the attractiveness of the bulk purchase of the gaming outcomes, bonus time is awarded to players for specified winning game outcomes occurring during the gaming session, allowing players to extend their gaming session. This alternative award system increases player interest by providing either monetary and time awards, or a combination of both for a winning game outcome. Bonus time can also be offered as part of the gaming establishment'"'"'s player tracking program or any special promotional program.

Claims

1. A wagering method for a gaming device comprising:

presenting, on a display screen of a gaming device communicating with a gaming server over the Internet, a contract for a gaming session having a predetermined duration spanning a plurality of game plays of a wagering game, the contract having a contract price;

receiving an identifier for determining a time extension to the predetermined duration of the gaming session;

recognizing a payment corresponding to the contract price;

providing, over the Internet and on the display screen, the gaming session for the predetermined duration plus the time extension for the contract price, without requiring further payment for the time extension;

determining that the time extension is to be redeemed;

pausing the gaming session to provide play of the wagering game for a duration of the time extension; and

resuming the gaming session of the predetermined duration once the duration of the time extension is complete.

2. The wagering method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a promotional code.

3. The wagering method of claim 2, wherein the promotional code is entered into a player-tracking device.

4. The wagering method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is stored on a ticket and received through a ticket reader.

5. The wagering method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a player identifier.

6. The wagering method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a player tracking number.

7. A wagering method for a gaming device comprising:

presenting, on a display screen of a gaming device communicating with a gaming server over the Internet, a contract for a gaming session having a predetermined duration spanning a plurality of game plays of a wagering game, the contract having a contract price;

recognizing a payment corresponding to the contract price;

implementing, over the Internet, the gaming session on the gaming device;

providing at least one award for a winning game outcome from the group of a game play award or a time award,

wherein the at least one time award is an award of time which may be redeemed to extend a duration of a gaming session other than the gaming session during which the award is won, the time award thereby being a time extension of a subsequent gaming session, and

wherein the duration comprising the time award is added to extend the duration of the subsequent gaming session without increasing a contract price of the subsequent gaming session, without requiring further payment for the time extension; and

storing in a memory of the gaming server an indication of the time award won in association with a player identifier of a player who won the time award, such that the time award can be accessed and applied to the subsequent gaming session.

8. The wagering method of claim 7, wherein the time award is redeemed after a predetermined duration of the subsequent gaming session.

9. The wagering method of claim 7, wherein the time award is added to a predetermined duration of the subsequent gaming session to extend the duration of the subsequent gaming session.

10. The wagering method of claim 7, further including a monetary award for a winning game outcome, wherein the monetary award is added to a credit balance.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the time award has a redemption condition associated therewith.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the redemption condition comprises redeeming the time award on a different gaming device than the gaming device on which the time award was won.

11. A method for purchasing a gaming session on a gaming device comprising:

presenting, on a display screen of a gaming device communicating with a gaming server over the Internet, a contract to a player for a first gaming session having a predetermined duration spanning a plurality of game plays of a wagering game, the contract further having a contract price;

recognizing a payment for the contract price;

specifying, as a condition to the first gaming session, a player action to be completed during the first gaming session in order to receive a time extension to a duration of a second gaming session;

recognizing completion of the player action; and

implementing, over the Internet, the second gaming session on the gaming device for a predetermined duration purchased as a defining parameter of the second gaming session plus the time extension earned during the first gaming session, without requiring further payment for the time extension.