Method and apparatus for employing flat rate play
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
- receiving a payment from a player in exchange for providing a predetermined number of outcomes of a wagering game, said predetermined number of outcomes of the wagering game being at least two and each outcome of the wagering game associated with a wager amount, the payment being less than a sum of each of the wager amounts associated with each of the predetermined number of outcomes;
causing at least one credit display device to display an indication of a balance of credits based on the payment received from the player;
causing at least one processor to generate each of the predetermined number of outcomes from a plurality of different possible outcomes; and
for each generated outcome of the predetermined number of outcomes;
(a) causing the at least one credit display device to display an indication of a decrease in the balance of credits based on the wager amount associated with said outcome,(b) causing the at least one processor to determine whether to increase the balance of credits based on said outcome,(c) if the determination is to increase the balance of credits based on said outcome, causing the at least one credit display device to display an indication of the increase in the balance of credits based on said outcome,(d) causing the at least one processor to determine if the balance of credits is less than zero, and(e) if the determination is that the balance of credits is less than zero;
(i) causing the at least one credit display device to display an indication that the balance of credits is less than zero, said indication including at least one positive balance having a value of zero and at least one negative balance having a value of less than zero, and(ii) causing the at least one processor to continue to generate any remaining outcomes of the predetermined number of outcomes.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are provided allowing a player to play a gaming device and receive a predetermined number of outcomes in exchange for a payment. The gaming device generates at least the predetermined number of outcomes, and adjusts a balance of the player device based on the outcomes. The player can continue playing regardless of whether the balance is less than zero.
165 Citations
28 Claims
-
1. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
-
receiving a payment from a player in exchange for providing a predetermined number of outcomes of a wagering game, said predetermined number of outcomes of the wagering game being at least two and each outcome of the wagering game associated with a wager amount, the payment being less than a sum of each of the wager amounts associated with each of the predetermined number of outcomes; causing at least one credit display device to display an indication of a balance of credits based on the payment received from the player; causing at least one processor to generate each of the predetermined number of outcomes from a plurality of different possible outcomes; and for each generated outcome of the predetermined number of outcomes; (a) causing the at least one credit display device to display an indication of a decrease in the balance of credits based on the wager amount associated with said outcome, (b) causing the at least one processor to determine whether to increase the balance of credits based on said outcome, (c) if the determination is to increase the balance of credits based on said outcome, causing the at least one credit display device to display an indication of the increase in the balance of credits based on said outcome, (d) causing the at least one processor to determine if the balance of credits is less than zero, and (e) if the determination is that the balance of credits is less than zero; (i) causing the at least one credit display device to display an indication that the balance of credits is less than zero, said indication including at least one positive balance having a value of zero and at least one negative balance having a value of less than zero, and (ii) causing the at least one processor to continue to generate any remaining outcomes of the predetermined number of outcomes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
-
receiving a payment from a player in exchange for providing a predetermined number of outcomes of a wagering game, said predetermined number of outcomes of the wagering game being at least two and each outcome of the wagering game associated with a wager amount, the payment being less than a sum of each of the wager amounts associated with each of the predetermined number of outcomes; causing at least one credit display device to display an indication of a balance of credits based on the payment; generating each of the predetermined number of outcomes from a plurality of different possible outcomes; adjusting the balance of credits based on each of the predetermined number of outcomes; causing the at least one credit display device to display the adjusted balance of credits, wherein if the adjusted balance of credits is less than zero, indicating at least one positive balance having a value of zero and at least one negative balance having a value of less than zero; determining whether the displayed balance of credits exceeds a predetermined non-zero threshold of credits; if the determination is that the displayed balance of credits exceeds the predetermined non-zero threshold of credits; (a) providing a first portion of the balance of the credits to the player, the first portion based on a difference between the balance of credits and the predetermined non-zero threshold of credits, and (b) withholding a second portion of the balance of the credits from the player, the second portion including a remainder of the balance of the credits after the first portion has been provided to the player; and if the determination is that the displayed balance of credits does not exceed the predetermined non-zero threshold of credits, withholding the displayed balance of credits from the player. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
-
26. A gaming system comprising:
-
at least one display device; at least one input device; at least one processor; 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 display device and the at least one input device to; enable a player to provide a payment in exchange for a predetermined number of outcomes of a wagering game, said predetermined number of outcomes of the wagering game being at least two and each outcome of the wagering game associated with a wager amount, the payment being less than a sum of each of the wager amounts associated with each of the predetermined number of outcomes, display an indication of a balance of credits based on the payment, generate each of the predetermined number of outcomes from a plurality of different possible outcomes, and for each generated outcome of the predetermined number of outcomes; (a) display a decrease in the balance of credits based on the wager amount associated with the outcome, (b) determine whether to increase the balance of credits based on said outcome, (c) if the determination is to increase the balance of credits based on said outcome, display an indication of an increase in the balance of credits based on said outcome, (d) determine if the balance of credits is less than zero, and (e) if the determination is that the balance of credits is less than zero; (i) display an indication that the balance of credits is less than zero, said indication including at least one positive balance having a value of zero and at least one negative balance having a value of less than zero, and (ii) continue to generate any remaining outcomes of the predetermined number of outcomes. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
-
Specification