Method and apparatus for employing flat rate play

• US 8,062,122 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tulley, Stephen C., Santisi, Steven M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Gilman, Norman C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCulloch, Jr.; William H
• Application Number:
  US11/428,642
• Publication Number:
  US 20060252514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/26
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• 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

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.

Claims

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

displaying, on a device associated with a gaming device configured to display a play of a wagering game, a first quantity of game plays of the wagering game purchased by and available to the player of the gaming device, the first quantity of game plays being greater than zero and distinct from a first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game, said first quantity of credits being available, independent of the first quantity of game plays, to be cashed out by the player and said first quantity of game plays not being available to be cashed out by the player;

causing a processor to execute a plurality of instructions to determine that the player has initiated a play of the wagering game using one of the first quantity of game plays and at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available;

if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using one of the first quantity of game plays, without reducing any quantity of credits available;

(i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reduce the displayed first quantity of game plays by one;

(ii) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second quantity of game plays available to the player, the second quantity of game plays being distinct from the first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game and said second quantity of game plays not being available to be cashed out by the player; and

(iii) displaying, on the device associated with the gaming device, the second quantity of game plays available to the player; and

if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using the at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available, without reducing any quantity of game plays;

(i) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to reduce the first quantity of credits available by the at least one wagered credit; and

(ii) causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a second quantity of credits available, the second quantity of credits being available, independent of any quantity of game plays, to be cashed out by the player.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to deduct, upon initiation of the game play, at least one portion of at least one credit from a balance of credits available for wagering on the wagering game.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device comprises a slot machine having a plurality of reels and each of the first quantity of game plays and the second quantity of game plays comprises a quantity of spins of the slot machine.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the plurality of reels comprise at least one of:

a plurality of electronic reels, a plurality of mechanical reels and a plurality of virtual reels.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying on the gaming device the first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the game plays of the wagering game.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to cash out at least one credit from the first quantity of credits; and

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to authorize a printing of a cashless gaming receipt redeemable for the at least one credit.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a win of a third quantity of credits as a result of the game play initiated by the player;

if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using one of the first quantity of game plays, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to add the third quantity of credits to the first quantity of credits to determine a third fourth quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game; and

if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using the at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available, causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to add the third quantity of credits to the second quantity of credits to determine a fifth quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein both the first quantity of game plays and the second quantity of game plays are displayed on a first area of the device associated with the gaming device and the first quantity of credits is displayed on a second area of the device associated with the gaming device, said second area being distinct from the first area.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a payment from the player for the first quantity of game plays; and

causing the processor to execute the plurality of instructions to set a counter of the gaming device to the first quantity of game plays.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the device associated with the gaming device comprises an LCD screen.

11. An apparatus comprising:

an input device;

a processor;

a display device;

a memory device storing a program, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device and the input device to;

display a first quantity of game plays of a wagering game purchased by and available to the player, the first quantity of game plays being greater than zero and distinct from a first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game, said first quantity of credits being available, independent of the first quantity of game plays, to be cashed out by the player and said first quantity of game plays not being available to be cashed out by the player;

determine that the player has initiated a play of the wagering game using one of;

the first quantity of game plays and at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available;

if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using one of the first quantity of game plays, without reducing any quantity of credits available;

(i) reduce the displayed first number of game plays by one;

(ii) determine a second quantity of game plays available to the player, the second quantity of game plays being distinct from the first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game and said second quantity of game plays not being available to be cashed out by the player; and

(iii) display the second quantity of game plays available to the player; and

if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using the at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available, without reducing any quantity of game plays;

(i) reduce the first quantity of credits available by the at least one wagered credit; and

(ii) determine a second quantity of credits available, the second quantity of credits being available, independent of any quantity of game plays, to be cashed out by the player.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program comprising instructions, the program, when read by a computer, causing the computer to:

display, on a device associated with a gaming device configured to display a wagering game, a first quantity of game plays of the wagering game purchased by and available to the player of the gaming device, the first quantity of game plays being greater than zero and distinct from a first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game, said first quantity of credits being available, independent of the first quantity of game plays, to be cashed out by the player and said first quantity of game plays not being available to be cashed out by the player;

determine that the player has initiated a play of the wagering game using one of;

the first quantity of game plays and at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available;

if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using one of the first quantity of game plays, without reducing any quantity of credits available;

(i) reduce the displayed first quantity of game plays by one;

(ii) determine a second quantity of game plays available to the player, the second quantity of game plays being distinct from the first quantity of credits available to the player for wagering on the wagering game and said second quantity of game plays not being available to be cashed out by the player; and

(iii) display, on the device associated with the gaming device, the second quantity of game plays available to the player; and

if the player initiated the play of the wagering game using the at least one wagered credit of the first quantity of credits available, without reducing any quantity of game plays;

(i) reduce the first quantity of credits available by the at least one wagered credit; and

(ii) determine a second quantity of credits available, the second quantity of credits being available, independent of any quantity of game plays, to be cashed out by the player.