| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080268958 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEAM PLAY OF SLOT MACHINES - A method of operating slot machines permits a machine to be identified as available for team play. Upon being identified for team play, the machine is grouped with other slot machines and subject to bonus conditions dependent on the team play. Bonus conditions typically including selected bonus outcomes and a bonus time period, during which bonus time period all outcomes of the grouped machines are monitored to determine the total bonus outcomes. If the total bonus outcomes of the team meet the bonus conditions within the bonus time period, then a bonus payout is awarded to all of the players. Players are thus encouraged to participate in a social, team environment with others of the team to win the group bonus. The invention is applicable to all slot machines, including video poker machines wherein the bonus outcomes include selected video poker hand ranks, and reeled slot machines wherein the bonus outcomes include selected reel outcomes. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080300051 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AN ACCOUNT TO FUND BENEFITS FOR A PLAYER - In accordance with one or more embodiments, an account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in an increase in the balance is a player's obtainment of an outcome that corresponds to both (i) a first payout that is displayed on a payout schedule of the gaming device, and (ii) an amount by which the balance of the account is to be increased. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit. An example of a condition the satisfaction of which may result in a disbursement is the obtainment by the player of a predetermined number of consecutive non-winning outcomes. Thus, in one or more embodiments, currency may be accumulated for a player during a gaming session of the player and utilized to fund payouts provided to the player at times in which the player may be becoming discouraged and contemplating discontinuation of play of the gaming device. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20090024484 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING CUSTOMIZED REWARD OFFERS - In accordance with some embodiments of the present invention, a method is provided for managing reward offers. A first performance target that is associated with a financial account is determined. Transaction data that is associated with the financial account is received, and a second performance target for the financial account is determined based on the transaction data. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090061996 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING AN OUTCOME AMOUNT VIA A TOTAL NUMBER OF EVENTS - Systems and methods are provided for operating a gaming system. In one embodiment, an outcome amount associated with a total number of events is determined. For example, a total payout amount associated with a number of randomly generated outcomes may be determined. Based on a parameter associated with a player, the outcome amount is allocated among and presented via the total number of events. The outcome amount may be allocated, for example, based on: a total number of events selected by the player; a total wager associated with a given number of events; and/or predetermined probabilities and/or per-event wager amount(s). | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090082090 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR REPRESENTING PLAY IN A REVERSE MODE - In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method for facilitating play of a gaming device is presented, in which the method comprises enabling a reverse payout mode of play of the gaming device and displaying an indication that play of the gaming device is to be provided in accordance with the reverse payout mode of play. In some embodiments, the indication may include a representation of a virtual player playing in a normal mode of play. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20100004056 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EARLY TERMINATION OF A GAME - Methods and apparatus are provided for allowing a player of an extended game to terminate the game prior to its natural conclusion. The extended game may include a secondary game or a bonus game at a gaming device. The player may choose to terminate the game as an alternative to continuing play. In terminating the game, the player may receive a termination value. In some embodiments, the termination value may compensate the player for a failure to realize a payout associated with the game's natural conclusion. | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100113122 | GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH ACCUMULATING EQUITY - Method and apparatus are described for conducting a secondary game at a gaming device. In various embodiments, a player may acquire equity in the secondary game in such forms as a location of a game character, a number of symbols aggregated, a degree of completion of a puzzle, or a defensive provision. Certain symbols or outcomes in a primary game, however, may cause the player to lose equity in the secondary game. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100160029 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EXECUTING GAMES EMPLOYING BONUS AMOUNTS BASED ON BONUS CHARACTERISTICS - Systems and methods are provided for providing a player of a gaming device entitlement to a bonus amount, wherein the bonus amount may not be immediately apparent or attainable by the player. A gaming device player may acquire symbols in the context of a reel-based slot machine game. Certain symbols may entitle the player to a bonus payout, the bonus being apparent or attainable by the player at a later point in time and based on certain characteristics associated with the impending benefit. For example, gaming device players may obtain virtual representations of shares of company stock, which may only be sold (yielding a bonus to the player) under certain conditions, as dictated by the gaming device. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100167802 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TEAM PLAY OF SLOT MACHINES - A method of operating slot machines permits a machine to be identified as available for team play. Upon being identified for team play, the machine is grouped with other slot machines and subject to bonus conditions dependent on the team play. Bonus conditions typically including selected bonus outcomes and a bonus time period, during which bonus time period all outcomes of the grouped machines are monitored to determine the total bonus outcomes. If the total bonus outcomes of the team meet the bonus conditions within the bonus time period, then a bonus payout is awarded to all of the players. Players are thus encouraged to participate in a social, team environment with others of the team to win the group bonus. The invention is applicable to all slot machines, including video poker machines wherein the bonus outcomes include selected video poker hand ranks, and reeled slot machines wherein the bonus outcomes include selected reel outcomes. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100167824 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AWARDING PRIZES IN A LOCAL EDITION OF AN ONLINE GAME - According to some embodiments of the present invention a system and method are provided that allow a player of a game to receive at least one prize. The method may include receiving information about at least one merchant, enabling play of a game by a player, determining merchant information to communicate to the player, and providing at least one prize to the player. In some embodiments, the prizes made available to a player (e.g., for selection) may be based on the location of the player, a merchant, or both. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100227661 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VIDEO POKER - One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method including steps of populating a primary set of card positions with a first set of initial cards, determining at least one discarded card from the first set of initial cards, replacing the at least one discarded card from the first set of initial cards with replacement cards to form a final set of cards, and determining whether to include the at least one discarded card in at least one secondary set of card positions. If the at least one discarded card is to be included in the at least one secondary set of card positions, the method further provides for populating the at least one secondary set of card positions with the at least one discarded card. Some embodiments of the present invention also provide for determining a payout based on at least the final set of cards. | 09-09-2010 |
| 20100240433 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR LOTTERY GAME PLAY AGGREGATION - According to one embodiment, a player may accumulate occurrences of matched lottery numbers over a plurality of lottery outcomes (e.g., lottery number drawings) and/or a plurality of lottery entries. The player may be allowed a bonus if a running count of occurrences of matched numbers is at least equal to a predetermined number. | 09-23-2010 |
| 20100267444 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A LEVEL OF REWARD - In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method comprises associating, with a casino patron, a benefit of a first value. The benefit of the first value is determined based on a first algorithm and based on the patron's activity during a first portion of a period of time. The method further comprises associating, with the patron, a benefit of a second value. The benefit of the second value is determined based on a second algorithm and based on the patron's activity during a second portion of the period of time, the second portion occurring after the first portion. Associating the benefit of the second value is only performed if the associating the benefit of the first value is first performed. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20110130188 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING PLAY AT A GAMING DEVICE BY MEANS OF THIRD PARTY OFFERS - In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, an offer is presented to a player (e.g., at a gaming device or a table game in a casino). The offer defines a benefit to be provided in exchange for the player's commitment to an obligation defined by the offer. The offer may be provided once it is determined that a condition of a gaming device satisfies a predetermined criterion. The benefit defined by the offer may be provided to the player and/or to one or more associated persons designated by the player. | 06-02-2011 |
