Methods and apparatus for representing play in a reverse mode

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that a player of a first gaming device has selected a reverse payout mode;

displaying a representation of a virtual gaming device;

displaying a representation of a virtual player;

displaying a representation of at least one of:

credit being added to the virtual gaming device,

the virtual player making a wager,

the virtual player initiating a play,

the virtual player receiving a payout amount,

the virtual player receiving a jackpot,

the occurrence of a winning outcome at the virtual gaming device,

the occurrence of losing outcome at the virtual gaming device,

the virtual player communicating with the player; and

the virtual player interacting with a second virtual player; and

the virtual player consuming a food item; and

determining an outcome for the virtual player.

2. The method of claim 1 , in which receiving the indication comprises:

receiving the indication via a payout selector.

3. The method of claim 1 , in which displaying the representation of the virtual gaming device comprises:

displaying an image of the virtual gaming device using a display device of the first gaming device.

4. The method of claim 1 , in which displaying the representation of the virtual gaming device comprises:

displaying a representation of the first gaming device.

5. The method of claim 1 , in which displaying the representation of the virtual gaming device comprises:

displaying a representation of a second gaming device that is different from the first gaming device.

6. The method of claim 1 , in which displaying the representation of the virtual player comprises:

displaying an image of the virtual player using a display device of the first gaming device.

7. The method of claim 1 , in which displaying the representation of the virtual player comprises:

displaying the virtual player using animation.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a wager amount.

9. The method of claim 8 , in which determining the wager amount comprises:

receiving an indication of the wager amount from the player.

10. The method of claim 8 , in which determining the wager amount comprises:

outputting an indication of at least two available wager amounts; and receiving an indication of a selection by the player of one of the at least two available wager amounts.

11. The method of claim 8 , in which determining the wager amount comprises:

receiving an indication of the wager amount from a server.

12. The method of claim 8 , in which determining the wager amount comprises:

receiving an indication of the wager amount from the first gaming device.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying a representation of the virtual gaming device generating the outcome.

14. The method of claim 1 , in which determining the outcome comprises:

determining the outcome in accordance with a normal payout mode.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

displaying a representation of the virtual character playing the virtual gaming device.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a payout amount based on the outcome.

17. The method of claim 16 , in which determining the payout amount comprises:

determining a payout amount based on the outcome and a payout table that is associated with a normal payout mode.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

subtracting the payout amount from an account balance that is associated with the player.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

determining a wager amount; and

adjusting an account balance that is associated with the player based on the wager amount and the payout amount.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

determining a wager amount;

adding the wager amount to an account balance that is associated with the player; and

subtracting the payout amount from the account balance.

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing to the player an offer to play the first gaming device in the reverse payout mode.

22. The method of claim 21 , in which the offer comprises an offer for providing play in the reverse payout mode in exchange for a fee amount.

23. The method of claim 21 , in which providing the offer comprises:

determining a number of losing outcomes received by the player; and providing the offer if the number of losing outcomes is not less than a predetermined number of losing outcomes.

24. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a fee amount from the player in exchange for providing play in the reverse payout mode.

25. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing an offer to the player for insurance.

26. The method of claim 25 , further comprising:

receiving an indication of acceptance by the player of the offer for insurance;

determining a maximum payout amount associated with the insurance;

determining a payout amount that is associated with the outcome; and adjusting an account balance that is associated with the player based on the payout amount and the maximum payout amount.

27. The method of claim 26 , in which adjusting the account balance comprises:

subtracting an amount that is not greater than the maximum payout amount from the account balance.

28. The method of claim 26 , in which adjusting the account balance comprises:

if the payout amount is not greater than the maximum payout amount, subtracting the payout amount from the account balance.

29. A method comprising:

enabling a reverse payout mode of play of a gaming device,

in which the reverse payout mode of play comprises determining at least on payout amount in accordance with a normal payout mode of play, and

in which the at least one determined payout amount is associated with a second player;

receiving an indication of a request by a first player to play the gaming device in accordance with the reverse payout mode of play;

indicating to the first player that play is being provided in accordance with the reverse payout mode of play, in which indicating comprises at least one of:

displaying a representation of the second player,

displaying a representation of a virtual gaming device,

displaying a representation of the second player making a wager,

displaying a representation of the second player initiating a handle pull of a virtual gaming device,

crediting a wager amount by the second player to an account of the first player, and

debiting the at least one determined payout amount from an account of the first player.