Method and apparatus for playing games
View Patent ↗A system and methods of playing wagering games of chance in which a player receives points based on game play, the points being usable toward either a cumulative jackpot or entry into another game which may be a game of skill or chance. In one example, a system and method for a “double chance” game links progress in a second game to the results of a first game. A player receives a chance at playing the second game based on winning or losing the first game, thereby providing the player with two chances to win for one entry into a game session. A player participating in the first game receives points, based on a result of the first game, that may be used to play a second game or may be redeemed for one or more prizes, as discussed below. The points may embody the player's chance for winning the second game. In one example game format, the points may be awarded for “losing” the first game, thereby providing a dual incentive to a player to play the game—the player may achieve the game's payout by winning the game or may accrue points by losing the game. In such a manner, a player's interest in playing the first game may be increased because of additional chances to win offered by the second game (or selection of prizes) associated with the points the player receives during play of the first game.
1. A method of gaming comprising acts of:
entering a player in a first game session;
determining a result of the first game session;
calculating a first payout corresponding to the result of the first game session from a payout table including entries for a first payout amount, a second payout amount, and a third payout amount, the first payout amount being greater than the second payout amount, and the second payout amount being greater than the third payout amount;
calculating a first number of points corresponding to the result of the first game session from a points table linked to the payout table, there being an inverse relationship between the first number of points and the first payout, a first amount of points corresponding to the first payout amount, a second amount of points corresponding to the second payout amount, and a third amount of points corresponding to the third payout amount, the third amount of points being greater than the second amount of points, and the second amount of points being greater than the first amount of points;
providing the player with at least one of the first payout and the first number of points; and
providing for the player to redeem points for an increased probability of winning a second game.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising acts of:
entering a player in a second game session;
determining a result of the second game session; and
providing the player with at least one of a second payout and a second number of points based on the result of the second game session; and
wherein the second number of points is based at least in part on the second payout and the first number of points.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising an act of providing for the player to accumulate points over multiple game sessions.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the multiple game sessions are played during a predetermined time interval.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising an act of providing for the player to redeem the first number of points for at least one of a ticket for another game, cash, casino chips and a discount on an item of merchandise.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a higher first number of points results in a greater probability of winning the second game.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising an act of tracking performance of the player over multiple game sessions.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising an act of adjusting the number of points provided to a player in an individual game session based on the performance of the player over the multiple game sessions.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the act of adjusting the number of points provided comprises an act of increasing the number of points provided to a player when the performance of the player indicates multiple losses.
10. A computer-readable medium having computer-readable signals stored thereon that define instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computer, instruct the computer to perform a method for conducting a game, the method comprising acts of:
entering a player in a first game session;
determining a result of the first game session;
providing the player with at least one of a first payout and a first number of points based on the result of the first game session, the points redeemable for an increased probability of winning a second game; and
wherein the first number of points is based at least in part on the first payout, and wherein there is an inverse relationship between the first number of points and the first payout.
11. The computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises acts of:
tracking performance of the player over multiple game sessions; and
adjusting the number of points provided based on the performance of the player over the multiple game sessions.
12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises acts of:
playing a second game session, wherein a probability of winning the second game session is based at least in part on the first number of points.
13. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises an act of redeeming the first number of points for at least one of a ticket for another game, cash, casino chips and a discount on an item of merchandise.
14. A system for playing a game on a computer system, the system comprising:
means for allowing at least one player to enter to a first game session;
means for providing the at least one player at least one of a payout and a number of points based on result of the first game session, the points redeemable for an increased probability of winning a second game; and
means for determining the number of points based at least in part on the payout, wherein there is an inverse relationship between the number of points and the payout.
15. The computer system of claim 14 , further comprising:
means for allowing for the at least one player to accumulate points;
means for the at least one player to view the number of points accumulated;
means for comparing the number of points of at least two players; and
means for awarding an associated jackpot to a player of the at least two players who accumulated the highest number of points.
16. The computer system of claim 15 , further comprising:
means for tracking performance of the at least one player over multiple game sessions; and
means for adjusting the number of points provided based on the performance of the at least one player over the multiple game sessions.