IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,878,894

Granted Patent B2

US 7,878,894 · App. 11/456,353 · Granted Feb 1, 2011

Systems and methods for allocating an outcome amount among a total number of events

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 7,878,894
App. No.: 11/456,353
Granted: Feb 1, 2011
Kind: B2

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Abstract

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 instant lottery tickets may be determined. Based on a parameter associated with a player, the outcome amount is allocated among the total number of events. The outcome amount may be allocated, for example, based on a total number of events selected by the player.

Claims (43)

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of payment of an amount based on a total wager amount for a wager;

determining an outcome amount for the player in response to receiving the indication of payment;

based on a parameter specified by the player, distributing via a gaming device the outcome amount for the player among a plurality of scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player;

after determining an outcome amount, revealing to the player a result associated with at least one of the scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player; and

transmitting an indication of an amount associated with the result,

in which the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of the following types of parameters: (i) a payout distribution preference, (ii) a payout frequency preference, (iii) a payout magnitude preference, (iv) a payout location preference, (v) a standard deviation associated with said distributing, (vi) a payout order preference, (vii) a total wager amount, (viii) an event wager amount, (ix) a total time period, (x) a game format, and (xi) a payout currency preference.

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

displaying to the player an indication of the amount associated with the result.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the amount associated with the result to the player.

4. The method of claim 1 , in which the parameter specified by the player comprises at least one of: (i) the outcome amount, and (ii) the total number of events.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the parameter specified by the player.

6. The method of claim 5 , in which determining the parameter specified by the player comprises:

retrieving a stored indication of the parameter specified by the player.

7. The method of claim 5 , in which determining the parameter specified by the player comprises:

receiving an indication of the parameter specified by the player.

8. The method of claim 1 , in which distributing is performed by a player device.

9. The method of claim 8 , in which the player device comprises at least one of the following types of devices: (i) a personal computer; (ii) a portable computing device; (iii) a personal digital assistant; (iv) a telephone; (v) a wireless telephone, (vi) a pager, (vii) a kiosk, (viii) a point of sale terminal, and (ix) an automated teller machine.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the parameter specified by the player comprises a payout distribution preference.

11. The method of claim 10 , in which the payout distribution preference indicates a payout frequency preference.

12. The method of claim 10 , in which the payout distribution preference indicates a payout magnitude preference.

13. The method of claim 10 , in which the payout distribution preference indicates a preferred standard deviation associated with the allocation of the outcome amount.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a communication device coupled to the processor; and

a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device storing instructions configured to direct the processor to:

receive an indication of payment of an amount based on a total wager amount for a wager;

determine an outcome amount for the player in response to receiving the indication of payment;

based on a parameter specified by the player, distribute the outcome amount for the player among a plurality of scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player;

after determine an outcome amount, reveal to the player a result associated with at least one of the scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player; and

transmit an indication of an amount associated with the result,

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , the storage device further storing at least one of the following: (i) a game database, (ii) a game session database, (iii) a player database, and (iv) an event database.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , in which the communication device is adapted to communicate with at least one of: (i) an event result server, (ii) a player device, and (iii) a controller.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving an indication of payment of an amount based on a total wager amount for a wager;

determining an outcome amount for the player in response to receiving the indication of payment;

based on a parameter specified by the player, distributing the outcome amount for the player among a plurality of scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player;

after determining an outcome amount, revealing to the player a result associated with at least one of the scratch-off type instant game tickets for the player; and

transmitting an indication of an amount associated with the result,

Assignments (1)

ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2009

From: WALKER DIGITAL, LLC

To: IGT

Reel/Frame 023456/0940 →