Return-driven casino game outcome generator

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

(a) during a first period, enabling a player to interact with at least one reward generating asset within a regulated game of the gaming machine;

(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to measure a level of skill of the player in interacting with the at least one reward generating asset within the regulated game of the gaming machine during the first period;

(c) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine, based on the measured level of skill of the player, an average return to player percentage from a range of different average return to player percentages for a second period subsequent to the first period, wherein a first measured level of skill is associated with a first average return to player percentage and a second, lower measured level of skill is associated with a second, lower average return to player percentage; and

(d) during the second period, causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, for each interaction with any one of the at least one reward generating asset within the regulated game of the gaming machine:

(i) determine whether said interaction is successful; and

(ii) if said interaction is successful, determine an amount of a reward based on: (A) the average return to player percentage determined based on the measured level of skill of the player, (B) a random number, and (C) a time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the at least one reward generating asset within the regulated game of the gaming machine.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the amount of the reward when the time elapsed is a first amount is smaller than the amount of the reward when the time elapsed is a second larger amount.

3. The method of claim 1 , which includes enabling the player to purchase a contract of play time of a predetermined duration in the regulated game of the gaming machine for a predetermined cost, and providing at least (a) and (d) as long as the predetermined duration has not elapsed.

4. The method of claim 3 , which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine a cost per unit of time of the contract by dividing the predetermined cost of the contract by the predetermined duration of the contract.

5. The method of claim 4 , which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to, during the second period, for each interaction with any one of the at least one reward generating asset within the regulated game of the gaming machine, if said interaction is successful, determine the amount of the reward according to the cost per unit of time of the contract.

6. A regulated gaming machine comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to:

(a) display at least one reward generating asset for a play of a regulated game;

(b) during a first period, enable a player of the regulated gaming machine to interact with the at least one displayed reward generating aspect;

(c) measure a level of skill of the player in interacting with the at least one displayed reward generating asset during the first period;

(d) determine, based on the measured level of skill of the player, an average return to player percentage from a range of different average return to player percentages for a second period subsequent to the first period, wherein a first measured level of skill is associated with a first average return to player percentage and a second, lower measured level of skill is associated with a second, lower average return to player percentage; and

(e) during the second period, for each interaction with any one of the at least one reward generating asset within the regulated game of the gaming machine:

(i) determine whether said interaction is successful; and

(ii) if said interaction is successful, determine an amount of a reward based on: (A) the average return to player percentage determined based on the measured level of skill of the player, (B) a random number, and (C) a time elapsed since a last successful interaction with any one of the at least one displayed reward generating asset.

7. The regulated gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein the amount of the reward when the time elapsed is a first amount is smaller than the amount of the reward when the time elapsed is a second larger amount.

8. The regulated gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to enable the player to purchase a contract of play time of a predetermined duration for a predetermined cost and provide (b) and (e) as long as the predetermined duration has not elapsed.

9. The regulated gaming machine of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to determine a cost per unit of time of the contract by dividing the predetermined cost of the contract by the predetermined duration of the contract.

10. The regulated gaming machine of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to, during the second period, for each interaction with any one of the at least one reward generating asset within the regulated game of the gaming machine, if said interaction is successful, determine the amount of the reward according to the cost per unit of time of the contract.