GAMING DEVICE CONFIGURATION BASED ON PLAYER VALUE
Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a system that rewards identified players with certain benefits by modifying a paytable of a base game. The paytable can be modified based on an identified player's historical record, or based on a perceived or projected value. The player may be required to play at a minimum rate or level to qualify for a modified paytable. The paytable can be changed before or during a gaming session.
1 . A gaming device structured to pay awards based on an active paytable, comprising:
at least two paytables stored on the gaming device;
a receiver structured to accept an indication of a desired paytable; and
a paytable selector structured to receive the indication of the desired paytable and select the desired paytable, of the at least two paytables, as an active paytable of the gaming device.
2 . The gaming device of claim 1 in which the indication of the desired paytable is generated based on a player value.
3 . The gaming device of claim 2 in which the amount that the active paytable differs from a standard paytable on the gaming device is related to the player value.
4 . The gaming device of claim 1 , in which the indication of the desired paytable is received during a gaming session.
5 . The gaming device of claim 1 in which the at least two paytables have different payback rates, and in which the paytable having the higher payback rate is selected for an identified player.
6 . The gaming device of claim 5 , in which the paytable having the higher payback rate is selected for an identified player playing at a minimum threshold rate.
7 . The gaming device of claim 1 in which the gaming device is a reel game.
8 . The gaming device of claim 1 in which the gaming device is a skill-based game.
9 . A gaming device coupled to a player rewards system that is structured to modify the paytable of a game of the gaming device based on a modification signal from the player rewards system.
10 . The gaming device of claim 9 in which the paytable is lowered for players not identified to the player rewards system.
11 . The gaming device of claim 9 in which the paytable of the gaming device is modified by providing a possibility for payback in the game only for those players for which the player rewards system has a record.
12 . The gaming device of claim 11 in which the possibility for payback is a payline.
13 . The gaming device of claim 11 in which the possibility for payback is being allowed to play the game.
14 . The gaming device of claim 9 in which the paytable of the gaming device is modified by awarding the player of the game a hint.
15 . A method of selecting a paytable in a gaming device coupled to a player rewards system, comprising:
accepting identification of a player at the gaming device;
determining that the player has an account in the player rewards system; and
sending data to the gaming device to modify the paytable of the gaming device from a current paytable of the gaming device.
16 . The method of claim 15 in which sending data to the gaming device comprises sending a paytable.
17 . The method of claim 15 in which sending data to the gaming device comprises sending an indication of a paytable.
18 . The method of claim 15 in which sending data to the gaming device to modify the paytable occurs only if the player has a player value above a threshold value.
19 . The method of claim 15 in which sending data to the gaming device to modify the paytable occurs only if the player plays the gaming device above a minimum rate of play.
20 . The method of claim 15 in which sending data to the gaming device to modify the paytable occurs during game play.
21 . The method of claim 15 in which sending data to the gaming device to modify the paytable occurs prior to game play.