METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING FLAT RATE PLAY SESSIONS

1 . An apparatus for facilitating a wagering game, comprising:

a processor operable to facilitate a wagering game;

a memory storing a program, the memory operable to communicate with the processor;

a display for outputting representations of a video roulette wagering game;

the processor operable with the memory to:

determine a player has purchased and is participating in a flat rate play session of the video roulette game, the flat rate play session being defined by a restriction and a maximum net payout per spin:

recognize a bet requested by the player;

perform a spin of the video roulette game;

determine a result of the spin;

determine whether the bet is a winner;

determine, if the bet is a winner, an initial payout to the player for the spin;

determine whether the initial payout is greater than the maximum net payout; and

provide the initial payout to the player if the initial payout is not greater than the maximum net payout, otherwise providing the maximum net payout to the player in place of the initial payout.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

determine whether the bet is compatible with the restriction;

reject the bet if the bet is not compatible with the restriction.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor if further operable with the program to:

determine a number of spins comprising the flat rate play session; and

display via the display the number of spins comprising the flat rate play session.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , further comprising:

upon an occurrence of each spin in the session, decrementing by one the number of spins remaining.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

receive a payment for the flat rate play session, the payment comprising a flat rate price that is less than the sum of the wager available for placement during the session.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

provide, at a beginning of the flat rate play session, a plurality of wagering units to the player for wagering during the flat rate play session, wherein a monetary value of the wagering units provided is greater than a monetary value of a price paid for the flat rate play session.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the wagering units provided are non-cashable.

8 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the processor being operable with the program to provide a plurality of wagering units to the player comprises the processor being operable with the program to:

provide a first number of a first category of wagering units to the player, wherein the first category of wagering units corresponds to a first wagering restriction imposed upon the player during the session; and

providing a second number of a first category of wagering units to the player, wherein the second category of wagering units corresponds to a second wagering restriction imposed upon the player during the session.

9 . The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the processor if further operable with the program to, upon recognizing a bet requested by the player:

determine whether a wagering unit being used for the bet is of the first category or of the second category;

determine the wagering restriction associated with the category of the wagering unit being used for the bet;

determine whether the bet requested by the player is consistent with the restriction; and

reject the bet if the bet is not consistent with the restriction.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

recognize a request for cashout by the player;

determine monetary value due to the player as a result of the session; and

output the monetary value to the player in a cashable form.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine a monetary value due to the player comprises the processor being operable with the program to:

determine a starting balance of wagering units provided to the player at a beginning of the flat rate play session;

determine a current balance of wagering units; and

dispense any value of the current balance above the starting balance.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor if further operable with the program to:

determine, upon a completion of a spin of the session, whether the player qualifies for a jackpot payout based upon a result of the spin and a result of at least one previous spin.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the flat rate play session is defined by both a maximum net payout per spin and a maximum net payout for outside bets per spin.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

determine whether the bet is an outside bet; and

if the bet is an outside bet, determine whether the initial payout is greater than the maximum net payout for outside bets.

15 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein providing the initial payout to the player and providing the maximum net payout to the player both include returning a wager placed on the bet to the player.

16 . An apparatus for facilitating a video roulette wagering game, comprising:

a processor operable to facilitate a wagering game;

a memory storing a program, the memory operable to communicate with the processor;

a display for outputting representations of a video roulette wagering game;

the processor operable with the memory to:

determine a player has purchased and is participating in a flat rate play session of the video roulette game, the flat rate play session being defined by a wagering restriction:

recognize a bet requested by the player;

determine whether the bet is compatible with the wagering restriction; and

reject the bet if the bet is not compatible with the wagering restriction.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor if further operable with the program to:

determine a number of spins comprising the flat rate play session; and

display via the display the number of spins comprising the flat rate play session.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising:

upon an occurrence of each spin in the session, decrementing by one the number of spins remaining.

19 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:

receive a payment for the flat rate play session, the payment comprising a flat rate price that is less than the sum of the wager available for placement during the session.

20 . An apparatus for facilitating a video roulette wagering game, comprising:

a processor operable to facilitate a wagering game;

a memory storing a program, the memory operable to communicate with the processor;

a display for outputting representations of a video roulette wagering game;

the processor operable with the memory to:

output, via the display, a menu of available flat rate play sessions of a video roulette wagering game,

wherein each flat rate play session is defined by a flat rate price and a plurality of wagering unite to be provided to the player for wagering during the flat rate play session, a monetary value of the plurality of wagering units being greater than a monetary value of the flat rate price, and

wherein each flat rate play session is further defined by at least one of a wagering restriction and a maximum net payout per spin;

receiving a selection of a flat rate play session, thereby determining a selected flat rate play session;

receiving a payment of the flat rate price corresponding to the selected flat rate play session; and

facilitating the selected flat rate play session by conducting a plurality of spins of the video roulette game in accordance with the at least one of the wagering restriction and the maximum net payout per spin.