Wager games with restricted prizes
Wagering systems with a payout percentage that exceeds 100% of wagers are presented. The payouts of these wagering systems may include unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits. Players may cash out unrestricted credits at virtually any point, but may be limited in when and/or how they can cash out or play restricted credits. By providing payouts in the form of unrestricted credits and/or restricted credits, players may find their experience with the wagering systems to be more engaging, enjoyable, and longer-lasting. Moreover, the limitations on the use of restricted credits may allow the casino operator to maintain a reasonable profit margin despite the increased duration of play.
1. A method comprising:
completing, by a server device, a turn of a wager game with a client device, wherein the wager game uses a per-turn payout schedule with an expected per-turn payout percentage above 100% of per-turn wagers, wherein the expected per-turn payout percentage includes an expected per-turn unrestricted credit payout percentage below 100% of the per-turn wagers; and
in response to the client device completing a turn of the wager game, the server device transmitting an indication of a payout to the client device, wherein the payout is based on the per-turn payout schedule, and wherein the payout comprises credits.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the payout comprises unrestricted credits and restricted credits.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the expected per-turn payout percentage includes an expected per-turn restricted credit payout percentage of a difference between the expected per-turn payout percentage and the expected per-turn unrestricted credit payout percentage.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the server device permits the client device to cash out unrestricted credit upon demand, and wherein the server device permits the client device to cash out the restricted credit only when one or more conditions are met.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the unrestricted credit is greater than the restricted credit.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the per-turn payout schedule associates outcomes of the wager game with respective payouts, and wherein a first respective payout of the per-turn payout schedule consists of the restricted credit, a second respective payout of the per-turn payout schedule consists of the unrestricted credit, and a third respective payout of the per-turn payout schedule consists of no credit.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the server device awards the first respective payout, the second respective payout, and the third respective payout to the client device in different turns of the wager game.
8. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least some of the respective payouts of the per-turn payout schedule that are below a payout threshold consist of the restricted credit, and wherein at least some of the respective payouts of the payout schedule that are at or above the payout threshold consist of the unrestricted credit.
9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the client device is associated with an account that holds total restricted credit and total unrestricted credit available to the client device, the method further comprising:
determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below a threshold unrestricted credit value; and
in response to the determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below the threshold unrestricted credit value, prohibiting the client device from playing the wager game.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
after prohibiting the client device from playing the wager game, determining that the total unrestricted credit is above the threshold unrestricted credit value; and
in response to determining that the total unrestricted credit is above the threshold unrestricted credit value, allowing the client device to play the wager game.
11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the client device is associated with an account that holds total unrestricted credit available to the client device, the method further comprising:
determining that the total unrestricted credit is at or below a threshold unrestricted credit value; and
in response to the determination, transitioning to conducting the wager game using a second per-turn payout schedule that has a second expected per-turn payout percentage below 100% of per-turn wagers.
12. The method of claim 2 , the method further comprising:
determining whether a restricted credit condition has been met;
if the restricted credit condition has been met, allowing the client device to cash out at least some of the restricted credit; and
if the restricted credit condition has not been met, not permitting the client device to cash out any of the restricted credit.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the restricted credit condition is the client device having wagered a threshold unrestricted credit amount.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the restricted credit condition is the client device having played a threshold number of turns of the wager game.
15. An article of manufacture including a non-transitory computer-readable medium, having stored thereon program instructions that, upon execution by a server device, cause the server device to perform operations comprising:
completing a turn of a wager game with a client device, wherein the wager game uses a per-turn payout schedule with an expected per-turn payout percentage above 100% of per-turn wagers, wherein the expected per-turn payout percentage includes an expected per-turn unrestricted credit payout percentage below 100% of the per-turn wagers; and
in response to the client device completing a turn of the wager game, the server device transmitting an indication of a payout to the client device, wherein the payout is based on the per-turn payout schedule, and wherein the payout comprises credits.
16. The article of manufacture of claim 15 , wherein the payout comprises unrestricted credits and restricted credits.
17. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the expected per-turn payout percentage includes an expected per-turn restricted credit payout percentage of a difference between the expected per-turn payout percentage and the expected per-turn unrestricted credit payout percentage.
18. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the program instructions permit the client device to cash out unrestricted credit upon demand, and wherein the program instructions permit the client device to cash out the restricted credit only when one or more conditions are met.
19. The article of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the per-turn payout schedule associates outcomes of the wager game with respective payouts, and wherein a first respective payout of the per-turn payout schedule consists of the restricted credit, a second respective payout of the per-turn payout schedule consists of the unrestricted credit, and a third respective payout of the per-turn payout schedule consists of no credit.