Method and apparatus for influencing cash outs from a gaming device
A gaming device is described that provides a number of different methods for cashing out credit balances from a gaming device. These methods include providing incentives, such as benefits, to a player for selecting particular monetary forms in which to receive the cash out. Non-preferred cash out forms may be associated with disincentives, such as penalties, to dissuade players from selecting these types of monetary transfers. In certain embodiments, incentives and disincentives may be associated with a variety of available monetary forms for cash out.
1. A gaming system comprising:
a housing;
at least one display device supported by the housing;
a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including:
(i) an acceptor, and
(ii) a cashout device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device which stores 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 plurality of input devices to:
(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establish a wagering credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,
(b) for each of at least one play of a game:
(i) enable a player to place a wager,
(ii) modify the wagering credit balance based on the placement of the wager,
(iii) randomly determine one of a plurality of different outcomes,
(iv) display the randomly determined outcome,
(v) determine any award associated with the randomly determined outcome, and
(vi) display any determined award associated with the randomly determined outcome, and
(vii) modify the wagering credit balance based on any determined award associated with the randomly determined outcome,
(c) if a wagering credit balance cash out request associated with transferring any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to a gaming establishment balance associated with the player is received via the cashout device:
(i) cause a transfer of any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player, and
(ii) provide the player at least one incentive, said at least one incentive being in addition to any provided amount of the modified wagering credit balance and said at least one incentive being selected from the group consisting of: an entry into a lottery, a modification of a paytable employed for at least one subsequent play of the game, an avoidance of an assessment of a fee, and a quantity of player tracking points, and
(d) if a wagering credit balance cash out request not associated with transferring any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player is received:
(i) provide the player any amount of the modified wagering credit balance, and
(ii) not provide the player any incentives.
2. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the transfer of any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player includes an electronic funds transfer.
3. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable the player to input an indication of a form of payment at a point in time selected from the group consisting of: when the wagering credit balance cash out request is received and when the physical item associated with the monetary value is received to establish the wagering credit balance.
4. The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of: the wager placed, any displayed awards, and any provided incentives are at least one of: a quantity of monetary credits and a quantity of non-monetary credits.
5. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:
(a) if a physical item is received via an acceptor, causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to establish a wagering credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item,
(b) for each of at least one play of a game:
(i) enabling a player to place a wager,
(ii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the wagering credit balance based on the placement of the wager,
(iii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to randomly determine one of a plurality of different outcomes,
(iv) causing at least one display device to display the randomly determined outcome,
(v) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to determine any award associated with the randomly determined outcome, and
(vi) causing the at least one display device to display any determined award associated with the randomly determined outcome, and
(vii) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to modify the wagering credit balance based on any determined award associated with the randomly determined outcome,
(b) if a wagering credit balance cash out request associated with transferring any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to a gaming establishment balance associated with the player is received via a cashout device:
(i) causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to cause a transfer of any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player, and
(ii) providing the player at least one incentive, said at least one incentive being in addition to any provided amount of the modified wagering credit balance and said at least one incentive being selected from the group consisting of: an entry into a lottery, a modification of a paytable employed for at least one subsequent play of the game, an avoidance of an assessment of a fee, and a quantity of player tracking points, and
(c) if a wagering credit balance cash out request not associated with transferring any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player is received:
(i) providing the player any amount of the modified wagering credit balance, and
(ii) not providing the player any incentives.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the transfer of any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player includes an electronic funds transfer.
7. The method of claim 5 , which includes enabling the player to input an indication of a form of payment at a point in time selected from the group consisting of: when the wagering credit balance cash out request is received and when the physical item associated with the monetary value is received to establish the wagering credit balance.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein at least one of: the wager placed, any displayed awards, and any provided incentives are at least one of: a quantity of monetary credits and a quantity of non-monetary credits.
9. The method of claim 5 , which is provided through a data network.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the data network is an internet.
11. A gaming system server comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
(a) for each of at least one play of a game:
(i) enable a player to place a wager,
(ii) modify a wagering credit balance based on the placement of the wager, wherein the wagering credit balance is increasable via an acceptor of a physical item associated with a monetary value,
(iii) randomly determine one of a plurality of different outcomes,
(iv) cause at least one display device to display the randomly determined outcome,
(v) determine any award associated with the randomly determined outcome, and
(vi) cause the at least one display device to display any determined award associated with the randomly determined outcome, and
(vii) modify the wagering credit balance based on any determined award associated with the randomly determined outcome,
(b) if a wagering credit balance cash out request associated with transferring any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to a gaming establishment balance associated with the player is received via a cashout device:
(i) cause a transfer of any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player, and
(ii) provide the player at least one incentive, said at least one incentive being in addition to any provided amount of the modified wagering credit balance and said at least one incentive being selected from the group consisting of: an entry into a lottery, a modification of a paytable employed for at least one subsequent play of the game, an avoidance of an assessment of a fee, and a quantity of player tracking points, and
(c) if a wagering credit balance cash out request not associated with transferring any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player is received:
(i) provide the player any amount of the modified wagering credit balance, and
(ii) not provide the player any incentives.
12. The gaming system server of claim 11 , wherein the transfer of any amount of the modified wagering credit balance to the gaming establishment balance associated with the player includes an electronic funds transfer.
13. The gaming system server of claim 11 , wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to enable the player to input an indication of a form of payment at a point in time selected from the group consisting of: when the wagering credit balance cash out request is received and when the physical item associated with the monetary value is deposited to establish the wagering credit balance.
14. The gaming system server of claim 11 , wherein at least one of: the wager placed, any displayed awards, and any provided incentives are at least one of: a quantity of monetary credits and a quantity of non-monetary credits.