Gaming machine with current theoretical return-to-player display and dynamic adjustment of same

1. An electronic gaming system comprising:

one or more displays associated with a first gaming machine; and

a game controller that includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices, wherein:

the one or more processors, the one or more memory devices, and the one or more displays are operably connected, and

the one or more memory devices store computer-executable instructions for controlling the one or more processors to:

cause a game of chance to be displayed on the one or more displays of the first gaming machine that has a current theoretical return-to-player (CTRTP) characteristic that is defined by one or more settings associated with the first gaming machine;

cause credit wagers on the game of chance from a first player to be accepted;

cause an indicator of the CTRTP characteristic to be displayed on the one or more displays concurrently with the display of the game of chance on the one or more displays;

cause, during the game of chance, one or more notifications to be provided to the first player of the first gaming machine, each notification notifying the first player of a corresponding opportunity to increase the CTRTP characteristic of the first gaming machine, each opportunity to increase the CTRTP characteristic of the first gaming machine requiring satisfaction of a corresponding one or more CTRTP increase conditions associated with a credit wagering rate of the first player on the first gaming machine, wherein each notification to the first player includes an indication of an amount that the CTRTP characteristic will be increased by in association with the corresponding opportunity and an indication of what credit wagering rate-related actions specific to the game of chance the first player will need to perform while playing the game of chance in order to meet the one or more CTRTP increase conditions;

monitor the credit wagering rate of the first player of the first gaming machine while the first player is playing the game of chance;

adjust the one or more settings associated with the first gaming machine to increase the CTRTP characteristic each time the first player satisfies the one or more CTRTP increase conditions corresponding to one of the opportunities;

adjust, responsive to each increase of the CTRTP characteristic, the indicator of the CTRTP characteristic displayed on the one or more displays to indicate the increased CTRTP characteristic;

determine that a first gaming session of the first player has concluded;

determine that the one or more settings of the first gaming machine, and thus the CTRTP characteristic, are to be passed on to a second player; and

cause, at least in part, the one or more settings of the first gaming machine, and thus the CTRTP, to be used in configuring the game of chance on a selected gaming machine, wherein the selected gaming machine is a gaming machine associated with the second player and is either the first gaming machine or another gaming machine.

2. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the opportunities to increase the CTRTP characteristic of the first gaming machine requires satisfaction of a corresponding CTRTP increase condition that is met when the first player reduces a credit wagering rate from a current credit wagering rate.

3. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the opportunities to increase the CTRTP characteristic of the first gaming machine requires satisfaction of a corresponding CTRTP increase condition that is met when the first player increases a credit wagering rate from a current credit wagering rate.

4. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the indication of the amount that the CTRTP characteristic will be increased by is an indication of a value that the CTRTP will be after the increase.

5. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to:

periodically determine a session return-to-player (SRTP) for the first player for a first gaming session involving play of the game of chance by the first player; and

cause an indicator of the SRTP to be displayed on the one or more displays during the display of the game of chance on the one or more displays.

6. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , further including a first automatic wagering sensor and a first rate selector that are also associated with the first gaming machine, wherein the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to:

receive first data from the first automatic wagering sensor indicative of a condition external to the electronic gaming system;

receive second data from the first rate selector;

cause the first gaming machine to periodically wager credits in the game of chance at a first credit wagering rate while the first data from the first automatic wagering sensor meets a first automatic wagering condition; and

modify the first credit wagering rate based on the second data.

7. The electronic gaming system of claim 6 , wherein the first rate selector is configured to generate, responsive to user input, one or more signals selected from the group consisting of: a signal indicating a change in wagering frequency, a signal indicating a change in wager amount, and signals indicating a change in wagering frequency and a change in wager amount.

8. The electronic gaming system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to:

cause graphical content to be displayed on the one or more displays showing progression through an environment along a substantially predefined path, wherein the path periodically includes branch points, each branch point having a plurality of branches and each branch associated with a corresponding selectable rate;

determine, for each branch point and in response to the second data, which branch of each branch point is indicated by the second data as being selected;

modify the first credit wagering rate based on the second data by modifying the first credit wagering rate based on the corresponding selectable rate for each branch that is indicated by the second data as being selected; and

cause the graphical content displayed on the one or more displays to vary depending on which branch is indicated by the second data as being selected.

9. The electronic gaming system of claim 8 , wherein the first rate selector includes an emergency brake feature and the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to: reduce the first credit wagering rate responsive to the second data indicating that the emergency brake feature has been activated.

10. The electronic gaming system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to:

cause graphical content to be displayed on the one or more displays showing a first-person point-of-view progression moving through an environment substantially along a path with a plurality of targets arranged substantially along the path, and

cause the first-person point-of-view to move along an axis transverse to the path responsive to the second data during progression of the first-person point-of-view through the environment, wherein at least one of the one or more CTRTP increase conditions is satisfied when the first-person point-of-view is caused to move, responsive to the second data, such that the first-person point-of-view substantially aligns with a predetermined number of targets during progression of the first-person point-of-view through the environment.

11. The electronic gaming system of claim 6 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to:

cause graphical content to be displayed on the one or more displays showing movement of a graphical depiction of an environment relative to the one or more displays, the environment containing a plurality of targets that are sequentially displayed on the one or more displays during the movement of the graphical depiction of the environment relative to the one or more displays;

cause a graphical object to be displayed on the one or more displays while the graphical content is displayed; and

cause the graphical object to move along an axis transverse to a direction of movement of the graphical depiction responsive to the second data, wherein at least one of the one or more CTRTP increase conditions is satisfied when the graphical object is caused to move, responsive to the second data, such that the graphical object passes through a predetermined number of the targets during movement of the graphical depiction.

12. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to:

receive one or more request signals, each request signal associated with a different player of a corresponding one or more other players different from the first player and including the second player;

determine that the first gaming session of the first player has concluded responsive to receipt of a player input signal associated with conclusion of the first gaming session of the first player on the first gaming machine;

determine, responsive to receiving the player input signal, that the second player satisfies one or more transfer conditions;

allocate, responsive to determining that the second player satisfies the one or more transfer conditions, the first gaming machine to the second player; and

cause the one or more settings of the first gaming machine, and thus the CTRTP characteristic, to be preserved for the second player after conclusion of the first gaming session of the first player on the first gaming machine and in association with initiation of a second gaming session on the first gaming machine and associated with the second player.

13. The electronic gaming system of claim 12 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to:

receive bidding information from each of the one more other players;

determine that the second player has a winning bid based on the bidding information; and

determine that the one or more transfer conditions are satisfied, at least in part, by the determination that the second player has the winning bid.

14. The electronic gaming system of claim 12 , wherein:

each request signal is associated with a corresponding timestamp; and

the one or more transfer conditions are satisfied, at least in part, when the corresponding timestamps of the request signals indicate that the second player has been waiting the longest of the one or more other players to be allocated a gaming machine selected from the group consisting of the first gaming machine and one or more other gaming machines that each provide a game of chance that has a player-increasable CTRTP characteristic.

15. The electronic gaming system of claim 12 , wherein:

the request signal associated with the second player is associated with one or more filter conditions specified by the second player, and

the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to determine that the first gaming machine meets the filter conditions prior to allocating the first gaming machine to the second player.

16. The electronic gaming system of claim 12 , wherein:

the one or more transfer conditions are satisfied when input is received from the second player that indicates that the second player agrees to pay a specified amount of money or credits to the first player, and

the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to cause the specified amount of money or credits to be transferred to the first player from a source associated with the second player.

17. The electronic gaming system of claim 12 , wherein:

the one or more transfer conditions are satisfied when input is received from the second player that indicates that the second player agrees to pay a specified portion of one or more winnings that the second player is awarded during the second gaming session, and

the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to cause the specified portion of the one or more winnings that the second player is awarded during the second gaming session to be transferred to the first player from a source associated with the second player.

18. The electronic gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more memory devices further store computer-executable instructions for further controlling the one or more processors to:

receive one or more request signals, each request signal associated with a different player of a corresponding one or more other players different from the first player, the one or more other players including the second player;

receive a player input signal associated with conclusion of the first gaming session of the first player on the first gaming machine;

determine, responsive to receiving the player input signal, that the second player of the one or more other players satisfies one or more transfer conditions; and

cause, responsive at least in part to determining that the second player satisfies the one or more transfer conditions, the settings that produced the increased CTRTP to be transmitted from the first gaming machine after conclusion of the first gaming session of the first player on the first gaming machine for use on a second gaming machine associated with the second player and different from the first gaming machine.

19. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing machine-readable and executable instructions for controlling one or more processors of an electronic gaming system to cause the one or more processors of the electronic gaming system to:

cause a game of chance to be displayed on one or more displays of a first gaming machine that has a current theoretical return-to-player (CTRTP) characteristic that is defined by one or more settings associated with the first gaming machine;

cause credit wagers on the game of chance from a first player to be accepted;

cause an indicator of the CTRTP characteristic to be displayed on the one or more displays concurrently with the display of the game of chance on the one or more displays;

cause, during the game of chance, one or more notifications to be provided to the first player of the first gaming machine, each notification notifying the first player of a corresponding opportunity to increase the CTRTP characteristic of the first gaming machine, each opportunity to increase the CTRTP characteristic of the first gaming machine requiring satisfaction of a corresponding one or more CTRTP increase conditions associated with a credit wagering rate of the first player on the first gaming machine, wherein each notification to the first player includes an indication of an amount that the CTRTP characteristic will be increased by in association with the corresponding opportunity and an indication of what credit wagering rate-related actions specific to the game of chance the first player will need to perform while playing the game of chance in order to meet the one or more CTRTP increase conditions;

monitor the credit wagering rate of the first player of the first gaming machine while the first player is playing the game of chance;

adjust the one or more settings associated with the first gaming machine to increase the CTRTP characteristic each time the first player satisfies the one or more CTRTP increase conditions corresponding to one of the opportunities;

adjust, responsive to each increase of the CTRTP characteristic, the indicator of the CTRTP characteristic displayed on the one or more displays to indicate the increased CTRTP characteristic;

determine that a first gaming session of the first player has concluded;

determine that the one or more settings of the first gaming machine, and thus the CTRTP characteristic, are to be passed on to a second player; and

cause, at least in part, the one or more settings of the first gaming machine, and thus the CTRTP, to be used in configuring the game of chance on a selected gaming machine, wherein the selected gaming machine is a gaming machine associated with the second player and is either the first gaming machine or another gaming machine.

20. A method, implemented using one or more processors of an electronic gaming system, the method comprising:

causing, by the one or more processors, a game of chance to be displayed on one or more displays of a first gaming machine that has a current theoretical return-to-player (CTRTP) characteristic that is defined by one or more settings associated with the first gaming machine;

causing, by the one or more processors, credit wagers on the game of chance from a first player to be accepted;

causing, by the one or more processors, an indicator of the CTRTP characteristic to be displayed on the one or more displays concurrently with the display of the game of chance on the one or more displays;

causing, by the one or more processors and during the game of chance, one or more notifications to be provided to the first player of the first gaming machine, each notification notifying the first player of a corresponding opportunity to increase the CTRTP characteristic of the first gaming machine, each opportunity to increase the CTRTP characteristic of the first gaming machine requiring satisfaction of a corresponding one or more CTRTP increase conditions associated with a credit wagering rate of the first player on the first gaming machine, wherein each notification to the first player includes an indication of an amount that the CTRTP characteristic will be increased by in association with the corresponding opportunity and an indication of what credit wagering rate-related actions specific to the game of chance the first player will need to perform while playing the game of chance in order to meet the one or more CTRTP increase conditions;

monitoring, by the one or more processors, the credit wagering rate of the first player of the first gaming machine while the first player is playing the game of chance;

adjusting, by the one or more processors, the one or more settings associated with the first gaming machine to increase the CTRTP characteristic each time the first player satisfies the one or more CTRTP increase conditions corresponding to one of the opportunities;

adjusting, by the one or more processors and responsive to each increase of the CTRTP characteristic, the indicator of the CTRTP characteristic displayed on the one or more displays to indicate the increased CTRTP characteristic;

determining, by the one or more processors, that a first gaming session of the first player has concluded;

determining, by the one or more processors, that the one or more settings of the first gaming machine, and thus the CTRTP characteristic, are to be passed on to a second player; and

causing, by the one or more processors and at least in part, the one or more settings of the first gaming machine, and thus the CTRTP, to be used in configuring the game of chance on a selected gaming machine, wherein the selected gaming machine is a gaming machine associated with the second player and is either the first gaming machine or another gaming machine.