IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,579,867
Granted Patent B2
US 12,579,867 · App. 18/329,079 · Granted Mar 17, 2026

Trading and selling earned bonus games

Inventor: Dwayne Nelson (Las Vegas, NV)
Assignee: IGT
G07F17/3267G06Q30/08G06Q50/34G07F17/3225G07F17/3244
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,579,867
App. No.
18/329,079
Filed
Jun 5, 2023
Granted
Mar 17, 2026
Kind
B2
Examiner
SHAH, MILAP
Art Unit
3715
USPC
463/25
Abstract

A gaming device includes an input device, a processor circuit and a memory including machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to per perform operations. Operations include receiving from a first player, a wager for a wagering game at an electronic gaming machine (EGM), receiving an indication that the first player of the EGM has won multiple bonus game plays, receiving, from the first player, an offer to sell a portion of the bonus game plays, and receiving an acceptance message from a second player indicating that the second player will buy the portion of the bonus game plays. Operations further include, responsive to receiving the acceptance message, transferring the portion of the bonus game plays to the second player.

Claims (38)

1 . A system comprising:

a processor circuit; and

a memory comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to:

receive a wager for a wagering game at an electronic gaming machine (EGM);

receive, from the EGM, an indication that a first player of the EGM has won a plurality of bonus game plays;

determine, using pay table data, applicable game rules, and random number generator output of the EGM, an expected return based on a statistically determined value that corresponds to expected performance of the plurality of bonus game plays; and

receive, from the first player and via the EGM, an offer to sell the plurality of bonus game plays to a second player, wherein the offer to sell comprises the expected return.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor circuit is further caused to receive an acceptance message from the second player indicating that the second player will buy the plurality of bonus game plays.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein, responsive to receiving the acceptance message, the processor circuit is caused to transfer the plurality of bonus game plays to the second player.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein after transferring the plurality of bonus game plays, the processor circuit is further caused to store the plurality of bonus game plays in a data repository that is accessible to the second player.

5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein transferring the plurality of bonus game plays comprises transferring the plurality of bonus game plays from a first digital wallet of the first player to a second digital wallet of the second player.

6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein before transferring the plurality of bonus game plays, the processor circuit is caused to: internally play the plurality of bonus game plays and preserve played bonus game data corresponding to internally played ones of the plurality of bonus game plays; and provide the bonus game data to a mobile terminal of the second player, wherein the internally played ones of the plurality of bonus game plays are playable by the mobile terminal.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the internally played ones of the plurality of bonus game plays are playable at a location that is remote from the EGM based on the played bonus game data.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of bonus game plays are playable at any time after the plurality of bonus game plays have been transferred to the second player based on the played bonus game data.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the EGM comprises a first type of EGM,

wherein the plurality of bonus game plays are playable on the first type of EGM and on a second type of EGM that is different from the first type of EGM.

10 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of bonus game plays comprise a first type of bonus game plays that is exchangeable for a second type of bonus game plays that is different from the first type of bonus game plays.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of bonus game plays comprising the first type of bonus game plays comprises a first value, and

wherein each of the second type of bonus game plays comprises a second value that is different from the first value.

12 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising a third player, wherein the processor circuit is further caused to:

receive an acceptance message from the second player indicating that the second player will buy the plurality of bonus game plays;

receive, from the second player, an offer to sell a portion of the plurality of bonus game plays; and

receive an acceptance message from the third player that the third player will buy the portion of the plurality of bonus game plays.

13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein in response to receiving the offer to sell the plurality of bonus game plays to the second player, the processor circuit is further caused to provide an auction that is configured to sell the plurality of bonus game plays to a highest bidder.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the auction is configured to sell the plurality of bonus game plays as portions of the plurality of bonus game plays to a plurality of players.

15 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of bonus game plays comprises a plurality of free spins that the second player is allowed to play responsive to the plurality of bonus game plays being transferred to the second player.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the offer to sell the plurality of bonus game plays comprises a representation of a value of the plurality of bonus game plays that is different from the expected return.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the representation of the value of the plurality of bonus game plays comprises a per unit cost of one of the plurality of bonus game plays multiplied by a quantity of bonus game plays in the plurality of bonus game plays.

18 . A gaming device comprising:

an input device;

a processor circuit; and

a memory comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to:

receive from a first player and via the input device, a wager for a wagering game at an electronic gaming machine (EGM);

receive an indication that the first player of the EGM has won a plurality of bonus game plays;

determine, using pay table data, applicable game rules, and random number generator output of the EGM, an expected return based on a statistically determined value that corresponds to expected performance of the plurality of bonus game plays;

receive, from the first player, an offer to sell a portion of the plurality of bonus game plays, wherein the offer to sell comprises the expected return;

receive an acceptance message from a second player indicating that the second player will buy the portion of the plurality of bonus game plays; and

responsive to receiving the acceptance message, the processor circuit is caused to transfer the portion of the plurality of bonus game plays to the second player.

Assignments (2)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 3, 2025
From: IGT
To: DEUTSCHE BANK AG NEW YORK BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071817/0394 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2023
From: NELSON, DWAYNE
To: IGT
Reel/Frame 063853/0824 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240404366A1 · Dec 5, 2024
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