Hybrid wagering and skill-based gaming system and server

1. A machine, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium including program logic instructions;

a game device interface configured and arranged to detect an input associated with a monetary value;

a game device controller in communication with the game device interface, the non-transitory computer readable medium, and at least one of a software and hardware-based random number generator, wherein the game device controller is configured to communicate to a game device display of the game device interface, and is operative to execute the program logic instructions comprising:

receiving a fee through the game device interface from the input, the fee being greater than zero and the fee being from a player;

dynamically determining a first portion of the fee to return to the player and a second portion of the fee used to conduct a second game;

conducting, in response to receipt of a game fee, a first game by the game device controller and receiving player input data, wherein the first game includes transmission of data identifying at least one transition point;

generating a first game outcome based, at least in part, on the player input data; and

conducting the second game, which is logically independent of the first game, by the game device controller solely in response to the first game reaching the at least one transition point, wherein the second game utilizes the random number generator to generate a gambling second game outcome independent of the first game and the player input data;

determining by the game device controller whether the second game outcome is a winning outcome;

issuing a payout through a payout device of the game device interface when the second game outcome is a winning outcome independent of the conduct of the first game, wherein the payout is partially based on the second portion of the fee; and

returning the first portion of the fee at the at least one transition point, wherein the first portion of the fee is independent of fees from other players.

2. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the fee is a wager.

3. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the returned first portion of the fee comprises at least a portion of the game fee.

4. The machine of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the second game outcome is a winning outcome comprises comparing the second game outcome to a predefined schedule of winning outcomes by said game device controller.

5. The machine of claim 1 , wherein said program instructions further comprise issuing an award based on said game fee and said first game outcome.

6. The machine of claim 1 , wherein said program instructions further comprise:

displaying said first game at said game device display while conducting said first game; and

conducting said second game without displaying said second game at said game device display.

7. The machine of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the fee is returned to the player independent of a chance based outcome.

8. An electronic game machine, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium including program logic instructions;

a game device interface configured and arranged to detect an input associated with a monetary value and at least one event feed;

a game device controller in communication with the game device interface, the non-transitory computer readable medium, and at least one of a software and hardware-based random number generator, wherein the game device controller is configured to communicate to a game device display of the game device interface, and is operative to execute the program logic instructions comprising:

receiving a wager and a game fee through the game device interface from the input, the game fee being greater than zero and the game fee being from a player;

dynamically determining a first portion of the game fee to return to the player and a second portion of the game fee that is not returned to the player;

conducting, in response to receipt of the game fee, a first game by the game device controller and receiving player input data, wherein the first game includes transmission of data identifying at least one transition point;

generating a first game outcome based, at least in part, on the player input data; and

conducting a second game, which is logically independent of the first game, by the game device controller solely in response to the first game reaching the at least one transition point, wherein the second game utilizes the random number generator to generate a gambling second game outcome independent of the first game and the player input data;

determining by the game device controller whether the second game outcome is a winning outcome;

issuing a payout based on the wager through a payout device of the game device interface when the second game outcome is a winning outcome independent of the conduct of the first game; and

returning the first portion of the game fee at the at least one transition point to the player, wherein the first portion of the game fee is independent of game fees from other players.

9. The electronic game machine of claim 8 , wherein the game device controller is operative to execute the program instructions comprising detecting and displaying at least one live or real event feed on the game device display.

10. The electronic game machine of claim 9 , wherein the player input data comprises an outcome from the at least one live or real event feed based on an outcome, status, or stage of the at least one live or real event and the player's input to the game device controller related to the at least one live or real event feed.

11. The electronic game machine of claim 8 , wherein the player's input comprises a skill-based input.

12. The electronic game machine of claim 8 , wherein determining whether the second game outcome is a winning outcome comprises comparing the second game outcome to a predefined schedule of winning outcomes by said game device controller.

13. The electronic game machine of claim 8 , wherein said program instructions further comprise issuing an award based on said game fee and said first game outcome.

14. The electronic game machine of claim 8 , wherein said program instructions further comprise:

displaying said first game at said game device display while conducting said first game; and

conducting said second game without displaying said second game at said game device display.

15. The electronic game machine of claim 8 , wherein the first portion of the game fee is returned to the player independent of a chance based outcome.