| Apparatus and method for facilitating play of a gaming device with a plurality of balances -> Monitor Keywords |
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Apparatus and method for facilitating play of a gaming device with a plurality of balancesRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationApparatus and method for facilitating play of a gaming device with a plurality of balances description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060223609, Apparatus and method for facilitating play of a gaming device with a plurality of balances. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/371341,filed Aug. 10, 1999, incorporated herein by reference; which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/055,665, filed Apr. 6, 1998 and issued Oct. 19, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,967,896, incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to gaming devices and more specifically to gaming devices that dispense monetary output. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] A conventional gaming device, such as a slot machine, video poker machine or video blackjack machine, typically requires a player to establish an initial "balance" by providing the gaming device with monetary input. For example, the player may insert currency (bills, coins and/or tokens) into the gaming device. Alternatively, the player may have finds transferred to the gaming device from an account, such as a credit card account or casino account that is identified by a card inserted into the gaming device. Once a balance is established, it is available for initiating a play of the gaming device. [0004] The player then selects a wager amount which is subtracted from the balance (i.e. the wager amount is "drawn" from the balance), and initiates a play by pulling a handle or pressing a button on the gaming device. For example, the player may select a wager amount of three coins from a balance of ten coins. In response, the gaming device generates a game outcome (e.g. "CHERRY/CHERRY/CHERRY" for a slot machine) and a corresponding award amount that is based on the game outcome. The award amount may be zero for unfavorable game outcomes, or a greater amount for more favorable outcomes. Typically, greater award amounts correspond to more unlikely game outcomes. The balance is increased by the award amount, thereby generating an adjusted balance that is available for initiating a subsequent play of the gaming device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a network of gaming devices. [0006] FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a server of FIG. 1. [0007] FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a gaming device of FIG. 1. [0008] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process for establishing balances. [0009] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process for selecting a balance. [0010] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating a process for selecting a wager amount. [0011] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a process for determining an award amount. [0012] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a probability schedule of a gaming device of FIG. 3. [0013] FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration of a payout schedule of a gaming device of FIG. 3. [0014] FIG. 10 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of a probability schedule. [0015] FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of another embodiment of a payout schedule. [0016] FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating a process for dispensing monetary output. [0017] FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating another embodiment of a process for dispensing monetary output. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS [0018] A gaming device provided in accordance with the present invention includes a plurality of balances. According to various embodiments, there may be different incentives for players to use the balances. Accordingly, the player has an incentive to establish and draw from a balance. For example, drawing a wager amount from a particular balance may provide a higher probability of a more favorable game outcome, may provide a higher award amount for a particular game outcome, or may provide a gift or benefit to the player. Drawing a wager amount from different balances thus may provide the player with different gaming experiences. [0019] When the player provides the gaming device with monetary input, a balance is selected and that balance is adjusted by the monetary input. The balance may be selected based on various criteria. For example, different sources of monetary input may establish different balances, or different amounts of monetary input may establish different balances. Continue reading about Apparatus and method for facilitating play of a gaming device with a plurality of balances... Full patent description for Apparatus and method for facilitating play of a gaming device with a plurality of balances Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and method for facilitating play of a gaming device with a plurality of balances patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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