| Method and apparatus for facilitating a secondary wager at a slot machine -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method and apparatus for facilitating a secondary wager at a slot machineRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), In A Chance ApplicationMethod and apparatus for facilitating a secondary wager at a slot machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060211474, Method and apparatus for facilitating a secondary wager at a slot machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This application claims the benefit of commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/283,082, filed Apr. 11, 2001, entitled "Gaming Device and Methods of Operation Therefor"; incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. RELATED APPLICATIONS [0002] This application is related to commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/023,149, filed Dec. 18, 2001, entitled "An Electronic Gaming Device Offering a Game of Knowledge for Enhanced Payouts"; and commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/722,761, filed Nov. 27, 2000, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Directing a Game with User-Selected Elements"; all of which applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for facilitating a secondary wager at a gaming device, such as a slot machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to facilitating a secondary wager at a gaming device based on a prediction by a player. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Casino owners and operators face high levels of competition. Although casino gaming previously was available in only a limited number of jurisdictions, casino patrons now have several choices when electing where to play. [0005] Since casino profits are directly proportional to the amount wagered by patrons, casinos are highly motivated to expand and retain share within their given market. A vast majority of casino revenues and profits are derived from patrons who elect to place wagers via slot machines. Thus, casino owners and operators are particularly motivated to draw upon players and would-be players of slot machines as a means of increasing profit levels. [0006] U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/023,149, entitled "An Electronic Gaming Device Offering a Game of Knowledge for Enhanced Payouts" describes, in some embodiments, a game device and methods of operation that incorporate a game of skill, such as a trivia game, to the typical slot machine experience. According to certain embodiments, the trivia game may be conducted at the machine while the machine executes a slot machine game. For example, a player of the disclosed machine may be asked to answer a trivia question while the reels of the machine are in motion. According to some embodiments, a player performing well in relation to the trivia game may become privy to increased chances of winning a payout in the slot game. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0007] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example system according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0008] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a controller 102 as depicted in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0009] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a gaming device 106 as depicted in FIG. 1 according to some embodiments of the present invention. [0010] FIG. 4 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example player database 208 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 5 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example gaming devices database 210 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 6 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example secondary game payout database 212 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0013] FIG. 7A is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example secondary game probability database 214 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 7B is a table illustrating an example data structure of another example secondary game probability database 214 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0015] FIG. 8 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example secondary game summary database 216 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 9 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example primary game payout database 318 as depicted in FIG. 3 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 10 is a table illustrating an example data structure of an example primary game probability database 320 as depicted in FIG. 2 for use in some embodiments of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 11 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process for facilitating a secondary wager at a gaming device according to and for use in some embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [0019] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims. 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