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Positive-return gamblingRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Credit/debit Monitoring Or Manipulation (e.g., Game Entry, Betting, Prize Level, Etc.)Positive-return gambling description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060281540, Positive-return gambling. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention is related to gambling, and more particularly to a gambling model that yields a net positive return for the player. [0003] 2. Description of the Background Art [0004] In typical casino-style games the specific game odds and payouts have been calculated to provide the player with a negative return on his or her bets over time. The odds of success in each of these games combined with the rewards for each winning event are set in such a way as to ensure that the player slowly but steadily loses money to the house over time. This formula represents the primary means of casino's income. [0005] Although many casinos and other gambling establishments attract players despite the net negative return, it is evident that players would be even more attracted to a gambling establishment that would provide a positive return. However, with conventional business models for casinos and online gambling sites, it is not feasible to provide a positive return for players. Such a scheme would cause the casino or site operator to lose money; in fact, the more gambling took place, the more the casino or site operator would lose. A player could keep on playing indefinitely and continue to experience a positive return. [0006] What is needed is a gambling model that yields a net positive return for players, thus extending the play period and creating a more positive player experience, while maintaining commercial feasibility. What is further needed is a gambling model that provides a satisfying gambling experience (true sense of risk and reward) while still giving the player a positive return. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention provides a gambling model that provides players with a consistently positive return on investment over time. The model maintains commercial viability, and does not provide an opportunity for unlimited payout to a player. Repeated and prolonged play results in correspondingly higher winnings, but such winnings are provided in the form of prize tokens whose value diminishes as more prize tokens are issued. Regardless of how many prize tokens are issued in total, the total value of all outstanding prize tokens remains constant. In one embodiment, prize tokens are cashed out regularly, so that the total value of tokens issued in a given time period remains constant, but a new batch of tokens would become available, and have new value, the next time period. [0008] The present invention may be implemented, for example, on a website or online portal that offers a suite of betting and casino-style games. Gameplay and payouts of the games are adjusted, as described below, to provide the player with a consistently positive return on investment over time. This suite of modifications maintains the balance of winning and losing events to ensure that the players still have a sense of risk and reward and enjoyable gameplay while allowing them to experience a consistent sense of gain and success. This change to traditional casino payouts creates high levels of motivation for players to continue playing for long periods of time. [0009] The gambling model of the present invention enables a casino or site operator to maintain these consistently positive payouts through the use of an infinitely extensible virtual currency. Rather than providing wagering with actual cash or other items of value, the model of the present invention establishes durable accounts of prize tokens (referred to herein as "tokens") for its players. These tokens do not have a defined cash value; their value is definable as a function of the total number of such tokens, or the total number that have been issued in a given time period. Thus, regardless of how many tokens a player might win, the total payout to all players is limited to a known value (or a known value per time period). Thus the tokens do not have any fixed intrinsic value and can be "manufactured" at will by the site operator with no economic impact. Players are assigned a starting amount of tokens with which they can gamble; tokens can be won or lost in the same manner as regular currency (or chips). [0010] In one embodiment, tokens cannot be directly exchanged for any item of value, but can be converted into entries in a fixed number of drawings for cash prizes. Because the tokens can be used to enter drawings for items of value, players perceive them to have value, and have an emotional stake in their gain or loss. [0011] For example, a daily drawing for $100 might be conducted. No matter how many tokens are "manufactured" or paid out, the actual value of all winnings is limited to $100. However, the more prize tokens are paid out in total, the smaller the value of each individual token. If 100 prize tokens are paid out, each has a value of $1 (since there is a 1% chance of winning the $100 prize); but if 500 prize tokens are paid out, each has a value of 20 cents (since there is a 0.2% chance of winning the $100). Individual players see a perceived value in the tokens, however, since repeated or prolonged play yields a net positive return in tokens, and can result in the player having a larger share of the total number of tokens in circulation. Thus, repeated or prolonged play results in a net gain for players without increasing the real payout experienced by the site operator or casino. [0012] The daily drawing is merely exemplary of one application of the invention. Other applications are possible. For example, tokens might be assessed a daily value after all payouts for the day are completed. The daily value might be determined as a fraction of the total prize payout for the day, which can be determined in advance. Thus, if $100 is to be paid out daily, then each player would receive a share of the $100 corresponding to his or her share of total prize tokens that were issued that day. If 100 tokens are paid out, each token can be exchanged for $1; if 500 tokens are paid out, each can be exchanged for 20 cents. Conversion and payout may be made mandatory or optional, as appropriate for the particular implementation of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an architecture for practicing the present invention. [0014] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method for practicing the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Architecture [0015] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of an architecture for practicing the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the architecture as depicted is merely an example of an implementation of the invention, and that many other implementations are possible without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. For example, the positive-return gambling model of the present invention can be used in conventional casinos, including machine-based games (e.g. slot machines, video poker), or human-operated games (e.g. roulette, craps, blackjack). [0016] System 100 is presented as an Internet-based application for implementing a gambling website. In such an embodiment, the invention is implemented in the context of an Internet website that provides online gaming, including casino-type gambling. Many such websites are known in the art, for presenting games in both a gambling and non-gambling context. Application server 101 contains code for running and operating various gambling games, as is known in the art. Web server 103 acts as an interface to the Internet 104, and provides a mechanism for presenting games to players. Players use client machines 105 to access web server 103 over the Internet 104 in a conventional manner, through Internet connections such as via an Internet Service Provider (ISP, not shown). [0017] Application server 101 interacts with player database 102 to keep track of player information, including stored tokens, demographic data, playing history, and the like. One skilled in the art will recognize that many types of information may be stored and tracked with respect to players, both individually and in the aggregate. Application server 101 may also interact with other databases (not shown) to keep track of information regarding the operation of the gambling system as a whole, such as for example the total number of tokens that have been issued in a given time period. Method of Operation [0018] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a flowchart of a method of operation of one embodiment of the present invention. One skilled in the art will recognize that the particular steps shown in FIG. 2 are merely exemplary of a method of operation, and that other methods and sequences of steps can be implemented without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention. Continue reading about Positive-return gambling... Full patent description for Positive-return gambling Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Positive-return gambling 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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