Networked games with theoretical return exceeding 100% and non-cash awards
AssigneeKetavong Holdings, LLC
InventorJason Myles Mayeroff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A networked gaming system and method for offering interactive games with a theoretical return or payback to the player exceeding 100% of the amount wagered on the game over time by awarding the player with non-cash awards such as merchandise or services, or vouchers to purchase merchandise or services that have been purchased in bulk by the gaming website or game operator. The gaming system and method are offered and deployed on internet connected devices such as general purpose computing devices, tablet computers, mobile telephones, smartphones, personal computers and dedicated gaming devices such as an “Xbox” or “PSP.”
Claims30
A system for playing a game on a network-connected device with an opportunity to win an award, comprising:
- a server including a controller running a random number generator implemented in software for generating random numbers that determine an outcome of the game and that correspond to a predefined set of game outcomes including winning and losing outcomes wherein a theoretical player return percentage of an award set provided for winning outcomes on the game to a player exceeds one hundred percent and wherein a theoretical game operator return percentage of the award set to a game operator is less than one hundred percent and further wherein a theoretical return percentage difference between the theoretical player return percentage and the theoretical game operator return percentage is funded by at least one non-cash award having a value to the player that is greater than a cost to the game operator;
- a network connected device having a display in communication with the server for displaying game play and game outcomes to a player;
- and
- an award generator in communication with the controller for providing an award to the player upon a winning outcome being achieved wherein the award set includes the at least one non-cash award.
In a networked system including at least one network connected device on which a game is played and a server with a database for maintaining records of awards, a method of playing a game on the network-connected device wherein the networked system includes a controller that executes a random number generator program implemented in software and the network connected device includes a display viewable by a player, comprising:
- placing a wager to initiate play of a game on the network-connected device;
- providing an award set corresponding to a plurality of game outcomes including at least one outcome that results in a non-cash award, wherein a theoretical player return percentage of the award set to the player exceeds one hundred percent and a theoretical game operator return percentage of the award set to a game operator is less than one hundred percent, and further wherein a return percentage difference between the theoretical player return percentage and the theoretical game operator return percentage is funded by at least one non-cash award having a value to the player that is greater than a cost to the operator;
- selecting a random number upon running the random number generator on the controller that is converted to one of the plurality of game outcomes;
- displaying the game outcome on the display;
- determining whether the game outcome is a winning outcome, wherein if the game outcome is a winning outcome, determining whether the winning outcome is one for a game credits award or a non-cash award;
- awarding a non-cash award for a winning outcome corresponding to the non-cash award.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.