US-20260127948-A1 - GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH WAGERING AND NON-WAGERING PAYMENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN A GAME OF SKILL

US20260127948A1US 20260127948 A1US20260127948 A1US 20260127948A1US-20260127948-A1

Abstract

Systems and methods which operate in at least two modes, such as an arcade mode and a hybrid arcade/wagering mode.

Inventors

Cameron A. Filipour

Assignees

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20260105

Claims (20)

1 . A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising: responsive to receipt of a first payment amount that causes the electronic gaming machine to operate in a first mode of operation: receiving, via a skill input device comprising at least one of a force sensing device, and an accelerometer, a first quantifiable physical skill input that measures at least one of timing, aim, and physical strength and is made separate from any input associated with the first payment amount, wherein an input associated with the first payment amount and the first quantifiable physical skill input collectively form a greater quantity of inputs to play a skill-based game than a quantity of inputs to play a spinning reel game, displaying, by a display device, a first outcome based on the first quantifiable physical skill input, and displaying, by the display device, a first payout based on the first outcome, the first payout having a first payout attribute, and responsive to receipt of a second, different payment amount that causes the electronic gaming machine to operate in a second mode of operation: receiving, via the skill input device, a second quantifiable physical skill input that measures at least one of timing, aim, and physical strength and is made separate from any input associated with the second, different payment amount, wherein an input associated with the second, different payment amount and the second quantifiable physical skill input collectively form a greater quantity of inputs to play the skill-based game than the quantity of inputs to play the spinning reel game, displaying, by the display device, a second outcome that is based on the second quantifiable physical skill input, and displaying, by the display device, a second payout that is based on the second outcome, the second payout having a second, different payout attribute and a difference between the first payment amount and the second, different payment amount qualifies as a wager amount.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the first payout attribute and the second payout attribute is associated with an evaluation against a static paytable.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one of the first payout attribute and the second payout attribute is associated with an evaluation against an outcome associated with another player.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of the first payment amount, allocating, by a processor, a first portion of the first payment amount to an escrow pool.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of the second, different payment amount, allocating, by the processor, to the escrow pool an amount from the second, different payment amount corresponding to the first portion of the first payment amount.
6 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the escrow pool comprises a progressive award.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of the first payment amount, displaying, by the display device, a notification associated with any payout having the second, different payout attribute that would have been available had the second, different payment amount been received.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first payout attribute is associated with a non-monetary currency.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the second, different payout attribute is associated with a monetary currency.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mode of operation comprises an arcade mode of operation.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the second, different mode of operation comprises a hybrid mode of operation.
12 . A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising: allocating, by a processor, a first part of the first payment amount to a first mode of operation in which no monetary payouts are available to be won during the first mode of operation, allocating, by the processor, a second part of the first payment amount to a second, different mode of operation in which a monetary payout is available to be won during the second, different mode of operation, receiving, via a skill input device comprising at least one of a force sensing device, and an accelerometer, a quantifiable physical skill input that measures at least one of timing, aim, and physical strength and is made separate from any input associated with the first payment amount, wherein an input associated with the first payment amount and the quantifiable physical skill input collectively form a greater quantity of inputs to play a skill-based game than a quantity of inputs to play a spinning reel game, displaying, by a display device, an outcome based on the quantifiable physical skill input, and displaying, by the display device and based on the outcome, a first payout associated with the first mode of operation and a second payout associated with the second, different mode of operation.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of a second payment amount, allocating, by the processor, the second payment amount to the first mode of operation and displaying, by the display device, a notification associated with any monetary payout that would have been available had the first payment amount been received.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first mode of operation comprises an arcade mode of operation.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second, different mode of operation comprises a hybrid mode of operation.
16 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising, responsive to receipt of the first payment amount, allocating, by the processor, a third portion of the first payment amount to an escrow pool.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the escrow pool comprises a progressive award.
18 . A method of operating an electronic gaming machine, the method comprising: responsive to receipt of a first payment amount that causes the electronic gaming machine to operate, independent of any escrow pool, in a first mode of operation: allocating, by a processor, the first payment amount to a first play of a skill-based game associated with the first mode of operation, displaying, by a display device, a first outcome based on a first quantifiable physical skill input that measures at least one of timing, aim, and physical strength, is made separate from any input associated with the first payment amount, and is received in association with the first play of the skill-based game via a skill input device comprising at least one of a force sensing device, and an accelerometer, and displaying, by the display device, a first payout based on the first outcome, and responsive to receipt of a second, different payment amount that causes the electronic gaming machine to operate in a second, different mode of operation: allocating, by the processor, a first part of the second, different payment amount to an escrow pool, allocating, by the processor, a second part of the payment amount to a second play of the skill-based game associated with the second, different mode of operation, displaying, by the display device, a second outcome based on a second quantifiable physical skill input that measures at least one of timing, aim, and physical strength, is made separate from any input associated with the second, different payment amount, and is received via the skill input device in association with the second play of the skill-based game, and displaying, by the display device, a second payout based on the second outcome.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the escrow pool comprises a progressive award available to be won in association with receipt of the second payment amount.
20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising, when operating in the first mode of operation, displaying, by the display device, a notification associated with the escrow pool associated with the second mode of operation.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM This application is a continuation of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/596,166, filed on Mar. 5, 2024, which is a continuation of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/694,208, filed on Mar. 14, 2022, which is a continuation of, claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/281,736, filed on Feb. 21, 2019, the entire contents of which are each incorporated by reference herein. BACKGROUND Gaming machines may provide players awards in primary games. Gaming machines generally require the player to place a wager to activate the primary game. The award may be based on the player obtaining a winning symbol or symbol combination and on the amount of the wager. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an example process for operating a multiple mode gaming system. FIGS. 2A and 2B are front views of one embodiment of the multiple mode gaming system disclosed herein illustrating the different payment amounts associated with the different modes of operation and the different types of awards available to be won in the different modes of operation. FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of one embodiment of an electronic configuration of an example gaming system disclosed herein. FIGS. 4A and 4B are perspective views of example alternative embodiments of the gaming system disclosed herein. FIG. 4C is a front view of an example personal gaming device of the gaming system disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Multiple Mode Gaming In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods which operate in at least two modes, such as an arcade mode and a hybrid arcade/wagering mode. In certain embodiments, the first mode of operation of the gaming system is an arcade mode wherein a player pays a first amount for a play of a game of skill without the opportunity to win monetary awards. In other words, this first mode is a learning or training mode which players utilize to learn to play the game and/or train to enhance their skill at the game. For the play of the game of skill in this first mode, the player makes zero, one or more quantifiable skill inputs which measure one or more aspects of the player's skill. Following these quantifiable skill inputs, the system determines and displays an outcome and associated non-monetary award, if any, for the play of the game of skill in the first mode, wherein the determined outcome is based, at least in part, on such quantifiable skill inputs. It should be appreciated that while the player may win non-monetary tokens, virtual currency or other non-monetary prizes from the play of the game of skill in this first mode, no monetary awards are available to be won from the play of the game of skill in this first made. As such and similar to a play of an arcade game, in the first mode of operation of the gaming system (i.e., the arcade mode), players play the games of skill for pure amusement without the opportunity to win any monetary awards. In certain embodiments, the second mode of operation of the gaming system is a partial wagering mode (i.e., a hybrid/arcade wagering mode) wherein the player pays a second, greater amount for a play of a game of skill with an opportunity to win monetary awards. In these embodiments, for the play of the game of skill in the second mode, the player makes zero, one or more quantifiable skill inputs which measure one or more aspects of the player's skill. Following these quantifiable skill inputs, the system determines and displays an outcome and any associated awards (which may be monetary awards and/or non-monetary awards) for the play of the game of skill, wherein the determined outcome is based, at least in part, on such quantifiable skill inputs. In certain embodiments, when operating in the second mode, a portion of the amount paid to play the game of skill is allocated to playing the game as an amusement game and a portion of the amount paid to play the game of skill is allocated to playing the game as a wagering game, wherein any monetary awards are provided in accordance with the play of the game allocated to the wagering game portion. That is, a play of a game in this second mode of operation includes both an arcade portion and a separate non-arcade or wagering portion, wherein both portions are funded separately and viewed separately from a regulatory standpoint. Such a configuration provides that only the non-arcade portion is regulated by one or more gaming commissions (which ensure that a certain, minimum percentage of each wager placed on the play of the game (which is allocated to the non-arcade or wagering portion of the play of the game) is, on average, returned to players in the form of monetary winnings). Put differently, the play of the game of skill in the second mode of operation includes an amusement layer (which is played for non-monetar