Free long distance calls on slot machines

Abstract

A gaming machine that provides free long distance telephone calls, or audio entertainment, as a reward for the continued playing of the gaming machine. The player may continue the free long distance phone call, or continue receiving the audio entertainment, as long his play meets a predetermined level of usage criteria.

1 - 32 . (canceled)  
   
   
       33 . A system comprising: 
 means for receiving currency;    means responsive to the receipt of currency for enabling a game play; and    means, responsive to the initiation of game play, for enabling a connection to a service for a period of time.    
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the service comprises a telephone service and further comprising means for establishing a connection, the means for establishing a connection letting a user of a gaming device establish a telephone call to a party identified by a user-entered telephone number.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the means for enabling the connection includes means for maintaining the connection beyond the period of time when additional currency is used to initiate subsequent game plays at a predetermined rate.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising means for providing a warning before the period of time expires.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising means to receive a signal indicating that the connection has been established.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 means for storing credits when the game play results in a win; and    means for using the credits to maintain the connection.    
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising means for terminating the connection when additional game plays are not initiated at the gaming device at a predetermined rate.  
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the time period is a function of the amount of currency received.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 33 , further comprising: 
 means for storing and accumulating connection time when a player does not immediately use the enabled connection for any game play; and    means for using the stored and accumulated connection time to maintain a connection enabled and used during a subsequent game play.    
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the connection time is a function of the amount of currency received for any game play.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the means for receiving currency includes a slot machine.  
   
   
       44 . A system comprising: 
 a gaming device including a currency acceptor for receiving currency; and    a central processor responsive to the receipt of currency by the currency acceptor, the central processor being operable to: 
 initiate, in response to the receipt of currency, a game play via the gaming device, and  
 enable, in response to the initiation of the game play, a connection to a service for a period of time via a connection device connected to the central processor.  
   
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the central processor is operative to maintain the connection to the service beyond the period of time when additional currency is used to initiate subsequent game plays.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the connection device further comprises a voice response unit for providing a warning before the period of time expires.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 a memory for storing credits when the game play results in a win, wherein the central processor is operative to use the stored credits to maintain the connection to the service.    
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the central processor terminates the connection when additional game plays are not initiated at the gaming device at a predetermined rate.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the time period is a function of the amount of currency received.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 a memory for storing and accumulating connection time for the service when a player does not immediately use the enabled connection, and wherein the central processor is operable to use the stored and accumulated connection time to establish and maintain a connection to the service during a subsequent game play.    
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 51 , wherein the connection time is a function of the amount of currency received for any game play.  
   
   
       52 . A method comprising: 
 providing a gaming device at which a player may initiate a game play by providing a wager; and    granting to the player access to a service for a period of time in response to the initiation of the game play at the gaming device.    
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , further including granting access to the service beyond the period of time in response to the player initiating another game play at the gaming device.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising terminating the access to the service after the period has expired and the player stops initiating game plays and playing the gaming device.