Methods and apparatus for facilitating flat rate play sessions

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a video roulette flat rate play session is facilitated. The flat rate play session may be associated with at least one of a wagering restriction applied to one or more bets during the flat rate play session and a net maximum payout per spin applicable to one or more bets during the flat rate play session. In one embodiment, a player is provided with a plurality of wagering units at the beginning of the session. A monetary value of the plurality of wagering units may be greater than a monetary value of a flat rate price paid for the flat rate play session.

1 . An apparatus for facilitating a wagering game, comprising:
 a processor operable to facilitate a wagering game;   a memory storing a program, the memory operable to communicate with the processor;   a display for outputting representations of a video roulette wagering game;   the processor operable with the memory to:
 determine a player has purchased and is participating in a flat rate play session of the video roulette game, the flat rate play session being defined by a restriction and a maximum net payout per spin: 
 recognize a bet requested by the player; 
 perform a spin of the video roulette game; 
 determine a result of the spin; 
 determine whether the bet is a winner; 
 determine, if the bet is a winner, an initial payout to the player for the spin; 
 determine whether the initial payout is greater than the maximum net payout; and 
 provide the initial payout to the player if the initial payout is not greater than the maximum net payout, otherwise providing the maximum net payout to the player in place of the initial payout. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 determine whether the bet is compatible with the restriction;   reject the bet if the bet is not compatible with the restriction.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor if further operable with the program to:
 determine a number of spins comprising the flat rate play session; and   display via the display the number of spins comprising the flat rate play session.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 upon an occurrence of each spin in the session, decrementing by one the number of spins remaining.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 receive a payment for the flat rate play session, the payment comprising a flat rate price that is less than the sum of the wager available for placement during the session.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 provide, at a beginning of the flat rate play session, a plurality of wagering units to the player for wagering during the flat rate play session, wherein a monetary value of the wagering units provided is greater than a monetary value of a price paid for the flat rate play session.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the wagering units provided are non-cashable. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the processor being operable with the program to provide a plurality of wagering units to the player comprises the processor being operable with the program to:
 provide a first number of a first category of wagering units to the player, wherein the first category of wagering units corresponds to a first wagering restriction imposed upon the player during the session; and   providing a second number of a first category of wagering units to the player, wherein the second category of wagering units corresponds to a second wagering restriction imposed upon the player during the session.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processor if further operable with the program to, upon recognizing a bet requested by the player:
 determine whether a wagering unit being used for the bet is of the first category or of the second category;   determine the wagering restriction associated with the category of the wagering unit being used for the bet;   determine whether the bet requested by the player is consistent with the restriction; and   reject the bet if the bet is not consistent with the restriction.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 recognize a request for cashout by the player;   determine monetary value due to the player as a result of the session; and   output the monetary value to the player in a cashable form.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processor being operable with the program to determine a monetary value due to the player comprises the processor being operable with the program to:
 determine a starting balance of wagering units provided to the player at a beginning of the flat rate play session;   determine a current balance of wagering units; and   dispense any value of the current balance above the starting balance.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the processor if further operable with the program to:
 determine, upon a completion of a spin of the session, whether the player qualifies for a jackpot payout based upon a result of the spin and a result of at least one previous spin.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the flat rate play session is defined by both a maximum net payout per spin and a maximum net payout for outside bets per spin. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 determine whether the bet is an outside bet; and   if the bet is an outside bet, determine whether the initial payout is greater than the maximum net payout for outside bets.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein providing the initial payout to the player and providing the maximum net payout to the player both include returning a wager placed on the bet to the player. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for facilitating a video roulette wagering game, comprising:
 a processor operable to facilitate a wagering game;   a memory storing a program, the memory operable to communicate with the processor;   a display for outputting representations of a video roulette wagering game;   the processor operable with the memory to:
 determine a player has purchased and is participating in a flat rate play session of the video roulette game, the flat rate play session being defined by a wagering restriction: 
 recognize a bet requested by the player; 
 determine whether the bet is compatible with the wagering restriction; and 
 reject the bet if the bet is not compatible with the wagering restriction. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor if further operable with the program to:
 determine a number of spins comprising the flat rate play session; and   display via the display the number of spins comprising the flat rate play session.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 upon an occurrence of each spin in the session, decrementing by one the number of spins remaining.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the processor is further operable with the program to:
 receive a payment for the flat rate play session, the payment comprising a flat rate price that is less than the sum of the wager available for placement during the session.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for facilitating a video roulette wagering game, comprising:
 a processor operable to facilitate a wagering game;   a memory storing a program, the memory operable to communicate with the processor;   a display for outputting representations of a video roulette wagering game;   the processor operable with the memory to:
 output, via the display, a menu of available flat rate play sessions of a video roulette wagering game,
 wherein each flat rate play session is defined by a flat rate price and a plurality of wagering unite to be provided to the player for wagering during the flat rate play session, a monetary value of the plurality of wagering units being greater than a monetary value of the flat rate price, and 
 wherein each flat rate play session is further defined by at least one of a wagering restriction and a maximum net payout per spin; 
 
 receiving a selection of a flat rate play session, thereby determining a selected flat rate play session; 
 receiving a payment of the flat rate price corresponding to the selected flat rate play session; and 
 facilitating the selected flat rate play session by conducting a plurality of spins of the video roulette game in accordance with the at least one of the wagering restriction and the maximum net payout per spin.