System and method for utilizing accumulated rewards for game play

Abstract

A system and method for use of an electronic gaming machine and a central computer. The electronic gaming machine allows a player to place a wager and play a game on the electronic gaming machine. The electronic gaming machine has a normal payout mode and a higher payout mode and provides a payout to the player in response to a winning condition in the game. The central computer is configured to monitor the player's play and award the player a reward in response to the player's play reaching a predetermined amount. The central computer provides the player an opportunity to utilize the reward to play the electronic gaming machine in the higher payout mode and automatically causes the electronic gaming machine to switch between the normal payout mode and the higher payout mode in response to the player choosing to utilize the reward.

1 . A system, comprising:
 an electronic gaming machine having a player interface, the player interface for allowing a player to place a wager and play a game on the electronic gaming machine, the electronic gaming machine being switchable between a normal payout mode and a higher payout mode, the electronic gaming machine providing a payout to the player under a current one of the normal payout mode and the higher payout mode in response to a winning condition in the game, the payout under the higher payout mode being generally higher for the winning condition under the higher payout mode than under the normal payout mode; and,   a central computer networked to the electronic gaming machine, the central computer configured to monitor the player's play of the electronic gaming machine and award the player a reward in response to the player's play reaching a predetermined amount, the central computer, through the electronic gaming machine, providing the player an opportunity to utilize the reward to play the electronic gaming machine in the higher payout mode and automatically switching the electronic gaming machine to switch between the normal payout mode and the higher payout mode in response to the player choosing to utilize the reward.   
   
   
       2 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic gaming machine is one of a video slot machine, a pull lever electronic slot machine, a video blackjack machine, a video poker machine, a video roulette machine, a video craps machine, and a video keno machine. 
   
   
       3 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic gaming machine provides multiple games, the game played selectable by the player. 
   
   
       4 . A system, as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein one or more of the multiple games has a normal payout mode and a higher payout mode. 
   
   
       5 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the higher payout mode differs from the normal payout mode by changing at least one of (1) odds related to the game, (2) payout ratio, and (3) rule(s) of the game. 
   
   
       6 . A system, as set forth in  claim 2 , where the higher payout mode defines an even-odds game. 
   
   
       7 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the switch to the higher payout mode is performed by providing a different payout ratio. 
   
   
       8 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a switch to the higher payout mode is performed by providing different odds and different game rules. 
   
   
       9 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , including a plurality of electronic gaming machines, each gaming machine switchable between the normal payout mode and the higher payout mode by the central computer. 
   
   
       10 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , the reward defined in terms of a number of credits, the central computer providing the player the opportunity to cash-out the reward. 
   
   
       11 . A system, as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of the player's play which triggers the awarding of the award is defined in terms of an amount wagered, the reward being defined as a predetermined percentage of the amount wagered. 
   
   
       12 . A method for operating an electronic gaming machine having a player interface, the electronic gaming machine connected to a central computer and being switchable between a normal payout mode and a higher payout mode, the payout under the higher payout mode being generally higher for the winning condition under the higher payout mode than under the normal payout mode, the method including the steps of:
 allowing a player to place a wager and play a game on the electronic gaming machine;   providing a payout to the player under a current one of the normal payout mode and the higher payout mode in response to a winning condition in the game;   monitoring the player's play of the electronic gaming machine, using a central computer networked to the electronic gaming machine and awarding the player a reward in response to the player's play reaching a predetermined amount;   providing the player an opportunity to utilize the reward to play the electronic gaming machine in the higher payout mode and automatically switching the electronic gaming machine to switch between the normal payout mode and the higher payout mode in response to the player choosing to utilize the reward.   
   
   
       13 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the electronic gaming machine is one of a video slot machine, a pull lever electronic slot machine, a video blackjack machine, a video poker machine, a video roulette machine, a video craps machine, and a video keno machine. 
   
   
       14 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the electronic gaming machine provides multiple games, the game played selectable by the player. 
   
   
       15 . A method, as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein one or more of the multiple games has a normal payout mode and a higher payout mode. 
   
   
       16 . A method, as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the higher payout mode differs from the normal payout mode by changing at least one of (1) odds related to the game, (2) payout ratio, and (3) rule(s) of the game. 
   
   
       17 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , where the higher payout mode defines an even-odds game. 
   
   
       18 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the switch to the higher payout mode is performed by providing a different payout ratio. 
   
   
       19 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein a switch to the higher payout mode is performed by providing different odds and different game rules. 
   
   
       20 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , the reward defined in terms of a number of credits, the method including the step of providing the player the opportunity to cash-out the reward. 
   
   
       21 . A method, as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined amount of the player's play which triggers the awarding of the reward is defined in terms of an amount wagered, the reward being defined as a predetermined percentage of the amount wagered.