Gaming system and a method of gaming

Abstract

A gaming system including: a plurality of credit meters arranged to store different types of credits including a first credit meter for storing first credits; a currency converter arranged to convert from currency to first credits and from first credits to currency at a fixed rate; a game controller arranged to implement a game in which wagers are placed by a player in first credits, the gaming system arranged to enable a player to establish a balance of second credits on a second credit meter of the plurality of credit meters; and an exchange rate controller arranged to control an effective exchange rate between first credits and second credits to vary over time.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a plurality of credit meters arranged to store different types of credits including a first credit meter for storing first credits;   a currency converter arranged to convert from currency to first credits and from first credits to currency at a fixed rate;   a game controller arranged to implement a game in which wagers are placed by a player in first credits,   the gaming system arranged to enable a player to establish a balance of second credits on a second credit meter of the plurality of credit meters; and   an exchange rate controller arranged to control an effective exchange rate between first credits and second credits to vary over time.   
     
     
         2 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising:
 a currency input mechanism and a currency output mechanism in data communication with the currency converter.   
     
     
         3 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the exchange rate controller controls an exchange rate between second credits and currency to thereby control the exchange rate between first credits and second credits. 
     
     
         4 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system is arranged to make an award of second credits. 
     
     
         5 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the game controller is arranged to make the award of second credits in response to play of the game. 
     
     
         6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the game controller makes the award of second credits in respect of a winning outcome of the game. 
     
     
         7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein a further controller in data communication with the game controller is arranged to make the award of second credits. 
     
     
         8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the further controller is at least one of a jackpot controller, a bonus controller, a community game controller, a link game controller, or a group game controller. 
     
     
         9 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , arranged to control when the player is entitled to convert first credits to second credits. 
     
     
         10 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the game controller is arranged to award an entitlement to convert first credits to second credits. 
     
     
         11 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , further arranged to control when the player is entitled to convert second credits to first credits. 
     
     
         12 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the game controller is arranged to award an entitlement to convert second credits to first credits. 
     
     
         13 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the exchange rate controller is arranged to control the exchange rate between credits and second credits as a function of a hit rate for one or more game outcomes. 
     
     
         14 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the gaming system comprises a plurality of gaming devices each having a game controller, and the exchange rate controller is arranged to control the exchange rate between first credits and second credits based on turnover on the plurality of gaming devices. 
     
     
         15 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of credit meters comprises at least one additional credit meter each for storing an additional type of credits, such that in combination with the second credits there are plural types of credits in the system different to the first credits, the gaming system arranged to enable a player to establish a balance in any one of the plural types of credits different to the first credits on respective credit meters, and the exchange rate controller controls an effective rate of exchange between each type of credits and first credits, such that there are plural types of credits whose value varies relative to the first credit. 
     
     
         16 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first credits are normal credits and the gaming system is arranged such that it is only possible to exchange between normal credits and currency. 
     
     
         17 . A game controller for a gaming system, the game controller arranged to:
 convert from currency to first credits and from first credits to currency at a fixed rate;   store first credits with a first credit meter;   conduct a game in which wagers are placed by a player in first credits;   enable a player to establish a balance of second credits on an second credit meter; and   control an effective exchange rate between first credits and second credits to vary over time.   
     
     
         18 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , the exchange rate between first credits and second credits is controlled by controlling an exchange rate between second credits and currency to thereby control. 
     
     
         19 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , arranged to make an award of second credits in response to play of the game. 
     
     
         20 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 19 , arranged to make the award of second credits in respect of a winning outcome of the game. 
     
     
         21 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , arranged to award an entitlement to convert first credits to second credits. 
     
     
         22 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , arranged to award an entitlement to convert second credits to first credits. 
     
     
         23 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the exchange rate controller is arranged to control the exchange rate between credits and second credits as a function of a hit rate for one or more game outcomes. 
     
     
         24 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of credit meters comprises at least one additional credit meter each for storing an additional type of credits, such that in combination with the second credits there are plural types of credits in the system different to the first credits, the gaming system arranged to enable a player to establish a balance in any one of these types of credits on respective credit meters, and the exchange rate controller controls an effective rate of exchange between each type of credits and first credits, such that there are plural types of credits whose value varies relative to the first credit. 
     
     
         25 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the first credits are normal credits and the game controller is arranged such that it is only possible to exchange between normal credits and currency. 
     
     
         26 . A method in a gaming system comprising:
 converting from currency to first credits and from first credits to currency at a fixed rate;   storing first credits with a first credit meter;   conducting a game in which wagers are placed by a player in first credits;   enabling a player to establish a balance of second credits on an second credit meter; and   controlling an effective exchange rate between first credits and second credits to vary over time.   
     
     
         27 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising controlling an exchange rate between second credits and currency to thereby control the exchange rate between first credits and second credits. 
     
     
         28 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising making an award of second credits. 
     
     
         29 . A method as claimed in  claim 28 , comprising making the award of second credits in response to play of the game. 
     
     
         30 . A method as claimed in  claim 29 , comprising making the award of second credits in respect of a winning outcome of the game. 
     
     
         31 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising controlling when the player is entitled to convert first credits to second credits. 
     
     
         32 . A method as claimed in  claim 31 , comprising awarding an entitlement to convert first credits to second credits. 
     
     
         33 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising controlling when the player is entitled to convert second credits to first credits. 
     
     
         34 . A method as claimed in  claim 33 , comprising awarding an entitlement to convert second credits to first credits. 
     
     
         35 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising controlling the exchange rate between credits and second credits as a function of a hit rate for one or more game outcomes. 
     
     
         36 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising controlling the exchange rate between first credits and second credits based on turnover on a plurality of gaming devices. 
     
     
         37 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , comprising enabling a player to establish a balance in any one of plural types of credits different to the first credits and controlling an effective rate of exchange between each type of credits and first credits, such that there are plural types of credits whose value varies relative to the first credit. 
     
     
         38 . A method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the first credits are normal credits and it is only possible to exchange between normal credits and currency. 
     
     
         39 . A tangible computer readable storage medium comprising computer program code which when executed by a gaming system implements a method of gaming comprising:
 converting from currency to first credits and from first credits to currency at a fixed rate;   storing first credits with a first credit meter;   conducting a game in which wagers are placed by a player in first credits;   enabling a player to establish a balance of second credits on an second credit meter; and   controlling an effective exchange rate between first credits and second credits to vary over time.