US5910048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Loss limit method for slot machines
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-11-29
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Granted: 1999-06-08
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Expires: 2016-11-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of operating slot machines to limit a player's losses is provided. The method comprises the steps of identifying a player; tracking an amount played and an amount paid out to the player by a first slot machine; determining if the player has lost more than a predetermined loss amount; and if the player has lost more than the predetermined loss amount after one of a predetermined number of plays, a predetermined amount played, a predetermined time of play, and the player stopping further play, crediting the player the difference between the predetermined loss amount and the player's actual loss.
Inventors
- 👤 Isadore Feinberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 15:51
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3244
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of operating slot machines to limit player's losses, comprising the steps of: identifying a player; tracking an amount played and an amount paid out to the player by a first slot machine; determining if the player has lost more than a predetermined loss amount; if the player has lost more than the predetermined loss amount after one of a predetermined number of plays, a predetermined time of play, and the player stopping further play, crediting the player the difference between the predetermined loss amount and the player's actual loss; and providing a usage schedule with different predetermined loss amounts associated with different slot machine usage periods, such that the predetermined loss amounts are lower during low slot machine usage periods.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of operating slot machines to limit player's losses, comprising the steps of: identifying a player; tracking an amount played and an amount paid out to the player by a first slot machine; determining if the player has lost more than a predetermined loss amount; if the player has lost more than the predetermined loss amount after one of a predetermined number of plays, a predetermined time of play, and the player stopping further play, crediting the player the difference between the predetermined loss amount and the player's actual loss; and providing a usage schedule with different predetermined loss amounts associated with different slot machine usage periods, such that the predetermined loss amounts are lower during low slot machine usage periods.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: inserting an encodable card into a card reader/encoder in communication with the slot machine, the encodable card being capable of accepting and storing encoded data for the player identity, the amount played and the amount paid out to the player; encoding data on the encodable card for the amount played and the amount paid out to the player; removing the encoded card from the slot machine; and calculating the difference between the predetermined loss amount and the player's actual loss based on the encoded data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
157 words
The method of claim 1 further including the steps of: inserting an encodable card into a first card reader/encoder in communication with a first slot machine, the encodable card being capable of accepting and storing encoded data for the player identity, the amount played and the amount paid out to the player by the first slot machine; encoding data on the encodable card for the amount played and the amount paid out to the player from the first slot machine; removing the encoded card from the first card reader/encoder; inserting the encoded encodable card into a second card reader/encoder in communication with a second slot machine; reading the encoded data on the encodable card from the first slot machine; determining if the player has lost more than the predetermined loss amount based on a total amount played in the first and second slot machines and a total amount paid out by the first and second slot machines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of: calculating updated data for a total amount played in the first and second slot machines and a total amount paid by the first and second slot machines; and encoding updated data on the encodable card with the second card reader/encoder for a total amount played and a total amount of money paid out to the player by the first and second slot machines.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of operating slot machines to limit a player's losses, comprising the steps of: identifying a player; tracking a period of play, an amount played and an amount paid out to the player by a first slot machine; determining if the player has lost more than a predetermined amount for the period of play; and if the player has lost more than the predetermined amount for the period of play, increasing the slot machine pay out to the player.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of operating slot machines to limit a player's losses, comprising the steps of: identifying a player; tracking a period of play, an amount played and an amount paid out to the player by a first slot machine; determining if the player has lost more than a predetermined amount for the period of play; and if the player has lost more than the predetermined amount for the period of play, increasing the slot machine pay out to the player.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of increasing the slot machine payout to the player comprises the step of paying a bonus payoff to the player of up to the difference between the predetermined loss amount and the player's actual loss.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of increasing the slot machine payout to the player comprises the step of paying a bonus payoff to the player of greater than the difference between the predetermined loss amount and the player's actual loss.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of increasing the slot machine payout to the player comprises the step of increasing the winning percentage for the slot machine.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
The method of claim 5 further including the steps of: inserting an encodable card into a first card reader/encoder in communication with the first slot machine, the encodable card being capable of accepting and storing encoded data for the player identity, the period of play, the amount played and the amount paid out to the player; encoding data on the encodable card for the period of play, the amount played, and the amount paid out to the player from the first slot machine; removing the encoded card from the first card reader/encoder; inserting the encoded card into a second card reader/encoder in communication with a second slot machine; reading the encoded data from the first slot machine on the encodable card with the second card reader/encoder; determining if the player has lost more than the predetermined loss amount for the predetermined period of play based on a total period of play for the first and second slot machines.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of: calculating updated data for the total period of play on the first and second slot machines, the total amount played in the first and second slot machines and the total amount payed out by the first and second slot machines; and encoding updated data on the encodable card with the second card reader/encoder for the total period of play on the first and second slot machines, the total amount played, and the total amount of money paid out to the player by the first and second slot machines.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-06-07 | 2002-12-07 | 2003-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-06-07 | 2006-12-07 | 2007-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-06-07 | 2010-12-07 | 2011-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |