Gaming system with player sponsoring

Abstract

Sponsored gaming allows a person to provide benefits to a person playing a game such as a slot machine, video poker, online gambling, etc. A sponsor can make a payment in order to improve the odds of a player winning a jackpot, round, hand or game. A sponsor can make a payment to improve a player's odds or to increase the number of units in a player's bet, or to cause other effects. A method for sponsoring gaming can include accessing a sponsor interface; selecting one or more sponsor variables and transferring value; and altering a game to provide a sponsored benefit to a player in response to the selected one or more sponsor variables. The sponsor variables can include a game or game console, a player, a payout, betting units, and/or a statistical advantage, for example. A host of the game, such as a casino or online betting operator, can receive a portion of the payment or other compensation for allowing the sponsorship.

1 . A method for sponsoring gaming, the method comprising:
 accessing a sponsor interface;   selecting one or more sponsor variables and transferring value; and   altering a game to provide a sponsored benefit to a player in response to the selected one or more sponsor variables.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the accessing the sponsor interface comprises using an access card, a keypad, or a touchscreen. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transferring value comprises supplying cash or using a credit or a debit card. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sponsor variables comprises a designation of the player to receive the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sponsor variables comprises a designation of the game to convey the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sponsor variables comprises a designation of a payout as the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the altering the game comprises:
 providing a first portion of the payout to the player; and   providing a second portion of the payout to a central game owner.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sponsor variables comprises a designation of a betting unit as the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the altering the game comprises:
 adding the betting unit to another betting unit provided by the player; and   providing a payment derived from the transferring value to a central game owner.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sponsor variables comprises a designation of a statistical advantage as the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the altering the game comprises:
 improving a likelihood of the player winning the game; and   providing a payment derived from the transferring value to a central game owner.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting the player and/or the game being in position for the sponsored benefit by performing a comparison using the one or more sponsor variables. 
   
   
       13 . A system for sponsoring gaming, the system comprising:
 a sponsor interface configured to receive inputs from a sponsor and to provide one or more selected sponsor variables; and   a game controller configured to receive the one or more selected sponsor variables and to alter at least one of a plurality of games to provide a sponsored benefit to a player in response to the one or more selected sponsor variables.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the sponsor interface is coupled to the game controller via a network. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the sponsor interface comprises an access card slot, a keypad, and/or a touchscreen. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more selected sponsor variables comprises a designation of the player to receive the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more selected sponsor variables comprises a designation of the game to convey the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more selected sponsor variables comprises a designation of a payout as the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the game controller is configured to alter the at least one game using logic configured to:
 provide a first portion of the payout to the player; and   provide a second portion of the payout to a central game owner.   
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more selected sponsor variables comprises a designation of a betting unit as the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the game controller is configured to alter the at least one game using logic configured to:
 add the betting unit to another betting unit that is provided by the player; and   provide a payment from the sponsor to a central game owner.   
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more selected sponsor variables comprises a designation of a statistical advantage as the sponsored benefit. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the game controller is configured to alter the at least one game using logic configured to:
 improve a likelihood of the player winning the game; and   provide a payment from the sponsor to a central game owner.   
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a device or circuit configured to detect the player and/or the game in position for the sponsored benefit by performing a comparison using the one or more selected sponsor variables. 
   
   
       25 . A means for sponsoring gaming, the means comprising:
 a means for accessing a sponsor interface;   a means for selecting one or more sponsor variables and transferring value; and   a means for altering a game to provide a sponsored benefit to a player in response to the selected one or more sponsor variables.