Regulated multi-phase gaming

Abstract

Multi-phase games solve a key challenge in next generation casino gaming by allowing players to engage in new brand of casino game that rewards skills like manual dexterity and rapid decision making while guaranteeing game operators the consistent, reliable profits earned by legacy gaming models. Multi-phase games meet the evolving needs of both next generation players and game operators by separating play into two or more phases: 1) a skill-based phase, 2) a random phase, and 3) an optional progressive jackpot phase. Players who exhibit more skill in the skill-based phase of play earn more favorable terms in the random phase of play than players who exhibit less skill. The optional progressive jackpot feature fosters play and competition by awarding a progressive jackpot to the player or players with the highest score or scores over a predetermined period of time.

1 . A method of determining a reward due to a player of a regulated electronic game of chance, comprising the steps of:
 accepting from the player a selection of a game play contract for a predetermined duration of game play for a predetermined amount of funds;   providing the player with a skill-based first game that is configured such that, on average, players exhibiting greater skill earn higher scores than do players exhibiting comparatively lower skill and enabling game play thereon, and during the predetermined duration:   determining a score of the player in playing the skill-based first game;   after the predetermined duration:   providing a chance-based second game to the player, the chance-based second game being configured to include a number of winning opportunities that is determined at least in part by the player's score;   randomly determining the reward due to the player for each of the number of winning opportunities.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a skill-level table that includes a plurality of score ranges and an associated number of winning opportunities for each of the plurality of score ranges, the skill-level table being configured such that higher scores are associated with greater numbers of winning opportunities than are associated with comparatively lower scores and wherein the chance-based game providing step is carried out with the number of winning opportunities being determined by calling the skill-level table using the player's score. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the chance-based second game providing step is carried out with an average reward to the player of at least some of the winning opportunities of the chance-based second game increasing as the number of winning opportunities increases. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the skill-based first game providing step is carried out with the skill-based first game including one of a pinball game, a console style video game, a trivia game, and an electronic puzzle game. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein he chance-based second game includes at least one of a virtual scratch off lottery ticket, a number in a lottery number selection screen, a number on a roulette layout, and a number on a keno number selection screen. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the measuring step includes a step of providing the determined score to the player. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a likelihood of at least one of the winning opportunities leading to the player earning a reward is higher with a higher determined score than with a comparatively lower determined score. 
     
     
         8 . A method of determining rewards due to a player of a regulated electronic game of chance, comprising the steps of:
 accepting funds from a player and using a first portion of the funds to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded at a predetermined point in time and using a second portion of the funds to purchase a game play contract for a predetermined duration of game play on the regulated electronic game of chance;   providing the player with a skill-based first game that is configured such that, on average, players exhibiting greater skill earn higher scores than do players exhibiting comparatively lower skill and enabling game play thereon, and during the predetermined duration:   determining a score of the player in playing the skill-based first game;   and after the predetermined duration:   providing a chance-based second game to the player, the chance-based second game being configured to include a number of winning opportunities that is determined at least in part by the player's score;   randomly determining the reward due to the player for each of the winning opportunities;   if the player's score matches or exceeds a current high score, establishing the player's score as the current high score, and   awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to the player if the player's score is established as the current high score and has not been exceeded by the predetermined point in time.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing a skill-level table that includes a plurality of score ranges and an associated number of winning opportunities for each of the plurality of score ranges, the skill-level table being configured such that higher scores are associated with greater numbers of winning opportunities than are associated with comparatively lower scores and wherein the chance-based game providing step is carried out with the number of winning opportunities being determined by calling the skill-level table using the player's score. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the chance-based second game providing step is carried out with an average reward to the player of at least some of the winning opportunities of the chance-based second game increasing as the number of winning opportunities increases. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the skill-based first game providing step is carried out with the skill-based first game including one of a pinball game, a console style video game, a trivia game, and an electronic puzzle game. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein he chance-based second game includes at least one of a virtual scratch off lottery ticket, a number in a lottery number selection screen, a number on a roulette layout, and a number on a keno number selection screen. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the establishing step includes issuing a jackpot claim ticket to the player. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising a jackpot claim ticket redemption step enabling players who hold a jackpot claim ticket for a score that has not been exceeded by the predetermined period of time to redeem the ticket for at least a portion of the progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the score determining step includes providing the determined score to the player. 
     
     
         16 . A method of determining a reward due to a player on a regulated electronic game of chance, comprising the steps of:
 accepting funds from the player;   setting a maximum terminating events parameter;   initializing a terminating events counter to zero;   providing the player with a skill-based first game that is configured such that, on average, players exhibiting greater skill earn higher scores than do players exhibiting comparatively lower skill and enabling game play of the skill-based first game;   determining a score of the player in playing the skill-based first game;   incrementing the terminating events counter each time the player triggers a terminating event during game play of the skill-based first game;   concluding the skill-based first game when the terminating events counter equals the maximum terminating events parameter, and   after the skill-based first game is concluded:   providing a chance-based second game to the player, the chance-based second game including a number of winning opportunities that is determined at least in part by the player's determined score, and   randomly determining the reward due to the player for each of the number of winning opportunities.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the chance-based second game providing step is carried out with a higher determined score being associated with a greater number of winning opportunities than is associated with a comparatively lower determined score. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the chance-based second game providing step is carried out with an average reward to the player of at least some of the winning opportunities of the chance-based second game increasing as the number of winning opportunities increases. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the skill-based first game providing step is carried out with the skill-based first game including one of a pinball game, a console style video game, a trivia game, and an electronic puzzle game. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the chance-based second game includes at least one of a virtual scratch off lottery ticket, a number in a lottery number selection screen, a number on a roulette layout, and a number on a keno number selection screen. 
     
     
         21 . A method of determining rewards due to a player on a regulated electronic game of chance, comprising the steps of:
 accepting funds from a player and using a first portion of the funds to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded after a predetermined point in time and using a second portion of the funds to enable game play;   setting a maximum terminating events parameter;   initializing a terminating events counter to zero;   providing the player with a skill-based first game that is configured such that, on average, players exhibiting greater skill earn higher scores than do players exhibiting comparatively lower skill and enabling the game play thereon;   determining a score of the player in playing the skill-based first game;   incrementing the terminating events counter each time the player triggers a terminating event during game play of the skill-based first game;   concluding the skill-based first game when the terminating events counter equals the maximum terminating events parameter, and   after the skill-based first game is concluded:   providing a chance-based second game to the player, the chance-based second game including a number of winning opportunities that is determined at least in part on the player's determined score;   randomly determining the reward due to the player for each of the number of winning opportunities;   if the player's determined score matches or exceeds a current high score for the skill-based game:   establishing the player's score as a current high score for the skill-based first game, and   awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to the player if the player's score was established as the current high score and has not been exceeded by the predetermined point in time.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the chance-based second game providing step is carried out with a higher determined score being associated with a greater number of winning opportunities than is associated with a comparatively lower determined score. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the chance-based second game providing step is carried out with an average reward to the player of at least some of the winning opportunities of the chance-based second game increasing as the number of winning opportunities increases. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the skill-based first game providing step is carried out with the skill-based first game including one of a pinball game, a console style video game, a trivia game, and an electronic puzzle game. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein he chance-based second game includes at least one of a virtual scratch off lottery ticket, a number in a lottery number selection screen, a number on a roulette layout, and a number on a keno number selection screen. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the establishing step includes issuing a jackpot claim ticket to the player. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a jackpot claim ticket redemption step enabling players who hold a jackpot claim ticket for a score that has not been exceeded by the predetermined period of time to redeem the ticket for at least a portion of the progressive jackpot. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the skill level measuring step includes providing the measured skill level to the player. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the score determining step includes providing the measured score to the player. 
     
     
         30 . A method of determining rewards due to a player on a regulated electronic game of chance, comprising the sequential steps of:
 accepting funds from the player;   randomly determining a theoretical maximum reward that the player could win;   providing a skill-based game that is configured such that, on average, players exhibiting greater skill earn higher scores than do players exhibiting comparatively lower skill and enabling game play on the skill-based game of chance, the provided skill-based game being further configured to include a plurality of reward generating assets, at least one of a number of the reward generating assets and a value of a reward for successfully interacting with any of the plurality of reward generating assets being dependent upon the randomly determined theoretical maximum reward;   determining the score of the player in playing the skill-based game, and   based upon the determined score, determining how much of the randomly determined theoretical maximum reward the player actually wins.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising a step of providing a maximum reward table and wherein the randomly determining step is carried out by calling the maximum reward table. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the accepting step includes using a first portion of the funds to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded after a predetermined point in time and using a second portion of the funds to enable game play. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the accepting step includes accepting from the player a selection of a game play contract for a predetermined duration of game play of the skill-based game for a predetermined amount of funds. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the score determining step is carried out with the score being determined according to a number of the plurality of reward generating assets with which the player successfully interacts during the game play of the skill-based game. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the score determining step includes increasing the score with each successful interaction with any of the plurality of reward generating assets. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 32 , further including a step of determining whether the determined score matches or exceeds a pre-stored high score, and, if so, establishing the score as a new high score, and awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to the player if the player's score was established as the high score and has not been exceeded as of a time when the progressive jackpot is awarded. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the accepting step includes using a first portion of the funds to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded after a predetermined point in time and using a second portion of the funds to enable game play and wherein the method further includes awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to the player if the player has earned a score that has not been exceeded by the predetermined point in time. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the providing step is carried out with the skill-based game including at least one penalty inducing asset that is configured such that each time the player interacts therewith, the determining step decreases the player's score by a predetermined penalty amount. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , further including a step of initializing the score to 100 and wherein the score determining step decreases the score by the penalty amount each time the player interacts with the at least one penalty inducing asset during the game play. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the skill-based game providing step is carried out with the skill-based game including one of a virtual pinball game, a console style video game, a trivia game, and an electronic puzzle game. 
     
     
         41 . A method of determining a reward due to a player of a regulated electronic game of chance, comprising the steps of:
 accepting from the player a selection of a game play contract for a predetermined duration of video game play for a predetermined amount of funds;   providing the player with a skill-based first game that is configured such that, on average, players exhibiting greater manual dexterity earn higher scores than do players exhibiting comparatively less manual dexterity and enabling game play thereon, and during the predetermined duration:   determining a score of the player in playing the skill-based first game;   after the predetermined duration:   providing a chance-based second game to the player, the chance-based second game being configured to include a number of winning opportunities that is determined at least in part by the player's score;   randomly determining the reward due to the player for each of the number of winning opportunities.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising providing a skill-level table that includes a plurality of score ranges and an associated number of winning opportunities for each of the plurality of score ranges, the skill level table being configured such that higher scores are associated with greater numbers of winning opportunities than are associated with comparatively lower scores and wherein the chance-based game providing step is carried out with the number of winning opportunities being determined by calling the skill-level table using the player's score. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the chance-based second game providing step is carried out with an average reward to the player of at least some of the winning opportunities of the chance-based second game increasing as the number of winning opportunities increases. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein he chance-based second game includes at least one of a virtual scratch off lottery ticket, a number in a lottery number selection screen, a number on a roulette layout, and a number on a keno number selection screen. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the measuring step includes a step of providing the determined score to the player. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein a likelihood of at least one of the winning opportunities leading to the player earning a reward is higher with a higher determined score than with a comparatively lower determined score. 
     
     
         47 . A method of determining rewards due to a player on a regulated electronic game of chance, comprising the sequential steps of:
 accepting funds from the player;   randomly determining a theoretical maximum reward that the player could win;   providing a skill based video game that is configured such that, on average, players exhibiting greater manual dexterity earn higher scores than do players exhibiting comparatively less manual dexterity and enabling game play on the skill based video game;   determining the score of the player in playing the skill-based video game, and   based upon the determined score, determining how much of the randomly determined theoretical maximum reward the player actually wins.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising a step of providing a maximum reward table and wherein the randomly determining step is carried out by calling the maximum reward table. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the accepting step includes using a first portion of the funds to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded after a predetermined point in time and using a second portion of the funds to enable game play. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the skill-based game providing step is carried out:
 with the skill-based game including a plurality of reward generating assets, and   with at least one of a number of the reward generating assets and a value of a reward for successfully interacting with any of the reward generating assets being dependent upon the determined theoretical maximum reward.   
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the accepting step includes accepting from the player a selection of a game play contract for a predetermined duration of game play of the skill-based game for a predetermined amount of funds. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the score determining step being carried out with the score being determined according to an ability of the player to successfully interact with as many reward generating assets as possible during the game play of the skill-based game. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the score determining step includes increasing the score with each successful interaction with any of the plurality of reward generating assets. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 49 , further including a step of determining whether the determined score matches or exceeds a pre-stored high score, and, if so, establishing the score as a new high score, and awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to the player if the player's score was established as the high score and has not been exceeded as of a time when the progressive jackpot is awarded. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the accepting step includes using a first portion of the funds to fund a progressive jackpot to be awarded after a predetermined point in time and using a second portion of the funds to enable game play and wherein the method further includes awarding at least a portion of the progressive jackpot to the player if the player has earned a score that has not been exceeded by the predetermined point in time. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the skill-based providing step is carried out with the skill-based game including a plurality of penalty inducing assets and wherein the randomly determining step is carried out with at least one of a number of the penalty inducing assets and a value of a penalty amount for interacting with any of the penalty inducing assets being dependent upon the determined theoretical maximum win. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , wherein the score is initialized at 100 and wherein the score determining step successively decreases the score by the penalty amount each time the player interacts with one of the penalty inducing assets during the game play.