Singular wagering apparatus for gaming device

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to single button wagering on a gaming device. A one-touch button on the gaming device is used both to place a wager and to initiate a gaming session. The wager can be a pre-set amount or an amount that is determined based the individual player, the amount of credits on the gaming device, and other conditions.

1 . A gaming device, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a gaming display in the cabinet;   a player interface panel associated with the gaming device; and   a one-touch button on the player interface panel, wherein the one-touch button is configured to place a wager and initiate a gaming session and wherein the player interface panel does not include any wagering buttons other than the one-touch button.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the wager comprises a maximum bet available on the gaming device. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the wager comprises a single credit. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the wager comprises a total number of credits available on the gaming device. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the wager is specified by a one-touch wager amount in a player account. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the wager is specified by a one-touch wager policy in a player account. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the wager is specified by a server on a network. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming device of  claim 7 , wherein the wager is specified by a default wager policy on the server. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the one-touch button is further configured to initiate a bonus gaming session. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming device of  claim 9 , wherein the one-touch button is further configured to stop the bonus gaming session. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming device of  claim 1 , wherein the one-touch button is further configured to stop the gaming session. 
     
     
         12 . A gaming device, comprising:
 a cabinet;   a gaming display in the cabinet;   a player interface panel associated with the gaming device; and   a one-touch button on the player interface panel, wherein the gaming device is configured to place a wager from amongst a plurality of different wagers and initiate a gaming session in response to activation of the one-touch button.   
     
     
         13 . The gaming device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of different wagers comprise one or more of a maximum bet available on the gaming device, a single credit, and a total number of credits available on the gaming device. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming device of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of different wagers are specified by one or more of a one-touch wager amount in a player account, a one-touch wager policy in a player account, and a server on a network. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming device of  claim 12 , wherein the gaming device is further configured to initiate a bonus gaming session in response to activation of the one-touch button. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming device of  claim 15 , wherein the gaming device is further configured to stop the bonus gaming session in response to activation of the one-touch button. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming device of  claim 12 , wherein the gaming device is further configured to stop the gaming session in response to activation of the one-touch button. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming device of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more additional one-touch buttons, wherein the gaming device is configured to place a fixed wager and initiate a gaming session in response to activation of each of the additional one-touch buttons. 
     
     
         19 . A method of operating a gaming device, comprising:
 obtaining credits on the gaming device; and   pressing a one-touch button on the gaming device, wherein pressing the one-touch button results in placing a wager from amongst a plurality of different wagers and initiating a gaming session.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein placing the wager comprises placing one or more of a maximum bet available on the gaming device, a single credit, and a total number of credits available on the gaming device. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein placing the wager comprises placing a wager specified by one or more of a one-touch wager amount in a player account, a one-touch wager policy in a player account, and a server on a network. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising pressing the one-touch button to initiate a bonus gaming session. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising pressing the one-touch button to stop the bonus gaming session. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising pressing the one-touch button to stop the gaming session. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 storing a one-touch wager amount in a player account; and   receiving the one-touch wager amount at the gaming device over a network, wherein placing the wager includes using the one-touch wager amount.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 storing a one-touch wager policy in a player account;   determining the one-touch wager amount based on the one-touch wager policy; and   receiving the one-touch wager amount at the gaming device over a network, wherein placing the wager includes using the one-touch wager amount.   
     
     
         27 . A method of providing a gaming session on a gaming device, comprising:
 receiving credits;   determining a wager associated with a one-touch button on the gaming device;   receiving an activation of the one-touch button from a player;   placing the wager; and   initiating the gaming session.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein determining the wager amount comprises setting the wager amount as one of a maximum bet available on the gaming device, a single credit, and a total number of the credits. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein receiving an amount of credits comprises receiving identifying information from the player and wherein determining the wager amount comprises:
 determining a player account based on the identifying information;   setting the wager amount based on a one-touch wager amount specified in the player account.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein receiving an amount of credits comprises receiving identifying information from the player and wherein determining the wager amount comprises:
 determining a player account based on the identifying information;   setting the wager amount based on a one-touch wager policy specified in the player account.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein determining the wager amount comprises receiving the wager amount from a server on a network. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein receiving the wager amount from the server comprises receiving a default wager from the server. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the default wager is specified by a default wager policy on the server. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein receiving an activation of the one-touch button from a player comprises receiving the activation of a first one-touch button from amongst a plurality of one-touch buttons, and wherein placing the wager comprises placing a fixed wager associated with the first one-touch button. 
     
     
         35 . A gaming system, comprising:
 one or more gaming devices;   a gaming server;   a network connecting the gaming server to the one or more gaming devices;   a database connected to the gaming server; and   a one-touch button, the one-touch button configured to place a wager from amongst a plurality of different wagers and initiate a gaming session on at least one of the gaming devices.   
     
     
         36 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the wager comprises a one-touch wager amount specified in a player account in the database. 
     
     
         37 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of different wagers are specified by a one-touch wager policy stored in a player account in the database. 
     
     
         38 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one of the gaming devices is configured to retrieve the wager from the gaming server over the network. 
     
     
         39 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the gaming server is configured to transmit the wager to the at least one of the gaming devices over the network. 
     
     
         40 . The gaming system of  claim 39 , wherein the gaming server is configured to transmit a default wager to the at least one of the gaming devices over the network and wherein the wager comprises the default wager. 
     
     
         41 . The gaming system of  claim 40 , wherein the default wager is specified by a default wager policy stored in the database. 
     
     
         42 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , further comprising a kiosk, wherein the kiosk is configured to modify at least one of a one-touch wager amount and a one-touch wager policy specified in a player account stored in the database. 
     
     
         43 . The gaming system of  claim 35 , wherein the one-touch button is disposed on a player interface panel. 
     
     
         44 . The gaming system of  claim 43 , wherein the player interface panel is connected to the at least one of the gaming devices by a wireless connection. 
     
     
         45 . The gaming system of  claim 43 , wherein the player interface panel does not include any wagering buttons other than the one-touch button. 
     
     
         46 . A gaming device comprising:
 a game that generates a plurality of different outcomes responsive to initiation of the game by a player;   a mechanism for receiving one of a plurality of different possible wagers on the game; and   a button operatively connected to the game, the button being configured to provide the exclusive way to initiate the game and to make a predefined one of the possible wagers.   
     
     
         47 . The gaming device of  claim 46  wherein the button is configured to provide the exclusive way to substantially simultaneously initiate the game and to make a predefined one of the possible wagers. 
     
     
         48 . The gaming device of  claim 47  wherein the predefined one of the possible wagers comprises a wager preselected by a player of the gaming device.