Gaming machine with game freeze feature

Abstract

The game freeze feature allows a player to pause or suspend play at a gaming machine and later resume play. The player may suspend play during a game or between games as desired. In one embodiment, the player must provide authenticating information to suspend a game. The authenticating information may subsequently be used to resume the suspended game. If a game is not resumed within an allotted time limit, the player's credits, wager, or both may be forfeited and the game reset to allow a new game to be played. The player may reclaim forfeited wagers and credits by providing the authenticating information used to suspend a game. The game freeze feature provides the benefit of allowing players to reserve gaming machines or to take a break from play.

1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a display;   a freeze button;   a resume button; and   a processor configured to present a game to a player on said display and to suspend play of said game on said gaming machine for a predetermined period of time in response to activation of said freeze button by said player whereby play of said game resumes in response to activation of said resume button by said player within said predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , where said processor suspends play of said game by ignoring further input to said gaming machine other than input received from said resume button. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising one or more player input devices configured to receive authenticating information from said player whereby play of said game on said gaming machine resumes only if said authenticating information verifies the identity of said player. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a card reader configured to read authenticating information from a player tracking card of said player whereby play of said game on said gaming machine resumes only if said authenticating information verifies the identity of said player. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  further comprising a memory device configured to store game information selected from the group consisting of the number of credits in said gaming machine and the amount of wagers in said gaming machine whereby if said game is not resumed within said predetermined period of time said game information is stored on said memory device and said gaming machine is reset to allow play of a new game. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein said game is forfeited if said game is not resumed within said predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said display provides a notification to said player when play of said game is suspended. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7 , wherein said notification includes a remaining time for suspension of play of said game, said remaining time being at least a portion of said predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a game freeze feature on a gaming machine comprising:
 providing a gaming machine comprising a display, a freeze button, and a resume button;   accepting one or more credits from said player;   presenting a game to a player on said gaming machine whereby said player is paid an award for achieving a winning outcome;   suspending play of said game at said gaming machine for a predetermined period of time if said player activates said freeze button;   displaying a notification on said display indicating that play of said game is suspended; and   resuming play of said game at said gaming machine if said player activates said resume button within said predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein suspending play of said game at said gaming machine comprises ignoring further input to said gaming machine other than input received from said resume button. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising accepting a first authenticating information from said player prior to suspending play of said game. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising accepting a second authenticating information from said player prior to resuming play of said game whereby play of said game resumes only if said first authenticating information and said second authenticating information match. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first authenticating information and said second authenticating information are accepted via a card reader of said gaming machine. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said first authenticating information and said second authenticating information are accepted via one or more player input devices of said gaming machine. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 forfeiting said one or more credits if play of said game is not resumed within said predetermined period of time; and   resetting said gaming machine for a new game.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising accepting a second authenticating information from said player to reclaim said one or more credits if said second authenticating information and said first authenticating information match. 
     
     
         17 . A game freeze device for a gaming machine comprising:
 a freeze button;   a resume button; and   a controller connected to a processor and a display of a gaming machine, said controller configured to provide a game freeze feature to said gaming machine whereby said controller suspends play of a game for a predetermined period of time on said gaming machine when said freeze button is activated and resumes play of said game when said resume button is activated.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said controller provides a notification on said display indicating play of said game is suspended when play of said game is suspended. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming machine of  claim 17 , wherein said controller is connected to and intercepts communication from one or more player input devices of said gaming machine when play of said game is suspended. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming machine of  claim 17 , wherein said controller receives authenticating information from a player via one or more player input devices of a gaming machine and resumes play of said game on said gaming machine only if said authenticating information verifies the identity of said player.