Patent ID: 9514598
Filing Date: 2016-12-06
CPC Classification: G07F

Claim Text:
1. A gaming machine comprising: a housing; at least one processor; at least one display device supported by the housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, the plurality of input devices including an acceptor; and at least one memory device storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the plurality of input devices to: (a) establish a credit balance based at least in part on a monetary value associated with a physical item responsive to receipt of the physical item by the acceptor, wherein the physical item is one of: (1) a ticket associated with the monetary value, and (2) currency; (b) responsive to an actuation of a wager device, determine a period of playing time for which to provide a primary game based on a first amount of credit deducted from the credit balance; (c) while providing the primary game during the period of playing time, determine whether to provide a primary wagering opportunity responsive to receipt of a skill-based input and, if provided, determine any primary game award based on the primary wagering opportunity and increase the credit balance based on any determined primary game award; (d) for each of a plurality of additional wagering opportunities that are unrelated to any primary wagering opportunities, display said additional wagering opportunity and enable said additional wagering opportunity to be accepted or declined, at least one of the plurality of additional wagering opportunities being contextually triggered, the plurality of additional wagering opportunities being made available by respective predetermined events occurring within the primary game during a game session; (e) for each accepted additional wagering opportunity: deduct a second amount of credit from the credit balance, randomly determine whether to provide an additional award, and increase the credit balance based on any determined additional award; and (f) initiate a payout associated with the credit balance responsive to an actuation of a cashout device.