Patent Publication Number: US-2023162561-A1

Title: Sports wager entry with customizable point value adjustments

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Embodiments described herein relate to game play features for sports wagers, and in particular to customizable point value adjustments for sports wager entry, such as in a casino environment, and/or mobile wagering environment, and related devices, systems, and methods. 
     Live sporting events have many aspects that make them attractive to spectators, both from an entertainment standpoint and a wagering and/or betting standpoint. Many types of sports wagers allow a player to place a single wager tied to the outcomes of multiple sporting events. As technology improves and as the competition for the attention of bettors and spectators increases, there is a need for additional customization features that increase player involvement and excitement. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     According to some embodiments, a system includes a processor circuit and a memory including machine-readable instructions. When executed by the processor circuit, the instructions cause the processor circuit to receive a sports wager entry comprising a predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to display, at a display device, an indication of the predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to separately, for each base wager of the predetermined number of base wagers, receive a base wager selection, the base wager selection associated with a predetermined point value. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to display, at the display device, an indication of the base wager selection and the predetermined point value. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to receive a point value adjustment selection. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to adjust the predetermined point value by the selected point value adjustment to generate an adjusted point value, wherein a sum of the selected point value adjustments for the predetermined number of base wagers does not exceed the predetermined number of available points. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to display, at the display device, an indication of the adjusted point value. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to store a sports wager entry record comprising the base wager selections and the adjusted point values for the sport wager entry. 
     According to some embodiments, a gaming device includes a display device, an input device, a processor circuit, and a memory including machine-readable instructions. When executed by the processor circuit, the instructions cause the processor circuit to receive a sports wager entry at the input device, the sports wager entry comprising a predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to display, at the display device, an indication of the predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to, separately, for each base wager of the predetermined number of base wagers, receive a base wager selection at the input device, the base wager selection comprising a predetermined point value. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to display, at the display device, an indication of the base wager selection and the predetermined point value. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to receive a point value adjustment selection at the input device. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to adjust the predetermined point value by the selected point value adjustment to generate an adjusted point value, wherein a sum of the selected point value adjustments for the predetermined number of base wagers does not exceed the predetermined number of available points. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to display, at the display device, an indication of the adjusted point value. The instructions further cause the processor circuit to receive, at the input device, a confirmation indication for the sports wager entry comprising the base wager selections and the adjusted point values. 
     According to some embodiments, a method includes receiving a sports wager entry at an input device of a gaming device, the sports wager entry comprising a predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points. The method further includes displaying, at a display device, an indication of the predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points. The method further includes separately, for each base wager of the predetermined number of base wagers. The method further includes receiving a base wager selection at the input device, the base wager selection comprising a predetermined point value. The method further includes displaying, at the display device, an indication of the base wager selection and the predetermined point value. The method further includes receiving a point value adjustment selection at the input device, the base wager selection comprising a predetermined point value. The method further includes adjusting the predetermined point value by the selected point value adjustment to generate an adjusted point value, wherein a sum of the selected point value adjustments for the predetermined number of base wagers is equal to the predetermined number of available points. The method further includes displaying, at the display device, an indication of the adjusted point value. The method further includes resolving the sports wager entry based on the base wager selections and the adjusted point values for the predetermined number of base wagers and a plurality of base wager outcomes for the predetermined number of base wagers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic block diagram illustrating a network configuration for a plurality of gaming devices according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a flowchart illustrating operations of systems/methods of facilitating sports wagering, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI) for placing a multi-game sports wager with customizable point value adjustments, according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates selection of a plurality of games and point value adjustments for a football teaser wager with customizable point value adjustments using the GUI of  FIG.  3   , according to some embodiments. 
         FIGS.  5 A- 5 C  illustrate a GUI for displaying game results and wager results for the football teaser wager of  FIG.  4   , according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6 A  is a perspective view of a gaming device that can be configured according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6 B  is a schematic block diagram illustrating an electronic configuration for a gaming device according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6 C  is a schematic block diagram that illustrates various functional modules of a gaming device according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6 D  is perspective view of a gaming device that can be configured according to some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments described herein relate to game play features for sports wagers, and in particular to customizable point value adjustments for sports wager entries, such as in a casino environment, and/or mobile wagering environment, and related devices, systems, and methods. 
     In a standard teaser wager, a single predetermined point value adjustment is applied to all of the selected games in the wager. For example, a 3-team teaser might pay +180 (i.e., lay $100 to win $180) to adjust each game&#39;s predetermined point value (e.g., point spread and/or over/under) by exactly 6 points. To win the teaser, the player must correctly pick the winner of all three selected games. While the payout odds may vary for different types of standard teaser wagers, the payout odds for each type of standard teaser wagers for various sports generally conform to standard amounts within the industry. This allows for a more predictable house edge, but one drawback of standard teaser wagers is a lack of flexibility and options for players. 
     According to embodiments disclosed herein, multi-game sports wagers are provided that allow for a player to customize the point value adjustments for individual games within the wager. For example, in a football teaser wager with customizable point value adjustments, a player may be provided a pool of points (or half-points, etc.) that can be assigned to the different games in any combination. For example, a 3-team football teaser with a 16-point pool may adjust the individual games by 6, 6, and 4 points, 2, 4, and 10 points, 5, 7, and 4 points, etc., or any other combination, as desired. In some examples, normal teaser rules would apply, such as ties reducing down, ties with a winner or a loser in a 2-team teaser constituting no action, etc. 
     Embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented manually or electronically. In this regard,  FIG.  1    illustrates a gaming system  10  including a plurality of gaming devices  100 . The gaming devices  100  may be one type of a variety of different types of gaming devices, such as electronic gaming machines (EGMs), electronic sports betting kiosks, mobile gaming devices, or other devices, for example. The gaming system  10  may be located, for example, on the premises of a gaming establishment, such as a permitted betting location. The gaming devices  100 , which may also be typically situated in a permitted betting location, such as on a casino floor and/or in a casino sports book for example. The gaming device  100  may be in communication with each other and/or at least one central controller  40  through a data communication network  50  that may include a remote communication link. The data communication network  50  may be a private data communication network that is operated, for example, by the gaming facility that operates the gaming devices  100 . Communications over the data communication network  50  may be encrypted for security. The central controller  40  may be any suitable server or computing device which includes at least one processing circuit and at least one memory or storage device. Each gaming device  100  may include a processing circuit that transmits and receives events, messages, commands or any other suitable data or signal between the gaming device  100  and the central controller  40 . The gaming device processing circuit is operable to execute such communicated events, messages or commands in conjunction with the operation of the gaming device  100 . Moreover, the processing circuit of the central controller  40  is configured to transmit and receive events, messages, commands or any other suitable data or signal between the central controller  40  and each of the individual gaming devices  100 . In some embodiments, one or more of the functions of the central controller  40  may be performed by one or more gaming device processing circuits. Moreover, in some embodiments, one or more of the functions of one or more gaming device processing circuits as disclosed herein may be performed by the central controller  40 . 
     A wireless access point  60  provides wireless access to the data communication network  50 . The wireless access point  60  may be connected to the data communication network  50  as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , and/or may be connected directly to the central controller  40  or another server connected to the data communication network  50 . 
     In this example, a sports wager server  70  controls and manages sports wagers, such as multi-game sports wagers for example, across multiple gaming devices  100 . In this simplified example, the eligible gaming devices  100  are interconnected though a common data communication network  50 , but as will be described in greater detail below, it should be understood that eligible gaming devices  100  may facilitate sports wagering across a plurality of networks, which located across different locations, properties, and/or jurisdictions, etc. 
     The gaming devices  100  communicate with one or more elements of the gaming system  10  to coordinate providing wagering games and other functionality. For example, in some embodiments, the gaming device  100  may communicate directly with the ticket server  90  over a wireless interface  62 , which may be a WiFi link, a Bluetooth link, a near field communications (NFC) link, etc. In other embodiments, the gaming device  100  may communicate with the data communication network  50  (and devices connected thereto, including other gaming devices  100 ) over a wireless interface  64  with the wireless access point  60 . The wireless interface  64  may include a WiFi link, a Bluetooth link, an NFC link, etc. Some embodiments provide that gaming devices  100  may communicate with other gaming devices over a wireless interface  64 . In these embodiments, wireless interface  62  and/or wireless interface  64  may use different communication protocols and/or different communication resources, such as different frequencies, time slots, spreading codes, etc. 
       FIG.  2    is a flowchart illustrating operations  200  of systems/methods of facilitating sports wagering, according to some embodiments. The operations  200  may include receiving a sports wager entry comprising a predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points (Block  202 ), and displaying, at a display device, an indication of the predetermined number of base wagers and a predetermined number of available points (Block  204 ). In this regard,  FIG.  3    illustrates a graphical user interface (GUI)  300  for placing a multi-game sports wager with customizable point value adjustments, according to some embodiments. The GUI  300  includes a wager selection menu  302  with a listing of selectable wagers  304 . Each available wager  304  includes a predetermined number  306  of base wagers, a predetermined number of available points  308 , and predetermined payout odds  310 , in different combinations. 
     The GUI  300  of  FIG.  3    includes groupings of selectable wagers  304  by different sports, e.g., football wagers  312 , basketball wagers  314 , etc., with different payout odds  310  for different combinations of numbers  306  of base wagers and numbers of available points  308 . For some sports, such as football, there are certain key numbers associate with common margins of victory. In football, for example, because points are most often scored in multiples of 3, 6, and 7, it may be advantageous for a player to apply point value adjustments in multiples of 3, 6, or 7 to maximize the player&#39;s chances of winning all of the base wagers. To compensate for tendency of certain combinations of key numbers to skew the odds of certain base wager/point combinations, the number of available points  308  in each selectable wager  304  may be selected so that it is not divisible by 3, 6, 7, or any other key number, as desired, so as to prevent a player from adjusting all of the base wagers by one or more of these key numbers. Alternatively, or in addition, the payout odds  310  for a given wager  304  may be adjusted to compensate for the player&#39;s increased likelihood of winning based on optimal point value adjustments. In this embodiment, for example, the selectable football wagers  312  include the following combinations: 
     2 game selections (i.e., base wagers), with 11 available points; 
     3 game selections, with 16 available points; 
     4 game selections, with 22 available points; 
     5 game selections, with 27 available points; 
     6 game selections, with 32 available points; 
     7 game selections, with 38 available points; 
     8 game selections, with 43 available points; 
     9 game selections, with 48 available points; and 
     10 game selections, with 54 available points. 
     In this example, the selectable basketball wagers  314  include the following combinations: 
     2 game selections, with 8 available points; 
     3 game selections, with 12 available points; 
     4 game selections, with 16 available points; 
     5 game selections, with 20 available points; 
     6 game selections, with 24 available points; 
     7 game selections, with 27 available points; 
     8 game selections, with 30 available points; 
     9 game selections, with 33 available points; and 
     10 game selections, with 36 available points. 
     Referring back to  FIG.  2   , the operations  200  may further include iterative sub-operations  206  for each base wager of the predetermined number of base wagers. The sub-operations  206  may include receiving a base wager selection associated with a predetermined point value (Block  208 ). In this regard,  FIG.  4    illustrates selection a plurality of base wagers and point value adjustments for a football teaser wager  401  with customizable point value adjustments using the GUI  300  of  FIG.  3   , according to some embodiments. In this example,  FIG.  4    illustrates a game selection menu  402  provides a listing of upcoming games  405  and associated available base wagers  406  for each upcoming game  405 . Each game  405  may include a plurality of available base wagers  406  and associated predetermined point values  408 , such as betting the favorite or the underdog against a predetermined point spread  410 , or betting over or under a predetermined point total  412 , for example. It should also be understood that it is not necessary to restrict the groupings of selectable wagers  304  in  FIG.  3    or the available base wagers  406  in  FIG.  4    to a single sport. For example, certain selectable wagers may include available base wagers for both football and basketball (e.g., bets against the spread and/or point totals), with a common pool of points being available to adjust different base wagers from the different sports as desired. 
     Referring back to  FIG.  2   , the sub-operations  206  may further include displaying, at the display device, an indication of the base wager selection and the predetermined point value (Block  210 ). As shown in  FIG.  4   , in response to receiving a selection of a particular base wager  406 ′ (WAS +6 in this example), the GUI  300  displays an indication of the selected base wager  406 ′ and the predetermined point value  408 ′, and a point value adjustment field  414 . The sub-operations  206  may further include receiving a point value adjustment selection (Block  212 ), adjusting the predetermined point value by the selected point value adjustment to generate an adjusted point value (Block  214 ), and displaying, at the display device, an indication of the adjusted point value (Block  216 ). For example, as shown by  FIG.  4   , a three-point adjustment  416  is added to the predetermined point value  408 ′ to generate a nine-point adjusted point value  418 . In this example, the point value adjustment is added to or subtracted from the predetermined point value  408 ′ automatically to generate an adjusted point value  418  that is more favorable to the player. For example, if the base wager  406  is a bet against a predetermined point spread, the selected point value adjustment is added to the point spread to either increase a positive point spread, or to reduce a negative point spread (and possibly convert a negative point spread to a positive adjusted point spread). If the base wager is a bet on the over, the predetermined point total is reduced by the selected point value adjustment. If the base wager is a bet on the under, the predetermined point total is increased by the selected point value adjustment. 
     In this example, the predetermined point value of each base wager of the predetermined number of games can be a predetermined point spread and/or a predetermined point total, with the adjusted point value of each base wager being an adjusted point spread and/or adjusted point total, respectively. In this example, the predetermined point values and the point values adjustments are expressible as one of an integer and a half-integer, consistent with standard sports wagering conventions. In some embodiments, however, the predetermined point values and/or point values adjustments may be expressible as integers only, as decimals, and/or as fractions, etc., as desired. 
     Referring back to  FIG.  2   , the sub-operations  206  may further include determining whether base wager selections and adjusted point values have been determined for all of the predetermined number of games (Block  218 ), and iteratively repeating operations  208 - 216  for each game of the predetermined number of games until all base wager selections and adjusted point values have been determined. As shown in  FIG.  4    for example, the GUI  300  displays an indication of the total number of available points  420  for the wager, the number of selected base wagers  430 , the number of points already applied  422  to selected base wagers  406 , the number of remaining base wagers  424  to be selected, and the number of remaining points  426  available to adjust the predetermined point values  408  of the remaining base wagers  406  to be selected. In this example, a sum of the selected point value adjustments for the predetermined number of games, i.e., the number of points applied  422 , does not exceed the total number of available points  420 . In this example, the payout odds  421  for the selected football teaser wager  401  are predetermined, allowing the player to attempt to optimize the point value adjustments  416  to maximize the likelihood of winning the wager  401  without affecting the payout odds value  421 . In some examples, however, the payout odds value may be dynamically adjusted in response to different point value adjustment selections. For example, a point value adjustment that meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold may reduce the payout odds for the overall sports wager entry, to compensate for an increased likelihood of winning for the player. 
     After base wager selections and adjusted point values have been determined for all of the predetermined number of games, the operations  200  of  FIG.  2    may further include receiving, at the input device, a confirmation indication for the sports wager entry comprising the base wager selections and the adjusted point values (Block  220 ). As shown by  FIG.  4   , for example, the GUI  300  includes an entry confirmation button  428  to confirm that the wager is complete and generate a finalized sports wager entry. The operations  200  of  FIG.  2    may further include storing a sports wager entry record comprising the base wager selections and the adjusted point values for the sport wager entry (Block  222 ), for example in the sports wager server  70  of  FIG.  1   . 
     The operations  200  of  FIG.  2    may further include resolving the sports wager entry based on the base wager selections and the adjusted point values for the predetermined number of games and a plurality of game outcomes for the predetermined number of games (Block  224 ). In this regard,  FIGS.  5 A- 5 C  illustrate a GUI  500  for providing status and outcome information about an existing sports wager entry  502  (corresponding to the finalized sports wager entry of  FIG.  4    in this example), including statuses and outcomes for the individual base wagers  504  and associated adjusted point values  506 . For each base wager  504 , the adjusted point value  506  of the base wager  504  is compared to an actual result  508  (e.g., an actual point value) of the associated game to determine a base wager outcome  510  if the base wager, i.e., whether the base wager results in a winning result, losing result, or a tie/draw (which may be considered a winning or losing result for the purposes of resolving the sports wager entry  502 , depending on the wager rules). For example, as discussed above, the wager rules may require that all of the base wager outcomes  510  must be winning outcomes for the sports wager entry  502  to win. For example,  FIG.  5 B  illustrates a winning sports wager entry  502 ′, in which all of the base wager outcomes  510  are winning outcomes. In response to a determination the sports wager entry  502  is a winning sports wager entry, a result indication  514  is provided, including an indication of a payout  516  based on the payout odds value  516  associated with the sports wager entry  502 .  FIG.  5 C  illustrates a losing sports wager entry  502 ″, in which not all of the base wager outcomes  510  are winning base wager outcomes, e.g., at least one base wager outcome  510 ″ is a losing base wager outcome. 
     Embodiments herein may include different types of gaming devices. One example of a gaming device includes a gaming device  100  that can use gesture and/or touch-based inputs according to various embodiments is illustrated in  FIGS.  6 A,  6 B, and  6 C  in which  FIG.  6 A  is a perspective view of a gaming device  100  illustrating various physical features of the device,  FIG.  6 B  is a functional block diagram that schematically illustrates an electronic relationship of various elements of the gaming device  100 , and  FIG.  6 C  illustrates various functional modules that can be stored in a memory device of the gaming device  100 . The embodiments shown in  FIGS.  6 A to  6 C  are provided as examples for illustrative purposes only. It will be appreciated that gaming devices may come in many different shapes, sizes, layouts, form factors, and configurations, and with varying numbers and types of input and output devices, and that embodiments are not limited to the particular gaming device structures described herein. 
     Gaming devices  100  typically include a number of standard features, many of which are illustrated in  FIGS.  6 A and  6 B . In this regard,  FIG.  6 A  illustrates a gaming device  100  embodied in a dedicated gaming terminal  600 , but it should be understood that other types of gaming devices, such as EGMs, sports gaming kiosks, mobile devices, tablets, smartphones, or other devices, may provide similar functionality for implementing features disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the gaming device  100  includes a housing  602  having a display device  604 , and a plurality of input devices  606 , such as a keypad  608 , buttons  610 , etc., for receiving user input for playing the wagering game and otherwise interacting with the gaming device  100 . In some embodiments, the display device  604  may include a touchscreen interface for receiving user input as well. The display device  604  may also be a single display device or may include multiple display devices, such as a first display device for displaying video of the live sporting event and a second display device for displaying gaming and wagering information for example. The gaming device  100  may include additional specialized hardware as well, such as an acceptor  612 , for receiving currency (i.e., bills and/or coins), tokens, credit or debit cards, or other physical items associated with monetary or other value. The gaming device  100  may also include a dispenser  614 , for dispensing items, such as physical items having monetary or other value (e.g., awards or prizes) or other items. 
     The gaming device  100  may include a processor circuit and a memory coupled to the processor circuit. The memory may include machine-readable instructions that, when executed by the processor circuit, cause the processor circuit to perform operations for operating the gaming device  100  and/or other features described herein. In this example, the gaming terminal  600  may include a graphical user interface (GUI)  616  displayed by the display device  604  for providing the video and gaming information to the player. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG.  6 B , the input device(s)  606  may include and/or interact with additional components, such as gesture sensors  156  for gesture input devices, and/or a touch-sensitive display that includes a digitizer  152  and a touchscreen controller  154  for touch input devices, as disclosed herein. The player may interact with the gaming device  100  by touching virtual buttons on the display device  604 . Accordingly, any of the above-described input devices  606  may be provided as virtual buttons or regions on one or more of the display device  604 . 
     Referring briefly to  FIG.  6 B , operation of the display device  604  may be controlled by a video controller  30  that receives video data from a processing circuit  12  or directly from a memory device  14  and displays the video data on the display screen. 
     Referring again to  FIG.  6 A , the display device  604  may include, without limitation: a cathode ray tube, a plasma display, an LCD, a display based on LEDs, a display based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a display based on polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display based on a plurality of surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a display including a projected and/or reflected image, or any other suitable electronic device or display mechanism. In certain embodiments, as described above, the display device  604  may include a touch-screen with an associated touchscreen controller  154  and digitizer  152 . The display device  604  may be of any suitable size, shape, and/or configuration. The display device  604  may include flat or curved display surfaces. 
       FIG.  6 B  is a block diagram that illustrates logical and functional relationships between various components of a gaming device  100 . It should also be understood that components described in  FIG.  6 B  may also be used in other computing devices, as desired, such as mobile computing devices, personal computers, lottery terminals, or other network-connected devices, for example. As shown in  FIG.  6 B , the gaming device  100  may include a processing circuit  12  (also referred to as a processor circuit herein) that controls operations of the gaming device  100 . Although illustrated as a single processing circuit, multiple special purpose and/or general purpose processors and/or processor cores may be provided in the gaming device  100 . For example, the gaming device  100  may include one or more of a video processor, a signal processor, a sound processor and/or a communication controller that performs one or more control functions within the gaming device  100 . The processing circuit  12  may be variously referred to as a “controller,” “microcontroller,” “microprocessor” or simply a “computer.” The processor may further include one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). 
     Various components of the gaming device  100  are illustrated in  FIG.  6 B  as being connected to the processing circuit  12 . It will be appreciated that the components may be connected to the processing circuit  12  through a system bus  151 , a communication bus and controller, such as a universal serial bus (USB) controller and USB bus, a network interface, or any other suitable type of connection. 
     The gaming device  100  further includes a memory device  14  that stores one or more functional modules  20 . Various functional modules  20  of the gaming device  100  will be described in more detail below in connection with  FIG.  6 D . 
     The memory device  14  may store program code and instructions, executable by the processing circuit  12 , to control the gaming device  100 . The memory device  14  may also store other data such as image data, event data, player input data, and applicable game rules that relate to the play of the gaming device. The memory device  14  may include random access memory (RAM), which can include non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), magnetic RAM (ARAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM) and other forms as commonly understood in the gaming industry. In some embodiments, the memory device  14  may include read only memory (ROM). In some embodiments, the memory device  14  may include flash memory and/or EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory). Any other suitable magnetic, optical and/or semiconductor memory may operate in conjunction with the gaming device disclosed herein. 
     The gaming device  100  may further include a data storage  22 , such as a hard disk drive or flash memory. The data storage  22  may store program data, player data, audit trail data or any other type of data. The data storage  22  may include a detachable or removable memory device, including, but not limited to, a suitable cartridge, disk, CD ROM, Digital Video Disc (“DVD”) or USB memory device. 
     The gaming device  100  may include a communication adapter  26  that enables the gaming device  100  to communicate with remote devices over a wired and/or wireless communication network, such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), cellular communication network, or other data communication network. The communication adapter  26  may further include circuitry for supporting short range wireless communication protocols, such as Bluetooth and/or NFC that enable the gaming device  100  to communicate, for example, with a mobile communication device operated by a player. 
     The gaming device  100  may include one or more internal or external communication ports that enable the processing circuit  12  to communicate with and to operate with internal or external peripheral devices, such as eye tracking devices, position tracking devices, cameras, accelerometers, arcade sticks, bar code readers, bill validators, biometric input devices, bonus devices, button panels, card readers, coin dispensers, coin hoppers, display screens or other displays or video sources, expansion buses, information panels, keypads, lights, mass storage devices, microphones, motion sensors, motors, printers, reels, Small Computer System Interface (“SCSI”) ports, solenoids, speakers, thumb drives, ticket readers, touch screens, trackballs, touchpads, wheels, and wireless communication devices. In some embodiments, internal or external peripheral devices may communicate with the processing circuit through a USB hub (not shown) connected to the processing circuit  12 . 
     Various functional modules of that may be stored in a memory device  14  of a gaming device  100  are illustrated in  FIG.  6 C . Referring to  FIG.  6 C , the gaming device  100  may include in the memory device  14  a game module  20 A that includes program instructions and/or data for operating a hybrid wagering game as described herein. The gaming device  100  may further include a player tracking module  20 B, an electronic funds transfer module  20 C, an input device interface  20 D, an audit/reporting module  20 E, a communication module  20 F, and an operating system kernel  20 G. The player tracking module  20 B keeps track of the play of a player. The electronic funds transfer module  20 C communicates with a back end server or financial institution to transfer funds to and from an account associated with the player. The input device interface  20 D interacts with input devices, such as the input device  130 , as described in more detail below. The communication module  20 F enables the gaming device  100  to communicate with remote servers and other gaming devices using various secure communication interfaces. The operating system kernel  20 G controls the overall operation of the gaming device  100 , including the loading and operation of other modules. 
     In some embodiments, a gaming device  100  includes a personal device, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a mobile device (e.g., mobile phone or smartphone), a tablet computer or computing device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or other portable computing devices. In some embodiments, the gaming device  100  may be operable over a wireless network, such as part of a wireless gaming system. In such embodiments, the gaming machine may be a hand-held device, a mobile device or any other suitable wireless device that enables a player to play any suitable game at a variety of different locations. For example, a gaming device  100  may be a personal mobile phone that accesses the wireless gaming system via a mobile app downloaded to the device from an app store or other software marketplace or repository, which facilitates game play, registration, and/or authentication, etc. for the wireless gaming system. It should be appreciated that a gaming device or gaming machine as disclosed herein may be a device that has obtained approval from a regulatory gaming commission or a device that has not obtained approval from a regulatory gaming commission. 
     For example, referring to  FIG.  6 D , a gaming device  100  (which is a mobile gaming device  170  in this embodiment) may be implemented as a handheld device including a compact housing  105  on which is mounted a touchscreen display device  116  including a digitizer  152 . One or more input devices  130  may also be included for providing functionality of for embodiments described herein. A camera  127  may be provided in a front face of the housing  105 . The housing  105  may include one or more speakers  150 . In the gaming device  100 , various input buttons described above, such as the cashout button, gameplay activation button, etc., may be implemented as soft buttons on the touchscreen display device  116  and/or input device  130 . In this embodiment, the input device  130  is integrated into the touchscreen display device  116 , but it should be understood that the input device may also, or alternatively, be separate from the display device  116 . Moreover, the gaming device  100  may omit certain features, such as a bill acceptor, a ticket generator, a coin acceptor or dispenser, a card reader, secondary displays, a bet display, a credit display, etc. Credits can be deposited in or transferred from the gaming device  100  electronically. 
     Embodiments described herein may be implemented in various configurations for gaming devices  100 , including but not limited to: (1) a dedicated gaming device, wherein the computerized instructions for controlling any games (which are provided by the gaming device) are provided with the gaming device; and (2) a changeable gaming device, where the computerized instructions for controlling any games (which are provided by the gaming device) are downloadable to the gaming device through a data network. In some embodiments, the computerized instructions for controlling any games are executed by at least one central server, central controller or remote host. In such a “thin client” embodiment, the central server remotely controls any games (or other suitable interfaces) and the gaming device is utilized to display such games (or suitable interfaces) and receive one or more inputs or commands from a player. In another embodiment, the computerized instructions for controlling any games are communicated from the central server, central controller or remote host to a gaming device local processor and memory devices. In such a “thick client” embodiment, the gaming device local processor executes the communicated computerized instructions to control any games (or other suitable interfaces) provided to a player. 
     In some embodiments, a gaming device may be operated by a mobile device, such as a mobile telephone, tablet other mobile computing device. For example, a mobile device may be communicatively coupled to a gaming device and may include a user interface that receives user inputs that are received to control the gaming device. The user inputs may be received by the gaming device via the mobile device. 
     In some embodiments, one or more gaming devices in a gaming system may be thin client gaming devices and one or more gaming devices in the gaming system may be thick client gaming devices. In another embodiment, certain functions of the gaming device are implemented in a thin client environment and certain other functions of the gaming device are implemented in a thick client environment. In one such embodiment, computerized instructions for controlling any primary games are communicated from the central server to the gaming device in a thick client configuration and computerized instructions for controlling any secondary games or bonus functions are executed by a central server in a thin client configuration. 
     The present disclosure contemplates a variety of different gaming systems each having one or more of a plurality of different features, attributes, or characteristics. It should be appreciated that a “gaming system” as used herein refers to various configurations of: (a) one or more central servers, central controllers, or remote hosts; (b) one or more gaming devices; and/or (c) one or more personal gaming devices, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers or computing devices, PDAs, mobile telephones such as smart phones, and other mobile computing devices. 
     In certain such embodiments, computerized instructions for controlling any games (such as any primary or base games and/or any secondary or bonus games) displayed by the gaming device are executed by the central server, central controller, or remote host. In such “thin client” embodiments, the central server, central controller, or remote host remotely controls any games (or other suitable interfaces) displayed by the gaming device, and the gaming device is utilized to display such games (or suitable interfaces) and to receive one or more inputs or commands. In other such embodiments, computerized instructions for controlling any games displayed by the gaming device are communicated from the central server, central controller, or remote host to the gaming device and are stored in at least one memory device of the gaming device. In such “thick client” embodiments, the at least one processor of the gaming device executes the computerized instructions to control any games (or other suitable interfaces) displayed by the gaming device. 
     In some embodiments in which the gaming system includes: (a) a gaming device configured to communicate with a central server, central controller, or remote host through a data network; and/or (b) a plurality of gaming devices configured to communicate with one another through a data network, the data network is an internet or an intranet. In certain such embodiments, an internet browser of the gaming device is usable to access an internet game page from any location where an internet connection is available. In one such embodiment, after the internet game page is accessed, the central server, central controller, or remote host identifies a player prior to enabling that player to place any wagers on any plays of any wagering games. In one example, the central server, central controller, or remote host identifies the player by requiring a player account of the player to be logged into via an input of a unique username and password combination assigned to the player. It should be appreciated, however, that the central server, central controller, or remote host may identify the player in any other suitable manner, such as by validating a player tracking identification number associated with the player; by reading a player tracking card or other smart card inserted into a card reader (as described below); by validating a unique player identification number associated with the player by the central server, central controller, or remote host; or by identifying the gaming device, such as by identifying the MAC address or the IP address of the internet facilitator. In various embodiments, once the central server, central controller, or remote host identifies the player, the central server, central controller, or remote host enables placement of one or more wagers on one or more plays of one or more primary or base games and/or one or more secondary or bonus games, and displays those plays via the internet browser of the gaming device. 
     It should be appreciated that the central server, central controller, or remote host and the gaming device are configured to connect to the data network or remote communications link in any suitable manner. In various embodiments, such a connection is accomplished via: a conventional phone line or other data transmission line, a digital subscriber line (DSL), a T-1 line, a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, a wireless or wired routing device, a mobile communications network connection (such as a cellular network or mobile internet network), or any other suitable medium. It should be appreciated that the expansion in the quantity of computing devices and the quantity and speed of internet connections in recent years increases opportunities for players to use a variety of gaming devices to play games from an ever-increasing quantity of remote sites. It should also be appreciated that the enhanced bandwidth of digital wireless communications may render such technology suitable for some or all communications, particularly if such communications are encrypted. Higher data transmission speeds may be useful for enhancing the sophistication and response of the display and interaction with players. 
     In the above-description of various embodiments, various aspects may be illustrated and described herein in any of a number of patentable classes or contexts including any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof. Accordingly, various embodiments described herein may be implemented entirely by hardware, entirely by software (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or by combining software and hardware implementation that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module,” “component,” or “system.” Furthermore, various embodiments described herein may take the form of a computer program product including one or more computer readable media having computer readable program code embodied thereon. 
     Any combination of one or more computer readable media may be used. The computer readable media may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium would include the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an appropriate optical fiber with a repeater, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. 
     A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to, electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. A computer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. Program code embodied on a computer readable signal medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, radio frequency (“RF”), etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. 
     Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Scala, Smalltalk, Eiffel, JADE, Emerald, C++, C#, VB.NET, Python or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language, Visual Basic, Fortran 2003, Perl, Common Business Oriented Language (“COBOL”) 2002, PHP: Hypertext Processor (“PHP”), Advanced Business Application Programming (“ABAP”), dynamic programming languages such as Python, Ruby and Groovy, or other programming languages. The program code may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider) or in a cloud computing environment or offered as a service such as a Software as a Service (SaaS). 
     Various embodiments were described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), devices and computer program products according to various embodiments described herein. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processing circuit of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processing circuit of the computer or other programmable instruction execution apparatus, create a mechanism for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable medium that when executed can direct a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions when stored in the computer readable medium produce an article of manufacture including instructions which when executed, cause a computer to implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable instruction execution apparatus, or other devices to cause a series of operations to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatuses or other devices to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
     The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various aspects of the present disclosure. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which includes one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may be designated as “/”. Like reference numbers signify like elements throughout the description of the figures. 
     Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and/or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.