Patent ID: 8133112

Claim:
A method of operating a gaming device, comprising: outputting, to a player of a gaming device operable to facilitate a wagering game and by use of a display component of the gaming device, an indication of a flat rate play session that may be purchased via the gaming device, the indication including a price of the flat rate play session, wherein the flat rate play session comprises a period of play of the gaming device during which the player need not make funds available for plays, the period spanning a plurality of plays of the gaming device, wherein the flat rate play session defines at least one of a minimum number of plays comprising the session or a minimum amount of time comprising the session, wherein the flat rate play session defines a wager amount attributable to each play of the flat rate play session, wherein, during the flat rate play session, monetary payouts won based on outcomes generated via a random number generator are added to a credit meter balance associated with the flat rate play session, and further wherein the price of the flat rate play session is determined by a processor of a computing device performing the following steps: (i) simulating a number of flat rate play sessions defined by (a) the at least one of a minimum number of plays or the minimum amount of time, (b) the wager amount and (c) a probability of achieving each active monetary payout available during the flat rate play session, the number being greater than one; (ii) determining, for each simulated flat rate play session, a sum of the net winnings expected to be paid at a conclusion of the simulated flat rate play session; (iii) averaging the sums of net winnings based on the number of flat rate play sessions simulated, thereby determining an average cost of the flat rate play session to a casino; and (iv) adding in a preferred amount of profit to the average cost of the flat rate play session, thereby determining the price; receiving, from the player, a selection of the flat rate play session; determining at least one parameter that defines the flat rate play session; receiving, from the player, prepayment of the price prior to a first play of the flat rate play session being initiated; and initiating the flat rate play session in accordance with the at least one parameter.