Method for configuring casino operations

• US 10,192,392 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2017
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acres Technology
• Original Assignee: Patent Investment & Licensing Company
• Inventors: Acres, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rowland, Steve
• Application Number:
  US15/459,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20170186269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 685 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3213 Details of moving display elements, e.g. spinning reels, tumbling members
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method of optimizing at least one performance variable, such as revenue or profitability, indicative of the performance of a casino. An initial set of operating parameters is set. At least one environmental variable, such as traffic, weather, time, cost of transportation, etc. are monitored as is the performance variable. An artificial intelligence program changes operating parameters, such as player-tracking rewards, bonuses, comps, advertising, etc. The program determines the effect of the change, and further changes the operating parameter as a function of the effect and the environmental variable.

Claims

1. A method of automating at least some aspects of casino management in a casino having a plurality of gaming machines connected to a communication network, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of promotional codes that each entitle a recipient to a benefit of at least one of discounted wagers on at least some of the gaming machines and eligibility to participate in at least one promotion;

publishing different promotional codes in a plurality of advertising venues, including transmitting the at least one code to a mobile computing device accessible by at least some of the recipients;

using a processor to store at least some of the codes in a memory operatively connected to the communication network;

receiving one of the codes from each of at least some of the recipients via a player interface at a corresponding gaming machine selected for play by the recipient;

receiving value from each of the at least some recipients for wagering on a respective one of each of at least some of the gaming devices via an accepting device configured to engage a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary establishing a credit balance that decreases based at least on wagering activity;

tracking at least the amount wagered at each gaming machine using a meter associated with each gaming machine;

comparing the received code with the stored codes;

providing the benefit to the recipient;

tracking the received codes;

tracking the wagers made by players using each code;

comparing the value of wagers made using each code with the cost of publishing the code; and

automatically changing at least one advertising venue where at least one of the codes is published based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile computing device comprises a cellular telephone.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting the code to a mobile computing device comprises transmitting the code in an email.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting the code to a mobile computing device comprises transmitting the code in a text message.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein transmitting the code to a mobile computing device comprises transmitting via the Internet.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion comprises an incentive.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion comprises a bonus.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the bonus comprises an increased award on at least one gaming machine.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion comprises a complementary amenity.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion comprises a give-away.

11. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of electronic gaming machines, each of which includes;

a non-transitory memory device configured to store computer-readable instructions to facilitate play of the electronic gaming machine, an accepting device configured to engage a physical item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance that is decreasable based on at least wagering activity, and at least one meter to track the amount of play on the gaming machine;

a network operatively connecting the gaming machines on which data from the at least one meter is transmitted to a database;

a plurality of promotional codes that each entitle a recipient to a benefit of at least one of discounted wagers on at least some of the gaming machines and eligibility to participate in at least one promotion, the codes having been published in a plurality of advertising venues;

at least one computing processor connected to the network, the at least one processor configured to;

receive one of the codes from each of at least some of the recipients via at least one of a mobile computing device and a player interface associated with a corresponding gaming machine selected for play by the recipient;

store the at least some of the codes in a memory operatively connected to the communication network;

track at least the amount wagered at each corresponding gaming machine via the meter;

compare the received codes with the stored codes;

provide the benefit to the recipient;

track the received codes;

track the wagers made by players using each code;

compare the value of wagers made using each code with the cost of publishing the code; and

change the advertising venue where at least some of the codes are published based on the comparison.

12. The gaming system of claim 11 wherein the promotion comprises an incentive.

13. The gaming system of claim 11 wherein the promotion comprises a bonus.

14. The gaming system of claim 13 wherein the bonus comprises an increased award on at least one gaming machine.

15. The gaming system of claim 11 wherein the promotion comprises a complementary amenity.

16. The gaming system of claim 11 wherein the promotion comprises a give-away.

17. At least one non-transitory computer readable medium that stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to:

store a plurality of different codes in a memory operatively connected to a network of electronic gaming machines, the codes having been published in a plurality of advertising venues;

receive one of the codes from each of at least some players of the gaming machines via a player interface at a corresponding gaming machine selected for play by the player;

track at least the amount wagered at each gaming machine via the meter;

compare the received code with the stored codes;

provide a benefit to a player from which a code has been received, the benefit comprising at least one of discounted wagers on at least some of the gaming machines and eligibility to participate in at least one promotion;

track the received codes;

track the wagers made by players using each code;

compare the value of wagers made using each code with the cost of publishing the code; and

change the advertising venue where at least one of the codes is publicized based on the comparison.

18. The method at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the promotion comprises an incentive.

19. The method at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the promotion comprises a bonus.

20. The method at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the bonus comprises an increased award on at least one gaming machine.

21. The method at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the promotion comprises a complementary amenity.

22. The method at least one non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the promotion comprises a give-away.