Systems and gaming devices for indicating comp eligibility

• US 10,726,671 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2017
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gaming Arts LLC
• Original Assignee: Gaming Arts LLC
• Inventors: Colvin, David, Colvin, Eric D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US15/823,277
• Publication Number:
  US 20180075699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• 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 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3286 Type of games
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/329 Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards

Abstract

A player comp system and method may include a gaming device having a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player. A player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device is configured to receive gameplay information from the gaming device that may include amounts of one or more wagers placed via a user interface of the gaming device during the game of chance and provide a notification output based on the gameplay information when the player is eligible to receive a player comp. The notification may be a visual notification, such as a light, LED, or a voucher or ticket provided to the player or an attendant.

Claims

1. A player comp system, comprising:

a gaming device, comprising;

a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance;

an electronic storage device configured to store gameplay data for the game of chance;

a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance;

at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device; and

a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits from the gaming device; and

a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to receive data representative of gameplay information from the gaming device, the comp indicator providing a visual notification of player comp status based on the data representative of gameplay, wherein the visual notification is separate from the user interface and hidden from the player while the player is positioned for viewing the user interface, and wherein the visual notification of the player comp indicator comprises a first visual notification when an amount of one or more wagers reaches or exceeds a first predetermined threshold, and a second visual notification when an amount of the one or more wagers reaches or exceeds a second predetermined threshold greater than the first predetermined threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the visual notification comprises illumination of one or more LEDs.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the player comp indicator provides the first visual notification in response to the gameplay information indicating an amount of one or more wagers reaching or exceeding the first predetermined threshold during a given time period.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the player comp indicator provides the second visual notification in response to the gameplay information indicating an average amount of wagers reaches or exceeds the second predetermined threshold during a given time period.

5. A player comp system, comprising:

a gaming device, comprising;

a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, wherein gameplay data is generated during play of the game of chance;

an electronic storage device configured to store the gameplay data for the game of chance;

a user interface device configured to receive input from the player to enable the player to play the game of chance;

at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance associated with the gaming device; and

a payment output device configured to enable the player to withdraw money or credits associated with the gaming device; and

a player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device, the comp indicator configured to receive data representative of gameplay information from the gaming device, the comp indicator providing a visual notification of player comp status based on the data representative of gameplay, wherein the visual notification is separate from the user interface and hidden from the player while the player is positioned for viewing the user interface, and wherein the visual notification of the player comp indicator comprises;

a first visual notification when an average amount of one or more wagers during a given time period reaches or exceeds a predetermined threshold; and

a second visual notification when an average amount of the one or more wagers during a given time period falls below a second predetermined threshold.

6. A method for monitoring player comps, the method comprising:

providing a gaming device comprising a processor, at least one display, at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device, and at least one player input device configured to place a wager on a game of chance presented at the gaming device;

connecting a player comp indicator to the gaming device, the player comp indicator capable of providing at least one visual notification output comprising at least one LED having a first color indicative of the player being eligible for a comp, and a second color indicative of the player being ineligible for the comp, the at least one LED positioned so that the player does not see the LED during gameplay;

receiving data representative of gameplay information from the gaming device at the player comp indicator; and

providing the at least one visual notification output based on the data representative of gameplay information, wherein the at least one visual notification comprises;

a first visual notification in response to an amount of one or more wagers reaching or exceeding a first predetermined threshold; and

a second visual notification in response to an amount of the one or more wagers reaching or exceeding a second predetermined threshold greater than the first predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the player comp indicator provides the first visual notification in response to an accumulated amount of one or more wagers reaching or exceeding a predetermined threshold during a given time period.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the player comp indicator provides the first visual notification in response to an average amount of wagers reaching or exceeding the first predetermined threshold during a given time period.

9. A method for monitoring player comps, the method comprising:

providing a gaming device comprising a processor, at least one display, at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance associated with the gaming device, and at least one player input device configured to place a wager on a game of chance presented at the gaming device;

connecting a player comp indicator to the gaming device, the player comp indicator capable of providing at least one visual notification output comprising at least one LED having a first color indicative of the player being eligible for a comp, and a second color indicative of the player being ineligible for the comp, the at least one LED positioned so that the player does not see the LED during gameplay;

receiving data representative of gameplay information from the gaming device at the player comp indicator; and

providing the at least one visual notification output based on the data representative of gameplay information, wherein the at least one visual notification output comprises;

a first visual notification in response to an average amount of one or more wagers during a given time period reaching or exceeding a predetermined threshold; and

a second visual notification in response to an average amount of the one or more wagers during a given time period falling below the predetermined threshold.

10. A system for monitoring player comps, the system comprising:

a bar-top electronic gaming machine configured for positioning on a bar top and having a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player,

at least one display,

at least one wager accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance maintained at the gaming device,

at least one player input device configured to place a wager on the game of chance presented on the gaming device, and

a visual notification output that provides a visual notification separate from the at least one display and associated with a player comp based on gameplay of the game of chance, wherein the visual notification output comprises one or more LEDs hidden from player view while the player is positioned for gameplay, and wherein the processor is programmed to provide a first visual notification in response to an amount of one or more wagers reaching or exceeding a first predetermined threshold, and to provide a second visual notification in response to an amount of the one or more wagers reaching or exceeding a second predetermined threshold greater than the first predetermined threshold.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the one or more LEDs are configured to illuminate with a first color responsive to the player being eligible for a comp, and a second color responsive to the player being ineligible for the comp.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the amount is an accumulated amount.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the amount is an average amount over a predetermined time period.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is programmed to provide the visual notification in response to an accumulated amount of one or more wagers reaching or exceeding a predetermined threshold during a given time period.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is programmed to provide the visual notification in response to an average amount of one or more wagers reaching or exceeding a predetermined threshold during a given time period.