Gaming machine having a lottery game and capability for integration with gaming device accounting system and player tracking system

• US 20010036855A1
• Filed: 05/03/2001
• Published: 11/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John P. Meekins, Troy Defrees-Parrott
• Original Assignee: John P. Meekins, Troy Defrees-Parrott
• Inventors: Meekins, John P., DeFrees-Parrott, Troy
• Granted Patent: US 6,913,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/17
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/081 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

A method of operating a gaming system. The method comprises the steps of providing a system comprising at least one casino game of chance and a lottery game device that provides a lottery game, providing a player with an opportunity to play the casino game, and providing the player with an opportunity to play the lottery game upon the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the casino game.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a system comprising at least one casino game of chance and a lottery game device that provides a lottery game;

b) providing a player with an opportunity to play the casino game; and

c) providing the player with an opportunity to play the lottery game upon the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the casino game.

2. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the providing step (b) includes the step of providing the player with an opportunity to place a wager in order to play the casino game.

3. The method according to

claim 2

wherein the predetermined event is when the player places a wager that meets predetermined criteria.

4. The method according to

claim 1

wherein in the lottery game, a player picks at least three numbers out of a total of at least 49 numbers.

5. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the lottery game is chosen from the group Keno, Bingo, Lotto, Pull-Tab, or Scratch-Off lottery games.

6. The method according to

claim 4

wherein the lottery game is won by matching the numbers chosen by the player with the numbers randomly chosen by the lottery game system.

7. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the casino game is a card game and the predetermined event is when the player acquires a predetermined hand of cards.

8. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the casino game is a card game and the predetermined event is when the player acquires a predetermined card.

9. The method according to

claim 2

wherein the casino game is a slot machine that is configured to accept coins as wagers and wherein the predetermined event is when player inserts a predetermined cumulative amount of coins into the slot machine.

10. The method according to

claim 6

wherein the slot machine is configured to accept credit as wagers and wherein the predetermined event is when the player plays a predetermined cumulative amount of credit.

11. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the casino game is a slot machine comprising at least one rotating reel having indicia thereon and a pay-line and wherein the predetermined event is when certain indicia arrives at the pay-line.

12. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the casino game is a gaming machine and the predetermined event is when the player plays the gaming machine a predetermined number of times.

13. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the casino game is a gaming machine having electronic circuitry for generating a totally impartial, random number, the predetermined event being a number generated by the electronic circuitry.

14. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the predetermined event is a predetermined amount of time during which a player plays the casino game.

15. The method according to

claim 2

wherein the system further comprises an electronic player tracking system that records data pertaining to player activity, the method further comprising the step of comparing the predetermined event to the recorded data to determine if the predetermined event has occurred.

16. The method according to

claim 1

wherein the casino game is a slot machine and the system further comprises a slot accounting data system that records data pertaining to players'"'"' slot machine activity, the method further comprising the step of comparing the predetermined event to the recorded data to determine if the predetermined event has occurred.

17. The method according to

claim 1

further including the step of visually indicating that the player is entitled to play the lottery game upon the occurrence of the predetermined event.

18. The method according to

claim 1

further including the step of audibly indicating that the player is entitled to play the lottery game upon the occurrence of the predetermined event.

19. A method of operating a casino gaming system, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a system comprising a player tracking system for tracking players'"'"' financial transactions while in the casino, a plurality of data input devices in data communication with the player tracking system, and a lottery game device that provides a lottery game;

b) inputting into the data input devices data that defines the players'"'"' financial transactions;

c) recording the players'"'"' financial transactions; and

d) providing a player with an opportunity to play the lottery game when that player'"'"'s recorded financial transactions meet predetermined criteria.

20. A gaming system, comprising:

at least one casino game;

a lottery game system that provides a lottery game;

means for providing a player with an opportunity to play the casino game; and

means for providing the player with an opportunity to play the lottery game upon the occurrence of a predetermined event during play of the casino game.

21. The gaming system according to

claim 20

wherein the lottery gaming system includes a lottery terminal adjacent to the casino game.

22. The gaming system according to

claim 20

wherein the casino game comprises a slot machine and the lottery gaming system includes a lottery game data input device in data communication with the lottery gaming system, the data input device enabling the player to play the lottery game.

23. The gaming system according to

claim 20

wherein the gaming system further comprises a central computer in data communication with the lottery game system and the casino game comprises an electronic gaming device in data communication with the central computer, the lottery gaming system having at least one lottery game device that has a data input device in data communication with the electronic gaming device, the data input device enabling a player to play the lottery game.

24. The gaming system according to

claim 23

wherein data input device is mounted to the electronic gaming device.

25. The gaming system according to

claim 23

wherein data input device is integral with the electronic gaming device.

26. The gaming system according to

claim 20

further comprising a central computer and wherein the casino game comprises an electronic gaming device in data communication with central computer.

27. The gaming system according to

claim 26

wherein the central computer comprises the lottery game system.

28. The gaming system according to

claim 27

wherein the central computer is configured to record data pertaining to player activity and compare the random or predetermined event to the recorded data to determine if the predetermined event has occurred.

29. The gaming system according to

claim 28

further comprising a data base for storing the data recorded by the central computer.

30. The gaming system according to

claim 24

wherein the lottery gaming system has at least one lottery game device, the lottery game device having a data input device in data communication with the electronic gaming device, the data input device enabling a player to play the lottery game.

31. The gaming system according to

claim 23

wherein the at least one casino game comprises a plurality of electronic gaming devices in data communication with the central computer and the at least one lottery game device comprises a plurality of lottery game devices, each lottery game device corresponding to a particular electronic gaming device.

32. The gaming system according to

claim 23

further comprising means for activating the lottery gaming device to enable the player to participate in the lottery game when the random or predetermined event has occurred.

33. The gaming system according to

claim 20

further comprising means for linking the lottery game system to a wide-area network that provides progressive lottery jackpots to winners of the lottery game.

34. A gaming system comprising:

a player tracking system for tracking players'"'"' financial transactions while in the casino, the tracking system comprising a data base and a plurality of data input devices for receiving input data that defines a financial transaction;

a lottery game system that provides a lottery game;

a central processing unit in data communication with the player tracking system and the lottery game system, the central processing unit comparing particular data of the data defining the financial transactions to predetermined criteria; and

means for providing a player with an opportunity to play the lottery game when that player'"'"'s recorded financial transactions meet the predetermined criteria.

35. The gaming system according to

claim 34

further comprising a plurality of gaming devices in data communication with the central processing unit.