Method and apparatus for providing a complimentary service to a player

• US 20040106454A1
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Sparico, Thomas M., Sammon, Russell P., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,087,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for providing a service to a player using a player device. A indication of a player identifier which corresponds to a player of a gaming device is received. A player device is provided to the player. A service to provide the player is determined based on a gaming activity of the player, and the service is then provided to the player using the player device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of a player identifier which corresponds to a player of a gaming device;

providing a player device to the player;

determining a service to provide the player based on a gaming activity of the player; and

providing the service to the player using the player device.

2. The method of claim 1, in which the gaming activity comprises at least one of:

an amount of play of the gaming device,

a rate of play of the gaming device, and

a duration of play of the gaming device.

3. The method of claim 1, in which the service comprises:

telephone service,

Internet access service,

receiving audio content, and

receiving video content.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

evaluating a condition.

5. The method of claim 4, in which the step of providing the service to the player using the player device comprises:

providing the service to the player using the player device if the condition is satisfied.

6. The method of claim 1, in which the step of providing the service to the player using the player device occurs while the player plays the gaming device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an authentication code based on a gaming activity of the player.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

outputting the authentication code to the player.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving the authentication code from the player.

10. The method of claim 7, in which the step of determining a service to provide the player based on a gaming activity of the player comprises:

determining, from the authentication code, a service to provide the player.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor, and

a memory in communication with the processor, in which the memory stores a program that is operable to direct the processor to perform the method of claim 1.

12. A computer readable medium, which stores a program that is operable to direct a processor to perform the method of claim 1.