Method for awarding prizes

• US 20050043087A1
• Filed: 08/18/2004
• Published: 02/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company Incorporated (Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service)
• Original Assignee: Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service Company Incorporated (Atlantic City Coin & Slot Service)
• Inventors: Seelig, Jerald C., Henshaw, Lawrence M.
• Application Number:
  US10/921,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043087A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• 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 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

Methods and systems for awarding and dispensing prizes are disclosed. In one embodiment a gaming system involving a gaming device in communication with a cashless device dispenser and a remote network, such as a computer system, is provided to the player. In another embodiment, a method for awarding and dispensing prizes includes presenting a game to the player using a gaming apparatus located at a gaming location, where the player is allowed to place a wager and a game outcome is determined. If a prize qualifying result occurs, the prize is awarded to the player and the player is allowed to obtain the prize at a location different from the gaming location. Alternatively, the player may be allowed to choose a prize at a time different from the time or date of the prize qualifying result.

Claims

1. A gaming method comprising the following steps, but not all necessarily in order shown:

(A) providing a gaming apparatus to a player;

(B) allowing the player to place a wager;

(C) presenting a game to the player;

(D) determining a game outcome at a gaming location;

(E) awarding a prize to the player if the game outcome is a prize qualifying outcome; and

(F) allowing the player to obtain the prize at a second location different from the gaming location.

2. The gaming method of claim 1 further comprising allowing the player to choose the prize from among a selection of different prizes.

3. The gaming method of claim 2 further comprising allowing the player to choose the prize at a time remote from the date or time of the prize qualifying outcome.

4. The gaming method of claim 2 further comprising allowing the player to redeem all of, or part of, the prize for credits to play an on-line game of chance via an internet connection.

5. The gaming method of claim 1 comprising allowing the player to obtain the prize at a second location different from the gaming location, wherein the second location is not associated with the gaming location.

6. The gaming method of claim 1 comprising allowing the player to obtain the prize at a second location different from the gaming location, wherein the second location is selected from the group consisting of a website, a player computer and a third party vendor site.

7. A gaming method comprising the following steps, but not all necessarily in order shown:

a. providing a gaming apparatus to a player;

b. allowing the player to place a wager;

c. presenting a game to the player;

d. determining a game outcome on a particular date and at a particular time;

e. awarding a prize to the player if the game outcome is a prize qualifying outcome; and

f. allowing the player to choose a prize from among a selection of different prizes at a time remote from the date or time of the game outcome.

8. The gaming method of claim 7 further comprising allowing the player to obtain the prize at a second location different from location of the gaming apparatus.

9. The gaming method of claim 8 comprising allowing the player to obtain the prize at a second location different from location of the gaming apparatus, wherein the second location is not associated with gaming activities of the location of the gaming apparatus.

10. The gaming method of claim 8 comprising allowing the player to obtain the prize at a second location different from location of the gaming apparatus, wherein the second location is selected from the group consisting of a website, a player computer and a third party vendor site.

11. The gaming method of claim 7 further comprising allowing the player to redeem all of, or part of, the prize for credits to play an on-line game of chance via an internet connection.

13. The gaming system of claim 8 wherein the remote network further comprises a data base.

14. The gaming system of claim 9 wherein the data base is in communication with a remote computer selected from the group consisting of a proprietor computer, a vendor computer and a combination thereof.

15. The gaming system of claim 10 wherein the remote computer is in communication with the data base via an internet connection.

16. The gaming system of claim 10 wherein the data base is in further communication with a website.

18. The gaming system of claim 8 wherein the remote network is a computer system.

19. The gaming system of claim 8 wherein the remote network is in communication with the gaming device via a communication mode selected from the group consisting of a local area network, a wide area network, an Ethernet connection, a telephone connection and combinations thereof.

20. The gaming system of claim 8 wherein the cashless device dispenser is capable of reading or dispensing cashless devices selected from the group consisting of vouchers, coupons, tickets, stubs, certificates, memory storage devices and cards.

12. A gaming system comprising:

a. a gaming device;

b. a remote network in communication with the gaming device; and

c. a cashless device dispenser in communication with the gaming device.

17. The gaming system of claim 12 wherein the website is in further communication with a player computer.