Systems and methods for determining a level of reward

• US 20050143166A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Tedesco, Daniel E., Fincham, Magdalena M., Tulley, Stephen C., Santisi, Steven M., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,780,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• 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

In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method comprises associating, with a casino patron, a benefit of a first value. The benefit of the first value is determined based on a first algorithm and based on the patron'"'"'s activity during a first portion of a period of time. The method further comprises associating, with the patron, a benefit of a second value. The benefit of the second value is determined based on a second algorithm and based on the patron'"'"'s activity during a second portion of the period of time, the second portion occurring after the first portion. Associating the benefit of the second value is only performed if the associating the benefit of the first value is first performed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

associating, with a patron of a casino, a first rate of earning reward points,

the first rate for determining a number of reward points to award to the patron based on activity of the patron during a first portion of a period of time; and

associating, with the patron, a second rate of earning reward points,

the second rate for determining a number of reward points to award to the patron based on activity of the patron during a second portion of the period of time, the second portion occurring after the first portion,

wherein associating the second rate is only performed if the associating the first rate is first performed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second rate is greater than the first rate.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, before the second rate is associated, whether the first rate has been associated, therefore determining whether the associating the second rate is to be performed.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

awarding, to the patron, a first number of reward points based on the first rate; and

awarding, to the patron, a second number of reward points based on the second rate,

wherein the second number is greater than the first number even if the activity during the second portion is essentially equivalent to the activity during the first portion.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the activity during the second portion being essentially equivalent to the activity during the first portion comprises:

a number of game plays played during the second portion being substantially similar to the number of game plays played during the first portion, and

a duration of the second portion being substantially similar to the duration of the first portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein

the first rate comprises

Number of points=[(x points)/(game play)²]*[# game plays completed during the first portion of the period of time],

and wherein the second rate comprises

Number of points=[(x+y points)/(game play)²]*[# game plays completed during the second portion of the period of time],

and further wherein y is greater than zero.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time is a consecutive period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion is defined by a respective number of consecutive game plays played by the patron, such that

a first number of reward points is determined and awarded to the patron based on the first rate, the first number being awarded in exchange for a first set of consecutive game plays, and

a second number of reward points is determined and awarded to the patron based on the second rate, the second number being awarded in exchange for a second set of consecutive game plays, the second number of consecutive game plays occurring after the first number of consecutive game plays occurs.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the patron qualifies for the second rate; and

only associating the second rate if the patron qualifies.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the patron qualifies for the second rate comprises determining whether the patron has satisfied at least one requirement associated with the second rate.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one requirement defines a number of qualifying game plays to be completed by the patron in order for the patron to qualify for the second rate.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the requirement further defines a condition a game play must satisfy in order to comprise a qualifying game play.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the patron qualifies for the second rate is based on at least one of the following factors:

a length of time spent playing at least one gaming device;

a number of game plays completed;

a number of game plays initiated;

a number of paylines selected;

a total amount wagered;

a maximum amount wagered;

an average amount wagered;

a gross amount won;

a net amount won;

a net amount lost;

a number of occurrences of a predetermined symbol;

a number of occurrences of a predetermined outcome;

a number of times the patron has qualified for a bonus round;

a number of times the patron has won a prize during a bonus round;

a current balance of credits available for wagering;

a value of a benefit previously associated with the patron;

play of specified games in accordance with a predetermined plan;

play of specified gaming devices in accordance with a predetermined plan; and

an amount of purchases made by the patron.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the patron qualifies for the second rate comprises determining whether the patron has maintained a minimum rate of play during the second portion of the period of time.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein determining whether the patron has maintained a minimum rate of play comprises determining whether the patron has maintained a minimum average rate of play during the second portion.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein determining whether the patron qualifies for the second rate comprises determining whether the patron has wagered a specified wager amount for a minimum amount of game plays during the second portion of the period of time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the specified wager amount is the maximum wager amount allowable for the game being played by the patron during the second portion.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the minimum amount of game plays is a specified number of game plays.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the minimum amount of game plays comprises all of the game plays played by the patron during the second portion.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the minimum amount of game plays comprises a minimum percentage of game plays of out of all game plays played by the patron during the second portion.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first portion and the second portion is defined by a respective number of minutes or multiple thereof, such that

the first rate is associated in exchange for a first number of consecutive minutes played, and

the second rate is associated in exchange for a second number of consecutive minutes played.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein a beginning of the period of time is determined based on an input from the patron.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the input comprises an input of an identifier of the patron.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the input is received via an insertion of a casino loyalty program membership card inserted into a card reader device of a gaming device.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein an end of the period of time is determined based on an action by the patron.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the action comprises a removal of a casino loyalty program membership card from a card reader device of a gaming device.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the second rate is further only associated if the patron'"'"'s activity during the second portion is more beneficial to an operator of a casino than the patron'"'"'s activity during the first portion.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

associating, with the patron, a third rate of earning reward points,

the third rate being for determining a number of reward points to award to the player based on activity during a third portion of a period of time,

wherein the third rate is less than the second rate.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the third rate is the first rate.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the associating the third rate is performed if it is determined that the patron'"'"'s activity during the third portion is less beneficial to a casino operator than the patron'"'"'s activity during the second portion.

31. A device, comprising:

a controller operable to communicate with a plurality of gaming devices, the controller being further operable to;

receive, from a gaming device of the plurality of gaming devices, information associated with activity of a patron of a casino;

associate, with the patron, a benefit of a first value,

the benefit of the first value being determined based on a first algorithm and based on the patron'"'"'s activity during a first portion of a period of time; and

associating, with the patron, a benefit of a second value,

the benefit of the second value being determined based on a second algorithm and based the patron'"'"'s activity during a second portion of the period of time, the second portion occurring after the first portion,

wherein associating the benefit of the second value is only performed if the associating the benefit of the first value is first performed.

32. A system, comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices; and

the device of claim 31.

33. A method of playing a slot machine, comprising:

determining a beginning of a play session by a player of a slot machine;

awarding, to the player, reward points at a first rate during a first portion of a play session;

awarding, to the player, reward points at a second rate that is greater than the first rate during a second portion of the play session if the player qualifies for the second rate by satisfying one or more predetermined conditions,

wherein the play session is a continuous play of one or more gaming devices that is not interrupted by an interval of more than a maximum length of time.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first rate is a first number of reward points per game play played during the first portion and the second rate is a second number of reward points per game play played during the second portion, the second number being greater than the first number.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the first rate is a first number of reward points per unit of time of the first portion and the second rate is a second number of reward points per unit of time of the second portion, the second number being greater than the first number.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining that the play session has been interrupted by an interval of more than a maximum length of time, thereby determining that the play session has ended; and

awarding, to the player, reward points at a third rate that is less than the second rate for a subsequent play of a gaming device by the player.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the third rate is the first rate.