Matching bonusing method using a player tracking card

• US 20050153773A1
• Filed: 01/08/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Paulsen, Craig
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,538 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0226 Incentive systems for frequent usage, e.g. frequent flyer miles programs or point systems
• 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

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing a bonus award to a gaming player for using a player tracking account associated with a gaming establishment. Provision of a bonus award is based on the access to a player tracking account. Specifically, once a gaming system detects that a gaming player has accessed a player tracking account associated with the gaming establishment, the gaming system can determine whether the player accessed the player tracking account in a manner meeting one or more bonus award criteria. For instance, the bonus award criteria can include accessing a player tracking account within a limited period of time allotted for awarding the bonus award, accessing a player tracking account according to a specified sequence with respect to accesses by other gaming players, or some other criterion. If the player accessed the player tracking account in a manner meeting the bonus award criterion or criteria, then a bonus award is provided to the gaming player for using the player tracking account.

Claims

1. A method of providing a bonus award for using a player tracking account associated with a gaming establishment, the method comprising:

(a) detecting that a gaming player has accessed the player tracking account;

(b) determining whether the player accessed the player tracking account within a limited period of time allotted for awarding the bonus award for using the player tracking account;

(c) determining whether the player accessed the player tracking account in a manner meeting an additional criterion for awarding the bonus award; and

(d) if the player accessed the player tracking account in a manner meeting the additional criterion and within the limited period of time, providing the bonus award for using the player tracking account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming establishment is a casino or group of affiliated casinos.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bonus award comprises credit, cash, a non-cash prize, free play, improving the odds of winning at a particular game, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that a gaming player has accessed the player tracking account comprises detecting an insertion of a player tracking card into a gaming machine controlled by the gaming establishment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting that a gaming player has accessed the player tracking account comprises detecting that the player has sent player tracking account information over a computer network as part of an Internet gaming session.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the player tracking account information includes a virtual player tracking card, wherein the virtual player tracking card includes a player tracking account number.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the player tracking account does not specify the identity of the player holding the account.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the limited period of time is a randomly selected period of time, a fixed period of time, or a period of time associated with an event or promotion.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the fixed period of time is a recurring fixed period of time.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising associating a time stamp with the player'"'"'s access to the player tracking account, and wherein determining whether the player accessed the player tracking account within a limited period of time includes comparing the time stamp with the limited period of time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional criterion comprises playing a predefined game or machine or using a particular denomination to play a game.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the predefined machine is a machine displaying a selected message or a machine with a selected theme.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the predefined machine is an upright machine or a slant top machine.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional criterion is that the player tracking account is associated with a selected group of players.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional criterion comprises:

having the player'"'"'s access to the player tracking account match a specified sequence number in a sequence of player tracking account accesses by multiple players.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising associating a sequence stamp with the player'"'"'s access to the player tracking account, and wherein having the player'"'"'s access to the player tracking account match a specified sequence number includes having the sequence stamp match the specified sequence number.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising displaying the sequence stamp in relation to other players'"'"' sequence stamps or in relation to the specified sequence number if the sequence stamp does not match the specified sequence number.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising making a bonus award presentation on a player tracking device associated with a gaming machine.

19. The method claim 18, wherein making the bonus award presentation comprises lighting a region of the player tracking device with a specified color, a specified lighting sequence, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein lighting a region of the player tracking device comprises lighting a bezel on the player tracking device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the bezel is located adjacent to a video display on the player tracking device.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising issuing a light signal, issuing an audio signal, displaying a video clip, or any combination thereof, on multiple player tracking devices associated with multiple gaming machines prior to making a bonus award presentation on a player tracking device associated with the bonus award provided.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein making the bonus award presentation comprises displaying a video clip, issuing an audio signal, displaying a message, or any combination thereof, on the player tracking device.

24. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to providing the bonus award for using the player tracking account, determining that the player makes a wager on a game.

25. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the gaming establishment or casino personnel if the bonus award is provided.

26. The method of claim 1, further comprising encouraging game play by issuing a light signal, issuing an audio signal, displaying a message, displaying a video clip, or any combinations thereof, on a player tracking device associated with a gaming machine prior to detecting that the gaming player has accessed the player tracking account.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein encouraging game play further includes synchronizing the signal or display on the player tracking device with other player tracking devices associated with other gaming machines.

28. A method of providing a bonus award for using a player tracking account associated with a gaming establishment, the method comprising:

(a) detecting that a gaming player has accessed the player tracking account;

(b) determining whether the player'"'"'s access to the player tracking account matches a specified sequence number in a sequence of player tracking account accesses by multiple players; and

(c) if the player'"'"'s access to the player tracking account matches the specified sequence number, providing the bonus award for using the player tracking account.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the gaming establishment is a casino or group of affiliated casinos.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the bonus award comprises credit, cash, a non-cash prize, free play, improving the odds of winning at a particular game, or any combination thereof.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein detecting that a gaming player has accessed the player tracking account comprises detecting an insertion of a player tracking card into a gaming machine controlled by the gaming establishment.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein detecting that a gaming player has accessed the player tracking account comprises detecting that the player has sent player tracking account information over a computer network as part of an Internet gaming session.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising making a bonus award presentation on a player tracking device associated with a gaming machine if the bonus award is provided.

34. The method claim 33, wherein making the bonus award presentation comprises lighting a region of the player tracking device with a specified color, a specified lighting sequence, or a combination thereof.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein lighting a region of the player tracking device comprises lighting a bezel on the player tracking device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the bezel is located adjacent to a video display on the player tracking device.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising issuing a light signal, issuing an audio signal, displaying a video clip, or any combination thereof, on multiple player tracking devices associated with multiple gaming machines prior to making a bonus award presentation on a player tracking device associated with the bonus award provided.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein making the bonus award presentation comprises displaying a video clip, issuing an audio signal, displaying a message, or any combination thereof, on the player tracking device.

39. The method of claim 28, further comprising, prior to providing the bonus award for using the player tracking account, determining that the player makes a wager on a game.

40. The method of claim 28, further comprising notifying the gaming establishment or casino personnel if the bonus award is provided.

41. The method of claim 28, further comprising encouraging game play by issuing a light signal, issuing an audio signal, displaying a message, displaying a video clip, or any combinations thereof, on a player tracking device associated with a gaming machine prior to detecting that the gaming player has accessed the player tracking account.

42. The method of claim 28, wherein encouraging game play further includes synchronizing the signal or display on the player tracking device with other player tracking devices associated with other gaming machines.

43. A gaming machine comprising:

(a) one or more processors controlling game play on the gaming machine;

(b) a player tracking device comprising a light bezel, a video display, and a player tracking card reader;

(c) a network interface for communications between the player tracking device and a remote player tracking server; and

(d) logic for lighting the light bezel upon issuance of a bonus award triggered by insertion of the player tracking card in the card reader.

44. The gaming machine of claim 43, wherein the light bezel is located adjacent said video display.

45. The gaming machine of claim 43, further comprising logic for making a bonus award presentation on the player tracking device.

46. The gaming machine claim 45, wherein making the bonus award presentation comprises lighting a region of the player tracking device with a specified color, a specified lighting sequence, or a combination thereof.

47. The gaming machine of claim 46, wherein lighting a region of the player tracking device comprises lighting the light bezel on the player tracking device.

48. The gaming machine of claim 45, wherein making the bonus award presentation comprises issuing an audio signal, displaying a video clip, displaying a message, or any combination thereof, on the player tracking device.

49. The gaming machine of claim 43, further comprising logic for determining that a player makes a wager on a game prior to providing the bonus award for inserting the player tracking card in the card reader.

50. The gaming machine of claim 43, further comprising logic for issuing a light signal, issuing an audio signal, displaying a message, displaying a video clip, or any combination thereof, to encourage the insertion of a player tracking card into the card reader.

51. The gaming machine of claim 43, wherein the bonus award comprises credits, cash, a non-cash prize, free play, improving the odds of winning at a particular game, or any combination thereof.

52. The gaming machine of claim 43, wherein the gaming machine is configured to display a time stamp assigned by the player tracking server on the video display, wherein the time stamp is assigned when a player accesses a player tracking account on the player tracking server, and wherein the time stamp is used to determine if a bonus award should be provided.

53. The gaming machine of claim 43, wherein the gaming machine is configured to display a sequence stamp assigned by the player tracking server on the video display, wherein the sequence stamp is assigned when a player accesses a player tracking account on the player tracking server, and wherein the sequence stamp is used to determine if a bonus award should be provided.

54. A gaming machine system comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines, each comprising;

one or more processors controlling game play on the gaming machine,

a player tracking device comprising a light bezel, a video display, and a player tracking card reader, and

a network interface for communications to and from the player tracking device; and

a player tracking server comprising;

a server network interface for communicating with said player tracking devices; and

logic for issuing a bonus award triggered by insertion of a player tracking card in the card reader at one of the gaming machines (i) during a limited period of time allotted for awarding said bonus award, (ii) when insertion of the player tracking card matches a specified sequence number in a sequence of other player tracking card insertions at the plurality of gaming machines, or when both (i) and (ii) occur.

55. The gaming machine system of claim 54, further comprising logic for communicating, via the server network interface, issuance of the bonus award to one of the gaming machines.

56. The gaming machine system of claim 54, wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines further comprise logic for making a bonus award presentation on the player tracking device.

57. The gaming machine system of claim 56, wherein making the bonus award presentation comprises lighting a region of the player tracking device with a specified color, a specified lighting sequence, or a combination thereof.

58. The gaming machine system of claim 57, wherein lighting a region of the player tracking device comprises lighting the light bezel on the player tracking device.

59. The gaming machine system of claim 56, wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines further comprise logic for issuing a light signal, issuing an audio signal, displaying a video clip, or any combination thereof, on multiple player tracking devices associated with multiple gaming machines prior to making a bonus award presentation on a player tracking device associated with the bonus award provided.

60. The gaming machine system of claim 56, wherein making the bonus award presentation comprises issuing an audio signal, displaying a video clip, displaying a message, or any combination thereof on the player tracking device.

61. The gaming machine system of claim 54, further comprising logic for determining that a player makes a wager on a game prior to providing the bonus award for inserting the player tracking card in the card reader.

62. The gaming machine system of claim 54, wherein the light bezel is located adjacent said video display.

63. The gaming machine system of claim 54, wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines further comprises logic for issuing a light signal, issuing an audio signal, displaying a message, displaying a video clip, or any combinations thereof, on the player tracking device to encourage the insertion of a player tracking card into the card reader.

64. The gaming machine system of claim 63, wherein the plurality of gaming machines are configured to encourage the insertion of a player tracking card into the card reader by lighting the light bezel, displaying a message on the video display, or any combination thereof, in synchronization.

65. The gaming machine system of claim 54, wherein the bonus award comprises credits, cash, a non-cash prize, free play, improving the odds of winning at a particular game, or any combination thereof.

66. The gaming machine system of claim 54, wherein the player tracking server is configured to assign a time stamp, a sequence stamp, or both the time stamp and the sequence stamp for each insertion of a player tracking card in the card reader of any of the plurality of gaming machines.

67. The gaming machine system of claim 66, wherein the logic for issuing a bonus award includes comparing the time stamp with the limited period of time, comparing the sequence stamp with the specified sequence number, or a combination thereof.

68. The gaming machine system of claim 67, wherein the player tracking device is configured to display the time stamp, sequence stamp, or both the time stamp and the sequence stamp in relation to other players'"'"' stamps or in relation to the limited period of time or specified sequence number if a bonus award is not triggered.

69. The gaming machine system of claim 54, wherein the plurality of gaming machines is associated with a casino or group of affiliated casinos.

70. The gaming machine system of claim 54, wherein the player tracking server further comprises logic for notifying casino personnel if the bonus award is provided.