Method and system for gaming and e-materials distribution

• US 20060046838A1
• Filed: 09/02/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Paulsen, Craig A.
• Application Number:
  US10/933,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20060046838A1
• 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 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3237 about the players, e.g. profiling, responsible gaming, strategy/behavior of players, location of players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value

Abstract

A gaming method includes determining if a first event has occurred, distributing an e-coupon to a player if the first event has occurred, the e-coupon being storable on a machine accessible medium, having an identifier associated therewith, and redeemable for a payout, associating a first payout with the identifier according to the first event, determining if a second event has occurred, and associating a second payout with the identifier according to the second event, the second payout being different than the first payout and the first payout no longer associated with the identifier.

Claims

1. A gaming method comprising:

determining if a first event has occurred;

distributing an e-coupon to a player if the first event has occurred, the e-coupon being storable on a machine accessible medium, having an identifier associated therewith, and redeemable for a payout;

associating a first payout with the identifier according to the first event;

determining if a second event has occurred; and

associating a second payout with the identifier according to the second event, the second payout being different than the first payout and the first payout no longer associated with the identifier.

2. The gaming method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving a wager from the player;

displaying an image representing a game;

determining an outcome associated with the game represented by the image; and

determining if one of the first event and the second event has occurred according to the outcome.

3. The gaming method according to claim 2, comprising:

receiving another wager from the player;

displaying another image representing another game;

determining another outcome associated with the another game presented by the another image; and

determining if the second event has occurred according to the another outcome.

4. The gaming method according to claim 2, comprising:

determining a location of the player within a casino; and

determining if a second event has occurred according to the location of the player within the casino.

5. The gaming method according to claim 2, comprising:

determining at least one of a time of day, week, month and year; and

determining if a second event has occurred according to at least one of a time of day, week, month and year.

6. The gaming method according to claim 1, comprising:

receiving a wager from the player;

displaying a first image representing a game;

determining if a bonus trigger event has occurred;

displaying a second image representing a bonus game;

determining a bonus outcome associated with the bonus game represented by the second image; and

determining if the first event has occurred according to the bonus outcome.

7. The gaming method according to claim 1, comprising:

associating a first payout with the identifier according to the first event without displaying the first payout to the player; and

associating a second payout with the identifier according to the second event without displaying the second payout to the player, the second payout being different than the first payout and the first payout no longer associated with the identifier.

8. The gaming method according to claim 7, comprising:

determining if the player has met an access requirement; and

displaying at least one of the first and second payouts to the player if the player has met the access requirement.

9. The gaming method according to claim 8, comprising:

determining a location of the player within a casino; and

determining if the player has met the access requirement according to the location of the player within the casino.

10. The gaming method according to claim 8, comprising:

determining at least one of a time of day, week, month and year; and

determining if the player has met the access requirement according to the at least one of a time of day, week, month and year.

11. The gaming method according to claim 8, comprising:

receiving a wager from the player; and

determining if the player has met the access requirement according to the wager received from the player.

12. The gaming method according to claim 1, comprising:

distributing the second payout to the player in exchange for the e-coupon, the e-coupon no longer being associated with the player after the distribution of the second payout occurs.

13. The gaming method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second payouts are at least one of a good and a service.

14. A gaming system comprising:

a distribution computer having a processor and memory operatively coupled to the processor,

the distribution computer being programmed to determine if a first event has occurred;

the distribution computer being programmed to distribute an e-coupon to a player if the first event has occurred, the e-coupon being storable on a machine accessible medium, having an identifier associated therewith, and redeemable for a payout;

the distribution computer being programmed to associate a first payout with the identifier according to the first event;

the distribution computer being programmed to determine if a second event has occurred; and

the distribution computer being programmed to associate a second payout with the identifier according to the second event, the second payout being different than the first payout and the first payout no longer associated with the identifier.

15. The gaming system according to claim 14, comprising:

a gaming apparatus including;

a value input device;

a display unit; and

a controller having a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the controller operatively coupled to the value input device and the display unit,

the controller being programmed to receive a wager from the player;

the controller being programmed to display an image representing a game;

the controller being programmed to determine an outcome associated with the game represented by the image; and

wherein the distribution computer is programmed to determine if one of the first event and the second event has occurred according to the outcome.

16. The gaming system according to claim 15, wherein:

the controller is programmed to receive another wager from the player;

the controller is programmed to display another image representing another game;

the controller is programmed to determine another outcome associated with the another game presented by the another image; and

the distribution computer is programmed to determine if the second event has occurred according to the another outcome.

17. The gaming system according to claim 15, wherein:

the distribution computer is programmed to determine a location of the player within a casino; and

the distribution computer is programmed to determine if a second event has occurred according to the location of the player within the casino

18. The gaming system according to claim 15, wherein:

the distribution computer is programmed to determine at least one of a time of day, week, month and year; and

the distribution computer is programmed to determine if a second event has occurred according to the at least one of a time of day, week, month and year.

19. The gaming system according to claim 14, comprising:

a gaming apparatus including;

a value input device;

a display unit; and

a controller having a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the controller operatively coupled to the value input device and the display unit,

the controller being programmed to receive a wager from the player;

the controller being programmed to display a first image representing a game;

the controller being programmed to determine if a bonus trigger event has occurred;

the controller being programmed to display a second image representing a bonus game;

the controller being programmed to determine a bonus outcome associated with the bonus game represented by the second image; and

wherein the distribution computer is programmed to determine if the first event has occurred according to the bonus outcome.

20. The gaming system according to claim 14, wherein:

the distribution computer is programmed to associate a first payout with the identifier according to the first event without displaying the first payout to the player; and

the distribution computer is programmed to associate a second payout with the identifier according to the second event without displaying the second payout to the player, the second payout being different than the first payout and the first payout no longer associated with the identifier.

21. The gaming system according to claim 20, wherein:

the distribution computer is programmed to determine if the player has met an access requirement; and

the distribution computer is programmed to cause a display unit to generate and image regarding at least one of the first and second payouts to the player if the player has met the access requirement.

22. The gaming system according to claim 21, wherein:

the distribution computer is programmed to determine a location of the player within a casino; and

the distribution computer is programmed to determine if the player has met the access requirement according to the location of the player within the casino.

23. The gaming system according to claim 21, wherein:

the distribution computer is programmed to determine at least one of a time of day, week, month and year; and

the distribution computer is programmed to determine if the player has met the access requirement according to the at least one of a time of day, week, month and year.

24. The gaming system according to claim 21, wherein:

the distribution computer is programmed to determine if a wager has been received from the player; and

the distribution computer is programmed to determine if the player has met the access requirement according to the wager received from the player.