Method and system for gaming and brand association

• US 20060063580A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Nguyen, Binh T., Paulsen, Craig A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,455,586 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

A gaming method includes receiving a first wager from a player, displaying a first image representing a game, determining a first outcome associated with the game, and determining a first payout according to the first outcome and a first paytable. The gaming method also includes determining if a brand-association event has occurred, selecting a brand if the brand-association event has occurred, using a second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred, the second paytable including at least one payout associated with the selected brand, receiving a second wager from the player, displaying a second image representing a game, determining a second outcome associated with the game, and determining a second payout according to the second outcome and the second paytable, the second payout comprising the at least one payout associated with the selected brand.

Claims

1. A gaming method comprising:

receiving a first wager from a player;

displaying a first image representing a game;

determining a first outcome associated with the game;

determining a first payout according to the first outcome and a first paytable;

determining if a brand-association event has occurred;

selecting a brand if the brand-association event has occurred;

using a second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred, the second paytable including at least one payout associated with the selected brand;

receiving a second wager from the player;

displaying a second image representing a game;

determining a second outcome associated with the game; and

determining a second payout according to the second outcome and the second paytable, the second payout comprising the at least one payout associated with the selected brand.

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

modifying the first paytable to define the second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred, the second paytable differing from the first paytable in that the second paytable includes at least one payout associated with the selected brand.

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

modifying the first paytable to define the second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred, the second paytable differing from the first paytable in that the second paytable includes at least one payout associated with the selected brand for a game outcome of the first paytable that is unassociated with a payout.

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

downloading the second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred, the second paytable differing from the first paytable in that the second paytable includes at least one payout associated with the selected brand.

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

downloading the second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred, the second paytable differing from the first paytable in that the second paytable includes at least one payout associated with the selected brand for a game outcome of the first paytable that is unassociated with a payout.

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

displaying an image representing a game, the image including a plurality of game elements, the plurality of game elements defining one or more game outcomes;

using a second paytable if the brand-association event has occurred, the second paytable including at least one payout associated with the selected brand and at least one game element comprising information regarding the selected brand.

7. The gaming method according to claim 6, wherein the information regarding the selected brand is a link and comprising:

receiving an input from the player in regard to the link;

retrieving an image associated with the link, the image displaying information regarding the selected brand; and

displaying the image associated with the link.

8. The gaming method according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of game elements include at least one of cards, reel symbols, keno tickets, and bingo cards.

9. The gaming method according to claim 6, wherein the information regarding the selected brand comprises at least one of audio and video associated with the selected brand.

10. The gaming method according to claim 9, wherein the information regarding the selected brand comprises a video clip and an audio clip, both of which are associated with the selected brand.

11. The gaming method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one payout associated with the selected brand comprises at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand.

12. The gaming method according to claim 11, comprising

receiving an input from the player, the input associated with at least one of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand;

and

requesting delivery of the at least one of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand to the player.

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

delivering to the player the at least one of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand to the player.

14. The gaming method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one payout associated with the selected brand comprises at least one brand point, the brand point being redeemable for at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand.

15. The gaming method according to claim 14, comprising

receiving an input from the player, the input associated with an exchange of the at least one brand point for at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand;

and

requesting delivery of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand to the player.

16. The gaming method according to claim 15, comprising:

delivering to the player the at least one of the at least one of a good and a service associated with the selected brand to the player.

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

receiving a player profile associated with the player, the player profile having data regarding the player associated therewith;

comparing the data associated with the player profile with brand criteria associated with a brand; and

selecting the brand according to the comparison of the data associated with the player profile and the brand criteria data associated with the brand.

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

receiving a player profile associated with the player, the player profile having data regarding the player associated therewith;

comparing the data associated with the player profile with brand criteria data associated with a plurality of brands;

transmitting requests to a plurality of brand-promoters, each brand-promoter associated with at least one brand of the plurality of brands;

receiving offers from the plurality of brand-promoters; and

selecting one of the brands according to the offers received from the plurality of brand-promoters.

19. A gaming method comprising:

selecting a brand;

displaying an image representative of an advertisement for at least one of a good and a service provided by a brand-promoter associated with the selected brand;

displaying an image representative of a game, the image comprising at least one game element incorporating brand information according to the selected brand;

determining an outcome of the game; and

determining a payout according to the outcome, the payout comprising at least one good or service associated with the selected brand.

20. The gaming method of claim 19, comprising:

receiving a player input; and

selecting a brand according to the player input.

21. The gaming method of claim 20, comprising:

receiving a player profile associated with the player if the brand-association event has occurred, the player profile having data associated therewith;

receiving brand criteria associated with a brand if the brand-association event has occurred;

selecting a brand according to the data associated with the player profile and the brand criteria.

22. The gaming method according to claim 21, comprising:

matching the data associated with the player profile to brand criteria associated with a brand; and

selecting a brand according to the matching of the data associated with the player profile and the brand criteria data associated with a brand.

23. The gaming method according to claim 21, comprising:

matching the data associated with the player profile to brand criteria data associated with a plurality of brands;

transmitting requests to a plurality of brand-promoters, each brand-promoter associated with at least one brand of the plurality of brands;

receiving offers from the plurality of brand-promoters; and

selecting a brand according to the offers received from the plurality of brand-promoters.

24. The gaming method according to claim 19, comprising:

generating a sound effect, the sound effect associated with the selected brand.