In-room game promotion and demonstration method and system

• US 20060217200A1
• Filed: 06/02/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Rick
• Application Number:
  US11/445,656
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217200A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0212 Chance discounts or incentives
• 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 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A system includes a media distribution system including displays located in guest rooms of a hotel. A game play system and player tracking system of a casino are linked to the media distribution system. A player located in a guest room is confirmed as enrolled in a player rewards program by confirmation of identity with the player tracking system or by enrolling the player in the program by sending identification information from a hospitality/reservation system of the hotel to the player tracking system. Game data is provided from the game play system to the media distribution system and is distributed to the player'"'"'s in-room display. The data is used to generate a game for play by the player on a promotional/demonstrative basis without placing a wager or bet. The player'"'"'s game play activities are tracked for use in generating a player reward independent of the outcome of the games played.

Claims

1. A system for providing a game on a promotional basis, the game of the type normally requiring that a wager or bet be placed to play the game comprising:

a media distribution system, said media distribution system including a plurality of displays located in a plurality of guest rooms, the media distribution system configured to direct data to each of the displays;

a hospitality system configured to store information regarding guests utilizing said guest rooms;

a first link connecting said hospitality system to said media distribution system permitting information to be transmitted between said hospitality system and media distribution system;

a player tracking system adapted to track the play of one or more games by players enrolled in a player reward system;

a game play system, said game play system adapted to provide game data corresponding to a game to be presented to a player on a promotional basis;

a second link connecting said game play system and player tracking information permitting game play information to be provided from said game play system to said player tracking system; and

a third link connecting said game play system and said media distribution system permitting said game play data to be provided to said one or more displays to present said game at said display.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 including a fourth link connecting said game play system and said hospitality system permitting guest information to be transmitted from said hospitality system to said game play system and then from said game play system to said player tracking system via said second link for enrolling a player in a player rewards program.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 including a set-top box associated with each display, said set-top box including means for accepting input from a user.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said player tracking system is associated with a casino having a plurality of gaming machines configured to provide game play data to said player tracking system.

5. A method of presenting a game to a player on a promotional basis, said game of the type normally requiring that the player place a wager or bet in order to play the game, the game presented to the player at a display located in a guest room of a hotel comprising the steps of:

accepting identification information from said player;

transmitting said information via a media distribution system to a player tracking system;

identifying said player as a member of a player rewards program;

providing game data from a game play system to said media distribution system in response to the identification of said player as a member of said player rewards program;

transmitting said game data to said display;

presenting said game to said player at said display without payment of a bet or wager;

transmitting game play data to said player tracking system; and

associating said game play data with a player rewards program corresponding to said player.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5 including a set-top box associated with said display, said identification accepted via input to said set-top box.

7. The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said identification information comprises a player rewards program identifier.

8. The method in accordance with claim 5 wherein said game play data represents one or more points awarded to said player.

9. A method of presenting a game to a player on a promotional basis, said game of the type normally requiring that the player place a wager or bet in order to play the game, the game presented to the player at a display located in a guest room of a hotel comprising the steps of:

accepting a request from a player indicating a desire to play a game;

transmitting player identification information from a hospitality system to a player tracking system;

enrolling said player in a player rewards program;

providing game data from a game play system to a display located in said player'"'"'s room;

presenting a game using said game data, said game presented without payment of a bet or wager;

transmitting game play data to said player tracking system; and

associating said game play data with a player rewards program.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said game play data comprises information defining one or more points.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said game data is transmitted from said game play system to said player'"'"'s room via a media distribution system.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9 including the step of transmitting said request from said player over a media distribution system to said player tracking system, generating a request for player identification and transmitting said request for player identification information from said player tracking system to said hospitality system.

13. The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said associating step comprises increasing a number of points assigned to said player, said points used to award a player a reward independent of the outcome of said game.

14. A method of presenting a game to a player on a promotional basis, said game of the type normally requiring that the player place a wager or bet in order to play the game comprising:

confirming that the player is a member of a player rewards program;

transmitting game data from a game play system through a media distribution system of a hotel to a display located in a guest room where said player is located;

presenting a game on a promotional basis to said player in said room on said display, said game of the type normally requiring that a player place a bet or wager to play the game, said game presented without the player placing a wager or bet to play the game; and

transmitting information regarding the play of said game to a player tracking system, said information for use in providing a reward to said player independent of the outcome of the game.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said step of confirming comprises accepting player identification information and utilizing said player identification information to confirm said player is a member of said player rewards program.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said step of confirming comprises enrolling said player in said player rewards program.

17. The method in accordance with claim 16 wherein said step of enrolling comprises transmitting player identification information from a hospitality system storing information regarding said player associated with said player'"'"'s use of said guest room to said player tracking system.

18. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein said information regarding the play of said game comprises information representing one or more points awarded to said player.