System and method for rewarding players based on personal interests or attributes

• US 20080064492A1
• Filed: 09/13/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Oosthoek, Jeroen
• Granted Patent: US 8,328,635 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots

Abstract

A system and method for rewarding players of wagering game with a bonus is disclosed. A database is provided for collecting and storing personal interest information from two or more players. The database comprises data fields each representing a category of personal interest information. A player tracking server is utilized to monitor the player'"'"'s gaming activity. A bonus server operates in conjunction with the gaming server to determine when a bonus is to be awarded to one or more players. A player qualifies for a share of the bonus based on the common personal interest information as compared to the player that triggered the bonus award. The bonus may be shared equally or unequally by players who qualify to receive the bonus.

Claims

1. A system for rewarding members of a player group with a shared award in response to play by an award winner during play of a wagering game, comprising:

a database for storing personal interest information regarding one or more players, wherein the personal interest information places the one or more players into one or more player groups;

an identification element, having identification data associated therewith, issued to at least player one of the one or more players, the identification element used by the at least one player to identify the at least one player when participating in gaming activity;

one or more computer servers configure to;

receive identification data from at least one player;

determine the identify of at least one player who is an award winner and determine at least one other player who is in a common player group with the award winner;

distribute at least a portion of the award to the award winner; and

distribute at least a portion of award to at least one other player who is in a common player group with the award winner.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the database comprises a plurality of data fields, and wherein each data field represents a category of personal interest information and identification data for players with the personal interest information defined by the data field.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the player group comprises a private group of players.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the bonus award is triggered in response to a particular game outcome.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the bonus award is shared among only active players.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein only certain player groups are eligible to share in the bonus award.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the at least one other players who share in the award is determined randomly.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the grant of award occurs at a random time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the award is shared amongst only player group members who are playing at the time that the award is awarded.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the award is distributed in unequal amounts to members of the player group.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a greater portion of the award is distributed to the award winner.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the award is a progressive jackpot.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the award is a mystery.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the award is a fixed sum of money.

15. A method of rewarding two or more players of a wagering game with an award, comprising the steps of:

collecting and storing personal interest information regarding two or more players in a database;

establishing a award fund to be awarded to two or more award winners;

determining when a player qualifies for an award; and

sharing the award fund among two or more players based on one or more categories of personal interest information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the database comprises a plurality of data fields, and wherein each data field represents a category of personal interest information and player identifier.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the player purposefully creates a data field in the database that includes other specifically chosen players.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the award of the bonus or jackpot occurs randomly and the award is shared with players with common personal interest information.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the award of the bonus or jackpot to the one or more casino players occurs at a random time.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the award is shared among only players who are playing at the time that the award is made.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the award is shared equally among players within the qualifying data field.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein a greater portion of the award is distributed to the player who triggers the award.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the award is a progressive jackpot.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the award is a mystery.