METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING PLAYER INCENTIVES

• US 20080146323A1
• Filed: 08/20/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Dow K. Hardy, John E. Taylor, John F. Acres, Mark E. Herrmann, Steven N. Kane
• Inventors: Acres, John F., Herrmann, Mark E., Hardy, Dow K., Kane, Steven N., Taylor, John E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,100,759 B2
• 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 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A system and method is provided for incentivizing players to visit a gambling location. In one aspect, a qualified person is invited to play an electronic game which has a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which is a winning outcome. In one embodiment, the qualified person may be required to redeem the outcome at the gambling location. In another embodiment, the person may be required to redeem the outcome at a redemption location. In another aspect, a method is provided for permitting a person to take one or more actions within a gambling location and in response inviting the person to play an electronic game separate from the games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location, where the game has a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which is a winning outcome, and if the person obtains a winning outcome, requiring the person to redeem the at least one outcome at the gambling location. In one embodiment, the method includes the acts of qualifying a person, and in response to the act of qualifying the person, performing acts of providing an award to the qualified person and inviting the person to visit a gambling location to redeem the award. A method is provided for incentivizing players to return to a gambling location after a previous visit. One aspect relates to a method for providing additional incentives to a frequent player program member to visit a gambling location such as a casino. In one example, the ease of using the Internet or other remote technologies is combined with advantages of a frequent player program to encourage players to return to the casino. A prize may be revealed in an online game, and the prize may need to be redeemed at the location of the casino. In one example game format, the player may be provided game credits to a player to play one or more online games that reveal prizes. The prizes may include, for example, an amount of non-cashable credit that may be used by the player to play one or more games located at the gambling location, thus encouraging player return. Other prizes, such as, for example, complimentary offers and/or promotional prizes may be awarded that can only be redeemed by the player by returning to the gambling location. Further, another aspect relates to providing special incentives for remote entry of casino affiliation or membership cards. The special incentives may include providing a prize or award to frequent player program members that remotely use his or her membership. In one example, the player is provided an indication of winning an incentive during play of an online game. In another example, the player may be required to obtain the winnings at the casino to encourage players to return to the casino.

Claims

1. A method for conducting a game, the method comprising acts of:

inviting a person outside of a gambling location to play an electronic game, the game having a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which being a winning outcome;

permitting the person to play the game to obtain at least one of the plurality of outcomes; and

if the at least one of the plurality of outcomes is a winning outcome, requiring the person to redeem the at least one outcome in the gambling location.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outcome is redeemed for non-cashable credits that may be used by the person at the gambling location.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of redeeming the at least one outcome.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising an act of crediting the player using a player tracking system.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising an act of identifying the person using a frequent player identifier.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of qualifying the person to play the electronic game.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising an act of determining whether to perform the act of inviting responsive to the act of qualifying of the person.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of identifying the person.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of inviting is responsive to an act of performing an action by the person in the gambling location.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of inviting is responsive to an act of performing an action by the person at a location outside the gambling location.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of inviting is responsive to an act of an event occurring within the gambling location.

12. The method according to claim 6, wherein the act of qualifying the person includes acts of obtaining demographical information related to the person, and determining a status of the person based on the demographical information.

13. The method according to claim 6, wherein the act of qualifying the person further comprises an act of determining a status of the player based at least in part on previous play by the player.

14. The method according to claim 6, wherein the act of qualifying the person further comprises an act of determining a status of the player based at least in part on current game play by the player.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of revealing the at least one of a plurality of outcomes to the player during play of the electronic game.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of permitting the player to play the electronic game, the electronic game communicating to a game play server through a communication network.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the communication network includes the Internet.

18. A method for conducting a game, the method comprising acts of:

permitting a person to take one or more actions within a gambling location;

in response to the person taking the one or more actions, inviting the person to play an electronic game separate from games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location, the game having a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which being a winning outcome;

permitting the person to play the game to obtain at least one outcome; and

if the at least one of the plurality of outcomes is a winning outcome, requiring the person to redeem the at least one outcome at the gambling location.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the one or more actions includes an act of purchasing an entry to play the electronic game.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the each of the plurality of outcomes is a winning outcome, and wherein an amount of value provided by each of the winning outcomes is greater than a cost to purchase the entry to play the electronic game.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the at least one outcome is redeemed for non-cashable credits that may be used by the person at the gambling location.

22. The method according to claim 18, further comprising an act of redeeming the at least one outcome.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising an act of crediting the player using a player tracking system.

24. The method according to claim 23, further comprising an act of identifying the person using a frequent player identifier.

25. The method according to claim 18, further comprising an act of qualifying the person to play the electronic game.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising an act of determining whether to perform the act of inviting responsive to the act of qualifying of the person.

27. The method according to claim 18, further comprising an act of identifying the person.

28. The method according to claim 18, wherein the act of inviting is responsive to an act of an event occurring within the gambling location.

29. The method according to claim 25, wherein the act of qualifying the person includes acts of obtaining demographical information related to the person, and determining a status of the person based on the demographical information.

30. The method according to claim 25, wherein the act of qualifying the person further comprises an act of determining a status of the player based at least in part on previous play by the player.

31. The method according to claim 25, wherein the act of qualifying the person further comprises an act of determining a status of the player based at least in part on current game play by the player.

32. The method according to claim 18, further comprising an act of revealing the at least one outcome to the player during play of the electronic game.

33. The method according to claim 18, further comprising an act of permitting the player to play the electronic game, the electronic game communicating to a game play server through a communication network.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the communication network includes the Internet.

35. A method for conducting a game, the method comprising acts of:

permitting a person to take one or more actions within a gambling location;

in response to the person taking the one or more actions, inviting the person to play an electronic game separate from games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location, the game having a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which being a winning outcome;

permitting the person to play the game to obtain at least one outcome; and

if the at least one of the plurality of outcomes is a winning outcome, requiring the person to redeem the at least one outcome at a redemption location.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein the redemption location includes the gambling location in which the one or more actions were taken.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein the one or more actions includes an act of purchasing an entry to play the electronic game.

38. The method according to claim 37, wherein the each of the plurality of outcomes is a winning outcome, and wherein an amount of value provided by each of the winning outcomes is greater than a cost to purchase the entry to play the electronic game.

39. The method according to claim 35, wherein the at least one outcome is redeemed for non-cashable credits that may be used by the person at the gambling location.

40. The method according to claim 35, further comprising an act of redeeming the at least one outcome.

41. The method according to claim 40, further comprising an act of crediting the player using a player tracking system.

42. The method according to claim 41, further comprising an act of identifying the person using a frequent player identifier.

43. The method according to claim 41, further comprising an act of qualifying the person to play the electronic game.

44. The method according to claim 43, further comprising an act of determining whether to perform the act of inviting responsive to the act of qualifying of the person.

45. The method according to claim 35, further comprising an act of identifying the person.

46. The method according to claim 35, wherein the act of inviting is responsive to an act of an event occurring within the gambling location.

47. The method according to claim 43, wherein the act of qualifying the person includes acts of obtaining demographical information related to the person, and determining a status of the person based on the demographical information.

48. The method according to claim 43, wherein the act of qualifying the person further comprises an act of determining a status of the player based at least in part on previous play by the player.

49. The method according to claim 43, wherein the act of qualifying the person further comprises an act of determining a status of the player based at least in part on current game play by the player.

50. The method according to claim 35, further comprising an act of revealing the at least one outcome to the player during play of the electronic game.

51. The method according to claim 35, further comprising an act of permitting the player to play the electronic game, the electronic game communicating to a game play server through a communication network.

52. The method according to claim 51, wherein the communication network includes the Internet.

53. A method for conducting a game, comprising acts of:

permitting a person to take one or more actions;

in response to the person taking the one or more actions, inviting the person to play an electronic game separate from games offered in a gambling environment at the gambling location, the game having a plurality of outcomes, at least one of which being a winning outcome;

permitting the person to play the game to obtain at least one of the plurality of outcomes; and

if the at least one of the plurality of outcomes is a winning outcome, requiring the person to redeem the at least one outcome in at least one gambling location.

54. The method according to claim 53, wherein the gambling location and the at least one gambling location are the same location.

55. The method according to claim 53, wherein the one or more actions includes an act of purchasing an entry to play the electronic game.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein the each of the plurality of outcomes is a winning outcome, and wherein an amount of value provided by each of the winning outcomes is greater than a cost to purchase the entry to play the electronic game.

57. The method according to claim 53, wherein the at least one outcome is redeemed for non-cashable credits that may be used by the person at the gambling location.

58. The method according to claim 53, further comprising an act of redeeming the at least one outcome.

59. The method according to claim 58, further comprising an act of crediting the player using a player tracking system.

60. The method according to claim 59, further comprising an act of identifying the person using a frequent player identifier.

61. The method according to claim 53, further comprising an act of qualifying the person to play the electronic game.

62. The method according to claim 61, further comprising an act of determining whether to perform the act of inviting responsive to the act of qualifying of the person.

63. The method according to claim 53, further comprising an act of identifying the person.

64. The method according to claim 53, wherein the act of inviting is responsive to an act of an event occurring within the gambling location.

65. The method according to claim 61, wherein the act of qualifying the person includes acts of obtaining demographical information related to the person, and determining a status of the person based on the demographical information.

66. The method according to claim 61, wherein the act of qualifying the person further comprises an act of determining a status of the player based at least in part on previous play by the player.

67. The method according to claim 61, wherein the act of qualifying the person further comprises an act of determining a status of the player based at least in part on current game play by the player.

68. The method according to claim 53, further comprising an act of revealing the at least one outcome to the player during play of the electronic game.

69. The method according to claim 53, further comprising an act of permitting the player to play the electronic game, the electronic game communicating to a game play server through a communication network.

70. The method according to claim 69, wherein the communication network includes the Internet.