Wagering Game System With Player Rewards

• US 20090117989A1
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Blankstein, Michael J., Gamache, Brian R., Files, McLaurin H., Vann, Jamie, Gagner, Mark B., Jaffe, Joel R., Hornik, Jeremy M., Englman, Allon G., Thomas, Alfred, Joshi, Shridhar P., Ward, Matthew J., Pacey, Larry J., Block, Rory L., Arezina, Vladimir I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,489 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/20
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• 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
• 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

According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes a method of conducting a wagering game. The method includes identifying a player as a member of certain group, and offering the player options related to the wagering game. The options are unavailable to players who are not members of the certain group.

Claims

1. A method of conducting a wagering game, comprising:

identifying a player as a member of certain group; and

offering the player options related to the wagering game, the options being unavailable to players who are not members of the certain group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to personalization of the wagering game or gaming machine at which the wagering game is being played.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to altering symbols associated with the wagering game.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to allowing the wagering game to provide access to a progressive jackpot.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the progressive jackpot is accessible to the gaming machine at which the wagering game is being played or a group of gaming machines including the gaming machines at which the wagering game is being played.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the player is required to make an additional wager in order to have access to the progressive jackpot, the additional wager being used to fund the progressive jackpot.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to providing early access to game features or game episodes associated with the wagering game, the game features or the game episodes being available to the general public at a later time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to providing exclusive access to game features or game episodes associated with the wagering game, the game features or the game episodes not being available to the general public.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to providing early access to a bonus game triggered by or during a base game of the wagering game, the bonus game being available to the general public at a later time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to providing exclusive access to a bonus game triggered by or during a base game of the wagering game, the bonus game not being available to the general public.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to providing early access to a new wagering game, the new wagering game being available to the general public at a later time.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the options relate to providing exclusive access to a different wagering game, the different wagering game not being available to the general public.

13. The method of claims 1-12, further including receiving player inputs to select one or more of the options.

14. A method for operating a credit-based wagering game with points associated with the wagering game, comprising:

in response to performing an act associated with the wagering game, awarding the points; and

using the points to obtain various assets.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the points are awarded in response to game-play conditions.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the game-play conditions are selected from a group consisting of gameplay outcomes, mystery points, symbol combinations, award-wager functions, side wagers, introductory new games, doubled points, auxiliary points jackpots, specific conditions, scavenger hunt, theme-specific games, sweepstakes, revenue points, skill-based points, and consolation points.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the points are awarded in response to marketing and promotion conditions.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the marketing and promotion conditions are selected from a group consisting of marketing surveys, free gifts, promotional contests, vouchers, web promotions, partner services, sponsor points, in-game advertisements, special occasions, and special event days.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the points are awarded in response to purchasing and exchanging conditions.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the purchasing and exchanging conditions are selected from a group consisting of purchasing points, exchanging for other points, helping other players, and point matching.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the assets are selected from a group consisting of a special welcome, auction items, levels and titles, merchandise, printed image, other point types, entered sweepstakes, other points at different times, suggestions and tips, services, promotions, disabled advertisements, tournaments, subscription, free play, alerts, advance booking, machine history, personal statistics card, status trade, recognition, avatars, view and listen to non-game information, fortune cookies, chair comfort, and hold seats open.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the various assets include games and features assets, customization assets, and rule changes assets.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the games and features assets are selected from a group consisting of an early release, unlocked features, different bonus game, exclusive games, community event, playing point-based games, playing mixed games, unique point paylines, scavenger hunt items, replay feature, priority selection, game and player ratings, increase maximum wager, play multiple games, secondary symbols, jackpots thresholds, and mystery bonus awards.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the customization assets are selected from a group consisting of a customized status and a customized game.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the rule changes assets are selected from a group consisting of remove terminators, do-over, bonus game enhancement, general rule changes, level advance, and off-peak play.

26. The method of claim 14, further comprising using the points based on one or more associated point characteristics.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the associated point characteristics are selected from a group consisting of:

an expiration date for limiting the date of use of the points;

a token and currency economy for distributing the points based on a tiered-point system;

a point and statistics profile for showing player-accrued points and player statistics;

a player club for providing predetermined benefits to club members in accordance to a player club status;

a pop-up menu for providing point-related information; and

a temporal exchange for varying the rate of points exchange based on specific conditions.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the using of the points includes using the points in one or more ways selected from a group consisting of trading enhancements, trading points, funding special events, sharing points, and donating points.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the using of the points includes using the points in one or more games selected from a group consisting of point progressives jackpots, internet games, and recurring points games.

30. A method for redeeming points associated with a wagering game, comprising:

in response to a player performing an act associated with the wagering game, awarding the points; and

redeeming the points at a venue associated with a player rewards system.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the points are funded by a third party, the third party being one other than the player and the player rewards system.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the third party is selected from a group consisting of a clothing manufacturer, a soda manufacturer, a food and beverage manufacturer, and a promotion marketing agency.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the points are accessible to the player both in a gaming establishment and outside the gaming establishment.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the points are accessible to use and to view status.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the venue is an outside venue, including an online internet venue and an offline merchandise venue.

36. The method of claim 30, wherein the venue includes a plurality of casino zones.

37. A method for conducting a wagering game, comprising selecting a randomly selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving a credits wager and a points wager.

38. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising a display that includes a single paytable having symbol combinations for awarding credit awards and point awards.

39. A method for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

accumulating points or awarding points during the wagering game;

redeeming a wagering asset in exchange for one or more accumulated points, the wagering asset having an associated value that fluctuates based on a predetermined condition.

40. A method for recording points associated with wagering games, comprising:

accumulating the points based on outcomes of wagering games played on a plurality of gaming machines; and

storing the points in a memory device in association with a player identifier.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein a symbol combination includes winning symbol combinations from the first set of winning symbol combinations and the second set of winning symbol combinations.

41. A method for conducting a wagering game, comprising awarding a plurality of points and a plurality of credits, the plurality of points being awarded in response to points-only paylines having winning symbol combinations, the plurality of credits being awarded in response to credits-only paylines having winning symbol combinations.

42. A method for conducting a wagering game, comprising:

displaying a points paytable for indicating a first set of winning symbol combinations associated with points awards and a credits paytable for indicating a second set of winning symbol combinations associated with credits awards;

in response to receiving an initial wager, randomly selecting an outcome of a plurality of outcomes;

displaying a symbol combination associated with said outcome;

if the displayed symbol combination is based on the first set of winning symbol combinations, awarding one or more points; and

if the displayed symbol combination is based on the second set of winning symbol combinations, awarding one or more credits.

44. A method for conducting a points-based progressive game in conjunction with a credit-based wagering game, comprising:

receiving points from each player playing the credit-based wagering game associated with the points-based progressive wagering game;

building a progressive jackpot including points received from players; and

awarding the points to one of the players.

45. A method for conducting a credit-based wagering game, comprising changing an expected value of credits associated with the wagering game in exchange for a predetermined number of points.