SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING LOYALTY POINT LIABILITY THROUGH GAMING
First Claim
1. A method of operating a system, said method comprising:
- causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to;
(a) receive a request from a member of a loyalty program provided by a loyalty program provider to play one of a plurality of different games;
(b) receive a request from the member to play the requested game in one of one or more different play modes;
(c) determine and cause a display device to display an entry fee associated with the requested game and the requested play mode, the entry fee including a designated quantity of loyalty points associated with the loyalty program;
(d) instruct the loyalty program provider to deduct the entry fee from a loyalty point balance of the member;
(e) cause the display device to display a play of the requested game in the requested play mode;
(f) determine an outcome for the play of the game;
(g) determine any loyalty point awards based on the determined outcome; and
(h) instruct the loyalty program provider to add any determined loyalty point awards to the loyalty point balance of the member.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system and method to reducing loyalty point liability through gaming. The system enables a member of a loyalty program provided by a loyalty program provider to use the member'"'"'s accumulated loyalty points to play one or more games in one of a variety of different play modes. The system enables the member to win loyalty points or other suitable awards through game play. The system employs one or more mechanisms to cause loyalty points to be removed from circulation; that is, the system causes loyalty point providers to remove loyalty points from members'"'"' loyalty point balances, thereby removing those loyalty points from the loyalty program providers'"'"' balance sheets. The system is configured such that, over time, more loyalty points are removed from circulation via these mechanisms than are added to circulation through awards provided to members through game play.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of operating a system, said method comprising:
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causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to; (a) receive a request from a member of a loyalty program provided by a loyalty program provider to play one of a plurality of different games; (b) receive a request from the member to play the requested game in one of one or more different play modes; (c) determine and cause a display device to display an entry fee associated with the requested game and the requested play mode, the entry fee including a designated quantity of loyalty points associated with the loyalty program; (d) instruct the loyalty program provider to deduct the entry fee from a loyalty point balance of the member; (e) cause the display device to display a play of the requested game in the requested play mode; (f) determine an outcome for the play of the game; (g) determine any loyalty point awards based on the determined outcome; and (h) instruct the loyalty program provider to add any determined loyalty point awards to the loyalty point balance of the member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of operating a system, said method comprising:
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causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to; (a) receive a request from a member of a loyalty program provided by a loyalty program provider to play one of a plurality of different games; (b) receive a request from the member to play the requested game in one of one or more different play modes; (c) determine cause a display device to display an entry fee associated with the requested game and the requested play mode, the entry fee including a designated quantity of loyalty points associated with the loyalty program; (d) instruct the loyalty program provider to deduct the entry fee from a loyalty point balance of the member; (e) cause the display device to display a play of the requested game in the requested play mode; (f) determine an outcome for the play of the game; (g) determine any awards based on the determined outcome, any determined awards not including any loyalty points; and (h) cause any determined awards to be provided to the member. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of operating a system, said method comprising:
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causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions stored in at least one memory device to; (a) receive a request from a first member of a first loyalty program provided by a first loyalty program provider to play a game in a tournament play mode; (b) receive a request from a second different member of a second different loyalty program provided by a second different loyalty program provider to play the game in the tournament play mode; (c) determine and cause a first display device to display a first entry fee to the first member, the entry fee including a designated quantity of loyalty points associated with the first loyalty program; (d) determine and cause a second different display device to display a second different entry fee to the second member, the second entry fee including a designated quantity of loyalty points associated with the second loyalty program; (e) instruct the first loyalty program provider to deduct the first entry fee from a loyalty point balance of the first member and add a portion the first entry fee to an award pool, said portion of the first entry fee being less than the entire first entry fee; (f) instruct the second loyalty program provider to deduct the second entry fee from a loyalty point balance of the second member and add a portion the second entry fee to the award pool, said portion of the second entry fee being less than the entire second entry fee; (g) display the tournament and determine one or more tournament winners; (h) if the first member is one of the tournament winners, instruct the loyalty program provider to add at least a portion of the award pool to the loyalty point balance of the first member; and (i) if the second member is one of the tournament winners, instruct the loyalty program provider to add at least a portion of the award pool to the loyalty point balance of the second member. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification