Method for crediting a player of an electronic gaming device
First Claim
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1. A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer comprising:
- creating a player account accessible by the host computer;
applying an incentive credit to the player account;
providing access to the account responsive to a command initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices;
debiting the account responsive to a game played at said one gaming device;
crediting said one gaming device responsive to debiting the account; and
preventing the applied incentive credit from being cashed out.
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Abstract
A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer. The casino creates a player account accessible by the host computer. The account can accrue both player-tracking points and account credits. Account credits are applied to a player'"'"'s account as sign-up incentive, bonus award or other player incentive. When the player inserts his or her card in a card reader at one of the gaming devices, the player has access to the account points and credits. When playing with account credits, the account is debited in the amount of the wager responsive to each game played. The credit meter is simultaneously credited, also in the amount of the wager, thereby effectively providing the player with a free game. In a related implementation, the player can convert account points to account credits thereby redeeming player-tracking points at the machine.
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Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer comprising:
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creating a player account accessible by the host computer;
applying an incentive credit to the player account;
providing access to the account responsive to a command initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices;
debiting the account responsive to a game played at said one gaming device;
crediting said one gaming device responsive to debiting the account; and
preventing the applied incentive credit from being cashed out. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer comprising:
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creating a player account accessible by the host computer;
applying an incentive credit to the player account;
accessing information in the player account responsive to a command initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices;
detecting a wager made by the player;
detecting a game played on said one gaming device;
debiting the account in the amount of the wager responsive to the game played;
crediting the gaming device in the amount of the wager; and
preventing the applied incentive credit from being cashed out. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A method of providing incentive to play gaming devices connected by a network to a host computer comprising:
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creating a player account accessible by the host computer;
applying an incentive credit to the player account;
accessing information in the player account responsive to a command initiated by a player at one of the gaming devices;
applying credit from the player account to said one gaming device responsive to a game played on said one gaming device; and
preventing the applied incentive credit from being cashed out. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
associating said one gaming device with a card reader;
issuing a card to the player; and
associating the card with the player account.
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34. The method of claim 33 wherein the command initiated by the player comprises receiving the card into one of the card readers.
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35. The method of claim 32 wherein said method further comprises preventing applying incentive credit from the player account to the gaming device until after said game is played.
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36. The method of claim 35 wherein said method further comprises preventing more than one transfer of incentive credit from the player account to the gaming device between each game played.
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37. The method of claim 32 wherein said method further comprises accruing points in the player account related to the level of player play on the gaming devices and wherein applying incentive credit to the player account comprises converting points in the player account to a credit in the player account responsive to a conversion command initiated by the player at said one gaming device.
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38. A method of providing incentive to play a gaming device comprising:
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applying incentive credit to a player account;
detecting a game played on the device;
debiting the player account responsive to the game played;
crediting the gaming device responsive to debiting the player account; and
preventing the applied incentive credit from being cashed out. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeIGT (International Game Technology)
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Original AssigneeAcres Gaming Incorporated (International Game Technology)
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InventorsAcres, John F.
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Primary Examiner(s)O'Neill, Michael
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Assistant Examiner(s)White, Carmen D.
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Application NumberUS09/134,598Time in Patent Office1,341 DaysField of Search463/16, 463/25US Class Current463/25CPC Class CodesG07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or...G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
