Method and system for awarding frequent flyer miles for casino table games

• US 6,379,247 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1997
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/888,962
• Time in Patent Office: 1,758 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/16-26, 463/29, 463/42, 463/47, 273/274
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes

Abstract

A method and system for rewarding complimentary rewards, such as frequent flyer miles, are disclosed. The system includes a plurality of reward counters and a controller coupled thereto. Each reward counter includes an input device capable of receiving input from the dealer to register the complimentary reward. The controller, which is coupled to the reward counters, includes a memory device for storing reward information received from the reward counters. Such reward information includes, in alternate embodiments, the number of the gaming table where the reward is made, the dealer identification number, the date of the reward, the player'"'"'s player identification number, and the quantity of reward points, such as the number of frequent flyer miles. A method for receiving complimentary rewards and an apparatus for tracking such rewards are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for rewarding play at a gaming table having a station for a dealer and a plurality of stations for a respective plurality of players, the system comprising:

a plurality of reward counters, each reward counter associated with a respective one of said plurality of players and including;

an input device for receiving input from said dealer to register a complimentary reward for said respective player, wherein said input device includes a reward counter button corresponding to a wager of said respective player; and

a display for displaying an indicia of said complimentary reward to said respective players;

said system further comprising;

a controller coupled to said plurality of reward counters to receive reward information from said reward counters, said controller including a memory device for storing said reward information.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said complimentary reward includes a number of complimentary frequent flyer miles.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said controller further comprises a processor configured to assign an award tracking number to said reward information, and wherein the system further includes a printer coupled to said controller for printing a reward receipt having said award tracking number thereon.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said processor is further configured to authenticate said reward receipt.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said processor is configured to authenticate said reward receipt based on said reward information, said reward information including information selected from the group comprising:

a gaming table number;

a dealer identification number;

a date;

said player identifying information; and

said number of complimentary frequent flyer miles awarded.

6. The system of claim 3 further comprising a cashier terminal coupled to said controller, said cashier terminal including a processor configured to communicate said award tracking number to said controller for verification.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said input device includes a series of reward counter buttons, each of said buttons corresponding to a wager of one of said plurality of players.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said input is an indication of a wager by said respective player and wherein each of said reward counters further includes a processor configured to correlate said indication of said wager to said complimentary reward.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said indication of said wager is a range in which said wager falls.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said reward counters further includes a tracking card reader for reading player identifying information from a player tracking card, said reward information includes said player identifying information, and said controller further includes a processor configured to associate said complimentary reward with said player identifying information.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said reward information includes a number of complimentary frequent flyer miles.

12. The system of claim 2 wherein said controller further includes a processor configured to associate said reward information with frequent flyer account information for said given player.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said controller is configured to communicate said reward information to an airline frequent flyer tracking system associated with said frequent flyer account information.

14. A method of rewarding a player of a table game, the method comprising:

establishing a table game;

receiving a wager on the table game from a player;

awarding a first number of frequent flyer miles to the player if the wager is within a first range;

awarding a second number of frequent flyer miles to the player if the wager is within a second range, the second number of frequent flyer miles being different from the first number of frequent flyer miles and the second range being different from the first range; and

awarding a third number of frequent flyer miles to the player if the wager is within a third range, the third number of frequent flyer miles being different from the first and second numbers of frequent flyer miles and the third range being different from the first and second ranges.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the first awarding step includes pressing a first button on a mileage counter;

the second awarding step includes pressing a second button on said mileage counter; and

the third awarding step includes pressing a third button on said mileage counter.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first range is less than fifty dollars, the second range is fifty to one hundred dollars, and the third range is over one hundred dollars.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the table game is selected from the group consisting of blackjack, craps, roulette and poker.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of providing a mileage receipt to the player upon the player indicating end of play, the mileage receipt including an award tracking number, the award tracking number uniquely identifying the mileage receipt.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

receiving the mileage receipt from the player;

verifying authenticity of the mileage receipt by finding the award tracking number in a database;

receiving information that indicates a frequent flyer miles account; and

crediting to the indicated frequent flyer miles account frequent flyer miles represented by the mileage receipt.

20. A method of rewarding a player of a table game, the method comprising:

providing a mileage receipt to a player in response to the player playing the table game, the mileage receipt representing a number of frequent flyer miles awarded to the player and the mileage receipt including an award tracking number, the award tracking number uniquely identifying the mileage receipt;

receiving the mileage receipt from the player;

verifying authenticity of the mileage receipt by finding the award tracking number in a database;

receiving information that indicates a frequent flyer miles account; and

crediting to the indicated frequent flyer miles account the number of the frequent flyer miles represented by the mileage receipt.