System and method for facilitating casino team play

• US 6,503,146 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2001
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zynga Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Krantz, Jason, Jorasch, James A., Walker, Jay S., Mik, Magdalena
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cherubin, Yveste
• Application Number:
  US09/793,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20020111209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/25, 463/26, 463/12, 463/27, 463/13, 463/16-19, 463/28-30, 273/85, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/274, 700/91
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3274 wherein the players cooperate, e.g. team-play
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament

Abstract

A method is disclosed for facilitating group play by a team of members associated with a casino slot club. The method includes the steps of identifying the team members, identifying a set of rules designated by the team for rewarding the team members when a payout is due to one of the team members, detecting a payout due to one of the team members, and rewarding the team members in accordance with the set of rules.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

identifying a set of players that are associated with one another, wherein the set of players are associated independent of gaming devices played by the players;

identifying at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the set of players when a payout is due to a player of the set of players;

determining that a payout is due to the player; and

rewarding the set of players in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule, wherein at least one player of the set of players other than the player to whom the payout is due may be rewarded based on the payout even if the at least one other player is not located in a casino at a time when the payout is determined.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined rule comprises a rule that is designated by at least one of (i) at least one player of the set of players, and (ii) a casino.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein rewarding the set of players comprises causing at least one of a monetary and a non-monetary reward to be provided to the set of players.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the non-monetary reward comprises at least one of (i) an amount of casino slot club points;

(ii) a least one product;

(iii) at least one service;

(iv) lodging at a hotel associated with the casino;

(v) a discount; and

(vi) credit usable at the casino.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein rewarding the set of players further comprises:

crediting accounts associated with each of the set of players with at least one of a monetary and a non-monetary amount.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein rewarding the set of players comprises at least one of (i) providing the players a fixed amount;

and (ii) providing the players a portion of the detected payout.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein rewarding the set of players further comprises rewarding each of the set of players that is eligible to receive an award.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining an eligibility to receive a reward of each of the set of players.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the eligibility comprises:

determining an eligibility status of a player as indicated in a record of a database, wherein the record is associated with the player.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the eligibility to receive a reward is based on at least one of (i) a requirement that a player play at a casino within a given period of time before the payout is detected;

(ii) a requirement that a player have wagered a predetermined amount within a predetermined period of time; and

(iii) whether a player has an outstanding reservation at a casino.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein rewarding the set of players further comprises:

rewarding the set of players based on an activity status associated with each player.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the activity status is based on at least one of activity in a casino and activity outside of a casino.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein activity outside of a casino comprises at least one of (i) accessing a web-site containing a set of product advertisements, and (ii) placing a telephone call to hear a pre-recorded message providing promotional information.

14. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 1.

15. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

the method of claim 1.

16. A method comprising:

registering a set of players as being associated with one another, wherein the set of players are associated independent of a current location and activity of each of the players;

determining at least one rule to be used to direct the distribution of an award among the set of players;

utilizing the at least one rule to distribute the award among the set of players when it is determined that a particular one of the set of players has won a payout while playing a gaming device, wherein at least a portion of the award may be provided to one of the set of players when the one of the set of players is not playing at a gaming device at a time when the payout it won by the particular player.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining at least one rule comprises:

receiving from the set of players an input indicating at least one rule to be used to direct the distribution of an award among the set of players.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving an input comprises:

receiving from the set of players a selection of at least one rule from a predetermined group of available rules to be used to direct the distribution of an award among the set of players.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

perform the method of claim 16.

20. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

the method of claim 16.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

identify members of a team;

identify at least one predetermined rule for rewarding the members of the team when a payout is due to a game-playing team member, wherein identifying at least one predetermined rule includes identifying an activity multiplier; and

reward the members of the team in accordance with the at least one predetermined rule.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

identify a team member;

identify a team with which the team member is associated;

identify a rule set governing allocation of bonuses to the team when a payout is due to the team member, wherein identifying a rule set includes identifying an activity multiplier associated with the team;

receive a signal indicating that a payout is due to the team member;

evaluate the rule set based in part on the payout to facilitate allocation of bonuses; and

allocate bonuses to the team in accordance with the rule set.

23. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

identifying a team member;

identifying a team with which the team member is associated;

identifying a rule set governing allocation of bonuses to the team when a payout is due to the team member, wherein identifying a rule set includes identifying an activity multiplier associated with the team;

receiving a signal indicating that a payout is due to the team member;

evaluating the rule set based in part on the payout to facilitate allocation of bonuses; and

allocating bonuses to the team in accordance with the rule set.

24. An apparatus, comprising:

a storage device; and

a processor in communication with the storage device,

the storage device storing a program for controlling the processor; and

the processor operative with the program to;

register a team with a casino;

register members of the team with the casino; and

designate at least one rule for facilitating the distribution of bonuses amongst the members of the team when a particular member of the team receives a payout from a gaming device in the casino, including generating a team plan in a team plans database.

25. A medium encoded with a program for implementing a method, said program for directing a device to perform the steps of:

register a team with a casino;

register members of the team with the casino; and

designate at least one rule for facilitating the distribution of bonuses amongst the members of the team when a particular member of the team receives a payout from a gaming device in the casino, including generating a team plan in a team plans database.