Intelligent casino chip promotion method

• US 6,685,564 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Oliver, Terrance W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kim
• Application Number:
  US10/244,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20030022714A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12-13, 463/16, 463/25-29, 463/42, 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/468, 235/487, 235/491, 273/292
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2003/00662 with an electric sensor for playing pieces A63F2009/2444 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2250/58 Antifraud or preventing misuse
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/00157 Casino or betting games horse races A63F3/00082
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 1/06 Coins specially adapted to operate coin-freed mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3293 Card games, e.g. poker, canasta, black jack

Abstract

An intelligent casino chip method. A method for promoting play of a live casino card game during a scheduled time event. A special casino chip is provided to a player in which a promotion is encoded into the transponder found within the casino chip. When this casino chip is placed by the player on the live casino card game, a computer system reads the promotion from the transponder and determines whether the scheduled time event exists in response to reading. If the scheduled time event exists, the player participates in the promotion.

Claims

1. A method of promoting play of a live casino card game during a scheduled time event, the live casino card game having a computer system reading the monetary values from transponders in casino chips when placed as wagers on a table for the live card game, the method comprising:

providing a special casino chip to a player, the special casino chip having a promotion encoded into its transponder,

reading the promotion from the transponder of the special chip in the computer system when the special casino chip is placed by the player on the table during play of the live casino card game,

determining in the computer system whether the scheduled time event exists in response to reading the promotion,

enabling in the computer system the player to participate in the promotion when the scheduled time event is determined to exist.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion is enabling the player to participate in a progressive game.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion is enabling the player to participate in a bonus game.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the promotion is enabling the player to participate in a promotional payout event.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the special chip is visually indicated as special.

6. A method of rewarding a player for play of a live casino card game, the live casino card game having a computer system reading the monetary values from transponders in casino chips when placed as wagers on a table for the live card game, the method comprising:

providing a special casino chip to a player, the special casino chip having an award encoded into its transponder,

reading the award from the transponder of the special chip in the computer system when the special casino chip is placed by the player on the table during play of the live casino card game,

enabling in the computer system the player to participate in the award in response to reading the award.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step providing occurs based on the length of time the player plays.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step providing occurs based on the amount of money won by the player.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein providing occurs based on the amount of money played by the player.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the award is enabling the player to participate in a progressive game.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the award is enabling the player to participate in a bonus game.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the award is enabling the player to participate in a promotional payout event.

13. The method of claim 6 wherein the special chip is visually indicated as special.

14. A method of promoting play of a live casino card game for a group of players, the live casino card game having a computer system reading the monetary values from transponders in casino chips when placed as wagers on a table for the live card game, the method comprising:

providing special casino chips to the group, each of the special casino chips having a promotion for the group encoded into its transponder,

reading the promotion from the transponder of the special chip in the computer system when the special casino chip is placed by a player of the group on the table during play of the live casino card game,

enabling in the computer system the player to participate in the promotion in response to the reading.