System to determine casino offers

• US 6,848,995 B1
• Filed: 05/15/2000
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Gelman, Geoffrey M., Walker, Jay S., Mik, Magdalena, Sammon, Russell Pratt, Talwalkar, Nandu A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, BINH AN DUC
• Application Number:
  US09/570,335
• Time in Patent Office: 1,723 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463/12, 463/13, 463/16, 463/17, 463/20, 463/26, 463/42, 463/23, 273/143.R, 273/138.1, 273/138.2, 273/139, 700/90, 700/91
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• 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 17/3253 involving articles, e.g. paying in bottles, paying out toys
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A system to determine a product to be offered to a casino player based on player data and on an approximate maximum price for which the product may be sold through a retail channel. Advantageously, a potential increase in a casino'"'"'s profit due to a product offer can be determined using the player data, and an approximate maximum profit attainable through sale of the product through a retail channel can be determined based on the determined price. As a result, a product to offer can be determined in a manner which maximizes casino profit.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

determining an approximate maximum price for which a product may be sold through a retail channel;

determining to offer the product to the casino player based on the player data and on the price;

detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

in response to detecting the request, offering the product to the casino player.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining to offer the product comprises:

determining a current value of the product based on the approximate maximum price and on a cost of the product.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining to offer the product further comprises:

determining an expected profit based on the player data;

determining whether the current value is less than the expected profit; and

determining to offer the product to the casino player if the current value is less than the expected profit.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the current value is a first number of alternate currency points that must be earned by the casino player in order for the casino player to be offered the product.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the player data comprises a second number of alternate currency points earned by the casino player.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising offering the product to the casino player if the second number of alternate currency points earned by the casino player is greater than the first number of alternate currency points.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining an offer price of the product; and

offering the product to the casino player for the offer price.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the offering step comprises:

transmitting to the casino player a condition which must be satisfied for the casino player to receive the product.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein the offer price is $0.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the approximate maximum price is different from a list price of the product.

11. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining if a product should be offered to the casino player based on the player data.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the player data comprises data concerning interests of the casino player.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the player data comprises data concerning past activity of the casino player.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the approximate maximum price is determined based on past offers of the product.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the approximate maximum price is determined based on a cost of the product.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein the approximate maximum price is determined based on a list price of the product.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the approximate maximum price is determined based on demand for the product.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein the approximate maximum price is determined based on availability of the product.

19. A method comprising:

receiving player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

determining to offer a product to the casino player based on the player data and on an approximate maximum price for which the product may be sold through a retail channel;

detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

in response to detecting the request, offering the product to the casino player.

20. A method comprising:

receiving player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

identifying a product to offer to the casino player based on the received player data and a first rule;

determining an offer price for the product based on a second rule corresponding to the product;

detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

in response to detecting the request, offering the product to the casino player.

21. A method according to claim 20, further comprising offering the product to the casino player for the offer price.

22. A method according to claim 20, further comprising:

determining if a product should be offered to the casino player based on the player data.

23. A method according to claim 20, wherein the player data comprises data concerning interests of the casino player.

24. A method according to claim 20, wherein the player data comprises data concerning past activity of the casino player.

25. A method according to claim 20, wherein the first rule is based on availability of the product.

26. A method according to claim 20, wherein the second rule is based on availability of the product.

27. A method according to claim 20, wherein the first rule is based on a cost of the product.

28. A method according to claim 20, wherein the second rule is based on a cost of the product.

29. A method according to claim 20, wherein the first rule is based on a current value of the product.

30. A method according to claim 20, wherein the second rule is based on a current value of the product.

31. A method according to claim 20, wherein the offer price is different from a list price of the product.

32. A method for determining a product to offer a casino player, comprising:

receiving player data concerning gaming activity of a casino player;

receiving product information concerning a plurality of products;

for each of the plurality of products, determining a respective approximate maximum price for which a product may be sold through a retail channel;

determining a respective cost for each of the plurality of products;

determining a current value of each of the plurality of products based on a respective approximate maximum price and a respective cost;

based on the player data, determining an expected profit resulting from an offer of each of the plurality of products;

determining to offer one of the plurality of products based on the current value of the one product and the expected profit resulting from an offer of the one product;

detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

in response to detecting the request, offering the one product to the casino player.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the step of determining to offer the one of the plurality of products comprises:

determining a product of the plurality of products for which an expected profit exceeds a current value by a greater amount than for any other of the plurality of products.

34. A system to determine a product to offer to a casino player, comprising:

a game machine, the game machine comprising;

a game machine processor, and

a game machine memory storing processor-executable game machine process steps,

wherein the game machine processor is operative with the game machine processor-executable process steps, the process steps comprising;

i) obtaining a player identifier identifying a casino player;

ii) obtaining gaming data corresponding to the casino player; and

iii) transmitting the player identifier and the gaming data; and

a controller, the controller comprising;

a controller processor, and

a controller memory storing processor-executable controller process steps,

wherein the controller processor is operative with the controller processor-executable process steps, the process steps comprising;

i) receiving the player identifier and the gaming data;

ii) receiving product information concerning a plurality of products;

iii) determining, for each of the plurality of products, a respective approximate maximum price for which a product may be sold through a retail channel;

iv) determining a respective cost of each of the plurality of products;

v) determining a current value of each of the plurality of products based on a respective approximate maximum price and a respective cost;

vi) based on the gaming data, determining an expected profit resulting from an offer of each of the plurality of products;

vii) determining to offer one of the plurality of products based on the current value of the one product and the expected profit resulting from an offer of the one product;

viii) detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

ix) in response to detecting the request, offering the one product to the casino player.

35. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps, the process steps comprising:

receiving player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

determining an approximate maximum price for which a product may be sold through a retail channel;

determining to offer the product to the casino player based on the player data and on the price;

detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

in response to detecting the request, offering the product to the casino player.

36. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 35, wherein determining to offer the product comprises:

determining a current value of the product based on the approximate maximum price and on a cost of the product.

37. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps according to claim 36, wherein determining to offer the product further comprises:

determining an expected profit based on the player data;

determining whether the current value is less than the expected profit; and

determining to offer the product to the casino player if the current value is less than the expected profit.

38. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable process steps, the process steps comprising:

receiving player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

identifying a product to offer to the casino player based on the received player data and a first rule;

determining an offer price for the product based on a second rule corresponding to the product;

detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

in response to detecting the request, offering the product to the casino player.

39. A game machine comprising:

a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and

a processor,

wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps stored in the memory to;

1) identify a product which may be offered to a casino player based on gaming activity of the casino player;

2) determine an approximate maximum price for which the product may be sold through a retail channel;

3) detect a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

4) in response to detecting the request, offer the product to the casino player.

40. A game machine comprising:

a memory storing processor-executable process steps; and

a processor,

wherein the processor is operative with the processor-executable process steps stored in the memory to;

1) receive player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

2) determine an approximate maximum price for which a product may be sold through a retail channel;

3) determine to offer the product to the casino player based on the player data and on the price;

4) detect a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

5) in response to detecting the request, offer the product to the casino player.

41. A game machine according to claim 40, wherein the processor is further operative with the processor-executable process steps stored in the memory to determine a current value of the product based on the approximate maximum price and on a cost of the product.

42. A game machine according to claim 41, wherein the processor is further operative with the processor-executable process steps stored in the memory to:

1) determine an expected profit based on the player data;

2) determine whether the current value is less than the expected profit; and

3) determine to offer the product to the casino player if the current value is less than the expected profit.

43. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

means for defining an approximate maximum price for which a product may be sold through a retail channel;

means for deciding to offer the product to the casino player based on the player data and on the price;

means for detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

means for offering the product to the casino player in response to detecting the request.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the means for deciding comprises:

means for defining a current value of the product based on the approximate maximum price and on a cost of the product.

45. An apparatus according to claim 44, wherein the means for deciding further comprises:

means for defining an expected profit based on the player data;

means for defining whether the current value is less than the expected profit; and

means for deciding to offer the product to the casino player if the current value is less than the expected profit.

46. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

means for determining a product to offer to the casino player based on the received player data and a first rule;

means for defining an offer price for the product based on a second rule corresponding to the product;

means for detecting a request from the casino player to convert casino credit to currency; and

means for offering the product to the casino player in response to detecting the request.

47. A method comprising:

receiving player data corresponding to gaming activity of a casino player;

determining an approximate maximum price for which a product may be sold through a retail channel;

determining to offer the product to the casino player based on the player data and on the price;

detecting a player win of a prize amount; and

in response to detecting the player win, offering the product to the casino player,

wherein the prize amount is a first amount, and wherein the casino player is offered the product and a second prize amount which is less than the first amount.