Methods and apparatus for providing entertainment content at a gaming device
First Claim
1. A method for providing entertainment content to a player of a gaming device, comprising:
- storing entertainment content at a gaming device,wherein the entertainment content is content independent of a content of a game being played at the gaming device;
monitoring a level of play of a player of the gaming device;
determining that the level of play is at least equal to a predetermined level of play; and
enabling access, by a player of the gaming device, to the entertainment content based on the determination that the level of play is at least equal to the predetermined level of play.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Gaming systems and methods of operation thereof are disclosed. Such gaming systems and methods allow a player of a gaming device, such as a slot machine or an arcade video game, to access entertainment services, such as broadcast television programming, web sites, pay-per-view services and shared-revenue telephone services, such as 900 or 976 services, for enhanced player retention. In accordance with one or more embodiments, when play is initiated, a predefined establishment-specific criteria is evaluated to determine whether the player should be provided with access to entertainment services. A player entitled to access such services may be presented with a list of available entertainment services. Upon receipt of the player'"'"'s selection, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a connection may be established between the gaming device and the provider of the selected entertainment service. In accordance with one embodiment, the content that is the entertainment service is store in the memory of the gaming device or a peripheral device and output to the player. The player'"'"'s level of play may be monitored to ensure that the establishment-specific criteria for maintaining access to such entertainment services is being met.
165 Citations
61 Claims
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1. A method for providing entertainment content to a player of a gaming device, comprising:
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storing entertainment content at a gaming device, wherein the entertainment content is content independent of a content of a game being played at the gaming device; monitoring a level of play of a player of the gaming device; determining that the level of play is at least equal to a predetermined level of play; and enabling access, by a player of the gaming device, to the entertainment content based on the determination that the level of play is at least equal to the predetermined level of play. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 46, 47, 48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60)
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12. A method for providing entertainment content to a player of a gaming device, comprising:
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storing, at a peripheral device associated with a gaming device, entertainment content; monitoring a level of play of the gaming device by the player; determining that the level of play is at least equal to a predetermined level of play; and enabling access, by the player, to the entertainment content based on the determination that the level of play is at least equal to the predetermined level of play. - View Dependent Claims (13, 50)
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14. A method for providing to a player of a gaming device access to an entertainment service, comprising:
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determining that a status of a player satisfies at least one predetermined criteria for providing to the player access to at least one entertainment service; establishing, based on the determination, communication between a gaming device being played by the player and a provider of the entertainment service. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 56, 57)
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25. A method, comprising:
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monitoring, at a first device, play of a gaming device by a player; determining, based on the play of the gaming device, that the player has satisfied a predetermined standard; and arranging for the player to obtain access to an entertainment service based on the satisfaction of the predetermined standard. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. An electronic gaming system for allowing a slot machine player to bet on randomized events and being operative to provide said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said electronic gaming system comprising:
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means for generating a random event for each play of said slot machine; means for determining a game result based on said random event; and means based on to the play of said slot machine for enabling access to said premium entertainment service, wherein said means for enabling access enables access when said player meets at least one predefined standard.
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33. An electronic gaming system for allowing a slot machine player to bet on randomized events and being operative to provide said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said electronic gaming system comprising:
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means for generating a random event for each play of said slot machine; means for determining a game result based on said random event; means based on the play of said slot machine for enabling access to said premium entertainment service; and means for presenting said player with a menu of available premium entertainment services and for receiving a selection from said player of a desired premium entertainment service.
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34. An electronic gaming system for allowing a slot machine player to bet on randomized events and being operative to provide said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said electronic gaming system comprising:
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means for generating a random event for each play of said slot machine; means for determining a game result based upon said random event; means based on the play of said slot machine for enabling access to said premium entertainment service; and means for storing a record of connections made by said electronic gaming system to each premium entertainment service.
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35. An electronic gaming system for allowing a slot machine player to bet on randomized events and being operative to provide said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said electronic gaming system comprising:
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means for generating a random event for each play of said slot machine; means for determining a game result based upon said random event; and means for enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said slot machine, wherein said game result and said premium entertainment service are displayed to said player by means of a virtual reality headset.
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36. An electronic gaming system for allowing a slot machine player to bet on randomized events and being operative to provide said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said electronic gaming system comprising:
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means for generating a random event for each play of said slot machine; means for determining a game result based upon said random event; and means based on the play of said slot machine for enabling access to said premium entertainment service, wherein said premium entertainment service is a web site.
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37. An electronic gaming system for allowing a slot machine player to bet on randomized events and being operative to provide said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said electronic gaming system comprising:
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means for generating a random event for each play of said slot machine; means for determining a game result based upon said random event; and means for enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said slot machine, wherein said premium entertainment service is a shared-revenue telephone service.
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38. A method for allowing a player to bet on randomized events using an electronic gaming device and for providing said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said method comprising:
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generating a random event for each play of said electronic gaming device; determining a game result based upon said random event; and enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said electronic gaming device, wherein said enabling is performed when said player meets a predefined standard.
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39. A method for allowing a player to bet on randomized events using an electronic gaming device and for providing said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said method comprising:
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generating a random event for each play of said electronic gaming device; determining a game result based upon said random event; enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said electronic gaming device; and presenting said player with a menu of available premium entertainment services and for receiving a selection from said player of a desired premium entertainment service.
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40. A method for allowing a player to bet on randomized events using an electronic gaming device and for providing said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said method comprising:
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generating a random event for each play of said electronic gaming device; determining a game result based upon said random event; enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said electronic gaming device; and storing a record of connections made by said electronic gaming system to said premium entertainment service.
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41. A method for allowing a player to bet on randomized events using an electronic gaming device and for providing said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said method comprising:
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generating a random event for each play of said electronic gaming device; determining a game result based upon said random event; enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said electronic gaming device; and displaying said game result and said premium entertainment service to said player by means of a virtual reality headset.
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42. A method for allowing a player to bet on randomized events using an electronic gaming device and for providing said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said method comprising:
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generating a random event for each play of said electronic gaming device; determining, a game result based upon said random event; and enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said electronic gaming device, wherein said premium entertainment service is a web site.
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43. A method for allowing a player to bet on randomized events using an electronic gaming device and for providing said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said method comprising:
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generating a random event for each play of said electronic gaming device; determining a game result based upon said random event; and enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said electronic gaming device, wherein said premium entertainment service is a shared-revenue telephone service.
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44. A gaming machine comprising:
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means for receiving a player tracking card; means for reading a player identification number from said player tracking card; means for generating a random event for each play of said gaming machine; means for determining a game result based upon said random event; means for awarding incentive points for each play of said gaming machine in an account associated with said player identification number; means for accessing a premium entertainment service from said gaming machine; and means for deducting incentive points from said account in exchange for accessing said premium entertainment service.
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45. A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method for allowing a player to bet on randomized events using an electronic gaming device and for providing said player with access to a premium entertainment service, said method comprising:
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generating a random event for each play of said electronic gaming device; determining a game result based upon said random event; and enabling access to said premium entertainment service based on the play of said electronic gaming device, wherein said enabling is performed when said player meets a predefined standard.
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61. A method comprising:
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storing entertainment content; determining if a player of a gaming device has satisfied a criterion for access to the entertainment content; enabling access, by the player of the gaming device, to the entertainment content based on the determining; and storing an indication of costs associated with the entertainment content.
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Specification