System and method for facilitating casino team play

• US 7,637,811 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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): Coburn; Corbett
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/427,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20060240892A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,280 Days
• Field of Search: 463/20, 463/25, 463/26, 463/27, 463/28, 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 learn 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:

establishing a team comprising a plurality of human players;

determining if a casino game player on the team is eligible for rewards associated with team play based on a criterion chosen for the team by at least one member of the team, wherein the criterion is independent of game play;

updating the player'"'"'s eligibility for team play;

conducting game play for a member of the team that generates a team reward; and

providing team rewards to eligible team members.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising establishing a team and associating the player with the team.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising associating a team plan with the team, the team plan setting forth the criterion.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein establishing the team comprises receiving a request to register the team.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving the request to register the team comprises receiving the request from a data entry device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein receiving the request from the data entry device comprises receiving the request from a kiosk.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein receiving the request to register the team comprises receiving the request at a server through the internet.

8. The method of claim 2 wherein establishing the team comprises receiving player identifiers for each member of the team.

9. The method of claim 3 further comprising receiving a selection from a player, the selection selecting one team plan from a list of a plurality of team plans created by a gaming establishment.

10. The method of claim 3 further comprising amending the team plan.

11. The method of claim 3 further comprising receiving a selection of the team plan from amongst a plurality of team plans designed by a gaming establishment, wherein each team plan comprises a set of rules relating to at least one of a threshold payout value, a bonus amount, and an activity multiplier.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the player'"'"'s eligibility comprises periodically updating the player'"'"'s eligibility.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein periodically updating the player'"'"'s eligibility daily.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein updating the player'"'"'s eligibility comprises accessing a team record.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining if the player is associated with a team.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein determining if the player is associated with the team comprises identifying the player using a player tracking mechanism.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if a player is eligible for team play based on a criterion comprises at least one of:

an outstanding hotel reservation, receiving advertisements, purchasing certain goods from a gaming establishment, purchasing certain services from a gaming establishment, and purchasing certain ancillary goods or services from a third party.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein determining if the player is eligible for team play comprises determining a date of last activity for the player.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating player eligibility for multiple teams.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein updating player eligibility for multiple teams comprises updating information for each team in sequence.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein conducting team play comprises attributing game starts for the player to the team play and providing team payouts to other members of the team according to a team plan.

22. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating eligibility information for other players on the team.

23. A system comprising:

a communication interface; and

a processor operatively coupled to the communication interface and adapted to;

establish a team comprising a plurality of human players;

determine if a casino game player on the team is eligible for rewards associated with team play based on a criterion chosen for the team by at least one member of the team, wherein the criterion is independent of game play;

update the player'"'"'s eligibility for team play;

conduct game play for a member of the team that generates a team reward; and

provide team rewards to eligible team members.

24. A computer readable medium comprising software with instructions to:

establish a team comprising a plurality of human players;

determine if a casino game player on the team is eligible for rewards associated with team play based on a criterion chosen for the team by at least one member of the team, wherein the criterion is independent of game play;

update the player'"'"'s eligibility for team play;

conduct game play for a member of the team that generates a team reward; and

provide team rewards to eligible team members.

25. A method comprising:

establishing a team comprising a plurality of human players;

determining if a casino game player on the team is eligible for rewards associated with team play based on a criterion chosen for a team, wherein the criterion is independent of game play;

updating the player'"'"'s eligibility for team play;

conducting game play for a member of the team that generates a team reward; and

providing team rewards to eligible team members.

26. A method comprising:

establishing a team comprising a plurality of human players;

determining if a casino game player on the team is eligible for rewards associated with team play based on a criterion chosen for the team by at least one member of the team;

updating the player'"'"'s eligibility for team play;

conducting game play for a member of the team that generates a team reward; and

providing team rewards to eligible team members.

27. A method comprising:

establishing a team of human players;

receiving a selection of an eligibility criterion from at least one member of the team, wherein the selection is made from amongst a plurality of possible eligibility criteria;

determining if a casino game player on the team is eligible for rewards associated with team play based on a criterion chosen for the team of players by at least one member of the team;

updating the player'"'"'s eligibility for team play;

conducting game play for a member of the team that generates a team reward; and

providing team rewards to eligible team members.