Server based gaming system having system triggered loyalty award sequences

• US 7,993,199 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Baerlocher, Anthony J., Iddings, Cara L., Schneider, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/830,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20080085772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 463/2, 463/5, 463 25- 29
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/322 Casino tables, e.g. tables having integrated screens, chip detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players

Abstract

A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming tables. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming table at which that the player is currently playing.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to;

(a) receive from a controller a determined number of plays of a primary wagering game and a determined multiplier to apply to each of said determined number of plays of the primary wagering game, wherein said determined number of plays of the primary wagering game and the determined multiplier are based, at least in part, on a controller determined value and an average expected payback percentage of each play of the primary wagering game; and

(b) for each of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game;

(i) enable the player to place a wager to initiate said play of the primary wagering game, wherein a base portion of the wager is attributed to a designated multiplier for the primary wagering game and a loyalty award portion of the wager is attributed to the determined multiplier for a loyalty award sequence,

(ii) generate and display a plurality of symbols,

(iii) determine if any of said generated symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations,

(iv) if any of said generated symbols form any of said winning symbol combinations;

(A) modify a value associated with said generated winning symbol combination by the designated multiplier to form a first modified value for the primary wagering game, and

(B) modify the value associated with said generated winning symbol combination by the determined multiplier to form a second modified value for the loyalty award sequence, and

(v) provide the formed modified values to the player.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the modified values for the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game form a total value different than the controller determined value.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein prior to (b), the at least one processor is programmed to determine if enough wagers are deposited to fund each of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game.

4. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein if not enough wagers are deposited to fund each of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game, the at least one processor is programmed to not execute (b).

5. The gaming system of claim 3, wherein if not enough wagers are deposited to fund each of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game, the at least one processor is programmed to modify at least one of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game and the determined multiplier.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the controller determined value is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information received from a player tracking system, and the amount of wagers placed.

7. A gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device including;

at least one display device;

at least one input device;

at least one gaming device processor; and

at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to display a game, each play of said game has an average expected value; and

at least one controller configured to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices, wherein the at least one controller is programmed to;

(a) identify each of a plurality of players of a plurality of said gaming devices, and

(b) if a group loyalty award sequence is triggered for a designated plurality of said identified players;

(i) determine a group loyalty award value associated with the triggered group loyalty award sequence, wherein said determined group loyalty award value is based on information received from a player tracking system, and

(ii) for each identified player of the designated plurality of identified players;

(A) determine an individual loyalty award sequence, wherein said individual loyalty award sequence is based on;

 

(I) the determined group loyalty award value associated with the triggered group loyalty award sequence, and

 

(II) the average expected value of each play of the game of the gaming device of the identified player, and

(B) communicate the determined individual loyalty award sequence to the gaming device of the identified player, wherein a plurality of the designated plurality of players have different individual loyalty award sequences.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein for each of the designated plurality of identified players, said at least one gaming device processor of said gaming device of the identified player is programmed to:

(a) execute and display the determined individual loyalty award sequence for said identified player,

(b) determine an individual loyalty award value, wherein said individual loyalty award value is based on the determined individual loyalty award sequence for said identified player and the average expected value of each play of the game of the gaming device of the identified player, and

(c) provide the determined individual loyalty award value to said identified player.

9. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the group loyalty award sequence is triggered based on information received from the player tracking system for said plurality of identified players.

10. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein a plurality of the designated plurality of identified players are each provided a different individual loyalty award value.

11. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein each of the designated plurality of identified players are provided a different individual loyalty award value.

12. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) receiving from a controller a determined number of plays of a primary wagering game and a determined multiplier to apply to each of said determined number of plays of the primary wagering game, wherein said determined number of plays of the primary wagering game and the determined multiplier are based, at least in part, on a controller determined value and an average expected payback percentage of each play of the primary wagering game; and

(b) for each of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game;

(i) enabling the player to place a wager to initiate said play of the primary wagering game, wherein a base portion of the wager is attributed to a designated multiplier for the primary wagering game and a loyalty award portion of the wager is attributed to the determined multiplier for a loyalty award sequence,

(ii) generating and displaying a plurality of symbols,

(iii) determining if any of said generated symbols form any of a plurality of winning symbol combinations,

(iv) when any of said generated symbols form any of said winning symbol combinations;

(A) modifying a value associated with said generated winning symbol combination by the designated multiplier to form a first modified value for the primary wagering game, and

(B) modifying the value associated with said generated winning symbol combination by the determined multiplier to form a second modified value for the loyalty award sequence, and

(v) providing the formed modified values to the player.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the modified values for the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game form a total value different than the controller determined value.

14. The method of claim 12, which includes determining if enough wagers are deposited to fund each of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game prior to executing (b).

15. The method of claim 14, which includes not executing (b) if not enough wagers are deposited to fund each of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game.

16. The method of claim 14, which includes modifying at least one of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game and the determined multiplier if not enough wagers are deposited to fund each of the determined number of plays of the primary wagering game.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the controller determined value is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

information received from a player tracking system, and the amount of wagers placed.

18. The method of claim 12, which is provided through a data network.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the data network is an internet.

20. A method of operating a gaming system, said method comprising:

(a) identifying each of a plurality of players of a plurality of gaming devices, and

(b) when a group loyalty award sequence is triggered for a designated plurality of said identified players;

(i) determining a group loyalty award value associated with the triggered group loyalty award sequence, wherein said determined group loyalty award value is based on information received from a player tracking system, and

(ii) for each identified player of the designated plurality of identified players;

(A) determining an individual loyalty award sequence, wherein said individual loyalty award sequence is based on;

(I) the determined group loyalty award value associated with the triggered group loyalty award sequence, and

(II) an average expected value of each play of the game of the gaming device of the identified player, and

(B) communicating the determined individual loyalty award sequence to the gaming device of the identified player, wherein a plurality of the designated plurality of players have different individual loyalty award sequences.

21. The method of claim 20, which includes, for each of the designated plurality of identified players:

(a) executing and displaying the determined individual loyalty award sequence for said identified player,

(b) determining an individual loyalty award value, wherein said individual loyalty award value is based on the determined individual loyalty award sequence for said identified player and the average expected value of each play of the game of the gaming device of the identified player, and

(c) providing the determined individual loyalty award value to said identified player.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the group loyalty award sequence is triggered based on information received from the player tracking system for said plurality of identified players.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein a plurality of the designated plurality of identified players are each provided a different individual loyalty award value.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein each of the designated plurality of identified players are provided a different individual loyalty award value.

25. The method of claim 20, which is provided through a data network.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the data network is an internet.