Server based gaming system having system triggered loyalty award sequences

• US 8,012,009 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): Lewis; David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US11/830,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20080085771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,499 Days
• Field of Search: 463 11- 13, 463 16- 22, 463 25- 29
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 gaming table including;

a support structure,

at least one display device supported by the support structure,

a table top supported by the support structure, said table top including a plurality of player stations and configured such that upon a wager of a first form of casino currency, a primary wagering game can be played on the table top, wherein any determined primary wagering game award is provided to a player in the first form of casino currency and said primary wagering game has an average expected payback percentage, and

at least one gaming table processor configured to operate with said at least one display device; and

a controller configured to operate with said at least one gaming table, wherein said controller is programmed, upon an occurrence of a loyalty award sequence triggering event, to;

(a) determine a theoretical loyalty award value associated with a loyalty award sequence, wherein said theoretical loyalty award value is based on information associated with the player received from a player tracking system and the theoretical loyalty award value is independent of the average expected payback percentage of the primary wagering game; and

(b) communicate information based on the determined theoretical loyalty award value associated with the loyalty award sequence to the gaming table;

wherein upon receiving information based on the determined theoretical value associated with the triggered loyalty award sequence, at least one of the gaming table processor and the controller are programmed to;

(i) cause the determined loyalty award sequence to be provided to the player;

(ii) determine an actual loyalty award value associated with the provided loyalty award sequence, wherein said determined actual value is based on the average expected payback percentage of said primary wagering game; and

(iii) provide the determined actual loyalty award value to the player,

wherein said determined actual loyalty award value is provided to the player in a different, second form of casino currency.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first form of casino currency includes primary wagering game chips.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the second form of casino currency includes virtual chips.

4. The gaming system of claim 2, wherein the second form of casino currency includes a value associated with a meter.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value and the actual loyalty award value are different.

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

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

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

(a) enabling a player to place a wager of a first form of casino currency on a primary wagering game of a gaming table, said primary wagering game having an average expected payback percentage;

(b) providing any determined primary wagering game award to the player in the first form of casino currency;

(c) upon an occurrence of a loyalty award sequence triggering event, causing a controller to;

(i) determine a theoretical loyalty award value associated with a loyalty award sequence, wherein said theoretical loyalty award value is based on information associated with the player received from a player tracking system and the theoretical loyalty award value is independent of the average expected payback percentage of the primary wagering game, and

(ii) communicate information based on the determined theoretical loyalty award value associated with the loyalty award sequence to the gaming table;

(d) causing the determined loyalty award sequence to be provided to the player;

(e) determining an actual loyalty award value associated with the provided loyalty award sequence, wherein said determined actual loyalty award value is based on the average expected payback percentage of said primary wagering game; and

(f) providing the determined actual loyalty award value to the player, wherein said determined actual loyalty award value is provided to the player in a different, second form of casino currency.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first form of casino currency includes primary wagering game chips.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second form of casino currency includes virtual chips.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the second form of casino currency includes a value associated with a meter.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value and the actual loyalty award value are different.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the theoretical loyalty award value is based on at least one selected from the group consisting of:

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

13. The method of claim 7, which is provided through a data network.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the data network is an internet.