Method and system for remote entry in frequent player programs

• US 8,016,668 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games LLC (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gamelogic Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Mark E., Kane, Steven N., Hardy, Dow
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall; Arthur O.
• Application Number:
  US11/704,144
• Publication Number:
  US 20070254736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,678 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 23, 463 25- 29, 463 30- 33, 463 39- 43, 463/45, 463/47, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/138.2, 273/141.A, 273454-456, 273/460, 709203-207, 713/1, 713/100, 713/150, 713/182, 713187-189, 713/300, 713/375, 713/400, 713/500, 713/600, 705/14, 705/14.1, 705 1411- 1414
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• 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

The field of the invention relates generally to casino frequent player programs, and more specifically to providing special incentives for remote entry of casino affiliation or membership cards. The special incentives may include providing a prize or award to frequent player program members that remotely use his or her membership. The member may or may not be told of any winnings upon entry. In one example, the player is provided an indication of winning an incentive during play of an online game. In another example, the player may be required to obtain the winnings at the casino to encourage players to return to the casino. Also, the player may be required to redeem any winnings within a specified period of time. Further, the player incentives may be offered periodically, encouraging the player to periodically check their status remotely.

Claims

1. A method for conducting an incentive program associated with a land-based gaming establishment, the method comprising acts of:

providing for at least one frequent player program member of the incentive program associated with the land-based gaming establishment to submit identification information associated with the at least one frequent player program member to the gaming establishment utilizing a device located outside the gaming establishment, the device being remotely coupled to the gaming establishment via a communications network;

providing an indication of at least one special incentive to the at least one frequent player program member on an interface of the device while outside the gaming establishment in response to the remote submission of the identification information associated with the at least one frequent player program member;

awarding the at least one frequent player program member at least one special incentive responsive to the remote submission, wherein the at least one special incentive is provided as a result of the remote submission and independent of game play; and

informing the at least one frequent player program member of an award of the at least one special incentive awarded responsive to the remote submission, and not informing the at least one frequent player program member of a value of the at least one special incentive at the time of the remote submission, wherein the at least one frequent player program member is required to be physically present within the gambling establishment to be informed of and to redeem the value of the at least one special incentive.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the act of providing for further comprises an act of providing for the at lease one frequent player program member to remotely swipe a membership card identifying the at least one frequent player program member.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of remotely swiping a membership card is performed by the at least one frequent player program member entering a unique identifier.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the act of remotely swiping a membership card is performed by the at lease one frequent player program member additionally entering at least one of a password or a passcode.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the act of remotely swiping the membership card is performed by at least one of a video-enabled, audio-enabled, or card reader-containing device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the device includes at least one of a kiosk, a personal computer, a handheld device, a telephone, or a wireless telephone.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one special incentive includes at least one of a prize or an award.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one frequent player program member must go to the land-based casino to receive the at least one of the prize or the award within a specified time period.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one of the prize or the award includes at least one of money, a credit, merchandise, or loyalty points.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one of the prize or the award includes money, and wherein the method further comprises an act of paying out money including an act of providing at least one of cash, a check, a debit card, or an account credit.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one of the prize or the award includes loyalty points, and the method further comprises an act of paying out loyalty points including providing at least one of a loyalty program credit or an account credit.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one frequent player program member is required to redeem the at least one of the prize or the award at the land-based casino within a predetermined time period.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one of a prize or an award is won by the frequent player program member through a sweepstake.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the gaming establishment is a land-based casino.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising an act of providing at least one frequent player program member a unique identifier.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising an act of providing to the at least one frequent player program member at least one of a password or a passcode.

17. A method for conducting a game, the method comprising acts of:

providing an incentive to a player to physically return to a gaming establishment while not informing the player of a value of the incentive;

displaying an indication of the incentive to the player in an interface of a remote computer system in response to the submission of identification information associated with a frequent player program, the remote computer system located outside of the gaming establishment and being coupled to the gaming establishment by a communications network;

providing incentive to the player periodically based on a determined time period, such that the player is motivated to continuously return to the remote interface wherein the incentive is provided as a result of the information submission and independent of game play; and

requiring the player to physically return to the gaming establishment to learn the value of and redeem the incentive.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising an act of associating the incentive with an identification of the player.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the identification of the player includes frequent player identification.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the association is performed by a computer system of the gaming establishment.

21. The method according to claim 20, further comprising an act of tracking the providing of the incentive to the player according to the identification of the player.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the act of tracking includes tracking the providing of the incentive using the frequent player identification.

23. The method according to claim 20, wherein the computer system of the gaming establishment includes at least one of a player tracking system, a gaming machine, a kiosk, or a casino management system.

24. The method according to claim 17, wherein the act of displaying includes an act of displaying the incentive to the player during play of an online game.

25. The method according to claim 17, wherein the act of providing the incentive is performed periodically.

26. The method according to claim 25, further comprising an act of determining an incentive periodically and displaying an active incentive to the player in the interface of a remote computer system.

27. The method according to claim 17, wherein the interface includes a browser-based interface.

28. The method according to claim 17, wherein the communication network includes the Internet.

29. The method according to claim 17, further comprising an act of requiring the player to redeem the incentive within a predetermined time period.

30. The method according to claim 17, wherein the gaming establishment includes a land-based casino.

31. A method for conducting an incentive program, the method of comprising acts of:

providing for a frequent player program member of an incentive program, the incentive program associated with a land-based casino, to remotely submit identification information associated with the at least one frequent player program member to the land-based casino utilizing a device at a home of the member, the home of the member being outside of the land-based casino;

providing at least one incentive, independent of game play, to travel to the land-based casino to the at least one frequent player program member in response to the remote submission of the identification information associated with the at least one frequent player program member, an indication of the incentive provided to the at least one frequent player program member on an interface of the device while outside the land-based casino, wherein the at least one incentive to travel to the land-based casino is at least one prize provided to at least one frequent player program member, wherein the at least one frequent player is not informed of a value of the at least one prize when receiving the indication of the incentive; and

informing the at least one frequent player program member of the value of the at least one prize and allowing the at least one prize to be redeemed only at the land-based casino.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the remote submission is performed by the member using a device coupled to the gaming establishment via a communication network.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the incentive is displayed to the player periodically on a display of a remote system.