Server based gaming system having system triggered loyalty award sequences

• US 8,262,469 B2
• Filed: 08/02/2011
• Issued: 09/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Iddings, Cara L., Baerlocher, Anthony J., Schneider, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): DEODHAR, OMKAR A
• Application Number:
  US13/196,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20110287821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 20, 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:

a controller programmed to;

(a) determine at least one modifier; and

(b) communicate data representing said determined at least one modifier; and

a plurality of multi-player card gaming tables, each multi-player card 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, a card game can be played on the table top; and

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

(a) receive data from the controller, said data representing said determined at least one modifier; and

(b) cause said at least one display device to display to at least one player said determined at least one modifier, wherein at least one monetary award value is based, at least in part, on the determined at least one modifier.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one gaming table processor is programmed to cause said at least one display device to display a plurality of players said at least one modifier.

3. The gaming system of claim 2, which at least one of said gaming tables includes a plurality of display devices supported by the support structure, wherein each player is separately displayed said at least one modifier on a separate one of said display devices.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said controller determines said at least one modifier based on a value associated with a determined loyalty award sequence.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said controller is programmed to determine said at least one modifier based on information received from a player tracking system.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein for each of a plurality of said gaming tables, said card game having an average expected payback.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein for each of said plurality of said gaming tables, the at least one gaming table processor is programmed to:

(i) enable the at least one player to play a quantity of games, wherein for each of said played quantity of games, any determined award is modified by said at least one modifier; and

(ii) provide any modified awards to the at least one player.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein said controller is programmed to determine the quantity of games played based on a value associated with a determined loyalty award sequence.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein said at least one gaming table processor is programmed to display said determined at least one monetary award value.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monetary award value is available to be wagered on a play of said card game played on the table top.

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

(a) causing a controller to;

(i) determine at least one modifier; and

(ii) communicate data representing said determined at least one modifier; and

(b) causing at least one of a plurality of multi-player card gaming tables to;

(i) receive data from the controller, said data representing said determined at least one modifier; and

(ii) cause said at least one display device to display to at least one player said determined at least one modifier, wherein at least one monetary award value is based, at least in part, on the determined at least one modifier.

12. The method of claim 11, which includes displaying a plurality of players said at least one modifier.

13. The method of claim 12, which includes separately displaying each player said at least one modifier.

14. The method of claim 11, which includes causing said controller to determine said at least one modifier based on a value associated with a determined loyalty award sequence.

15. The method of claim 11, which includes causing said controller to determine said at least one modifier based on information received from a player tracking system.

16. The method of claim 11, which includes enabling the card game to be played at said at least one multi-player card gaming table, said card game having an average expected payback percentage.

17. The method of claim 16, which includes:

(i) enabling the at least one player to play a quantity of games, wherein for each of said played quantity of games, any determined award is modified by said at least one modifier; and

(ii) providing any modified awards to the at least one player.

18. The method of claim 17, which includes causing said controller to determine the quantity of games played based on a value associated with a determined loyalty award sequence.

19. The method of claim 11, which includes causing at least one of a plurality of multi-player card gaming tables to cause said at least one display device to display said determined at least one monetary award value.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one monetary award value is available to be wagered on a play of said card game played on the table top.

21. The method of claim 11, which is provided through a data network.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the data network is an internet.