Wagering game system with player rewards

• US 8,282,489 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Arezina, Vladimir I., Blankstein, Michael J., Block, Rory L., Englman, Allon G., Files, McLaurin H., Gagner, Mark B., Gamache, Brian R., Hornik, Jeremy M., Jaffe, Joel R., Pacey, Larry J., Joshi, Shridhar P., Thomas, Alfred, Vann, Jamie, Ward, Matthew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca, Pierre Eddy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kamal, Shahid
• Application Number:
  US12/299,220
• Publication Number:
  US 20090117989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,987 Days
• Field of Search: 463/12, 463/25, 463/40, 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• 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 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3267 Game outcomes which determine the course of the subsequent game, e.g. double or quits, free games, higher payouts, different new games

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes a method of conducting a wagering game. The method includes identifying a player as a member of certain group, and offering the player options related to the wagering game. The options are unavailable to players who are not members of the certain group.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

conducting, by one or more processors, a first wagering game played by a player via a first gaming terminal in a gaming establishment in a first gaming session, the first wagering game including one or more game outcomes randomly selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes;

awarding, by one or more processors, credit-based monetary awards in response to certain ones of the game outcomes occurring in the first wagering game;

awarding, by one or more processors, an amount of non-monetary points in response to one or more game-play conditions occurring in the first wagering game, the non-monetary points being distinct from the credit-based monetary awards;

storing the amount of the non-monetary points in a player account held by the player;

awarding, by one or more processors, an additional amount of the non-monetary points in response to non-wagering game activity by the player outside the gaming establishment, the non-wagering game activity including online activity;

adding, by one or more processors, the additional amount of the non-monetary points to the player account; and

modifying, by one or more processors, a second wagering game played by the player via a second gaming terminal in a gaming establishment in a second gaming session in response to player redemption of at least a portion of the non-monetary points stored in the player account.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second wagering games are different.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the game-play conditions are selected from a group consisting of playing a game, mystery points, symbol combinations, functions of award and wager, side wagers, introductory new games, double points, auxiliary points jackpots, multipliers based on specific conditions, scavenger hunt, theme-specific games, sweepstakes, revenue, skill-based points, and consolation points.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-wagering game activity is selected from a group consisting of marketing surveys, free gifts, vouchers, web promotions, partner services, and sponsor points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the player account is stored on at least one of a card and a server.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying of the second wagering game includes providing one or more of an avatar, a medal of achievement, an early release of a wagering game, unlocked features, a different bonus game, an exclusive game, a community event, a point-based game, a credit-point mixed game, a unique point payline, a scavenger hunt assistance item, a replay feature, a priority selection, an increased max bet, play of multiple machines, play of multiple games, a secondary symbol, a jackpot threshold, a mystery bonus award, a customized game, terminator removal, a do-over, a bonus-game enhancement, a general change to rules of game, and a level advance.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the unlocked features include one or more of a bonus game and a game episode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying of the second wagering game includes unlocking one or more of a bonus game and a game episode.

9. A system comprising:

a first gaming terminal located in a gaming establishment and including

a first input device for receiving a first wager input from a player for playing a first gaming session of a first wagering game, and

a first display device for displaying, in response to the first wager input, a first randomly selected outcome from a first plurality of possible first game outcomes,

a second gaming terminal located in the gaming establishment or in another gaming establishment and including

a second input device for receiving a second wager input from a player for playing a second gaming session of a second wagering game, and

a second display device for displaying, in response to the second wager input, a second randomly selected outcome from a second plurality of possible second game outcomes; and

one or more processors programmable to

award credit-based monetary awards in response to certain ones of the game outcomes occurring in the first wagering game,

award an amount of non-monetary points in response to one or more game-play conditions occurring in the first wagering game, the non-monetary points being distinct from the credit-based monetary awards,

store the amount of the non-monetary points in a player account held by the player,

award an additional amount of the non-monetary points in response to non-wagering game activity by the player outside the gaming establishment, the non-wagering game activity including online activity,

add the additional amount of the non-monetary points to the player account, and

modify the second wagering game played by the player via the second gaming terminal in response to player redemption of at least a portion of the non-monetary points stored in the player account.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the first and second wagering games are different.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the game-play conditions are selected from a group consisting of playing a game, mystery points, symbol combinations, functions of award and wager, side wagers, introductory new games, double points, auxiliary points jackpots, multipliers based on specific conditions, scavenger hunt, theme-specific games, sweepstakes, revenue, skill-based points, and consolation points.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the non-wagering game activity is selected from a group consisting of marketing surveys, free gifts, vouchers, web promotions, partner services, and sponsor points.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the player account is stored on at least one of a card and a server.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the modifying of the second wagering game includes providing one or more of an avatar, a medal of achievement, an early release of a wagering game, unlocked features, a different bonus game, an exclusive game, a community event, a point-based game, a credit-point mixed game, a unique point payline, a scavenger hunt assistance item, a replay feature, a priority selection, an increased max bet, play of multiple machines, play of multiple games, a secondary symbol, a jackpot threshold, a mystery bonus award, a customized game, terminator removal, a do-over, a bonus-game enhancement, a general change to rules of game, and a level advance.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the unlocked features include one or more of a bonus game and a game episode.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the modifying of the second wagering game includes unlocking one or more of a bonus game and a game episode.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a stored computer program executed by a controller, the computer program being configured to cause, upon execution by the controller, the acts of:

conducting, by one or more processors, a first wagering game played by a player via a first gaming terminal in a gaming establishment in a first gaming session, the first wagering game including one or more game outcomes randomly selected from a plurality of possible game outcomes;

awarding, by one or more processors, credit-based monetary awards in response to certain ones of the game outcomes occurring in the first wagering game;

awarding, by one or more processors, an amount of non-monetary points in response to one or more game-play conditions occurring in the first wagering game, the non-monetary points being distinct from the credit-based monetary awards;

storing the amount of the non-monetary points in a player account held by the player;

awarding, by one or more processors, an additional amount of the non-monetary points in response to non-wagering game activity by the player outside the gaming establishment, the non-wagering game activity including online activity;

adding, by one or more processors, the additional amount of the non-monetary points to the player account; and

modifying, by one or more processors, a second wagering game played by the player via a second gaming terminal in a gaming establishment in a second gaming session in response to player redemption of at least a portion of the non-monetary points stored in the player account.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the game-play conditions are selected from a group consisting of playing a game, mystery points, symbol combinations, functions of award and wager, side wagers, introductory new games, double points, auxiliary points jackpots, multipliers based on specific conditions, scavenger hunt, theme-specific games, sweepstakes, revenue, skill-based points, and consolation points.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the non-wagering game activity is selected from a group consisting of marketing surveys, free gifts, vouchers, web promotions, partner services, and sponsor points.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the modifying of the second wagering game includes providing one or more of an avatar, a medal of achievement, an early release of a wagering game, unlocked features, a different bonus game, an exclusive game, a community event, a point-based game, a credit-point mixed game, a unique point payline, a scavenger hunt assistance item, a replay feature, a priority selection, an increased max bet, play of multiple machines, play of multiple games, a secondary symbol, a jackpot threshold, a mystery bonus award, a customized game, terminator removal, a do-over, a bonus-game enhancement, a general change to rules of game, and a level advance.