Gaming system and method providing third party promotions

• US 8,357,034 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2007
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Smith, Vincent P., Baerlocher, Anthony J., DeWaal, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel, Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US11/937,382
• Publication Number:
  US 20090124384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 463/25, 463 40- 42, 705/14.1, 705/14.12, 705/14.3, 705/14.4
• US Class Current: 463/25
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• 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

A gaming system and method disclosed herein enable players to earn promotional awards at gaming machines without sacrificing or surrendering player tracking points. The gaming system and method also provide value to players without the casino absorbing the cost of such value. The gaming system and method disclosed herein creates a new type of currency redeemable for a good or service (or a discount on a good or service) associated with a point-of-sale independent of the casino. In one form, the player tracking currency does not cost the casino or the player anything.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gaming system, the gaming system including a controller configured to communicate with at least one gaming machine, the at least one gaming machine including at least one display device configured to display a game upon placement of a wager having a monetary value, the method comprising:

(a) causing the at least one gaming machine to;

(i) enable a player to make monetary wagers from a monetary balance on plays of the game;

(ii) display said wagered-on plays of the game;

(iii) display any monetary awards for said wagered-on plays of the game and add any monetary awards to the monetary balance;

(iv) track said wagers made by the player;

(v) cause data representing said tracked wagers to be communicated to the controller; and

(vi) upon receiving a cash-out request, provide the monetary balance to the player;

(b) causing the player to be provided with player tracking points based on the data representing said tracked wagers, the player tracking points being in addition to any monetary awards;

(c) additionally tracking at least one activity in association with the at least one gaming machine;

(d) determining if the tracked activity reaches a designated level; and

(e) if the tracked activity reaches the designated level, causing the at least one gaming machine to display an indication to the player that the player has obtained a designated amount of a promotional currency in addition to any player tracking points and any monetary awards, said designated amount of promotional currency being associated with a point-of-sale and having a redeemable value for part of a purchase of a good or service at the point-of-sale, the redeemable value being less than a purchase cost of said good or service.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the promotional currency is associated with the point-of-sale in response to a fee being paid by the point-of-sale.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes displaying an indication to the player of the designated amount of the promotional currency.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one activity includes at least one of:

(i) a designated wagered monetary value, (ii) a designated total of the wagers, (iii) a designated period of time, (iv) an outcome of at least one play of the game, (v) a determination by the at least one gaming machine, and (vi) a determination by the controller.

5. The method of claim 1, which includes:

(i) if the tracked activity reaches a first designated level, causing the at least one gaming machine to display an indication to the player that the player has obtained a first designated amount of the promotional currency, and (ii) if the tracked activity reaches a second different designated level, causing the at least one gaming machine to display an indication to the player that the player has obtained a second different designated amount of the promotional currency.

6. The method of claim 1, which includes setting the designated level based on a determination by the point-of-sale.

7. The method of claim 1, which includes setting the designated level based on at least one characteristic of the player.

8. The method of claim 7, which includes differentiating a plurality of levels based on the at least one characteristic of a plurality of different players.

9. The method of claim 7, which includes differentiating a plurality of levels based on a plurality of characteristics of the player.

10. The method of claim 1, which includes accumulating any designated amounts of the promotional currency provided to the player.

11. The method of claim 1, which includes causing a ticket representing the designated amount of the promotional currency to be provided to the player, wherein the ticket is associated with the player and has a redeemable value associated with the designated amount.

12. The method of claim 1, which includes displaying an advertisement for the good or service associated with the point-of-sale.

13. The method of claim 12, which includes displaying an indication of the designated amount of the promotional currency in association with the advertisement.

14. The method of claim 1, which includes displaying the game separately from an advertisement for the good or service associated with the point-of-sale.

15. The method of claim 1, which is provided through a data network or internet.

16. A method for operating a gaming system provided by a gaming establishment, the method comprising:

(a) causing at least one gaming machine to display a play of a game, the game operable upon placement of a wager of a monetary amount from a monetary balance;

(b) adding any monetary awards for said wagered-on play of the game to said monetary balance;

(c) upon receiving a cash-out request, providing the monetary balance to a player;

(d) monitoring a plurality of events which occur in association with the at least one gaming machine;

(e) if a first one of the monitored events occurs, providing a designated amount of a first player tracking currency for a player, the first player tracking currency being funded by the gaming establishment and being in addition to any monetary awards, the designated amount of the first player tracking currency having a redeemable value for obtaining a good or service at the gaming establishment; and

(f) if a second one of the monitored events occurs, providing a designated amount of a second player tracking currency for the player in addition to any provided first player tracking currency and any monetary awards, the second player tracking currency being funded by an entity different from the gaming establishment, the designated amount of the second player tracking currency having a redeemable value for part of, but less than all of, a purchase cost of a designated good or service at the entity.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the entity includes an advertiser or sponsor associated with a location having at least one purchasable good or service.

18. The method of claim 16, which includes linking the entity with the gaming establishment, the link enabling verification of the redeemable value of the designated amount of the second player tracking currency.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of events which can occur in association with the at least one gaming machine are based on at least one of:

(i) a designated wagered monetary amount, (ii) a designated total of the wagers, (iii) a designated period of time, (iv) an outcome of the game, (v) a determination by the at least one gaming machine, and (vi) a determination by a controller configured to communicate with the at least one gaming machine.

20. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming machine, the at least one gaming machine including at least one display device and at least one input device configured to;

(i) enable a player to make monetary wagers from a monetary balance on plays of a game;

(ii) display said wagered-on plays of the game;

(iii) display any monetary awards for said wagered-on plays of the game and add any monetary awards to the monetary balance;

(iv) track said wagers made by the player;

(v) cause data representing said tracked wagers to be communicated to a player tracking system; and

(vi) upon receiving a cash-out request, provide the monetary balance to the player;

a player tracking system configured to provide player tracking points for the player in addition to any monetary awards based on said data representing said tracked wagers; and

a controller configured to operate with the at least one gaming machine and the player tracking system to;

(i) determine if at least one designated event occurs in association with the at least one gaming machine; and

(ii) if the at least one designated event occurs, cause the at least one gaming machine to display an indication that the player has obtained a promotional currency, the promotional currency being in addition to and separate from any player tracking points and any monetary awards, the promotional currency having a redeemable value for part of a purchase of a good or service associated with a point-of-sale, the redeemable value being less than a purchase cost of the good or service at the point-of-sale.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one gaming machine is associated with a gaming establishment and the point-of-sale is separate from the gaming establishment.

22. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the designated event is determined by at least one of:

(i) the point-of-sale, (ii) the gaming establishment, and (iii) the controller.

23. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the at least one event which can occur in association with the at least one gaming machine is based on at least one of:

(1) a designated wagered monetary value, (ii) a designated total of the wagers, (iii) a designated period of time, (iv) an outcome of the game, (v) a determination by the at least one gaming machine, and (vi) a determination by the controller.

24. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the promotional currency is funded by the point-of-sale.

25. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the promotional currency is at least partially funded with a fee paid by the point-of-sale.

26. A gaming system comprising:

at least one gaming machine, the at least one gaming machine including at least one display device and at least one input device configured to;

(a) display a play of a game upon placement of a monetary wager from a monetary balance;

(b) add any monetary awards for said wagered-on play of the game to the monetary balance;

(c) upon receiving a cash-out request, provide the monetary balance to a player; and

a controller operable with the at least one gaming machine to;

(a) enable the at least one gaming machine to cause a number of player tracking points to be provided for the player based on monetary wagers made by the player on any plays of the game, the player tracking points being in addition to any monetary awards and having a redeemable value for obtaining a good or service associated with a gaming establishment;

(b) enable the at least one gaming machine to provide a promotional currency to a player, the promotional currency being in addition to any monetary awards and any player tracking points and having a redeemable value for part of a purchase of a good or service associated with a point-of-sale, the redeemable value being less than a purchase cost of the good or service at the point-of-sale;

(c) determine if any one of a plurality of different designated events occur in association with the at least one gaming machine;

(d) if a first designated event occurs, cause the at least one gaming machine to display an indication of a first designated amount of the promotional currency for the player in addition to any player tracking points and any monetary awards provided for the player; and

(e) if a second different designated event occurs, cause the at least one gaming machine to display an indication of a second different designated amount of the promotional currency for the player in addition to any player tracking points and any monetary awards provided for the player.