Interactive game playing preferences

• US 8,435,105 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, David L
• Assistant Examiner(s): RENWICK, REGINALD A
• Application Number:
  US11/372,549
• Publication Number:
  US 20060194633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,615 Days
• Field of Search: 463/27
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3262 Player actions which determine the course of the game, e.g. selecting a prize to be won, outcome to be achieved, game to be played

Abstract

A disclosed gaming machine may be customized according to one or more player preferences. A player may view and modify player preferences stored in a player preference account as preference account information. The preference account information may include but is not limited to loyalty point account information, loyalty point account settings, promotional opportunities, preferred games, preferred game features for the preferred games, preferred gaming machine settings, preferred bonus games, preferred service options and preferred progressive games. The preference account information may be stored in a plurality of preference accounts on a preference account server. Using a preference account interface which may be compatible with a web-browser, a player may be able to view and modify preference account information stored on the preference account server from a number remote devices such as a gaming machine, a home computer, a hotel room video interface and a casino kiosk.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a gaming machine, while the gaming machine is available for game play, an input from a player indicating a selection of one of (i) a first game of chance including a first progressive jackpot wherein first odds of winning the first progressive jackpot are fixed and (ii) a second game of chance including a second progressive jackpot to be played as a game of chance on the gaming machine wherein second odds of winning the second progressive jackpot are fixed, wherein at least one of the first progressive jackpot and the second progressive jackpot is a personal progressive jackpot customized for the player, the personal progressive jackpot being customized in response to a second selection, by the player, from a group of types of progressive games, of a particular game type , the group of types consisting of video slots games, slot games, video poker games, video black jack games, video pachinko games, video card games, video keno games and video games of chance;

in response to receiving the first selection and the second selection, downloading software to generate the selection of the first game of chance or the second game of chance from a first remote device, downloading configuration information from the first remote device, configuring the software and the gaming machine using the configuration information to allow play of the game of chance that is selected;

receiving a wager on the game of chance;

determining an outcome for the game of chance;

sending to a second remote gaming device information to allow a portion of the wager to be contributed to one of the first progressive jackpot or the second progressive jackpot that is selected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first progressive jackpot or the second progressive jackpot is a wide area progressive jackpot.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the a user interface is customized on the gaming machine according to preference account information of the player.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first amount for the first progressive jackpot and a second amount for the second progressive jackpot.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a first amount for the first progressive jackpot or a second amount for the second progressive jackpot.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input indicating the selection is received from a third remote gaming device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the input indicating the selection is received via a player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the second remote gaming device an amount for the first progressive jackpot, an amount for the second progressive jackpot or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

prior to receiving the selection, displaying information regarding the first game of chance including the first progressive jackpot and the second game of chance including the second progressive jackpot.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is coupled to one or more of a wide area progressive network, a casino area network or combinations thereof

11. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller configured to;

1) control a play of a game of chance;

2) receive, while the gaming machine is available for game play, an input from a player indicating a selection of one of (a) a first game of chance including a first progressive jackpot wherein first odds of winning the first progressive jackpot are fixed and (b) a second game of chance including a second progressive jackpot to be played as the game of chance on the gaming machine wherein second odds of winning the second progressive jackpot are fixed, wherein at least one of the first progressive jackpot and the second progressive jackpot is a personal progressive jackpot customized for the player the personal progressive jackpot being customized in response to a second selection, by the player, from a group of types of progressive games, of a particular game type , the group of types consisting of video slots games, slot games, video poker games, video black jack games, video pachinko games, video card games, video keno games and video games of chance;

3) in response to receiving the first selection and the second selection, download software to generate the selection of the first game of chance or the second game of chance from a first remote device, download configuration information from the first remote device and configure the software and the gaming machine using the configuration information to allow play of the game of chance that is selected;

4) receive a wager on the game of chance; and

5) send to a second remote gaming device information to allow a portion of the wager to be contributed to one of the first progressive jackpot or the second progressive jackpot that is selected and

6) determine an outcome for the game of chance;

a display for displaying the outcome to the game of chance that is selected;

an input device for inputting cash or indicia of credit for the wager;

an output device for outputting cash or indicia of credit for the wager; and

a network interface for communicating with the first remote device or the second remote gaming device.

12. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the gaming machine is coupled to one or more of a wide area progressive network, a casino area network or combinations thereof via the network interface.

13. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the first progressive jackpot or the second progressive jackpot is a wide area progressive jackpot.

14. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the a user interface is customized on the gaming machine according to preference account information of the player.

15. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to display a first amount for the first progressive jackpot and a second amount for the second progressive jackpot.

16. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to display a first progressive jackpot or a second amount for the second progressive jackpot.

17. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the input indicating the selection is received from a remote server.

18. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein the input indicating the selection is received via a player tracking device coupled to the gaming machine.

19. The gaming machine of claim 11, wherein, prior to receiving the selection, the master gaming controller is further operable to display information regarding the first game of chance including the first progressive jackpot and the second game of chance including the second progressive jackpot.